Actually managed to get some pepper and sweet pepper seeds planted in between doing everything else. The tomato and cucumber seedlings are now out in the greenhouse (under propagator lids) since the weather is forecast to hover around 10-ish degrees this week and I need to get them used to being out there. The pepino seeds have now germinated, so keeping fingers crossed for them (the seedlings are tiny and delicate) - and for my mint sprouts. I'm usually unlucky with mint. Not cat mint, that'll grow anywhere, but human mint - like roses, it just doesn't like me. Determined to change that this year.
Back to the loom...

Aaaaaand another new spread was required. But no-one's come back to me today so hopefully that's it.

Finished the amendments to the pdfs while K&K weeded the veg bed and the top bed for me.
Tired now. And haddock have reversed course. Know exactly how Tyjer feels...
Let sleeping cats lie...

He put himself to bed! Early night tonight. Srsly.

Wonderful day with GoodTwin and Sue! Drive out to Congresbury (which, Ken tells me, is pronounced KONGsbry) to Roundtree and Cadbury garden centres (Kai asked why garden centres are named after chocolate!) Spent my gift vouchers (thanks GoodTwin!) and picked up all sorts of goodies, including the big leaf I've been looking for to go with the spider orchids on the lounge heater and two wobbly volitans on sticks (will take a photo of them later). After dinner we all watched the first ep of the third series of Primeval, which was OK I guess except for the inaccuracy of the crocodilian.
And then the Being Human: Unearthed was on, followed by the first three eps - excellent!
Thank you both (and for the DVDs) - it's been a fantastic day!

Sleep - a much overrated commodity.

So, finished the review last night, proof-read/revised/added a few words this morning, then did the poetry text box, then the little bit of further reading info. Whapped it off and nothing has come back so I can only assume it was mostly OK...
And a bare week ago I found Lexx season 1 (all four films) for sale for £14 from an Australian seller, so I ordered it and it arrived today! Tonight we watched the first two (I Worship His Shadow and Supernova) and enjoyed them like the first time. Fantastic. Kai loved 'em too!
Should be able to finish the Beltain article tonight, then tomorrow morning get cracking on finishing the book. As of tomorrow, Haadri news will be on the HaadriBlog, where it belongs.

[bemused] Y'know, it's really quite difficult trying to get this review written with a cat who insists on bringing his ball to you for you to throw it for him - and who, if you don't, bats it under the desk so you have to crawl under with a torch or risk him pulling out cables as he tries to retrieve it himself...

Captions now done. I have three things left to do - a few more 'age appropriate' further reading sections, a 'Vampire Poetry' boxed section, and a 500 word review that I can't write without having a drink first...
Have wine box. Will tackle that tonight.
Tyjer's first trip outside. This is him exploring Kai's den (hence the mess in the background). Since then we've done a complete circuit of his territory, and he seems relatively OK (though it's a little difficult right up the top as there's no physical barrier, only the wire and stake division the PDSA put up). Though he hissed at the wheelbarrrow. Why, I have no idea. He has a distinctly snake-like hiss that's rather expressive. Also several different sorts of mew - he's a talkative beastlie! I'm glad about that, all my pets have been vocal. He has a kink in his tail. He's also decided he's definitely part of the family and spreads himself out on the nearest available seat (usually between K&K on the big sofa). And he comes up and sleeps beside me when I have a nap. It's all really lovely!
My magnolia stellata is looking - and smelling - wonderful at the moment.

Yes, that is Tyjer's red chasing ball, the one in which he somehow managed to break the bell while it was still inside, in his food bowl. No, I don't know how it got there. He may have put it there because he can - he seems to be developing some cute quirks (not that we'd expect anything else in this family).
On a non-plus side, I've felt like I'm coming down with a cold for nearly two weeks now. Ken tells me the hayfever season has started particularly early, so hopefully that's all it is. I have some local honey: just need to summon up the will to take it...
Back to the review. It's all finite. Then I have the Beltain article to finish (publisher asked if I could get it to her before the 1st, which I should be able to do), and three site revamps to organise before I can get the teeth into Haadri again.
Clones. T.A.R.D.I.S. Immortality. Right now I don't care which.
Primeval Series 3 starts on Saturday (before the Being Human special). Sorry, GoodTwin and Sue, that's a must-see, we've been looking forward to it since last year.

