The Dev Chronicles - Part Four

I don't have much to write about today, so I'm doing another Dev session. I'm over writing about Coronavirus and I don't want to go on about the joy that is Lucifer the cat.

So we'll do a Dev session. Gets the writing done for the day. These are great sessions. Highly recommended for all writers of all skill levels.

The showing of gratitude:

The thank you letter:

The most urgent task is the showing of gratitude.

Dear Universe,

I know it's a bit sappy to not thank a person, or a situation or something more concrete, but I feel I have to say thank you for everything you have given me lately - and this is a hell of a lot.

Part of me says that I should be writing to God, but I am thankful that I no longer really believe in a monotheistic presence - which is why I'm thanking you, the universe. It's a bigger thing - it also gives me a chance to look at my own free will and the desire for getting on with my life - which is great.

I have to thank you for giving me the courage to pursue things. You've lead me to a job, which I rather like and enjoy - allowing me to have a bit of security at this really insecure time. I know it was me who went out and got the job, but thank you for leading me to the opportunities.

Thank you also for giving me the courage to go and find Lucifer. I know he's going to be with me for a hell of a long time, and this still scares the living hell out of me, but that little presence in my bed and in my flat is keeping me a lot more level. Just having somebody to look after, talk to, feed and cuddle is making me feel whole. I know I've always loved animals, especially cats and dogs, but I've never let myself have one. I'm so glad he's come into my life - I think we were sort of make for each other.

Thank you for the lovely weather we're having at the moment. I know we're not supposed to be out much, but it is great to get some  sunshine on your skin. The lap of the Tan track the other night was simply magnificent.

I know this sounds a bit strange, but thank you for the Coronavirus. Thank you for allowing the Western World to slow the hell down for a bit and to reconsider exactly what they are doing. I don't like that people are getting sick and dying, but the consequences of the virus may mean we come out as a better, more compassionate, more reasonable, more caring society. Well, I live in hope. I know there are some big lessons to learn here, and I thank you for the lessons.

Thank you also for all the blessings I have in my life. There are a lot of them. That I'm solvent, fairly happy, have friends, have a roof over my head, food in my belly and I can do whatever I want within reason - all of this is huge. I really do thank you for these blessings.

That will be my time, but thank you again, Universe, for all you provide.

With love,

P


Ten minutes okay seven.

Write about your favourite person.

I can't write about my two favourite people on this blog as I don't write about them on this blog. There are some things that I keep for me, and my two favourite people are in that realm of just for me.

I can tell you very little about them. They are both male, but educated and intelligent , both have pale eyes, but that is where the similarities stop.

I fell in love with both of them slowly. One came more as a surprise, as at the time, the self-loathing in me was strong and I thought I wasn't good enough for him. The other, I was never supposed to fall in love with.

Both of these people I am completely at ease with, but in very different ways. Both think I'm barking mad, but in different ways.

But what I love about them both is that they let me be just me. They don't try and change me. They encourage my writing - never a bad thing.

But I don't get to see them often enough.

I wish I could be more concrete than this, but I've sworn to myself never to write about them in detail on this blog. As they are mine, and I don't like to share them with people.  I don't share them with people. They get that I compartmentalise my life. It's been a necessary feature of my life for many years.

It would be nice to love somebody and let the world know about it.



Today's Song:

Small Changes, Big Changes

I barely leave the house at the moment. It's a joy to take the rubbish down to the bins or have a coffee with my downstairs neighbour - Lea sits at the bottom of the stairs, I sit on the top landing, and we chat.

You have conversations from two metres away. Jay and I have had to tell Yanni, another gym body, not to get too close. Yanni, of course, is Greek. Not touching is about as foreign to him as not being loud. He looked despondent when we asked him to keep his distance.

For me, it's the small changes which are remarkable. Nothing changes in my flat, other than the new work chair purchased yesterday. I spent a bit, but I can sit for most of the day and not get a back ache now. I see it as investment. It's tax deductible. We'll leave it at that.

