No pain, no gain

I've done a number of exciting* things while I've been away for a while (bad Flib, bad blogger).

It started with one of my 43 things - I started running again. I've been down this path a few times but now I have a simple schedule, and a real commitment to it.  It will take a while, and there will probably be some pain along the way! Creaking bones and inflexible muscles.  But it's both to help me get healthier, and also because I miss running so much.  So I'm going to try to get back into it gradually.  I set off with my iTunes playlist which is 30 mins long, 2 minute songs alternating with 4 minute songs, so it's run for the short ones and walk the long ones. Simple, non? 

• Personality Crisis (Live) - New York Dolls (Death Disco - The Club Soundtrack)   
• Got To Have Your Love - Liberty X (Thinking It Over)
• A New England - Billy Bragg (New Waves: 45 Original 45s From The Post Punk Era)   
• Mr. Robinson's Quango – Blur (The Great Escape)
• If Only - The Kooks (Inside In/Inside Out)
• My Doorbell - The White Stripes (Get Behind Me Satan)
• Four Kicks - Kings Of Leon (Aha Shake Heartbreak)
• Planet Earth - Duran Duran (The Business OST)
• Theme From Inspector Morse - Pheloung (Classical Chillout (Disc 2))   
• Bitch - Meredith Brooks (Brit Awards '98 (Disc 1))   

A somewhat eclectic mixture, I know.  Another of my 43 things was to release a Bookcrossing book, so I sent Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island out into the world - well, to one of the CrossingZones in Bethnal Green, a great pub called The Camel, which does fantastic pies for lunch (went back the following day with DH) and left it there - and scored 'Hip to Knit' which will help with another of the 43 things, to knit something!  Can you see how it all comes together sometimes, folks?

The planned excursion which I had mentioned was... well, somewhat truncated.  I went to see (loud sound!) Wicked which I've been looking forward to forever.  Hmmmm.  So I might as well spit it out: I left at the interval.  I think it's because I adore the book so much, but what's wonderful about the novel is the satire, the dark humour and its slightly tainted heart.  I felt that it was overly homogenised, even Disneyfied.  Don't get me wrong, the costume design and sets look great, Idina Menzel has a fantastic voice but it lacked the spark that I had expected.  I'll stick with the book, thanks.  I'm sure others - well, practically everyone - will differ. 

I'm working on getting a lot more routine into my life at the moment:

• the get-running schedule - walk/run 30 mins four times per week, over eight weeks, building to 30 mins running;  safe and steady
• a commitment to yoga - even if it's only sun salutations and stretches each day
• researching my novel - preparing a reading list on Sunday and spending a day at the British Library next week
• preparing for Nanowrimo 2006 as I am determined to win it this year
• starting The Artist's Way again - although a three month commitment seems a bit daunting, particularly with Nano in prospect, but I think it's worth it

It's all good really.  A lot of stuff to do and keep me occupied but I'm hopeful that I will achieve great things out of all these aspirations.  I'm hopeful generally, in fact.

I recently read something that Diane Setterfield said following the publication of (*beware of loud sound) her novel which I first read in manuscript form, when the publishing house I used to work for was one of the underbidders for it.  I want to read it again to see if there have been any changes since the first draft. The Thirteenth Tale is sublime, one of my favourites of all time and it will become a classic.

"I thought authors had to be orphans, or have a drug problem, or be out having lots of sex – and none of those things were me!" says Diane. "Once I realised that the only difference between everyone else and writers is that they write, I felt I had cracked it."

Simple and yet true - half the battle is allowing yourself to start.

And here are some pics of the WIPs and the fabrics.  I'm working away on the quilt today, as it's being delivered tomorrow (hah!).  I'm using the very last of my pink gingham which is a stash-buster measure, as there should be just enough to bind it.  Here's hoping there won't be any need for a late dash to John Lewis for another half metre... 

* what can I say, this is my idea of a good time...