It's never-ending. Just when I think I've finished, I get a request to write a little more.
It's a bit like killing zombies. You think you've got them all, then they get up and start growling and shambling again...
It just seems that way though, it's finite really. Hopefully by tomorrow evening I'll be done.

Rather disappointingly (did I really say that?) the new orchid is the same as the one that's just finished flowering: I was hoping for a different coloured flower. Wonder if I could organise a swap?
Back to rockface. Last spread, last text box, then tomorrow I tackle dozens of captions...

Back to what passes for real life and tackling the rest of the spreads...

Dis my hoomin. U no can hav. ->

Mothering Sunday.
Ken and I are just back from watching Watchmen.

It's
Absolutely
Fucking
AWESOME

And I don't give a damn what the purists say, I love the ending. The book's finale always niggled me - even within the context of the story as a whole it nudged the plot from just plausible and hence believable over into the wholly fantastic and almost risible. I can believe more than six impossible things before daybreak but that just bugged me. Whereas the film's ending is much more realistic, believable - and downright nasty in its implications.
Wonderful acting, astounding realisation, and a fantastic soundtrack. They managed to include everything of importance, which given the complexity of the book is amazing. I actually lost track of time while watching. The only things that jarred slightly were the voices of Jon (which eventually grew on me) and Rorschach (I always heard him in my head as being less rough and more monotonous), the changing of Rorschach's line in prison ("Your hands. My perspective" in the book, "Your hands. My pleasure" in the film), his treatment of the kidnapper (more effective in the book), and the loss of that one line of Jon's which I always found so chilling and evocative - "The light... the light is taking me to pieces." They really should have left that in.
That aside though - Wow. Just, wow.
So, when's the director's cut DVD going to be available?
Oh, yes, and happy belated Vernal Equinox for yesterday...
Much later edit: From Wikipedia: "The film itself is scheduled to be released on DVD four months after Tales of the Black Freighter, and Warner Bros. will release a director's cut and the extended version in July 2009, with the animated film edited back into the main picture." [beg]

Two loads of shopping.
Afternoon in garden - all looking much better, and I popped Tyjer into one of the old harnesses and leads and took him out for a first foray. He was extremely twitchy and nervous, but fascinated all the same. Didn't keep him out for long this first time, but he enjoyed it and I'll try to repeat it every day so he can learn the periphery of his territory.
Showers, then dinner - then we settled to watch my latest LoveFilm rental, The Fountain.
Which is quite simply the most intense and beautiful film I've ever seen and has left me both breathless and speechless...

Well, I've managed four of the required nine spreads, and planned out another fiddly one, but I'm tired now and wondering if I can take the evening off. I've made a start on the Beltain article, but that's not due until the 1st April, so no frantic rush for it...

Such a sweet beast, such a cute face... [g] He spent most of last night asleep on our bed, snuggled between Ken and I. And tonight I gave him a couple of prawns... He didn't know quite what to make of them, but after a taste he decided he liked them.
And then he threw up.
[sigh] Argent couldn't stomach prawns either. Maybe it's a tabby male thing...

So, I settle down at 9.30 am to make a start on continuing the Prime Contact revisions - and the publisher rings. They need another nine two-page spreads to replace the material they've edited out of the vampire book...
Though at a max wordage of 400 each it's not actually quite as bad as it sounds, and I've already decided on four of them (will determine the rest tomorrow morning when publisher rings back). On the plus side, I've now seen the pdfs of the rough draft of the book and it looks rather good. My text hasn't been changed too much: most of what's been edited out was... non-essential, shall we say, at least for the book's purposes, and although some of the language has been dumbed down, it's not too bad. Of course, this is only the first edit: they may do more before the end. However, I've now been told that the US publishers are happy with the text, which has been a major concern, so at least that's now sorted.
My main headache at the moment is that the book needs dozens of captions for the illustrations: I've spent most of the day working on them and still have loads to do. I really need to have everything finished by Friday night, as we have things planned for the weekend. The weather's forecast to be sunny and warm, and we have lots to do in the garden - not least of which is to plan out Kai's railway track. And I'd rather not be working on Mother's Day.
Back to the rockface...

