Good morning, Readers.

Today in the Magic Thermos (TM), Jack Harkness coffee from JenEric Designs. Also, some of their cinnamon coffee, the exact name of which I can't remember, to make up the difference.  It is really good coffee, guys.

But onto a more serious topic.

Yesterday, a character died.  I'm not going to tell you who or why or how, just that he was a wonderful person, and it made me incredibly sad.  There are unconfirmed reports that I cried.

I totally cried.

It's always really awkward when a character's death hits at work and I'm just sitting at my desk fighting tears for a whole afternoon...  Despite my cackles of glee on social media, I actually really hate writing character deaths - unless that character is a right shit.  Then writing the death is so much fun and there is much gleeful cackling.

I wrote three thousand words yesterday, putting me ahead of my target by a thousand.  Not bad.  Actually, quite good.  However, it was three thousand words of goodbyes and sadness and death.  It was not a happy three thousand words, and I find it difficult to celebrate that achievement.

I know this must seem weird to those who do not write, or those readers who do not get involved in a story at any profound level.  He was just a fictional character after all.  It's true.  He was just a fictional character, but he had lived in my head for a while; since I first conceived the story in January.  And as I was mulling this tale over, he grew in my esteem.  It was very much like meeting someone face to face and then, over subsequent meetings, coming to deeply respect and love that person.  The process was the same.

I met him, and thought him slightly distant.  But as I got to know him, I found him warm, loving, kind and gentle as well as stalwart, proud, noble and honourable.

And now dead.

If this book was to be turned into a movie, he'd be played by Sean Bean.

Heh heh heh.

Sorry, not sorry.

I'm still a little sad today.  It's not going to get much better, I'm afraid.  Today I write the end of a golden age of an entire people, directly due to yesterday's death.  Ugh!  This story is miserable!  Thank goodness it has a quasi-happy ending!

I don't think it will take my daily target of two thousand words to write this next bit, so I will probably be able to focus back on the main character again and her misery until the end of the book...

Anyway, I was very sad yesterday.  Teaching Introduction to Self-Defence improved my mood, though.  It was a good class with many laughs.  I have a good bunch of students.

Today will also be sad, though not enough to produce tears... I hope.  First, however, Welsh lessons!  I should be getting on with them.

Hope you all have an awesome day.

Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

Today in a travelling mug because I forgot the Magic Thermos (TM) at work yesterday: home spiced coffee.  Seriously though, the Amazing Flatmate makes the best out of ordinary coffee.

Well, I find myself with absolutely nothing of note to say.  There are a number of banalities; like my enormous breakfast of two cups of coffee, two boiled eggs, a sausage and a bowl of hemp seed instant oatmeal.  That information, however, is not particularly interesting to you I would imagine.  It is frakking delicious, though.

I could blather on about training, I suppose.  I did have a really good run on Monday, and I'm finally starting to see some improvement at the chin up bar... still can't do a chin up unassisted though.  I feel like I've talked about training too much already.  It must get boring for you.

Writing..,  I can talk about writing!  I'm still doing it.  I'm still loving it (so, so much).  One character I rather love is going to die soon (none of you should be surprised by this), and that makes me sad.  I also had a bit of a teary moment between father and son while writing yesterday.  It made me sad as well.  I can't wait to get this story out to you!

The problem with routine, you see, is that it's, well, routine.  Routine is boring.  It's the same thing over and over again.  Wake up.  Feed the cats.  Pack back pack (heh heh...) for training.  Get ready for work.  Make lunch.  Go to work.  Arrive at work.  Have breakfast.  Write blog post.  Take Welsh lessons.  Have lunch.  Write two thousand odd words.  Goof off for the last hour of work.  Get ready for training.  Go to training.  Train for three hours.  Go home.  Have dinner.  Have shower.  Go to bed.

It's like that every day Monday to Thursday every week for all eternity.  Friday is different, but only slightly.  There isn't all that stuff between beginning work and finishing work save the eating.  And I get to go straight home after.  That's nice.

