Beat Writer’s Block with Grimms’ Fairy Tales

I know what a friend looks like. Friends are there to support you when you need them. If you call in desperation, they come over. If you need a laugh, they crack a joke. If you’re down, they give a helping hand.

However, I’ve concluded that the Muses are not my friends.

Those unseen forces of inspiration that gift creatives with shiny new ideas, they don’t come over when I need them. They don’t pick me up when I’m down, and they don’t crack jokes when I need a laugh. Instead, they willingly abandon me to the clutches of writer’s block.

“Help me,” I cry with desperation  into the blank scene of my laptop. “Please. I’ve got nothing. I need you.”

“I’m sorry,” the voice of the Muses’ smug personal assistant says on the other end of the line in my mind. “The Muses are busy right now. I’ll let them know you called. Please try back later when you aren’t ready to write—like during your morning commute when you are stuck in traffic with no way of taking notes, or in the middle of your next business meeting when your boss is sitting across the table watching you. They should be available then. Thank you. Bye-bye.”

If I waited on the Muses to get their lazy butts in gear, I’d never get anything written, which is why I’m happy to share with you the powerful weapon that has lessened my dependence on the Muses and helped me beat the dreaded writer’s block: Grimms’ Fairy Tales. When I get stuck for an idea and don’t know what to write, I turn to the Grimms.

4 Steps to Beating Writer’s Block with the Brothers Grimm

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Rewriting an old story in a modern setting gets your writing juices flowing and hones your storytelling skills.

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Think of rewriting Grimms’ Fairy Tales like going to the gym and working out. It gets all your writer muscles working and revved up.  Here’s how I do it.

1. Find the Fairy Tale

Picking a story you already know is cheating. Don’t do it.

Instead, I suggest using this Random Number Generator. In the “max” box on the right, type the number 210, and then press the “generate” button. Make note of the result.

Now, go to this list of 210 Grimm Fairy Tales. Use the result from the Random Number Generator to find the story you will be rewriting today.

2. Lay Out the Beats and Find the Heart

As you read through your fairy tale, write down the beats of the story. By “beat,” I mean the things that happen. Write one simple sentence for each beat. Don’t get complicated; a straightforward sentence will do.

Once you’ve finished writing the beats, read through all of them, then answer the question, “What is this story about?”

Keep the beats and the heart of the story. Forget everything else.

3. Re-imagine the Story in a Modern Setting

Now take the heart of the story and the beats of the story, and imagine that story happening down the street from your house. How would it play out? What would the story look like? What types of characters do you need to make the story work? 

Bonus: Do It with One Scene

If you are really looking for a challenge, after you decide how to tell the story in a contemporary setting, figure out how to tell it in just one scene.

4. Rewrite Your Story

See, you don’t need those stupid Muses and their obnoxious assistant. You are now ready to write a fantastic story without them. The final step is to sit down and write your new story.

My Example: The Poor Boy in His Grave

I try to do this at least once a week. If you need an example, here’s one I did a few weeks ago:

First, the magic Random Number Generator gave me #185: The Poor Boy in His Grave.

Next, I read the story, wrote out the beats, and found the heart: Poor kid loses parents. Poor kid is raised by people who don’t like him. Poor kid “messes up” and gets beaten. Poor kid sneaks food while hoping to die. Poor kids lies down in grave. Abusive caretakers’ house catches on fire.

Heart of the story: Poor abused kid gets revenge in the end by laying in his grave.

Then I re-imagined the story in my city. I realized I needed a poor kid, some nasty caretakers, a grave, and a house fire.

Taking the bonus challenge, I thought, “What if the kid doesn’t die? What if he is being questioned by the police about the house fire?” I realized I could tell the whole story through an investigation.

Finally, I wrote the story.

And just like that—writer’s block defeated.

What creative techniques have you used to beat writer’s block? Let me know in the comments.

PRACTICE

Kick the Muses’ snotty personal assistant in the teeth with your own Grimms’ Fairy Tale rewrite.

Take fifteen minutes to pick a story and reimagine it, following the steps above. Share your practice in the comments below.

Make sure you keep the title of your story the same as the original Grimm Tale so we can see which one you repurposed. And if you share, be sure to leave feedback for your fellow writers!

