Sometimes Life hits hard and you’re left a little off-centre. It’s been a while of that, but now? Now…well, we’re getting used to the hits, and finding our feet. Here’s a summary of what got done on the first week of December. cmsimpson.blogspot.com/2025/12/acco...

From today’s Let’s Play videos: In which we create a sauna-bathroom suite…or start to: youtu.be/NfZ-1oDlWW0

From today’s Let’s Play videos: In which Tamrain continues her exploration of Greenshade…and her search for the thief known as the Artisan: youtu.be/b9ZRu8Xxsbs

Today’s Third Reading: In which a kitten’s previous owner comes to call: youtu.be/ohyhezeSMHk

Today’s reading: In which Lewis learns how Ammy truly feels, he and Oliver start the next stage of their journey: youtu.be/FoOdmlSk70A

Today’s reading: In which I learn the terms of my ‘recruitment’ to Odyssey: youtu.be/QlTGhvj4Mto

From today’s Let’s Play videos: In which we have a pleasant summer's day on Falling Petal Island: youtu.be/J2ND-TW9y-U

In this dark science-fiction short story: the colonists of Canon V live underground to avoid the creatures that come from beyond the rifts. The last thing we expected was corporate intervention. Is it a deal worth taking, or should we stay in the caves? You can find it here: books2read.com/u/bxxLWv

And in today’s novel reading, Raomar and his allies strive to reach the center of the citadel and the evil imprisoned within, in Dark God’s Rise, Chapter 46. You can find it here: youtu.be/EA-val0Aml0

Today’s poetry reading is a comment on Christmas written as a reverse cinquain, found here: youtu.be/QMDuDfxA3sg

In Today’s Quest, Over in Eorzia… Mirriam takes on a task to prove herself worthy of the secret to defeating the Titan in our quest-by-quest play-through of Final Fantasy XIV Online – Nix That can be found here: youtu.be/qaMzha5lo4Q

And in other news my short story, 'The Warrior's Path' has been accepted for inclusion in The Expanding Universe 11 - which is available for pre-order, here: www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0DZ1398ZM

A reading from April’s last release: The Writer Reads: Traffin’s Choice (Part 2): The final part of an urban-fantasy shiftet short story about choices, family, compassion and loyalty set in a war zone. You can listen to it here: youtu.be/a7P4zH_NrjY

I’ve been spending some time in Coral Island. The latest episode is: Let’s Play Coral Island from May 30, 2025: Blaze takes care of the farm, before setting out to ensure she has the ingredients for the Lima Pulu orchestra site, and an underwater barn. You can view it here: youtu.be/bbGK1417BVQ

The Writer Reads Mack ‘n’ Me: Origins: Chapter 3: Cohort from Hell – In which I meet my cohort, and learn some rules. This reading can be found here: youtu.be/JaZSZDpw92s

Let’s Play Swords ‘n’ Magic and Stuff from March 22, 2025: Meriador heads out hunting, although what she ends up hunting a different kind of boar, some flowers, and a lost chalice, instead. You can find it here: youtu.be/bwY-jxlIDDk

Let’s Play Garden Paws from March 23, 2025: Amethyst keeps her attention on completing quests, making deliveries to several of the townsfolk, before chasing a shooting star to end the day. You can view it here: youtu.be/rEh006Hwiqg

Let’s Play Final Fantasy XIV Online from March 23, 2025: Roselore continues in her quest to find mithril ore, upgrade her crafting gear, and improve her armorer skills by questing for the guild. You can view it here: youtu.be/szjno42ejwQ

Let’s Play a single quest in Elder Scrolls Online from March 23, 2025a: Having concluded her business for the Psijics’ Order, Milara turns her attention to the Mages’ Guild and discovers Valaste is in need of a book, and an archmage in need of rescue. You can view it here: youtu.be/7Jmw8d8Cox0

Let’s Play Coral Island from March 23, 2025: Blaze finishes the preparations for King Tan’s part of the mural, before adding another offering to the Lake Temple, and focusing on finding what she needs for the next Orchestra site. You can view it here: youtu.be/eJABuk8b9vU

Rescued from becoming human cargo, Cutter isn't about to be conscripted by anyone - but will she really get to choose her own path ahead? Now available from an outlet listed here: books2read.com/u/3L2DWN

Short Story #31 is on its way: Being a bodyguard isn’t easy, especially not when you’re protecting a lecherous lordling. Taken by the garitzik, Seppelitus must extricate himself from a deal between gargoyles, ogres and a demon lord, and then there’s the dragon...

Second Video for the day: Garden Paws - Amethyst focuses on completing the requirements for more deliveries, then heads out to make them…and maybe find dandelions. You can view it here: youtu.be/NqpqAhGPz9c

First Video for the day: Coral Island - Blaze wakes to a letter letting her know the Animal Festival is coming up. She gets into the day, farming on two farms, before heading to the mines. You can view it here: youtu.be/LR2EJ4pjoy8

Fourth Video for the day: Final Fantasy XIV Online - Needing some time to level up her botanist’s skills, Mirriam heads to Ul’dah to learn the ‘way of the miner.’. You can view it here: youtu.be/OlsCoq1-CQk

Third Video for the day: Elder Scrolls Online - It’s time for Tamrien to help Tanloran…and to clear some mysteries from an ancient ruin or two, along the way. You can view it here: youtu.be/LxdQ_nb042I

So I drop in here to post today's videos, & I stop awhile, just to chill with you. Why? Because you are awesome. You brighten my day. Cuddling with pets, celebrating your Friday nights of laundry & sleep (sleep is magic by the way), sharing new brands & what you are doing...Thank you for being you

Words from the second project: It probably should have, given what we’d found at New Haven. We knew the yvernatch handlers sometimes intervened on their charges’ behalf. I wondered if this drop might have had the same support. “But how would they even know?”

