A ramblers ramblings

While I was driving into town this morning I saw two enormous birds flying over a stretch of wetland called the Loakers. At first I thought they were Herons, because they were so big, but then I realized that they had the sharp wing outline of gulls. They must have been lesser or greater black backed gulls, because they were huge. I would like to have had a closer look at them, but I was driving, so I couldn't.

While walking on the beach this morning with Janna, I was privy to a host of wildlife. I saw a very large crab in a shallow pool near some rocks. The only reason I saw him at all was because I noticed a large ripple in the pool and then I noticed the crab scuttling under the rocks. He was perfectly camouflaged to match in with the lichen covered rock. He is the second live crab I have seen, and the largest. There were lots of birds on the shore too, oyster catchers and gulls (but not my monster gulls unfortunately) and a heron flew up from some rocks as I approached, looping lazily across the strand in a very haphazard manner. Janna chased some of the oyster catchers, and with the dogged determination of her breed, I was afraid she would catch one, because they didn't fly very high. Luckily, they escaped. I also saw lots of tiny fish fry whizzing around the pools, and the imprint of webbed feet were all over the sand - is there anything cuter?

There is a talk on Blackrock's ecology this evening. I am looking forward to going to it and learning more about the beasties I see every morning on my walk.

Response to Section Two

You asked for it, Grumpy! My trusted reader (and no, it isn't Mulder - he thinks Leopard and Jacob write everything, and if you don't know who they are, I won't enlighten you) had only one thing to say about section 2 - 'it's too short!'. I hope that answers your question.

I'm looking forward to starting section 3 today and I already have the next couple of chapters planned out in detail in my head.

Blueberry update

I left Blueberry into the vet this morning to get the wire removed from his jaw. All going well, his jaw will have stabilized and they will be able to do the operation. His weeks of captivity are almost at an end. He has been kept inside every night since 8th July. While his temperament is better and he is looking leaner and sleeker (no more mice and rats to chew on) he is dying to get outside again. I'm looking forward to it too!

The book I am reading at the moment...

It's really good!

When good dogs go... bite?

On a totally non writing related topic, my beautiful German Shepherd Dog, Janna was bitten today. My sister (let's call her Pansy for the sake of protecting her identity) came over to the house to visit this afternoon, bringing with her her little dog Chaz (his name has also been changed to protect his identity). Anyway, Janna ran over to say hello to Chaz (he doesn't really like her and has gone for her before) and they were sniffing noses and the next thing he went for her. Pansy put him into the back yard and I was patting Janna, who was understandably very shaken, when I felt something wet on my neck. Touching the dampness, I realized it was blood. I quickly realized that this came from Janna, so I examined her and found a gash on her nose and a puncture wound on her jowl, both bleeding freely, but neither deep enough to warrant a trip to the vet. I suppose she now has some war stories to tell her canine friends about when they ask about her scars. I wish Rags had been here when it happened, as I know she would have stepped into protect Janna. The other day Woozer cornered Janna and went for her, and Rags leaped up from her bed (where she was sleeping on the other side of the room) and raced over to put herself between Janna and Woozer, growling at Woozer to tell her in no uncertain terms to back off. How sweet! :)

Mulder says...

Hurrah!

I finished section two! For once, I lived up to my predictions! It isn't as exciting as I would like it to be, but it is competent and I hope it advances the story. I'll print it out and give it to my trusted reader to see what she thinks. On to section three on Monday!

The book I am reading at the moment...

Section Two

In response to a recent comment, I felt impelled to do a bit of blogging about my writing (which is, after all, what the Inkpot files are about - mostly). I finished Section One on Tuesday. I am fairly happy with it. It isn't perfect and will need some work, but it has set up what I want to have set up and it will suffice for the moment. I have written about 1/2 of section two already and I am pleased with it. Unfortunately, due to family commitments, I didn't get any writing done yesterday and if I get a couple of hours this evening I will be lucky. However, despite that, I am still optimistic that I will be finished the second section before the end of the week (don't hold me to that though, my track record in realizing predictions is not good).

Lunch time

Went for a walk to the post office at lunchtime with Janna and met the first dog that didn't try to attack her viciously. However, the poor little thing was a mite too friendly and followed us home. I think he would have liked to come into the house with us too. I was tempted to let Janna off the lead. She is very friendly, but I think the dog would have got a shock if she came racing towards him wanting to play. I was worried he would run out of the garden and Janna would go after him, so I didn't. He was a lovely little jack Russell, very cute, with a fancy shiny collar. I wonder if his owners know he has run away.