The only other change in the flat is everything is now everything is covered in black cat hair. All of my bed linen is white. I really didn't think that one through. Mind you, his intermittent cuddles during the day are keeping me sane. It's lovely waking up next to the critter - even if he does snuggle in for a cuddle when he wants his breakfast.

But it's the outside which has changed.

My unit block has changed. The guy in Number 19 is selling up. Off his own back he's painted the back fence, got the body corporate to lop the trees out the front and miracle of miracles, had the broken down car, which has been there for as long as I can remember, towed from the property. I'm not sure who would try and sell a house in this market. Auctions have been stopped for the time being.

My place of refuge has also changed. My local shopping centre has the gym and a cinema attached. Both are shut. You can't sit at the food court - this could be seen as a good thing. Half the shops are closed. I went to the supermarket to get a couple of essentials - haven't been in there since last Sunday - and I was pleasantly surprised. There was toilet paper, eggs, pasta and tissues available. People kept their distance. It was a bit odd but it was good to see a bit more stock on the shelves.

I think I was just happy to be out of the flat. I walked there and back in the gorgeous late March sunshine.

You have to take the good where you find it. I'm cherishing the little changes - like meeting people for coffee or lunch over Messenger off the cuff. Social media is a godsend - at least I feel somewhat connected with people, even if the interactions are peppered with news of friends losing their jobs, places of business closing down, livelihoods wrecked, dreams smashed.

Some of the stuff on the internet also helps. Remember the BBC Reporter who was working form home and was interrupted by his family. He came back. The kids are still feral. It's great.

I'm getting to meet people's pets and kids. You see inside people's houses. You get to connect with people in other ways. That reminds me, must set up a Zoom meeting for book group.

I'm okay with being locked away in my flat. But I can't wait to get out again. I think that first hug after social isolation will be a doozy.

Today's Song:

The Dev Files - Part Three

I' m going to do a Dev session tonight rather than writing about my day. I think Dev's session would be far more productive than going into things like:

• Talking to the cat
• Sitting in on a 6 hour training session - over Webex
• Buying a good office chair, as odds on,I'm going to be using it 7-9 hours a day for the next few months
• Having a training session out in the park (bliss)
• Findng the Loi Loi open for takeaway after said gym session (Prawn Spring Rolls - yum)

And I had a session with my Faber Course adviser, but I'm still milling over what she said and I'm unsure whether the course is going ahead. There are a lot of balls in the air at the moment. It was nice of her to say keep writing

I also don't want to talk about the C-word.

 Over talking about it. So here we go. Dev session number three. 

First question:

Who am I?

Me. Hell. I'm just me. I'm a lot of things. I'm a humanist. I'm unfalteringly kids, reasonably smart, sometimes funny, sometimes sad. I'm a South Australian - not Australian. I'm a wounded healer. I am a witch. I'm a witch who now owns a black cat called Lucifer. I'm a writer - I could be a very good writer if I got out of my own way. I'm also a lover, a fighter, a gin enthusiast, a gym junkie, theatre lover, cinema lover.

Why am I here?

I love to hone my craft, and having exercises put in front of me is one of the best ways of getting myself writing. So rather than write my daily blog, I'm here getting a shot of Vitamin Dev - it is good to write every day - I know this, but I need different inspiration sometimes. Dev is good for this.

It's also good watching Dev's facial expressions.

What do I want to get out of this (the online classes)?

A bit of a kick up the butt to really get this novel going. To be honest it's just great to write with somebody. As I've done the Gunna's Masterclass I've done a lot of these exercises before, it's always great to do them again.

I also want to inspire a few people to get onto these questions.

And I get to listen to Dev do Tubal Throat Singing - wow. Woman of many talents.

What stops me from writing?

Life. Laziness. Self-doubt. Too many ideas in my head. The need to relax. Thinking about the housework I have to do. The cat telling me to go to bed. Not giving me enough credit. Work. Sleep. Doubting my ideas. These are all excuses.

What gets me writing?

When I'm inspired. Insipid song lyrics. Laughter. The urge. With the blog posts, something that sents me off. The need to escape. The need to create. The need to communication. The need to just be me in the moment.


