Category: Ramble Page 48 of 57

January 23

On January 23, 2017

Another Monday, another meeting in the city. The steaming heap of minor delays to my morning reaches a peak when I discover that the petrol station has run out of petrol (for the second time in a week). This is inconvenient as I need to drive into the city in a car that is hovering perilously over the empty line. In the end I’m half an hour early, instead of very nearly late–one of the benefits of paying minimal attention to your work calendar over the weekend.

While I’m happy not to have to drive into the city every day, I miss my London days when you could see the city starting to wake up as you walked to work. Cafe owners putting out chairs, people making their various ways to their various jobs; all the tiny things that keep the world turning.

It proves a relatively unsurprising Monday, insofar as many trivial things go wrong. I manage to reverse the car into a tree (causing very, very minor damage to the bumper). I endure a huge energy crash in the afternoon. I’m unable to get Plex to index all of my media properly! For unrelated reasons we can’t get the next few episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine to play at all. I admit defeat and we watch the ‘Bob’ episode of Blackadder II before despatching the Elderbeast, who is being particularly tiresome, to bed so we can get in another episode of Luke Cage.

January 22

By Justin

On January 22, 2017

In Diary

Despite a late end to my Saturday (somehow I end up reading until past midnight) I’m still up at 6:30am. This is partly at the behest of the Kinderbeast, who demands feeding. Regardless, I’m as surprised as anyone to be up and writing.

I’ve had a few thoughts about how to frame the story I’m currently struggling through, and I put some of them into a rewritten first scene. It’s still far from what I’m hoping for, but it’s better.

I continue to be obsessed with Twitter. History is taking place this weekend, and it’s compelling being able to have a front row seat.

We have a slow morning, letting the various Kinderbesten play after their sleepover. I take the plunge and start reformatting my PC. The job mostly goes well, but some of my backups haven’t quite worked as planned. It’s ok, there’s nothing that can’t be restored, but it proves tiresome as the day goes on.

By the afternoon my early start, and the tedium of restoring my computer, is wearing me down. We eat some tagliatelle with pesto, make some banana bread, I drink as much wine as my relatively low tolerance for alcohol will accept. Then we watch some more Brooklyn 99 and the day is done.

January 21

By Justin

On January 21, 2017

In Diary

I start the day with a glorious lie-in. Saturday is designated lie-in day, but on this occasion a the Kinderbeast gets Rach up to prepare his breakfast and she even brings me tea. It’s a fine start to the day. We briefly consider joining the Women’s March in Perth–I’m very keen to activate the Elderbeasts’s activism, and this is a fine chance–unfortunately, as Rach puts it, we are unable to human today.

A idea at the back of my mind to reformat my PC, to hopefully deal with its various quirks, develops into an actual commitment. I start backing up things and making lists of what will need to be restored. The preparation takes most of the day, especially as my first attempt to create a USB Windows installer (after about an hour of downloading Windows) fails.

In the afternoon we are introduced to Risk by a friend whose son is in the Elderbeast’s class at school. The Kinderbesten tire quickly, but we enjoy it. The Elderbeast’s friend ends up staying over for a sleepover, which is a novel experience for all. At one point the Elderbeast complains that he and his friend can’t get to sleep, and I remark internally that he doesn’t even do sleepovers like a regular child. Which pleases me. I have no idea how much sleep they actually get in the end: I can hear them prowling around the house even after I’ve turned my light off.

We confine the kids to the secondary TV room to watch Bill And Ted’s Bogus Journey. We entertain ourselves by finally starting Luke Cage, which is glorious, retro-fuelled, slow-burning and every bit as good as I hoped it would be. Two episodes down and I’m looking forward to more.

The news of the Women’s Marches filtering through on twitter fills me with hope. The inauguration of Trump will eventually become a moment of deep shame for the US, but the unexpectedly massive turnout for the marches shows that the majority have bigger ideas that Trump and his minions are trying to enforce upon people.

Also, a nazi got punched. It can never be a bad day when you’ve seen a nazi get punched.

January 20

By Justin

On January 20, 2017

In Diary

I’ve booked the day off work, as necessitated by school holidays, but I still get up to write. The first draft of the new story isn’t coming any easier yet: just 184 words today. I’m still somewhat ailing from The Plague. At least that’s my excuse.

Regardless, in a fit of energy I decide to corral the Kinderbesten into the garden to help clear the forest of weeds that have overtaken the passageway down the side of our house. The task doesn’t take too long, but I deeply regret not taking a ‘before’ photo–it would have provided some excellent nightmare fuel.

