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I have been here three weeks and one day. Wow, time has flown. And on Saturday we fly out to Beijing for 12 days in China. What I thought might be a short side trip has become the big China trip and I feel the excitement building.
I made a few goals for my time in Singapore. Pool walking every morning. I have done this, sometimes with more enthusiasm and a few days with less. I am sleeping a bit longer than those initial days where I woke up at 5am. However, I can’t seem to sleep in past 7.30am. But I am reaching sleep goals according to my Apple watch. I’ve also road tested these two last days taking my Apple watch into the pool. It is a much better way of keeping track than lap counting. When I count laps I lose count because I starting thinking about Aunt Prudence.
My other goal was writing 30,000 words of the novella The Prudential Light, which is Aunt Prudence’s memoir in the Cry Havoc series. Well I am at 44,000 words so I should at least make 45,000 words today but you know there’s a lot going on in this story and it may be a novel after all. I blame the condo’s swimming pool for that because many of my ideas came to me while pool walking and losing track of how many laps I did. The reason I think this is that I have written so many scenes and I think the plot might come together at 50,000 words but all the restructuring, back filling skipped scenes etc is going to bring it up in word count. Anyway, I’m very happy about that.
Next steps is to commission a cover and also a cover for the next installment, Edward Huntington Esquire, Gentleman Magician. This will cover the period of Edward finding out he was a magician and his meeting with Dr Heaton and Fulton. I probably have another story in the series, which would be a novella (god I hope so!) about Wilbur Hardcastle and Jemima’s mother. It will be a love story but not a romance because we all know that Jemima’s mother died young.
Then I might start on my spin off series.
Meanwhile in Singapore I have caught up with my mate Dev and we have hung out. Yesterday, we had a marathon Orchard Road experience yesterday from 12pm to about 7pm, including most importantly a trip to Kinokuniya. We started at Pizza Express which is fine dining in Singapore. Then we had tea and something naughty in Paul’s, which is outside Kinokuniya and then later I had a kind of Hawker Centre experience in the Food Republic, which is sort of the same thing except in a mall and airconditioned. I had some fried prawn noodles and oyster omelette. I’m not keen on oysters, I can eat them, but I really liked the egg part, which was crispy and tasty. Dev tells me it is eggs with water and tapioca starch.
Me and Dev and Kinokuniya
Lychee Fanta and Cream Soda flavoured Fanta. They were a $1 each and interesting.
To get back on the research track on Monday we went to the National Museum of Singapore to see their Once Upon a Tide special exhibition, about the history of Singapore. Well worth the visit. We also did a quick walk through of the permanent exhibition on level one. Lucky I did because I found out Rickshaws were invented in Japan later than I thought and where popular from 1880s until 1930s.
Below is an early map of Singapore in the period that I’m interested in.
I also got some good photos of things that will help in my story of Aunt Prudence and that’s the main focus of my visit to the museum.
I have really enjoyed hanging out with my son and daughter-in-law. On Tuesday we went to the island of Sentosa to check it out. We mostly did things like the free shuttle bus to check out the beaches and we did a skylift up and back to look around and at at the Shake Shack. We don’t have Shake Shack in Australia. The chips are good but this time they weren’t as hot as they should have been. The Shake Shack in Gardens By the Bay were so good! The cheese burger I had was real and yummy.
On the skyride
Today is going to be an at home day. I need to do some writer admin, hang out my washing so I can pack for the trip and write. I really need to do something with my hair but that remains to be seen if I have the energy. I thought a pink rinse would go down well in China, except I didn’t bring any with me so my hair is very blonde and curly. However, apparently Beijing will be hot but not as humid so my hair could remain straight.
My Kinokuniya purchases. Thea Guanzon is from the Philippines and Sue Lynn Tan is Chinese from Hong Kong.
Above is the emotionally needy Siumoguai who had snuck into my room and perched next to my swimmers.
Time flies when you are having fun. Cliche I know. Today is June 13. Black Friday.
