Zone Doubt, a.k.a. 'Surreal Я Us'...

Joules, trusted by... dozens... to make a drama out of your crisis...

Other sites:

:: JAT :: WaveWrights :: Publications ::

I live to write. It's not wise to get in my way.

... I'd write my autobiography, but no-one would believe it....


If you come across any words you don't recognise in this blog, take a look at the Taylorspeke Glossary in the left-hand infopane, you'll usually find a definition there.


The Poppy Tales

(Transformers fanfiction!)

Transformers mini-comics here.




Adventures in Orchids

Apparently I am now collecting them...

There's room for one - or maybe two, at a pinch - more on that bedroom windowsill (the only one in the house that's ideal for them). Let's see what I find. Well, that didn't last long...


EO - Everlasting orchid. Phalaenopsis. I've had this orchid since 2007 and it just keeps flowering...







AO - Alien face orchid. Phalaenopsis . Bought 2018 - lovely little flowers, all different patterns!





RO - Rescued orchid photo to come when it flowers. Phalaenopsis. Rescued from a bin up the road in 2019. Classic!






TO - Tiny orchid. Phalaenopsis. Bought at Tesco 21.8.20. It just begged to come home with me. How could I say no?





CO - Crimson orchid. Cambria. Another Tesco find. This one may be going to live in Ken's room once we've redecorated and put up the new shelving; it prefers a cooler, less sunny windowsill. If so, I'll need to find another cambrian to keep it company.






GO - Golden orchid. Phalaenopsis. Saw this one when I bought CO and left it behind - then immediately regretted it as soon as I got home. Never seen one like it before. Ken, bless him, went back over to Tesco in the rain and bought it for me...





DO - Dendrobium Orchid. Smells of wisteria, so beautiful...











RO2 - Rescued orchid no 2. Phalaenopsis. This is the one I rescued from the wall along the road middle of 2021.








PO. Pink orchid. Phalaenopsis. This is the one I bought at Cabury Garden Centre on special, late 2021. It's much happier here!










TWO. Teeny weeny orchid, Phalaenopsis. Rescued from Tesco end 2021 (I think).




















My IMDb ep summaries

(completed)
Arthur of the Britons
Sky
Star Maidens
The Starlost
Space Rangers
The Sentinel (part: seasons 2 and 3)
Swamp Thing (part: season 3)
Gravedale High
Transformers: Armada
Transformers: Energon
Transformers: Cybertron (part)
Misfits of Science (four eps)
Zoo Gang
Zodiac
Jupiter Moon
Transformers: Beast Wars (part: seasons 2 and 3)
Transformers: Beast Machines (part)
Vampire Princess Miyu
Starhyke
Nathan Barley
No Heroics
Undermind (3 eps)
Will Shakespeare (Tim Curry version)
Nightwalker
12 Kingdoms
Trigun (ep 8)
Rayearth
Hyperdrive (season 2 ep 3)
The Café

For later:

Missing Earthian ep
Missing Haibane Renme eps


Silver birch at Eastwood 

Farm

"Autumnal - nothing to do with leaves. It is to do with a certain brownness at the edges of the day... Brown is creeping up on us, take my word for it... Russets and tangerine shades of old gold flushing the very outside edge of the senses... deep shining ochres, burnt umber and parchments of baked earth - reflecting on itself and through itself, filtering the light. At such times, perhaps, coincidentally, the leaves might fall, somewhere..."

(Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Act 2: Tom Stoppard)

Autumn...

I love this time of year. I love the colours, the sharp slant of sunlight on the trees, mosaics of acid-yellow and harts- blood, velvet and darkness and a haze of mist-grey over the hills. I love its immanence, its mellowness, the tang of frost just around the corner of the year...

Watching the little birds in the goat-willow in my garden, I realised something more.

I love this land with a fierce, possessive love, deep-rooted in two thousand years of history. From the frosted beaches and cloud-brushing peaks of the north to the wind-haunted meanderings of the rivers of the east, from the sensuous rolling patchworked hills of the south to the demanding dark moors of the west, this land seeps into bone and blood and synapse, mother of motley nobility, culture, individual freedoms. It can be known. It can be understood. It can be felt deep inside.

I love its effortless eccentricities, its vigour and vibrancy, its flawed perfections, its silent strength and tenacious resilience, its hard-won tolerances and intense and variable beauty, the profound energy in its sacred mythical landscape.

Home and more-than-home, the forces that shape and protect and bind, in me, as I am in the land. Love returning love in the stillness for those who'll only take the time to listen...

(Joules, Autumn 2004)


All photographs taken by Joules unless otherwise specified. All photographs © Joules A Taylor or other specified individual.


In Memoriam

17.03.09 - Argent

25.07.08 - Raptor

18.12.07 - Quyn

02.12.06 - Ryme


Currently enjoying:
Muse
Transformers - IDW, Prime, Animated, Rescue Bots.

Currently reading:
Various Transformers books and graphic novels.



Currently working on:
Haadri

Currently chuffed with:
My garden

Currently miffed at:
Nestlé, Nonpres Tinyhands Fart, Toadface Farage

Currently maintaining:
BCHS
BCW


Blog Pics
I've gathered some of my pages of photos together: the page of links is here. I'll be adding more as time goes by!




Evil Squid
A Little Glossary of Taylorspeke
(in no particular order)

plit popints - n. Typo for 'plot points' typed on a keyboard with more than half the characters worn off...

[PING] (alt [ping]) - n. A brainwave. The text equivalent of a lightbulb going on blindingly over someone's head. Usually mine. And usually at the most inconvenient of times. [sigh]

TPTB - The Powers That Be.

wulmet - n. A person of little or no talent who somehow inveigles himself into a position where he is in power over other, far more talented people and uses his position to downplay them in order to try to make himself feel superior.

biteable - referring to an anatomical part vb, tasty.

Flatterfed - vb. 27.02.08: my typo for flattered, but since it's so cutely apt I thought it would fit nicely here. Lutra defined it as "the lovely warm feeling of satisfaction resulting from enthusiastic reviews..." (which I've been getting for my MB fics).

Composted - vb, 'compos mentis', mentally capable of working. Contrast with uncomposted or non- composted, not 'compos mentis', not capable of working, hungover...

Cumbles - n, cucumbers.

Kewp - how Ken says 'thank you'. We rather like Lutra's 'nanx', too...

Musekick - noun, music, without which I cannot work.