Anyway, enough of walks and lunch. Time to get back to starting section two.

Mulder says...

YES!

I have just put the finishing touches to the first section of Til the Moon Fails, the third book in the Moonwolf Chronicles. I will start the second section after lunch. WhoooHooo! :) Only six sections left to go! :) :)

I still have sand in my shoes

Well, I'm back! Arrived home on Saturday. Somehow the journey home seemed to fly, (it was still 3 hours) isn't that always the case? Feeling energized and ready to battle on with Janna and Hans (the characters in my book). Did good work yesterday (had a lot of catching up to do) and hope it goes well again today.Thought I would include some pictures of Janna (the dog) enjoying her first holiday in Donegal. She is a rescue dog and was badly treated, so I was worried that she would get nervous on the holiday, but instead she was quite the opposite. She has really blossomed and become more confident in the week away (as well as learning how to roll over). I guess we both benefited from our holiday.

Beach bliss

The sun decided to appear this morning after four days of dark cloud and constant rain. Hurried out to the beach. Went to kinnego bay. The sand was golden the atlantic was pearly green with so much foam it looked like some one had put bubble bath in it and the rocks were smooth solid blue or black. The ocean must be rough in the bay because there was very little life in the rock pools. A few dogged limpets and a plank covered with muscles. I have never seen them open and feeding before. It was beautiful. Saw two dead fish washed up too - another first. Janna had great time frolicing in the waves and biting at the water. The beach was quite short and the sand was very soft so not great for walking. If the weather stays fine we will search further afield for a longer strand. The bay made me think of my book and started my writing cogs turning again. Found out when i got back to the house that a ship went down there in the sixteenth century. I must get an hours work in this evening. Feeling inspired.

Bus mans holiday - not!

Arrived saturday. The house is lovely. Very cosy with comfy leather couches and a huge double bed. Janna has settled in really well. I was afraid she would be nervous but that is not the case. Bad weather so no beach but walks all the same. No writing as of yet. Im waiting for inspiration to strike. I have the laptop with me but im not going to force it. I am on holidays.

We're all going on a summer holiday!

I'm off to Donegal tomorrow. I will try to update using my phone and email, but if it doesn't work - stay shiny and see you on the 19th!

Message from Mulder...

Mulder says...

Dublin Horse Show 2006

I went to the Dublin Horse Show today with Michele. Met up with Pamela and Madeline there. It was a great day (apart from the shopping). The weather was quite cold, and there was some rain, but there was also sun as well, so it wasn't too bad. Michele and I had a list of things we wanted to get at the stalls, but unfortunately we didn't get any of the things, so the shopping was a bit depressing. There was a dressage demonstration in the afternoon (see picture above, extended trot). I can't remember the names of the girls and their horses who did the demonstration (sorry) but they were excellent, beautiful to watch and very inspiring (watch out Cori! I want to do canter pirouettes).
The Nations Cup was brilliant (see picture of Cian O'Connor above). Ireland did really well and came third, and it was quite close at the end between Germany and Holland (Germany won). Michele and I thought we could have guessed how the nations would be placed by how the teams horses behaved during the marching band's rendition of their national anthem during the parade of nations. Germany, Holland and Ireland had the best behaved horses.

Between the rounds of the Nations Cup the Army's Equitation School performed a lovely demonstration of riding together. It was beautiful to watch, and I was amazed at their military precision (Cori and J.B watch out!)

Mobile communication

This is a test to see if i can up date my blog while i am on holidays next week. I don't want my fans getting withdrawal symptoms! Fingers crossed it works (if you can read this it worked)

Happy Birthday David Duchovny

46 today. Love you Mulder :)

Good Luck Michele and J.B!

Here is Michele with J.B (aka Blackrock Bay) jumping at the 1 day event in Dunany last Sunday. She is competing again today, so I hope it goes well.

As clear as mud

I read through my previous versions of the new book and they weren't half bad. I am pleased with my latest version though, and it is the best, so I am going to keep with it (sounds familiar, doesn't it?). However, I might be able to use version four (or part of it) as well, and the other efforts have helped solidify things in my mind. Here is to productivity!