Sheds, Sheds, Glorious Sheds...

Early morning rambling...

A writer friend of mine - the lovely Merc - just directed me towards Shedworking.

It's a website entirely devoted to strange people like me who work in garden sheds. I have a feeling I'm going to feel very much at home there. So thanks, Merc.

8.15 a.m.

Exercise

As I said in my first post on this blog, I'm currently doing a bit of life re-structure work. (If you'd read that sentence to me a few years ago, I'd have laughed at you. 'Life re-structure work? What the hell is that supposed to mean?)

In my case it means lots of things, and I'll be rattling on about some of them in future posts. But right now I want to say a few words about just one aspect. Exercise.

I've never, ever enjoyed exercise. I did as little as possible as a kid, and it was only poverty that kept me skinny. You can't get fat when all you have to eat is cardboard and a bit of dust. But the years have rolled on, and much to my surprise I've started putting on weight. When I bend to tie my shoelaces, I have to fight against a cushion of belly-fat that never used to be there. I don't like that. Nor do I like the fact that walking the dog is more of an effort these days. I'm fortunate to be living in Lincolnshire, 'cos it's flat as the proverbial pancake. Not a hill in sight. If we still lived in hilly Derbyshire, my dog-walking would have killed me years ago.

So, on the 8th of August - just one week ago - I told myself I was going to start early-morning exercises. Nothing too major. Get out of bed and do as many sit-ups as possible. Then do as many push-ups as possible. Then chin the bar as many times as possible.

And keep records.

The results, though pretty pathetic compared to someone who really is fit, are amazing.

Date	SU	PU	BAR
08-Aug-2009	13	20	1
09-Aug-2009	16	26	1
10-Aug-2009	18	31	1
11-Aug-2009	18	35	1.5
12-Aug-2009	18	36	2
13-Aug-2009	20	37	2
14-Aug-2009	21	39	2
15-Aug-2009	22	42	2

In just a few days I've nearly doubled the number of sit-ups I can do. I've more than doubled the number of push-ups! The bar-work is still crappy, but at least I'm heading in the right direction.

What's more, my energy levels are improving. All good stuff.

So, tell me to carry on. Prod me now and then. Keep me going.

And if you don't exercise yourself, give it a try. It's a drag, but the effort really does pay off.

Shakespeare in the Post Office

It's 11.00 am. I've walked the dog, bought The Daily Mirror for the elderly couple who live next door (see what a kind person I am?) and am now back in my cabin, about to carry on with today's work.

But first, a quick Blog entry.

Shirley - the woman who runs the local Post Office - makes me grin. I've known her for years, got her into computer stuff, and I do my bit to help keep her struggling business afloat. Papers, milk, the odd bottle of wine... she could retire on what I spend in her shop.

Anyway, when I turned up this morning there were two elderly women cackling away to each other and blocking the narrow passage that leads to the counter. I eased past them and paid for my paper. Shirley eyed the women, shook her head, and said: 'It's like bloody Macbeth in here sometimes... hubble, bubble, toil and trouble.'

I reminded her that there were three witches, not two - so she must be the third.

She said I was a bastard.

Came home to an interesting email concerning potential writing work. A guy in Scotland who runs ghost walks and torture tours (!) wants someone to write approx thirty scripts for his tour guides to deliver. Could be fun. I shall spend part of today looking at the info he sent and working out how long it will take to write each script. Then if we can agree a rate for the job...

We shall see.

1.24 pm - Rose just discovered a Privet Hawk Moth Caterpillar in the garden. Huge thing. No doubt there will be photographs to follow!

And Here They Are!

What's it All About?

So, I've decided to start blogging.

Between December 1943 and April 1947, George Orwell wrote a series of columns for Tribune entitled 'As I Please' in which he rattled on about whatever happened to be on his mind that day. I'm no George Orwell, but that pretty much sums up what I intend to do in this blog - so I've stolen old George's title. I'm sure he wouldn't object.

Orwell wrote his columns for money. Why am I writing mine?

Couple of reasons, I guess. The main one stems from the fact that I've recently begun to structure my life in a more sensible fashion. More about that in future posts, I expect. Anyway, as part of that re-structuring, I want to force myself to produce some personal writing on a daily basis. I suppose I could just write a private journal, but I've done that in the past and I never keep it up. Seems I need an audience.

Which brings me to the second reason: the possibility of feedback.

Assuming I get some, I think I'd quite enjoy discussing the contents of my noggin with one or two fellow human beings. Might even make a few new friends.

So - noggin content number one: Cole Porter.

As you can see from my profile pic, I'm a guitarist. Yesterday I recorded a version of Porter's 'Just One of Those Things'. It's on YouTube here.

I'd like to record a few more of the master's compositions. Any suggestions for songs I might try?

Noggin content number two: A Room of One's Own.

In April 2008 my brother came for an extended visit and between us we built a large log cabin in the garden. It's where I spend most of my time now - and I wish I'd built one back in 1984 when Rose and I first moved to Lincolnshire. I hadn't realized how much having my own separate space, a place where I can shut out the rest of the world and concentrate on what I want to do, would improve my life.

If you're self-employed, or if you just need some time for yourself, do you have a place to work from? A place to go?

Let me know.

John