'feinne - noun, caffeine, essential for correct mental functioning, especially first thing in the morning. I prefer mine in the form of SodaStream Diet Coke. And on that subject...

Skoosh - verb, noun. To skoosh - to add CO2 to a sodastream bottle filled with water to make it fizzy, prior to adding Diet Coke syrup (or just drinking as sparkling water). A skoosh - a bottle of water that has been skooshed. Skooshy - something that has been skooshed, water, or that whipped cream that comes in tins you have to shake then upend and press the nozzle...

Shoogle - verb. To shake gently, for example, of roast potatoes in a roasting tin to ensure they're covered with oil. I have vague memories of this being a real Scottish colloquialism...

Stegasaurus - n, spider of the genus tegenaria. Why? No idea. I just find it easier, that's all...
Edit 08.09.07: Lutra thinks that Brian is a good name for a mini-stegasaurus. From now on, any 'Brian's in the posts may be assumed to be a tegenaria. Except where otherwise specified.

Viterals - noun, vitamins + minerals. Also a pun on victuals.

Splish - verb. A combination of slosh and splash.

Parrots - noun, paracetemol (from the old joke "Why are there no aspirin tablets in the jungle? Because the parrots eat 'em all...")

Maggles - noun, magpies. As opposed to non-magical people.

Flamewings - noun. Swifts. So called because the first time we became aware of them was an early summer evening when they were flying high, the light from the setting sun seemingly turning their wings to flames. Lovely little birds. We always know summer's arrived when we hear their high-pitched squeeing.

Murfs - noun, moths.

Peasant cut - noun, roughly cut up into big chunks, e.g. vegetables chopped in a hurry for a hearty stew or soup. By extension, anything prepared in a hurry - haircut, material, even a first draft of a story...

Giraffe - noun, a carafe (of wine, coffee or water, for example).

Shrumps - noun, mushrooms.

Splings - noun, Kai's spelling homework: by extension, any spelling.

Tyops - noun, typos. var toyps, typso, psyto, psoyt, etc. Usual result of a dose of the fingerials (see next entry).

Fingerials - (pr. fin GEEE ree yalls) noun, fingers that will not type what you want them to.

Haddock - noun, time, of which I never have enough. (Origin of this term here.)

Sleep - noun? vb? a.k.a. sheeeeeeeeep.... I used to know what this word meant...


The Updates Blog

The place to stay notified of WaveWrights' Fiction updates: Zone, Darkside, DarkRealm, Matrix, Vault, Safehouse 13...




my computer gremlin Butch. click the pic to see the larger image

Butch, my computer gremlin. Click the pic for larger version, and read his adventures here...

Butch by the talented 

Sylverthorne

A gift for me! Butch by the very talented Sylverthorne. Click pic for larger image.

Joules' 

Haddock

This is MY haddock. It was caught exclusively for me by Talon. No, you can't have any. I need all the haddock I can get!!



A'lestrel by Valkyrie.

A'lestrel - a gift for me from Valkyrie...



Albino Alsatian Benten (c) MEBird 

2004

Another gorgeous Valkyrie gift for me - Benten the Albino Alsatian! Click thumbnail for larger image.

Radittsu, an oekaki for my birthday 04 

by 

Onna

Oekai by Bakayaro Onna - Radittsu at his sexiest...



The Zone Plant from
The Zone 

blog 

plant

OrganicHTML (which alas no longer seems to exist...)
[::..My Regular Reads..::]
:: Astronomical Pic of the Day [>]
:: What is Space... [>]
:: Dark Roasted Blend [>]
:: BLDG [>]
:: Watchismo Times [>]
[::..Fun Places..::]
::HubbleSite
Stunning...
::PALEOMAP Project
Absolutely fascinating.
:: Skymap
Check out the night sky where you are!
[::..Useful Sites..::]
:: GreenNet
First stop for environmental matters
:: The Forest of Avon
Our local community forest and places to visit
:: The Guardian
Online Guardian Newspaper.
:: Symbols
Exactly what it says
:: World Timeserver
For checking the current time around this world
:: Universal Currency Converter
Actually it's just a terran-global currency converter, not universal, but it's still useful...

So what is it with the haddock? Am I some kind of fish freak?

I'll leave that to others to decide.

The tale (or tail if you prefer) harks back to October 2000, when my GoodTwin and I, ably assisted by Sue, ran the first UK Professionals convention...
It's common knowledge that I never have enough time, and I was determined not to bewail the fact that weekend: hence I promised not to use the 'T' word...
Of course, that didn't really work (if nothing else I had to let the trainees know what times things were supposed to be happening!) so we decided a substitute word would be employed instead. There were several suggestions. Banana came very close to being chosen. However, I eventually decided that 'haddock' fitted the bill nicely. Ever since, haddock=time. Hence the title of my forthcoming autobiography,
My Half-Life in the Haddock Space Continuum....


Normally I wouldn't, but these were just irresistible...

How could I resist?

Just too adorable...

and to complete the rainbow...

These Too-Kawaii Kitties
were adopted from
Ghost's Anime Page (which appears to have disappeared, alas...)

[::..Anime/Manga..::]
Useful sites:

BBTS -
Fabulous anime figures

Anime Lyrics
A huge selection... evil popups

Anime still needed to complete series' I'm collecting... Many thanks to everyone who has helped me acquire the collection!
Ai no Kusabi

Owned:
   DVD
   Dj: June Special
   CD: Ambivalence

Cyber City Oedo 808

Owned:
   DVD
   All 3 eps on Video, dubbed
   Dj: Cyberage 1-3
   Illustrated Book 2 (Benten's) in Japanese

From Eroica with Love

Owned:
   Manga Vols 1, 9, 11

Mirage of Blaze

Owned:
   DVD Vol 1 (eps 1-4)

R.G. Veda

Owned:
   English Manga: Vol 1
   Japanese Manga: Vol 1-7 complete
   Tarot Pack
   R.G.Veda video

Twelve Kingdoms

Owned:
   Anime Vol 1-12: complete

Under the Glass Moon

Owned:
   Manga Vol 1, 2
Vol 3 needed

Vampire Hunter D - Bloodlust

Owned:
   DVD

   Vampire Hunter D Book 1



New Vampire Miyu

Owned:
   (Studio Ironcat) Manga Vols 1 -5 (complete)


Yami no Matsuei

Owned:
   Viz Manga: English translation, Vols 1 - 11 (complete: I believe vol 12 is only available online)
   Japanese 3-DVD set
   Central Park Media: Descendants of Darkness Vol. 1, English/Japanese subbed.
   Sketchbook


[::..Joules SP fied..::]


... this is Terra? How the hell'd I end up here...?