The post Beat Writer’s Block with Grimms’ Fairy Tales appeared first on The Write Practice.

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First Look: Cleveland CBX Wedges

If you play Game Improvement irons and don’t play Game Improvement wedges, Cleveland says you’re doing it wrong.

Wrong. Plain and simple.

Take a look at the bag drop the next time you play. What kind of irons do you see in those bags? Most likely it’s some variety of large, light, cavity backed, perimeter weighted Game Improvement iron – Cleveland says as many as 84% of you are bagging GIs.

Then check out the wedges.  Vokeys? Cleveland RTX’s? A set-matching Gap wedge?

Cleveland says 84% of you are doing that, and 84% of you are doing it wrong.

And Cleveland thinks it has a solution.

Meet The CBX

“Blades wedges don’t make sense for the Game Improvement golfer,” says John Rae, Cleveland’s VP or Research and Development. “They’re significantly heavier, the shaping’s different, and it doesn’t have any of the Game Improvement features the iron set has.”

Set matching wedges, according to Cleveland, aren’t any better.

“Those wedges don’t have high-tech grooves or high-tech face roughness,” says Rae. “And to be totally honest, there’s very little thought put into their sole design by different manufacturers. In most cases, the Gap wedge is just slapped onto the end of the set. The Pitching wedge is basically your 10-iron, and the Gap is your 11-iron. They’re making a 4, 7 and pitching wedge and just extrapolating all the other lofts off those.”

So if you’re a GI player, you likely have either blade wedges that aren’t as forgiving as and don't match your irons, or you have set-matching wedges that don’t offer the requisite wedge-ness to do what you need to do from 100 yards and in.

Cleveland’s solution? The CBX Game Improvement wedge.

Now before you start crying nothing new here, yes, we know – and Cleveland knows - all about its previous cavity back wedges, including the RTX-3 CB option.

“If you go back in time, we did have cavity back wedges in our line – the CG 16, CG 14, CG 11. But the trap we fell in to was even though we were making cavity back wedges, they were still based on our better-player wedges. They were close in head size, the sole width was similar, and the total club weight was similar to a standard blade wedge.” – John Rae, Cleveland VP of R&D

Cleveland says the CBX has been designed from the ground up to be a true Game Improvement wedge. There are some tech stories you’ll want to consider, and we’ll get to those in a sec, but first, let’s review the visuals.

The first thing you’ll notice is the good sized cavity that allows for more perimeter weighting. You’ll also notice even though the head is noticeably larger than, say, your standard RTX, Vokey or Mack Daddy, and the wedge itself is lighter. Flip this puppy over, and you’ll see a sole that starts out wide at the heel and gets significantly wider as you move from heel to toe.

Oddly, it doesn’t scream “shovel.”

Tech Tales

The CBX wedge shares several features with Cleveland’s RTX-3 offering: Feel Balancing Technology, the V-Sole and Cleveland’s Rotex face. As mentioned earlier, CBX gets its GI on by modifying the V-Sole and with perimeter weighting.

The sole gets significantly wider as you transition from heel to toe. Cleveland says the shape will sacrifice some shot-making flexibility compared to a blade-style wedge, but it will help the GI player get the club through the turf and help with forgiveness.

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Lower handicap golfers who want wedge flexibility, and have the skill to open up the face and pull off a variety of shots, probably won't like or need the CBX sole. Mid-handicappers, says Rae, don’t open the face up as much and may need more help on full, square face shots.

“The wider sole isn’t as much of a negative for the mid- to high-handicap golfer, but it’s a big positive in that it helps them with the shots they hit most often. As the V gets narrower towards the heel, it allows you to open the face a little, but the wider sole isn’t great for the massive open-faced flop shot kind of thing. In reality, high handicappers won’t be trying that shot anyway.” – John Rae, Cleveland Golf

The modified V-Sole also helps with weight distribution and Cleveland’s Feel Balancing Technology, which is a fancy term for moving the club’s center of gravity away from the heel and more toward the center of the face.

