Dogs in the conservatory! From left to right: Molly (our fatso, lazy, labradoodle!) Bud-bud, Bella, and Buddy.
(See those boxes? To the left and under the sofa? Those are my boxes to start a new life with. Three of them are filled with books ... the other two have a few plates and linen. I definitely have my priorities right - books first! The white ones under Buddy are the professionally done photos from when I was a young-teenager! I should get a snap of the one in the frame for you peeps. Been told I look fantastic in them ... which I don't seem to manage to do in any other picture! I'm such a fluffy-mess-ball and totally tom-boy normally.)
The dogs were sunning themselves in the glorious spring-time sun! I joined them moments later with toast smothered in strawberry jam! It's a great little conservatory but not too brilliant to read in because the sun hurt my eyes. I was on book ... I think ... Brooks "The Gypsy Morph"
Went for a walk after picking up Brooks "The Elfstones of Shannara" - still munching my way through books! I'm waiting on "Sword of Shannara" and reading Pratchett in the mean time. Stupid library didn't have what I wanted this time and I think the staff are catching on to my sneakiness and taking out three books at a time. Should get a picture of the library since its a pretty neat building!
Stopped off in Lobs Wood for pictures of daffodils! (You saw it in Winter - here are a few from Spring!)
Think these are snow-drops! Figured they were mildly pretty and this is the only clump of them at Lobs. You can see the ferns really sprouting up now. The place was covered with them - already up to my ankles! I had to stand in the middle of them for this picture. (I prayed there were no spiders in there ... such a wimp!)
Proof of Spring stuff happening! New buds on the trees. The apple tree in the back-garden actually has some leaves now. It's awesome! There is so much bird-song out there ... pleasantly deafening! (Not bad focus considering all of these are taken using a phone-camera!)
DAFFODIL! Love Daffodils :]
There weren't as many as I hoped there would be but still beautiful to see. St.Catherine's field probably had more but that was in the wrong direction for me and a field is rather boring when you have trees in Lobs Wood!
There weren't as many as I hoped there would be but still beautiful to see. St.Catherine's field probably had more but that was in the wrong direction for me and a field is rather boring when you have trees in Lobs Wood!
And more daff's :]
You can get a better idea of the ferns in this picture! I always liked to imagine that a bunch of fairies lived here ... yeah ... I went there. Fairies. Sometimes you have to indulge your inner-child! Besides, does this not look like a fairy hiding place to you?
On to more ... stuff! I was going to say pressing stuff but that would be a lie. There is nothing pressing at all.
What to tell you guys?
I didn’t start the rewrite of Bel-Gonows because a new idea came rushing in instead ... or at least, an old idea that needed reusing. There was a role-play called “Da’anvi Dragons” on AWR. I started it but it was sort of a community thing – born from the DragonAdopters craze where everybody was raising a dragon. It was a community project where everybody gave some input and I helped haul it together. It was a pretty wonderful moment with some many imaginative heads coming together ... but unfortunately the role-play was doomed! It didn’t even make it to the point where the dragons hatch. So, I was sitting staring at the Bel-Gonows manuscript, scratching my head, and generally trying to avoid editing it, when Da’anvi Dragons crossed my mind (it helped that Kaez was talking about maps on AWR and I remembered the map for Da’anvi ...)
Well, I’ve decided that it’s about time I actually tried to write a novel the “correct way.” That is, to not go running at it like a fierce bull (see: NaNoWriMo) because that only leaves me with 50k+ words that need editing and I suck at that part! So starts the Da’anvi project. The first chapter is already written, mostly because it was the first post for the role-play and actually rather well done! Just need to keep that going. This time I will write when I feel like it and when I have inspiration rather than forcing creativity – writing a novel is hard work folks! Unfortunately this will be more difficult because I don’t have a deadline or a set word-limit to reach daily ... in fact, I don’t even need to touch it daily! (Actually, need to have a quick chat with Zovo about it considering his dragon and the plot-line – mental note!)
Other stuff: Mum has moved into her own place with my sister. That leaves me here with the family-friends. I’m not part of their little family unit (according to her, stepdad and the social services people ... which feels great! Feeling a little abandoned and fragile actually.) I’m really hoping that stepdad can behave and really worried about sister and mum. He was a dangerous alcoholic when we were living in Poling with him ... sigh. Wish life wouldn’t be so complicated sometimes! Also wish that all of those in abusive relationships would wake up and realise what I did – but that is another story and one that doesn’t need reliving by me!
