The following photo is the PROMPT. Whether you spell it ‘tire’ or ‘tyre’ doesn’t matter. What matters is what you see. Step outside the box. I dare you. 😉
My story is after the prompt and the blue inLinkz frog. I appreciate honest comments and crit.
PHOTO PROMPT – Copyright – Claire Fuller
It has come to my attention through a myriad of enthusiastic and well meaning comments in my comment section that inLinkz is requiring a log in from those using the code. I apologize for any confusion and encourage you to contact inLinkz.com DIRECTLY for help. Also, I’ve been told that the blue frog does a disappearing act from this page for some. I don’t know why this happens nor is there anything I can do about it. If you want to vent about it feel free to email me at Runtshell@gmail.com. I’ll do what I can.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
PATENT US 5104 A
After weeks of rolling waves and seasickness, Robert William Thomson arrived in America. Banished. A fugitive all because he refused to go to Seminary. Sentenced to apprentice as a merchant with his uncle in Charleston.
The weary boy tried to find a comfortable position in the carriage as it lurched and bounced along the rock strewn road. His back ached with each bump and he longed for his beloved Scotland.
“I couldn’t learn Latin either,” said his uncle with a wink. “What would ye really like to do, laddie?”
“I’d like to take the corners off these bloody wheels.”
.
.
.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Rochelle,
when I saw the picture I suspected you would do something about the history of tires. I’m not sure if I’ve heard of Robert Thomson before this or not, but we should all thank him for his contribution. I can’t imagine how uncomfortable travel used to be. We all have a lot riding on his invention.
-David
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Dear David,
You’re up early this morning. 😉
I hadn’t heard of Robert Thomson until I started following the threads. Ain’t the internet grand? I’ve always thought of wagon and carriage travel in romantic terms.
Am I becoming too predictable?
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle,
don’t worry about being predictable. I never know what direction you’ll take it. You can be full of surprises. I did get up early this morning, but just for a bit. 🙂
Have a good week,
David
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What a great piece of history you’ve introduced here — thanks!
Poor RWT — being sent to the States must have felt like a prison sentence.
Loved this, Rochelle —
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Dear J,
I’m with you. I felt rather sorry for young Robert myself in reading about his exile.
Thank you so much,
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I had never heard this story before.. But that era was a time of big inventions. And also any education had to start with Latin .. I love to learn new things… and as you say Internet is wonderful.
I will ponder this picture to see if I can come with something..
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Dear Björn,
We both learned something new this week. 😉 Happy to take you along for the carriage ride.
I look forward to where your muse will lead you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Not seeing the blue linky, Rochelle. Is it me?
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He’s there on my page. Not sure why you don’t see it, Sandra
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Ever since we started having to sign in it’s being really dodgy. I put the blue frog on my page and it’s disappeared from there too.
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Sign in?
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Yes, when I mentioned last week or the week before that I was having difficulty, I’d had to register with In Linkz to use the tool and since then, whenever I press the linky I have to sign in again. Others mentioned having problems too. Grrr! I solved it with that highest of high-tech solutions… I restarted my computer. I’m there now.
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I’m so sorry you’re having this problem. Wish I knew what to do about it.
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no need to login. all you have to do is change the assigned 6-digit id in the code every week.
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<a rel=’nofollow’ href=”http://new.inlinkz.com/luwpview.php>id=xxxxxx”><img style=”border:0px” src=”http://www.inlinkz.com/wpImg.php>id=xxxxxx”></a>
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for example, the code for this week is:
<a rel=’nofollow’ href=”http://new.inlinkz.com/luwpview.php?id=461236″><img style=”border:0px” src=”http://www.inlinkz.com/wpImg.php?id=461236″”></a >
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I have to sign in, too, (after registering), and haven’t seen the link critter on Rochelle’s site when I go on to link. It’s always there later in the day and very frustrating all ’round!
janet
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I’m so glad it’s not just me! Rochelle has been in touch with them about it.
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Good luck with that, but I live in hope.
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Wow, that was a good one with a brilliant bit of background research. That link was one of the best I’ve followed in a long time. I always learn something when I come here, Rochelle. The man was indomitable.
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Dear Sandra,
I never know what I’ll find when I start my research trail.
Thank you for your affirming comments. They made my morning. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hehe nice story… of course! The history of wheels!
For some reason my story has posted twice… do you have access to delete one of them?
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Dear Jessie,
Consider it done…after I answer your sweet comment.