“A fundamental flaw in wedge design is that they have this big, long hosel,” says Rae. “As a result, you end up with a bunch of weight in the heel section, and the CG ends up being heel-biased.” Cleveland introduced Feel Balancing Technology in its RTX-3 wedges last year in an effort to move CG closer to face center (Vokey and Callaway were already heading in that direction). The CBX sole shape and cavity back allow Cleveland to get the CG almost dead center.

“When you get the center of gravity in the middle of the face, you’ll get only a little bit of performance drop off in terms of spin and distance if you hit it a little on the heel or on the toe,” says Rae. “If your CG is to the heel side, like a normal wedge, you’ll get more spin and distance if you hit it towards the heel, but as you move towards toe hits you’ll get a big decrease in performance.”

“A traditional wedge is much more inconsistent if you’re trying to hit the middle of the face. A little bit of a miss-heel or a miss-toe will have two radically different results. Better players tend to figure that out.  What we’re doing with CBX is giving that average golfer – the mid-handicapper – the most consistent performance across the face of a wedge he’s probably ever seen.” – John Rae, Cleveland Golf

Cleveland’s internal testing shows more consistent ball speeds heel to toe with CBX compared to a traditional blade wedge – the very definition of forgiveness - as well as tighter dispersion, compared to blade wedges and set-matching wedges.

 

Spin-wise, you won’t see much – if any – difference between the CBX wedge and Cleveland’s RTX-3’s. The CBX features Cleveland’s Rotex face, with Zip Grooves, Micro Milling, and Laser Milling. The stock shaft is the Dynamic Golf 115, which has the same step pattern and flex and bend properties as the standard Dynamic Gold but is lighter to better fit in with Game Improvement irons. That means you won’t have such a dramatic jump from a 90 to 100-gram shaft in your GI irons to a 130-gram shaft in your wedges.

The CBX does have a taper-tip hosel, so in theory, nearly any shaft can be installed. Rae says you’ll be able to order custom option from Cleveland, but the target market probably isn’t thinking along those lines.

“Besides,” he says, “the heavier the shaft, the more you’re taking away from the purpose of the product.”

You’ll notice there aren’t a lot of bounce options with the CBX. Again, that’s intentional to make it easy for the target market.

“It’s a single finish and a single bounce option – basically mid-bounce,” says Rae. “We don’t want to confuse the average golfer by making the process so difficult that he just goes back and buys the set wedge or a blade wedge.”

So Who’s It For?

CBX is meant to be a high-performance wedge designed to fit with Game Improvement iron sets. Is the golf world ready for that? Cleveland (and others) already has offerings for the high handicap golfers with its Smart Sole wedge offering, but will the middle of the bell curve want a CBX?

“It should be our biggest seller,” says Rae. “The only reason it wouldn’t be is the golfer. I think it’s going to take a few generations to really convince golfers they need to play a cavity back wedge.”

Rae says the target market is any golfer with a handicap ranging anywhere from 8 to 10 up through 20. How you integrate CBX into your set depends on what your handicap is what it is.

“A lower handicapper who’s playing GI or Super GI irons may be the guy who’d switch out his pitching wedge he’s been using for a lot of bump and runs for ours. It’ll give him more spin and control with a better sole. He might want to take out his Gap wedge and replace it with one of these, but keep his blade style sand and lob wedge if he has the skill set and wants the versatility those offer.” John Rae, Cleveland Golf

A practice session with the CBX shows a few things. On full shots, this thing is as forgiving as advertised and is silly easy to hit, and distance control is fairly consistent compared to a blade wedge. The wider sole makes it pretty easy to pick it clean and hit down on the ball, but on the downside is you have limited ability to open the face up if you need to. But then again, that’s not what the wedge is designed for.

If you’re a chronic chili-dipper around the green and simply want to get the ball in the general direction of the hole, you may find a friend in the CBX. If you have the skill and short-game creativity to play high spinners, low rollers or anything in between, you’ll find the CBX a little limiting.

The CBX wedge gives Cleveland the broadest short-game offering in the business – everything from the better-player suited RTX-3 all the way to the Smart Sole offering for the high handicapper. CBX sits right in the middle, where an awful lot of golfers – 84% of you – reside.

OEM’s are constantly trying to design equipment that packs in as much GI tech as possible while still looking like a golf club. The challenge facing Cleveland is the preconceived notion of what a wedge is supposed to look like. Visual familiarity equals comfort, and if golfers aren’t comfortable with the looks, they may never consider a club, even if it’s good for them.