Unfortunately for the both of us, the monotony of this routine means that I genuinely have nothing of note to write about in today's post.  Luckily for me, though, I have a degree in the Arts, which means I have four years of a university level education in how to write a great deal about nothing at all.  You'll note that this is now paragraph seven.  That's seven paragraphs in which I relate nothing to you.  Well done me!

I did want to direct you to THIS article though.  It's about the awesome archaeological find in the Altai Mountains.  Known as Princess of Ukok, or the ice princess/ice maiden, she was discovered by Russian archaeologists in 1993.  Notably, she was buried with six horses, wearing beautiful tack and a goodly amount of grave goods, including food and drink, and ornate gold jewellery.  She was a woman of high rank.

She also had beautiful tattoos on her arms.  There is one in particular of a stag on her left shoulder that I would very much like to have myself.  One day, there will be many tattoos.  But I digress.  The point is, she was a tattooed woman of extremely high rank.  Apparently, she had breast cancer, and smoked cannabis to deal with the pain.

Side note: it's funny how tattoos have gone from being the mark of a high ranking person to things that lowlifes get and now it's climbing back to being something only the wealthy can afford.  Anyway, back to my post.

Alas, when she was discovered, the skin was perfectly preserved everywhere except her face.  Now her face has been reconstructed.  I can't remember where I read this, but the taxidermist responsible said that he was reasonably certain that he was 75% accurate, with the rest being educated guess work.  Here she is:

I, of course, geeked out.  I really love this stuff.  It's so fascinating.  I wonder who she was, what she was like and what she did in her life that she was given such a grand burial.

This is part of the reason why I love archaeology so.  There are so many questions that lend themselves well to the imagination.  It is possible to construct a plausible fairytale about archaeological finds, particularly when there is a dearth of written records.  This stuff is incredible fodder for the mind.

In case any of you are wondering where I get the inspiration for my fiction, I have only one source; academia.  Whether it is an academic discussion of the origin of certain myths (The Wild Hunt of Britain being one of my favourite discussions right now, particularly as it pertains to the possibility of it being led by a very archaic Celtic god (who was later supplanted by King Arthur in some tellings of the Wild Hunt myth... I'm trying not to get side-tracked here)), or academic papers on finds such as the one above, and better yet, academic arguments about the origins of languages and cultures that are no longer extant.

I eat it up like it's chocolate.

Academia is, for me at least, the perfect place to find inspiration for fiction.  I'm not sure what that says about academia.  I'll leave it to your interpretation.  Gods I love academia!

Right, I'm off to roll my 'r's in ridiculous fashion (read here - continue with my Welsh lessons).

Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

Today in the Magic Thermos (TM), home spiced coffee - cinnamon, cardamom and vanilla.  Gods it's good.  The vanilla finish... so good...

Ahem.

Today I wanted to discuss with you my YouTube channel.  No, not my personal one, which desperately needs attention, actually.  I should really put up a vlog...  Anyway, I'm talking about Silver Stag Entertainment.  We have a programme where we sit around a table discussing  geeky books and movies called Nights at the Round Table.  This marks the beginning of our second year, which I'm very pleased by.  The great thing about the programme is that it works as a podcast as well (which I will be attempting to get out one of these days), so you don't need to watch, really, only listen.  I love this show.  It's geeky and fun and the people are awesome.

I'm also planning on a Let's Play... whenever the cable I ordered arrives.  I'm annoyed it hasn't yet.  Hopefully it will soon.

Also part of the channel are readings at the local ChiSeries events and the Amazing Flatmate is doing a show on costuming whenever she has time.

It's a great little channel and I'm very proud of it.  If you like, you can click on over to the channel (HERE) and subscribe.