How do I feel when I'm not writing?

Flat. Anxious. Lazy. Doing myself a diservice. Guilty. Though sometimes I'm thinking about writing, which is a good thing as it lets me get writing quicker when I do. But I'm always writing - I just would like to do more focused writing - IE the novel.

How do you feel when you are writing?

Free. Happy (for the most part). I feel like I'm actively doing what I am supposed to be doing in life. I also feel relaxed when I'm writing. The blood pressure goes down a lot.


Homework: Write a small poem.


He is a small panther,
Stalking the realms of sleep and dreams
Ruling his domain with confidence,
Taking flight from the windowsill
Sleeping in the sun.
When he can.
When he wants.
Because he is a small panther.
Nobody has told him otherwise.




Today's Song:

First World Problems

A really quick one as I appear to have been sitting on this now uncomfortable chair for most of the day talking online in meetings. Basically, I'm a bit over sitting in front of the computer at home all day. I get up and walk around a bit - have a cuddle with the cat (bless him - and thank goodness he's cuddly).

Jay and I did a lap of the Tan this evening - which was brilliant. Lovely night for it. Plenty of parking, not many people out - and best of all - we were outside. We have to live it up while we get used to this new normal. And a lap of the Tan Track was just what was needed. Plenty of social distancing, fresh air, we took our own cars rather than have Jay collect me on the way there. It was great.

It's the small things that get us through.

However last night's instructions from the government have left me wondering about a few things.

After listening to the Prime Moron Minister for five minutes I was forced to say, quite loudly, 'Fuck, he's a dickhead." We need clear, concise instructions, not his pollie waffle.

We were told that a lot of businesses need to close as of today. And here is where the first world problems start coming in.

I know these are first world problems. I'm not moaning. I'm just pointing them out.

What is most gutting is the jobs which have gone away with the stroke of a pen. Millions of people are now without income.

So let's have a look at who is no longer in business for the the next while - until they are allowed to open again. I just hope they can get back into business quickly for all our sakes.

Gym:

This one has hurt a bit - as the gym is my sane space. Thankfully we can still see Cleo outside in a nearby park - the sessions are good. There may be no sled, no medicine balls, no TRX bands, no leg presses, but we still get in a decent workout.

But where are the roiders going to go? What will happen to the roiders (Big blokes on steroids - and known as the grunters who only have eyes for each other). What will the roiders look like when we come out the back of this? They skip leg day as it is. It's going to be interesting to see what comes out of hibernation.

Hairdressers:

You can go to the hairdressers, but there are strict rules about this. Lots of social distancing and there is a half hour time frame on appointments. Me - I've never had a hair appointment last anything less than 90 minutes - longer if there is balayage involved.

Me, I'm thankful I've got set and forget hair. I'm currently rocking Stevie Nicks long shaggy curls. My roots need attention, but it's not critical.

I'm wondering how some of these blonde Toorak princesses, with their tempered tresses. In a few months they're going to come out looking like skunks.

Jay, who's a bit older than me has her hair coloured every few weeks to keep the grays at bay. She thinks this is the time to transition to gray.

My sister, like me, dyes her hair, said she's going with the ombre look for the time being.

I'm not there yet. I'll have a talk to my hairdresser  - see if there is a supermarket option to keep the roots at bay. But anyway, nobody is going to see me. Does it matter? No. What matters is I stay safe and keep everybody else around me safe.

Beauticians:

Again, it's my vanity talking here. Once a month I go into Myer to see the heavily tattooed Morgan at the Benefit Counter, who does her magic on my eyebrows. If I let my eyebrows go, I end up looking like John Howard. I will have to tend these myself - if just for the sanity of the people with whom I'm on conference calls. Morgan just does them better



As women go, I fairly low maintenance. A leg wax every eight weeks and the very occasional pedicure and I'm done with beauty therapists.

I feel for the beauticians more than I do the women who will be going without spray tans, eyelash extensions, fillers, botox, gel nails.... they are going to look like completely different creates at the end of this (Jay is already lamenting the loss of her gel nails) .

