The Mad Hatter

Been somewhat allergic to squiggling lately. Got till midnight to resolve this little issue.
There was tons of goblin gossip this week well worth reporting but which will make it into the nano novel in some form or other.
Then there was the minor matter of the beginning of three goblin free weeks. Three weeks of decadence for squiggling, gardening, pottering, decluttering and anything else a lazy serpent cares to occupy herself with

But no. As usual the Dementors have other plans. They are becoming so unbearably predictable - turning up without fail on the first week of every Izzie holiday. And this time is no exception

Should have been out partying and jumping for joy at 1.30pm on Wednesday but could manage no more than a half enthusiastic "Well - whatever"
Attempts to trick and sneak past their scheming did not work. Tried visiting The Secret Garden cafe in anticipation of the Nano weekly write ins. The fact that this place has so many magical associations and is a favorite spot for playing with the cards counted for nothing at all.

Thursday should have been a shoe in. The grand plans of the day which did not change were to have a long long snooze before slinking off to The Little Pantry followed by the Dome Cafe in Subiaco, a quick visit to the library there to return some books before turning up just before 8pm to the arts centre to see "The Trial" Had bought the ticket two months before and was seriously looking forward to some Kafkaesque craziness

But the craziness was all on the serpent front. First suspected that something was seriously amiss when getting agitated by a bunch of cackling passengers and the fact that the driver got every single red light once hitting the city. Rationally thinking, had a good 10 minutes connection time to the Subiaco bus but was still all edgy and agitated
One of the Dementors' calling cards is that while under their spell, it is possible to think only of bad things that happened in the past, will most likely happen in the future and awfulizing of all different sorts. But never ever ever is it possible for Izzie to remain in the present while they are around. Coincidence? Don't think so

Paid a quick visit to the shops on the way to the library and in spite of them being virtually empty, still felt totally claustrophobic and crowded out. Even tasty morsels like "I am a strange loop" and "Fooled by Randomness" did not do the trick nor did returning that copy of Twilight. Once bitten, twice shy.

Managed to kind of get lost on the way to the arts centre in spite of having gone that way many times before. Rather - it was slightly off to the side of the path but was simply unable to see it.
Did make it to the loo and got bags in the cloak room by 7.55 with the play starting at 8pm

It was seriously strange but good - good enough to be the only two hours in the whole day spent in the present but will save the play itself for another post. But then came the worry about getting back to the train station for 10.20 as the bus at 10.50 would be pushing it very fine for the last connecting bus back to the Lair. The rational inner voice saying that it was always possible to get a taxi to the city if we missed the 10.20 bus got totally drowned out by miserable moaning Myrtle who is anything but rational. Of course is no fun paying big fat taxi fares but the money saved by not having a car would allow at least five taxis a year and still be way way ahead.

Did make it with five minutes to spare for the 10.20 train so had a good 40 minute wait for the last bus. Spent that with the fascinating Alain de Botton book "The consolations of philosophy"
Was near the end - the chapter about Nietzsche. Any aspiring nano novelist can relate to his philosophy. It's the things that are difficult and involving lots of sacrifice that are in the end the most valuable of all.

Friday was more of the same madness and Saturday too. Was up and down like a yoyo that day thinking that the beasts were getting bored and departing in search of tastier souls than the serpent had to offer. If only
Did manage to make some progress on the plotting front. Had been thinking that the last card of the Bohemian Gothic tarot is so gorgeous that she should be the main character.
This smidgeon of instinct and inspiration got the green light when two cards turned up while dealing out four cards for the subplots of chapter 9
Nine of swords had the same woman waking up from some awful ghost inspired nightmare. This was followed by the seven of swords where she was stealing some dark grimoire from some imposing stone tower.
So now we have got a whistleblower trying to get positive proof of the pathetic performance of the managers at the lunatic asylum. Worse than pathetic - downright criminal! But no more spoilers for the moment

So very very happy with that bit of progress and unlike last time - it's before the starting gun and not a whole week into the race that the inspiration arrived

The long and the short of it is that every other time the dementors leave their calling cards, they stay for a week or so - sometimes even longer but they always pack their bags and leave instantly
So while slowly descending to the depths of despair, will suddenly snap out of it with no apparent explanation. The only thing to do is to lie low and wait and not do anything seriously stupid
Did hope that they would choose Halloween for their departure but so far still waiting

If they are still here at midnight, will get them to up the body count. Being all gloom and doomed does not mean being a brain dead zombie - well brain dead most definitely but still able to slink around somewhat but with glazed over dark tunnels where the twinkle in the eye usually lurks
The desire to just sulk and snooze is overwhelming but annual leave is just too preciousss to waste on pity parties

They left their calling card for four days in the first week of Nano last November. They almost convinced the Izzie to give up. But it was the gift of a gorgeous feather quill from a friend and sheer bloodymindedness that kept Izzie going. For some strange reason, a tiny flickering flame of sanity always manages to barely stay alight in the midst of madness. It was that flame that kept the Izzie fingers drawing the cards. Hit the jackpot with the Dark Grimoire 8 of Swords and then the rest of the story almost wrote itself.

So tonight, it's not just the inner editor that gets consigned to a painful fate in the dungeons for 30 days and nights but hopefully a dozen dementors too.

