A Monday Morning Moment November 27, 2006
Posted by Jen in : Journal , add a commentNot quite three beautiful things so far… well, it is early… it’s Monday morning… As I sat here with my Marmite toast just now, the sky dissolved into amazing beauty for just a few minutes before the rain washed it away…
This is what I saw from my study as I sipped my tea. So, I’m getting my priorities right, forgetting about work and enjoying the moment, still with the sound of what seems like a thousand voices from a fabulous performance of The Creation that I was lucky enough to play in last night. Squished in the middle of an orchestra, surrounded by a huge choir and with fabulous soloists in front, I stopped playing for a few bars during rehearsal just to let it all envelop me. As I listened, the day came to a close and the stained glass windows seemed to give a final sigh of joy as their glow faded…
I kind of realised that, though I have no money, I am far, far from poor…
Lexiphanic* Abuse November 24, 2006
Posted by Jen in : Bits and Pieces, Journal , add a commentBlimey, it’s been a long week.
‘So what’s the cure?’ I hear you ask…
Well, Nurse Jenny recommends copious amounts of the distilled fruit of your choice together with some highfalutin language, assembled into insults suitably indecipherable for the toad-like colleague in your life.
Try exclaiming enthusiastically with, perhaps, the merest twinkle in the eye and a coquettish tilt of the head:
“Gosh! Until now, I hadn’t realised quite how utterly limaceous you are!”
Combine this with a captivating smile and that creepy maintenance man will grin, foolishly not recognising his etymological kinship to a slug.
Go on… you know you want to!
* Lexiphanic: Given to the use of pretentious terminology, such as the word lexiphanic
Late November November 23, 2006
Posted by Jen in : Haiku, Journal , add a commentPotatoes baking
Early darkness obscures
clouds bruised as birds flock
***
Wrapped up in blankets -
Tempestuous winds
drag winter closer
Looking for Inspiration November 21, 2006
Posted by Jen in : Bits and Pieces , add a comment
Cartoon by Dave Walker
This is NOT what I will be doing today. No, really. I’ve got a novel to write dontcha know??
Three Beautiful Things November 20, 2006
Posted by Jen in : Journal, Novel , 1 comment so farInspired by another blog, I thought I’d mention three of my bestest bits of the last few days:
Waking up yesterday to the laughter downstairs of my gruesome twosome
Abandoning the things I’d planned to do (including my promised 500 words of The Novel) in favour of a huge Sunday roast - Number 1 son peeling the potatoes, Number 2 son helping with the syrup sponge. Hours in the kitchen with a Vodka Tonic or three and some stunning Vivaldi Adagios as darkness descended outside
Sitting in bed right now tapping away, smug in the knowledge that, for the first time this year, I have already ironed the school uniform, saving a smidge of Monday-morning panic and usual self-loathing at my perpetual laziness
I won’t mention that the dog severely disgraced himself all over the kitchen floor while I slept on Saturday night. Or that I got my first rejection letter for one of my short stories on Friday. No, I won’t mention any of that at all.
Have decided to write the daily ‘three favourite things’ for my main characters… or three of their daily disasters… Gosh… Another Thought. On a Monday morning too. Whatever next???
Ho Ho Ho November 17, 2006
Posted by Jen in : Journal , 2 commentsOh, I’m right in the Christmas spirit.
The boys have decided to spend Christmas at their dad’s this year… the first time in 13 years I won’t be woken up at midnight, 2.20, 3.00, 4.10 and finally 5.00 before giving in to their excitement.
So, no Crimble cake needed. Nor turkey… or… um… any of it in fact. Not sure what I think about that really.
But… in good news… since I won’t be needing a cake, I have found the best alternative. Now is the time to get infusing and creating homemade yumminess. Panettone Vodka anyone? Would make a lovely pressie for the lush in your life.
Hinting? Me?? No way. Really.
Slothful. Or Bone Idle. Or both. November 14, 2006
Posted by Jen in : Journal, Novel , 6 comments500 words per day
= 3,500 words per week
= 14,000 words per month
Therefore:
6 months to write an 85,000 word novel
Ok. I know I’ve posted the above snippet before. But, bloody hell, it looks so painfully easy doesn’t it? I’ve fannied about shamefully: watched crap TV and read trashy novels in the name of research, swigged wine to unbind my bashful inner scribe… and where has it got me? Bloomin nowhere. That’s where.
The ideas I had last week to develop The Novel are still there. And, actually, still good I think. Bloody good, in fact. They excited me so much when I had them that I almost cried. So what is stopping me actually tap-tapping away and just Doing It? Dunno. Since you ask. It’s driving me bananas, making me cross, frustrated and, oh, absolutely SO pissed off!
I suspect I’m suffering from Folie de Doute: pathologically obsessive doubt about anything and everything I do. Quite touching and charming as neuroses go, dontcha reckon??
Manners Maketh Man November 12, 2006
Posted by Jen in : Journal, Novel , add a commentOne of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness.
Josh Billings
US Humorist (1818 - 1885)
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m all in favour of manners. I currently have a couple of books on the go about modern etiquette - as research of course! Not for pleasure, no no no. The more I read, though, the more I realise that the whole idea of how we behave comes very much down to class. It’s all such a ridiculously snobby business. How completely and utterly excellent!!
I know, it’s not a kind way to carry on. But come on, admit it: at some time or another, who hasn’t shared with another that feeling of smug superiority, the arching of eyebrows between Those Who Know Better?? The opportunities for this abound when one considers the tacky world one lives in. Being supercilious means one can use excessively long words too. Not only is one More Cultured, one is Damn Clever too. All so gelogenic, what? Ra ra ra.
I remember someone influential once philosophising about bitchiness and how he relished it as the thing that made him laugh most. Boy George probably. In Smash Hits I should think. You get your philosophy where you can when you’re a teenager.
Tip of the Day (and I quote!): “There’s no point looking ladylike if you sit like a trucker with swollen balls.”
The Modern Girl’s Guide to Etiquette is highly recommended. Wish I’d written it…
Toodle pip.