Price & Availability

Cleveland’s CBX wedges are available in men’s and women’s models. Men’s wedges are available in eight lofts in two-degree increments, ranging from 46 to 60 degrees. Stock shafts include the steel Dynamic Gold 115 wedge shaft and Cleveland’s 90 gram Rotex wedge shaft in graphite. Cleveland’s Lamkin BlueCap grip is standard.

Womens’ wedges are available in seven lofts (48 to 60 degrees), with Cleveland’s Women’s Action Ultralight 50 wedge flex shaft and Women’s CBX grip standard.

MSRP is $129.99 in steel, $139.99 in graphite. Pre-sale beings August 28th, and in store availability is September 15th.

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How to Write a Scene: 3 Questions You Should Ask Before You Write

Sometimes I get stuck wondering how to write a scene during a first draft. Or maybe I can’t figure out how to revise a story to make it better. Sometimes I wonder if I am ever going to make any progress in my fiction and life. (Please tell me I’m not alone!)

I’ve been revising this summer, and it’s taking longer than I’d like. I keep returning to the basics of good storytelling to evaluate my scenes, and yesterday, it occurred to me that there are three questions I can ask to clarify almost any scene. Coincidentally, they are the same three questions I usually ask myself to tackle almost any life problem.

3 Essential Questions for How to Write a Scene

Do you have goals? Me too. What keeps me from accomplishing them as quickly as I would like? A variety of things, not the least of which is doubt, fear, and time. But if I want to accomplish those goals, I need to act on them to get what I want.

This is not new or astonishing, but have you ever thought about how this is part of the same progression that makes scenes work in fiction? Here are the three questions you can ask and answer to improve a scene (or a life!).

1. What does the character want in this scene? In the story?

Sometimes I write an action-packed scene, full of decisions and tension, but ultimately it flops. Why? My character is just running around without a purpose that matters to the reader.

Kurt Vonnegut famously said,

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“Make your characters want something right away even if it’s only a glass of water.” —Kurt Vonnegut

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The character’s want or goal needs to be clear. It is especially effective (and some might argue essential) when the the scene goal is a reflection or a segment of the larger story goal.

For example, in a quest tale, the hero (or heroine) wants to defeat the dragon and/or find the grail, usually to save society. This is the external goal. The internal goal, often unstated, is to prove his or her worth.

If the larger story goal is to find the grail, then the individual scene goals need to be stepping stones to that global goal. In successive scenes, he might want to find a way through the forest, want to defeat an ogre, and want to live through a final showdown with the guardian dragon.

I know this example is painfully obvious, but as I evaluated my own scenes this week, I realized I had a few that needed to be cut because they didn’t contribute to the overall goal. My characters were having a great time, but the scene wasn’t accomplishing anything in terms of the larger story.  

To clarify a scene that isn’t working within a story, I can ask what the character wants in this moment and how it relates to what they ultimately want.

Also, beware of fuzzy goals. If the main character’s goal is “to be happy,” I know we need to do some work. What makes this character happy? Get specific. Clarifying what the character wants will help you evaluate how well the scene is working.

2. What will get in the character’s way?

Conflict keeps our characters from getting what they desperately want. My protagonist will only be as strong as the obstacles and antagonist he faces.

How do we create strong conflict? Go back to the goal. The conflict needed will vary greatly depending on the goal. If the character wants to be popular and admired more than anything, a low-level conflict on her journey might be a hurtful rumor that devalues her in others’ eyes.

In a mob thriller? That problem probably works to the main character’s advantage.

It might be helpful to create a timeline with the goal at the end. Place the obstacles the character faces on the timeline. Does each conflict raise the stakes and challenge the character in increasing degrees? If not, look for ways to cause your character more trouble related directly to their goal.

Conflict can come from all sorts of places. Externally, it can come from an antagonist, nature, society, circumstances, illness, or misinformation.

Internally, conflict is more than just the cartoon image of the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. Yes, internal conflict can be a difficult choice, but it can also stem from faulty beliefs about self or the world, habits, and emotions such as fear, doubt, and anger.

