The Rushford Times - A weekly newsletter from Jodi Taylor
Sent on Wednesdays to paid subscribers and Fridays to free subscribers
This week we have:
Jodi Taylor on being SMART
A David Sands Writing Competition entry: Five thousand words? More than I Need by Vivien Deacon
This week in history: The Official Opening of St Paul’s Cathedral 2 December 1697
Jodi Taylor’s Book Recommendation: Snake Eater by T Kingfisher💙📚
The St Mary’s Short Stories Christmas Reading Challenge - Story Nine in the Read all the St Mary’s Christmas Short Stories before Christmas Day Challenge is The Toast of Time
December - Book of the Month: The Something Girl, Joy To The World and Storm Christopher
There’s plenty to read this week and you can see everything new on the blog too. CLICK HERE for the blog.
As part of my Pull Myself Together for 2026 Campaign, I’ve bought a diary. Now, not only will I be hopelessly behind on everything, but I’ll be able to see how behind I am. At a glance. Neat, eh?
I’ll be SMART
Specific – I’ll specifically be aware of all the things I still haven’t done.
Measurable – I’ll be able to measure how much further behind I get with every passing day.
Attainable – that’ll be easy. Start the year behind and just do more of the same.
R – R is for… something.
Timely- Hey – I’m the Queen of Time – Caimh McDonnell said so.
Next up is the Great Christmas Clean. I’m not a complete slut, you know. I think it’s vitally important for my flat to be clean for Christmas. I’ve started assembling all the relevant gear for the Christmas Eve Onslaught and invite you to marvel at my preparedness for this annual event.
Kindle
Wet Wipes
Wine
The hoover – found it the other day
Red One DVD
Mr Pledge – note to self. Do not wipe down bookcases with oven cleaner this year.
Water cyclamen as they begin their long, slow, inevitable, and painful deaths on my kitchen window sill
Chocolate
Polar Express DVD
Cheese and lots of it
More cheese
And two sprouts.
Sorted!
Jodi x
Five thousand words? More than I Need by Vivien Deacon
Five thousand words? More than I need. I don’t have long to get it done though, barely enough time, forgive the typos, grammar, wish I’d known about this opportunity sooner. Lucky for me, I bump into this guy in the pub, literally bump, because he’s there with his wife and little boy, just collecting their lunch from the bar, and somehow I manage not to see him, this really tall bloke with a plate of sandwiches, and I stand on his foot, hard, and you know, grindingly, and I’m wearing serious boots. I apologise comprehensively but he just grins, Don’t worry, he says, it didn’t hurt, it’s bionic.
Whoah, really? I say, for real? I thought they were just in books.
He grins again and does the eyebrow thing. Then he sees me clutching my laptop; it’s open, and he sees what I’m doing. You writing? He says, what? And excuses himself, sorry, I shouldn’t be nosy.
And in case he’s managed to read even a little bit of it, I tell him it’s a science fiction short story, which is not true at all, it’s the total truth, it’s just below, and now I’m adding this introduction. So he tells me about this competition, how to enter, website for the details, everything.
What? I say, so are we in it, or is it about us?
He laughs. It’s a bit meta, he says, as his wife yells at him, David, sandwiches! and he waves at her cheerily.
So here I am. It’s a real opportunity to reach an open-minded audience, so it’s got to be good enough to get published, then maybe someone useful will read it. I’ve got a chance here. Maybe my only chance. They’re after me.
Okay. So.
This Week in History: The Official Opening of St Paul’s Cathedral 2 December 1697
The formal opening of St Paul’s Cathedral on 2 December 1697 marked the culmination of one of the most ambitious architectural and ecclesiastical reconstruction projects in early modern Europe. The reconstruction after the Great Fire of London placed Christopher Wren at the forefront of architectural experimentation in late seventeenth-century England. Wren’s design was not merely a restoration of the medieval fabric but a boldly conceived reinvention, integrating classical forms, empirical engineering, and Baroque dramatic effect on a scale previously unseen in England. The resulting structure became a landmark of European architecture and a symbol of the emerging scientific and artistic confidence of the period.
Jodi Taylor’s Book Recommendation: Snake Eater by T Kingfisher💙📚
You can’t go wrong with a T Kingfisher book and this one is no exception. I sat up until the very small hours to finish it.
T Kingfisher writes three main series – the Paladin series – my favourites, The Sworn Soldier series, and her stand-alone horror stories, of which Snake Eater is one. The setting is unusual – a tiny house situated in a historic site in the desert. Very cosy and conventional – apart from the toilet!
Accompanied only by her dog, Selena is fleeing her partner and comes in search of her only living relative – her aunt. Except her aunt died a year ago and now Selena doesn’t have enough money to return home. This isn’t a problem as the community rallies round to help her. However, this is a T Kingfisher story so obviously things start to get pretty weird pretty quickly.
This is a lovely story where sinister events are leavened by examples of human kindness. And a fascinating insight into desert life in the US. And the dog, Copper, is so engaging. As any labrador owner will already be aware, their loyalty is frequently conflicted by the demands of their stomachs.
As usual, I won’t spoil the story, but it’s classic T Kingfisher and well up to her usual standard.
Have you enjoyed this book too?
The St Mary’s Short Stories Christmas Reading Challenge
Story Nine in the Read all the St Mary’s Christmas Short Stories before Christmas Day Challenge
Who’s up for joining in the St Mary’s Christmas Reading Challenge? You simply need to read the 11 St Mary’s Christmas stories and leave a comment below each story as you finish them. We will feature one story a week up to Christmas
This week’s book is The Toast of Time
December - Book of the Month: The Something Girl, Joy To The World and Storm Christopher
Hello Jodi, I think if you set the Measure of your SMART goal to tidy up for Christmas Eve 2025 to be completed by Christmas 2026 you will have a great sense of personal achievement. It will be specific, attainable, timely and relevant (or something). Meanwhile, your list of items to achieve your goal does not include tea, a kettle or a tea pot or do you intend to jump into THE tea pot and need the cheese for recovery?
R is for Relevant - a goal that actually *needs* to be done.