It's time to get back on my hamster wheel and be a productive little critter for the next twelve months, or until Christmas. Christmas sounds good. Actually, Christmas sounds awful--cold and too much food and dark nights. If only it could be summer forever.
I've had a fantastic break from work, been to lovely and sunny places - I ♥ Wales - actually that statement isn't news as I've always loved Wales, but this year the sun shined and actually burnt. Burn is not good, especially when you're at an age were you should know better than to turn lobster red in the sun. Thankfully, the kids returned home pasty. My niece rubbed so much suntan lotion into her skin she was like a slippery eel.
We played in the sea, someone got pooped on by a loose-bowelled seagull, I won a big fluffy chimpanzee and a slightly-less fluffy dog and lost a fair few pounds in the process (the jangling kind), I griped about the price of candy floss (cotton candy) - £2.50 - what!!!! But thankfully, the candy floss on this side of the border was cheaper so I did have a bag or two in almost as sunny England.
I read, read, and read some more. Nearly a hundred short stories (Interzone, Black Static, The Zombie Feed, Never Again, Spook City, BFS Journal, Postscripts), devoured a graphic novel (Anya's ghost) novellas (Unearthed, The Door to Lost Pages, No Traveller Returns) and novels (Water for Elephants, The Robe of Skulls), meaning I've made a dent in my to read pile. Albeit a tiny dent.
Writing-wise, I edited and edited and edited In the Broken Birdcage of Kathleen Fair, I completed a new short story Disregarding Rabbit Holes, started work on another short that is as yet untitled, and cut some words from the unfinished second draft of my novel The Ghosts of Folding Time and started layering in extra spookiness and removing a giant robot. And my story, His Name Carved on Empty Space, was accepted by Every Day Fiction (and will be published this Wednesday). There was Theatre and Nowhere Hall and Barbed Wire Hearts news, one of which involved the posting of signature sheets which I am eagerly awaiting delivery of.
If I owe you an email, I will get back to you very, very soon. My inbox is awash with goodness. Now to twitter... I mean, put my head down and write.
10 Comments on Sunbathing on Battlements, last added: 8/9/2011
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Goodness... all that reading, writing, etc.
I thought you were on vacation. Good show, Cate.
Good on you, Cate. Nice to have you back. ;-)
Awesome pic, Cate! Glad you had a nice break!
I think we all know that reading and writing are essential ingredients for ensuring a holiday is fun, Aaron :D
Good to be back, Simon. I missed the internet so much.
Thanks, Lee.
Wowza! That sounds like a relaxing, exciting, *and* productive holiday. Glad you had a good time. :-)
It was. Although, now I need another holiday :D
It sounds like you had a wonderful time! I've never been to Wales. I didn't know it got sunny there. I always picture it as misty all the time.
Good to have you back, Cate.
Usually it rains, Kate.
I believe you went somewhere slightly more exotic, Deborah.
Gosh, it sounds like a super-productive AND super-gorgeous vacation. I would SO love to visit Wales, it's very high on my list. And the list is long, oh yeah.
So much reading... I need a vacation. A READING VACATION.