I’m about to head out to find a post office with my daughter-in -law. We have been out a little bit. We were going to go to the botanical gardens but it was too hot for me so we ate a late lunch in a cafe after a head/hair spa, which was simply amazing.
Me after the head/hair spa.
The day before we walked around the Gardens By the Bay and the highlight was Shake Shack where we had some lemonade with chips and cheese. So naughty and so yummy.
We met up with my son at Marina Sands mall where we checked out the Apple store and had dumplings. I am still keeping up with the pool walking in the morning. Be it rain or shine or cloudy. I wait for storms to stop though. The other day I saw this tiny yellow bird eating nectar from the flowers. When I looked it up I discovered it was a sunbird. Imagine nature thriving in amongst all these tall buildings.
Marina Bay Sands, a city scape and the round building is the top floor of the Apple Store.
Writing wise, I have had to revise my word count goal. I thought 30,000 words was reasonable for my time here and I was writing a novella. Well it is now 40,000 words and I’m currently at 36,000 words and I still have a week before we leave for China.
The story is still coming on strong, with new scenes popping in all the time. Yesterday I spent way longer in the pool than intended as I use my lap count to gauge my time. However, I lose count all the time because I start thinking about the story and characters start talking to me and then I come to and forget how many. Was that lap five or six? Over an hour later I’m upstairs realising I did about 20 minutes more than I wanted to.
The story is coming in different time periods so I know there will be a lot of restructuring and tying things together. I usually write in a linear fashion but this memoir is different and how things are popping up in my imagination are too. Weird but fun. Writing in Singapore is great. I found this great book and it has been really useful. There’s more research to do as well. National Library and the National Museum but I’m getting a picture of the layout. I also have to research a bit about 1840s Calcutta as some of the story takes place there.
I’m also learning a lot about Aunt Prudence as well. She is way more interesting than I thought she’d be, with some hidden talents.
Guess what! I think I may have a new character and spin off series in the offing but no spoilers.
On today’s agenda I think we are making homemade dumplings for dinner after we to to the post office. We have a bbq planned on Sunday, which will be nice.
I have managed to use the pool every morning. Although this morning it was raining and storming. After dallying on my phone for a bit, there was no thunder and less rain so I did my pool work. Maybe a bit shorter than normal.
In other news, my four weeks in Singapore is going to be less than I thought because we are heading to China for 12 days not 8 so I need to connect with people faster than I had originally thought.
I met up with Dev. No photo sorry but we plan to meet up again and do a writing date. I need to get to the library and art gallery and museum again to research. Although I have found some references on line.
We met with Joyce Chng the other day. She gave me some books of hers that I have started reading about female sword makers. You had me at female and swords! Fireheart is YA fantasy. Here is a local link.
Today though it’s Friday and my daughter-in-law and I are going to have a massage.
On the writing front I have been writing for a week, pretty consistently. There was one day I only tinkered with some words as we went out to meet Joyce. Today though I forced myself to write more than normal. My hands ache a little. The Prudential Light is at 20,000 words. It’s going to need revising because it’s coming out quickly and I’ll need to add bits in as I research them and also craft the story more. Sometimes I just throw down the story, plot, characters etc to see if there is a story with a beginning, middle and end. Then during my revisions, I add things like descriptions, emotions and thoughts. I can usually do something in three run throughs but some take many drafts.
Aunt Prudence is in my ear, telling more and more of her story and the characters are adding bits that my phone notes are filling up. I think I have a nice story arc going. If I can finish this first draft while I’m here then I’ve got something to go on with.
The China trip is going to blow my mind, I know it.
I’m going to miss my writing buddies. Meet Siri.
This cat’s name is hard for me to pin down.
I hear different words, I think it’s Moguai but it’s Siumoguai so I was close and I’m not totally deaf!
On Sunday we went to Raffles for high tea and it was fab. The building is elegant and the food was delicious. Expensive yes but for me worth it.
The Grand Lobby
We got there a little bit early so amused ourselves outside.
