Sorry

Neglecting the blogs. Up to eyes in deadlines and Finn's Leaving Certificate ordeal. More anon.

I Hate Microsoft

Well, the shed is definitely looking terracotta but needs more work, so I won't post a pic till it's beautiful. Meanwhile, I have just about recovered from that computer disaster on Tuesday. I had worked away on Chapter 13 - note the number - a half-day's writing, the first fully written layer down and saved, when I tried to transfer it to a disc. It disappeared. All my work. Gone. It wasn't on the disc nor was it in the file. I searched for it everywhere. There was no warning, no -"are you sure you want to do this?" - nothing. Just poof. Work gone. And I was left with the original file of rough notes. I HATE MICROSOFT. I am definitely getting an Apple for my laptop. I don't care if it entails difficulties transferring files from one to the other. Eventually I will have an Apple desktop as well. I swear, I actually kicked the hard drive I was so pissed.

It's All Working Out

Little miracles everywhere. I'm up to Chapter 12 in the new book, Finn has completed two practical exams in art for the Leaving Cert, and the back yard shed is slowly but surely being attended to, i.e. I have finally bought the paint and will get cracking on it this weekend. As you can see by the picture here, it really needs a make-over. I meant the shed. I've bought terracotta for the stone and a lovely brilliant blue for the door and window panes. Will post pic of the finished job, hopefully by Monday!!! (I am always, if anything, an optimist.)

Nostalgia

While having breakfast with Finn today - she made croissants with a banana and nutmeg sauce, yum - I somehow ended up talking about Topo Gigio, a little mouse that I loved when I was a child. He appeared from time to time on the Ed Sullivan Show (where I first saw The Beatles too!). As I tried to describe him I suddenly realized I could probably find him on youtube. And here he is!

Labour Day Weekend

It was gorgeous and sunny, but we didn't go away as Finn is studying for her state exams. So I knuckled down too and got going on the back yard. I have a plan for that stone shed which has been staring at me reproachfully for years. I'm thinking a Mexican adobe hut sort of look; terracotta and then bright blue for the door and the paned windows. The whole thing had to be cleaned first - years of cobwebs, spiders' larders (dead bugs), rusty nails, and rotten wood. That's done. Next job: the undercoat. But first I must do some work on my new book. For update see Book Blog.

Fairy Amphitheatre

I've been blogging over on my Book Blog about doing creative writing workshops this week at Killruddery House, a beautiful stately home just around the corner from me (!). It's where Lord and Lady Meath live. When you are on the estate - which is open to the public from May to September, see http://www.killruddery.com/ - you have no idea there is a town nearby. It's as if you are out in the middle of the countryside. Here is one of the many fabulous elements of the vast garden. It is a natural amphitheatre where they put on plays. I saw A Midsummer Night's Dream there years ago. You bring a mat or blanket and a little picnic and you sit on the grassy banks and watch the play unfold on the lawn. Utterly magical!