I had a fairly quiet weekend by my standards. I had a Locus Board Meeting at 7 am, which is an ungodly hour for something like that, but the only time really to get everyone involved together. We talked about many things, including how Locus can really use your help and support. It was also good to see so many friends that I’ve not seen in so long.

Right after that, I had breakfast with my brother Stephen at Fez in Mt Lawley. It’s had a few ups and downs over the years but serves a pretty solid breakfast right now. Once that was done, home and did some work before a nice lunch out by the sea at Clancy’s Fish Pub, where I scratched my summertime margarita itch. To be honest, it wasn’t a great margarita, but it was fun. Home again to do some stuff before the family went out, M to see Alan Cummings and the girls to see a rooftop screening of Mama Mia. I had a lovely afternoon and evening, cooking up steak on the barbecue before watching some cricket, reading a bit, then having an early night.

Sunday was a little busy too. I was up early as always so breakfast, editing etc. I recorded episode 621 of the Coode Street Podcast with Gary before a long chat with Liza about the recommended reading list. We then had a quiet lunch at home. The girls were all out again so I finished reading Garth’s The Sinister Booksellers of Bath, watched some cricket, the opening of Three Pines, and then we had a power outage just before bed.

On to the week ahead!

I might need a haircut and look a million years old in this photo, and the chair I’m sitting on might be bloody uncomfortable, but it’s the weekend, so let’s have at it!

Today was spent working, editing (a novella called “On Clan Business”, trying to get some stuff finished, and mostly falling behind.  It was also, for a while, bloody hot. Then the wind turned, the westerlies came in, and it looks like it might be ok.

I did watch a bit of cricket and I do have a book I’m reading (which is good, given the past year where I doubt I finished an SF novel I started), so there’s that. But first, I might just edit one more story and then grab a whisky. That could work. Not too much, though. Got a board meeting at 7 am tomorrow.

This morning feels like a million years ago. Had a fairly solid night’s sleep and woke around 5-ish. Daughter was awake so we went down to Mt Lawley to get the mail before home for me, at least to the day job. While daughter had issues with a film project that caused her great anxiety, I tried to work and focus, which was challenging. Was going to watch cricket after but rain delays in Sydney stopped that. And then the car had issues. Can’t close or lock the front door, so now waiting on repair folk. I am, as they say, getting too old for this shit.

In SF, very sadly got news that Suzy McKee Charnas died. I didn’t know her well, but she was smart and tough and funny and wrote wonderfully. She’ll be missed. I did get a contract for a book in the email, so I need to look at that. All in all, not an easy day, but probably one that won’t stand out in memory.

Today was the first day back at the day job after three weeks or so off. Up at 5am, S had been up all night and wanted a lift, so off at the usual time with mum for coffee and catch up in Mt Lawley. From there, in to the city and to the office. G was in, and so were K & C, but everyone else was either working remotely or on leave. That made for a quiet day.

Other than that, no real reading done. I’m behind on editing etc, so lots to do. Got a draft novella in email too, so that’s something to be working on, as well as catching up on everything, and recommended reading. Yay.

Well, another less-than-great night’s sleep. Awake at 4.45am and didn’t get back to sleep, so I sat down with a cup of coffee and spent two or three hours editing. Just catching up on stuff. The family started to appear around 8 am, which was nice.  Around 9 am Jess, Sophie, and I headed over to Fez for breakfast – a birthday treat from Jess, which was lovely.

Got home around 10.30 and the family surprised me with some lovely, thoughtful gifts. Jess gave me thongs, a tie, and a luggage tag. Sophie gave me a gift voucher to a patisserie, and Marianne gave me some art and a suitcase.  Lovely and kind.

Had a bit of a dizzy spell after that, so crashed before heading over to Karalee on Preston for a birthday lunch with the extended family. The place is really lovely and went down well, especially with mum. We bumped into some family friends which was nice, and then Mum, Barbara, and Stephen gave me some very generous and thoughtful gifts too. A very nice time indeed.

Got home and helped Sophie with some minor editing on her script and watched a bit of cricket. Along the way stumbled across a cache of gift vouchers from three years ago that are still valid this month, so need to rush with those. Feeling very stupid about that, but I always seem to lose track. Have to do better.

And that’s day 2 of the 2023.  Got some editing letters to send today and a lot of stuff backed up to clear up. Busy times.