This is an historic fountain made of cast iron.
This is the view from the courtyard looking up to the main building.
My food tray. There were also three different scones after this. My daughter-in-law took the photo of me below.
And lastly, from the front of the hotel, you can see the little stained glass motif of Raffles.
Otherwise, I’ve been researching and have started working on The Prudential Light. Aunt Prudence has been in my head and fighting to get out. The story just started pouring out of me, faster than I can write. However, I’ve put the brakes on and have gone back to revise the beginning because I think I finally have Aunt Prudence’s voice and that’s such a joy and a better idea how to structure it going forward. Hopefully that will save a massive rewrite and restructure at the end.
I’m currently at 11000 words and at this rate it may be a short novel rather than a novella. Because you know I’m fleshing out scenes and I haven’t got to the good bits yet. I need to visit the library and the museum in the city. However, I am able to set part of the story here in Singapore as it is not too early as I thought when I calculated how old Aunt Prudence was and key events in her life.
Overall, I think, I hope at least, that The Prudential Light will be a heartwarming, beautiful story. Let’s see if I can land this one.
I am in Singapore, where it is hot and humid and very different.
It was my plan to blog everyday but that’s going to be tedious because I am going to write a lot while I’m here and the bulk of my plan is to hang with my son and daughter-in-law and then go on a side trip to China. I’ll be heading home in early July.
We have made a few plans so far. Catch up with writer friends. Going to the Fut Tak Chi Museum, which was an early temple built in 1820 just after Raffles opened up Singapore. Part of my research for A Prudential Light. Then we are having afternoon tea in the Great Lobby of Raffles because why not.
For a start I wanted to share some photos of the condo we are staying in. It’s huge, lots of apartments but it also lovely and has a metro across the road.
There are contemplative spaces or just nice surroundings for a bbq.
Lots of fish
And more pond views
And then there is the swimming pool, which I have been to every morning. That makes two so far. I just walk in the pool.
I’ve also seen a few of these dark frangapanis.
I’d show you a picture of my hair, which is very frizzy due to humidity but I don’t want to scare you.
I think being out of home give me time for thinking about things, about life and home and my partner Matthew but also time to be with people I love too. I think I always feel that way when I travel, feel the distance and wanting all the people I care about be they family or friends to be near. Life isn’t like that though.
On the writing front, Aunt Prudence has been in my mind a lot. I have done some planning. My daughter in law helped me pick a name for my character and I did a bit of research on early Singapore. Lots more to do. Now I just need to start writing.
On the submission front my middle grade fantasy appears to have lucked out on two markets. My Regency romance similarly, although there maybe a week or two left to run.
A last minute cancellation. An offer of accommodation and lift to the event each day. That’s me. From 16th to the 18th of May, I was at A Regency Affair event in the small town of Exeter, just south of Sydney in the Southern Highlands. Just like a Regency House party only better. I got to use a real loo and go back to our accommodation.
I had an amazing time! Totally, absolutely, enjoyed it. Not only was in unexpected. I only just learned about the event after lamenting for some time that the Jane Austen Festival stopped before covid. I wanted to sew more dresses and things but wondered what for. Now I’m linked back in. As well as this event, there are balls, Historic picnics and other stuff going on. Because it was short notice, I only had time to dig out my gear. There were a couple of bonnets I couldn’t find but I had enough. No chance to make anything new, except I did find my very special soft bonnet only needed a few stitches to finish it so I did that. Sorry about the cross over bra showing. My stays had a malfunction as I have grown somewhat since I last wore them.
I went up on the Friday but there was a dress making workshop on the Thursday that I wasn’t quite in a mental space to sew. Friday I managed to get squeezed into a few workshops. Not all the ones I wanted but hey I was grateful to get the ones I did. First up was thread buttons and then I did historical stitching which was very cool. We learned edge stitch, mantua makers stitch and English stitch, with cartridge pleating as well. Friday night there were no tickets to the banquet but the organiser thought she might be able to squeeze me in. Bronwyn and I went back to the accommodation to prepare. I figured I should get dressed just in case they said ‘yes’. The plan was to drop Bronwyn and use her car to come back if there was space. However, the text came through that I was in so off to the Regency themed banquet we went.
