Mark's Random Thoughts

Tottering along…

Mark D — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:25:51 +0000

Seem to mostly be killing time recently rather than being productive. I took a month or so hiatus from writing and am finding it quite tricky to get back in to the flow. In a day or two (perhaps even Monday after the weekend) I figure to print out the chapters so far and read them from the start. This may give me fresh ideas for how to write the ending.

I titled this ‘Tottering along’ as I have taken a couple of walks recently. The first was to my local pub, near two miles away across hilly terrain. The beer was rather refreshing after that hike. Weird things started happening after perhaps the second pint. Among the weirdness, I caught glimpses of an angel, yet something about them just wasn’t her.
A couple of days after that I had to take my car to get the brakes done. The walk back and then the walk to fetch the car were exhausting. My leg is still a little painful now, hence the tottering.

Will try to write more soon.

Digsby chat widget removed

Mark D — Fri, 27 May 2011 09:48:00 +0000

I removed the chat widget as it wasn’t behaving properly… the client ‘invisible’ status wasn’t passing through to the widget. A couple of work sessions interrupted by chat and I decided to remove it.

Should you seek to contact me, perhaps try just using email

Shape of a pear

Mark D — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:12:08 +0000

Bit of a setback with the old finances at the moment, means drinking cheap vodka rather than lording it up at some pub. Mostly I pour it into a glass first and I still don’t drink every day, so things are not too bad. Always tend to get bored of alcohol after several days and then take several days away from drinking.
Stupid car has developed a fault too, which means paying to get her neutered… well fixed somehow. The mechanic should be here shortly.

Book is going quite well, no money to go out having fun so am getting a bit of work done. Somewhat through chapter 13 and realizing that I need to reduce the amount of words. Current estimate would put completion about 130k words which is a bit heavy.

As regards the wonderful lady I dote upon… well, I ran low of money and she ran low of friendship. Interpret that however you want.
Feeling rather hurt as it goes. Might survive, might not. Got a story to write first though.

Finally… Back online

Mark D — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:08:44 +0000

Okay. I feel alive again.

I’ve stopped with the travelling for a while and am reasonably settled in a converted barn somewhere in the remote countryside of Britain. Ordered adsl connection two months ago and they have finally got me connected.

The novel is coming along quite nicely; being offline has given me quite a lot of time to devote to that. I guess I will have to make sure I spend as much time writing now that I am online.

Ready to hit the road again…

Mark D — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 17:01:22 +0000

Well, I managed to get hold of the mirror glass I needed and that is all fitted now, the LPG tanks are full to the brim and the engine battery is being charged.

All I need now is a direction to head…

I did consider a trip up to Scotland to meander around the Highlands until Hogmanay and a few days after. None too sure now with the weather forecasts predicting another slump in temperature and more ice hazards. I guess I could jump back over to the continent and try to find somewhere above freezing for the duration of Yule and the New Year. Alternatively there is always the possibility that I might head over to the west country for a while.

Thought I was really getting along well with the lady who inhabits so many of my waking thoughts, then found out otherwise when she explained how she viewed recent interactions. Rather glad that I am set to travel again, perhaps the road and different scenery will allow me to move on peacefully.

Have done a bit more on the theorized interpretation of that famous crucifixion and am still seeking inspiration for continuance of the novel. I figured to rewrite the beginning so as to start with a more powerful moment from that chapter and then reflect back on the entire event from the classroom onwards.

Anyway, should be back on the road soon so might not be posting as much.
Have a Merry Christmas and New Year everyone.

Reflections

Mark D — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:13:43 +0000

Once again I am contemplating travelling, once again I have no fixed course in mind. Perhaps North, perhaps South, perhaps even East and across the waters to play in the snow in Europe.

Just have to get a wing mirror replacement for the motor and everything should be set to hit the road again. This task is not being as easy as it sounds though, might even have to resort to getting the mirror glass cut rather than trying to find one online. Grrrr

As Christmas draws nearer…

Mark D — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:34:27 +0000

I don’t much know if it is my morbid side or just because the Yule season makes us remember friends and good times…

R.I.P Anna – take care girl, kiss an angel for me darling
R.I.P Ian – keep smiling dude, drive them crazy
R.I.P Lee – enjoy each moment, grab an angel and fly with them
R.I.P Mike –

* I still don’t fully believe that Mike has gone.

For you guys and for those that have passed without me knowing, I hope you have found your ways to better places.

Да́льше с глаз – бли́же к се́рдцу

What are Friday nights for?

Mark D — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 21:36:19 +0000

As the more deductive amongst you may have surmised, today if Friday and the time is edging slowly through the early evening.
I tried the usual channels for coaxing someone out for a quick beverage though have had no takers, hence I am sitting at home contemplating the world.

Not everything is as bad as it sounds, I did find some beers and have a few contacts on various IM systems that it seems almost like drinking in company. If I keep telling myself that, I think I can justify sitting here drinking. I am generally not a great fan of sitting alone at home drinking, even if it does happen to be the weekend.

So, I guess it seems like an evening on the net then…

State of affairs

Mark D — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:08:08 +0000

Life is weird… Mine is likely even weirder than yours (and I figure yours might well be weird if you are actually taking the time to read this).

Anyway, a quick update on what transpires at the moment and the considerations for the near future:

Passion:
The one I think of most seems to have lost interest (perhaps because she now thinks I am a liar as I bought her a present that has been either lost or seriously delayed in transit). I think that walking away is somewhere on the agenda though really don’t want to lose her. I am fully aware that I think too much about every interaction I have with her. I read so much (well, the pessimist side of me reads so little) into her words that I end up reading between her words and then I even start trying to analyse the kerning between the typed letters hehe
A girl from my past got in contact a couple of weeks ago after perhaps a year of silence. It was nice to hear from her yet I find I don’t have any desire to reply even though she is ill and I should say something. Yeah, I guess the ‘one I think of most’ is part responsible there – is loyalty stupidity? I guess so when the loyalty is likely misplaced.

Writing:
Still playing around with chapter five and progress is mind numbingly slow. Currently somewhere with negative inspiration. Really should move on again. Also, I recognize the muse in the ‘one I think of most’ and am rather worried about where that situation is heading.
Have also started a dissertation/thesis on the English interpretation of… well, pretty much of everything (rather condensed obviously – a concise guide (though as it hedges on absolution from one venial* act I figure people should not take it as a guide)). Perhaps spending a little more time on this might release the block that is holding up the novel.

Travels:
As mentioned, I am currently somewhere that is not providing any inspiration. This should be rectified as soon as possible methinks.
I have some actual flights and apartments booked for a trip over to Eastern Europe in late November. Still not perfectly sure about going though, perhaps a different direction would be better. Several places appeal… only one person does though

* – Venial or mortal mostly dependent upon who you read.

Europe…

Mark D — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 18:20:54 +0000

Well, I have now done as far south as the border to Montenegro and not found many places peaceful enough to stay long. Am now back in Italy and thinking where to settle for a while and get more of the story written.

Rather tired of this life as it goes, have decided to see if I can go without food for a while.