The street is still frozen and Julia went to work by bus today. That was an unsatisfactory start to the day as I don’t like her using public transport at the moment. On the other hand, I don’t want to be out on the roads if they are still icy. I’m getting old. She was the one who suggested it so I don’t feel too bad. She said there was only one other passenger on the bus yesterday as everyone seemed to have decided to work from home.
Things are going well on the poetry side of things with two acceptances in the last four days. My current numbers are 21 submissions – eleven acceptances, ten rejections. This is in danger of making me smug and complacent. And we all know what comes just after a surge of acceptances, so I’m trying to stay balanced and prepare for the inevitable flood of rejections that are bound to come soon.
My planned submissions for the next couple of weeks include four places which have been turning me down for years so I suspect the figures will be more balanced in a month or so.
Apart from that, the morning is rather flat and I can’t concentrate. I’m here, I’m well rested and my eyes are open, but as soon as I start to type I slow down, and down… It’s like having a head stuffed with cotton wool. The view from the window, was all snow and blue sky yesterday, with highlights of red and green and a certain degree of sparkle. It is now back is back to a generic Midlands winter scene – grey sky and muted colours in various shades of sludge and grime. As I sit here it’s hard to believe that Sherwood Forest is only a few miles away over the horizon and that Spring is only just over a month away.
That feels better. Sometimes I just need a simple description of my day to set things right. It’s a case of blogging as therapy. A lot of writing is therapy when you look at it. In fact one of the things editors warn against in both prose and poetry, is sending in pieces which are really just the author writing out their problems.
I’d better go and explore the therapeutic nature of shredding and washing up now, because the day soon goes and I don’t want Julia to think I’ve been sitting down staring into space all morning. I have been, but I’m hoping to conceal the fact. I might even move some dust about. That always looks like a frenzy of housework has happened.
Snowdrops at Ruddington
The pictures are from previous years, just to give an idea of conditions. The ice in the street is worse than the picture and the snowdrops are actually pushing through snow.
Our village turned into an ice rink overnight and yesterday morning’s walk was more than a little risky. We were faced with skies of a similar quality, although the hills still look white and perfect. 🙂
I keep thinking of buying Yaktrax but settle for staying in. 🙂
That is a good percentage of acceptances! Congratulations!
We had some light snow here this afternoon. It is melting already as the ground wasn’t frozen.
It’s nice to see, but I’m also happy to see it go.
You are wise to leave driving to others in those conditions. Thinking about doing housework is just as good as doing it.
I’ve heard that said about exercise too. There must be something in it.
I think we all feel the same, stagnation seems to be the latest Government policy!
It seems to be working on me! 🙂
A good return on the poetry front
Yes< I'm happy with it, though you know me - a pessimist to the end. 🙂 This might interest you. https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/nightmare-conditions-nottinghams-steepest-streets-4925110
Thanks a lot. I think you know Louisa lives on Mapperley top
Yes, I remembered from the snow last year.
🙂
The slope I’m avoiding at the end of our road is half as steep and one tenth the length of the one pictured – they are braver than me in Mapperley.
It certainly is a lethal hill
Looks more like a ski jump than a road! There are a couple down there that I don’t particularly like even in summer.
Me, too.
I think many of us are feeling like monkeys in cages. It has been a very hard year. Spring is coming, vaccines are coming. Until then…write poetry!
I will! 🙂
I like the thought of the mundane being therapeutic…
I just did the washing up – I’m feeling even better now. All I need is something to distract me and a small sense of achievement. I’m a bit like a monkey in a cage really but I can’t eat bananas with my feet. I’d like it if | could…
We all have our dreams