I just pity the millennials out there, who, for the first time in their life, will have to cope with the joys of abundant pubic hair. Men might grow their chest hair back (That's fine with me) . Men may grow their back hair back (No thanks)

This is about to get interesting.

Today's song:

Town

I went into town today.

It's not illegal yet, even though it's not encouraged.

Today, it was just a matter of popping into town, getting my flu jab at work, collecting my mail and going home. In and out in an hour.

I looked at my method of preferred transport. As I was doing this in working hours, it was a matter of making this quick - as quick as possible. I could drive. Or I could take public transport. I live 10 minutes out of the city. I took the latter option, walking to the train station, tramming home.

There were no issues about social distancing on either method of transport. There were about five people in the train carriage on the way in. There were two people on the tram on the way home. A few more in the city, but nobody got near each other. This was taken on a tram that goes down Collins Street and is shoulder to shoulder on most days. This is what I found:

Collins Street, Midday

I made my way quickly to the office. Washing my hands as I got there. I was devastated but not surprised to find the cafe where we have book group closed.

St Kilda Road Bridge - deserted.

And the most telling of all. The Flinders Street underpass.

Anybody who knows Melbourne knows that this is normally packed most of the day. This was taken just before midday.

The city is a ghost town. And rightly so.

I donned a pair of gloves for the way home. Just food prepping gloves. Not to keep the germs out, but to keep myself from touching my face. It was a good strategy.

It's gratifying and shocking at how few people are in town. Gratifying that people are heeding the message and staying home.

Shocking at just how alien the place looks without people.

Dev described it as a mix between Gilead and Good Friday.

Me, I think it's more what this place would look like after the zombie apocalypse.

Needless to say, got home, scrubbed myself down and cuddled the cat, happy to be back in the safety of my own home.

I doubt I'll be getting in there again for a long time.


Today's song:

The New Half Normal

It's twenty to eleven, I'm in my pyjamas and I have 12 litres of gin. Hit it.

Okay, I have a small nip of GinFusion Blood Orange and Yuzu over ice and all is quite well. Mind you, blood orange and yuzu* makes most thing better. How can you go wrong when you have something yuzu tainted in your hand?

I've turned to alcohol in a very limited way tonight. It's needed. The world is all too surreal. The gym closed down today. There is reason to be grieving.

But we look to the good. Count my blessings. Remember the good.

So here are a few things that are good.

1) Secondhand cat, AKA Reginald Lucifer Morningstar Behr is settling in very well. He's doing everything a good cat should do. He's very well behaved. Loves his scratching pole, is still spending a lot of time under the bed, but that's okay - he comes out a lot.

His favourite trick is to sit next to you, look up at you like a two-year-old with the arms extented. He then jumps up into my lap, then crawls onto my shoulder . His favourite time to do this is when I'm on conference calls. It's probably best to turn off your camera and mike before you say, 'Hello, Darling, do you want a cuddle?'

Still think I lucked out on Cat Tinder and I struck gold with my little panther. He does look like a panther - he's so dark he's nearly Vantablack. I love him to bits. As much as I love Maow Maow, who had to be told that he is still my favourite best boy (Along with Lucifer.)

2) As the gym closed today, we had our first outside session with Cleo in the park, doing things we would normally do inside, just without the machines. It was good. We're doing it again on Thursday - as well as fitting in some walks and a few other things. to keep the fitness and sanity up.

On the good side of things, working out outside is great. And we're helping to keep Cleo employed. This could be a long break. I need exercise for my sanity. Looking at the New Zealand papers, where they have just gone into Stage 4 lockdown. You can go outside to exercise, walk the dog, go to the supermarket and the doctor and that is about it. At least they can get out for a walk.

Tomorrow I have to go into town to get my flu shot at work - I'm thinking of walking in - it's about an hour away - but its better than taking public transport.

3) People are starting to take this pandemic seriously. As of today, cafes and restaurants can only open for takeaway. Not sitting down to eat. It's the way it has to be.

