Boxing Day Lethargy

All week I have been using the  ’It is almost Christmas. I deserve a break‘ excuse for my procrastination. No editing has been done.  Now it is the Boxing Day public holiday here. I slept in. A lot. I was planning on writing this last night. It did not happen. My brain was too foggy and the apathy, of too much good food, had taken over.

I feel like I have been floundering for words – any words – for my manuscript or this blog. My brain is still on holiday while I am trying to sort through an enormous bowl of spaghetti that just keeps slipping though my gasp, only to entangle itself again.

With my caffeine levels bottomed out, I am trying out my new mug (a gift from my dear husband). There is also chocolate cake and dark chocolate-coated cocoa beans, courtesy of Haighs. 

I should be getting back to editing… but today is Boxing Day. I am off to visit some friends… Maybe tomorrow.

Boxing Day Lethargy

And now for our Christmas Viewing...

The ad blared: “Welcome to Christmas television entertainment.” 

This is really the silly season. I finally get some time to sit down to catch up on our favourite television shows, grab the remote and sit dumbfounded in front of the idiot box and begin to realise why it is called that. All of my shows have gone on ‘hiatus’ (one of the annoying realities of having shows fast tracked from the US/UK.) It took me a few days to find where Bones had wandered off to. Quite by accident, I found it loitering around another day and a new time. If I had not chanced on a station ad, I would not have known. I wonder it will be repeats. I must be an idiot to hope otherwise. At least I can rely on my books, as I can schedule them as I please.

Castle has disappeared from the airwaves altogether. It usually it televised after Bones. Nope – nowhere on the show listings. Doctor Who has been all timey whimey (not in a good way) with the split seasons then, after finally resembling something like the traditional series timing we expect in Australia, we now have to wait for the Christmas special. Argh, Withdrawl symptoms! Only three sleeps to go. Phew.

I have been enjoying Sleepy Hollow; yet again I have to learn to wait patiently through the US hiatus. Ditto for Big Bang Theory – though channel 9 can never schedule it at the same time on any given night or even the same night on different weeks. It is a bit like playing roulette. I think I will just wait for the DVD, as it gets very time consuming to troll through every night’s scheduling to find a new episode.

Thank goodness for Aunty (ABC) who have been playing new Miss Marple and Miss Fischer Mysteries. Sad news there are rumours that there could be problems with financing a new season (and possibly ABC itself). This is disappointing, as it is one of the few locally made shows that are not reality tv or soapies. The ABC have been doing us proud for quality tv.

Save the ABC!

In view of the lacklustre performance of the television stations, I have been slowly stockpiling ‘Christmas movies’ for our Christmas holiday viewing. There are the classics such as It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol, more recent movies such as Love Actually, The Holiday and Hogfather. (Well, anything with a set during Christmas or with a vaguely Christmassy theme makes the list.) Maybe Die Hard may even get a look in. Almost every television series has a Christmas episode. So far I have found some for Black Adder, Buffy and Poirot. 

Of course this is yet another way to procrastinate and avoid finishing those edits that I should be doing. Maybe I should use the lack of quality tv to force ahead. I will let you know how I fared, later this week.

Until then relax, find something to keep you content and Merry Christmas.

And now for our Christmas Viewing...

The Lights of Lobethal.

Here in South Australia we have a few Christmas traditions:

• the Christmas pagent – a parade with floats held in November, which brings Santa to town
• The Magic Cave –  This was hosted by a city store, a place to take photos with Santa (see Christmas parade), a cave full of Christmas winter delights and choc-a-block with toys. This was originally in John Martins. When they closed David Jones took over the tradition.
• Brewery Christmas Lights – West End Brewery sets up Christmas lights along the river that runs passed them.
• Lobethal Christmas Lights – it seems that most of Adelaide drives (or walks) through the streets of this small town in the Adelaide Hills. There are food stalls and, this year, there was a ‘live nativity’ with singing.
• There are many Christmas lights displays : here is a map

Why do I love Christmas light displays?
They bring the community together. They give a sense of wonder and joy. They shine a light in the darkness when all other lights could be going out. (rejigged quote intended.) This is not just felt by those who come, from miles around, to view the displays – but also for those who create them. Each year, we do a mini Christmas light display on our house. Being a good greenie, we only use solar lights. I love it when we get cars slowing down outside, to check out the lights.

This year we went to see the Lobethal lights. It is a 40 minute trip to get there. We snake in and out of the streets which are filled with children, grown ups. They crowd to see the live singing. It has a wonderful, warm fuzzy feeling of togetherness.  (they even put on bus tours to the lights – see photo)

 





  

I love Christmas – not for the farcical ‘spending holidays’ (I actually saw a sign on the local shopping centre wishing everyone a ‘Happy Spending Season’. Ugh!) it has become but for what it CAN and should be – a season of joy, thankfulness, caring and giving. I believe in the real meaning of Christmas – a great gift found in a manger. This is not for everyone. That is okay.  I just hope that more people would take the time to think of others and get a taste of that wonderful sense of hope, love and belonging. It is a time of giving – not just presents – but of ourselves, to make someone’ s life (including our’s) just that bit brighter. That is my Christmas wish to you all.

Be at Peace.

The Lights of Lobethal.

We got heat here!

For the past few days I have had an earworm – not a song but a quote, from the movie Fifth Element (complete with the accent):
“Some heat over here, man!”

Not that we need it, but that we really do have some. Does anyone want it? By 9.00am, it was already 30 degrees (Celcius). Last night the news proclaimed that it was the hottest December day in 82 years! Ick. We are in for a hot night and more heat tomorrow.  The mercury pushed 43 degrees by mid afternoon. I was wilting.

