¦ dialling in from the Sky Bunker ¦
03:35 GMT, Tuesday 29th April. Kneeling on my ergonomic stool, darkness pressing down against the glass of the canopy above my head, deep red glow from the lava lamp. Gary Numan - HAUNTED - is playing through the big speakers mounted either corner of my desk, via the laptop.
I'm back into the vein. After struggling with Edge last week - I took a much slower pace over the weekend - and now I feel like I'm back into a positive, broad stride. Currently ploughing into chapter 38, and starting to really chew on the thriller fibres of the main plot. It's been difficult up to now because I want to create a sense of the existence of a large group of snowboarders - a group of 7 friends - that creates a social backdrop for one of the main characters...however, making these non-essential characters seem interesting, keeping them alive without drowning the reader in lots of character descriptions...that is a challenge.
Also this weekend: Matthias, my soul-brother tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend. An excellent ceremony. Not a single bloody hymn. Just lots of heartfelt and meaningful vows... although Jo and I were sitting at the back of the setting, next to a pool full of carp...and a surging torrent of minature waterfalls... so we sat watching Matthias and Tanya smiling, gazing at each other with true love and deep respect, their mouths openening and closing as they made personal vows, but I couldn't hear a word of it... I watched thier mouths opening and closing and listened to the gurgle of water from the pool beside me, then I glanced into the pool and saw two carp hovering just below the surface, facing each other at 45 degree angle... both their mouths were opening and closing... I glanced back at Matt and Tanya...and had a surreal almost comic moment.
I stayed up last night to watch a TV documentary by Chris Terril, about Chris being the oldest man to participate in the Royal Marines Green Beret challenge. It was nice to see the old bugger again - and striking how much he seems to have aged in the 8 years since I last saw him in London. I had to smile at the use of the hamster-cam to film part of the ordeal from his POV. I recall that scenario vividly. I was also pleased to see him complete the one week challenge. So well done, Chris.
Right, just sank the last of my first mug of tea of the day. Time to get down to chapter 38.
Djr