I'm treating today exactly as I did the Queen's funeral. The TV is staying off and my day will be filled with distraction.
Back in September 2022, I was just bored. Bored with the one-note TV coverage and the desire to escape the hushed tones and forced solemnity that had taken over everything. Today? I wish it were that simple. I'll be doing everything I can to avoid witnessing the horrendous event taking place in the US.
It's still a dilemma. I'm a news junkie. I want to know everything from everywhere, with my finger on all the pulses. Today's inauguration is a big part of everything. The effects of this guy being sworn in, will be felt globally, for the long term. Is it right to turn my back and avoid how it starts? Well, yeah, if I want to protect my sanity. Today's preening and peacocking can be done without me. Instead I've got a day of writing ahead, and I cannot wait. More below.
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| My lovely fictional world. |
There are loads of reasons to write a book. You've got a story in your head that you can't shake off? You like tippy-tappy-typing at a keyboard all day? You want to work from coffee shops, go to book readings, and float about on permanently flowing creative juices? Or perhaps you want to make money? (Lolz at the last example. Dream on!) All those are reasons. The first one is even valid. What I've learnt over time, however, is that when something bad is going on, sinking into the loving embrace of the fictional world you've created is a great way to get by. I guess it depends on the genre you're writing. Maybe dystopian horror isn't the best way to feel comforted during hard times. Or maybe, if that's your bag in the first place, it's the perfect place to be. For me, Leeza, Jake, Applemere Bridge and teen angst are all far more compelling than anything real today. Aren't I lucky?
Culture
Oh man, have I discovered a gem! Look, this is potentially niche, but bear with me. You see, when I was a kid, my parents weren't particularly into murder mysteries or police procedurals. Fair play. No shade there. It just meant the genre didn't cross my path at home. Except! Every so often my Grandma would babysit, and she HOOVERED them up. Poirot, Moon and Son, Miss Marple, and... wait for it... Bergerac. Yep, John Nettles in his best role. (Apologies to Joyce Barnaby.) I watched my first Bergerac with her (my Grandma, not Joyce Barnaby) and then tuned in on a weekly basis. My Saturday nights were spent in Jersey. The glamour! The intrigue! The island life! Later, when I visited Jersey as an adult, I was surprised at how non-Bergeracy it seemed. Never meet your heroes or visit the film locations of your faves. There's my advice for today. All this is to say that last week I stumbled over daily repeated Bergeracs on the U&Drama channel and I became re-obsessed. It got series-linked quicker than you say Le Bureau des Étrangers, and I now watch with glee most evenings.
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| This is a vaguely similar find online. With those ingredients you can't avoid a taste sensation. |
What with my ongoing cess pit upgrade prompting an occasional lack of drainage, there've been some nights when washing up's been impossible. (This blog should be sponsored by dry shampoo and Imodium, but we won't dwell.) The upside of no water has meant emergency eating out. Can you imagine the ball ache of it all! Lolz. After a particularly tricky day when the new tank wasn't quite plumbed in, I decamped to The Wine Club in the village. Ngl, this is my fave. Lovely wine, the tastiest pizzas, and a working toilet for wees, as and when. I was spoilt. Most excitingly, their pizza topping of goat's cheese, walnuts, honey, and rocket has been my go-to since they started. No matter how often I try, I can never quite replicate it at home. Still, I'll continue to persevere. Goat's cheese, walnuts, honey, and rocket is the best combination of ingredients ever and I'll fight anyone that disagrees.
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| Ahhhhhhhhhh... so much water |
Out and About
My writing group has kicked in again. The first meeting of 2025 was on Wednesday night, and saw me train-bound for Liverpool. On Thursday I did a Costa catch up with a mate, then had my pizza night. Finally, the weekend was spent hibernating in a house that finally had working toilets. Shout out to my parents and the other residents of North Wales who were similarly affected after a burst pipe last week. May we never take for granted our running water again.
And so to a day of distraction and escape. I'll emerge for brews, relish my plumbing, and make the best of it all. It's as good a plan as any.
Have a lovely week, folks.
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