I usually start with history. 😉 Sometimes it works for me and other times it doesn’t. Glad this one worked for you, too.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you! I’ve been having a bit of trouble adding my photo lately… they seem to crop weird for me. I’ll keep persevering!
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Oh dear, poor Robert. At least his uncle seems nice.
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Dear Carol,
I like to think his uncle was nice. History really says little. 😉
Thank you for commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This goes against the grain of the old saw, “Never cut corners.” Good story. Randy
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Dear Randy,
What can I say? I can say, “thank you!” 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Excellent story as usual Rochelle 🙂
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How kind of you to say so, Al. 😀
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Another master class in writing, research and history.
And about a Scot this week.
AnElephant dances!
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Dear Elephant,
I thought of you immediately when I read out about Robert Thomson. I can feel the ground rumbling under your dancing feet from here. 😉
Thank you very much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, As always you’re written a story that not only entertained us, but informed us. This was done thoroughly and well. I feel rather sorry that most people will never know this man’s contributions. He was just ahead of his time. Well done as always. 🙂 — Susan
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Dear Susan,
I wonder just how many unsung heroes we’ve missed in our history books. I’m always happy to take passengers as I travel through history. 😉
Thank you for your head turning compliments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Awesome. I clicked on all the links you provided and got an education in tires (tyres?). Too bad that Thomson doesn’t get the credit and Dunlop does. I loved the last line of the story. It made me laugh. Necessity truly is the mother of invention. Great one, Rochelle. 🙂
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Dear Eric,
I enjoy the differences in expressions and spellings within this group, don’t you? Mr. Thomson was just too far ahead of his time. At least there is information out there on the interweb.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Talk about reinventing the wheel, Rochelle – this guy actually did it! once again, thank you for the history lesson. You leave so much unsaid in your stories, allowing us to really get to know the characters, and to infer the lessons. Caps off, as usual.
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Dear Jennifer,
It amazes me how much is out there on the interweb for the learning. When I find tidbits like this it sets my imagination reeling. I don’t know how true to life my stories are. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You did an extraordinary job with this history bit!!!
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Very kind of you to stop by and say so, Claudia. Thank you very much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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These FF stories are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’ll get. Another lesson learned, thank you.
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Dear Loré,
And they’re as addicting as a box of chocolates, too. I have a lot of fun writing them and learning in the process.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
Exile is cruel, whatever the day and age. You portrayed very well young Robert’s feeling of being cast into a huge expansive alien world, full of discomforts. I love his final comment about the wheels.
Further to what Sandra has said about the blue frog – it just displays as words and not a frog on my blog. As I understand it, WordPress doesn’t allow external html code to be added to blog posts for emblems/gadgets, or to widgets, due to the risk of introducing a virus that spreads across the whole blogging platform.
Defeated by the frog, I just display a link to the relevant post on your blog, plus a link to any guest who provides a photo prompt, plus copyright acknowledgement. But, of course, I’d prefer to display your frog!
All the best
Sarah
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Sarah, are you in the “text” section when you put in the code? If you’re in “Visual”, it only appears as words and symbols.
janet
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Hi Janet,
I remember following Rochelle’s instructions when I tried, and I’m fairly certain I was in the “text” section. Just as she suggested, I tested it out by adding it to an old post to test it out, but when I looked at the updated post, it was just letters and symbols where the blue frog should be.
Sarah
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Sounds as though the WordPress gremlins are out in force these days. I had register last week and now have to log in to get the link code, but at least it shows up as a frog. What’s really annoying is that there’s no one to read complaints (from WordPress, that is.)
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My experience is that if you begin a new topic in the forum, if it’s about a technical issue, a WP techie usually comments. I think it was one of them who explained to me about the hazards of html code and viruses when I was having some issue with adding widgets.
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This is actually not a WordPress issue but an inLInkz one. I emailed them this morning and here’s the reply:
Hi Rochelle,
there is no need to login in order to add links to a linkup.
On the other hand, due to abuse of the system by non users adding
linkups to spammy blogs, co hosts are required to at least have a
free inlinkz account to have access to the code. (only for the code, not to
view the linkup)
If you do provide them with the links to add the linkup to their own blog,
then they will need
to sign in to grab the code. If you just send them the link to view the
linkup , they should have no
issues at all.
If they need access to the code, just let them know that they only need to
signup for a free account.
It will only take a minute and I am sure they will understand that this is
done to prevent your
linkups appear in inappropriate blogs.
