David Bridger's blog

It's been a difficult year. I'm still in the relapse that started in autumn '06. Two years next month. Had a bad fall about three months ago and injured myself in several places. Still hurts, but it's all getting better slowly - apart from the bruised tailbone.

Last October my hands and arms stopped working as typing tools, so I had to buy and train voice recognition software. I got that working okay in May this year and started first-drafting the novel I had in my head all through the precious winter. That's done now, and I'm taking a month off before starting the second draft.

Meanwhile, I've been unable to use my camera. Simply couldn't hold the thing. I managed to use it this week for the first time in I don't know how long, but only for five minutes before it got shaky and dangerous. Don't want to drop my precious baby.

How are you all. I've missed you.

I've been discovering new music this past week, searching for different stuff to have on my playlist while I outline Quarter Square. Details on my writing journal today (link in my Ipernity profile).

Anyhow, I just found this on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUcSTyD2T7M

I love it. I'm lolling like a daft thing.

But what does it mean? I don't understand German, so will someone tell me, please?

Ta. :)

earring and pendant close-up

Earlier this week I mentioned my daughter Bev's art show www.ipernity.com/doc/davidbridger/album/17746 at the end of her two-year 3D Spatial Design course, and acceptance onto her first degree, which she will start this autumn.

 

Well, more news. Yesterday she received her final results from this course. She earned three Distinctions, which are equivalent to three A Levels at grade A/B. As other Brits here will know, this is a Big Deal!

And today a buyer asked her to make a pair of earrings (one of which is shown in copper on the left in this photo) in silver. Bev has sold lots of work during the course, but this is her first commission!

My daughter is a commissioned artist! I am a Very Proud Dad! :)

I've had a scary headache for 24 hours, like a silent electric drill going deep into my brain above and behind my left ear. It's random. Happens about ten times an hour. Only lasts a few seconds, but it stops everything when it comes.

I think it might be related to my new headset (which only has a left earpiece), which I bought to listen to music here on Ipernity. My computer speakers haven't worked for ages, but that hasn't been important until now because I have good music from elsewhere in this room. But suddenly there is all this new music around here. New friends posting exciting new music. I want! So, new headset and new scary headache.

I don't think it happened when I was asleep. Perhaps I should go back to bed. Despite spending the whole afternoon here yesterday, I got a lot of work done during the rest of the day. Good work, too. Research and worldbuilding, yum yum. Can't work with this electric drill, though.

Still, the Spice Girls just announced a comeback, so it isn't all bad news.

wolf

It's 1am and I'm the only one left awake in this house. There is a storm battering the dark window next to my monitor. I'm tired. I'm writing a werewolf story.

Ever scared yourself silly? :)

Until yesterday, my breakfast routine always included some time on Flickr, catching up with comments, taking a look at photos my contacts had uploaded overnight, and then into Utata. Just before bedtime last night I deleted my Flickr account, so this morning is the first time I'm online and unable to get into Utata.

I don't regret the Flickr-deletion at all. I thought long and hard about it and I know I've done the right thing for me. I've been uncomfortable about supporting Yahoo the entire time I was there, and the furore of this past two weeks put me in a place where I had to speak honestly to myself. Now I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my spirit.

I don't feel any emotional attachment to Ipernity yet, of course, and have no way of knowing if I ever will. I had none for Flickr. But my emotional investment in Utata was huge. That's what hurts.

Onwards. Last night I changed the address under my keyboard shortcut button #4 from Flickr to Ipernity. So here I am, breakfast finished (fruit tea, a big bowl of dry apricot wheats, a satsuma, and a jug of strong black fresh Italian coffee) and ready to start my day. It's nearly nine o'clock. A hot shower for twenty minutes, then I'll start work.

I already have a journal at david-bridger.livejournal.com/ , btw, where I post about my writing mostly. Four of the five most recent entries are friends-locked snippets of my work-in-progress, Quarter Square, an urban fantasy novel. If you would like to read them, please feel free to 'friend' me on Live Journal and let me know you're interested so I can friend you back.

I'm a bit dull today. Leaving Utata is hitting me hard.

Can anyone tell me if there is a way to see if/when someone has added me as a contact here, rather than finding out by accident? I expect it's here somewhere, but as I said I'm not on top of my game today.

Just saying hello, here, while I look around the place.