Having just returned from a fantastic family holiday, today seems somewhat flat. The first day back of school for the little ones, the big girl going off for a few days on her year six residential trip and my mum going back up home. Everyone’s gone and I’m here in the quiet house all alone and left thinking about things, as you do.
It’s twelve years today since my dad passed away and although we don’t make a big thing of it, I can’t help but think about him on this day. What makes it more poignant this time is the thought of how much he would have loved coming on holiday with us. Our party of thirteen ranged from aged six up to 72 and everything in between and it was great fun. I remember how good my dad was with the younger children and I always looked forward to the day when he would become a grandparent, so it saddens me that he never met them.
There was also another anniversary this week, whilst we were away. My father-in-law’s, girlfriend’s grandson died in a tragic accident when he was just five. I remember driving up to Leeds to mum and dad’s house when my husband called me to break the news. It was devastating for everyone and I doubt his family will ever get over it. At the time, I was so pre-occupied with dad that it didn’t register as much as it should have done. My dad died less than a week later, even though it actually felt more like weeks later. To this day, I still can’t believe how close together they both died.
So it’s back to reality now – and the writing. Yesterday I wrote the first post about our holiday and I will be writing another one towards the end of the week. It’s good to get back in to the blogging.
Even though I was so relaxed on holiday I could hardly speak, I did manage to work on my novel: not much though, but enough to keep it ticking over in my mind. I had a few quiet moments in the week before our holiday where I had the chance to write, but found that I couldn’t get into it. It got me thinking that I might just have become too used to writing in a coffee shop!
I wrote before about my preferred time of day to write and since then I realised that I am more productive in certain places than others. Know what I mean? I always used to prefer the quiet of my office, but lately I’ve been so much more productive camped out on the corner of a café, surrounded by the low hum of chitchat and music. I guess it helps that coffee is on tap too. I’m looking forward to getting back to that. Do you have a preferred place to write?
Another thing I’ve been doing is making a playlist for my novel. Have you ever done one? I love the idea of finding songs that pick out moments in the story and add meaning to them. I have to thank my eldest daughter for showing me how to use Spotify, as it’s so much easier to search and make a playlist using it (yes I know that I’m a bit late to this but give me a break!). I also think it’s good to discover songs you’ve never heard before and just listen to the words.
This song (not the video) makes me think of my young protagonist, Jake and his feelings for a girl (Sophie) who he meets through circumstances that are beyond his control. They are connected via the tragic death of Sophie’s sister, something that haunts them both. I’s not the ideal way to start a friendship, but I won’t say any more than that!
Linking up to What I’m Writing.
Goodness, a lot for you to absorb right around now. I find having a break is really refreshing but it does make it very hard to get back into a groove. I do know what you mean about having certain times of the day that work best-I definitely have that.
Yes you need breaks but relaxing means that it’s harder to get back in to it. Boy did I struggle this week!
Oh Nikki there’s so much sadness in this post, sending you a massive hug. The holiday blues are bad enough without anniversaries to worry about. Really hope the week picks up, and I hope your eldest gets on ok on her trip xx
Thanks Hun. Happy to report the big girl came home having had a great time with some lovely girls in the other class.
Sounds like a painful day made all the more difficult by post-holiday blues. Sending a big hug. I’m impressed you managed to squeeze some writing into you holiday and glad that you had a chance to relax too. I prefer somewhere quiet to write although I’ve never actually tried sitting in a coffee shop – I’m such a people-watcher I suspect I would get too distracted though! Hope the rest of the week gets easier for you xx
People watching in between is the best part Maddie! Thanks for the hug.
What a bittersweet post, it’s lovely that you had a good holiday with your family but anniversaries can bring such sadness. It must be odd having everything so quiet around you again, especially with your daughter being away. I hope you find solace in your writing, it can be a good distraction at times like this. It sounds like you need to find yourself a good coffee shop again! I have done coffee shop writing but I’m writing more at home at the moment. Like you, I go through phases. And I like soundtracks too. I’m a bit lazy and go with the ready made Spotify ones (Deep Focus today!) but creating one for your novel is a brilliant idea. Sounds like a great procrastination task too! I hope you feel a bit better soon x
It is an odd time and I was so happy that my big girl came home smiling. Was worried about that too! Next week will be back to normal hopefully, writing included.
A very moving post, Nikki. I lost my Dad too and can relate to how you are feeling.
Well done you for managing to work on your novel! I love writing in cafés and I am looking forward to doing this again now that I am starting with Book Two of my trilogy. 🙂 xx
Sorry to hear that and thanks for the kind words. Look forward to hearing how you get on with book two. FB me if you are cafe writing and we can do a virtual writing session!
*Hugs* I’m so sorry hun. It must be a very difficult time for you.
I’ve only ever written in my office, I haven’t tried going to a café but have been meaning to for a while. I’ve also started a playlist for my novel, haven’t got around to listening to it yet though! All this getting back to normal takes time doesn’t it?
It does, I know. This week has been a killer. Thanks for the hugs!
Sorry to have missed this last week – it sounds like you were having a really tough time, and understandably so! I hope things got a bit easier as the week went on and you’re settling back into your routine. Mine is all over the place at the moment! You’ve reminded me that I wanted to put a playlist together for my next novel though, so I might need to find time to fit that in 🙂 x
Getting there, though lots going on. At least the playlist making was fun.
Hug x. That’s a lot to be dealing with. The cafe sounds quite romantic (in the bohemian “this is what a writer looks like” kind of way.)
I have to write when and where I can, usually on the sofa at home, although at the nanowrimo meets I was way more productive than I ever had been at home. At my day job, there are definitely offices where I find the atmosphere distracting, even if I’m there on my own.
I rely on playlists to get me to the end of a draft!
It can be distracting but at home I get more distracted with other things. Blog writing often gets done on the hoof.