Right, that is, hopefully, the last of the Vampires handbook done. The US publishers seem to be still arguing for it to be dumbed down further (though I can't see why: Twilight was written for the 18-30 demographic as far as I've been able to find out, so if 13 yr olds are reading it and understanding it they'll certainly be able to understand my text...) so there may still be some revision to do. Ken has also finished his first set of revisions, so we're chilling out tonight.
Well, sort of. I now have three clients who want their sites fully revamped, and a possible new one. The APAG minutes also need coding and uploading. And the editor of Soul and Spirit has asked if I'd write a Beltain article for the magazine, to accompany my Imbolc and Ostara ones. But I have caught up with all my emails, and tonight I'm going to redo the Haadri site pic - it looks absolutely horrible on my screen!
In other news... Took the bus up the hill this morning to Pets at Home, came back with a scratching post (with two toys attached) that I rubbed with cat mint and to which Tyjer instantly took a great liking. And did, in fact, this evening use correctly instead of trying to claw the sofa (for which he got a piece of ham). Also picked up some tin lids, a bowl for his cat milk (which he adores!), a cat mint filled fish on a stretchy string attached to a wand so we can tease him, and some barley straw extract to try to clear the algae out of Roeg's Pool. (Which is still full of bonking frogs and now has five clumps of spawn stuck to the reeds...)
There are some large claw marks in the soil up at the veg bed, which I assume have come from the badger (far too big to be cat or even fox). That could be a problem: much as I love wildlife, I can't have big native mammals lumbering around and probably over my food plants. But we need to plug the hole under the fence anyway, to try to stop Tyjer from diving next door. I don't think Chester would take very kindly to that!
Off to experiment with layers again...

Well, now we know the colour of the other phalaenopsis - a delicate creamy green with a very pretty speckled lip. Will get a close up in daylight.
Actually took some time to get a little gardening done today. Now have Brussels sprouts, cauli, peas and aubergine in seed trays in the greenhouse, and Stupice and Black Russian heritage tomatoes, sweet basil and lime basil, mint, golden berry and pepino seeds in propagators on the kitchen windowshelf. Kai helped, then did a little weeding for me around the magnolia stellata which is covered with flower buds! Also have a load of lupins coming up, and what looks like foxgloves. No idea where they came from, I didn't plant them there. Oh, and my kiwi plants survived! They're now putting out lots of lovely new leaves. Now I just need to find if they're male or female. Hopefully I'll have both.
Tyjer is really feeling at home now. He sat on the top of the settee for a bit, then curled up in my seat, then came for a wander across my desk. For a big cat he's amazingly careful where he walks. And he has such dainty eating manners! Of course, the other three were always fighting to be fed first, but Tyjer's never had that. He sits waiting with his tail curled over his paws and then eats in tiny bites or with delicate little licks of the tip of his tongue. It's very funny to watch.
He's sleeping up on my side of the bed at the moment. He was there last night too - it was a shame to disturb him, and I hoped he might curl up on my pillow, but he doesn't feel quite ready for that yet. Nose to nose with a plush frilly! We tried the chilli and chocolate crisps today - Kai and I quite liked them, but Ken definitely did not - and the Cajun squirrel. Latter was a bit disappointing, although since I've never made Cajun squirrel we weren't quite sure what to expect. OK I suppose, but nothing to rave about. So, all told, we won't miss not having Walkers crisps.
Bed soon - knackered...

[rolls eyes] Cat has now woken up and is thundering around the house chasing his ball with bell inside, carrying it up the stairs in his mouth then chasing it back down...

Beastlie likes high places. He's still sleeping on Kai's bed, and enjoys sitting on the top of Ken's filing cabinet looking out of the window. He's now realised that people can go in and out into the garden, though he's not asking to go out yet (I'm following guidelines with that and keeping him in for at least two weeks and more likely three).
He really does seem very happy here!
We don't usually buy Walkers Crisps - the company supports the US Republicans - but when I saw the new votable flavours... I bought a bag of each of the six for us to try. So far we quite like the fish and chips, and the onion bhaji, but weren't keen on the duck with hoisin or the builder's breakfast. We'll try the chilli and chocolate next - and save the Cajun squirrel for last...

