Saturday 31 October 2009

Tomorrow looms

Tomorrow is the start of NaNoWriMo.
http://www.nanowrimo.org

For the uninitiated, this is the event which starts at 00:01 (1/11/09) and ends 23:59 (30/11/09). During the month thousands of idiots around the world shut the curtains, take the phone off the hook, adopt a seige mentality with stocks of coffee, cigarettes and chocolate (I am reliably informed) and consign all normal domestic duties to a 'do it yourself' status. The only relationship is with their computer or laptop. Why? Because as a personal challenge we have undertaken to write a novel in a month. Not a good novel, not a carefully constructed novel, but an outpouring first draft with no editing, planning or even any idea what ist will be or where it might go. The participants seem to be divided into to main sub-species:

  • Those who have an idea and have done some preliminary broad planning, and have been getting to know their characters in their minds for the past weeks.
  • Those, like me, who hope divine inspiration will strike the minute they sit down to start and are curious to see where this magical mystery free-write will take them.

The aim is to reach 50-60,000 words by month's end. There is no failure nor winning in the sense of accolades, prizes or kudos.

It will be interesting, especially as I have two Open University courses going on at the same time.

I may be a while....

Thursday 29 October 2009

Just been to see...

Just got back from one of the most delightful films ever.

Julie & Julia with the marvellous Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.

For those who love food and cooking and need a good laugh, see it.

Tuesday 27 October 2009

Back from South Africa


I'm back and oh so glad. My head is jumbled with fantastic moments and a memory of constant distress, anxiety and questions, questions, questions about South Africa. I haven't sorted the facts or feelings yet, never mind the photos - all 2000 of them. No worries, I will post very few. I think I need to let it all sit and brew a while. Get some distance.

Also need to catch up on course work and prepare for the new course starting this week.

Last night met 'les girls' or gals as Rhay says, for our Monday evening writing, wine-drinking, whining and giggle session. I missed it and them very much.

Sunday 11 October 2009

The food











Lunch was by the sea at our friends' house, it was a big gathering. As well as salads, a delicious pasta with aubergines and roast potatoes there was the pork and chicken souvla (on the spit), heavy wine soaked sausages and halloumis grilled and served in hot pita breads.
I know it seems all we ever do is eat, and it feels that way sometimes, but we do sometimes just say no.

Another Sunday lunch

Today we drove out to Agia Thekla for lunch with old friends. Costas used his 1956 Mercedes which was his father's and in which Costas learnt to drive. I have included the two items of clothing I really need to get for the next time, so I can sit in such stately glory, properly dressed and wave like HM.









Tuesday 6 October 2009

Weekend cock up




We managed to mess the weekend up completely. We invited people for lunch on Sunday, remembered Saturday night we had already been invited elsewhere. Cancelled our guests and threw all the half prepared food in the freezer. Sunday morning Costas called host to find out what time to come for lunch to be told it was for next Sunday. Hey ho. So we bought the Sunday papers, drove to a snazzy little beach bar/restaurant near Larnaca - all wood, cream canvas and beach pergolas. Ordered a yummy lunch, beer and afterwards had what is probably the final ocean swim of the year. I reckon it was the best of the three options.
On the way back I spotted this sign. Said to Costas ah Man Centre, my kind of place. He looked and said, Man Service, my kind of place.