There was music, dance exhibitions, poetry recitals and singing. So Regency. The food was spit roast and a lemony syllabub, which was so yummy.
I did a bit of shopping during the day on Friday. I bought a turban style headdress for the ball, a tea cup set and some lovely gloves. From Bronwyn’s stall I bought sewing notions of many kinds and some long socks. The cup and saucer are so lovely. I just love the green addition to my collection.
Saturday came and we were off again. I had a basket making workshop after lunch. The only downside is that it clashed with the guest speak talk by Caroline Jane Knight, a fifth great niece of Jane Austen who had lived at Chawton House until recent years. It is impressive that any family lives in the same house for generations and the Knights have lived there since her fifth great grandfather Edward Austen Knight inherited it. The cottage in Chawton where Jane, her sister and mother lived was on that estate in the village. It’s a must see if you get there. Next time I’ll go see the great house too. While I didn’t get to hear the talk I did chat to Caroline a bit and bought her book.
Other workshops that I eyed off jealously were the fletching workshop and theatrical sword fighting. I did do some dancing workshop but thought it best I not cause frustration by trying to dance. There were mustet firings and a duel and so many very impressive costumes. The numbers are limited so intimate and I made myself talk to people and made some lovely and interesting new acquaintances. Catering including morning and afternoon tea. Lunch on Saturday consisted of a pie or quiche, whatever you ordered.
We went back to the accommodation for ball prep. I did Bronwyn’s hair and turned her scarf into a turban.
My new turban head dress was so very cool.
Pre ball there was soup and bread and we all contributed something for supper which was around 9pm. To start off the ball they do a grand promenade. I was going to sit the dancing out and hang with Bronwyn to admire the general splendour. However, a lovely young woman came up to me and asked if I would be her promenade partner. She said our gowns would look very well together. So up I went. Then when the promenade finishes it becomes a dance. I tried to offer up a better partner given my fumble footedness in the dance lessons. However, my young escort said she would defend me from bodily harm if people got upset with me. I am pleased to say that we passed ourselves off creditably and after that five set dance, I introduced to a much better dancer that I met in the workshop earlier.
Supper was bountiful. There was Jane Austen birthday cake, in traditional style, fruit, marzipan and fondant. I had two small pieces. Then Bronwyn and I retired for the evening. Sunday was a picnic at a National Trust historic house, with carriage rides, archery, maypole etc. The weather by now had turned a bit brittle and cold. However, we were lucky and it didn’t rain while we were there. Picnic sorted at the hall we drove over to Goldhaven. I did a house tour, got my carriage ride in early and did one set of arrows. I haven’t touched a bow for many years and only had one lesson. I think I am better but the target was way too close! Hahaha.
I scrurried out of there as fast as I could and walked about the beautiful garden, ate my lunch, chatted and watched the Maypole dancers.
I will definitely do this event again.
I did not take a lot of photos as I didn’t want to walk around with my phone spoiling people’s fun but I hope I captured enough. I have this is in my calendar for next year.
Hey this cute little series is on Netflix in Australia and is set in the Artic, deep in Inuit territory. I binged watched this over two days. The episodes are short so it went quickly.
This show showcases Indigenous cultures in Canada, but there is also a New Zealand Maori in there too. It’s fun. The lead actor is so easy to watch. She’s young, pretty and very clever and a good performer. It’s a slightly romantic/situational comedy and it is heart warming and interesting. It gives you a glimpse into the life up there, albeit through the lens of a TV show, which isn’t real, but the setting is full of ice and snow and hunting and Indigenous clothing and language.
I don’t want to give too much away except to say I’m so pleased a second season has been announced.
