¦ dialling in from workstation ¦
13:15 GMT, Wednesday 9th day of 9th month of 2009. Sat at my desk, blinds down on the tall Napoleonic window, a shame as the sun is glorious at the moment… but it’s either that or not be able to see my screen for glare. I’ve got Dead Can Dance, “Within the Realm of a Dying Sun” playing by choice. Comfort music, I suppose. It’s been a tough morning, although I feel like possibly the stress and tension (at work) of past few weeks is easing. Could be famous last words.
Normally this album is “bad shit’s going to happen” music during Yellow Dawn sessions, and previously GAME. It’s certainly one of my favourites and has been a regular feature in my creative life since 1990. Check it out here:
Preview Dead Can Dance
I did Yen Sushi today. Need the protein fix for my brain. I’m pretty sure the reason I did such an excellent job writing Edge was because I was eating sushi 2 or 3 times a week. Yen Sushi didn’t disappoint; still the best sushi house in the world. *smiles*
If you’re anywhere near the South West of England and can pop into the ancient Roman city of Bath, then check them out:
Yen Suhsi, Bath
I had to get the bus in today. The crappy 332 which generally arrives 15 minutes late, but you have to arrive 10 minutes early, resulting in a 25 minute waste of your life… because if you decide to arrive at the time the bus is due to turn up, or even assume it’ll be late and turn up later, you’ll discover this was the one day the bus flies past earlier than expected. Reason for the bus journey is my car, the Rocket, has developed technical problems. How bad I’m yet to discover – I dropped it off with Terry, my mechanic, last night. Essentially what started a couple weeks ago as something that sounded like a flaky exhaust evolved into something that sounded like a bag of spanners in a washing machine; then past 2 days it got worse and sounded like a bucket full of nuts and bolts being poured down a metal escalator… even when the engine was just ticking over. I’m dreading it to be something like the clutch. Probably going to be expensive, whatever the reason.
:o(
Progress with the new novel, Dog Eat Dog continues.
I’m still reading the proof copy of Pete Will’s first novel, Absolution. For a 1st attempt it’s bloody good. Lots of silly mistakes, sure; mainly typos, but it reads like proper novel and I’ve found myself thinking about the story when I’m not reading it. I’m certainly enjoying it.
Had an email from my publicist in New York today. Made me smile. Not sure if it’s being exposed to my writing or simply the pace of his life that’s doing it to him:
From: floyd____@xxxxx.com
To: clovenfeet@hotmail.com
Subject: dreams
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2009 15:23:58 +0000
Hey man,
Had a dream I was reading one of your new books.
Boring bit on a plane - people sat around tables. I knew horror had to be involved somewhere. Cool part was when I thought, "Maybe I'm the horror!"
Cut to a nasty hotel. Junk and clutter everywhere, creepy lighting. In bed with a friend (non sexual). We're eating a MASSIVE curry. It's not good, feel too full, ill.
Went to go to the bathroom, into the hallway, go to turn on light and notice at the end of the corridor, my own shadow in the opposite doorway. Then I realize, with some horror, that the shadow is moving a split second too late. It wasn't human. It was being sneaky. What did it want?
Woke in a very cold sweat, breathing hard.
Ha.Last Sunday found me sitting in front of the TV taking a break. The interval guy announced that “Around the World in 80 Days” was about to start. I grimaced, then I checked the blurb and saw it starred David Niven. I thought, hmm, I’ll give it a go. Anyhow, it starts and within the first few minutes I find myself watching this amazing looking man, with South American features and a very Charlie Chaplin vibe, riding a Penny Farthing down a late 19th century London street. I was immediately entranced. The man / actor, was incredible. And throughout the film he was the absolute star of the show. The actor’s name is Mario Moreno Reyes, also known as “Cantinflas”, and is one of those rare diamond’s of a human being who is both brilliant and self-effacing, powerful and philanthropic. I would have loved to have met him.
Wiki link for Mario Moreno Reyes