The card shop is really pissing me off lately. I’m happy that I’m earning some money and the customers are awesome ... but the job is really hard and time consuming! And some of the people I need to work with don’t particularly like me or my organising style – seems I’ve stepped on all of their toes! I belong in an office or as a PA or something, sales! I belong behind a desk where I know what I need to do and can get on and do it. I’ve had my hours changed so many times in the last two days – I don’t know if I am coming or going. Worse yet, a new card shop have opened up in town which means we have direct competition when we are already struggling to meet quotas! I went in there for the first time today since they’ve opened and I hate to admit it but their shop is so much tidier than ours! They have less of a selection. Their cards are tacky but it is nice in there! They have so much stuff as well, especially for a small space, and all of it has an opposite in our shop. So, gulp!
On the brighter side of work: finally got a 100% in customer services from the area manager! They’ve upgraded me to “Customer Services Guru” – heh. I’ve been working hard to finally get a 100% for our store. We jumped up a whole 11 points (out of 30) because of little-me! So, Hah! Especially to those who find me a bit of a Leo. I thought I wasn’t too bad a Leo, a nice quiet one with reserved confidence and bite, but it turns out others think differently. It’s just that I’m an organiser and leader automatically – so I end up sounding like I am trying to manage what they are doing and giving them orders – which totally isn’t the truth! It’s just my brain organising.
Hmm – what else? Oh, magazine! The Reclusian Times has several donations from writer friends over at AWR and I’m organising the PDF/magazine part to be ready for the beginning of April. The website bits are already loaded and ready to go ... So, yup! That is all booming straight ahead. You guys have a lot to look forward to. I particularly enjoyed Zovo’s and Meleta’s stories – oh and Amy’s two poems! Definitely watch this space! The Reclusian Times goes live soon.
There’s no new news on the publishing front (apart from The Reclusian Times). Amaranthine Muses posted up my poem and I got the contract back to Pill Hill Press. I haven’t heard anything back from the other places I’ve submitted to but I’m not really pushing it right now either.
What I really need to do is get on with the move to St.Albans. My brother contacted me yesterday and told me about a waitressing job going at the pub/restaurant he’s working at ... but it still isn’t where I want to be. Like I said, desk-job, yes please! What would happen if I dropped a plate of food, or worse, if I dropped it on a customer! Still, St.Albans is a short train-journey to London, so maybe I can go for a PA job there? Dunno. I do need to start putting wheels into motion. I did a few figures in my head the other day and I have a little sum of gold behind me, so that shouldn’t be a massive problem. I just don’t want to move without some kind of job in place. I did that once before when I moved to Alton, Hampshire and I suffered for it! Plenty of people over there that could help me do it and I’d have family support and I’d actually be a help over there! I could help out my loverly aunty with my gran, bless her, who’s got dementia. (I’d be a darned-site more helpful than I am here right now since I cannot help mum or sister any more – even if things were to go wrong again!)
Feeling extraordinarily creative today. Buggerit. Might write something fun ... I’ve got a few ideas stewing ... or maybe some origami ... maybe some origami animated ... or perhaps a doodle ... or a drawing ... or a wax-crayon ... something! Maybe just anything! I’m indulging my inner-child, for once. Taking care of myself, again for once! Dropping the walls and the pretending and being fragile for a while and learning how to look after myself the proper way. That means proper bedtimes as well (thank you, Erakko, for bugging me to irritation!)
For now: good morning, good afternoon, good evening, and good night. I love you and I love me and I love the inner-child nestled within my soul too!
What to tell you guys?
I didn’t start the rewrite of Bel-Gonows because a new idea came rushing in instead ... or at least, an old idea that needed reusing. There was a role-play called “Da’anvi Dragons” on AWR. I started it but it was sort of a community thing – born from the DragonAdopters craze where everybody was raising a dragon. It was a community project where everybody gave some input and I helped haul it together. It was a pretty wonderful moment with some many imaginative heads coming together ... but unfortunately the role-play was doomed! It didn’t even make it to the point where the dragons hatch. So, I was sitting staring at the Bel-Gonows manuscript, scratching my head, and generally trying to avoid editing it, when Da’anvi Dragons crossed my mind (it helped that Kaez was talking about maps on AWR and I remembered the map for Da’anvi ...)
