Tree cutting on the island.
It happened again. It’s now January 3 and I have only published one post. I am now sitting up in the middle of the night trying not to fall too far behind.
I slept in late as a result of my nocturnal writing last night, allied to a late night for New Year. Then I watched antiques on TV, fell asleep in my chair, woke just before Julia returned from the cafe, did enough typing to make it look like I had been working and stopped for tea and cake, a visit from my sister with tarpaulins for tomorrow and watched quizzes. All in all, I did not distinguish myself with industry. Tomorrow? You are probably asking. Tomorrow we are emptying the conservatory and as long as the snow holds off we should have a new conservatory roof by the end of next week.
Black Headed Gull
Finally, 12 months after taking possession, we should be water-tight and fully repaired. We would be 100% functional if it wasn’t for the fault on the light switches in the hallway that started over Christmas and the back gate which is starting to fall apart. Annoyingly, in the old days, although I never meddled with electrics, I could have built a new gate in a day. Now I will have to pay someone to do it. Is there no end to household repairs?
Meanwhile, back with the writing, I have heard back from one of the editors I submitted to on 30th December. That’s fine service, and two more acceptances to add to my 2025 tally. That takes me to 53 for the year. It’s also means I have a number of rejects to form the basis for my submissions this month. I may well junk my haiku, as I very rarely manage to sneak one in but the returned haibun and tanka will all do for resubmission.
Mandarin drake at Arnot Hill Park, Nottinghamshire
Little and Large!
I have started a couple of new haibun too, having listed my work for the month ahead. It’s on an archaic spreadsheet – or “written on a piece of paper” as we used to call it, and I am feeling more organised. When I feel organised I always seem able to do more work. I won’t list my calculations, but I’m going to need to be organised if I have any chance of improving on last year, particularly as I want to improve my quality and increase my range.
The Heron is back again. Arnot Hill Park
Congratulations on two more acceptances, Simon! Hoping the conservatory roof repair goes well.
So am I. Apart from houses and one of my cars, this is the most expensive thing I have ever bought, in a sector beset by cowboys (as our present roof shows).
Good to see the universal heron. I hope that the conservatory repair goes smoothly.
I may make a study of herons – they are big, move slowly and local. 🙂
Good idea.
Swans too. They are about the right size and speed. Buildings, I find, tend to experience problems with perspective.
I think you’ve been industrious….just maybe not in the ways you envisioned…you did more household stuff than I have….
I certainly did more convalescing than I intended! 🙂
😉
🙂
Perhaps you would consider “junking” your haiku here. I would admire to read it with thanks. Just sayin’. 😉 And … Derrick is SO right about home repairs. There is NO END to them. But you knew that, didn’t you? (Another rhetorical question.)
I will search out some old, accepted poems. I tend not to publish the rejects as I like some external quality control .
“Now I will have to pay someone to do it. Is there no end to household repairs?” Nope
Glad we got that settled. 🙁