There is also a notification on the page where your link leads them to grab
the code:
[image: Inline image 1]
If they still have trouble, then forward them to us so we can understand
what exactly they are
doing and they are asked for an account and guide them
Let me know if I can be of any help
All the best,
Maria, InLinkz.com
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Dear Sarah,
As I’ve added in a note at the top, I have nothing to do with the disappearing frog or the inLinkz. Now that I’ve plodded through all the technical cross talk here I’ll say thank you for your kind comments on my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Excellent piece, Rochelle. You said so much in so few words. Thanks for the link. 🙂 Sylvia
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Thank you, Sylvia. 😀
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Lovely vignette about young robert. You must spend a lot of timè reading obscure history!
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Dear Anonymous,
Now that you mention it, I guess I do spend a lot of time reading obscure history. It’s kind of how my research for a story works. As in this week, I started with history of the tire and Robert Dunlop. The article mentioned Thomson and from there…well, you could say, the rest is history. 😉
Thank you whoever you are.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Take the corners off the wheels, indeed! Delightful insight into a “might have been” conversation, Rochelle. I enjoyed the journey much more than our young Robert did.
All my best,
Marie Gail
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Dear Marie Gail,
I couldn’t help but think a fourteen year old boy sent to live with an uncle across the sea for not being able to learn Latin might have some anger issues. 😉 Pity he was far ahead of his time and didn’t get the credit he deserved while he was still alive.
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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A well-rounded story, Rochelle. 🙂
janet
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Dear Janet,
Thanks for the squared-off comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And after spending all day searching through literature for work, this is definitely the most interesting thing I’ve read. 😉
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Dear Lauren,
I hope this is a good thing. 😉 At any rate, I’m taking it that way.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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So maybe it’s adversity that is the mother of invention more so than necessity? Well written story as usual Rochelle! How do I go about submitting a photo to you for FF? I have a pic of a seagull trying to swallow a starfish that’s just hilarious.
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Dear Riya Anne,
I had fun writing this one. Of course the conversation is fiction but maybe…;)
The best way to get a photo to me is to send it to runtshell@gmail.com as a jpeg attachment. Please make sure your name appears somewhere so I can keep it straight.
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Looks like you re-invented the story. Haha!
Nice job.
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Dear Kent,
As Wilbur said to Orville, “It’s about time you got it Wright.”
Thank you.
Shalom,
Cuzzin Shellie
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HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Didn’t they also invent the airline stewardess?
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this is one reason i never tire reading your stories. 🙂
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What a lovely thing to say, Plaridel.
Thank you and Shalom,
Rochelle 😀
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PS Yes I got the pun. 😉
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Great and amusing story with, as always, a nice bit of history. I’d never heard of this chap before, thanks for the link!
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Dear Ali,
I hadn’t heard of Thomson before I started my research thread. It’s so much fun to find these tidbits and share them.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A lovely bit of history here, Rochelle. And thank you for using my picture – it’s always a nice surprise.
Claire
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Dear Claire,
Glad you liked my story. I enjoy pictures that aren’t run of the mill. This was nice and, as you can see, fostered some interesting stories.
Thank you twice.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great piece of dialogue and good to see the man is still remembered and honoured.
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Dear Patrick,
Glad it all rang true for you. Always nice to give credit where credit’s due.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Every week I look forward to my next history lesson from you. Fab piece of creative storytelling 🙂
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Dear Helen,
I’m pleased to know that my stories are something you look forward to. Thank you very much.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Good story Rochelle, and a very good bit of historical fact to go with it!
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Thank you, Weltchy. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I LOVE your story. Truly love it. How amazing it is that a person’s life can change so dramatically from failure to success with a trip down a bumpy road.
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Dear Stephonie,
I’ve heard it said, “To see the need is to hear the call.” Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Lovely touch of history. I think we have gobs of inventors to be thankful to!
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Dear Alicia,
We live in an amazing world of inventions. Had it not been for them, we’d never have met. We’d still be living in caves. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Henny Penny,
Both tires and roads have come a long way since 1847. That young man’s mind would be blown away if he saw some of the cloverleaves at any of our major cities. I’ve ridden in an iron-wheeled wagon. It jars the stuffing out of you.
Yours truly,
Poppin’ Fresh
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Dear Poppin’ Fresh,
Tires have come a long way indeed. Change notwithstanding, I still manage to run over nails and have to have the tyres plugged. I
I wonder what Mr. Thomson would say if he saw rush hour.
