NEWS
As I’m typing this a solar eclipse is occurring across the UK. Shame there’s too much cloud where I am to notice any difference. It looks like just another grey morning in London.
What eclipse?
First let’s get the boring dull stuff out of the way. I received a nice email this week. Since becoming a regular contributor to Sci Fi Bloggers, the editor secured new sponsorship for the site which means it might be rising further up the charts shortly. If anyone is interested in writing for the site they are always on the look-out for new writers. It’s unpaid to start, but if they like what you write then you can wax lyrical about all your favourite science fiction stories and interest in science and technology. If you’re interested just visit the contact page.
I’ll also be attending the London Book Fair for Independent Authors on April 17th to mix with other writers, readers and publishers and basically to have a massive geek out over books. It’s a fun event and a good opportunity to pull your head up from the computer/notebook and remember that there’s a real world out there. If anyone’s in London about that time and wants to come along, drop me a line and I’ll send you details. Plus you get to see me, and I’m remarkably fun and witty to be around.
In other news since reorganising my schedule, I realised that instead of just writing for any told Tom, Dick or Harry I needed to start writing stories for publications and subject matters I’m more interested in. I’ve slowly come to the realisation that it’s much more enjoyable writing about what you’re interested in. Took me a while to get there, but I’ve always been a late bloomer.
WEEKLY RANT
So Spock died. For real this time and with no resurrection option in the funeral package or touching eulogy from the Shat. I was a little gutted about this (anyone who knows me knows I like Star Trek) and was invited to write a little tribute. You can read it here if you’re at all interested in this sort of thing. Then not to be outdone, Terry Pratchett died as well! I couldn’t believe it! Two of my heroes are dead! It’s very sad but in a weird way it’s also inspiring me to keep going – after all you never know how long you’ve got.
He’s not coming back.
My rant however is more to do with eyes. I’ve only got one and recently the usually reliable biological camera started to have a few problems. Imagine how annoyed I was when things started to blur a bit in the distance. 35 years on the planet and I’ve always had near perfect 20/20 vision…or the one eyed equivalent of 20/20 (10/10?). I had an optometrist test me and it turns out my eye muscle has been contracting and straining a lot (probably due to lack of sleep and long working hours she lectured). Solution? A pair of glasses to use at the computer. I was pretty damn grumpy. However I did as instructed and had to admit (grudgingly) that they worked. Then I realised they made me look vaguely intelligent. Maybe not so bad after all and at least I don’t have to wear them all the time.
Laser eyes!
All’s well that ends well, until Moorfields decided to temporarily blind me at the hospital during my yearly tune up. Have you ever had your pupils dilated? If you have you don’t need me to explain how f***ing annoying it is. If you haven’t then the best way to describe the experience follows. It’s like having the sun over for dinner in your eye sockets, make itself at home by putting its feet up and lighting up a cigar without permission. Everything becomes overly bright and blurry and you can’t walk anywhere without wearing sun glasses. This is because your pupil has been opened so wide that anyone who gets a good look will mistake you for a crack addict. When you inevitably bump into walls and doors because you can’t see, their suspicions are confirmed and they back away slowly fingering a can of mace.
I don’t mind having my pupils dilated as long as I have a bit of warning. The ophthalmologist decided to give me a 10 second heads up. By the time I’d processed the information and formulated a thrilling counter argument as to why I didn’t think it was the best idea (i.e. I need to work), the drop was already in. The rest of the day went by in a blurry mess. To make matters worse the moment I stepped outside the hospital was the moment the sun decided to put in a rare appearance. I had one hand covering my eye with me squinting through the tiny gaps between my fingers. People gave me a few odd looks and I heard a child asking “What’s wrong with that man Mummy?” I thought about responding kindly until I heard the Mum respond with “That’s what happens when grownups indulge during the week darling.” I thought about correcting the Mum but I didn’t want to spoil the lesson and besides, I couldn’t see.
ADVICE
1. Ophthalmologists give you relevant information when they deem it to be relevant.
2. Don’t start talking to people unless you’re absolutely sure they’re in front of you and not a wall.
3. Think about your inspirations and use them to keep going.
