Hard Times...

Not so much for me, but it's just as upsetting when friends are feeling down, probably more so... In Pia's case it's largely my fault, though she's always been a demanding bitch when it comes to the stories I write for her - 'Why did you say this???' and 'why did you have them doing that???' Normally followed by a string of expletives in the boldest of capital letters.

She's forever threatening to find another writer, and yesterday I really thought she was carrying out her threat; but no... this morning there was the email - for example.

_ 'I just think in parts where you should be using the imagination, you are saving it for the long drawn out parts about smaller things.... just my opinions... hope all is well on your end.... will try and sign on to straighten you out...because, it seems you are straying way off course again..... FUCK: ' See what I mean?

Don't start thinking I see her as a pain though, on the contrary I'm going to miss her when our paths finally do diverge again as seems inevitable at some time. Damn! I'll miss her like crazy...

And then there's K ! Her problems are far more complicated and yet there seems so little I can do to help, except just be here for the moments when she needs someone who's happy to talk to her, and to listen. On the surface you'd think she was a pretty tough cookie, but just like the rest of us she also has her moments of doubt and despair. She's at one of those crossroads we all get in our lives, it's time for some big decisions to be made and she's not sure how things will go.

K's been around for me often enough in the past (actually we've been around for each other), and has this trick of being able to make me smile when I'm blue, which has been rather too often for my liking over the past few years. Now it's my turn and that's fine by me - that's what friends are for isn't it?

Falmouth again on Friday, the Accommodation Fair at Wood Lane, and then it's flat hunting. This is the 'make or break' trip, and we're staying until we find somewhere for the next year. Already got two places to look at on the Monday, with a third possibility in the background. Going to be a long drive down on the Friday, but hey, it'll all be worth it in the end.

The family have all moved in, a bit of a squeeze, but it's fun to have them here, unexpected maybe, but fun...

Keep in touch won't you...

Chris

Home and Away...

Actually I've been back a week now, but just can't seem to get settled. Falmouth was all I'd hoped it would be, and it's memory has been smouldering away inside me ever since we came back north. Trouble is it seems to have interfered with my writing; apart from a couple of sparky sessions, in fact it's been pretty flat ever since I got home. I'm distracted...

Anyway, if I've got things right, I'm including a photo of the grandkids playing on the beach.

As you can see Lewis and Evie Rosie really enjoyed their holiday, and now Mum and Dad are considering following us down to the West Country on a permanent basis.

Ah... didn't I mention it???

No... maybe not... Well, I have this feeling that something is going to crop up in the year or so we spend in Cornwall, that we'll be moving on to a new phase of our life. Can't remember which phase Shakespeare described it as, but words like 'dotage', 'toothless' and 'dribbling' are definitely not included in MY vision for the future. Well, not for a few years anyway.

Okay, not the most inspiring of blogs this one, but I needed to start somewhere. There's no anger in me at the moment, I think that's the problem. For some reason I seem to write better when that spark is smouldering nicely. Time to go away and drop something heavy on my foot I guess, see if that does the trick.

Take care...
Chris