K&K went out to Siston today, to find St Anne's Well. I started work helping out with Ken's revisions...
Couldn't spare much time to play with Tyjer, so brought in a handful of catmint leaves... [bg] He rather enjoyed them. He also likes chasing a ball with a bell in it up and down the stairs - or rather, he'll sit halfway up the stairs and bat at it as it hurtles past. Great believer in conserving his energy, our cat.
Back to rockface...

Actually made the time to watch Valentin Gautier last night - most enjoyable.
All revisions to date for Vampires now done. If publisher is happy with them, next week I get back into the Haadri stories: want the Prime Contact second edition done by Beltain and Missions out by mid-summer. That's the plan, anyway. And I'll resume the Haadri blog, which has fallen by the wayside a little while it's been so frantically busy...

This is where Tyjer slept last night. Poor Kai couldn't move his legs!

Ken spotted this Rosina Wachtmeister ceramic cat ('Luigi') and bought him in honour of Tyjer...
It has human eyes, nose and mouth. Cute as the kit is, I find that slightly eerie...
Ploughing on - writing up vampire legends to be scattered through the book.

[sigh] So, in between me going to bed at 4.30 am and Ken getting up about 6.30 am, Tyjer tried to jump onto Rosa's shelf...
Knocked the whole shelf off. Luckily the spider wasn't hurt, though her tank was all shaken up, substrate everywhere, and she's been laying silk (we thought she might be due for a shed, she hasn't for several years now) which is now all buried. The crickets tank, however, has a loose lid, and although Ken said they were cowering under their eggbox when he came down, it's quite possible that we have some escaped in the house. Eh well.
So the kit is a bit subdued today, wary when in the lounge, and has spent a lot of time upstairs on Kai's bed - he seems to particularly like it up there. Picked him up without being hissed at, though he's not keen on it. That'll improve with time. I'll get him used to me first, before letting anyone else try.
Picked up a large carpet tile in the second-hand shop - haven't been able to find a scratching post, so this will do until he can go outside. I'll rub some catmint on it later.

Right, off to bed shortly, but first, some thoughts...
Tyjer is about twice the size of Argent - not joking when I say he's big. He hasn't stopped purring since he arrived, except twice, when I picked him up: he mewed (he has a very whingy mew) and hissed at me. I think it's possible that he was picked up badly at his previous home, so that's something I'll be working on over the next few weeks. He's too big and heavy to be permitted to cause problems with being picked up.
And on the subject of his size... I'm wondering if we've accidentally ended up with a pedigree cat. I've only ever had moggies before, who've been small, but Tyjer is comparable to Dave-next-door's silver tabby Chester, and Chester is definitely a pedigree cat (heh - going to be interesting when those two meet...) Will have to see if I can find out. I'm probably wrong, but you never know with rescued cats.
He is extraordinarily loving! I think at the moment he's just so happy to be somewhere so tranquil with people who just let him chill-out, but every time he sees one of us he comes over to purr and pet and nudge. It's really lovely.
Eh, I'll shut up and get to bed: I've finished revising the really difficult chapter tonight and sent it off. Tyjer's gone back up - you can tell by the 'THUD' when he jumps off anything up there... [g]

And the cat has come down for some food. OK - I'm happy now, he's home...
Tch' - forgot to say: Kai had a lovely birthday. He didn't want to do much, so he and Ken put together the first of his stretches of railway track and he then amused himself sitting on the small wagon and rolling back and forth. I picked up some weed-suppressing fabric today, so hopefully at the weekend - if Ken's back isn't too bad - they can start laying it in the garden. At the moment it's in the lounge in the way!

OK - not great photos as beast is exploring and doesn't want to sit still for anyone, but they do give some idea. He's very big, and very heavy, with an adorable face, incredibly thick fur and a very loud purr!
In other news: Kai's tooth came out nice and easily, only took a few seconds, and Tyjer is proving to be a great distraction from the pain!

We can haz kitteh!
I pick him up tomorrow afternoon.