Thank goodness the power did not fail. There was a production line in our wee kitchen – with the novelty ice cube trays being filled as fast as we could empty them. (Brains, Han Solo, star trek and skull and cross bones.) Today was the first day, since last summer, that we had the air conditioner running.

It is currently 10.52 pm and the outside temperature is still 32 degrees! About 10 minutes ago, we realised that the air conditioner filters, in the bedroom, have not been cleaned since last summer. Oh, dear. I wonder how long they will take to dry. I really don’t want to have another sleepless night. It plays havoc with my writing.

Somehow, I did manage to write for my allotted four hours. Any writing is better than none. Only a good night’s sleep and clear head will tell me if I will have to do it all over again.  Rewrites can be frustrating at the best of times.

Here’s paragraph from chapter 2, to give you a taste of what I am working on :
“The smell of smoked kippers greeted Tillie as she entered the dining room. The buffet boasted a full range of delights, many of which were her favourites: bacon, fried mushrooms, eggs, toast and jam. Kippers were not high on her list.”
(copyrighted Karen Carlisle)

Art/Photography: There is always time for tea, even in this heat.

Costume: I really should be making some new summer clothes…

Reading/Writing: Chapter 2 edits.


We got heat here!

Sentences and Segues.

This week I have been trying to fight procrastination and face edits and rewrites for Chapter 2 of my steampunk manuscript. Though the edit/rewrite stage is frustrating, and mind-wringing on occasion, it is necessary to polishing the final story. While not my favourite part of the writing process, it does bring a fantastic feeling of accomplishment when it is done and at a ‘ready to be read’ stage. (I have a couple of trustee proof readers who give me great feedback.) Until then, I continue to forge ahead, trying to improve on the first draft (or the vomit phase).

First there is editing. Sometimes it is akin to pulling teeth – without anaesthetic.  During this year I have gradually found it less painful to cull words, phrases or sentences. (Though I still sometimes regress into a indecisive mess. ) Sometimes I get too attached to a phrase or sentence (or I just like the way it sounds). Even though I adore it, it may not fit the story line or the character –  or just does not make sense.  Sigh.

Intellectually, I know that I should probably not get too attached to my first drafts but must steel myself to making that editorial cut.  Ah, but I have a cheat!

I have One box to hoard them all, and in my weakness, find them. Well, actually it is two A4 sized cardboard boxes of a lovely lilac shade. I have a plethora of handwritten notes, excerpts and ideas filed away for future revisitations.

For writing in electronic form, I have a file marked ‘Ideas and Inspirations’. I also make use of the snapshot feature of my Scrivener programme – ensuring that I have a retrievable copy of my first (and following) drafts… just in case.

Rewrites are still a learning process. I am learning about points of view, restructuring of sentences and improving the sentence order for segues.  I am also learning that economy of words does not equate to holding back on information. I am allowed to make things more obvious, slow down the pace and elaborate more on the character, in a more Victorian writing style. (which I took as a compliment as I prefer this style for my steampunk!) Not quite permission to waffle though.

I should really go and do some more rewriting… Maybe after another cup of tea?

Sentences and Segues.

Beginnings and Endings

2014 Steampunk/Garden Calenders & Mini Gallery Update.

And now for something new for 2014!

If you are still looking for something to buy for Christmas – why not buy something useful. It will be with you for the entire year! I have created a Steampunk Calender for 2014, full of my original photography.

If Steampunk is not your cup of tea, I also have a new calender of orginal photos of my garden during 2013 – In the Garden. Just pop over to Red Bubble and take a look!

With beginnings, there are also endings.
Unfortunately Bullina China Shop is ceasing trade on Christmas Eve. These are tough times we live in. For the past year, I have had various photographic works showing in a mini-gallery there. I thank Skye for her support and enthusiasm for my work.

If you live in Adelaide, pop in for some great deals on china wear and crystal – at North Park Shopping Centre. (I have got a lot of my tea cups there.)

Copies of most of the photographs are available at my Red Bubble Store. Some are limited prints available from the artist (that is me!) only. Details can be found at my website.

Beginnings and Endings

Unlucky for Some.

Friday 13th. Unlucky for some, not for me. I had read (and observed) so many anecdotes about so called Black Fridays and the horrible things that could possibly befall me or my friends. I have read dissertations that blame the day’s misfortunes on self-fulfilling prophesies. You think you will have bad things happen today therefore they happen. As a result,  many years ago I adopted ’13′ as my lucky number. Yes, I chose it.  On purpose. Ever since, I have had exceptionally brilliant and joyous days on Friday the 13th. Today is Friday the 13th and it will be a wonderful day!

Today I woke to glorious sunshine, a deliciously cool breeze and the birds singing outside my window.  I was excited. It was writers’ group week again. Due to Christmas festivities, we were meeting a week early. Bonus! I look forward to the meetings; it has been too long since the last one.

This month, I offered the second chapter of my book for consideration and critique. It was gratifying to be told that the story is engaging and there are some points that are loved. (So the tale is not a waste of my time. Phew!)

I still have a long way to go with character development and motives but I now have a list of notes to consider then rewrite chapter 2. This has got my quite enthused for writing chapter 3, which has been lagging the past two weeks due to either procrastination or writers’ block.

I can’t wait til next month. I love these gals! I get so much feedback and constructive help. I feel like a learner – that I should wear a great big yellow sign emblazoned with a capital ‘L’.

Oh, and another reason for today being a wonderful day? My husband had a job interview and made it to the ‘second round’ … wish him luck!

Unlucky for Some.