(Thanks, Lutra, for the quote!)

[::..archive..::]
07/01/2002 - 07/31/2002
08/01/2002 - 08/31/2002
09/01/2002 - 09/30/2002
10/01/2002 - 10/31/2002
11/01/2002 - 11/30/2002
12/01/2002 - 12/31/2002
01/01/2003 - 01/31/2003
02/01/2003 - 02/28/2003
03/01/2003 - 03/31/2003
04/01/2003 - 04/30/2003
05/01/2003 - 05/31/2003
06/01/2003 - 06/30/2003
07/01/2003 - 07/31/2003
08/01/2003 - 08/31/2003
09/01/2003 - 09/30/2003
10/01/2003 - 10/31/2003
11/01/2003 - 11/30/2003
12/01/2003 - 12/31/2003
01/01/2004 - 01/31/2004
02/01/2004 - 02/29/2004
03/01/2004 - 03/31/2004
04/01/2004 - 04/30/2004
05/01/2004 - 05/31/2004
06/01/2004 - 06/30/2004
07/01/2004 - 07/31/2004
08/01/2004 - 08/31/2004
09/01/2004 - 09/30/2004
10/01/2004 - 10/31/2004
11/01/2004 - 11/30/2004
12/01/2004 - 12/31/2004
01/01/2005 - 01/31/2005
02/01/2005 - 02/28/2005
03/01/2005 - 03/31/2005
04/01/2005 - 04/30/2005
05/01/2005 - 05/31/2005
06/01/2005 - 06/30/2005
07/01/2005 - 07/31/2005
08/01/2005 - 08/31/2005
09/01/2005 - 09/30/2005
10/01/2005 - 10/31/2005
11/01/2005 - 11/30/2005
12/01/2005 - 12/31/2005
01/01/2006 - 01/31/2006
02/01/2006 - 02/28/2006
03/01/2006 - 03/31/2006
04/01/2006 - 04/30/2006
05/01/2006 - 05/31/2006
06/01/2006 - 06/30/2006
07/01/2006 - 07/31/2006
08/01/2006 - 08/31/2006
09/01/2006 - 09/30/2006
10/01/2006 - 10/31/2006
11/01/2006 - 11/30/2006
12/01/2006 - 12/31/2006
01/01/2007 - 01/31/2007
02/01/2007 - 02/28/2007
03/01/2007 - 03/31/2007
04/01/2007 - 04/30/2007
05/01/2007 - 05/31/2007
06/01/2007 - 06/30/2007
07/01/2007 - 07/31/2007
08/01/2007 - 08/31/2007
09/01/2007 - 09/30/2007
10/01/2007 - 10/31/2007
11/01/2007 - 11/30/2007
12/01/2007 - 12/31/2007
01/01/2008 - 31/01/2008
01/02/2008 - 29/02/2008
03/01/2008 - 31/03/2008
01/04/2008 - 04/30/2008
01/05/2008 - 31/05/2008
01/06/2008 - 30/06/2008
01/07/2008 - 31/07/2008
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01/10/2008 - 31/10/2008
01/11/2008 - 31/11/2008
01/12/2008 - 31/12/2008
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01/01/2009 - 31/01/2009
01/02/2009 - 28/02/2009
01/03/2009 - 31/03/2009
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01/01/2011 - 31/01/2011
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01/01/2014 - 31/01/2014
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01/11/2014 - 30/11/2014
01/12/2014 - 31/12/2014
01/01/2015 - 31/01/2015
01/02/2015 - 28/02/2015
01/03/2015 - 31/03/2015
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01/05/2015 - 31/05/2015
01/06/2015 - 30/06/2015
01/07/2015 - 31/07/2015
01/08/2015 - 31/08/2015
01/09/2015 - 30/09/2015
01/10/2015 - 31/10/2015
01/11/2015 - 31/11/2015
01/12/2015 - 31/12/2015
01/01/2016 - 31/01/2016
01/022016 - 28/02/2016
01/03/2016 - 31/03/2016
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01/05/2016 - 31/05/2016
01/06/2016 - 30/06/2016
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01/08/2016 - 31/08/2016
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01/10/2016 - 31/10/2016
01/11/2016 - 31/11/2016
01/12/2016 - 31/12/2016
01/01/2017 - 31/01/2017
01/02/2017 - 28/02/2017
01/03/2017 - 31/03/2017
01/04/2017 - 30/04/2017
01/05/2017 - 31/05/2017
01/06/2017 - 30/06/2017
01/07/2017 - 31/07/2017
01/08/2017 - 31/08/2017
01/09/2017 - 30/09/2017
01/10/2017 - 31/10/2017
01/11/2017 - 30/11/2017
01/12/2017 - 31/12/2017
01/01/2018 - 31/01/2018
01/02/2018 - 28/02/2018
01/03/2018 - 31/03/2018
01/04/2018 - 30/04/2018
01/05/2018 - 31/05/2018
01/06/2018 - 30/06/2018
01/07/2018 - 31/07/2018
01/08/2018 - 31/08/2018
01/09/2018 - 30/09/2018
01/10/2018 - 31/10/2018
01/11/2018 - 30/11/2018
01/12/2018 - 31/12/2018
01/01/2019 - 31/01/2019
01/02/2019 - 28/02/2019
01/03/2019 - 31/03/2019
01/04/2019 - 30/04/2019
01/05/2019 - 31/05/2019
01/06/2019 - 30/06/2019
01/07/2019 - 31/07/2019
01/08/2019 - 31/08/2019
01/09/2019 - 30/09/2019
01/10/2019 - 31/10/2019
01/11/2019 - 30/11/2019
01/12/2019 - 31/12/2019
01/01/2020 - 31/01/2020
01/02/2020 - 29/02/2020
01/03/2020 - 31/03/2020
01/04/2020 - 31/04/2020
01/05/2020 - 31/05/2020
01/06/2020 - 31/06/2020
01/07/2020 - 31/07/2020
01/08/2020 - 31/08/2020
01/09/2020 - 30/09/2020
01/10/2020 - 31/10/2020
01/11/2020 - 30/11/2020
01/12/2020 - 31/12/2020
01/01/2021 - 31/01/2021
01/02/2021 - 28/02/2021
01/03/2021 - 31/03/2021
01/04/2021 - 30/04/2021
01/05/2021 - 31/05/2021
01/06/2021 - 30/06/2021
01/07/2021 - 31/07/2021
01/08/2021 - 31/08/2021
01/09/2021 - 30/09/2021
01/10/2021 - 31/10/2021
01/11/2021 - 30/11/2021
01/12/2021 - 31/12/2021
01/01/2022 - 31/01/2022
01/02/2022 - 28/02/2022
01/03/2022 - 31/03/2022
01/04/2022 - 30/04/2022
01/05/2022 - 30/05/2022
01/06/2022 - 31/06/2022
01/07/2022 - 31/07/2022
01/08/2022 - 31/08/2022
01/09/2022 - 30/09/2022
01/10/2022 - 31/10/2022
01/11/2021 - 31/11/2021
01/12/2022 - 31/12/2022
01/01/2023 - 31/01/2023
01/02/2023 - 28/02/2023
01/03/2023 - 31/03/2023
01/04/2023 - 30/04/2023
01/08/2023 - 31/08/2023
01/11/2023 - 31/11/2023