Right - what have I been up to?
Rather a lot, but it wasn't what I was supposed to be doing. Yesterday morning I dragged myself awake (with Ken's help) early (9.30 is early after so little sleep the rest of the week) to set a wash going before taking Kai down to the RSPCA. Half way there, at about 10.30, Ken rang. The Home had rung him, to say they wanted to do the home-visit at 2 p.m.
Erk. The house was a complete tip (I've managed soddall cleaning while writing the books) and I'd planned to do a Sainsbug shop on the way back from the Home...
So we couldn't spend as long as we wanted visiting Tiger - but what a difference! He came out for pettings and purrs, let me pick him up and cuddle him (he weighs a ton!) although he was more interested in looking around than paying me attention! I'm guessing that the bullying started when first mum got pregnant and sprog took out his jealousy on the poor cat, as he's well-fed and healthy and not at all timid now (in fact, the carer said he'd been rubbing against the glass door any time anyone came in. [g] She called him a tart...) This is good in one way, as he's already people-happy - but he's also obviously an incredibly curious cat. That's no problem in the house, but we'll need to keep an eye on him in the garden until he's established his territory.
We raced back via Sainsbug, grabbed the essentials (very glad Kai was with me and could help carry as it was rather heavy) then did the quickest hour of housekeeping you've ever seen. I can move fast at the best of times but I think I beat my own record... (Kai dusted upstairs and Ken helped where he could, but he's buggered his back again and can't do much bending or stretching) Anyway, it was reasonably clean and tidy when the RSPCA visitor arrived.
It was pretty much a formality. She didn't want to look around, just saw the house was in a quiet road and made sure we knew about looking after pets (heh...) then said she was perfectly happy, would report that back, and we should ring late morning on Monday to confirm and arrange to collect him.
So - barring disasters - we will have a new cat this week!
And of course there will be photos - if he stays still long enough for me to take them!
We will be changing his name slightly though. He knows it, and came when called, so we don't want to give him a completely new one. I like Tyjer - close enough to Tiger that he'll get used to it very quickly and it sounds nice. Kai likes that too. Ken was trying out different variations and suggested Tiberius Felix the Ninth (Tiber for short). Yes, I blinked too. Not at all sure where that came from, but if I remember rightly Tiberius was James Kirk's middle name, and I'd rather not have anything called that in the house! Then Ken suggested Tizer: that was vetoed because I really can't stand the drink. We'll try a few more variations but I imagine I'll win this one!
After she left I went over to Tesco (there were a few things Sainsbug didn't have, and of course I now had to buy cat food - tins and a box of dry food and cat milk and treats!) and trudged back fully laden.
Then there was time for a shower and ploughing through backed-up emails 'til dinner (which was rather late) then we flumped and watched The Dish, which I'd picked up in one of the charity shops in Exeter. It's an absolutely gorgeous film, really really good. I tried to get a little work done afterwards but was very tired - so much so that I had trouble keeping my eyes open for the second Death Note film at 11.20 (it was very good), and I was too knackered to manage anything afterwards...
Got up earlyish again today, planning to get down to the Sunday market to see if the pet stall had a nice, sturdy scratch post. The other kits, of course, knew not to scratch the furniture, but the new one is going to have to learn, and since he can't go out for a couple of weeks he'll need something to tide him over. Headed off in sunshine: by the time I got to Burger King I was dripping - got caught in fairly vicious hail... Ended up just lugging the Sainsbug shopping back instead: will check the RSPCA shop for a post when I pick the cat up.
Tried to get some of the Vampires revision done but once again was just too tired. So had a nap before dinner, then we watched my latest LoveFilm choice - Jumper.
Hm. Interesting idea. Nice sfx. Not very good acting, though we've seen worse. But it started going downhill at the point where David (the jumper) ignored the possibility of using his abilities to rescue people and instead went off to have fun. (Though there are those who could argue that it started before then, when he used those abilities to rob banks...) Leaving Griffin hanging was a little harsh too. And as Ken said, David had a (mostly) happy ending. So, what, criminal, grossly selfish, unlikeable characters are the heroes these days? Only in America...
Awake and working now - though I don't want to be too late up as it's Kai's birthday tomorrow. He doesn't want to do very much, so he and Ken are going to take a look at what needs doing in the garden to get his miniature railway up and running...
Ken and I are going to see Watchmen sometime in the next week or so. I've been looking forward to it since I first heard it was being made: the graphic novel is a phenomenal piece of work, and I gather the film is a faithful adaptation (though no doubt they'll keep Dr Manhattan clothed.) Can't wait!