In other news, I’m off to A Regency Affair event in Exeter this weekend. I’m so excited because I totally missed signing up and managed to grab a cancellation ticket. Unfortunately it is only Saturday and Sunday so I miss exciting stuff on Friday and miss most of the workshops. However, that will teach me to pay attention next year. I had to hastily cancel other plans for the weekend and also dig up my Regency themed clothes and gather my stuff. I really want to sew something but I’ve been at this computer all day and my back is protesting.
Post birthday party, I still haven’t settled. I feel like now I’m 65 my brain as unravelled and I can’t organise myself. I have craft envy and now want to learn book binding. Sigh. There is not enough hours in the day or stamina in my mind and body to do all the things. Bugger!
I had an interesting viewing night on Saturday night. I watched Practical Magic, which I’ve never seen. Liked it. I watched Legally Blonde, which was very good, which I also hadn’t seen. Then my partner, whips out The Substance. Now I didn’t know much about this movie except that Demi Moore got a few nods for it. Also, I’m not into horror. Picture me with a blanket over my head, fingers in my ears, going lalalalalala while the graphic gory bits played out. (I did this a few times during the viewing)
Having said all that, there are some interesting pros to this movie and also some cons.
Possible spoliers
The pros
The movie is not subtle at all. This is also a con but I will move on. It is vivid and bright and stylised in a way that keeps you interested visually, which is important for a movie. I don’t think I got visually bored. Appalled at times. Revolted, yes. From the camera angles looking up at palms, to the over the shoulder handicam view of Demi walking along, to the long shot of a gorgeous orange corridor with kind of 1960s themed pattern going on.
The story themes are what is it is most powerful elements. It’s about beauty, aging and youth and society’s views, male gaze, male dominance in the entertainment industry and the lengths a woman would go to, Elisabeth, to keep the youth and her position and status. Dennis Quaid plays Harvey, the studio executive who is repulsive, sexist, asshole and like I said not subtle at all. He eats like a pig, pisses like a pig, talks like shit is flying out of his mouth, and he’s fake and lecherous. You know…mmm. Harvey…Dennis does a great job. He is the main male protagonist, but he has a bunch of cardboard cutout execs following him around.
Demi Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkle, an ageing, on the verge of being let go, beauty and exercise show host. She looks great btw. Enter The Substance, something that kind of gives her a clone, a younger version of herself. The whole generating this other self was pretty explicitly gory and daunting. The rule is only seven days each, no exceptions. There are a set of rules too, feed that, do this. Only seven days worth of stuff is given at a time and Elisabeth has to fetch more from a deposit box.
Younger Elisabeth called Sue is beautiful, wows the men, gyrates like she’s escaped from a porn movie and is a big hit. Both actresses spend a lot of the time in the movie naked, lying down seeming dead naked. Sue delights in her body, her youth and her success and well wants more time.
I won’t dwell too much more on the actual plot here but this is a rather forthright indictment of our society, of its focus on beauty and the lengths the character, particularly Sue goes to keep that male gaze, to sell her beauty, to be a success. It also looks at the self destructive side of the pursuit of beauty and how to be beautiful woman and girls can harm themselves.
Cons
There are so many plot holes it is like someone took a shotgun to it. My partner says it is meant to be a fable but as a writer the plot holes worried me. Why do the people who make The Substance not charge for it, why are they not extorting Elisabeth for more money, each time. I think that would also highlight a nasty aspect of our world, greed and exploitation. However, the movie is silent on that.
The rules are a bit strange and the application of them is not consistent. Sue is able to steal time and I wasn’t quite clear how she could do that, but it had consquences. Also, toward the end that rule didn’t apply at all.
Some of the body horror stuff, particularly the surgery was not really plausible. Also, Elisabeth is in a horrific car accident and is unharmed. No explanation of that. My SF brain was thinking ‘is she somehow special? Already artificial?’
A few explicit scenes were like being blungeoned and there is a less is more element here. If you see the movie you will know what I mean.