Make sure your timeline includes both internal and external forces directly related to the character’s goal. Create conflict that exposes the emotional and physical journey of your characters.

3. How will the character act to overcome conflict and get what he or she wants?

Here’s where the magic of character is made: in a character’s reaction to conflict. Have you ever heard Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote about women? “A woman [or character] is like is like a tea bag—you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” As soon as our character experiences the “hot water” of an obstacle, her response reveals her character.

The strongest actions cost the character something, whether it is an external expense such as money or public opinion or an internal expense such as a belief. It’s even better if the action has immediate repercussions and cannot be reversed.

I am as guilty as the next writer of an occasional coincidence or allowing a secondary character to solve the main character’s problem for him. We have to revise those saviors out. Why? They weaken the character. Yes, the decision the character makes or the action he takes might be a disaster, but he has to own that disaster as a part of his overall arc.

It is in the character’s personal, individual response to conflict that readers see who the character is beneath the veneer he carefully crafts in his world. We need strong action to propel the story and character forward. 

True for scenes and for life

These three questions can keep you moving forward on your writing and your life. Knowing what you and your characters want can help you identify the obstacles, so you can take action.

Small tip: in fiction, have the character act in bold ways to accomplish his goals.

In real life? Small, consistent steps forward often yield the best results.

Do you have any tips for how to write a scene? Let us know in the comments.

PRACTICE

Choose a favorite scene from your own work in progress or from your favorite book or tv show. Take fifteen minutes to identify the want, conflict, and action in the scene. When you’re done, share your findings in the comments, and be sure to leave feedback on your fellow writers’ work!

The post How to Write a Scene: 3 Questions You Should Ask Before You Write appeared first on The Write Practice.

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(3) Testers Wanted: Odyssey O-Works Putters

One thing I’ve always wondered is just what does the O in Odyssey’s O-Works putter line stand for. Is it O for Odyssey or is it O for “O wow, the putter face has hinges?”

In either case, Odyssey’s O-Works putters are just the latest in Odyssey’s long line of top-selling flat sticks. In fact, the #7 copped 4th place in MyGolfSpy’s 2017 Most Wanted Mallet testing.

And just last week, Odyssey announced the O-Works Red and Black series selected O-Works putters being released in, you guessed it, red and black.

TESTERS WANTED:

Whether you like your O-Works in black and white or red all over, Odyssey is convinced they have a putter that’ll work for you. They’re also sure the unique Microhinge Insert Technology that’s co-molded into Odyssey’s Thermoplastic Elastomer Feel Layer will help you roll the biscuit into the basket, and make you feel good doing it.

Does this tech really work? Do color schemes help you put better? MyGolfSpy is looking for three avid golfers to test, review and keep an O-Works putter of your choice and let the golfing world know what you think.

HOW TO APPLY:

As you know, MyGolfSpy takes its product testing very seriously. All of our reader reviews are published in our Community Forum (click here to check them out). We expect a lot from our reviewers – writing a thorough, detailed and honest review is a full two-month commitment, requiring extensive range and on-course work as well as participation in the Forum itself to answer questions and discuss product performance with other golfers.

That means to be a potential reviewer you must be a registered member of the MyGolfSpy Community Forum, where you’ll find thousands of like-minded golfers from all over the world anxious to talk about golf equipment.

To apply to test, review and keep an Odyssey O-Works putter, here's what you have to do:

- First, if you haven't already, please sign up for the MyGolfSpy Community Forum (click here to register).

- Second, apply ONLY in the Odyssey O-Works Putter Test/Review Application Thread in the MyGolfSpy Community Forum (click here).

We'll announce the testers in the  Community Forum next week.

 

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Experience the nostalgic pleasure of steam train railways around North Wales

Four steam trains in three days – what a treat. I was on on a very special trip to experience the delights of North Wales Heritage railways, sampling itineraries from specialist railway tour operators Great Rail Journeys and Rail Discoveries.