The third (and final-for-the-foreseeable-future) edition of Mack and Me: Odyssey has been uploaded for release. It has a new cover, and new front-and back matter, and has been re-edited and tweaked a little to smooth wordflow. I'll now move on to next week's short-story release. Excerpts later.

1st wds, Proj.1: “I’m sorry, boss,” Lewis was as hang-dog as Oliver could have wished. Oliver clapped him on the shoulder, and the man flinched, ducking his head but keeping his eyes on Oliver’s face. Oliver gestured to the damage around them. (Cover art and design is by Jake at J. Caleb Design)

Second Reading for February 12, 2025: The Reptile’s Blade (Short Story, Part 6) In which, the lizardine open negotiations to address the human misdemeanours on Aquapearl: youtu.be/fhFdu4iHhpU

First Reading for February 12, 2025: A Houseful of Secrets A horror poem about a secretive, and spooky, house: youtu.be/9Ru2rFDzxc0

Third Let’s Play for February 12, 2025: House Flipper 2 Today we help one Margaret Fontana set up a room for her grandson’s visit: youtu.be/1mt0tGxRqqI

Second Let’s Play for February 12, 2025: Final Fantasy XIV Online It’s Valentione’s Day and romance is in the air. Follow Clear as she assists two estranged lovers find each other, again: youtu.be/UutXlzOMIZ0

First Let’s Play for February 12, 2025: Lost Ark In which, Janisari assists the nomads in defeating the bandits, then goes looking for local specialty dish ingredients and hidden stories: youtu.be/yPVkvZcIpoQ

Fourth Let’s Play for February 8, 2025: House Flipper 2 In today’s episode, we flip a House for our friend, Tom – and make a little beach shack ruin, a home. We also unlock the ability to buy houses for renovation: youtu.be/dQHvjDON-Ek

Third Let’s Play for February 8, 2025: Final Fantasy XIV Online (Long Let’s Play) Roselore makes another attempt to complete Operation Archon, then takes a healing run through the Duty Finder…and ends up in Copperbell: youtu.be/fY4S8x5zahE

Second Let’s Play for February 8, 2025: Elder Scrolls Online (Single Quest, Pt 1) Having sealed the rogue time breaches, Milara is sent on a quest to find four parts of a dangerous relic. The first part is located in Pelin’s Graveyard: youtu.be/QeuamMY07gE

First Let’s Play for February 8, 2025: Coral Island Blaze spends most of the day foraging for seed ingredients for the plants needed to unlock the Orchestra site: youtu.be/7Kg_Pf7s8mI

Second Let’s Play for February 7, 2025: Final Fantasy XIV Online (Botanist Job Quest) As her skill as a botanist grows, Mirriam is tasked with filling orders for her guild: youtu.be/EDMpTnkM_0o

Merry explores Castaway Rock, discovering a giant crab and an inventory, before suffering her first death, and heading over to Azura Island to find Sen: youtu.be/KFfrYlFt7gA

Second Reading for February 8, 2025: The Reptile’s Blade (Short Story, Part 4) In which Felicity makes a social faux pas, deceives her boss and aide, and invites the lizardine diplomat home: youtu.be/iaDE_pV3Jz0

First Reading for February 8, 2025: Ghosts (Crapsey Type 1 Cinquain) A very short form poem exploring the nature of ghosts: youtu.be/o5TGP9Di__I

First Reading for February 7, 2025: Sent Spinning (Flash Fiction) A science-fantasy piece about alien lifeforms, betrayal, and escape: youtu.be/-2z6Nw77Kgs

Second Reading for February 6, 2025: The Reptiles’ Blade (SF Short Story, Part 3) In which Felix suffers flashbacks, and an unexpected visit from the escaped diplomat: youtu.be/UDi4ah37Rys

First Reading for February 6, 2025: StarDancers (Type 1 Cinquain) A short cinquain contemplating the nature of traveling through space: youtu.be/5e34s526ls0

Third Let’s Play for February 6, 2025: Final Fantasy XIV Online Mirriam continues her training as a botanist, acquiring and using her first hatchet: youtu.be/UYhyGlDxr6U

Second Let’s Play for February 6, 2025: Garden Paws Amethyst tends her store and completes some of her quests…and discovers there are more errands, now she has reached her second year in Florens: youtu.be/M8BjTz45WbY

First Let’s Play for February 6, 2025: Coral Island Blaze attends the grand opening of the recreation center, helps Theo mend a special piano, asks Theo to hang out for a forest picnic, and then heads back to farm in the ocean: youtu.be/Aq43dzqqXLc

Fourth Let’s Play for February 5, 2025: Final Fantasy XIV Online In this episode, we set out to level up…and to learn how to tank in Sastasha: youtu.be/eTKm3_stCgw