Violence is golden

So, No Country for Old Men won four Oscars.

Hhhhmmmm.

I am seemingly in a minority of one, given my dislike of the film. Not dislike, even, more total apathy. I sat in the cinema wondering is this was really the film which scored 94% on Rotten Tomatoes?

I found the juxtaposition of underplayed acting with a Tom & Jerry-esque level of violence somewhat jarring. And if character is destiny, please can someone tell me why none of the leads appeared to have any real motivation behind their actions? Moss was running from Chigurh because Chigurh was chasing Moss.

Maybe it's Cormac McCarthy I can't quite take to ~ I seem to recall skiving off uni the week were supposed to be studying All the Pretty Horses. Although I'm tempted to give it a go now. Anyone read it? Yay, or nay?

Speaking of reading, I'm currently reading Behind the Scenes at The Museum, and loving it. How did it take me so long to discover this? I'm already getting sad at the prospect of finishing it. Still, I've discovered a wonderful new author, so now I can add a fair few more books to the TBR pile, and drift ever further from my resolution to buy no more books until I've read all the ones in the house.

I predict a dramatic increase in the word count next week, following the finale of the shoutiest cooking show on TV, Masterchef. I am desperately addicted, and will be bereft without it next week. It's James' to throw away: Emily has made too many mistakes this week, and Jonny will no doubt seve up a variation on meat and potatoes like he does for nigh upon every meal.

You're not the only one

The deadline for submissions for the charity anthology "You're not the only one" is looming, and i'm toying with submitting this piece (any crits more than welcome :-)) :


You’re not the only one. Happens all the time, quite common, really.

But it doesn’t happen all of the time to me. It’s not that common to me.

And at least now you know that you can conceive.

Thank you. But this was our baby, not a dress rehearsal.

I’m sure that everything will work out fine next time.

Are you? I wish I was. I’ve heard that before, in tones implying that I was a silly little thing, so anxious over a few spots of blood.

Its nature’s way, you know.

Ah, is it? And here’s me thinking I was being punished by some particularly vengeful god.

And at least it wasn’t born with something wrong with it.

We’ll crack open the bubbly.

It was probably for the best.

There have been a lot of ‘bests’ in my life so far. Losing my baby isn’t one of them.

I don’t know what to say.

No-one does. And that's just fine. There are no words that can make a difference. “Sorry” will do just fine

Word of the day

hypnopompic (hip-no-POM-pik) adjective


Pertaining to the semiconscious state before waking.

[From Greek hypnos (sleep) + pompe (sending away).]


Lovely word, for a delicious gauzy part of the day ~ my favourite part of the day, perhaps :-)



I haven't been blogging much lately ~ I've felt the need to curl up into a wee ball and attempt a form of hibernation. In fact I've been fairly hypnopompic. Haven't done much running or writing either, and that is offically A Bad Thing. I have promised myself I'll be a bit more proactive next week. maybe. If it's a bit warmer.



The lovely Iain Banks tells us Why he writes in The Guardian:

Q: What advice would you give to new writers?

A: The Three Ps: practice, practice, practice. Writing is like everything else: the more you do it the better you get.


Gawd bless him. He speak the truth.