random acts of senseless beauty » Nonsense

Predictability

Jude — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:42:36 +0000

So I go and see a film of a book of a blog of a book, about women finding their loves of words and men and food… a brilliantly written screenplay to boot… and come home inspired to write.

“I am a writer” says Amy Adams/Julie at the end of the film.

I feel like I’ve wasted this year, in terms of writing. Yes I’ve done bits – a few things for magazines and studies, but I’ve lost the art of just putting my thoughts into words. And, when I go back and read old blogs – as I did when I opened the laptop this evening – I realise that I CAN be good at it.

I am a writer.

I need to throw off the fear. Throw off the procrastination. Throw of the inertial caused by the many and heavy stresses life seems to throw me, and write.

Sniffing The Hope

Jude — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:05:08 +0000

It’s been cold here. I know it’s been cold everywhere, but in the last couple of weeks it’s been surprisingly and abnormally cold here in Nashville. The other night we got down to -15C, and it didn’t rise above freezing – even with weak sunshine – for a good few days.

Right now it’s 49F/9C here in town, and stepping out of the front door this morning the air had the distinct smell of Spring. I know that winter is far from past but today, devoid of scarf and gloves, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Something For The Weekend

Jude — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:26:58 +0000

In joke…

Jude — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 23:18:27 +0000

Here in sweet Nashville, Tennessee there has been a ‘gas crisis’. That is, about 10 days ago every station in the city and its surrounding areas ran out of petrol.

Seriously. They ALL ran out.

As Thomas said, it was like being back in the 1970s. Queues needing a police marshal, arguments, fights… all CRAZY. I had to stay at home for most of Friday afternoon as my ‘empty’ light was on and I couldn’t find a station that was safe enough to drive to! J&T called to tell me of a place in East Nashville, David lent me a couple of gallons to get there… and I was fine, but the madness continued across the weekend and into this week.

Even today I’d say around 50% of petrol station are still out – or rather they get a fresh supply, have a massive surge in customers, and then run out again!

The cause of the crisis? NOTHING. Yes, there had been one or two smaller station that were out of petrol for a day or two because of the disruption that hurricane Ike caused, but this was totally cause by panic. It’s the same thing that causes folk around these parts to rush out to buy milk and bread when 1mm of snow is forecast. A rumour started, some people got worried and started buying more petrol than they needed, a couple more station ran out, the local news picked up on it, and before we knew it… lines down the highway and people starting fist fights. Incredible.

On the local paper’s website was this brilliant (and potty-mouthed) clip. It’s very ‘in’, but anyone from Nashville will laugh till they puke.

I can’t embed it… but go here if you’re interested.

Avast Me Beauties! Peter be 4!

Jude — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:30:17 +0000

And finally, today… it’s both Peter’s 4th Birthday, and International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Lots of fun, and a million photos on Flickr.

Also I got some AMAZING photos of the kids while we were waiting for the school bus…

Ball?

Attitude!

Now, I have to try and find a ‘gas station’ that still has gas in it! Hurricane Ike has stopped the standard flow of petrol around these parts, and most garages are either closed (some for a week now) and others have incredibly long lines. I’ve been told there may be some out east…

Avast! Garrr! Take care me beauties!

Not Dead (Y’all)

Jude — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:50:39 +0000

Hello. I’m sorry. It’s been CRAZY. I have LOTS to say and LOTS of photos to put up, but I’m here in Nashville and I’m alive and I have a room and a car and a bank account and a phone and even have my first friend visiting (yay Sammy!) and we’re just heading out to watch my first American Football game after a delicious breakfast at the Pancake Pantry.

Yes. This is America.

Keep popping by, I PROMISE a gigantic post soon. Honest.

Parting Gift

Jude — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:00:36 +0000

I hadn’t cried at all at work, then the a friend made me laugh so loudly that the tears came unbidden.

The email read “a parting gift. It’s not much but…” and then it was simply a link to this:

Jim. The pleasure has been all mine. Never change.

words

Jude — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:37:12 +0000

This morning, bag on arm and keys in hand, ready to leave the flat, I’m called back by the need to write. I seemingly have to let out some of the words that are jumbling round my head before I get on the bus and on with my day.

It is a strange time I am in. The weightless relief of a mere 6 weeks left at work is chased closely by the other weight that follows on its heels. One cannot be separated from the other. The blanket of impending goodbyes is stitched with the excitement of the next chapter.

Yesterday it was our weekly planning meeting in the bar downstairs from our office. “Are you coming?” asked my friend/colleague. “What should I tell them?” she then asked as I wrinkled my nose and shook my head. I shrugged, “That I leave in 6 weeks and just don’t give a s*** anymore?”. “Fair enough.”

There will be more on goodbyes, but for this morning, here’s a mental list I made on the bus yesterday morning of things I’d like to do in the first few months.

Read
Journal
Seek out friends
Yoga
Run
Take a photography class
Get back into writing my screenplay (Melinda? it’s going to happen)
Cook
Make a room a home
Play with children
Find ‘magic’ spaces where I can work, inspired and undisturbed
Buy an iPhone
Sit in Sarah’s kitchen whenever I like
Hold babies
Breathe
Pray
Eat
Love and be loved to within an inch of my belief

and through all this… working out what on earth I do next.

General Loveliness

Jude — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:54:23 +0000

These days may feel like in-between-days, but they’re passing with flair. Situation: Good.

Life: Good

Han & Tom got married

Work: Good

Cute Clare
Captain played in The Hub for Steve Merchant’s show

Levels of Siliness: Good

Self Portrait (with moustache)

Coming Week-Day-Weekend: Looking Good.

treasu(red) and treasur(ing)

Jude — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:43:55 +0000

Treasu(red)

Wonderful H in Los Angeles has sent all five of our fabulous group of girls matching shirts. They speak assurance to ourselves and also mean that, when needed, we can show solidarity in our uniforms, however great the physical distance between us.

I’m at the end of a few days at home, using up leave and trying to get writing done. I’ve got some, if not all of it finished, but I’ve also used the time to fall hopelessly back in love with the words of one of my favourite lyricists; Guy Garvey.

I’ve been listening to the new Elbow album The Seldom Seen Kid on repeat and, as always with new Elbow, there’s a couple of tracks who’s lyrics hold me totally captivated.

Here, for your delectation, are the lyrics of The Bones Of You, a song about – frankly – the way music makes you its bitch:

So I’m there
Charging around with a juggernaut brow
Overdrafts speeches & deadlines to make
Cramming commitments like cats in a sack
Telephone burn and a purposeful gait
When out of a doorway the tentacles stretch of a song that I know
And the world moves in slo mo
Straight to my head like the first cigarette of the day

And it’s you
And it’s May
And we’re sleeping through the day
And I’m 5 years ago and 3 thousand miles away

Do I have time?
A man of my caliber
Stood in the street like a sleepwalking teenager
No, and I dealt with this years ago
I took a hammer to every memento
But image on image like beads on a rosary
Move through my head as the music takes hold
And the sickener hits; I can work till I break
But I love the bones of you that I will never escape

And it’s you
And it’s May
And we’re sleeping through the day
And I’m 5 years ago and 3 thousand miles away
And I can’t move my arm
For fear that you will wake
And I’m 5 years ago and 3 thousand miles away

And, while you’re digesting that, here’s a picture of me dressed as Audrey Hepburn/Holly Golightly from Hannah’s hen-do at the weekend.

Judy Golightly