Stuff seems to fall into two categories. I’m either working on writing (or things related to writing which is the same thing really), or I’m fannying about with things which are nothing to do with writing.
I’ve been tidying up the automatic emails on my writing website shop. The shop is doing quite well for itself and needs no help from me (except for packing and sending out orders, obviously). If I’m being honest, I’ve only been fettling with the automatic emails, making them more ‘personable’ – as if they were actually written by a human, rather than exported from a system database. I wanted to include a photograph of the spaniels, but I can’t figure out how to do that; the traditional method of putting photos into emails don’t seem to apply to an ecommerce product.
I’ve also been doing a lot of pushing, pulling, kicking, screaming, and negotiating which has successfully resulted in the Tempest, Storm, and Hurricane books now being listed in the Waterstones and Foyles (and, eventually, in other mainstream bookstores) catalogue. I reckon it’ll be a couple of weeks before their supply chain catches up and the books will be available either on shelves or to order. I’m going to hit up the Nottingham Waterstones and try to get the books into their ‘local authors’ section.
Because it’s the school hols, I’ve been out on the ZX10R a few times in the last week; school being ‘out’ means I can call on the services of the other resident adult dogsitter. Insert big grin here. I have thoroughly enjoyed my two-wheeled excursions. I even got one in the day before yesterday when I rode out in half-leathers (the usual leather jacket but a pair of ordinary trousers). That was very enjoyable and not at all sweat-tastic.
My wife said we should get her Honda Superdream out so she could go for a run. The trouble is the bike hasn’t moved for so long (I reckon about three years, possibly longer), it needed a fair bit of attention. I’ve fitted a new battery (the old one being deader than a long-dead thing), inflated the deflated tyres, checked the wheels for binding, tested (and adjusted) the brakes, and then… started her up. I think the carbs need cleaning/adjusting because there’s a dead spot just as you open the throttle, but notwithstanding this minor issue, she sprang into life exactly like she used to/should do. I’ve also cleaned and lubed the chain (which looked in remarkably good nick thanks to it being well-lubed when she was put away after last use). I’m wondering about an oil change, but if I remember rightly her oil was changed about 20 miles ago (although those 20 miles were 3+ years distant). I dunno. The jury’s out on the oil. I’m in the middle of rebuilding her O/S/R indicator arm which I noticed was attached to the bike through a cunning combination of black insulating tape and luck. I didn’t notice this in the past because it looked right – the insulating tape was folded over in layers on the inside of the indicator arm. But 3+ years of sitting in the garage have made the stickiness not sticky. It came off in me hand, guv’nor. Still, she’s officially a classic now. The bike, obviously.
The dogs are not enjoying the heat. Unfortunately this means they’re getting walked in the early morn and late, late evening. As a result of the intense daytime heat and the cool nights, they are gradually morphing into nocturnal creatures which, obviously, impacts the sleeping pattern of the humans. We might take the four spanners off to the beach for a day of sun, sea, sand, and salt (see sea). But which beach? Skegabouts or somewhere in the Wilderness of Despair that is Norfolk? Good grief, what a choice! While I’m on this subject, I’m going to ring a bookmaker in a minute to see what odds they’ll give me on at least one of the spaniels needing to be rescued from far out to sea by the RNLI.
Also, I might try and get some sailing in while the good lady wife her indoors is not at school!
Well done on the book front.
That Wet Dream of the wife’s, deserves to be out on the road, drawing admiring glances (dodgy indicator arm, aside), not stuck in the garage. And, change the oil. What’s it gonna cost… twenty quid?
I too have been enjoying some two-wheel action of late – so much better now that the pollen count has dropped a bit.
Which reminds me: let’s make August the month when it happens.
Indeed, August should be the month that it happens. Sooner rather than later because later might clash with a holiday.