‘Let’s go for a Chinese!’ says Tom in a true triumph of hope over experience. There’s only one Chinese restaurant anywhere near us and both the decor and the menu are seriously in need of a revamp. However, with our long-serving Dyson becoming the latest victim of the appliance apocalypse sweeping (or not in the case of the Dyson) through our house, we feel in need of, well not a treat exactly, but a change of scenery.No surprises at the restaurant; everything about it is reliably dreary, although the evening livens up when the man on the table behind us does a runner. That is, he fumbles for his walking sticks and hobbles slowly out the door without paying. Having tasted the sweet and sour pork I can understand why. So, it seems, can the staff because it takes several minutes before a waitress sets off after him.
Although the meal’s a little less than bog standard, there’s nothing wrong with our pot of jasmine tea which arrives with a couple of fortune cookies. I’m a bit wary of fortune cookies since my dad decided, a few days before he died, that he fancied a Chinese takeaway. It wasn’t a huge success since he only managed to swallow a couple of microdots of prawn toast before having to admit defeat, but our falsely jolly evening took an even bigger nosedive when I tried to cheer him up by reading his cookie fortune. ‘You are in a very difficult place,’ it said, ‘but this will pass.’ Tonight, mine predicts that, ‘You will be called to fill a position of high honour and responsibility’, which is happier if a bit worthy.
I wish someone could tell me what’s going to happen with our house move which has been dragging on forever. I do know that I’m very grateful to Preseli Mags who’s kept me sane in all kinds of ways, offering emotional support and practical advice. I’m slightly more sceptical when Mags suggests a bit of space clearing could sort out a spot of bother, nevertheless I decide to try a small experiment by space-clearing my desk which has become unusually cluttered. And here’s the really spooky thing; before the exercise, the paperback of Turning the Tide was at 58,000 on Amazon (not that I check these things... much) and I didn’t have a berludy clue what to do on the WIP, then, once my desk was clear, Turning the Tide shot up to 19,000 and I wrote 700 words. Ooh-er!
My short story, Charm’s Way, which appears in the latest edition of ‘Your Cat’ magazine also involves transformation and, maybe, a little bit of magic. I was particularly charmed, however, by Mary Kilvert’s illustration accompanying the piece. Mary’s blogged about her work here, and you can see the illustrations both for my story and that of Jane Wenham-Jones which appeared in the previous issue. Thanks for the link, Mary, I look forwards to working with you again.
Painting is 'Totem Gymraeg' by Tom Tomos
Comments
I do hope you have some positive news on your house sale soon. Nothing much seems to be moving and it must be a nightmare to be selling right now.
Congratulations on the sale to My Cat mag.
In the meantime, avoid that Chinese restaurant at all costs!
Love the painting - we see lots of these, what we call Inukshuks, over here.
Lot's of luck with your house; I'm sure you'll get plenty of prospects when the weather turns warm. Could you not rent it to Londoners wanting a view of Dublin, while you're waiting?
J xx
PS I find myself idly wondering what it said on the old man's fortune cookie to make him leg it like that.
PPS Don't suppose I could persuade you to come over and tidy my desk - you're obviously very good at it and mine is looking distinctly cluttered right now. x
Pondside, I don't know why we go back either! Oh, interesting about the Inukshuks - will look them up.
Fennie, thanks for your good wishes... you know, I don't go looking for things to happen, they just do!
Sally, I berludy hope so - it's like Groundhog Day every day at the moment, waiting for Something To Happen! Any better over there?
Fp, thank you! Go on, try the space clearing so we get to hear about your non-fiction news! (Fingers crossed for you, Sue).
Milla, yes, Mags is seriously good at calm, supportive vibes - not to mention space clearing! Mind you TTT currently at 100,000 so maybe it's something I need to work at!
Pip, lovely to see you - will be over to see what you're up to. Yes, give it a whirl! Thank you.
Lins, keeping everything crossed here. And looking forwards to joining in with you, Mags and the dogfest (hmm, better say for the benefit of people who don't know any of us, that there's no mucky business involved in this).
LBD, I will come and clear your desk any time (see above comment) but I'm sure you're the expert at it! It was just a touch of beginner's luck with me. Jeez, hope you're right about June! Cx
That was eight years ago and I am still waiting.
DOT, Dad's fortune cookie worked very quickly, but it's not really the kind of prediction you hope for!
SBS, don't take up fortune telling will you?!
I think I've been to that Chinese restaurant. I love the fact that the other diner could do a 'runner' on sticks. The service must have been 'attentive'!