Serendipitous Coincidences FTW...

My favourite DESTINY (mis)quote

You know me by now, right? Good. So you'll know I don't believe in fate, or predestination, or things that 'happen for a reason', yeah? Excellent. We're all up to speed. But still, despite that, I do love a serendipitous coincidence. Like last week. Ready? Cool. Let me tell you.

If you cast your mind back to last week's blog, I told you how I'd recently found the music of Noah Reid. I'd been looking for Canadian music to soundtrack my holiday photo montage (yeah, I know, I'm a wanker) and I'd found him. I spent the weekend listening to his stuff as I made my video, and then I mentioned him as I wrote my blog. It was at that point, I did a quick Google. I needed to provide a decent link to add to the words Noah + Reid in the blog. That's when I spotted it. Noah Reid had just embarked upon a tour. I scanned the dates, assuming they'd be anywhere but here, but then I saw. In four days time, the lovely Noah would be playing at the Academy 2 in Manchester. What were the odds?

Noah Reid, last Tuesday

Hang fire, Statisticians, I don't really care. But still, it's a mad coincidence right? And as much as I'd NOT planned to be out in Manchester on the following Tuesday night, I felt as if I had no choice. 

Of course on the night in question, I continued to dither. Did I really want a late night during a personally busy week, slap bang in the middle of Fresher's Week? You betcha I did! Live music is always brilliant. No opportunity should be passed up. Or something. So off I toddled, through all the Uni buildings, until I got to the Manchester Academy. As I walked down Oxford Road I was perturbed to find repeated adverts for a garden plant sale in the Students' Union. In my day it was Athena posters. (Just ask the more than life size Keanu Reeves who watched over me, day and night throughout my first year.) Anyway, I hit the Academy, spotted the average age of Noah's audience was closer to my vintage than not, had a hot flush (natch) and cracked on. Whether it was a serendipitous coincidence, fate, things happening for a reason, or none of the above, I had a marvellous night. 

 

Writing News

Feedback is coming in thick and fast. What is heartening, now I'm going through the process for a 4th time, is that it gets easier. It's easier to hear feedback, it's easier to second guess the sorts of issues people will point out, and it appears I have less typos and errors in the manuscript I sent out. Interesting times.

Chilling, innit?

Culture

As a long time Kenneth Branagh and Agatha Christie fan (individually or together, either works for me) I was always going to rush to watch A Haunting in Venice. The thing is, I enjoyed it, but... it's really scary! At least it was to me. Creepy and brooding and sinister. It felt quite un-Christie like, although the whole 'roomful of suspects and final denouement' was still front and centre of proceedings. In other news, I started Kiley Dunbar's latest book, The Gingerbread Christmas Village. It's EXACTLY what I need to unwind, and I love it. (I'm eking it out, a bit each night.)

Pimped up porridge, over
frozen cherries. 
Winter is here!

Food and Drink

As I declared on Threads last week, Porridge Season has started! I was a late convert to porridge, what with me assuming it was a sluggish, cream mush. Once I realised you could pimp it up and add all sorts of marvellousness to your cereal bowl, I got on board. About two years ago, I made a big jar of my - not yet patented nor copyrighted - porridge mix. It's still going strong in its kilner jar and warms me from the inside once the weather turns. And the secret recipe? I can't really remember, tbh. I think it's equal parts cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa powder, sugar/sweetener, with half parts mixed spice and salt. Something like that. Anyway, I made a massive batch, and now every time I make porridge I add a teaspoon of it to the oats. Either way, it's a long way from sluggish, cream mush.

Out and About

You mean apart from my musical evening in Manchester? Hmm, OK let's think. I spent a morning in Kwik Fit, then there was my writing group in town. And of course, I did my usual Costa writing sesh, had Wednesday brunch, and caught up with a writing mate at his house. Actually, when I think about it, I've barely been in. Good times.