Ffestiniog Railway

Engine driver Paul on Merddin Emrys

The heat is overwhelming. There’s a smell of coal dust, hot metal and sea-salt. Steam hisses and a seagull squawks overhead. Adults ready their cameras, children giggle with excitement and the sense of anticipation builds. “Keep right in to the side there and watch that pipe; it’s boiling hot and will give you a nasty burn if you touch it.” Engine driver Paul ensures I’m ensconced in my tiny corner of the cabin, gives a brief nod to stoker Andrew, a piercing whistle shrieks across the river estuary out to sea, there’s a chuff-chuffing from the steam train and we are on our way.

View from inside Ffestiniog Raliway steam engine cab

I’m on the footplate of the very splendid Merddin Emrys, a push-me pull-you Double Fairlie locomotive, on the  Ffestiniog Railway, fulfilling a life-long dream to travel on the footplate of a steam train. The Festiniog Railway Company, in North Wales, is the oldest surviving railway company in the world. It opened in 1836 to take slate from the quarries of Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog for export around the globe. We used to holiday in nearby Llandudno and I remember seeing the little train chugging along the track and wishing we could go on it … and now I’m finally here.

Minffordd Station

The train slowly gathers speed as we pass fields of sheep and quaint cottages. People wave as we rumble through Boston Lodge and cows stop grazing to gaze at us as we steam by. At Minffordd, where we pass another steam train going in the opposite direction, I have to leave the engine and join the other passengers in one of the lovely old wooden carriages. We slowly start the steep climb into the mountains where the scenery becomes wilder through the glorious Snowdonia National Park. Sunlight glimmers through wooded groves and we disappear into a tunnel before doing a loop-the-loop at the Dduallt Spiral.

Bara Brith and Welsh Cakes

Afternoon tea arrives; a plate of local Welsh Cakes and Bara Brith (fruit loaf) are most welcome. Against railway rules I put my head out of carriage window and watch the steam train puff its way round the curve of the narrow-gauge track. The sight and sound of this sturdy little engine brings back many memories of childhood and a world where time seemed to go at a much slower pace. We arrive at Blaenau Ffestiniog Station and we have a quick look at the brand new, very luxurious, Pullman Observation Carriage, with beautiful wood panelling and maps of the railway route carved onto the tables. On the platform we watch as Paul and Andrew jump on top of the engine to check it and fill it with water.

With its twin funnels and gleaming red livery,  Merddin Emrys is a fine example of a Victorian steam train and I feel privileged to have spent some time in its company.

Welsh Highland Railway

Welsh Highland Railway steam train

We had started the day in castle-dominated Caernarvon, boarding the Welsh Highland Railway, UK’s longest heritage railway, that took us inland, past the foot of Snowdon and on to the pretty village of Beddgelert. Our train was pulled by a mighty fine black locomotive, NG/G16 No.87, built in 1937, originally used in South Africa and rebuilt in the Ffestiniog Railway’s own Boston Lodge Works. En route we got superb views out towards the Lleyn Peninsula, beside old slate mines and tiny railway stations, past lakes emerging from steamy windows, near rushing waterfalls and on up into the mountains.

View from our railway carriage

Clare, our very informative host from Ffestiniog Railway Company, outlined our route on the map and gave us some facts and figures about the company and its rolling stock. Well-equipped walkers got off at one of the halts to hike up Wales’ highest peak.

Welsh Highland Railway route

As we crossed the impressive Glan-yr-afon Viaduct I gazed up towards the summit of Snowdon, shrouded in mist. This stretch of the track is one of the steepest gradients in Britain, 1-40 and we snaked our way back down through the forest toward Beddgelert, Snowdon playing hide and seek along the way.

Welsh Highland Railway steam train

As we disembarked in Beddgelert, the rain arrived, not so unusual in this part of Wales. However, by the time we’d got our coach to the quirky village of Portmeirion it had stopped and the sun was peaking out again.

Llangollen Railway

Llangollen Railway Station and Steam engine 80072

The following day we headed off into the valleys for a ride on the Llangollen Railway, the only standard-gauge heritage railway in Wales. As with many other railway lines, this was originally built for the mining industry, but Llangollen has been a tourist destination for many years. It’s a very attractive town on the River Dee and the railway is its biggest attraction. The quaint Station Building sets the scene with old suitcases piled on the platform and uniformed guards, drivers and other staff bustling about making sure everyone gets aboard in time for departure. We had a reserved carriage all to ourselves again, with scones, jam and cream laid out on crisp white linen – very civilized. The velvet-upholstered seats and lacquered wood panelling all conspired to give that feeling of nostalgia for rail travel in stylish luxury.