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Actually managed to get some pepper and sweet pepper seeds planted in between doing everything else. The tomato and cucumber seedlings are now out in the greenhouse (under propagator lids) since the weather is forecast to hover around 10-ish degrees this week and I need to get them used to being out there. The pepino seeds have now germinated, so keeping fingers crossed for them (the seedlings are tiny and delicate) - and for my mint sprouts. I'm usually unlucky with mint. Not cat mint, that'll grow anywhere, but human mint - like roses, it just doesn't like me. Determined to change that this year.
Back to the loom...

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Monday, March 30, 2009

Aaaaaand another new spread was required. But no-one's come back to me today so hopefully that's it.

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Sunday, March 29, 2009

Finished the amendments to the pdfs while K&K weeded the veg bed and the top bed for me.
Tired now. And haddock have reversed course. Know exactly how Tyjer feels...
let sleeping kits lielet sleeping kits lie
Let sleeping cats lie...
Ty
He put himself to bed!
Early night tonight. Srsly.

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Saturday, March 28, 2009

Wonderful day with GoodTwin and Sue! Drive out to Congresbury (which, Ken tells me, is pronounced KONGsbry) to Roundtree and Cadbury garden centres (Kai asked why garden centres are named after chocolate!) Spent my gift vouchers (thanks GoodTwin!) and picked up all sorts of goodies, including the big leaf I've been looking for to go with the spider orchids on the lounge heater and two wobbly volitans on sticks (will take a photo of them later). After dinner we all watched the first ep of the third series of Primeval, which was OK I guess except for the inaccuracy of the crocodilian.
And then the Being Human: Unearthed was on, followed by the first three eps - excellent!
Thank you both (and for the DVDs) - it's been a fantastic day!

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Friday, March 27, 2009

Sleep - a much overrated commodity.

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Thursday, March 26, 2009

So, finished the review last night, proof-read/revised/added a few words this morning, then did the poetry text box, then the little bit of further reading info. Whapped it off and nothing has come back so I can only assume it was mostly OK...
And a bare week ago I found Lexx season 1 (all four films) for sale for £14 from an Australian seller, so I ordered it and it arrived today! Tonight we watched the first two (I Worship His Shadow and Supernova) and enjoyed them like the first time. Fantastic. Kai loved 'em too!
Should be able to finish the Beltain article tonight, then tomorrow morning get cracking on finishing the book. As of tomorrow, Haadri news will be on the HaadriBlog, where it belongs.

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[bemused] Y'know, it's really quite difficult trying to get this review written with a cat who insists on bringing his ball to you for you to throw it for him - and who, if you don't, bats it under the desk so you have to crawl under with a torch or risk him pulling out cables as he tries to retrieve it himself...

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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Captions now done. I have three things left to do - a few more 'age appropriate' further reading sections, a 'Vampire Poetry' boxed section, and a 500 word review that I can't write without having a drink first...
Have wine box. Will tackle that tonight.
Tyjer in garden
Tyjer's first trip outside. This is him exploring Kai's den (hence the mess in the background). Since then we've done a complete circuit of his territory, and he seems relatively OK (though it's a little difficult right up the top as there's no physical barrier, only the wire and stake division the PDSA put up). Though he hissed at the wheelbarrrow. Why, I have no idea. He has a distinctly snake-like hiss that's rather expressive. Also several different sorts of mew - he's a talkative beastlie! I'm glad about that, all my pets have been vocal. He has a kink in his tail. He's also decided he's definitely part of the family and spreads himself out on the nearest available seat (usually between K&K on the big sofa). And he comes up and sleeps beside me when I have a nap. It's all really lovely!
magnolia stellata My magnolia stellata is looking - and smelling - wonderful at the moment.

foodbowl Yes, that is Tyjer's red chasing ball, the one in which he somehow managed to break the bell while it was still inside, in his food bowl. No, I don't know how it got there. He may have put it there because he can - he seems to be developing some cute quirks (not that we'd expect anything else in this family).
On a non-plus side, I've felt like I'm coming down with a cold for nearly two weeks now. Ken tells me the hayfever season has started particularly early, so hopefully that's all it is. I have some local honey: just need to summon up the will to take it...
Back to the review. It's all finite. Then I have the Beltain article to finish (publisher asked if I could get it to her before the 1st, which I should be able to do), and three site revamps to organise before I can get the teeth into Haadri again.
Clones. T.A.R.D.I.S. Immortality. Right now I don't care which.
Primeval Series 3 starts on Saturday (before the Being Human special). Sorry, GoodTwin and Sue, that's a must-see, we've been looking forward to it since last year.

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Tuesday, March 24, 2009

It's never-ending. Just when I think I've finished, I get a request to write a little more.
It's a bit like killing zombies. You think you've got them all, then they get up and start growling and shambling again...
It just seems that way though, it's finite really. Hopefully by tomorrow evening I'll be done.
Orchids
Rather disappointingly (did I really say that?) the new orchid is the same as the one that's just finished flowering: I was hoping for a different coloured flower.
Wonder if I could organise a swap?
Back to rockface. Last spread, last text box, then tomorrow I tackle dozens of captions...

