Monday, 21 September 2020

A Bit of Fresh Air Whilst We Can!... More Covid Walk Updates

 

It has been a while since I last wrote for this blog, for that I apologise. 


 Covid-19 continues to be with us, unseen in the shadows of daily life. I remain well after my bout of the virus. However, there are times when I feel fatigued, and I still suffer from anosmia and ageusia. But, this is not all about me.

We are living the 'new normal'. Sadly, although some parts of society are starting to come back online, some are still unable to emerge from this coronavirus darkness.

Musicians, both professional and amateur, are finding it hard to be able to perform in public. Sports are back, albeit on television and behind closed doors in empty stadiums. It is also frustrating as local amateur Rugby is a long way off from being able to come back. There were early signs of optimism allowing touch rugby with 6 to 10 players.  That is some way from where they wish to be.  But with the government's 'Rule of Six' from 21st September, that may well have put paid to that. We can only hope that the virus and the science with allow the game to be back soon.

My commercial writer's block continues, if it is writer's block at all. My mojo for the commercial world has taken a bit of time emerging from the Covid – 19 haze. But as we are now seemingly entering a second wave, it is strangely starting to make an appearance.

 My journal, however, has come on in leaps and bounds. I have finished my second book. I'm well into the third volume. I think that both completed books surmount to nearly 100k words since I started partway through March.

I started to read back the first book, and it struck me that it might well work up into a publishable book.  Amongst the many pages, there are several good writing ideas, well I would think that. Still, now with my notebook and these journals, I have plenty of good themes to work on.


I don't always carry my notebook with as I should, but I do make notes into it whenever I can. I have even got up in the middle of the night to write! That's another project to add to the list!

I am hoping that by writing this blog, it will spark me into action and get me flowing again. I still need to finish off my assignment. It is nearly finished, and I need to front up and get it edited and sent off to my tutor. This week, I promise!

Back in the August edition of the Ottery Gazette, I had an article published. Sadly I didn't get a copy of it, but it can be seen on the Ottery Writers Blog page (link in the sidebar). I had another article published in The Blue Band, The Journal of the Royal Marines Band Service. The article went down so well that I received a tweet asking me to do another one.   I have an idea for a letter to The Rugby Paper. I enjoy dreaming up ideas for them, and there is a personal motive for writing them too.

I am considering starting another blog. My first thoughts are one about our dog walks around beautiful East Devon?


We have quite a few walks where we have taken Murphy and plenty of photographs too.

Today we went for a walk up to Round Ball Hill. It was a first for me as Kathy and Murphy have been up there before. Well-armed with a backpack of water, a couple of bananas and the essential energy-giving chocolate, we strode out across a field of bullocks together with their relatively large fatherly Bull. Once across the field, we climbed into the wood at the foot of the hill. Murphy was able to be off his lead and mooch around for a good sniff.

It was very silent in the woods. Except for the sounds of the birds up in the trees and the scuttling of squirrels in the undergrowth.

We came out of the other side of the wood. We were then faced with the steep climb up to the summit of the hill. All the time, I was trying to get good photos as the views were truly stunning.  The panoramic view of East Devon from the top of the hill was amazing. To the west, you can see Dartmoor in the distance, and to the East, the Blackdown Hills were equally awe-inspiring.


You can see several Bronze Age era earthworks and forts. These have given me ideas to fit into my current story.  With a bit of research, a storyline for a novel too.

I certainly enjoyed our Sunday morning walk.  Murphy is curled up asleep in his bed. Kathy and I are off for a well-earned breakfast. Later Exeter Chiefs are on the TV in their European Champions Cup quarter-final against Northampton Saints. It's not going to be easy but have faith everyone.

Keep an eye out over the coming weeks for new blog posts on here and, all being well, the new blog too.

In the meantime, I'll see you all again very soon!

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