Reserved Carriage

We were being pulled by beautifully restored locomotive 80072, built in Brighton in 1953 to run on the south coast, but left to rot for many years after the Beeching cuts of the 1965, which is when the Llangollen Railway also closed for main-line travel. There are few transport sounds more evocative than the huffing of an engine as it builds up steam on its way out of a station. We got that experience a number of times as there were a three stops along the line, which runs beside the sparkling River Dee, to Corwen. The return journey was equally delightful and everyone thoroughly enjoyed our very special steam train journey.

Llangollen Railway steam train

After lunch we went on a leisurely glide along the Langollen Canal on a horse-drawn boat – perfect end to a perfect day.

Snowdon Mountain Railway

Wyddfa

On our final morning we set off early to get the 9.30am Snowdon Mountain Railway steam train from Llanberis Up the Mountain. We went up and down in glorious sunshine, pushed up by Wyddfa, a Swiss-built engine from 1893, driven by Paul and stoker Robert. It was a truly epic journey – watch out for the story in another article …

Top of Snowdon with Mountain Railway train

Great Rail Journeys and Rail Discoveries Steam Train Tours

I travelled to North Wales courtesy of Great Rail Journeys and Rail Discoveries. Our group stayed in Llandudno at the very comfortable Dunoon Hotel, with superb food in charming surroundings. We also had an excellent Italian meal at the Wildwood Restaurant in the town centre.

Our group at Dunoon Hotel

Great Rail Journeys Railways & Castles of Wales includes a stay at the award-winning Dunoon Hotel, journeys on the Welsh Highland, Ffestiniog and Snowdon Mountain Railways, and excursions to Portmeirion Village and Caernarfon and Conwy Castles. GRJ Independent can also tailor make holidays to the region for those wishing to travel to Wales on an individual basis Save up to £30pp when booking on or before 15^th August 2017.More details www.greatrail.com

Rail Discoveries Railways of Wales includes a stay at the Kensington Hotel, journeys on the Welsh Highland, Ffestiniog and Llangollen Railways, a horse-drawn boat trip on the Llangollen Canal, and excursions to Portmeirion Village and Caernarfon Castle. Save up to £30pp when booking on or before 15^th August 2017.More details http://ift.tt/2tIByqG.

Andrew and Paul on the Ffestiniog Railway

Love Narrow-Gauge Railways? Read my review of Small Island by Little Train – a narrow-gauge adventure by Chris Arnot.

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Q&A With Dean Snell

Dean Snell wants to answer your questions.

It's hard to believe 2 years have passed Snell Golf took all of us by surprise when the company's My Tour Ball dominated our Direct To Consumer golf ball test. Your tremendous response to that review has not only helped drive the growth of the Snell brand, I believe it has changed the ball market for the long haul, and for the better.

That test proved that you can get a tour-quality golf ball for less than $35 a dozen and a growing number of consumers have come to realize as much. It's having an impact on the OEMs as well. Callaway and Srixon launched their current flagship balls for less than $40 a dozen, and Titleist - in addition to offering a buy 3 get 1 free promotion shortly after the launch of the 2017 Pro V1 - is restocking store shelves with Prior Generation Pro V1s at discount prices ($39.99).

When prices can be cut so easily, it makes you wonder what you're actually paying for and how much difference there actually is between tour-quality balls.

Ask Dean Snell

We've gotten to know Dean Snell a little bit over the last couple of years. One thing I can tell you about Dean is that he's as much of a straight-shooter as anyone you'll find in the golf equipment industry. Dean also shares our commitment to doing right by the consumer. In the case of Snell Golf, that means offering a quality product at a consumer-friendly price. It also means doing his part to educate the consumer and helping to cut through some of the BS that permeates the golf ball market.

Wouldn't it be nice to know what's real and what's mythology?

Ask Your Questions in the Comments Section

If you have a question about Snell Golf, its golf balls, or golf balls in general, post them in the comment section below. In a couple of weeks, we'll post another video wherein Dean answer your questions.

from MyGolfSpy http://ift.tt/2h67RxK