Back!
I'm very tired (not much sleep - room too hot/pillows made my neck ache - and trying to cram too much into too short a time as usual) so here's some pics with minimal commentary. It was a very interesting break, and a lot of fun...
Wed 4th. Nice run in bright sun, arrived, had BBQ chicken pizza for lunch, then dad drove us down to Exmouth. Where Kai and I trudged down to Maer Rocks through very cold damp sand before being driven back by lashing snow.
We went to the beach in the snow. Of course we did...
And Kai and I were wearing flip-flops.
So dad drove us on to Budleigh Salterton, a few miles along the coast (the Jurassic Coast, as it's known because of all the fossils you can find all the way along). It's a shingle beach, with pebbles ranging from big enough to stand on to fingernail-sized. We walked along the beach from the car-park to the River Otter. In flip-flops. We're mad.
It's a lovely place though. And it stayed sunny(ish) while we were there.
Thurs 5th. Dartmoor. Kai wanted to go to Hound Tor again...
Yes, snow. It varied between ankle deep and waist deep. I went half-way up the hill while Kai went up to the rocks for a quick scramble. It was bitterly cold (the winds on the moor can be cold enough in the summer: blowing from the north across snow they were painful...)
At least this time we weren't wearing flip-flops. Although proper boots would have been better than trainers. Might see if we can get some for next winter.
It was stunning.
This is the road down into Widdicombe-in-the-Moor. The village is at the bottom of the hill, though you can't see it because the road disappears like the edge of forever. It's scary enough in summer: in the snow it was distinctly alarming.
We tried to find Grimspound, and we were definitely in the right area (took the wrong road last time) but the snow was so deep it hid pretty much everything - and even if we had been able to find it, I wouldn't have been willing to make the climb. The snow hid so many obstacles, it was really quite dangerous. So we're hoping it'll be third time lucky.
Today mum and I checked the charity shops: managed to get a few bits and pieces. The ride back was awful, and I need to make an official complaint about the behaviour - and driving - of the the driver and his co-driver. Arrived back too late to get the X39 so had to take a taxi. Not overly chuffed about that either. Poor end to what has been a great break.
Kai loved it - has seen more snow this last few weeks than in the rest of his life!
Tomorrow a.m. we're planning to nip down to the RSPCA to spend a few minutes with Tiger (then back via Sainsbug's for shopping before I start on the Vampires revisions). But I can't see us getting up very early, somehow...

Argent's page now up here.
Astonishingly, I've finished all the client site stuff I had to do: I can go down to Devon with a clear conscience. Lot to do when I get back, of course, but that's OK.
See you all on Friday.

Kai and I visited the Bristol Cat and Dog home this morning. It's heartbreaking how long some of the dogs have been there - but there are lots of goodhearted people who take them out for walks every day. There were five that we liked, but three of them were already reserved, and one of them was too old (six, they thought). The fifth... reminded me of Quyn, and reduced me to tears. He's a spaniel cross, and actually doesn't look all that much like Quyn, it was probably just his hang-dog expression... He's called Benson, and he's five, which is older than we really wanted, but as we were walking home we caught up with him (one of the dogwalkers had him out) and he really is a lovely pooch. Really calm and laid-back. I'm going to discuss with Ken later (he's at court today) and maybe get back down there. Kai thought he was gorgeous.
We have, however, reserved a cat. He's a new arrival, a big, sturdy orange tabby with huge owl-eyes called, unfortunately, Tiger (some people just have no imagination when it comes to animals...) He's three, and has always lived in a second-floor flat. His previous owner was a now heavily-pregnant woman (bit redundant that, it would hardly be a man) with a child that really bullied and tormented the poor creature. When we first saw him he was lying with his head under a blanket but he didn't flinch when we stroked him, and while he wasn't exactly enthusiastic, he seemed happy enough to let me scratch behind his ears.
They're going to ring to arrange a home visit before they approve us. Assuming all goes OK - and when I told them where we live they seemed to be fine with it; main roads are one of their main worries, apparently - he'll need to be kept in for 3-4 weeks while he gets used to his new home. One of the questions they asked tickled me though - "Where will he sleep?" "Um, anywhere he wants!" was of course the answer. So keep fingers crossed. He'd love it here, peaceful house with a great garden and no kids to torment him. I'll just have to keep eyes out for my wee birds.
Publisher is enjoying reading through the manuscript, she says, and has sent over a roughly edited chapter 2 with some major revisions needed, as expected. Will ring in a bit to discuss.
More later...