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Monday, March 23, 2009

Back to what passes for real life and tackling the rest of the spreads... Tyjer

Dis my hoomin. U no can hav. ->
Tyjer

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Sunday, March 22, 2009

Mothering Sunday.
Ken and I are just back from watching Watchmen.
It's
Absolutely
Fucking
AWESOME
And I don't give a damn what the purists say, I love the ending. The book's finale always niggled me - even within the context of the story as a whole it nudged the plot from just plausible and hence believable over into the wholly fantastic and almost risible. I can believe more than six impossible things before daybreak but that just bugged me. Whereas the film's ending is much more realistic, believable - and downright nasty in its implications.
Wonderful acting, astounding realisation, and a fantastic soundtrack. They managed to include everything of importance, which given the complexity of the book is amazing. I actually lost track of time while watching. The only things that jarred slightly were the voices of Jon (which eventually grew on me) and Rorschach (I always heard him in my head as being less rough and more monotonous), the changing of Rorschach's line in prison ("Your hands. My perspective" in the book, "Your hands. My pleasure" in the film), his treatment of the kidnapper (more effective in the book), and the loss of that one line of Jon's which I always found so chilling and evocative - "The light... the light is taking me to pieces." They really should have left that in.
That aside though - Wow. Just, wow.
So, when's the director's cut DVD going to be available?
Oh, yes, and happy belated Vernal Equinox for yesterday...
Much later edit: From Wikipedia: "The film itself is scheduled to be released on DVD four months after Tales of the Black Freighter, and Warner Bros. will release a director's cut and the extended version in July 2009, with the animated film edited back into the main picture." [beg]

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Saturday, March 21, 2009

Two loads of shopping.
Afternoon in garden - all looking much better, and I popped Tyjer into one of the old harnesses and leads and took him out for a first foray. He was extremely twitchy and nervous, but fascinated all the same. Didn't keep him out for long this first time, but he enjoyed it and I'll try to repeat it every day so he can learn the periphery of his territory.
Showers, then dinner - then we settled to watch my latest LoveFilm rental, The Fountain.
Which is quite simply the most intense and beautiful film I've ever seen and has left me both breathless and speechless...

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Friday, March 20, 2009

Well, I've managed four of the required nine spreads, and planned out another fiddly one, but I'm tired now and wondering if I can take the evening off. I've made a start on the Beltain article, but that's not due until the 1st April, so no frantic rush for it...
TyjerTyjerTyjer

Such a sweet beast, such a cute face... [g] He spent most of last night asleep on our bed, snuggled between Ken and I. And tonight I gave him a couple of prawns... He didn't know quite what to make of them, but after a taste he decided he liked them.
And then he threw up.
[sigh] Argent couldn't stomach prawns either. Maybe it's a tabby male thing...

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Thursday, March 19, 2009

So, I settle down at 9.30 am to make a start on continuing the Prime Contact revisions - and the publisher rings. They need another nine two-page spreads to replace the material they've edited out of the vampire book...
Though at a max wordage of 400 each it's not actually quite as bad as it sounds, and I've already decided on four of them (will determine the rest tomorrow morning when publisher rings back). On the plus side, I've now seen the pdfs of the rough draft of the book and it looks rather good. My text hasn't been changed too much: most of what's been edited out was... non-essential, shall we say, at least for the book's purposes, and although some of the language has been dumbed down, it's not too bad. Of course, this is only the first edit: they may do more before the end. However, I've now been told that the US publishers are happy with the text, which has been a major concern, so at least that's now sorted.
My main headache at the moment is that the book needs dozens of captions for the illustrations: I've spent most of the day working on them and still have loads to do. I really need to have everything finished by Friday night, as we have things planned for the weekend. The weather's forecast to be sunny and warm, and we have lots to do in the garden - not least of which is to plan out Kai's railway track. And I'd rather not be working on Mother's Day.
Back to the rockface...

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Wednesday, March 18, 2009

frog-spawn
[bemused] I thought it was birds who sat on their eggs...

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Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Right, that is, hopefully, the last of the Vampires handbook done. The US publishers seem to be still arguing for it to be dumbed down further (though I can't see why: Twilight was written for the 18-30 demographic as far as I've been able to find out, so if 13 yr olds are reading it and understanding it they'll certainly be able to understand my text...) so there may still be some revision to do. Ken has also finished his first set of revisions, so we're chilling out tonight.
Well, sort of. I now have three clients who want their sites fully revamped, and a possible new one. The APAG minutes also need coding and uploading. And the editor of Soul and Spirit has asked if I'd write a Beltain article for the magazine, to accompany my Imbolc and Ostara ones. But I have caught up with all my emails, and tonight I'm going to redo the Haadri site pic - it looks absolutely horrible on my screen!
In other news... Took the bus up the hill this morning to Pets at Home, came back with a scratching post (with two toys attached) that I rubbed with cat mint and to which Tyjer instantly took a great liking. And did, in fact, this evening use correctly instead of trying to claw the sofa (for which he got a piece of ham). Also picked up some tin lids, a bowl for his cat milk (which he adores!), a cat mint filled fish on a stretchy string attached to a wand so we can tease him, and some barley straw extract to try to clear the algae out of Roeg's Pool. (Which is still full of bonking frogs and now has five clumps of spawn stuck to the reeds...)
There are some large claw marks in the soil up at the veg bed, which I assume have come from the badger (far too big to be cat or even fox). That could be a problem: much as I love wildlife, I can't have big native mammals lumbering around and probably over my food plants. But we need to plug the hole under the fence anyway, to try to stop Tyjer from diving next door. I don't think Chester would take very kindly to that!
Off to experiment with layers again...

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Monday, March 16, 2009

New Phal Tyjer

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Sunday, March 15, 2009

Phalaenopsis
Well, now we know the colour of the other phalaenopsis - a delicate creamy green with a very pretty speckled lip. Will get a close up in daylight.
Actually took some time to get a little gardening done today. Now have Brussels sprouts, cauli, peas and aubergine in seed trays in the greenhouse, and Stupice and Black Russian heritage tomatoes, sweet basil and lime basil, mint, golden berry and pepino seeds in propagators on the kitchen windowshelf. Kai helped, then did a little weeding for me around the magnolia stellata which is covered with flower buds! Also have a load of lupins coming up, and what looks like foxgloves. No idea where they came from, I didn't plant them there. Oh, and my kiwi plants survived! They're now putting out lots of lovely new leaves. Now I just need to find if they're male or female. Hopefully I'll have both.
Tyjer is really feeling at home now. He sat on the top of the settee for a bit, then curled up in my seat, then came for a wander across my desk. For a big cat he's amazingly careful where he walks. And he has such dainty eating manners! Of course, the other three were always fighting to be fed first, but Tyjer's never had that. He sits waiting with his tail curled over his paws and then eats in tiny bites or with delicate little licks of the tip of his tongue. It's very funny to watch.
He's sleeping up on my side of the bed at the moment. He was there last night too - it was a shame to disturb him, and I hoped he might curl up on my pillow, but he doesn't feel quite ready for that yet.
TyjerTyjer Nose to nose with a plush frilly!
We tried the chilli and chocolate crisps today - Kai and I quite liked them, but Ken definitely did not - and the Cajun squirrel. Latter was a bit disappointing, although since I've never made Cajun squirrel we weren't quite sure what to expect. OK I suppose, but nothing to rave about. So, all told, we won't miss not having Walkers crisps.
Bed soon - knackered...