For me, this is the sweet spot of the year. All my favourite weather and seasonal activities are still to come, anticipation is high, but the Christmas stress has yet to kick in. I'm going to enjoy this time. With a couple of chapters of my Christmas novel each night, and the promise of Netflix festive films to come, things are looking up. Hurrah.

Have a lovely week, folks. 

Revamped Oysters and Ridiculousness...

Oh. One out of
two aint bad.

Last week I did a ridiculous thing. The good news is, it led to discovering a not-ridiculous thing. That's why I'm sharing. 

I'd been back home from my holiday for a couple of days and I was having Canadian FOMO. It was Friday night, I was on my own, and I'd opened a bottle of wine. As I sat there, scrolling through photos, I knew exactly what I had to do. Yes, you've guessed it! I had to create a twenty-minute YouTube video of my pics and vids from the trip, along with captions, locations, and background music. It's OBVIOUS when you think about it. 

Yes, you! Noah Reid
as the lovely Patrick.

Look, I know I've painted a fairly desperate picture of myself there. But it was actually lovely. Because while I sipped my wine, and searched for place names for the train photos I'd taken, I was also searching for the right music to soundtrack the thing. It didn't take long. Remember Patrick from Schitt's Creek? Remember when he sang Simply the Best to David and it was everything? Well the actor, Noah Reid, is also a singer/songwriter. His music is beautiful. Mellow and melodic. His lyrics also reference Canada, Montreal, and Toronto, so he was the obvious choice. Even though the video was boxed off that weekend*, I've kept listening to Noah Reid. In the car, in the bath, and as I go about my day. So there. That's my ridiculous thing (a twenty minute holiday compilation video) that led to my not-ridiculous thing. Noah Reid. Look him up. His music is lovely.

Writing News

The manuscript has been sent out to family! This means I'll get a tonne of grammar and spelling edits from my mum, and a load of thematic and plot-related queries from my dad. This is all good. Every little helps, a tapestry has many threads etc, etc.

From the film version of
Everybody's Talking About Jamie. 

Culture

So much culture! Last weekend I saw one of my not-favourite-but-still-very-good musicals, Everybody's Talking About Jamie. (I love some of the music but not all of it, so I always feel I should explain that.) Anyway, it was great. The Jamie I saw this time - Ivano Turco - was fantastic, and the song He's My Boy is always worth hearing live. Then, if that wasn't enough, I saw Deacon Blue on Friday. Yep, I've realised I love a greatest hits tour. (It went OFF for Real Gone Kid and Dignity.) Keep your new music to yourself, and play the hits from my youth! Happily, they did.

 

Smoked salmon with
all the accoutrements

Food and Drink

I don't like oysters, but I like the theatre of them. You know, you get an oyster, but then you get a load of options to drizzle on top? It happened in Canada where, along with soy sauce, horseradish, lemon butter, and tabasco, my dining partner was provided with two little pipette-lidded bottles. One held tequila, the other whisky. The smoky kind like laphroaig. Of course, all this pizzazz had to be replicated as soon as I got home, but with what? I'll say it again, I don't like oysters. But then it came to me. Smoked salmon'll do! As long as you include the pipettes of booze, it'll be exactly the same. So that's what I did. You take a round of crusty bread, dip it in coriander mayo or sour cream, add a piece of salmon, add capers and pickled red onion, then pipette the booze of your choice on top. (I had no tequila so I used vodka along with the whisky.) Then, shove the whole thing in your mouth and enjoy smoky seaside perfection. You're welcome.

Out and About

Because my daily step count was upped considerably while I was away, I'm trying to keep it buoyant now I'm home. That's meant a walk in the park, a walk around the docks, and parking as far away from the supermarket door as I can, in order to get the steps in. Once again, every little helps.

So there we have it. I'm still not quite at the jumper stage yet, but long-sleeved t shirts are a daily occurrence. I couldn't have dreamt of that, this time last week. Baby steps, gang. We're getting there.

Have a lovely week, folks.

