Nothing for over 2 months here. That's simple. I've actually been getting the words down in the real writing. Finished Draft Zero - on La Gomera, symbolically enough. I've written the synopsis, found the agent I want to approach first and started on the rewrite. Only need to polish about 20 pages up for submission, and I'm going to see where this goes. I'm not even bothering about looking for a new job; this is finally where I want to be busy.
The holiday was well needed, although I was very disappointed in Femmie & Fjodor. Joyless people who rather damaged the holiday. Still, La Gomera is special enough to revel in nonetheless, but the memories are rather tainted by their bitterness. And of course that's also damaged my relationship with the in-laws.
We're getting a summer here now. Sun, heat and storms. Kind of typical Dutch summer, but of the slightly better sort. There's actually been no heatwave at all this year, but it's been pretty pleasant since we got back. STorms are usually coming at night, like last night, although I was influenced enough to sleep through it all.
I'm listening to a bit of music from the summer of '89. I've also been listening to a documentary about the History of British Dance Music. The people who say "we knew it was something special, something revolutionary happening" are full of bullshit. We had no idea. Personally, I was too trashed to know what the fuck we were doing...
I still like the music where it's soul house mixed with acid house, those first bits. Good vocals, lyrics of freedom and sounds for tripping. What more could you ask for of a hot summer evening? Especially if you're not a 40 year old guy in front of a monitor, but a 20 year old with 20,000 people in a field...
I don't particularly feel like I'm getting older. I'm coming up to the 41st birthday, and this is something I think about occasioanlly over the last year. I've been wondering when I might start to feel like a middle aged guy. But it's not happening. Seems that age and responsibility and conformity is just another bollocks myth. Sure there's the responsibility of having kids, having a house, working every day, but it's really all still playing house. It doesn't actually touch the core of you.
What else? Of my usual interests - well, looks like being an active storm season this year. It would be nice, if I manage to establish any commercial credibility as a writer, to think I can get into a storm in the next couple of years. It would be research, so even tax deductible ;-)
The Ashes are on again next year. I think today was the first day sonce the Oval in '05 that England have really looked like they have the fight to be good again. I guess the Ashes is their Olympics (which of course is also about to kick off. Amidst gods only know what mayhem may occur - protests, torture and bombs?)
Football season also about to kick off. I don't know why, but I'm rather looking forward to it this year. Must be something to do with wanting to chill out more. Funny how this cliched guy drinks beer and watches sport and takes it easy after a long day's managing. Well, I always did say the revolution isn't political, it's personal ;-)
Yeah, what else to say? Nothing much. Stuff happening in the world. Karadzic got arrested and is sat in his cell a hundred miles from here. The sort of thing to make you contemplate the Death Penalty. Which I would probably be in favour of in his case. Except today also, Barry George was finally released after being framed for killing Jill Dando. And it was obvious at the time that he was innocent, and even now there's no cops going to be held accountable. So how can you ever trust the state to have judgement over life and death? So who's to make the decision? Those of us who know the edge and who can "end it in hemp"?
I should be going to bed already. I should be down the garden centre tomorrow to buy seed potatoes and sticks. Because I'm enjoying growing veggies no end. Although it doesn't seem to be really difficult - it's more a case of watching the things grow and marvelling at them.
Nice photo's from here BTW.