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[rolls eyes] Cat has now woken up and is thundering around the house chasing his ball with bell inside, carrying it up the stairs in his mouth then chasing it back down...

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Saturday, March 14, 2009

Beastlie likes high places. He's still sleeping on Kai's bed, and enjoys sitting on the top of Ken's filing cabinet looking out of the window. He's now realised that people can go in and out into the garden, though he's not asking to go out yet (I'm following guidelines with that and keeping him in for at least two weeks and more likely three).
He really does seem very happy here!
We don't usually buy Walkers Crisps - the company supports the US Republicans - but when I saw the new votable flavours... I bought a bag of each of the six for us to try. So far we quite like the fish and chips, and the onion bhaji, but weren't keen on the duck with hoisin or the builder's breakfast. We'll try the chilli and chocolate next - and save the Cajun squirrel for last...

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Friday, March 13, 2009

K&K went out to Siston today, to find St Anne's Well. I started work helping out with Ken's revisions...
Couldn't spare much time to play with Tyjer, so brought in a handful of catmint leaves... [bg] He rather enjoyed them. He also likes chasing a ball with a bell in it up and down the stairs - or rather, he'll sit halfway up the stairs and bat at it as it hurtles past. Great believer in conserving his energy, our cat.
Back to rockface...

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Thursday, March 12, 2009

Actually made the time to watch Valentin Gautier last night - most enjoyable.
All revisions to date for Vampires now done. If publisher is happy with them, next week I get back into the Haadri stories: want the Prime Contact second edition done by Beltain and Missions out by mid-summer. That's the plan, anyway. And I'll resume the Haadri blog, which has fallen by the wayside a little while it's been so frantically busy...
TyTy
This is where Tyjer slept last night. Poor Kai couldn't move his legs!
Luigi

Ken spotted this Rosina Wachtmeister ceramic cat ('Luigi') and bought him in honour of Tyjer...
It has human eyes, nose and mouth. Cute as the kit is, I find that slightly eerie...
Ploughing on - writing up vampire legends to be scattered through the book.

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Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Ty[sigh] So, in between me going to bed at 4.30 am and Ken getting up about 6.30 am, Tyjer tried to jump onto Rosa's shelf...
Knocked the whole shelf off. Luckily the spider wasn't hurt, though her tank was all shaken up, substrate everywhere, and she's been laying silk (we thought she might be due for a shed, she hasn't for several years now) which is now all buried. The crickets tank, however, has a loose lid, and although Ken said they were cowering under their eggbox when he came down, it's quite possible that we have some escaped in the house. Eh well.
So the kit is a bit subdued today, wary when in the lounge, and has spent a lot of time upstairs on Kai's bed - he seems to particularly like it up there. Picked him up without being hissed at, though he's not keen on it. That'll improve with time. I'll get him used to me first, before letting anyone else try.
Picked up a large carpet tile in the second-hand shop - haven't been able to find a scratching post, so this will do until he can go outside. I'll rub some catmint on it later.

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Right, off to bed shortly, but first, some thoughts...
Tyjer is about twice the size of Argent - not joking when I say he's big. He hasn't stopped purring since he arrived, except twice, when I picked him up: he mewed (he has a very whingy mew) and hissed at me. I think it's possible that he was picked up badly at his previous home, so that's something I'll be working on over the next few weeks. He's too big and heavy to be permitted to cause problems with being picked up.
And on the subject of his size... I'm wondering if we've accidentally ended up with a pedigree cat. I've only ever had moggies before, who've been small, but Tyjer is comparable to Dave-next-door's silver tabby Chester, and Chester is definitely a pedigree cat (heh - going to be interesting when those two meet...) Will have to see if I can find out. I'm probably wrong, but you never know with rescued cats.
He is extraordinarily loving! I think at the moment he's just so happy to be somewhere so tranquil with people who just let him chill-out, but every time he sees one of us he comes over to purr and pet and nudge. It's really lovely.
Eh, I'll shut up and get to bed: I've finished revising the really difficult chapter tonight and sent it off. Tyjer's gone back up - you can tell by the 'THUD' when he jumps off anything up there... [g]

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And the cat has come down for some food. OK - I'm happy now, he's home...
Tch' - forgot to say: Kai had a lovely birthday. He didn't want to do much, so he and Ken put together the first of his stretches of railway track and he then amused himself sitting on the small wagon and rolling back and forth. I picked up some weed-suppressing fabric today, so hopefully at the weekend - if Ken's back isn't too bad - they can start laying it in the garden. At the moment it's in the lounge in the way!

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Tuesday, March 10, 2009

OK - not great photos as beast is exploring and doesn't want to sit still for anyone, but they do give some idea. He's very big, and very heavy, with an adorable face, incredibly thick fur and a very loud purr!
TyjerTyjer
In other news: Kai's tooth came out nice and easily, only took a few seconds, and Tyjer is proving to be a great distraction from the pain!

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Monday, March 09, 2009

We can haz kitteh!
I pick him up tomorrow afternoon.