Nights at the Round Table has just aired its third episode of its second season this year.  We discussed the film Akira (1988).  Next episode, we're talking about Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.  For the books, we also have a Goodreads.com book club.  I spent a bit of time yesterday getting it all done and ready to the new year... I had slacked off a fair amount last year, but all the books we discussed on the channel are now up for discussion on the book club.  Most of the videos are up as well, but I have to go through and finish doing that.  It will be done incrementally, I think.  When I have time.  You're welcome to join the Silver Stag Book Club on Goodreads by clicking through HERE and joining.  It's open to anyone and everyone, so long as you like reading.

The great thing about this group is that you don't have to read the books at the same time as we are.  You can just jump in with any book you've read or are currently reading that is on our lists.

I do hope more people join and are active in the group.  More people reading can only be a good thing.

Hopefully we can get a few people participating.

Alright, I have to get my Welsh on.  Here is today's appropriate picture:

Okily dokily!  I'm off.

Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

Today in the Magic Thermos (TM): nothing.  No, I didn't forget the Thermos, I just slept in a bit too long and didn't have time to make myself some coffee.

Today, I have admitted something I've admitted many times before.  It is something that most of you know already, if you've been paying attention.

I am a gigantic dork.

I get ridiculously excited about things; mostly writing and archaeology things.  Like THIS article, about the discovery of a Celtic Cult site in Germany.  I flipped.  I squeaked.  Out loud.  At work.  And I danced in my chair.  It got me really excited, and I was so happy.

I received the entire Mass Effect trilogy for Christmas (I haven't played yet.  I'm still waiting for my cables to arrive), and I thought it was the most awesome Christmas ever.  Almost any way.  I've been wanting to play Mass Effect for a while now.  It looks like a gorgeous game.

Oh, and I sometimes get excited when I am writing.  You don't understand.  I'm wriggling in my chair, I'm so excited.  I get lost in the fun of having to words flow easily, and often in the action those are representing.  I get carried away by the process of writing.  I find discovering the story and the characters as I write one of the greatest thrills ever.  It's the same thrill I get from reading a great book and discovering that story and those characters.  So.  Much.  Fun.

Yes, I admit it.  I'm a dork.  Y'all are going to have to deal with my dorkiness, I'm afraid.

In that light...

ER MAH GERD writing Daughters of Britain is so much fun!  I mean, it's a rough story.  Awful things happen.  But it's so much fun!  Just this past week, I obliterated two Legions in a confrontation with the Batavians.  Alright, perhaps obliterated isn't quite the word.  I sent them packing.  Man that was fun to write!  It wasn't even the details of the battle, which I wrote sparingly.  It was the surprise in the middle of the battle.  It was the banter at the parley before the battle.  It was the monumental clash between a competent and very angry German rebel leader and an arrogant Prefect who severely underestimated him.

Now I'm worried I'm hyping up the book too much and when it gets released it will be a huge let down.  So, I'm going to stop being such a dork now.  *deep breaths*

You know, I woke up this morning ridiculously excited to come to work today because it meant I get to write the next two thousand odd words of Daughters of Britain.  This was the same feeling I had for SKylark. Oddly enough, the novels in The Great Man series never inspired this kind of reaction.  They were my obsession, but they never made me happy or excited.  They made me moody and depressed.  I wrote The Great Man because I was compelled to, because I was obsessed with it, because I could not not write it or I'd go mad.

I much prefer writing Daughters of Britain, to be frank.  That said, thoughts of writing The Great Man has returned.  I think I will end up rewriting it starting this year, and self-publishing it.  It is time this story saw the light of day, and I'm not longer afraid or ashamed of being a self-published author.  But there are other books the take care of, specifically the Your Very Own Adventure project book.  I need to get that rewritten and edited and out into the world before Christmas this year.

I have so much work to do.  Sigh.  I do it to myself.  Oh well... 

I have to get my Welsh lessons going.  Here is today's picture:

Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

Today in the Magic Thermos (TM), home-spiced coffee... and a cardamom pod.  At first I thought it was a horse fly.  I'm very glad it's not a horse fly.

