The Ongoing Draft

 Well, I feel quite gobsmacked this morning and all the more determined to make this novel better than ever. Cara sent me the first half of her novel edits and I've had a quick look through this morning. It's really everything I dared hope it might be - important questions showing she totally gets the plot, suggestions that are going to really boost the quality and lots of useful observations and corrections. Quite a lot of it concerns parts I've already reworked, which will be interesting if I go through and compare her ideas with my revisions. I'm looking forward to it. Was very chuffed that she points out some of my favourite bits as hers too. Weird though, I always thought my ideal reader was an older gentleman. 

Friday, have managed four Musical Dice Game tracks in last few days, feels like a collection but maybe needing a hit single. 

Pat sneezes more than any other human being. Did MD12, which I think gives me quite a lot - actually 1 hour 40 mins of music to sift through. I started putting some ideas together in terms of running order - more thought required but the first version sounding good this morning (Sunday). Tim came round and we recorded that utterly fab Vesly, so that's a pleasant result - must've been ready for a good creative sesh. 

This morning I had a very trippy experience listening to playback of a musical dice piece on the laptop while listening to another (or maybe the same one at a different point) on speakers. Some very cool potential there, may try and import all 12 into the 404 and try playing them against each other from there. Upset Pat by suggesting two nights would be a good maximum for Will at half term. 

Cara has scored a blinder in some of the edit comments lately. For example, there was the mystery of the blank chapter (46) and then a couple of questions showed where I'd really not given readers a genuine chance to follow some threads. All it then took was to move  and expand a short paragraph, making it into chapter 46 which occurred at exactly the right point and seemed like I'd planned it. Maybe I did but didn't know it. Anyway, I am now working through a difficulty at the end of chapter 50 that I'd deliberately dismissed so I could do a surprise later but now realise it needs more work. Makes me think the older books all needed this degree of outside help to get them over that final threshold. 

Phew!

Pat's suposed to be going south at the weekend,not sure if Friday but saturday for sure. Erland Cooper on Sunday so all in all a weekend to look forward to.

Summer's back!

 Seems that way and in September too, by golly! Yesterday's recordings seem OK this morning; there was even some capture of the Casio piano into the Cosmos for a nice change. Tim coming today and I expect we'll sit in the sun and drink beer for a bit. Pat was off early with Benji so a curry beckons this evening. 

Sunday was very sunny and I spent much of it lolling. Was gonna get a new froggy tie for wedding but all the ones I liked can't be delivered in time, so it's back to the old faithful one. Seem to have misplaced the alien tie, reducing my choices somewhat. Did some work on the start/end parts of WSGL and sent to Cara (Kitten Bakery) as this will be my base document for draft 3. I plan to start that sometime in this next month as I feel the time is right. Pat still not back so it's a very chilled day. Hope she not late as driving in the dark not good with her dicky eye.

Today I hacked a number of trees in the garden and ripped out the dry, dead mass of honeysuckle. Are those things related to honey badgers, I wonder? I also seem to be back in writing mode, which is nice. 

Wednesday, novel updates going well - making those little changes that explain some of the things in my head that aren't otherwise obvious. Went to pub with Tim and it were grand. Pat had a go later cos I hadn't asked whether the wedding food would be vegetarian. Not entirely sure why I'd ask that since neither of us are veggie but she may have been miffed about something else, can never tell. 

Thursday and Pat suffering with cystisis again overnight. No walk as was meant to be another heatwave but, of course, that didn't happen. Tony wanting to book Oct 21st but something about end October rings a bell - William coming maybe. I'll check if Pat has forgotten to put it on calendar. May get into studio this afternoon, hope so as tomorrow is wedding day and I'll have to stay straight. 

Wedding went well although mum struggled badly. She'd sourced an oxygen supply but then refused to use it (or hadn't brought it). Janet somewhat drunk and insisting I dance, swore at mum, felt Pat wasn't taking part. Tried explaining she had cystisis but nothing was registering. Lisa looked lovely and very happy for them both.
Saturday was stupidly hot. Sat in the cool and did novel stuff - up to chapter 20 now of draft 3, making small but necessary revisions and clarifications. Started doing chapter titles too, will see if I keep that  up.

MD1 and on up to MD6

 Well, the first attempt at the musical dice game was hopeful although it ended rather oddly, suggesting I was a bit too stoned by then. The notes I ended up with were F#GACF and I made a user scale in the P3 turning whatevevr was already in that bank into something peculiar but fun. Tim here today (Saturday) so a more conventional sesh, possibly just as stoned, is on the cards. 

Bank Holiday Monday and I did two today, ME3&4. Pat seemed miffed I was having a good time and insisted Broc wanted taking out at 15:12, which is pretty early it seems to me. She took him out but I was under impression she unhappy. Must have either done or not done something. Anyway, two interesting scales/modes generated today. I'm keeping a record of what they all are. 

Friday, Beji meant to be going back but will be tomorrow. Recorded MD5 & 6 and very happy with them. Yesterday did Dodd Wood although just by randomly wandering around. 

Might publish this and start afresh tomorrow.