Really – what does trouble you?
I’ve got loads of things – here’s but a few…
I’ve been trying to think about my carbon footprint and whether I’m a caring person or am I just all about the consumerism.
I want to be a good and wholesome human but when I look around my house at the amount of cheap plastic crap I own, I realise I am not.
The reason I’m in knots about this is because I’m trying to invent a new product (top secret for now) but I’m finding it really hard to find something cool to make it from that isn’t a gazzilion miles away. I could get these things hand carved from wood by some hippy folks in the countryside – that would be lovely – buuuut – who’s gonna spend £250 on an item they could buy down the road made from plastic at the pound store???
Ugh, my head is reeling. I have some questions for you. I’d love to find out – does everyone feel guilty at every new plastic toothbrush they buy or putting paper in a non-recycled bin, or driving to the swimming pool, even though it’s easily within walking distance? OMG – you can see why I retreat into my world of writing, at least I can invent places and situations where guilt is not a factor. Unbidden desire and sensuality rule without a care in the world! The joy to free your mind for a few hours at least… also – ebooks? Are ebooks really more environmentally friendly than paperbacks – that’s what we’ve all been told? But that implies that you buy a reading device once (never upgrading to the newer version) and of course we all know that it only takes a dash of sea water and an eco-fairy’s kiss to make a Kindle or a Kobo.
Oh – just ignore me. But do let me know – what troubles you? What keeps your mind whirring until you simply have to go do something else for a while – tell Auntie Tabitha – maybe we can help ease each other’s burdens…
To take you mind off things for a while, here’s a little snippet of a new book I’ve been trying to write for like, ever… the main character has many troubles and fears which manifest in her inability to feel warm… see what you think.
Baker’s Wife
morning she rolls into the dip he leaves in the mattress as he
lumbers out of bed and into his whites.
She keeps her eyes closed and feignssleep as he kisses her softly on the forehead. Daylight still hours
away, she lies, fixed, unable to rest, unable to dream until all she
can do is pull back the covers and get up. She wonders if he guesses
her longing as she stands at the window listening to the sounds of
the bakehouse only a brick wall away. Standing with arms curled round
her hollow frame, Elizabeth becomes stone, growing colder and colder
until she feels the penetrating glance of ice through her heart.
keeps her standing there. Pictures of his thick heavy hands squeezing
and plying with chewing fingers sinking in to the elastic wheaty
flesh. And so she grows colder into her paralysis.
respond to his advances even if he did try. It’s something else. A
melancholy, a longing – yes, a longing for something she doesn’t
know even exists. What is this thing, this frozen unidentified need?
 |
| Bracken – fractal joy |
monotonous whir and drone of the ovens are punctuated by his
kneading, kneading, kneading.
animatedly thrusts a map of the world between the bowl and spoon
which she only just manages to sup before spluttering it all back out
again. His excitement and enthusiasm are infectious and they laugh
together as they mop chewed up bits of carrot and barley from the
Atlantic Ocean.
pushes her unfinished lunch away and spreads the map out on the
table. She looks for clues of where he might prefer by perhaps a
twitch of his finger or a pause as he smooths the paper out with both
hands caressing it like a precious gift. But he gives nothing away,
all latitudes and longitudes receiving equal attention. “We can’t
just swan off, James, what about your father?”
don’t you worry about him he’ll outlive us all. Too bloody mean
to pass on our inheritance.” He smiles and places a hand on her
shoulder urging her to take a look at the map. “Come on, Lizzy,
when will we get the chance again?”
always around on every school room – but now it looks alien, like
trying to choose which star you might like to visit. It doesn’t sit
in any sort of reality for her.
He crouches and takes her chin, beaming at her with absolutely no
doubt about what they are planning. “I told you I was going to take
you away from it all, like those books you read, didn’t I?”
they’d talked about when they were courting, but now it seemed like
a frivolous dream.
at your Aunt May who went all the way to Australia? If she can do it,
a woman by herself with barely a brass farthing, then surely us, two
capable fit people in the prime of our lives will find it easy.” He
comes close again, his expression losing the carefree expression, his
eyes dimming just enough for her to notice. “Don’t bail on me
now, Lizzie.”
those eyes. But fear of what? Of losing her? Of losing his dream?
focussing back onto the vast paper. “It has to be warm. Not humid
though, I couldn’t bear that. And not too arid, I can’t stand
barren landscapes.”
body language softening as he ruffles her hair.
flat lands.”
able to get to the sea easily.”
appearing to mentally tick unsuitable destinations off the list.
the search pointing and casting his hand over the paper waving off
countries in an ever decreasing circle until only one island remains.
“So what you’re telling me is, you want to go somewhere exactly
the same in every way as where we are right now.”
silly she sounds. “Well, I suppose so – except there is one big
difference.”
highlight the point, a draft snakes in under the door, making her
shiver. He wraps his arms around her and rocks her from side to side.