September/October Update

The change from late summer to full blown autumn seems to have happened in the blink of an eye. One moment there we are, sitting having lunch in the garden, the next we’re wrapped up and pondering whether to turn on the central heating, -which as I write has already happened.

This year has been a strange one. Covid, of course, has changed everything.  Since emerging from lockdown we have managed three escapes. The first during July to celebrate a friend’s birthday and then just the two of us on a three night stay at Alderminster, just outside Stratford on Avon. Both enabled us to relax somewhere other than home and (very luckily) to enjoy some good weather. Last week we took a break in Cornwall. I’d really wanted to return to South Devon but back in September when I looked at availability it seemed any self catering accommodation for two or four people was fully booked. So I tried Cornwall instead and managed to bag a really lovely apartment in Fowey at The Old Stationmaster’s House. There we had a relaxing week, did a lot of walking and ate some fabulous food.  It was good to get away from home and forget about domestic and day to day stuff for a while.  But all good things come to an end and here we are, back again.  My OH has been busy clearing the garden while I’ve had my eye on the loft and five boxes and three suitcases long overdue for sorting out.  Happily two of the suitcases were empty and the third, containing a set of ancient curtains, will go to the local recycling centre once we’ve collected enough items to book a time slot.  With the coming of autumn and changing into something warmer it’s also been an opportunity to sort out clothes for the local charity shop.  

Last week, our first since returning from Cornwall, turned out to be a little manic. There was just so much activity in those seven days that we even postponed our daily walk.  Of course the weather had a part to play in the latter.  After my surgery earlier in the year I was keen to get back to full health and walking played an important part in my recovery.  Yesterday, the 26th, we had an afternoon walk and it was amazing how everything had changed since the last time we’d been out (8th October).  With the clocks going back at the weekend, we were walking at what would have been five o’clock.  It was colder, what was left of the sun was well on its way towards the horizon and there were carpets of leaves along the pavement.  That is one thing that is noticeable here. Usually the council have contractors out clearing the pavements but not this year.  No doubt the Covid situation has something to do with it.  It means we really can kick our way through the leaves as we walk.

On the writing front, while I was in Cornwall I had time to think about the current state of play with my WIP.  My writing mojo had decided to take itself off on holiday and for a few weeks progress had been very slow.  Added to this were the other social media platforms that all needed regular attention. Something had to give and so on my return I decided to take a step back from Facebook.   I simply did not have the time to keep up with all the posts.  It’s not a total goodbye.  I will return at some stage, it’s just that for now dipping in and out of Twitter and Instagram works better for me.  Happily I’m gradually getting back into the swing of writing more.  Sitting in front of a blank screen, wanting to write a post and having absolutely no inspiration for any topic at all was scary. Even more scary (and frustrating) was having to admit that my WIP simply wasn’t working.  After publishing Shadows on the Water I realised I needed to make some radical changes. So it’s been consigned to the bin and I’m taking the characters and location and incorporating them into a completely new and different story.  The plotting has been done and I’m pleased with the new version. Now all I need to do is sit and write.

Well that’s about it for September and October.  I’ll be back at the end of November, hopefully with the news that the new WIP is going well. Crossing fingers!

And finally, I’ll leave you with a few reminders of our summer.

AT HOME

AND AWAY