Well, I’ve decided that it’s about time I actually tried to write a novel the “correct way.” That is, to not go running at it like a fierce bull (see: NaNoWriMo) because that only leaves me with 50k+ words that need editing and I suck at that part! So starts the Da’anvi project. The first chapter is already written, mostly because it was the first post for the role-play and actually rather well done! Just need to keep that going. This time I will write when I feel like it and when I have inspiration rather than forcing creativity – writing a novel is hard work folks! Unfortunately this will be more difficult because I don’t have a deadline or a set word-limit to reach daily ... in fact, I don’t even need to touch it daily! (Actually, need to have a quick chat with Zovo about it considering his dragon and the plot-line – mental note!)
Other stuff: Mum has moved into her own place with my sister. That leaves me here with the family-friends. I’m not part of their little family unit (according to her, stepdad and the social services people ... which feels great! Feeling a little abandoned and fragile actually.) I’m really hoping that stepdad can behave and really worried about sister and mum. He was a dangerous alcoholic when we were living in Poling with him ... sigh. Wish life wouldn’t be so complicated sometimes! Also wish that all of those in abusive relationships would wake up and realise what I did – but that is another story and one that doesn’t need reliving by me!
The card shop is really pissing me off lately. I’m happy that I’m earning some money and the customers are awesome ... but the job is really hard and time consuming! And some of the people I need to work with don’t particularly like me or my organising style – seems I’ve stepped on all of their toes! I belong in an office or as a PA or something, sales! I belong behind a desk where I know what I need to do and can get on and do it. I’ve had my hours changed so many times in the last two days – I don’t know if I am coming or going. Worse yet, a new card shop have opened up in town which means we have direct competition when we are already struggling to meet quotas! I went in there for the first time today since they’ve opened and I hate to admit it but their shop is so much tidier than ours! They have less of a selection. Their cards are tacky but it is nice in there! They have so much stuff as well, especially for a small space, and all of it has an opposite in our shop. So, gulp!
On the brighter side of work: finally got a 100% in customer services from the area manager! They’ve upgraded me to “Customer Services Guru” – heh. I’ve been working hard to finally get a 100% for our store. We jumped up a whole 11 points (out of 30) because of little-me! So, Hah! Especially to those who find me a bit of a Leo. I thought I wasn’t too bad a Leo, a nice quiet one with reserved confidence and bite, but it turns out others think differently. It’s just that I’m an organiser and leader automatically – so I end up sounding like I am trying to manage what they are doing and giving them orders – which totally isn’t the truth! It’s just my brain organising.
Hmm – what else? Oh, magazine! The Reclusian Times has several donations from writer friends over at AWR and I’m organising the PDF/magazine part to be ready for the beginning of April. The website bits are already loaded and ready to go ... So, yup! That is all booming straight ahead. You guys have a lot to look forward to. I particularly enjoyed Zovo’s and Meleta’s stories – oh and Amy’s two poems! Definitely watch this space! The Reclusian Times goes live soon.
There’s no new news on the publishing front (apart from The Reclusian Times). Amaranthine Muses posted up my poem and I got the contract back to Pill Hill Press. I haven’t heard anything back from the other places I’ve submitted to but I’m not really pushing it right now either.
What I really need to do is get on with the move to St.Albans. My brother contacted me yesterday and told me about a waitressing job going at the pub/restaurant he’s working at ... but it still isn’t where I want to be. Like I said, desk-job, yes please! What would happen if I dropped a plate of food, or worse, if I dropped it on a customer! Still, St.Albans is a short train-journey to London, so maybe I can go for a PA job there? Dunno. I do need to start putting wheels into motion. I did a few figures in my head the other day and I have a little sum of gold behind me, so that shouldn’t be a massive problem. I just don’t want to move without some kind of job in place. I did that once before when I moved to Alton, Hampshire and I suffered for it! Plenty of people over there that could help me do it and I’d have family support and I’d actually be a help over there! I could help out my loverly aunty with my gran, bless her, who’s got dementia. (I’d be a darned-site more helpful than I am here right now since I cannot help mum or sister any more – even if things were to go wrong again!)
Feeling extraordinarily creative today. Buggerit. Might write something fun ... I’ve got a few ideas stewing ... or maybe some origami ... maybe some origami animated ... or perhaps a doodle ... or a drawing ... or a wax-crayon ... something! Maybe just anything! I’m indulging my inner-child, for once. Taking care of myself, again for once! Dropping the walls and the pretending and being fragile for a while and learning how to look after myself the proper way. That means proper bedtimes as well (thank you, Erakko, for bugging me to irritation!)
For now: good morning, good afternoon, good evening, and good night. I love you and I love me and I love the inner-child nestled within my soul too!
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