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Sunday, March 08, 2009

Right - what have I been up to?
Rather a lot, but it wasn't what I was supposed to be doing. Yesterday morning I dragged myself awake (with Ken's help) early (9.30 is early after so little sleep the rest of the week) to set a wash going before taking Kai down to the RSPCA. Half way there, at about 10.30, Ken rang. The Home had rung him, to say they wanted to do the home-visit at 2 p.m.
Erk. The house was a complete tip (I've managed soddall cleaning while writing the books) and I'd planned to do a Sainsbug shop on the way back from the Home...
So we couldn't spend as long as we wanted visiting Tiger - but what a difference! He came out for pettings and purrs, let me pick him up and cuddle him (he weighs a ton!) although he was more interested in looking around than paying me attention! I'm guessing that the bullying started when first mum got pregnant and sprog took out his jealousy on the poor cat, as he's well-fed and healthy and not at all timid now (in fact, the carer said he'd been rubbing against the glass door any time anyone came in. [g] She called him a tart...) This is good in one way, as he's already people-happy - but he's also obviously an incredibly curious cat. That's no problem in the house, but we'll need to keep an eye on him in the garden until he's established his territory.
We raced back via Sainsbug, grabbed the essentials (very glad Kai was with me and could help carry as it was rather heavy) then did the quickest hour of housekeeping you've ever seen. I can move fast at the best of times but I think I beat my own record... (Kai dusted upstairs and Ken helped where he could, but he's buggered his back again and can't do much bending or stretching) Anyway, it was reasonably clean and tidy when the RSPCA visitor arrived.
It was pretty much a formality. She didn't want to look around, just saw the house was in a quiet road and made sure we knew about looking after pets (heh...) then said she was perfectly happy, would report that back, and we should ring late morning on Monday to confirm and arrange to collect him.
So - barring disasters - we will have a new cat this week!
And of course there will be photos - if he stays still long enough for me to take them!
We will be changing his name slightly though. He knows it, and came when called, so we don't want to give him a completely new one. I like Tyjer - close enough to Tiger that he'll get used to it very quickly and it sounds nice. Kai likes that too. Ken was trying out different variations and suggested Tiberius Felix the Ninth (Tiber for short). Yes, I blinked too. Not at all sure where that came from, but if I remember rightly Tiberius was James Kirk's middle name, and I'd rather not have anything called that in the house! Then Ken suggested Tizer: that was vetoed because I really can't stand the drink. We'll try a few more variations but I imagine I'll win this one!
After she left I went over to Tesco (there were a few things Sainsbug didn't have, and of course I now had to buy cat food - tins and a box of dry food and cat milk and treats!) and trudged back fully laden.
Then there was time for a shower and ploughing through backed-up emails 'til dinner (which was rather late) then we flumped and watched The Dish, which I'd picked up in one of the charity shops in Exeter. It's an absolutely gorgeous film, really really good. I tried to get a little work done afterwards but was very tired - so much so that I had trouble keeping my eyes open for the second Death Note film at 11.20 (it was very good), and I was too knackered to manage anything afterwards...
Got up earlyish again today, planning to get down to the Sunday market to see if the pet stall had a nice, sturdy scratch post. The other kits, of course, knew not to scratch the furniture, but the new one is going to have to learn, and since he can't go out for a couple of weeks he'll need something to tide him over. Headed off in sunshine: by the time I got to Burger King I was dripping - got caught in fairly vicious hail... Ended up just lugging the Sainsbug shopping back instead: will check the RSPCA shop for a post when I pick the cat up.
Tried to get some of the Vampires revision done but once again was just too tired. So had a nap before dinner, then we watched my latest LoveFilm choice - Jumper.
Hm. Interesting idea. Nice sfx. Not very good acting, though we've seen worse. But it started going downhill at the point where David (the jumper) ignored the possibility of using his abilities to rescue people and instead went off to have fun. (Though there are those who could argue that it started before then, when he used those abilities to rob banks...) Leaving Griffin hanging was a little harsh too. And as Ken said, David had a (mostly) happy ending. So, what, criminal, grossly selfish, unlikeable characters are the heroes these days? Only in America...
Awake and working now - though I don't want to be too late up as it's Kai's birthday tomorrow. He doesn't want to do very much, so he and Ken are going to take a look at what needs doing in the garden to get his miniature railway up and running...
Ken and I are going to see Watchmen sometime in the next week or so. I've been looking forward to it since I first heard it was being made: the graphic novel is a phenomenal piece of work, and I gather the film is a faithful adaptation (though no doubt they'll keep Dr Manhattan clothed.) Can't wait!

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Friday, March 06, 2009

Back!
I'm very tired (not much sleep - room too hot/pillows made my neck ache - and trying to cram too much into too short a time as usual) so here's some pics with minimal commentary. It was a very interesting break, and a lot of fun...
Wed 4th. Nice run in bright sun, arrived, had BBQ chicken pizza for lunch, then dad drove us down to Exmouth. Where Kai and I trudged down to Maer Rocks through very cold damp sand before being driven back by lashing snow.
Exmouth just before the snow
We went to the beach in the snow. Of course we did...
And Kai and I were wearing flip-flops.
So dad drove us on to Budleigh Salterton, a few miles along the coast (the Jurassic Coast, as it's known because of all the fossils you can find all the way along). It's a shingle beach, with pebbles ranging from big enough to stand on to fingernail-sized. We walked along the beach from the car-park to the River Otter. In flip-flops. We're mad.
Budleigh - towards riverBudleigh - towards village It's a lovely place though. And it stayed sunny(ish) while we were there.
Thurs 5th. Dartmoor. Kai wanted to go to Hound Tor again...
Hound Tor in the snow
Yes, snow. It varied between ankle deep and waist deep. I went half-way up the hill while Kai went up to the rocks for a quick scramble. It was bitterly cold (the winds on the moor can be cold enough in the summer: blowing from the north across snow they were painful...)
At least this time we weren't wearing flip-flops. Although proper boots would have been better than trainers. Might see if we can get some for next winter.
It was stunning.
Moor
This is the road down into Widdicombe-in-the-Moor. The village is at the bottom of the hill, though you can't see it because the road disappears like the edge of forever. It's scary enough in summer: in the snow it was distinctly alarming.
We tried to find Grimspound, and we were definitely in the right area (took the wrong road last time) but the snow was so deep it hid pretty much everything - and even if we had been able to find it, I wouldn't have been willing to make the climb. The snow hid so many obstacles, it was really quite dangerous. So we're hoping it'll be third time lucky.
Today mum and I checked the charity shops: managed to get a few bits and pieces. The ride back was awful, and I need to make an official complaint about the behaviour - and driving - of the the driver and his co-driver. Arrived back too late to get the X39 so had to take a taxi. Not overly chuffed about that either. Poor end to what has been a great break.
Kai loved it - has seen more snow this last few weeks than in the rest of his life!
Tomorrow a.m. we're planning to nip down to the RSPCA to spend a few minutes with Tiger (then back via Sainsbug's for shopping before I start on the Vampires revisions). But I can't see us getting up very early, somehow...




