Ten years in the planning...

For about ten years I’ve been thinking about writing a non-fiction book – not any old non-fiction book obviously, I had an idea for a specific one. It’s a dangerously long time to leave my ‘brilliant’ idea in my head because it could evaporate or someone else could be writing and publishing it. But in my case they haven’t (that I’ve discovered) at least not with the angle that I have on it.

So as I’ve put my novel aside for a time (actually, my the novel has put itself aside; it quite insisted. It refused to cooperate with my plans for it.) And I have started, seriously, to plan my non-fiction book. Ten years thinking is probably long enough.

I am eminently qualified for this project which, let’s be honest is a miracle. I am qualified - with my two useless but enjoyable degrees - for precious little.

So that could be where I am when I’m not blogging: listening to Radio 4 and working on this new/ancient project.

Not a Friday Photo

I’ve failed already in my ‘resolution’ to be a better blogger this year. Still, I might be on target with remembering family birthdays, which is my other hope for the year. (I know it's only 14th January and there's plenty of time to cock up but I've just bought cards for the first two. Last year I'd failed by the 26 January!)

I don’t believe in New Year resolutions: I reckon the moment of recognition (that something needs to be changed) can come at any time and when it hits you in the head… that’s the best moment to resolve to change. So, so easily said…. Not so easily stuck to….

I know it’s Friday and I should post a Friday photo but I haven’t got one that inspires me. I toyed with posting a photograph of me with my head down but I started to worry about the chins it might produce.

Anyway, that’s the reason I’m such a bad blogger: I am working on my draft.

Posting might be a bit sporadic here for a while.

Euuughhhh

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I'm still writing the never ending book. I can't bring myself to blog until it's done.

I might be some time.
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White Noise

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Tea Stains is experiencing some problems with service. Postings are subject to interference from life and may be intermittent for some time.
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More cupcakes

Oh dear. A whole week? I am sorry for disappearing like that again. I’ve been off catching trains - MOST EFFICIENTLY - to Manchester, which is exactly where I wanted to go...

In Chorlton we enjoyed more cupcakery delights. We went to the Sweet Tooth Cupcakery which I highly recommend. Daughter and M had a Kylie cupcake; L and I had a gluten free chocolate cupcake with loads of icing, sprinkled with edible red glitter and a red covered chocolate heart: name unknown. Other cupcakes are known as Dita Von Teese, Johnny Cash, Barbara Cartland…

The café is in the most unassuming (shabby) building but inside is tiny, pretty and camp. Cakes are displayed in a haberdashery cabinet: glass fronted for the customer to see in and staggered/raked drawers to show the contents of each drawer. See this blog for a review and ace pictures. I’m not sure why I didn’t take photos; it might have something to do with the delicious and decadent cup cake in front of me which was begging to be consumed. I fell instantly in love with the whole tea ceremony thing and am considering going off to buy a teapot.

I might never make tea in a mug again; so there.

Newsflash!

I’m taking a blog break.

I’m tired and a bit bored with myself.

I’m struggling with my book and need to concentrate on that for a bit. I shall continue to read blogs but I'm not sure about commenting. I will update my wordmeter and reading material.

Blogging has become more of a pressure than fun, which is no good at all.

I don’t know if it’ll be three days or three weeks that I am away for. I will be in the UK for the last two weeks in April. I suspect that it will be so exciting to be there again that I’ll have lots to say.

I hope to see you back here soon.

No more mention of Bangkok nightlife

It must be two weeks ago that I was told off on my comments for lambasting myself over not writing. I know it’s two weeks because the Bangkok Women’s Writers’ Group has made its fortnightly appearance in my diary tonight.

In that post I issued myself with: “a get writing deadline or quit this pretending to write thing.”

Now *collects thoughts* I have made some ‘progress.’ I have purchased, over several different shopping expeditions, thousands of index cards … and … AND, wait, oh ye of little doubt, I HAVE written on 50 of them. Now. That’s not bad.

I’m not in to flagellation (though I dare say one could acquire that kind of service somewhere in my adopted city … oh bugger. I was trying really hard not to mention BK’s saucy nightlife as I seem to have scared off quite a lot of commentators … or are they away over Easter?)

*Clears throat* So, no I’m not into flagellation, but two weeks HAVE slipped past and it is only four weeks until I come to the UK …(Hurrah, *does a little dance* phew, thank god there’s no webcam), and I want to remind myself of my “get writing deadline or quit this pretending to write thing.”

I was particularly scared and upset by the lovely Pacha’s post about her decision to quit blogging, because she wasn’t writing because she was blogging, and … well … yes …I do understand this. If I didn’t blog, maybe I would write more. But I love to come here and do this. Still, it's important to remember that this is what might happen if I don't write.

Having issued myself with this deadline, I got a bit worried by the time slipping by (though I’ve done lots of website stuff recently) so I spent most of yesterday drafting two main characters. One of whom, I can see and feel now, where I couldn’t before, which is fab. And today, I’m going to carry on. And not blog; well, apart from this, and saying hello to people occasionally…