We then head to the shops, ostensibly so the Elderbeast can spend his EB Games voucher. When we fail to find a copy of the game he actually wants, there ensues a vibrant discussion over whether he should be allowed to buy Metal Gear Solid. He shouldn’t (and isn’t), because it’s R18, but it’s not until we’re driving home that he finally accepts this. These things can sometimes be a challenge, but the Elderbeast is becoming far more measured in the way that he tackles these first world adversities. It’s a good sign.

I am wrecked for the afternoon, so we all just chill out in our various ways. I am still wrecked when our friend Seb arrives for Fridate and barely have the energy to curate our Friday night viewing, as is my traditional duty. Luckily Rach suggests some music and I slowly compile a reasonably diverse playlist from the various delights and horrors that YouTube has to offer. At the Elderbeast’s behest we also enjoy a mandatory viewing of the SNL Super Showcase sketch.

I’m not sure that it’s beef, Karl …

January 19

By Justin

On January 19, 2017

In Diary

Overslept! Normally I’m up and about by 6:30. This morning I wake up and my phone’s telling me it’s already past 7am. I don’t even remember the alarm going off. It’s too late for a worthwhile morning shift (a.k.a writing) so I opt to make some tea and ease into the morning instead.

I get to work and am highly relieved to confirm that a mishap on my behalf the day before has not, after all, resulted in major chunks of my colleagues’ work being irretrievably deleted. And the less said about that …

Understandably, the rest of the day requires two coffees. It is one of those rare working days with not quite enough hours in it (as opposed to about three times too many), but I am still evidently battling the Office Plague (or suffering from Not Enough Sleep) so I head home when the appropriate hour comes.

Brief dilemma for the evening, now that we’ve exhausted the Sherlock vault, but it is quickly resolved when we remember we still have season 4 of Brooklyn 99 to watch.

January 18

By Justin

On January 18, 2017

In Diary

I’ve failed to bring one of the bins down from the front lawn. It’s sitting there, lid open, all but abandoned now that its contents have been collected. It’s a windy night. The lid knocks constantly against the side of the bin … th-thump-th-thump-thump … I don’t notice it at first … th-thump-th-thump-thump … eventually I turn my light off to go to sleep … th-thump-th-thump-thump … when I finally identify the distant noise, it’s all I hear … th-thump-th-thump-thump …

The noise provides a haunting, fascinating, frustrating accompaniment as I lie there, too asleep to get up and move the bin, but not asleep enough to be oblivious to it. I drift in and out. Sometimes the bin is still there. Sometimes it’s silent.

Despite this–and the Kinderbeast awakening briefly at 4:30am asking to be tucked in again–I get up for my morning shift feeling none the worse for wear. I even feel better than I did yesterday. I don’t write as many words, but I’m happier with what I’ve written today than I have been since I started this particular story.

Of course, I start the day feeling fine, but gradually descend into barely functioning consciousness by the evening. A combination of sickness and broken sleep.

Nevertheless, we finally complete our Sherlock marathon with the Christmas episode, The Abominable Bride. The Victorian setting is a treat, but I still feel it’s a shame they had to tie it in so explicitly to the present-day continuity. I will forever admire Sherlock for its ambition, the fact that it’s never content to merely repeat the successes of its past and will always push that little bit further. Far more admirable than the critics who routinely proclaim that the show has gone off the rails. I imagine the same critics would lambast the show for being boring and derivative were it actually to stay on the rails …

I’m also impressed that the show has kept the Elderbeast’s interest throughout. We will now have to come up with something else equally worthy for him to binge on …

January 17

By Justin

On January 17, 2017

In Diary

I wake up a little after the alarm goes off, when the Kinderbeast comes in to demand his morning feed, but the extra 15 minutes’ sleep does me good. I wake up refreshed and hammer out around 800 words on my accursed first draft.

But it’s all an illusion. As soon as I get to work I can feel the sickness creeping back in. I eventually have to head home as my brain is working about as well as my body. It’s my least favourite kind of sickness, something akin to manflu–too lacking in energy to get anything useful done, but not nearly sick enough to justify collapsing into bed.

Also, there is an entirely unacceptable level of warmth in the air.

The evening’s entertainment, as always, is Sherlock. We’re back to Season 3 now: His Last Vow. There’s a lot of nods ahead to The Final Problem, so it’s timely that our diversion into Season 4 has led us back to this one. Perhaps the show’s biggest strength is its villains, and Charles Magnussen is as compellingly repulsive as they come: an unforgettable character and a performance so committed that you can’t even see the acting.

