Birthday/Mother's Day etc

Not a lot done on the writing front.
Had a birthday recently and then it was Mother's Day and a couple of small celebrations like that throw me off course completely. Not much of an excuse really, but when I add in a few days 'off' with hayfever that might be a better one.
Anyway I returned to the fray this morning, but didn't write much because I'd forgotten the details of the action I was trying to convey; so back to the reference material, then back to the writing. I can't remember anything these days!
On the plus side: the weather is improving and actually feels more like Spring; so I also "wasted" time sorting out some walks for me and the dog. I was using Google Maps to locate starting points with parking close by so that dog doesn't have to walk too far.
Never mind, try harder tomorrow.

Started writing again

Sometimes I think I'll never move on from the research.

BUT a couple of days ago I suddenly felt I had enough in my head now to make a start. So I've written a draft of chapter one and will be filling it out until I'm happy it's going in the right direction.

This is the best part...when I'm eager and believe in my story.

~ Become a Lake ~

An aging master grew tired of his apprentice’s complaints. One morning, he sent him to get some salt. When the apprentice returned, the master told him to mix a handful of salt in a glass of water and then drink it.
“How does it taste?” the master asked.
“Bitter,” said the apprentice.
The master chuckled and then asked the young man to take the same handful of salt and put it in the lake. The two walked in silence to the nearby lake and once the apprentice swirled his handful of salt in the water, the old man said, “Now drink from the lake.”
As the water dripped down the young man’s chin, the master asked, “How does it taste?”
“Fresh,” remarked the apprentice.
“Do you taste the salt?” asked the master.
“No,” said the young man. At this the master sat beside this serious young man, and explained softly,
“The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains exactly the same. However, the amount of bitterness we taste depends on the container we put the pain in. So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of things. Stop being a glass. Become a lake.”

with gratitude to Tao & Zen Stories on Facebook.

Feeling Lousy

I can't believe it...but my hayfever kicked in yesterday and I feel pretty dreadful still today.
It's only mid March, this is way too early and it's hit hard too.
NOT fair.
NOT happy

Something intriguing from Dartmoor

Something intriguing from Dartmoor.

The publication of this has only just happened although the excavation was about 3 years ago.I don't know much about it, but will look for more because this is such an impressive piece of preservation and careful restoration.
Back in the days when I studied archaeology all I saw from Dartmoor were fragments of unexciting pottery and a few nice palstaves (socketed axe heads, very trendy c 15000 years back). Makes me wish I could have my time again.

I should really be doing more excavation in the garden, but I put in an hour this morning and can't manage any more despite the glorious sunshine out there. Typical British weather; months of grey skies, cold winds and sodden ground then Pow! instant Spring. I have so much to do and it all needs to be done immediately. AAaaaaarrgh

Trying for the END

I'm still in the process or organising my thoughts for the current Wip.

I've now pushed the whole 50,000 NANOWRIMO pile from December into the pc's deepest cellar.
I'm still using a big chunk of the research I did for that but the female MC has disappeared to be replaced by a young male. I've not tried to write a story about a bloke before, so that gives me a buzz.

I realise that his active lifestyle will either need a quick rush through if I'm covering his life or a more detailed and hopefully more gripping short passage through some of the high and low points.

There is now a sketchy outline and some characters are penciled in but I need a lot more................

I've spent the last week or so thrashing about trying to construct an ending with no success. But now I think I'm close to sorting it.I'm going to limit the time frame and write an ending that leaves his story incomplete. It will tie up everything that he's done in his still young life but leave the reader aware that not everything is resolved. I hope that will be satisfying but stimulating as well.

Feeling excited now and approaching it with optimism.

Haven't got a title yet, but that's a problem for another day.

Early morning

I got up around 04.30 and now I'm here with a rapidly cooling cup of tea. Something happened yesterday that made me think about the future.
I hate thinking about the future nowadays...........it feels like a nasty alien entity sucking the life out of me slowly.
Now that's not a pleasant thought in the early morning, but it's accurate.
I never thought that old age might feel this way when I was younger. Good job too!

When I was very young I didn't believe in death, despite, or maybe because it had already intruded on my world and old age was never going to happen either. I knew no old people and the few I saw didn't interest me at all.
By my teenage years I was thinking death might happen to other people but it couldn't happen to me. I couldn't imagine Me not existing so there was nothing to worry about. I was going to live forever and I was going to save the World too! This must be a commonly held fallacy otherwise adolescence would be incredibly boring and safe instead of tingly with anticipation of great times ahead.

I haven't saved the World and I feel bad about that, sorry World. If I had my time over I'd do better; my efforts in that area have been little use. On the personal side I'm not afraid of death but the future scares the Hell out of me. I can't do much about saving the future either; that's probably why I couldn't sleep, my brain was working itself into a tizz while I slept.
I feel good now I'm fully awake despite the darkness and the rain outside. Fears and anxieties only have power when you're vulnerable, being tired makes me vulnerable. I did get some sleep and the tea is giving me a boost so I just have to wait for the Dawn now.
I'll go read some Rumi.