The Mad Hatter

Been somewhat allergic to squiggling lately. Got till midnight to resolve this little issue.
There was tons of goblin gossip this week well worth reporting but which will make it into the nano novel in some form or other.
Then there was the minor matter of the beginning of three goblin free weeks. Three weeks of decadence for squiggling, gardening, pottering, decluttering and anything else a lazy serpent cares to occupy herself with

But no. As usual the Dementors have other plans. They are becoming so unbearably predictable - turning up without fail on the first week of every Izzie holiday. And this time is no exception

Should have been out partying and jumping for joy at 1.30pm on Wednesday but could manage no more than a half enthusiastic "Well - whatever"
Attempts to trick and sneak past their scheming did not work. Tried visiting The Secret Garden cafe in anticipation of the Nano weekly write ins. The fact that this place has so many magical associations and is a favorite spot for playing with the cards counted for nothing at all.

Thursday should have been a shoe in. The grand plans of the day which did not change were to have a long long snooze before slinking off to The Little Pantry followed by the Dome Cafe in Subiaco, a quick visit to the library there to return some books before turning up just before 8pm to the arts centre to see "The Trial" Had bought the ticket two months before and was seriously looking forward to some Kafkaesque craziness

But the craziness was all on the serpent front. First suspected that something was seriously amiss when getting agitated by a bunch of cackling passengers and the fact that the driver got every single red light once hitting the city. Rationally thinking, had a good 10 minutes connection time to the Subiaco bus but was still all edgy and agitated
One of the Dementors' calling cards is that while under their spell, it is possible to think only of bad things that happened in the past, will most likely happen in the future and awfulizing of all different sorts. But never ever ever is it possible for Izzie to remain in the present while they are around. Coincidence? Don't think so

Paid a quick visit to the shops on the way to the library and in spite of them being virtually empty, still felt totally claustrophobic and crowded out. Even tasty morsels like "I am a strange loop" and "Fooled by Randomness" did not do the trick nor did returning that copy of Twilight. Once bitten, twice shy.

Managed to kind of get lost on the way to the arts centre in spite of having gone that way many times before. Rather - it was slightly off to the side of the path but was simply unable to see it.
Did make it to the loo and got bags in the cloak room by 7.55 with the play starting at 8pm

It was seriously strange but good - good enough to be the only two hours in the whole day spent in the present but will save the play itself for another post. But then came the worry about getting back to the train station for 10.20 as the bus at 10.50 would be pushing it very fine for the last connecting bus back to the Lair. The rational inner voice saying that it was always possible to get a taxi to the city if we missed the 10.20 bus got totally drowned out by miserable moaning Myrtle who is anything but rational. Of course is no fun paying big fat taxi fares but the money saved by not having a car would allow at least five taxis a year and still be way way ahead.

Did make it with five minutes to spare for the 10.20 train so had a good 40 minute wait for the last bus. Spent that with the fascinating Alain de Botton book "The consolations of philosophy"
Was near the end - the chapter about Nietzsche. Any aspiring nano novelist can relate to his philosophy. It's the things that are difficult and involving lots of sacrifice that are in the end the most valuable of all.

Friday was more of the same madness and Saturday too. Was up and down like a yoyo that day thinking that the beasts were getting bored and departing in search of tastier souls than the serpent had to offer. If only
Did manage to make some progress on the plotting front. Had been thinking that the last card of the Bohemian Gothic tarot is so gorgeous that she should be the main character.
This smidgeon of instinct and inspiration got the green light when two cards turned up while dealing out four cards for the subplots of chapter 9
Nine of swords had the same woman waking up from some awful ghost inspired nightmare. This was followed by the seven of swords where she was stealing some dark grimoire from some imposing stone tower.
So now we have got a whistleblower trying to get positive proof of the pathetic performance of the managers at the lunatic asylum. Worse than pathetic - downright criminal! But no more spoilers for the moment

So very very happy with that bit of progress and unlike last time - it's before the starting gun and not a whole week into the race that the inspiration arrived

The long and the short of it is that every other time the dementors leave their calling cards, they stay for a week or so - sometimes even longer but they always pack their bags and leave instantly
So while slowly descending to the depths of despair, will suddenly snap out of it with no apparent explanation. The only thing to do is to lie low and wait and not do anything seriously stupid
Did hope that they would choose Halloween for their departure but so far still waiting

If they are still here at midnight, will get them to up the body count. Being all gloom and doomed does not mean being a brain dead zombie - well brain dead most definitely but still able to slink around somewhat but with glazed over dark tunnels where the twinkle in the eye usually lurks
The desire to just sulk and snooze is overwhelming but annual leave is just too preciousss to waste on pity parties

They left their calling card for four days in the first week of Nano last November. They almost convinced the Izzie to give up. But it was the gift of a gorgeous feather quill from a friend and sheer bloodymindedness that kept Izzie going. For some strange reason, a tiny flickering flame of sanity always manages to barely stay alight in the midst of madness. It was that flame that kept the Izzie fingers drawing the cards. Hit the jackpot with the Dark Grimoire 8 of Swords and then the rest of the story almost wrote itself.

So tonight, it's not just the inner editor that gets consigned to a painful fate in the dungeons for 30 days and nights but hopefully a dozen dementors too.