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Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Argent's page now up here.
Astonishingly, I've finished all the client site stuff I had to do: I can go down to Devon with a clear conscience. Lot to do when I get back, of course, but that's OK.
See you all on Friday.

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Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Kai and I visited the Bristol Cat and Dog home this morning. It's heartbreaking how long some of the dogs have been there - but there are lots of goodhearted people who take them out for walks every day. There were five that we liked, but three of them were already reserved, and one of them was too old (six, they thought). The fifth... reminded me of Quyn, and reduced me to tears. He's a spaniel cross, and actually doesn't look all that much like Quyn, it was probably just his hang-dog expression... He's called Benson, and he's five, which is older than we really wanted, but as we were walking home we caught up with him (one of the dogwalkers had him out) and he really is a lovely pooch. Really calm and laid-back. I'm going to discuss with Ken later (he's at court today) and maybe get back down there. Kai thought he was gorgeous.
We have, however, reserved a cat. He's a new arrival, a big, sturdy orange tabby with huge owl-eyes called, unfortunately, Tiger (some people just have no imagination when it comes to animals...) He's three, and has always lived in a second-floor flat. His previous owner was a now heavily-pregnant woman (bit redundant that, it would hardly be a man) with a child that really bullied and tormented the poor creature. When we first saw him he was lying with his head under a blanket but he didn't flinch when we stroked him, and while he wasn't exactly enthusiastic, he seemed happy enough to let me scratch behind his ears.
They're going to ring to arrange a home visit before they approve us. Assuming all goes OK - and when I told them where we live they seemed to be fine with it; main roads are one of their main worries, apparently - he'll need to be kept in for 3-4 weeks while he gets used to his new home. One of the questions they asked tickled me though - "Where will he sleep?" "Um, anywhere he wants!" was of course the answer. So keep fingers crossed. He'd love it here, peaceful house with a great garden and no kids to torment him. I'll just have to keep eyes out for my wee birds.
Publisher is enjoying reading through the manuscript, she says, and has sent over a roughly edited chapter 2 with some major revisions needed, as expected. Will ring in a bit to discuss.
More later...

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Monday, March 02, 2009

Manuscript away at 11.37.
Now have a load of client site stuff I've been putting off, but most of that will be c/p into the templates I set up, so not much typing. Have a BCP meeting tonight so I'd better get that done first!
Have rescheduled Kai's orthodontist appointment for his next holiday, end of May. The misaligned tooth is already settling into its proper place, now the molar behind it has gone, so the wait isn't going to cause any problems that I can see. He's out with the B sprog at the moment.
We have a pond full of bonking frogs. Just hope we don't lose any spawn to the ice like we did last year...

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Being Human. Last episode of the first season. Absolutely extraordinary. "Humanity is about love and sacrifice..."
Best thing since Torchwood.
They have set it up for a second season, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Yes, I really don't want to lose them, they are such extraordinary characters. I've come to love them. But... there's such a risk that any follow-up could suffer from follow-upitis and end up being crap. Though this is, admittedly, less likely since it's a British production. Well, we'll see.
46,434 words. A little less than I'd anticipated, but it's all good stuff. Ken suggested I include a tiny mention of the de Havilland Vampire, which I once saw flying right after a Vulcan at an airshow. Beautiful little jet fighter. Unfortunately I don't think I can really work it in and have it make sense.
I now have to have a break. The tendons on the backs of my hands are standing out like surface cabling, the bones feel like shattered glass all the way from my fingers to my elbows, and I'm mightily tired of living on Ibuprofen. It would be nice not to be hurting when I try to sleep as well. Remind me not to do this again.
Wendy, sorry haven't replied. We all watched Time Tunnel on our b&w TV set when it was first shown over here (oh, must have been early 70s as it took longer for stuff from the US to reach us then than it does now), as my dad was always into sci-fi. I quite enjoyed it, though it's horribly dated now. It very rarely shows up on any cable channel, though I'll keep an eye out as Kai is interested in old shows.
Ye gods. It's still dark outside, and I'm going to go fall over very shortly. I have time to do any last minute revision in the morning, but actually I don't think I need to do very much at this stage. I have no doubt there will be revisions - very possibly substantial revisions - to be done at the editing stage, and that's fine - we're used to it. But overall I think I've done a pretty fair job. And it's been an awful lot of fun!
Later, all.





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Sunday, March 01, 2009

Very cold very clear night and we've managed to find comet Lulin, though it's not very impressive, being well past it's closest approach and now on its way out of the solar system. But never mind! We've all seen it at last.
46,053 after a pleasantly leisurely day of reading through, expanding, tidying and adding missing sections. And I'm only half way through the manuscript - still have to complete the Being Human section after the last ep.
I'm going to really miss them.
I'm taking Kai down to Devon to see grandparents on Wednesday, returning Friday - flying visit but a change of scenery will do us good. Ken has until the 9th to finish his ms, but he's almost there already: will have more time to polish than me.
Oh - did I ever say? He's writing a companion book on Werewolves...
Later!

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[bleary eyed] Later than planned, but cable channel 444 was showing the live-action film of DeathNote so of course Kai and I (and Ken to start with, until he couldn't keep his eyes open) had to stay up to watch it. Thoroughly enjoyable - they really got perfect actors for it, and the whole thing was extremely well done. Part two is same time next Saturday. But it meant I was rather late starting work - 1.30 am, in fact.
Still, just hit 45K, as planned. I still have quite a bit to do - haven't finished the Social Overview section yet, and I plan to rip through the whole ms simplifying the text as I go, which will no doubt add about a thousand words in itself.
Knackered now and going to go fall over, but I must just mention something I keep forgetting. I had a lovely treat on my birthday - glanced out of the patio doors and in the space of about two minutes we had:
a pair of long tailed tits at the fat ball and peanut feeder in the medlar: two blue tits hunting insects in the rockery; a pair of great tits hunting bugs in the fake raspberry bush and checking the feeder in the medlar; a male blackbird noisily chasing off a rival before grabbing a beakful of sultanas from the bird table; a robin eating bird table seed; a pair of courting pigeons grabbing dropped seed from the ground; and to my absolute amazement a wren bouncing around under the bay tree. I knew we had one, I hear him singing a lot, but it's the first time I've actually seen the wee bird in at least a couple of years.
It was all quite magical...

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