4) It's my step-dad's birthday tomorrow. My step-sister reminded me. And its a good thing, because I still think his birthday is in April.

5) The best thing today was discovering a clip of Shirley Temple doing death metal. These stupid little things are make my day.

Still having a cat to cuddle around home - best decision ever.

* Yuzu is a Japanese citrus fruit that tastes something between a lemon and a mandarin, and it looks a bit like an ugly grapefruit.


Today's Song:

The Coronavirus Questions - Again

I know I posted these a few days ago, but things are changing at a stupid rate, I am going to do them again.

On the good side of things,despite the fact we're about to be locked down here in Australia, I now have company. I've adopted a small panther (read black short haired domestic cat, but he likes to think he's a panther) His name is Lucifer. Full name Reginald Lucifer Morningstar Behr, but he's just Lucifer to me. He's awesome. And settling well. I think I've done pretty well for a second-hand cat. (#adoptdontshop



It's shocking how quickly things are changing.

Questions were sourced by Bev at Sunday Stealing, first placed on my blog a few days ago.

1. Has the COVID-19 affected your work environment?

I'm not working from home exclusively. I was going to go into the office on Tuesday to get my flu shot, but as I think we're going into lock down on Tuesday this may not be happening now. I now have a new workmate too - Lucifer. He's going to be a treat on conference calls.

2. How are you feeling about the Coronavirus?

I'm pissed off about it. I wish it never happened. Mind you, it might be the wake up call we need.

3. Has anybody you know been tested / have you?

Yes. My sister. She came back with a negative result, which is what she thought would happen. She, like me, has a cough for half the year - and she'd gone to the doctors  about a sinus infection. She didn't meet the testing criteria, but the doctor tested her anyway.

4. Do you have any friends stuck in any exotic locations?

My friend who was stuck in Argentina has got as far as New Zealand, where she is in lockdown for the next fortnight. My friend doing the Camino has made it back to Melbourne and she is locked down in Brunswick.

5. Have you changed any of your personal habits due to the pandemic?

Same as before, I'm washing my hands a lot more and using hand sanitiser a lot more.I'm also counting my blessings. I have a lot of them to count.

6. What is the craziest thing you've seen or heard about the outbreak?

Pretty much half the stuff out of America (including the nutter in Stacey's comments) Also seeing a full beach at Bondi the other day - far too many people there under the circumstances. They've since closed the beach.

7. Do you think our politicians are doing enough to curb the crisis?

They're doing more for the economy than the health services, but that's what you get when you elect Conservatives. However, they are finally taking this seriously and taking drastic action.

8. Have you stockpiled anything because of the crisis?

I've got a bit more in than usual, but nothing too bad. I have a fortnight's worth of cat food here - Lucifer won't go hungry.

9. What do you think you will miss the most if you are subject to a lock in?

Decent coffee. Eating out. Fresh air (I don't even have a balcony). Ask me next week - we're about to get locked down.

10. What is the weirdest rumour you've heard about the virus?

I don't know who told people, but why would toilet paper run out if people have a virus that doesn't attack your gastrointestinal tract?

11. Do you have a favourite meme about the virus?

I quite liked this:



12. Has the virus made you grateful for anything?

Yes. My ordinary life. Movie theatres. Fresh air. Walking outside. Going to work. There are lots of things to be grateful for. Especially my friends.

13. Have any of your plans been upset by the outbreak?

I talked about this last time - but it looks like tomorrow will be the last time I get to see my wonderful trainer for a few weeks at least. The gym is closing tomorrow for an undetermined period.

14. Are you planning do to anything different because of the COVID-19 outbreak?

Yes, as of tomorrow I'm going to do intermittent fasting and keep my calories right down. Well that is the objective.

Also, I will be going on a lot of virtual coffee dates.

15. What do you hope to see in six months time?

I pray that we are nearly back to normal and that people are a lot nicer to each other.

 16. Has the Coronavirus upset your mental health in any way?

I'm being very vigilant about my mental health. Making sure I'm checking in with friends and being kind to myself. But I'm doing okay.

Today's Song: (Change the lyrics as you wish :) )