Annette V Hart's Blog: The ramblings of Annette Hart, page 4

Season of mists...

My children are revving up for Hallowe'en, looking out costumes and ideas for food, but I just can't quite get into the spirit of things (!) What I really want to do is to go for an autumnal walk somewhere with beautiful multi-coloured trees mirrored in the surface of deep, black water.

Rainy day walk...

I can't believe that not only did we go for a walk in the rain but that we persuaded 2 of our children to come too! We ended up soaked after our walk through the woods (and puddles) on Box Hill but the hot chocolate at the cafe afterwards made the effort all worth while!

Wishful thinking...

I wish I could just spend all my time at home writing or drawing. Unfortunately, the little matter of earning my keep is getting in the way. I'm actually having to teach! And then there's the secondary problem of house work - even I can't let the fluff, cat hair, dead spiders and clumps of mud (thanks, boys!) pile up. And bribery doesn't seem to be winning me much help. When can I write?!!!

Family help...

I am hesitant but daring to get my eldest daughter (16) to read through one of my draft manuscripts. I am aware that teenagers can be very critical and definite in their beliefs and ideas. So this could be the end of a good relationship...

Getting in the spirit...

As well as listening to speeches and music from the war, watching films and pouring over photographs, I've now given myself an authentic haircut. Fed-up with my longer hair in some muggy weather, I suddenly decided to cut it off in a D.I.Y. 'bob'!

A day at the races...

Just returned from a lovely day out on Epsom Downs for the Derby. Picked a few winners - and 'also ran's - so came back with the money I left with (success!) and sunburn. How is it that I'm the only one who did? We had fun people watching, although I don't know if my sister enjoyed it quite as much on the hill with us rabble than in the Queen's Stand where she normally goes! Hope she joins us again next year...

Picking up the pace...

Finally getting back into a writing routine and, more importantly, I am getting flashes of inspiration again. It's a buzz when those ideas seep, or flood, into my brain!

Fantasy man...

I'm getting writing again and am finding it helps to keep in mind one of my lead characters - a handsome, young RN officer!

So want to get it done... I'm losing the pleasure in writing!

I so want to get my WW2 story finished (it seems the right time for it) that I have lost the pleasure in actually writing it. And, therefore, it's not getting done.

It took my husband to point this out!

So, I'm trying to relax about my writing, busy doing other things (like re-writing my lost story!), writing just for me, and the enjoyment is coming back.

Tweeting excitement...

I got very excited today when I realised that the bird perched on our castle treehouse was a sparrowhawk. I ignored the fact that it probably wanted to eat the sparrows at my bird table!