Thanks for poppin’ by.
Shalom,
Henny Penny
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Love the story. As a Harley rider, I am so thankful for the new wheels. Those wooden ones were a pain in the….oh wait, I wasn’t there. Thanks dear for another wonderful story and history lesson. 👍
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I love learning history with you as my teacher.
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Thank you, Dawn. 😀
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I always enjoy reading your words 🙂 Nothing better than a coffee Friday morning and reading some Fictioneers 🙂 Thank You.
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Dear Sarah,
I raise my travel mug to you. L’chaim.
Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Fantastic story Rochelle, I’m so glad I followed the link to the history lesson. Good on you for giving Thompson a plug, Goes to show what you can achieve when you find your creative side. Dunlop’s certainly reaped the benefits over the years. I enjoyed, thank you.
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Dear Maree,
After reading about Robert Thomson, it seemed that a little tribute was in order.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ha – I liked the humour in this, very clever.
I always learn something reading your stories 🙂
Cheers
KT
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Dear KT,
I do love finding obscure bits of history. I guess you could call it my own private continuing education.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’ve uncovered an unsung hero. I’ll bet he actually had this exact conversation.
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Dear Alice,
Wouldn’t it be something to go back in time and find that it was so?
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My goodness what bumpy rides those must have been before! I can just feel the body aches that went along with such trips…
Once he saw the photograph, my husband gave me a full history on Michelin tires. So much so that I almost named my own piece “When Michelin Was King”!
Ellespeth
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Dear Ellespeth,
Who knew that something as mundane as tires would have such a rich history? I had a lot of fun with the research.
Thanks for driving by with your comments. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
What a great last line to a fantastic story. I can see it all happening as I sleep.
Ink looks yellow.
Aloha,
Doug
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Dear Doug,
Yes, Melete was in rare form that night, wasn’t she? I hope it makes for a pleasant dream. The ink looks yellow here, too. Thank you.
shalom,
Rochelle
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Love that last line – such a determined young man despite his unhappy predicament. Thank you for another lost history lesson and the link. We have a lot to thank Mr. Thomson for.
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Dear Sarah Ann,
Robert Thomson did accomplish a lot to be such an obscure blip on the historical radar screen, didn’t he?
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love your tribute to unsung heroes, really enjoyed it, all the best v
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Thank you, Veronika. .:D
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Wonderful, I went off and learned about someone I had never heard of five minutes ago.
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Dear Hilary,
I love sharing those obscure bits of history I find. Knowing that someone else feels the same way only makes it better.
Thank you for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I knew right away that there would be a wonderful history lesson in this one; thanks for not disappointing, Lassie! 🙂 Shabbat shalom.
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Dear Dawn,
I don’t always write history, but when I do I hope it’s never disappointing or boring.
Thank you. 😉
Sh’vua tov and shalom,
Rochelle
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You don’t always write history, but it is your niche… and when I saw this one, I just had a feeling! 😉 Shalom!
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This is very interesting. Tires are something few of us think to research, outside of which ones are best for our vehicles. Thanks, as always, for the history lesson!
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Dear Emilie,
Everything has a beginning, doesn’t it? Sometimes there’s a fascinating story in those histories Happy to share. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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My Scottish blood is rising up again in pride. My mother is always reminding me of just how many inventions were actually from Scotland. A great story Rochelle, and very interesting history.
Cheers
Marg
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Dear Marg,
I’m happy my little story hit a personal note for you.
Thank you for such affirming comments. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Wow Rochelle:
This is quite an interesting story … so sad that he never got much credit for this great invention! Thanks for sharing this tidbit of history with us! Have a great Sunday, Georgia
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Dear Georgia,
I have to wonder how many inventors have gone without the fanfare they deserved. From now on, I for one, will remember to thank Robert Thomson for my inflated tires. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle … of course you’re quite right .. and I’ll try to remember and thank Robert Thomson as well 🙂 … have a great week, Georgia.
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How wonderful, Rochelle!
I love such Happy Endings 🙂
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Thank you, Anita. 😀
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Dear Rochelle, History class is in session and our Professor has given us another wonderful tidbit of interesting information. I didn’t know this about tires but I do know the Michelin man. Great story and fun! Thanks Rochelle as always! Nan 🙂
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Dear Nan,
No passing notes in class please. 😉 I had fun with history on this one and learned something I never knew before. Glad it was fun for you, too.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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