The ending
The ending went on too long. There were a few places it could have ended and been powerful and got the message across. However, it just went on to this over the top blood bath that might have been paying homage to The Elephant Man and some well know horror movies. Yet, I watched as literally everything gets covered in blood, like a symbolic staining, marring of the superficial beauty of the set. Also, the people, the people who promote, support and consume beauty. Having said that I don’t watch horror habitually and it was kid of bizarre at the end and also stylistic.
Summary
I can see why it caught people’s attention. The motives, the commentary are worthy and most of the delivery is visionary and stunning. The acting was good. Demi was brilliant and so was Margaret Qualley. Kudos to Carolie Fargeat for making it. It was an outstanding statement despite its flaws. It is definitely a ‘be careful what you wish for’ story reminiscent of early Twighlight Zone episodes with heaps of colour and pizzaz that ramps it up to 100.
It may seem kind of weird celebrating 65 years on the planet. The age of 65 is no longer a huge milestone. Before the dark days, lol, retirement in Australia for women was 60 years and then it became 65 and now it is 67 so why am I celebrating? Firstly, I didn’t get to celebrate with my friends on my 60th, which I think is a milestone. That was due to the pandemic. I also wanted to celebrate getting my Phd but that timing did not align to either my 60th or my 65th. Anyway, I think 65 is a milestone and I’m very happy to be here.
I recall that when I was discussing knee replacements, I was told to wait until I was 65 and I said what if I don’t make it to 65? I mean there’s cancer, accidents, decreptitude and so on. However, I am here and I feel good. I don’t take feeling good for granted. Some days I don’t feel great physically and even mentally. If I do too much of the wrong thing, I hurt. These old bones but mostly just oesteoarthritis, which the first signs appeared in my early 40s. I inherited it, just like my migraines. So when I feel good I need to do stuff, you know, write, walk, enjoy the day, see friends and family.
I guess now I’m just thinking about things. Friends and family that have passed. Events that shaped me or even those that I don’t remember all the time that come back out of the blue. The things I forget and feel so bad about. I think back and my memory could be pretty bad even in my forties. I think a lot had to do with stress and paying attention. I still only half listen some of the time. Of course my greatest fear is dementia. Both my parents had dementia but I want to have all my marbles if I can.
Although not officially diagnosed, it is quite clear I have ADHD in many ways. I used to be really good at organising but I’m not so sure I have all it takes these days. To be really efficient, you need energy and at 65 reliance on energy isn’t so easy. I also think my strategies don’t work as well as they used to. I am thinking of doing less craft but I haven’t quite managed that yet or actually do a lot of craft. My craft room is a blackhole in which no light can escape.
I don’t know why I can’t get as much done. During lockdown there seemed to be so much time.
I think about life now and how different and complex life is for kids now. I didn’t really start using a computer at home until 2000 and even then it was my then partner’s. I couldn’t afford one before then. Social media was non-existent. We used email chains and chat rooms. Compared to my childhood, kids don’t have time to themselves, time to think and contemplate, it’s just go, go, go. Learn this, process that, news here, social media bombardments.
Personally I have a panic attack if I haven’t got my phone and if I am participating in some sort of event, like the movies or a play or my 65th birthday party, and I don’t touch my phone for hours, it is a feat of monumental proportions.
I didn’t have a television until I was four years old and even then there was limited programming. We didn’t have streaming. We had vinyl records that got played on the stereogram, which was a piece of furniture that included a TV. TV was black and white and we all sat around as a family and watched the same things. It broke down often. Luckily my dad liked SF because we got Lost in Space, Disney on Sundays and Saturdays were the only early morning cartoons etc, Astro Boy, Prince Planet and live action Phantom Agents and Samurai. A lot of our TV came from Japan and the USA. Godzilla! Mr Squiggle was Australian and other programs began to emerge. There were often news items and articles about how TV was destroying the kids. I think my dad called me square eyes. However, my thoughts were that I was learning stuff and that had to be good.
