So where things at then?

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 09 July 2008 19:44:39

Up down up down Chu Chu Chu....

As Ulala would say.

So: how come the long silence and all that? Let's break it down...

Arts centre:

very demanding. I'm trying to be in the process of shrinking my hours in the hope that saying I work 15 hours a week and working 20+ will equal me saying I'll work 9 hours and then only working 15... ((Yes, I'm aware that there's another solution, 2 in fact, but I do love the place)). But it's so tricksome at the moment. Between a couple of staff members playing silly games to all of the musicians wanting more and more gigs it's very chaotic. Highlights include a Woking gig this friday and a Boileroom gig at the end of the month and one of our drama groups absolutely storming Guilfest this past weekend. Our Arts Awards group are just coming up to their second accreditation as well and, between now and September, we're going to do a very cool room redec for two of the rooms in the centre. It's all go.

College:

Just finished and both cohorts did really well under the hardest of conditions. This years been horrible for a number of reasons and the staff team have had to go through some pretty dark weeks. Can't really say that much about it in some cases but it's been quite harrowing at times but, for the moment, we've all committed to try and stay and fix things. But the kids did well and that's one of the main things and the exhibition was strong in places. I start teacher training next term (having ducked the issue successfully so far for three years, oh well).

Books:

Ah well that's where it's sort of the most chaotic of all. Springy went well and Exile was very well received which was ace. And then it went a bit odd. Sylver 3 was aimed for October and it currently looks good for getting there and, while writing that a book that had sat on the shelf aimless for a year was picked up for October as well. Spring Harvest asked for teaching materials linked to Exile for August so suddenly I went from one book to three books in one swoop. Let's just say the manic energy thing has been pretty manic this past few months. Yesterday had a launch meeting with the publishers of 'the other book' and that was loads of fun, lots of ideas on paper and hopefully a good percentage of it will come to pass. Today had a meeting with Highland Books about Sylver 3 and again the excitements there for me, I'm looking forward to seeing how people react to the changes that happen to some of the characters. TBH I still have four to five pages left to write, one thread needs some nurturing, but review copies go out next monday so I hope that this will mark a very interesting Christmas...

Ironically next year may well be pretty quiet - I'm still waiting to hear whether Exile 2 will go ahead but that's the only thing on the slate so far. I do have a couple of ideas that I'm looking forward to working on when the time allows, including a stage show based on Exile and an animation which I'm really looking forward to getting back into the swing of doing... apart from that things next year may even include me getting some sleep woo hoo!

Apart from that had two nights off consecutively woo hoo so time spent with fam and wifey and stuff very much appreciated.

The rest of the week is supposed to be fairly quiet - bar helping out at someone else's centre on thurs and doing the youth gig on fri (and if you're around the Woking Ypod at half seven pop in and say hi :) It's £4 a ticket and the bands are sick. To use the lingo).

Currently listening to: Podcasts, Open the Skies and Quench. Currently reading: Sylver 3 draft 2. Currently working on: Too much stuff need sleep.....