The Sun, Oh God The Sun
The sun has come out again. I feared that returning from Scotland had plunged us into a time of gloom and greying clouds. It is no longer so. I should have guessed that going to work on a Sunday would be sufficient to wake the solar bleeder up.
So yeah, I tootled into work to undertake as many tasks as we could to mitigate the disaster that the next week will be. As I said before, I can’t say who I work for because people are evil. Suffice to say though that as the data migration lead I am underwhelmed by the work and effort of the national team who have repeatedly failed everyone at pretty much every stage. Still, there could be no showstoppers regardless of their seriousness, so today we were attempting to reduce the chaos that users will face on Monday, and consequently the chaos we ourselves shall be wrapped in.
Despite the coming horrors, I’m hopeful that work will quieten for a little while now and allow me to get back into my actual life. It’s been weeks of skipping improv, doing no writing and letting my sad Lego bricks go un-schinkled. The shiny bright sunshine seems like it agrees.
Last night was a pretty cool house party / birthwarming for a good friend. Nice people, silly quizzes and being dressed up by the host. Oddgood.
Reading
Since I haven’t really been going out, just coming home and logging onto my work laptop instead I ain’t done much.
Memories Of Ice by Steven Erikson
However, I have finished the third volume of Steven Erikson’s mighty Malazan Book Of The Fallen, Memories of Ice. It’s insanely involving and harrowing watching the rise and fall of so many excellent characters. The events contained in just this book already outstrip the content of many epic fantasy series’. I am surprised to be almost moved to tears by the heroic and devastatingly unjust deaths and the deepening of the mythos and history. It feels as if the greater plot is starting to make itself known.
The Alchemist by Paolo Bacigalupi
I’m a bit behind with the current new wave of thrilling fantasy and steampunk authors, but I’ve been staring at this chap’s book The Windup Girl in Waterstones for ages. I’d just finished the book above and spotted a short story / novella (I can never remember the difference) for a quid-fifty on Amazon and thought it a good way to cleanse my fantastical palate and check him out. This a delightful short story about magic, alchemy (surprise!) and greed. It’s only 96 pages so it’s a swift flyby read. It’s good! Kindle link here.
Improv
Contributing to my lack of free time are the fun things I do manage to do! I skipped the jam and lay on the sofa drinking beer instead – it was a good choice for peace. We had a show at The Glee Club on Friday with a distressingly low turnout. Possibly some combination of weather and half-term. Maybe. Didn’t matter to us though, we had a fine and foolish time for ourselves. I particularly enjoyed Should Have Sung with Parky and Shakespeare with Marilyn.
I’m also still seeing my one-to-one client. What we’ve been doing has mutated from the straight improvisation we started with. This last week we’ve been working on finding inspiration and ‘forcing’ creativity. I’ve been explaining how some of the improv games and exercises that I’ve used for writing can be used to stimulate and trick our minds into producing something new and interesting. It’s very stimulating for me as well!
♥Last Week’s Scribbles
WHERE IS THIS Week, Monday 26 May 2014 ? – out of touch and out of time
Events and Excitement
Thursday 12th June 2014
Gorilla Burger – Improv Comedy Carnage
Jam show – a chance for anyone to get on stage and have a go at improv games and scenes for the first time, or the fiftieth!
The Corner
8 Stoney Street
(off Broad Street)
Nottingham
7.30pm – £4
Bring Your Own Drinks
https://www.facebook.com/events/1459745164244659/
Wednesday 18th June 2014
Interrobang – Spontaneous Comedy Theatre
The only show of its kind in Derby, Interrobang features an improvised comedy jam in which everyone can take part followed by a showcase of the best improv in the region. Proudly presented by Furthest From The Sea and Derby Live.
The Bookcafe
Cathedral Quarter
Derby DE1 2PL
7.30pm – £5
https://www.facebook.com/events/733785553331976/
