Writing and Other Progress

 Ovidia--every other Tuesday

First, let me show off a little. This was supposed to be my December project, but I've only just finished it--handing it over tonight to family visiting from the UK where hopefully the weather will remain chilly for a little while longer so they get to wear it!

And I've started on the next non-writing project--something in cotton I hope to wear to Crimefest this year then leave as a warm wear donation...

Yes, I'm still writing. At the moment I'm trying to wrap up/ wrestle one project (due April) into shape while starting on notes for the next (contract says due August but they'll probably let me get away with Sept though I'm hoping to finish by July) while batting off seductive ideas that are coming at me full force from all directions, all incredibly seductive and tantalising...

It's a difficult yet wonderful state to be in, when everything you see/ hear/ read sparks off new ideas. Like I passed an accident on the road yesterday morning. Luckily there didn't seem to be anyone on the ground, just three women standing together and talking--not looking very happy. 

But what if there had been a dead body on the road and--

A: It's an act of God. We must all make the most of our time because we never know when someone's going to die. Let me just text my daughters to remind them I won't be around forever and they better come home for dinner.

B: Who's to blame for this? It must be somebody's fault! If there had been more/fewer traffic signs or a better road surface this wouldn't have happened. The government is useless! I'm going to call my MP now!

C: Okay the plan worked. Now I just need to get rid of these two idiots before they mess things up.

And yes, my protagonist is probably going to be C. Except I won't have time to write it for a long time yet!

We're still in the festival season here. The Christmas tree (green and 'snowy') at One Holland Village has transformed into a Chinese New Year tree (not quite there yet. The red and gold lights still have to go up)

Complete with cherry blossoms. Though the management seem to have left out Thaipusam, which was last week.

Thaispusam is marked by the ceremonial act of carrying a physical weight representing their spiritual burden. 

I remember going to watch the kavadi carriers when I was still in school (which was near the route). 

Traffic would be blocked off as the devotees walked from Serangoon Road to Tank Road, carrying the kavadis to offer thanks or atone for misdeeds. Often their bodies are pierced with sharp skewers in self-mortification--and in their devotion they don't feel the pain.

I didn't want to invade anyone's privacy by posting photos of the devotees, but it's a joyous procession, with chanting and drums, lots of flowers and peacock feathers and there is free food for the poor at the temples over the three days of the festival.

These are some images from the temples---

The spear they're holding is 'Vel', the invincible spear that Lord Murugan used to overcome demons overrunning the earth.

And yes, there's a story I want to write around that too--a YA where the sword Vel of Hindu mythology is confused with the Green Dragon Crescent Sword of Chinese mythology and the kids trying to restore them come to realise the two mythic weapons are one and the same.

It sounds fun, right? Someday, I will write this!

But life is good. And I Will finish the current project and not start anything else until I do!

I hope you're all well and full of joy in your reading and writing and in your lives too!

Happy December Down Time!

Ovidia--every other Tuesday

Warning: hotchpotch ahead!

I'm happily nursing a minor infection, meaning I've been skipping yoga, pilates and the final round of proofs (not due till 15th Dec) with a clear conscience. And I'm really enjoying this down time!

The timing is perfect, since all my 'big' projects for the year are done (apart from those proofs) and I'm enjoying short walks, short swims and just being alive.

And I just got a gift from Ms Manja, my drosera binata--

--it's the first time she's flowered and I hope it doesn't mean she's going dormant!

I've also been catching up on reading, though I've still barely made a dent in my TBR pile.

Most striking: Ken Liu's The Hidden Girl. 

I found it weird and wonderful and surprisingly easy to get into, even with my tired brain. Old Chinese myths, internment of Japanese Americans, choosing the Matrix... I'll need to come back to this. What I found strange was, even though much dealt with the drastic ramifications of continuing on paths we've already started on, it ultimately left me feeling hopeful, simply because bringing these things up and playing with them helps us all survive them.

The other book that struck me most was Melissa Broder's Death Valley:

I was afraid this was going to be a depressing read--the writer protagonist is caring for a chronically ill husband while her father is in the ICU and she's trying to write in a Best Western in the desert the book's named after--and there's her grief and her fear of death--not of the moment of death, but of non-existence, something I totally empathise with. But it was comforting and cathartic, I felt like I'd spent time with an old friend, her offbeat tangents, bathroom humour and poignant observations--how 'love' is sometimes more a verb than an emotion--returned me to my own life feeling reassured that we're all just trying to figure out the best way to live.

And... I treated myself to the new Moriarty audiobook!

I didn't like the premise (Holmes and Moriarty working together? No...) But I got it because: Helen Mirren. And yes, she sounds super and horribly villainous here!

I've been listening to it while my eyes and hands work on other stuff, so I don't know what I think of it yet--

This is the crochet project--I'm almost finished, now working on the first of two sleeves of what's going to be a Christmas present/ next year's office cardigan for the Beloved.

This one, the waffle knit cardigan, is for myself! (cotton yarn, good for wearing in air conditioned rooms over sleeveless tops/ dresses)

I know playing mahjong is supposed to be great for mental and physical dexterity, but I'm hoping that listening to audiobooks while handcrafting will deliver some good too.

And Christmas is coming! The Christmas lights are up--

And the air plants are sharing space with  Christmas ball ornaments!

Happy December everyone, I hope you all get some great refreshing and recharging time!