I'm feeling particularly good this morning, it has to be said.  This is weird, as I received a rejection letter yesterday.  It was a nice rejection, but still a rejection.  I don't want to harp on about it too much because it'll ruin my good mood and make me sad.  So, I'm going to write about my small victories yesterday, the cumulative effect of which has led to my great mood this morning.

First of all, I started a new lesson in the Say Something In Welsh programme I'm working though, and I managed all right until about midday, when my tongue went into revolt and wouldn't let me roll my 'r's any longer.  I'm now onto lesson 19 if any of you care.  There are twenty-six lessons in the free first course on the site (there are three courses, so they go quite in depth with the language training).  The other two courses on offer must be paid for, and I'm seriously considering it...  But I have a personal block to spending money on things that aren't absolute necessities.  I will happily spend money on food and on rent.  But when I need new clothes, or if I want a gaming console, or even those beautiful, beautiful new books, it's always a struggle to spend that money, even if it's something that I actually quite desperately need.  Clothes, for example.  Much of what I have is being held together by safety pins.

I wish I was joking.

My winter boots are ripped to shreds from all the walking I do.  I really ought to buy a new pair, but I can't bring myself to do it.  Spending that money gives me anxiety issues.

Anyway, the point is, I'm almost done the first course in the Say Something In Welsh programme that the Dysgwyr Cymraeg Ottawa (Welsh Learner's Ottawa) group is undertaking.  It's nice to make progress, and I'm feeling good about it.  I will need to start hanging around Welsh-speaking people (there are a fair number of them in Ottawa), so I can practice it.  It's that or move to Wales...

In training news, I actually remembered to bring my shoes last night and, after kick-boxing and before I taught Introduction to Self-Defence, I went for a run.  If you recall, last week my run did not go so well.  I had to stop and walk often.  It was disheartening.

This time around, not only did I manage to run the full half hour, but I even did a fast lap and finished with a sprint.  Go me!  Mind you, my idea of a fast lap is actually not very fast at all.  I'm a slow runner, being better built for carrying heavy objects on my back than running.  I'm a Clydesdale, not a Thoroughbred... 

In any case, I'm feeling far better about my fitness now, and the effect of that, plus the mood-boosting effects of exercise in general has put me in a good mood.

Also helping with my good mood was how quickly I managed to get my daily two thousand words down yesterday.  I finished well before quitting time at four in the afternoon and the way I finished has made me excited to get writing again today.  It was at the very beginning of a battle between the Batavian freedom fighters and the Roman Legions V Alaudae and XV Primigenia near what is modern day Nijmegen, the Netherlands.  This battle actually took place in the year 70 AD.

I might be writing fiction, but it's well researched fiction, damn it!

Guys, I'm really excited about this story.  It's the same excitement I felt for Skylark, and it is just so much fun to dive into the story each day.  I mean, it's also heartbreaking.  I just finished writing a bit when a soldier in the Batavian Auxiliaries stations at Castra Vestra learns that his wife was killed.  That wasn't particularly fun to write.  In fact, it was downright upsetting.

And also fun, I'm not going to lie.  Even though I did tear up while writing it.  It was fun.

Gah!  I just... I really cannot wait to share this story with you!  I'm so excited and thrilled and back in my groove!  How refreshing, after the struggle of last year!

Excuse me a moment...

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahem.  I really should get back to my lessons.  I hope you are all well and having a fantastic Thursday.

Ciao!  Stay Bless !!!

Good morning, Readers!

Today in the Magic Thermos (TM), regular coffee that has been spiced with cinnamon, cardamom and cloves by the Amazing Flatmate!  Gods it's delicious.  I'm so glad I remembered the Magic Thermos (TM) yesterday.

However, I wanted to talk to you about something else entirely.  And it has everything to do with the banner I have above this paragraph.

Ahem.

*Announcer's Voice*

Introducing.... C.O.N!  The one day market for Creative Ottawa Nerds.  Want to meet awesome folk and buy their awesome handmade nerdy goodness?  Of course you do.  I'm going to be there... selling my books... Possibly a painting.  I don't know.  I need to get back into doing my art.

