So here we are, in the hottest part of the UK year, and I'm unable to do things most of the day because of the heat. That doesn't seem to phaze Real Life, of course, which just keeps piling it on.
Short result: Somewhere Else Entirely may be delayed for the next two months or so. See below for details.
So, there I was, reading and contributing comments on my favourite website when - I get hit with an attack of the shakes, and pins and needles in my hands and feet.
Five hours later I was in hospital again. What just happened?
So, I put up chapter #98 and almost immediately decide that I have made a mistake. Unfortunately, I had a trip to the US to organize, and my readers have already supplied many comments... enter the rewrite from chaos.
Unfortunately, going on my nightly experiences, that probably won't help much... but I'm going to take it easy this week-end. I've spent three days visiting hospitals last week and another rebuilding the house network. Phew!
Each time I go to a hospital it basically uses up a day. If I go to the local hospital for a blood test, it is a mile walk and then a bus ride each way; I can get other things done but you can't get a full run at anything. Going to the Renal clinic is an hour's train ride and a mile walk each end so basically we make it a day out and roam the shops, eat out, etc.
The reference is to the old Chinese proverb, of course. Did I expect to settle down to a quiet life? What do you think?
Apart from the various medical issues, there are a number of other upcoming activities which have to be addressed, of which writing is, regrettably, only one.
Well, I was discharged yesterday (Weds 12th), a process that took all afternoon. I'm home and attempting to pick up the pieces of life again.
I'll draw a veil over the hospital experience since a lot of you have been there and done that. I'm just glad I wasn't as badly off as some of the other poor sods on my ward.
I have been given a diagnosis (such as it is ) of vasculitis. The consultant was sufficiently concerned that they wanted to admit me as an in-patient yesterday but there was no bed. I am going in this afternoon, so will be AFK for a few days.
For about the past three weeks, or perhaps a little longer, I've had a mild sore throat. Symptoms: slight discomfort there, perpetual taste of old milk, intestinal bloating on account of the gunge draining down, resulting nausea and so on.
Last week I decided it had gone on long enough and went to the doctor. Cue loads of tests and a completely unexpected finding.
I have just received an email via the address I use solely for BCTS. This appears to be spam and thus means that someone who knows my email addy may have been compromised.
I "viewed source" and it refers to something called Zorbia which is apparently HongKong based. I didn't look any further and I didn't open it. It went in the bit bucket.
Well, it seems I now have a Universe tag, assuming anyone else is daft enough to want to write a story set on Anmar.
I have written up some universe rules but I would rather not make them public just yet, as there could be (of necessity) spoiler material inside. If anyone wants to have a go at a story, then PM me and we'll have a conversation.
It seems that Somewhere Else Entirely has turned, without me realizing it, from a simple tale to a small industry. I have helpers tabulating names and places, proof-reading and even making maps! I even have a reader who wants to write fan fiction!
This story is no longer a one-author endeavor. What could or should I do here?
This is typical of what seems to happen to me over the winter holiday period. I have an eeeeeeevil cold and I'm reduced to coughing, hacking and dripping everywhere. Needless to say, I can't write while I'm in this condition.
Contrary to what we have been receiving here in the UK for far too long, somebody switched the monsoon off this week. We now have days of hotter, hotter, HOTTER.
Unfortunately, the room I do my scribblings in is the one with the cupboard full of computers. It's too hot. As I write it's 33 centigrade in the cupboard, and I'm having to turn almost everything off to stop it dying on its own. This means that my time at the keyboard is limited to whenever I can get myself out of bed and ready in the mornings, before it all heats up.
It's been a while, I know. Unfortunately, that's how life has been for far too long now. I have about 6,000 words written of the next chapter and the rest planned out ages ago. So why is it not up yet?
Meh. I had originally intended, and openly written about, calling chapter 49 of Somewhere Else Entirely "A Day of Ceremonies". Fool! I ought to have known better! Some of my minor characters had other ideas...
So, everything suddenly exploded on me, as unintended consequences frequently do.
Of course, we're all used to the phenomenon of cats walking across keyboards and generating *perfect* passwords, this just takes it to the logical next step!
Dont' you just hate it when that happens? I'm ploughing my steady way through Somewhere Else Entirely, the next chapter lined up ready in my head, when... wham! along comes a complete story in a different vein. One that just won't let go.
Why does everything always happen at the same time? I've had this cold for well over a week now, and it's so bad I can cough in my sleep, often without waking. It's also worked it's way down into my chest, and up into my sinuses...
So the bad weather happens just about now as well, and to top it all I just accidentally trashed one of my servers... twice.
I'm sure you'll all have noticed that it has been far too long since the previous chapter of Somewhere Else Entirely was posted. I've finally managed to get the next one up... I ought to be back to a reasonable schedule now, although these days you never know.
I thought I'd explain why there's been such a long delay. Oh, all right, this is a grovelling apology combined with specious excuses why I haven't been writing. Satisfied now?
I am continually surprised by the number of readers who seem to thirst for the next chapter of Somewhere Else Entirely. That being the case, I thought I'd jot down a few notes about the story - without giving anything away, I hope - so that readers know what to expect.
Why does it always happen to me? Someone, somewhere, must know a plumber who actually turns up when he says he will, but I've never met one.
For some time now, we've had a damp patch on the (concrete) kitchen floor. Just occasional seepage from somewhere. Not very much, and no smell so I'm guessing it's mains water rather than sewage. Just recently the stains started to get larger and I reluctantly decided that we would have to get the problem fixed.
Checks can be made out & sent to:
Joyce Melton
1001 Third St.
Space 80
Calimesa, CA 92320
USA
Note: $6000 is the operating, maintenance and upgrade budget. Amounts received in excess of the $6000 will be applied to long term debt accrued over the last 19 years.
