Dancing the Maypole now has 99,527 words. I’ve finally finished chapter 37 (hopefully for the last time). I’m now working on chapter 38. I ended up doing the usual ‘beat my head against the wall’ exercise until I finally gave in and deleted a chunk and wrote some more. I think I’ve figured out how to unblock Once Upon a Wager as well, but now I have to decide how much to delete. I’ve deleted quite a bit, but I have an awful feeling I need to delete more. Excuse me while I just bang my head on that brick wall!
The last few months have been really weird. I’ve been having problems remembering what day or month it is. I can’t believe it’s nearly the end of June. I think I was traumatized by moving house. The rest of the Universe has moved on, but I’m somehow stuck in April. The last few months I’ve had a number of adventures that I meant to share. I took pictures…lots of pictures. I now I have too many to share, but I wanted to share some of my favorite.
This is a close up the little guy…Those were the days real men wore ribbons…lots of them!
I can’t remember if this was the first or second floor, but I love the light coming in the window. It seems to conjure up Knights in smelly armour.
Another shot of Orford, you can see the light house…the red and white stripped building in the distance.
The door from the castle onto the roof. I don’t know how old it actually is, but it’s seen a few centuries. There’s something magical about really old doors. Anything might be on the other side of an ancient door!
Hi, missed your blog comments but I knew you were busy what with moving house and your writing I didn’t want to interrupt your working. Your photos always reel me in I love the castle one of this days I would like to visit that part of England, the old historical part the older the better. Thank you for showing us the photos and take care of yourself don’t work too hard, we can wait for your stories. Victoria
@victoria
Hello Victoria, if you come to England definitely stop off at Orford castle! It’s a bit off the beaten path, but I think that adds to its charm. But then I think the whole of Suffolk is magical. A number of my ancestors emigrated out of Suffolk to America so I’ve really enjoyed hunting down little corners where they came from. One family in particular, a husband and wife left with their infant son from this tiny hamlet in the middle of no where. Trying to find the place was like locating a bridge through time. My husband spent most of his life in Suffolk, but even he drove in circles. It was several attempts before we found the village and another before we found the remains of the house. It was a late winter morning with eery bright sunlight. The colours were all jewel tones around this ancient house. It must have been terrifying and heartbreaking to drive away knowing they’d never see it again.
The last few months I haven’t got a lot of writing (or thinking) done. Your comments or e-mails would never disturb me. I’m now feeling back on track. I can finally see Dancing the Maypole weaving into the end. I’ve had pieces of the puzzle, but after Friday I could see the picture I was trying to put together and I think deep down a part of me sighed in relief. With a miracle I might even finish the first draft by the end of July. That would make me want to dance!!! 🙂