We played outside. Actually not much choice as children were seen and not heard and we were often locked out. My mother used to leave us alone, if my aunts could be believed and I don’t doubt them. I remember being locked in and I was like 3-4 years old. How things change. It was probably not legal then either. Anyway, we kept occupied. I used to go walkabout all the time. The cops brought me home many times when I was just 3 or 4. Later, I just went visiting people and places. The only time I got in trouble was because I borrowed a friends tricycle. He gave it to me but his parent did not approve and complained. I think I got a hiding. You know I’m glad hidings and thrashings are not the done thing these days. I recall being beaten once, being thrown around and thinking I was going to die. Another time I was hit with the belt buckle and I had imprints and bruises up my thigh. The nuns said I must have been very naughty!
At my birthday party, I talked about my elder brother and sister. I don’t remember Ian too much as he was often trying to get away from me. I have memories of following him and him getting away. He was often lumbered with us younger ones to take to the movies. I was too, which is weird because I was too young to look after them and I recall being thrown out of Kogarah cinema because my younger brothers ran around. My sister though I survived. Don’t get me wrong we are close these days but when we were young we did some risky stuff. She used to take me down into the storm water drains but I baulked at the dark tunnels and fretted when she didn’t come back. One day she and her friend climbed out and left me behind. Then they said the storm water gates were opening and I’d drown. I had to run over to Rockdale where the sides of the drains sloped and I could run out. Once she took me up to the train lines and got me to put my head on the tracks so I could hear the trains coming, you know like in the western movies. However, I was a survivor and got the hell out of there as it was a suburban line and the trains were frequent. She was teaching me to spit and one day I spat on her on the way home from school. She was going to get me so I ran and ran and ran onto the road and was hit by a car. She must have freaked because she saw my small body fly up and then down. I was seven years old. Obviously I survived. Why I survived I have no idea. Perhaps I am a cat in another life.
When I was young I never thought about being old. I mean you’re too busy living in the now I think to contemplate that. However, the things we do influence how we grow old. A while back I met an 89 year old lady who was so energetic and had done so much she inspired me. I realised if I wanted to be a spritely old lady I needed to work on that now, diet and exercise and look after my health. If you starve yourself when you are young you get shit like heart problems, oesteoporosis and so on. Also, I don’t think I understood a lot about myself when I was young but do now. Also, I was pretty when I was young and I didn’t even know that or think that. Now I see it but well that’s just a memory now. I also have some kind of body dismorphia thing. I look in the mirror and think you’re such an ugly old hag. But then I see a photo from ten years ago and think I didn’t look too bad, but I thought I was an ugly old hag then. These days I’ve changed the narrative. Now I say you’re looking good today or make your hair nice and so on.
When I was young my life was a mess and I made messy decisions. However, I grew up, made better decisions. I studied and got a degree, a good job, climbed out of the poverty hole because I wanted more for my kids. I’ve since done a PHD but I left school at 15. I hated people thinking I was dumb. Hated it. However, everything you do in life teaches you something. For a writer that’s useful.
Also, things change, views change and these culture wars we are having. I never would have thought they were on the cards. Just like I never thought I’d live through a pandemic. It’s really unnerving because the future seems so uncertain. Things might not settle down before I die. What world will my grand kids inherit? As a writer of SF and fantasy these are scary times because my imagination and past reading set me up to imagine some bad shit. However, I am very pleased about the Australian election and that meaning a rejection of Trumpism, and basically hate. There are other reasons for the win too, but that’s a biggie. Why am I a Labor supporter? I wouldn’t be where I am in life without the Hawke/Keating years. I was able to study and get childcare. University was not free unfortunately and that was a set back for me. However, it was cheaper than it is now to pay for a university degree.
