Busy

Today:

• Rewrite the last two chapters of novel #2 because the ending I am unhappy with has its roots in the penultimate section
• Travel to Stoke to look at a horse
• Meet Hayley at the yard at 5pm so she can see how Vin’s dressage and jumping saddles feel
• Record this weekend’s podcast (won’t be released until the weekend, though)

Tomorrow:

• Mid-morning: Optician check-up
• Evening: Start a run of CuBase evening classes in Oxford

Day after:

• Fly to Italy

Sunday:

• Fly home

iHola España!

So.

This bright and breezy bonk bank holiday weekend I am away to sunny Spain to spend some quality time with Daughter. Or perhaps I should say Niña? Or even Hija?

Anyway.

I’m sure she’ll find many ways of keeping me occupied – after all, I know nothing apparently, whilst she knows everything there is to know in the universe.

It must be a large cross for her to bear, being so young and so knowledgeable. I feel quite sorry for her; having to lug her know-nothing Padre around the distrito de Granada whilst taking the pee out of him and loving him in equal measures must be quite a task!

Note to self:  don’t mention the Go-Karting we did a few months ago

I am, it must be said, really looking forward to seeing her but at the same time, to be honest, less than enthusiastic about going. Now there’s a tricky situation!

For strictly personal, non-daughter-related reasons, obv. I’ll get over it, I guess. Probably.

In other news…

• I finished work today. My heart lifts and is borne around the room with its gossamer wings supported by the breeze of a joy indescribable. No more 04.45 alarms!
• I plan on filling as much of my spare time as possible by sleeping. How can this be bad?
• We are going to a gig in Witney tonight
• My horsebox (10t Ford Cargo) is being fitted with a new starter motor tomorrow
• We are going to a gig in Oxford next Thursday. Yes that’s right, I am flying back from Spain early, just to go to a gig!
• We have a night at the theatre in London village booked for the week after next, and a night at a nice hotel
• We are probably going to Italy the week after that
• We are talking about having a weekend in Stockholm in November. To go to the ballet, no less!
• I had a blindingly good idea for a novel in a meeting yesterday

I’m quite excited about all of these things, but the new novel prospect sets my pulse racing and makes me breathe a little quicker. It’s amazing what travelling on the Underground does to the imagination.

I’m really not sure that I’m capable of carrying it off, I think it’s too big and a much too mature and intricate piece of writing for me to deliver but it’s my bloody idea so I’m going to give it a go.

So you see, although I’ve been very quiet lately, there are things going on.

Now then, I need to plan the playlist for this weekend’s podcast. It’s going to be radical, man. And no, that’s not a euphemism for ‘I haven’t done it yet’.

Honest!

Booking things

I’m almost done…

After a difficult series of telephone calls with Daughter last night – but only difficult because, well, you know, she’s a girl – I was able to use the interwebs to spend some money.

• Flights booked and paid for? Check!
• Car hire booked and paid for? Check!
• First set of accommodation booked? Check!
• Second set of accommodation booked and paid for? Check!

In fact, the only thing not yet taken care of is the airport car parking, but that can wait, it’s less important.

Hmm… what else have I done today?

Breakfast in bed for Soph, obv.

And reading; in fact I’ve just finished Neil Gaiman’s peculiarly compelling tale of multiple Londons, ‘Neverwhere’.

Soph’s up.

Yeah, I know!

So perhaps a walk in to Witney next?

And Costa?

We’re meeting Perpetual Spiral for a drink this evening. If we can stay awake.

Because, you know, it’s been soooo hectic today.

Hiiiiiiiiii…. (fake smile)

How are you?

Mwah, mwah.

It’s been simply ages darling. You look gorgeous as usual.

Was it really two weeks ago when I sat down and chattered in to this keyboard?

(No it wasn’t, get on with it, Ed)

So my contract is due to end very soon and I’m planning a trip or few.

The thinking is currently that in very early September, once the Fiesta season in the crazy Spanish village of Bérchules has finished (they’re celebrating New Year right now – and that party lasts 24/7 and all week long), I should duck over to Spain to spend some quality time with Daughter.

Then back home for a day or two, pick up Soph and head off to Italy for a few battery-recharging days because we could both do with a little quality time together.

Then come back and do a short refresher course – it’s been years since I was on a motorbike – just to, you know, keep my hand in.

And then start scouting around for the next contract.

Whatcha fink?

Dubrovnik – Croatia Day 1

When you know you are going to be spending the day travelling, the best thing to do is wake up ridiculously early, much earlier than planned and feel terrible. Somehow, I guess with the prize of getting to your destination in mind, you have to struggle out of bed and get sorted. In this case, pack and do everything!

If you’ve been following my Twitter or Facebook you will know I have spent the day travelling to Croatia, more accurately Dubrovnik to meet up with Spank / Queen Hanna / Barbie / @cesekberry. In short this meant 2 buses to get to the airport, then a flight and another bus once landed.

Was it worth it? Definitely, this place is absolutely stunning, very difficult to put into words right now, hopefully some pictures I snap tomorrow in the light will help do it justice. Tonight we just chilled out and went to a couple of bars, met up with some of the people from the apartment complex we are staying in and a couple of London girls they were with.

More tomorrow with pictures I promise!
[Disclaimer - this post was written on Monday 27th July]