...And other stuff.
It's getting late.
At least, it's late in the year, if not in the day. It's almost noon here and we've been working for a couple of hours. So far, we've released the Quacken, let the hens out (2 lots) and the youngster Runner Ducks are in their daytime coop, we've moved hay from the barn to the field, planned to collect some of the leaves that have fallen already, found out the mower's tyre has a puncture and set out to correct that before the collection of the leaves can commence.
The summer has been hot and dry. Autumn has arrived early
There's always at least one extra job to do before you can start on the day's projects - mostly the jobs are easy to spot, but sometimes, like today, when you think you're on top of everything and things are running silky-smooth, there's an unexpected spanner in the works to deal with - like a puncture on the vehicle we need.
added edit And then, the van which usually has enough charge to work the compressor doesn't have enough charge and need to be plugged in. So, in order to collect the leaves, the mower's tyre need to be pumped up and in order to do that, the van needs enough electricity to power the compressor, and it doesn't...
It reminds me of the children's nursery rhyme;
For want of a nail, the shoe was lost;
For want of the shoe, the horse was lost;
For want of the horse, the rider was lost;
For want of the rider, the battle was lost;
For want of the battle, the kingdom was lost;
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
The rhyme probably alludes to King Richard III's defeat at Bosworth (at least that's the explanation I remember from my childhood).
What next?
Snake in the pool!
Don't worry, I fished it out and released it where the chickens won't get it.
Moving on.
My MAIN job for the next few days/weeks is to continue with my book, Ash and the Candy Man - the sequel to the Award-winning Ash and the Favour Man (yeah, I know, blowing my own trumpet).
So, here I sit, in the room I've chosen for my work, and I'm continuing the writing process as soon as I've posted some pictures for this blog.
We find so many wonderful things to be fascinated by
So far, Ash has had a tough time of it. She's only a kid but she has seen things that many adults wouldn't cope with. She's done stuff that some adults wouldn't cope with and she's still on the right side of sane - just.
It's now my job to weave a story that compels the readers to keep turning those pages to find out what happens to Ash and whether she stays on that right side of sanity or not. In order to do all that, I need to make Ash a character that inspires at least something - whether that's curiosity, or sympathy, or something else entirely, it makes no difference to me, as long as the reader keeps turning those pages, following Ash's adventures and has a satisfied feeling at the end.
I read a sliver of advice from Stephen King: His advice is to not write for money or a reward, but to write because you need to get your thoughts/ideas/dreams/nightmares down on 'paper'.
Stephen King's full quote from one of my favourite books by him - On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft:
“Writing isn't about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end it's about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life as well. It's about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy. ...this book...is a permission slip: you can, you should, and if you're brave enough to start, you will. Writing is magic, as much the water of life as any other creative art. The water is free. So drink.
Drink and be filled up.”
So here I am, at the end of Summer, sitting down - again - to tell stories of the characters that come to visit me and insist that I write down what they tell me.
"OK, Ash, I know you've been waiting a long time, here we go..."
"It's about time, lady!"