Readers will be THRILLED to know that with barely 6 weeks to go, I have settled on the subject matter of this year’s Traditional and Annual Christmas Story. Phew! In fact, so settled am I, that I have started writing it and for the first time in EVER I am almost 3,000 words ahead of the game instead of playing my usual game of arriving at the eve of 1st December with little more than a few notes scribbled on a scrap of paper which will inevitably get itself lost and/or chewed by one or more cats on the look out for a game of ‘Shred the Paper.’ It’s all this time I have, you see - when it isn’t disrupted by annoying shizzle like having to be a teacher, it can be filled with the gloriousness of doing things one loves, like writing.
My dilemma now is do I have a go at this year’s NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month - which is fast approaching in the form of November? The challenge is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. I’ve done it twice before - once with ‘Poulet Nous, the Race to Save Much Malarkey Manor’ and then again with ‘Night Birds.’ In many ways the process is similar to writing the Christmas Story in that I start off with confidence, enthusiasm and plenty of va-va-voom, then fall into a pit of despair, then charge on to the finish line because it is not in my nature to let things beat me once I have committed. Currently I am in two minds because I am pushing on with the writing of my ‘proper’ novel, plus building up material for the Christmas Story, plus doing some studying pre- counselling course, PLUS the finish line of my quilt is hoving into view. I shall let the dilemma sit awhile, I think. I’ve got just over a week in hand to decide.
Other dilemmas (when I say ‘dilemma’ they aren’t really. Not in the grand scheme of the world, anyway) include :
1) how far can I ignore Christmas this year? By ignore, I mean, avoiding for as long as possible being sucked into the whole, horrid and dismal commercialism of the season? Just going shopping at the moment is already inducing feelings of anxiety and inadequacy. It’s too early. It’s too much. It is spoiling what should be a warm, friendly and sincere mid-Winter celebration. I really want to be as low key as possible this year. Calm and joy. Appreciation of the small and simple things. The quiet of short days and long evenings. Not the smash and bam of ‘You must do this and you must have this.’ It’s all a bit grim, the modern day Christmas.
2) do I take out a swim membership at the local leisure centre? I used to swim a lot. I like a swim. Obviously, there are health benefits. But then there is the faff of getting cold and wet, and never quite getting rid of the smell of chlorine and the effect it has on one’s hair because I would swim several times a week. And I’d have to get a new cozzie that would befit a lady of advancing years and hips.
3) do I get a small, part-time job? I have huge hang ups about personally not earning any money, because I have always earned. I automatically attach the ability to earn money to my sense of value as a human being. Andy says I am working by writing and when I eventually sell something then that will be my salary for all the weeks I am not earning now. Investment and return, he says. And I can see the sense in that. I applied for a very part time shop job this morning. A few hours a week and a few quid. There are a couple more I could apply for.
4) we need a floor lamp for the TV corner of the living room, now that the evenings are drawing in and I prefer ambient evening lighting to the blazing overhead malarkey. Do I get one that is straight up and down with a nice traditional lampshade, or one of the new fangled arched ones, that dangle. The dangling might encourage one Bambino Bobble Wilson into wild behaviour because I suspect this type of lamp has a certain ‘boing’ to it, but then it might look nice over the TV and light up more effectively what is quite a deep recess.
I need to crack on with some sewing. All this thinking is becoming too deep.
A little clue to finish, to this year’s Christmas Story...
My dilemma now is do I have a go at this year’s NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month - which is fast approaching in the form of November? The challenge is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. I’ve done it twice before - once with ‘Poulet Nous, the Race to Save Much Malarkey Manor’ and then again with ‘Night Birds.’ In many ways the process is similar to writing the Christmas Story in that I start off with confidence, enthusiasm and plenty of va-va-voom, then fall into a pit of despair, then charge on to the finish line because it is not in my nature to let things beat me once I have committed. Currently I am in two minds because I am pushing on with the writing of my ‘proper’ novel, plus building up material for the Christmas Story, plus doing some studying pre- counselling course, PLUS the finish line of my quilt is hoving into view. I shall let the dilemma sit awhile, I think. I’ve got just over a week in hand to decide.
Other dilemmas (when I say ‘dilemma’ they aren’t really. Not in the grand scheme of the world, anyway) include :
1) how far can I ignore Christmas this year? By ignore, I mean, avoiding for as long as possible being sucked into the whole, horrid and dismal commercialism of the season? Just going shopping at the moment is already inducing feelings of anxiety and inadequacy. It’s too early. It’s too much. It is spoiling what should be a warm, friendly and sincere mid-Winter celebration. I really want to be as low key as possible this year. Calm and joy. Appreciation of the small and simple things. The quiet of short days and long evenings. Not the smash and bam of ‘You must do this and you must have this.’ It’s all a bit grim, the modern day Christmas.
2) do I take out a swim membership at the local leisure centre? I used to swim a lot. I like a swim. Obviously, there are health benefits. But then there is the faff of getting cold and wet, and never quite getting rid of the smell of chlorine and the effect it has on one’s hair because I would swim several times a week. And I’d have to get a new cozzie that would befit a lady of advancing years and hips.
3) do I get a small, part-time job? I have huge hang ups about personally not earning any money, because I have always earned. I automatically attach the ability to earn money to my sense of value as a human being. Andy says I am working by writing and when I eventually sell something then that will be my salary for all the weeks I am not earning now. Investment and return, he says. And I can see the sense in that. I applied for a very part time shop job this morning. A few hours a week and a few quid. There are a couple more I could apply for.
4) we need a floor lamp for the TV corner of the living room, now that the evenings are drawing in and I prefer ambient evening lighting to the blazing overhead malarkey. Do I get one that is straight up and down with a nice traditional lampshade, or one of the new fangled arched ones, that dangle. The dangling might encourage one Bambino Bobble Wilson into wild behaviour because I suspect this type of lamp has a certain ‘boing’ to it, but then it might look nice over the TV and light up more effectively what is quite a deep recess.
I need to crack on with some sewing. All this thinking is becoming too deep.
A little clue to finish, to this year’s Christmas Story...
Comments
No 2: Yes, do swim - ignore the chlorine smell - think only of how it makes you feel.
No 3: Only get a job if it brings you joy...
No 4: Don't buy the dangling light. ...Although, I bet there is a cat story or two in that...
KJ
1) I love this idea. I shall do it!
2) I’ve been researching swimming shampoos. Apparently they negate the effects of chlorine.
3) The job I’ve applied for is very small (12 hours a week) and is in a health food shop in a shopping village next to a huge park where I love to walk! I would be surrounded by nuts and nature. There’s much joy to be had there.
4) I didn’t buy a dangling light! Bambino is very disappointed.