Freedom From The Mundane - A Writer's Blog

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Dinner at the MIL's

Laura was better this morning though her voice was still a touch hoarse from all the coughing. We got ready and had breakfast then I walked her to school. I waited round the front of the building so I could wave at her as she trooped in with all her classmates. I think I may have embarrassed her, because she waved back with a look on her face which kind of said, "oh no - please go away."

The working day got off to a controversial start. A meeting had been called to discuss the recent failures and the blame was pushed forward to me. I resisted. Things got heated - very heated - and I told certain people some home truths. I have the support of my direct manager, but I was still raging at being treated in such a manner. In the past few days I've been at the receiving end of ignorance, manipulation, and lies, and it's just not in my nature to take it lying down. I felt better after the altercation, though nothing much has really changed with regards to the actual work and problems.

I don't remember being this busy in here for a long time. At least it's making the days fly in until Gail gets home. Speaking of which, she called the office at around half past two. She sounded good, telling me how the weather is in Kos and what they'd been up to. It was all crammed into two small minutes, but she said she would call the house tomorrow evening so she could talk Laura as well. It was so good to hear her voice.

I forgot to mention the annual fireworks display at Edinburgh Castle on Sunday night to mark the official end of the Edinburgh International Festival. Even from my house you could hear the explosions like they were right overhead. There's some images here if you're interested.

I took a rest from the writing this evening for two reasons. They're good ones, as they would have to be for me to justify it to myself.

First, I was invited to my mother-in-laws for dinner. I think she is worried that I don't know how to look after myself or that I'm a bit lonely stuck in the house by myself. She's right about the second bit, but that doesn't worry me. It was great to turn up at her house to a home-cooked meal. She made me lamb chops with a huge Yorkshire pudding (6 inches square!), roast potatoes, veggies and gravy. I was totally stuffed! And then came pudding: treacle lattice cake with custard followed by coffee. I had to sit on the couch for a wee while before I could even life my stretched gut to walk home!

When I got back I made a decision that will hopefully earn me some Brownie points for when Gail came home - my second reason for not writing tonight. The downstairs bathroom, which is more or less complete after its renovation, still needs a lick of paint. So I threw on my painting breeks and got to work with the undercoat. It took me an hour to finish it off - it's only a shower room - but by that time it was after 10 o'clock and I still had to clean out Milly's hutch.

By the time I'd finished that I really had nothing in me to start writing and all I wanted to do was chill out. So I did - in front of the telly.

I saw this over at Java Diva. It's a wee quiz about books so I thought I'd have a go.

1) A book that changed my life

Hand to Mouth by Paul Auster - it showed me the light and moved me from wannabe writer to actually doing something about it.

2) A book I've read more than once

The Outsider by Albert Camus - read twice this year alone. It's an addictive book because it's short but compelling on so many levels. I've yet to fully appreciate it, I think.

3) A book I'd take to a desert island

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Obviously.

4) A book that made me laugh

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller - took me a while to get into, but the humour and style is very funny both standalone and in the fuller context.

5) A book that made me cry

Yet to happen.

6) A book I wish had written

Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh - it's the book all Scottish writers wish they'd written - look what it did for Welsh!

7) A book that should never have been written

Porno by Irvine Welsh - just shouldn't have happened. Welsh is in a trap now and resorted to this work by pressure. It's not badly written or anything, he should just have left the characters where they were. They've lost something now.

8) A book I'm currently reading
Lifeless by Mark Billingham - still getting into it, but he's a witty and entertaining man so I'm expecting the same from this crime novel.

9) A book I'm planning to read

Don Quixote by Cervantes - an inspiration for Auster and so many other writers, I want to read this classic soon, mostly to see what the fuss about, but also to see if I can reach the end of what is a mammoth read.
Colin 1:44 pm

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