Friday, October 23, 2009

dinner with good friends

Had dinner with my writing buddies last night at a new restaurant in Kirribilli called Limelight. Good food, good service and interesting food sculptures in the lobby, a water melon like a bunch of flowers and a honeydew melon also flower-like. Apparently the artist is in residence every Friday night. It was great catching up with one or two members who have been away or 'in the wars'. A lovely evening.

I've finished writing about Nassau (1st draft at any rate). It was fun putting myself back there as it were. Now I write about my 6 months in UK prior to going to Zambia then S. Africa. It begins with the drunken flight from Nassau where I was pretending not to know John, where I ditched him (with all the luggage) at one of the London stations only to realise later what I'd done. The stage was set for some fiery encounters. Nevertheless we married in Slough, home of the original version of 'The Office.' Enough said!

Just finished reading 'Breath' by Tim Winton. I loved it. He is so good at building atmosphere and developing characters, not to mention description. I can see where he's talking about even though I've never been to Western Australia or been a surfer.

Have now started Colleen McCullough's book 'The independence of Miss Mary Bennett.' Not in the same league as Tim Winton as an author. Nevertheless she's an Australian writing icon and can spin a good yarn.

Better stop rambling and start real writing. I've started something new, writing into a notebook first then transcribing to computer the next day. Have been discussing this with writer friends. There's something about the aesthetics of notebook and pen that frees the wild mind. Somehow, sitting at a computer brings out the editor in me, something you don't want in the creative process.

Here goes: off with talk radio, on with the Mozart, into the recliner.

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