Why am I reminiscing? Shrug. I am meant to have some profound thoughts. Being old gives me a license to blather? I am happy to be here. Some of my friends aren’t. I know my life is more than half over. I’m no longer young and pretty but that comes with life. It’s not an easy transition and you know health and death loom larger than they once did. You have the luxury of looking back on your life and loves. Hopefully not to dwell on regrets. Of course there are things I am sorry I did and did not do. I think now though is for me to do what I can, what I want for as long as I can. I enjoy writing and I have a lot more stories in me, I love my life and my partner and my children and grandchildren and my friends both old and new. I’m working part time and that suits me. I’m a boring old fart who watches way too much streaming and listens to too many audio books and doesn’t read enough or do enough craft or catching up with people. Lol. I’ve just transitioned from a middle-aged geek to an old geek. Eep!
I can still write stories though…for now…
Me, with my dyed grey hair. I’m embracing 65 with a vengeance.
Hamilton is a lovely city. Keri and I stayed close to the venue and did a big long walk to Hamilton Gardens. It was $20 to see the themed gardens and expect to see photos from these pop up here and later. I reckon I could get a mystical door way theme going.
The event was quite big. A lot of authors and cool vendors and well organised. It was well organised. Some authors did fabulously well. Keri Arthur for one. Laura Hunter said she did great. Me, not too great but not bad either considering I am still building a following and I haven’t ever appeared at a NZ event before.
It was lovely to meet readers and also connect with authors who I knew but haven’t seen in a while. Waves to Lee Murray. Or authors I know online such as Mary Brock Jones. We were table buddies being placed next to each other. I met a librarian and also a rep from the NZ Society of Authors. The beauty of this book event is that it is free to readers. Yes, there are VIP tickets I think and raffles but basically it is free. I recall they do an anthology for charity too.
While I wasn’t busy at the table I scoped out a series. I did a lot of writing down of world building, story arc, characters and plot. It’s very weird but I was inspired by Nalini Singh when on panels at the ARRA event. She talked about her 12 book Psy-Changeling series and how she wrote the first book and a scene for the final book at the same time. I haven’t ever tried planning so hugely. Actually I lie, when I first wrote a book, an SF romance with feminist overtones, Relic, I mapped out a six book series, a cross galactic, alien and sex and gods and planet settling thing. However, I never published that book. It was in 2000 and SF romance wasn’t a big thing, I was a new writer, there was no self publishing then and while I had two different agents around that time, it never went anywhere and I wrote other things. I did get feedback from author friend that I should write it later on when I was more experienced. Maybe I will, who knows.
Anyway, I wrote the first scene in that scoped series the other day. However, I have lots of things going on writing wise and need to apply my ADHD post menopause brain to achieve more and faster.
Anyway, take aways from NZ and Ages of Pages. NZ is always worth a visit. Ages of Pages is a great event. Not sure I’ll go again but you never know as I always have a reason to visit NZ so makes sense.
Here is the photo bomb!
Chinese section of Hamilton Gardens
Photo by Keri Arthur. Me in the pagoda thing Hamilton Gardens
Japanese section of Hamilton Gardens. Lovely lamp.
Italian section of the Hamilton Gardens. Romulus and Remus being fed by the wolf.
Egyptian Wall Hamilton Gardens
Small statue in the picturesque section? Not sure. Hamilton Gardens.
Unicorn from Tudor garden section Hamilton Gardens
Egyptian pool, Hamilton Gardens.
Keri taking a photo of me, Chinese section Hamilton Gardens. Some great reflection going on there.
The photo Keri took of me in the Chinese gardens.
This is a shot from leaving the themed gardens. Hamilton Gardens.
This gum was in the Hamilton Gardens, general area. It’s very impressive.
Also, we walked around the street and found some amazing trees. I asked Keri to pose with this huge Plane tree so you can see how thick the trunk was.
We did about 18,000 steps that day.
At Ages of Pages
Me and Laura Hunter at Ages of Pages
Keri at her table before she sold out of some of her books.
My table at Ages of Pages
At dinner on the eve of Ages of Pages at The Cook pup. Keri, JO Mantel, assistant to Laura, Laura and me grinning like a ghoul.
Anyhow, I am back home and I’ve done some stuff and will be blogging all that over the next few days.
Donna Maree Hanson, Author, Phd in Creative Writing 