The fair is being held to raise money for the Food Bank, so if you're coming, the entrance fee is either two non perishable food items or $5.00 at the door, all of which is going to the Food Bank.  I really love to see geeky people get together to make the world a better place.  The Vlog Brothers do the same with their YouTube presence; doing everything they can to "reduce world suck."  It's one of the things I really love about them.  It's also one of the things I really love about craft fairs like this.

I have been hungry before.  Like, really hungry.  Like, crippling stomach pains because my stomach has nothing but itself to eat kind of hungry.  It's genuinely awful, and not something I would ever wish on even my worst enemy.  I can't imagine experiencing that kind of pain on the regular.  In a country that is wealthy enough to waste 40% of our food, no one should have to go hungry.  That people are and do in this country is an absolute travesty.

That is partly why I'm so thrilled to be part of this event.  I like to know that while I'm out and about doing my writerly thing, I'm also helping people.  It's important to me that people get helped.  I'm quite poor myself, and so I can't help as much as I want to.  Participating in events like this serves that purpose with the added benefits of having fun, meeting great people and supporting local, like-minded artists and all 'round awesome folk.

The first even C.O.N. craft fair is, as advertised, on the 21st of March, 2015.  You can RSVP HERE on the Facebook event if you like.  And could you all do me a big favour?  Could you all head over to the Facebook Page and give them a like for me?  I want to make this even big enough to make a real difference for the hungry in Ottawa.

Thanks a million.  You are all awesome!

Right, I must go practice my Welsh and thence on to writing.  It went better yesterday and I can't wait to get back to it.

Ciao and Stay Bless !!!

Good morning, Readers!

Today in the Magic Thermos.  Nothing.  Again.  I left it at work.  Again.

Sigh.

Today is week two of what I have dubbed Hell's Fortnight.  That is, the first two weeks back at training after a break.  This is the fortnight made of pain, of exhaustion, tears and regrets.  Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?  In any case, I did much better this week than last, and I can already feel that I'm not going to be in nearly as much pain as I was last week.  This is a good thing.

In other boring training news, I forgot to bring my running shoes last night, so I didn't run.

Told you it was boring.

Writing went well, considering I have been off it for a while while editing Human.  I'm not especially thrilled with the two thousand words I wrote yesterday, but I'm just getting my groove back, and hopefully I'll get back into the swing of it and feel more comfortable writing today.  I have a feeling that this section is going to need a considerable rewrite.  Still, it's down on paper and I can move on.  Or I might do something I very rarely do... I might go through and do some considerable editing of that section today.  It really is bothering me.

I am looking forward to getting my head back in the proper place for writing this book.  I can tell I'm really excited about it because I have scenes running through my head as I'm walking to and from work.  It's the last thing I think of before going to bed and the first thing I think of when I wake up.

It's essentially a lover.

This is why I will be forever alone.

Anyway, the story is making itself heard, which is a good thing.  For some reason, I'm finding it tougher to get it onto the page than I did before I started editing Human.  This better not turn into another Human.  I don't want to be spending the entire year at the computer attempting to draw blood from a stone.

I'm, of course, getting stressed for no reason.  Despite it being sub-par in my opinion, I did manage to hit my daily target yesterday, with a fair amount of time to spare.  So I'm obviously writing at a good pace.  It'll be fine.

I hope.

There isn't much else to relate.  I'm off to training, as per usual this evening.  The same tomorrow evening... and Thursday as well.  I'm going to be studying Welsh in the morning, writing in the afternoon, just as I do every day (except Fridays).  Random thought: certain people keep telling me how interesting the stuff I do is.  It doesn't feel that way to me.  It feels mundane and quite dull.  I suppose it would, if it's routine.

Right, well, on that note, I should go study some Welsh.  Then write.  Then train.  Here is today's funny picture:

Ciao!  I mean...

Stay Bless !!!