Manuscript away at 11.37.
Now have a load of client site stuff I've been putting off, but most of that will be c/p into the templates I set up, so not much typing. Have a BCP meeting tonight so I'd better get that done first!
Have rescheduled Kai's orthodontist appointment for his next holiday, end of May. The misaligned tooth is already settling into its proper place, now the molar behind it has gone, so the wait isn't going to cause any problems that I can see. He's out with the B sprog at the moment.
We have a pond full of bonking frogs. Just hope we don't lose any spawn to the ice like we did last year...

Being Human. Last episode of the first season. Absolutely extraordinary. "Humanity is about love and sacrifice..."
Best thing since Torchwood.
They have set it up for a second season, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Yes, I really don't want to lose them, they are such extraordinary characters. I've come to love them. But... there's such a risk that any follow-up could suffer from follow-upitis and end up being crap. Though this is, admittedly, less likely since it's a British production. Well, we'll see.
46,434 words. A little less than I'd anticipated, but it's all good stuff. Ken suggested I include a tiny mention of the de Havilland Vampire, which I once saw flying right after a Vulcan at an airshow. Beautiful little jet fighter. Unfortunately I don't think I can really work it in and have it make sense.
I now have to have a break. The tendons on the backs of my hands are standing out like surface cabling, the bones feel like shattered glass all the way from my fingers to my elbows, and I'm mightily tired of living on Ibuprofen. It would be nice not to be hurting when I try to sleep as well. Remind me not to do this again.
Wendy, sorry haven't replied. We all watched Time Tunnel on our b&w TV set when it was first shown over here (oh, must have been early 70s as it took longer for stuff from the US to reach us then than it does now), as my dad was always into sci-fi. I quite enjoyed it, though it's horribly dated now. It very rarely shows up on any cable channel, though I'll keep an eye out as Kai is interested in old shows.
Ye gods. It's still dark outside, and I'm going to go fall over very shortly. I have time to do any last minute revision in the morning, but actually I don't think I need to do very much at this stage. I have no doubt there will be revisions - very possibly substantial revisions - to be done at the editing stage, and that's fine - we're used to it. But overall I think I've done a pretty fair job. And it's been an awful lot of fun!
Later, all.

Very cold very clear night and we've managed to find comet Lulin, though it's not very impressive, being well past it's closest approach and now on its way out of the solar system. But never mind! We've all seen it at last.
46,053 after a pleasantly leisurely day of reading through, expanding, tidying and adding missing sections. And I'm only half way through the manuscript - still have to complete the Being Human section after the last ep.
I'm going to really miss them.
I'm taking Kai down to Devon to see grandparents on Wednesday, returning Friday - flying visit but a change of scenery will do us good. Ken has until the 9th to finish his ms, but he's almost there already: will have more time to polish than me.
Oh - did I ever say? He's writing a companion book on Werewolves...
Later!

[bleary eyed] Later than planned, but cable channel 444 was showing the live-action film of DeathNote so of course Kai and I (and Ken to start with, until he couldn't keep his eyes open) had to stay up to watch it. Thoroughly enjoyable - they really got perfect actors for it, and the whole thing was extremely well done. Part two is same time next Saturday. But it meant I was rather late starting work - 1.30 am, in fact.
Still, just hit 45K, as planned. I still have quite a bit to do - haven't finished the Social Overview section yet, and I plan to rip through the whole ms simplifying the text as I go, which will no doubt add about a thousand words in itself.
Knackered now and going to go fall over, but I must just mention something I keep forgetting. I had a lovely treat on my birthday - glanced out of the patio doors and in the space of about two minutes we had:

a pair of long tailed tits at the fat ball and peanut feeder in the medlar: two blue tits hunting insects in the rockery; a pair of great tits hunting bugs in the fake raspberry bush and checking the feeder in the medlar; a male blackbird noisily chasing off a rival before grabbing a beakful of sultanas from the bird table; a robin eating bird table seed; a pair of courting pigeons grabbing dropped seed from the ground; and to my absolute amazement a wren bouncing around under the bay tree. I knew we had one, I hear him singing a lot, but it's the first time I've actually seen the wee bird in at least a couple of years.

It was all quite magical...