January 16

By Justin

On January 17, 2017

In Diary

Another Monday. I get up early and make a slightly better stab at my first draft than the day before. The rest of the working day proceeds with a sufficient number of meetings to provide a degree of distraction and I leave work having been reasonably productive. It’s about the best one can hope for from a Monday.

I talk to the Elderbeast about trying to make more productive use of his internet access. If only a few words sink in it’s probably still worth it.

We watch what may well end up being the final episode of Sherlock in the evening (given the previous episode’s cliffhanger, watching the subsequent episode immediately was a necessity). It starts off well, with probably the most terrifying villain the series has produced–an impressive feat after Toby Jones’s effort in the last episode–but then loses itself somewhat. There are still moments of brilliance throughout. Even when Sherlock fails, it only ever fails because it shoots higher than most and refuses to fall back on the same thing that has worked before. On reflection I decide that the series has perhaps strayed too far from the path: instead of compelling mysteries for the main characters to solve, the writers now feel they have to delve ever deeper into the mysteries and challenges of the characters’ own lives. It may be a superior form of the genre, but at the end of the day it’s basically soap opera.

January 14

By Justin

On January 15, 2017

In Diary

In a break from normal Saturday tradition I get up early and write, finishing off the third draft of the haunted carousel story–it’s not yet finished, but it’s getting much closer to a state of me being mostly happy with it.

I dither for the rest of the morning, resulting in me not being remotely ready to accompany Rach into town for a cut-price ear piercing (her ear, not mine). This proves fortuitous as the salon is hideously overbooked and she ends up spending the rest of the morning in the city. I, alternatively, watch Gremlins 2 with the kids. It remains a perplexing film: perfectly enjoyable, but such a tonal contrast with the first film that it’s amazing the same people were behind it.

Rach and the Elderbeast head off to the cricket later in the afternoon. The Kinderbeast and I watch The Little Mermaid and then Toy Story 2, interrupted occasionally by some card games.

Having deprived myself of wine the night before (see: being sick) I have a couple of glasses once the Kinderbeast has retired (Ingoldby Shiraz Grenache – much better than the $10 price tag suggests) and attack some blue cheese too for good measure.

For my evening’s entertainment I have already determined to watch one of the later Hellraiser sequels (having just finished Paul Kane’s book all about the Hellraiser series). I settle on Hellraiser: Hellseeker (which sounds like it should be an AC/DC album by rights). This choice is mostly determined by the return of Kirsty Cotton, which at least gives the entry some sense of continuity. The marginally positive reviews also offer a compelling reason to indulge my apathy and avoid the effort of making any other decision.

In the end the film is reasonable. Reasonably well made, reasonably well acted, and tells a reasonable story. There is little to damn it with, but little to suggest non-Hellraiser fans should go out of their way. Ironic, given this entry started life as a non-Hellraiser script.

I try to stay awake until the other half of the family return, but eventually have to accept defeat.

January 15

By Justin

On January 15, 2017

In Diary

I wake up early to write, but it’s almost immediately a bad idea. I’m starting a new story. As usual I’m tremendously excited about this particular story, but the gulf between the story in my head and what’s emerging in the first draft is vast. It’s always vast. It’s why I much prefer editing. Also, I’m definitely not completely entirely awake. I retreat back to bed as soon as the opportunity arrives, which ends up being about three hours after I first got up.

I emerge again when our friends arrive for a crafternoon. In some ways its the ideal social event for me: I get to enjoy the company of my friends, but since I don’t tend to crafternoon I can just sit back and passively enjoy the socialising. Meanwhile, the Kinderbeast and I watch Frozen (the Elderbeast, conversely, is sufficiently inspired by the event to sit with the grown-ups and do some crafting – which pleases me).

My infection is clearly abating as I end up being inspired enough to convert the Kinderbeast’s bed to a bunkbed, as promised about two weeks’ earlier. This is fairly simple, being an IKEA bed, and the Kinderbeast proves to be a worthy assistant. At the end of the project he is exceedingly happy, and proceeds to show off his new bed to our guests with exhaustively repetitive glee.

For the evening we make the decision to watch the most recent episode of Sherlock, The Lying Detective, since it’s almost inevitable that the much-mooted big twist will be spoiled for us as soon as the subsequent episode airs. It’s another fine episode. Toby Jones’s character is at once fascinating, compelling and sickening. It’s a smart episode that makes you second-guess everything, and I end up wanting to watch it again as soon as it’s finished (but I don’t).