Bonjour, mes amis. How are you today? You find me fighting a small fit of the winter greys. It has just been a very grey week, though enlivened by a flying visit from Moose. I wish I had something exciting to tell you, but a general air of ennuie seems to have settled over my little corner of Oxford. What with everyone being disgustingly industrious and working hard to meet various deadlines, I have no one to play with right now *sob*

So I shall rifle my way through the few lovely links I have found this week, then huddle in a corner and ply my muse with lots of tea. Perhaps then I’ll get something written and to show for this un-asked-for hermit-like existence.

Sometimes I get a bee in my bonnet about the strangest things. Right now, I am just craving a huge Victorian shawl. Like this one. Or this one and this beauty. Why? I really can’t explain it, but I want one to wear. Jumpers and cardigans are just so, so… normal. The problem is where to get one? Even a fake one (because there’s no way I can justify an antique one to wear!) is going to cost a bomb – if I could even find a supplier. Making my own would seem like an option, but the whole point is the fabric, and where would I get fabric of those dimensions?! Help!

A year or so back, BBC3 did an awesome one off called “Being Human” about a vampire, werewolf and a ghost trying to fit into the ‘real’ world. It was, frankly, inspired, but I remember thinking at the time that it was nice for once a show was being done WITHOUT plans to turn it into a series. D’oh, for now it is a series. I’ll watch tonight and feed back how good/bad it is (though damn it, they’ve recast the vamp and he was just the best bit)

With the new resolution to get some writing done, I have enlisted the help of two cheer-leaders/victims. Their jobs are to keep me motivated at the same time as keeping me up to standard. Right now, both are champing at the bit, so I could do with some tips on how to focus. The idea which strikes me most is the schedule. I am fairly disciplined when it comes to Roast-writing, but everything else, including the blog kinda depends on my mood. Hence long periods of silence (sorry). In order to change that though, I have designated “writing lunches” where, at least three times a week, I spend my lunch hours at work doing something constructive instead of just wasting the time.

We’ll see how it goes…

James Marsters as an outlaw alien fighter, all Westerned-up… *swoon*

Moose’s only comment? I like black squirrels

Robin Hobbs is writing a new book set in the Liveship/Assassin universe. Here’s fingers crossed it can wipe the shame of the Solider Son trilogy from my brain

John August does post-apocalyptic America so, SO well.

The evolution of publishing

This one is for the Cheerleader In Chief – a UV skeleton tattoo

A nice bit of quality fiction for you: Selene, by Lilith Saintcrow

Me and handbags have a long history – I have been searching for the *perfect* bag for what feels like forever. Part of what has made it so hard is that I have found it difficult to articulate what exactly it is I want. I know it has to be big enough to hold my Filofax, but small enough to be good for daily/light use. And I don’t want just any old bag, it needs personality. Other than that, I’ve been working on the principle of “I’ll know it when I’ve seen it”. Well now I’ve seen it. I want. I lust. I crave. I yearn. I am just so close to reaching for the credit card, cost be damned. I just wont eat for a month or put the heating on to pay for it. Save me from myself someone!

(The briefcases are gorgeous too, but I just can’t justify that expenditure. Plus I don’t live a briefcase kind of life right now.)

That’s it for the roast. I am off to dream of my bag. Oh, my bag…

One thing more whilst I remember – how the flying fuck did Backstreet Boys get to be so prevalent on my top 25 played list?! Who’s been meddling with my iPod. Come on, fess up!