*Don't bother searching. I've very much kept my self-indulgent video private.

A Seasonal Reset and Fish...

Waiting for my reset

Well here we are. A new school year, a new start for my head. My brain needs a good reset now and then, doesn't yours? Without it, my energy tends to peter out. No matter what I'm doing, I can only maintain enthusiasm for so long. But, a change of season sorts me out (as well as the holiday from which I've just returned.) Of course, arriving back to 30℃ temperatures wasn't ideal. My head said September, my body said sweaty cow riddled with brain fog. Still, the ninth month has arrived, the weather will cool at some point, and a new start is upon us all.  

Old Leeza is here, if
you want to catch-up
or refresh.

Writing News

I've had a decent break from even thinking about the next Leeza McAuliffe book, so I'm raring to get back to it. I'm still working through the edits and I've still got people in the field (not a literal field) giving me insights. It's all chugging along nicely.

This was excellent.

Culture

I read an excellent book on the flight. Rodham by Cutis Sittenfeld. It's a sliding doors tale of what it might've looked like had Hillary Rodham Clinton not married Bill. It had enough politics for my nerdy tastes as well as the human interest story of a brilliant woman living her life. It's been a week, and I'm still thinking about it. I also reread the YA novel, Camp, by LC Rosen. I love this book and it was  joy to revisit the characters. Loads of heart, realistic depictions of teen lust, and decent messaging about being yourself, to boot. I loved it. Finally I continued to work my way through Val McDermid's Karen Pirie series with The Skeleton Road. A hands down grippy thriller. All great reads, that passed the time on trains, flights, and departure lounges.

Halifax Waterfront.
I will imagine this
every time I eat
fish fingers.

Food and Drink

After having spent a sizeable chunk of the past week in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I can confirm that eating fresh seafood at outdoor waterfront restaurants is the only way I wish to consume meals from now on. However, as I live in a landlocked village, in a country that appears to have greatly inconvenienced the fishing industry with the changes from Brexit, I fear I'll have to dream on. Anyhoo. At my last food shop, I raided the fish aisle. I've now got lots of salmon, prawns, and mackerel in the fridge, waiting to be devoured. If I close my eyes and pretend I'm on a sea front, it might be the same? No?

Out and About

Nothing to report since my holiday. But that's fine. I've mainly been battling jet lag since my return. It's been a systematic process. On day one, I'd had ten hours sleep but still had to force myself to get up a noon. The following day I managed to prise myself from my bed at 11am. The next day, it was 10.30am. Some day soon, I'll be perkily switching my alarm off at the usual 8am. 

So here's to new starts. I'm hoping there's some cooler weather on the way, and my reinvigorated energy levels last for a decent chunk of time. I cannot tell you how excited I am for jumper season. You heard it here first.

Have a lovely week, folks

The Noble Art of Ear-Wigging...

One of the downsides of lockdown was being starved of writing inspiration. Obvs, there were loads of downsides. We all remember. The lack of connection with every other person, the uncertainty, the daily threat of death... it was a lot.

But there was also a writing-specific downside. If I couldn't sit in Costa, get on the train, or stand behind a pair of friends in a queue, then I couldn't get mini-insights into the daily experiences of others. There's so much to be gleaned from overhearing the way people talk together. I don't think I'm a naturally nosy person in real life, but in writing life, I pick up everything. People's phrasing, their shared jokes, the ease at the way they communicate. I reckon it's the best way to hone realistic dialogue. Listening to real life chat, makes your made-up dialogue work. It's makes the characters you've created, fly off the page. It roots even the most fantastical premise; making it accessible because the readers recognise the authenticity of the characters. Not because you're directly quoting something you overheard, but because your ears are attuned to the natural flow of chat. So yeah, lockdown was tricky. I didn't write much. Without external stimulation, my brain dried up.

