¦ dialling in from Sky Bunker ¦
16:51 GMT, Saturday 1st of March 2008. Kneeling on my ergonomic stool, flesh pink and cooling from the hot bath I recently climbed out of - catching sight of the dense tangle of red, brown and white-blond hair that now covers my face - and with a fresh mug of tea steaming away on the desk that's been with me since 1993 (the desk, that is). Random selection on the laptop is playing "machine pour les oreilles" by Rinocerose. Very happy sounds. The sky above me is becoming a moody grey but the day itself has been alive with sunlight... for me only glimpsed through these windows and not felt upon the skin.
It's been a perfect day. I came home from work last night, leaving on time for once, to return to an empty house. Jo is away all weekend. I have no plans other than to write. I'm so close to the end of Shadows of the Quantinex I'm certain I can get it finished in the next couple days. I made a light snack then climbed up into the Sky Bunker. 2 x 45 minute sessions. Then sticking to my general rule of no computer after 9pm. Downstairs, some red wine, Poirot on TV, chilled, then laughing aloud when QI comes on. Then in bed...deep blissful sleep despite the gale force winds tugging at the house in every direction, roaring and rumbling and whistling through the single-paned windows.
I was up around 6.30. Back in the saddle in by 7 Am. Forty-five minutes on, then a 15 minute break... typically lying in the spare bedroom across from the Sky Bunker. A few minutes making a fresh mug of tea, or putting the expresso machine onto the flame, or vegging out in front of the TV for a few minutes: Prince Harry returned from Afghanistan today - after 10 weeks fighting the Taliban. I spoke to mum on the phone... no damage to the house from the winds, which were much stronger up North...although the house across the road suffered its chimmeny collapsing. I told her that when I came downstair this morning, I looked out of the kitchen window to find the patio was swept clean... where the hell was the Satan thorn-bush that I've still yet to defeat? Ah! I looked to my left and saw it had been bodily shoved and rolled up against a wall. Strong winds indeed.
SO progress has been exceptionally good. Depending on how long my brain can keep pumping out new content today, I may finish tonight - just leaving formatting and proofing. Unfortunately there's no food left in the house so I've been forced to get washed and put on some civillised clothes - peeling off my usual "all day" writing attire - and flatten down my hair.
Hmmm, blissto..."Down in the Park" by Gary Numan, the new version on HYBRID album has just popped on via random. "I come to Zum Zums - a place to eat - like it was built in one day - you can watch the humans trying to run. Oh look there's a rape machine, I'd go outside if it would look the other way."
Djr
**Edit: 22:47hrs. That's it, my brain is fucked. Heading downnnnstairs. Night all.
**Edit: 08:53 hrs. "Moving Through Time", by Angelo Badalamenti is playing on random selection. What divine sounds for a Sunday morning.. I've been in the saddle since 7.30. Time for a break, going to pad downstairs (with thick hand-knitted Norwegian socks keeping my feet warm) and brew up my 3rd mug of tea for the day. I've just finished the penultimate chapter of Shadows of Quantinex. I've got to write up an NPC for it, then I can start the final chapter. Yay!
**Edit: 13:36hrs. Done. Just finished the final chapter. Though it's no point to celebrate. I still need to review the whole document, do the formating and chase down Amy Armstrong for artwork; but I'm smiling and happy, and feel like I've accomplished what I set out to do this weekend. The happy bouncy sounds of "Sweep" by Faithless is playing via random selection.