In the weekend, The Engineer opened the door and a woman asked if we have a black dog. Yes, we do.
She asked if he was here. He checked and the dog was sitting on the couch, all big-eyed innocence and fluff.
She went on to say that a dog matching that description had been down at the park, running into all the properties nearby.
No, we said. Surely not. Not this little guy – who, now that we look closer, has very wet feet!
He checked the side gate and found it swinging open in the breeze.
The whole thing would have taken less than fifteen minutes: the guilty creeping across the perimeter, crossing the road (shudder), trotting down to the park, sniffing other dogs’ scents in the bushes, chasing cats. Then the quiet slink in through the cat flap and satisfied smirk as he relived his fun adventure.
Needless to say, the gate has been securely bolted!
We are in the last month of winter here, the leaves are all beaded and heavy with raindrops. The skies have been grey for what feels like forever and somehow, the trees and shrubs look exactly the same but the weeds are thriving. Huge clumps of grass are growing between and through the grasses and ferns, pushing up through the paving stones. But the rhododendrons are budding and I can’t wait for the colour they bring.
Learning
I have started a screenwriting course. It is a free online course through the University of East Anglia and I’m learning heaps. So far, we have looked through scripts from some real movies and learned about the five finger pitch. Even if I don’t write a script, there is a lot of valuable information here.
Writing
In the last two weeks, I have sent the first two chapters of my novel out to two readers. This was absolutely nerve-wracking, I think because I have been working on this book for so long that it really feels like my baby. Also, I know how important the start of a book is. And I know how much I have learnt since writing the start four years ago.
Anyway, both readers were really encouraging but I know there is a lot of revision to be done.
Watching
I am loving Big Little Lies on Netflix. It is based on Liane Moriarty’s book about a small seaside community of wealthy families and secrets and deceptions that are slowly uncovered, when a murder investigation takes place. It is witty, a little dark and cleverly done.
Reading
I am reading Beneath Pale Water by New Zealand author, Thalia Henry. I have also just started Sorcery of Thorns, a fantasy story. I am still listening to the audiobook of Educated by Tara Westover. It is an intense gritty memoir of life growing up in a fundamentalist household and I can’t say enough about it.
Working
Most of you know that I am working as a freelance content writer and proofreader. A client contracted me to write reviews of restaurants and activities in my city. It is a lot of fun. I am a bit torn about whether to do it as a ‘mystery shop’ or let them know before I go in though. Mostly, I do get in contact first.
What do you think?
What are you reading? How is your writing going?