The good news is, I've spent the past week watering that very same brain. For the first time since May 2019, I've left the UK. Yep, I've got on a plane, flown to another county, done a couple of cities, and been on a couple of trains for a combined length of thirty-two hours. Now, as I type these very words, I'm sitting in my hotel room in Halifax, Canada. You could say I'm over watering. 

By the time you read this, I'll be back. But no matter. It's been a much needed top-up to my creative juices. In lieu of a clear and coherent Update this week, I'm giving you a writing treat. Below are some examples of times in Canada, I've had a creative juices boost. The kind of experiences, whether they be momentary or long and involved, that give insight into another perspective. Everyday and banal, witty and eloquent, dramatic and fantastical - it's all fuel for the tank. They're all around us, but your ears and eyes need to be attuned. Next week, it'll be business as usual. For now, here's my travelogue of writing inspiration.

Manchester airport and a delay. People grumbling. Staff faffing. Little did I know this was the day when the UK air space went mad. A woman opposite me, frustratedly rang the people who were meeting her at the other end. A couple with kids did  their best to jolly them along. All of life in one departure gate. Lots to overhear.

Arty, right? Me, looking out of the window, descending into Toronto. Behind me, a young woman had what sounded like a panic attack. I was oblivious at first - too busy taking selfies - but then the woman next to her, talked her through it and held her hand. All was well once we landed. 

I spent a round four-hour trip on this bus, on a guided tour to Niagara Falls. Behind me, an American man talked to a German woman about himself. The whole entire time. She was incredibly patient. I was less so. But at least I now know about the American education system, US train travel, and being an accountant.

I went to a maple syrup tasting! Did you know that only 2% of maple syrup comes from Ontario? And did you know that pure maple syrup is full of sap not sugar? And that it interacts with the saliva in your mouth, rehydrating the syrup, so that it glides down your throat without making it sticky or making you thirsty? No, neither did I. But it's all research for when I create a character who does know all that.

This was Clifton Hill;  the tourist-heavy street in Niagara Falls Park where I ate lunch. My waiter - who did everything he was supposed to do and bought me lovely food and drink - gave off pure 'small town, teen slacker, with parochial parents who he hates, and who he can't wait to get away from the minute he's old enough to leave' vibes. A pure John Hughes character. I could be wrong, but that was my sense. If not, I enjoyed making all that up about him.

I spent twenty-six hours on this train. The steward of my carriage, was the chattiest guy I've ever met. When we were delayed, an off the cuff remark about him being on overtime, led to a detailed and lengthy explanation of how the company overtime structure works. He radiated energy and I imagine, he could have talked for hours. A walking-talking Duracell bunny.

A terrible photo of a train window's reflection but I buzzed off overhearing those men. Four independent travellers, were seated together for the evening meal. Almost immediately they chatted like they were besties. No politics or controversial topics, just genial, friendly chat. They were all around the 70 mark, shared photos of their kids and grandkids, and each ordered soup. 

I passed through so many tiny villages and communities like this. Somewhere, in the middle of rural Canada, along the train line, these houses exist. Who lives there? What are the issues that concern the residents? Where do they get their groceries from? 

I got off in Campbellton for some fresh air and to stretch my legs. Where is Campbellton? No idea. But looking it up on Google Maps at some point, will make me wonder who lives there, what their issues of concern are, and where they get their groceries. These are clearly the main questions I have about anywhere.

Finally, in Halifax, I read this sign about Merlin. He's the parrot that lives in the Maritime Museum. Animals had a bad pandemic too! Thoughts and prayers to Merlin, and a reminder to me that characters can experience stress in many ways, and some of them could be even be pets.

So there we go. Just a few instances where my head was filled with ideas for future writing. Will I write a novel set in Canada? Probably not. Will I create a railway cabin steward character who talks for hours and in great detail? Probably not. But will I let all these experiences and snippets of life, bleed into my writing in a generalised way, so as to create more depth and nuance to my own ideas? Absolutely. Oh Canada. You've been a writing inspiration. Many many thanks.

Have a lovely week, folks.