The Novel Idea

So I am now really getting into the whole writing a novel thing- you can tell by the amount of blogging I don't do... not that I did a lot of blogging before... Anyway, I have been putting together all the bits and pieces of the book I am writing and it comes to about 20 pages of text so far, and that is with the first couple of chapters sorted, and one near the end worked through pretty solidly as well. What? Write in order? Who says so? Yeah, loads of people do I know, it's just the way it is going at the moment. I fully intend to write in order from now on in, unless I get inspired to do the trial scene earlier... or the attack on the city by Gangethlu. Again, I digress. So it is going well I think, and although there is a bit of a biological deadline to finish the actual writing I don't feel like I am never going to get there. My two fingered typing is getting faster for instance. And although my spelling and grammar may leave my Mother appalled, I can always come back to those at a later time. The best bit if advice I can think of that I've read lately is "Don't get it right, just write". And so I shall, g'night.
V

750 words

So I have started writing. I mean actually started thinking, planning and most importantly doing writing. Deliberately. And consistently too, mostly.
I write 750 words (or so) almost every day. Some of it gibberish (see above), some of it letters to the parents, and the rest is a novel for young readers. It is an amazing creative experience having a vague plan, doing some concepts sketches (I also plan to illustrate the novel) and then just writing and writing and writing. Mum, bless her, has sent me a bunch of magazines with loads of great advice on writing for young people and on writing in general. So cheers Ma! You rock.
Until just today I have done the writing in an A4 pad, sorting it vaguely into chapters, mostly in chronological order. Then yesterday a dear friend, and fourth-ish cousin gave me a pocket PC to type on, and once I get used to the teeny tiny keyboard I am there! Of course, I have about 7000 words to type in... That should take a bit as I only use two fingers.
Anyway, all of that is it for now, such as it is.
Cheers
Gazza

In the Pit for Halloween

It was Halloween last night and we finally lit the Fire Pit for the first time.  Appropriate, both that it was All HAllows, and that it was just the family there for the inaugural lighting.  I made meatballs and spaghetti (renamed eyeballs and brains) in the camp oven, which were just beautiful, and we had sparklers, marshmallows and some baying at the three quarter moon.  We were treated to a few different species of frogs hopping around, many flying foxes and one very rotund possum as we sat staring at the stars.  Despite the occasional sprinkle it was a glorious night, and we all had a lovely time just being there.  We even took turns telling spooky tales, which was funny and a little bit lame.  I spotted a satellite, and showed the others before it disappeared behind a cloud.  We took a few spooky photos with our new(ish) camera trying different effects, this was my favourite... awww damn my camera isn't downloading at the moment... oh well.  

A Blank Canvas

I think it is trying to test our resolve, this house on the hill.  Delays of cataclysmic proportions have included a twenty year flood, and the resulting destruction and havoc that entails for us living on the Big River.  We  have also had all kinds of legal hooplah, bank debacles, and just plain weird goings on setting things back.  

In truth the flood wasn't so bad for us, stuck in Iluka we had only cabin fever to be truly worried about.  This place got hammered not only by the floods, but the herd of cattle that were brought up the road from a nearby farm.  They seemed to think our driveway looked good, and headed up, only to be chased back down and through our gorgeous old post and rail fence- which still sits partially demolished on our front lawn.  One of many jobs to do on our little patch of land.  We have had the driveway resurfaced, and plan to strip and redo both bathroom and ensuite, toilet and laundry also.   We need a fence built, and piles of rubbish torn up and taken away (we refuse to burn everything as is the custom here).

The title of this ramble reflects the yard outside my kitchen window, which was previously known as the 'Tick Garden' after all the lovely, minute grass ticks that infested anyone foolish enough to enter it's tangle web of lantana and other wonderfully noxious weeds. Two hours of excavator and bobcat work saw to it though, leaving a slope of stripped earth with the odd stubborn root and strewn boulder to tell of it's past glory.  It will soon become a rolling lawn with raised cubby house and aforementioned boulder lined garden beds.  Plenty of work there too.  Which brings me to my last point (hurray).

I have never felt so tired and so alive on a day to day basis as I do here at Bandicoot Hill.  Sure we're not sleeping for longer that a two hour interval throughout our nights.  And I am sure I have picked up a couple more ticks in the last two days, yet I am still at peace almost all of the time (sleep deprivation side effects aside).  I am living on the land, by a river and it's warm.

Soon my pretty

Soon we will be on the Big River, and far from the frosty climes of Canberra.