return to form

It has been a nice effect of quitting my job that I’m actually writing again. I won’t comment on the lack of funds I’m receiving from the supposed “job” but I will focus on the fact that I’ve sky-rocketed by writing through the hundred thousand words mark. It’s nice, and I’m closing in on the end of the story.

Of course, some of that time that should be spent writing is spent in other past times.

It’s such mindless entertainment, and can become repetitive at times, so I just quit and go start watching the TV show (or, more often than not, do both at the same time. Yay for two monitors).

Gotta take a break out from the hectic though. I’m getting better at it too. Knowing when to focus on the writing, when to step back from everything, etc.

Like today. Packed up myself, put two books in my bag and headed to my girlfriends. Spent the whole day reading The Regiment by Michael Asher. It’s a brilliant book telling the story of the SAS, Britain’s Special Air Service. The stories that are told are simply breathtaking, and make you rethink what you originally thought were corny WWII cliché’s. The whole walking past German/Italian guards pretending to be an officer and dressing them down; pretending to be asleep/drunk on the ground so the German patrol ignores you; taking out a field of planes with aircraft machine guns attached to the tops of jeeps.

If you’re interested in British history, or War history, then you really should check this book out. And the Prologue which focuses on the SAS’s most triumphant hour – the 1980 Iranian Embassy hostage release – is a great read, and sheds a lot of light on the event.

If you don’t know what the Iranian Embassy hostage crisis was, check out the video below. Classic footage.

you know what’s nice…

Hallelujah, my girlfriend is back in town! After far too many days up the coastline, she’s back, and I’m happy. We got to sit and watch the cricket, talk about those matches we remember (I’m older, so I remember a vast many more, and actually know who Jonty Rhodes is). It was wonderful.

And now I have work, and I’m not overly stressed.

It’s not (probably) related to Bronwyn being home. It does however, I think, have to do with the fact that I promptly found out Tuesday morning that I am unable to cope with morning shifts. It was debasing, frustrating, and had me on the verge of tears for a lot of Tuesday morn. But, as people are want to say, “we live and we learn.”

So now I have to focus on working well at night, and hopefully find myself a job that doesn’t involve me being awake at 2am and still working!

Any takers?

a carols night

As I struggle through another bout of what can only really be called temporary aggravating insomnia I return to the computer. It’s the default position in my house, that or one of the chairs with a book. I’m looking for freelance writing work, so at the moment, it was a good bet that I’d be hunkered down at the computer looking for work across the internets and pleading my case to all and sundry.

Last night (TOnight?) was also the Whitehorse Carol’s. It was a tremendous amount of fun, as always, with another horrible rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus to top off the night (not to mention We Wish You A Merry Christmas stuck in our heads for the following two hours).

The weird kid’s time with the odd Santa’s Helper lady and, what I can only assume was a drunk Transylvanian Santa Claus did add the night a hint of the absurd, but it was rendered moot by some wonderfully sung carols.

I won’t touch on the absence of Dennis Walters as it still hurts to talk about. It’s in the same vein as Ray Martin no longer hosting the real Carols by Candlelight.

Anyway, here are some photos from the night, a random house I walked past on the way home, and some pictures from housesitting.

  

   

a return

A blog is one of those things that, when things get even the smallest bit busy, get’s lost by the wayside. It’s a pity, as they are often a great place to thrash out thoughts and ideas. And if nothing else, it serves as a great way to get off your chest the shit that is currently occupying your mind.

So I return to the internet.

I looked at GoDaddy and SquareSpace and thought about going it out on my own, but figured I would wait to put down an investment – ie, hosting, a domain – until I knew that I could keep up with it again.

It’s three am here, and I really thought I’d be in bed by now. But I’ve got Dave Matthews Band on in the background, and I am not tired. It’s frustrating, as I had planned to go to church in the morning, but … decisions are being rethought.

That being said, I’m really looking forward to the Whitehorse Christmas Carols this avo. Should be a lot of fun!

It seems a touch unfair that, after a day of over 6,000 words written on my book, I can’t come up with a single one today. The way it is, I suppose, but it is mighty frustrating.

So now the decision; to bed? or do I go and read Wizard’s First Rule or Warhost of Vastmark? That’s the question.