I had a gorgeous stretch off work. Two whole weeks where I figured I’d get a good deal of writing done. I had a novel to edit, a novella to do one final read through before I sent it off to the proofreader, and a few short stories to update. Hmm, well, I got the novella off to the proofreader.
Sky from my back garden
This July was the first time in years I hadn’t organised a trip away. Since I was staying home, it seemed logical I’d be able to get my many jobs done. Then Ireland got its first real summer since I can remember. I was probably a child the last time the country saw endless days of sunshine and not a single drop of rain. So, I’m blaming my lack of writing and editing progress on the weather.
Chilling out in Fitzgerald’s Park
I can’t complain. I had a lovely two week break. My sister and her kids came over a lot. We chilled out in the back garden while my nieces played in the paddling pool. I got to read some books and sip a few ice cold beers in the sun.
We went down to the river…
I took a trip into town one day armed with a bottle of water and my camera. While online recently browsing book cover design sites, I found a piece of artwork that made me think of a novel I started writing all the way back when I was 18. I finished that novel the summer after my final year in school, just before I started college. On a whim, I contacted the designer and purchased the art to use as my book cover. I thought to myself, I’ve got a book that’s been lying in a drawer for more than ten years and now I’ve spent money on a book jacket. I should really pull it out and see if it can be salvaged. I’ve started the arduous re-writing process. The book is set in Cork and Boston. Last week, I headed into town to take photos of some of the places in my hometown that feature in the book. It was fun, and I got to avoid the actual re-writing part. 🙂
The Shakey Bridge. Had great fun running across this and making it sway.
The Crawford Art Gallery, Fitzgerald’s Park and The Shakey Bridge are places that appear in the novel.
Crawford Art Gallery. I worked here one summer when I was 18. Best job ever.
And now it’s back to the day job. Oh to win the lottery and quit. How’s everyone else’s summer going?
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Emma's Ramblings on Supernatural Fiction 
Looks like a perfect day, Emma! I hope September is just as nice 🙂
I’ll say a prayer for you. 🙂
Lovely photos! The sunshine is never particularly conducive to productivity – I always used to hate it that the sun would always come out the minute I had university exams to revise for!
Thanks, Janey. It always happened back in my school days. Exams start – wintry weather gone.
Oooo…it looks so lovely there! I’ve always wanted to visit Ireland! Maybe someday…. So glad you had a nice vacation. I just got back to the day job myself after a 10 day vaca. Didn’t do anything productive or go anywhere, just enjoyed the relaxation of home 🙂
Someday I’ll get to do my trip of the US. I need to get a move on. Glad you got to enjoy some relaxation.
Wonderful pictures Emma, I’m glad to see you are having so much fun. It’s so strange when you look back at old writing ideas. You can either be pleasantly surprised or horrified that you ever wrote something so terrible!
Congrats on your 2 out of three. 🙂
I was a bit horrified. I realised why my query letters from when I was 19 went mostly unanswered. 🙂
And nice pick up. I should correct that to I got a couple of the shorts also revised. 😉
The pictures are gorgeous, Emma. Ireland fascinates me, particularly the lush scenery. I’m glad you had a relaxing time (I got very little writing done during my recent vacation too. Sometimes you just have to goof off, and have fun!). Good luck on resurrecting the old novel. I have a few of those tucked away myself. They’re always good for dusting off and taking another look-see!
Thanks, Mae. We were blessed this month, and it looks like it’s going to continue for the next week or so. Hope you enjoyed your time off.
It’s interesting to view them with fresh eyes, almost like you’re reading someone else’s work.
It sounds like you had a blissful two weeks, Emma. Your photos are gorgeous. Wish summer was here already!
It has been beautiful. Perfect timing for a break from working indoors 5 days a week.
When does your summer come around?
Well, September is spring time, and I can’t wait. Despite one or two really cold days, we can’t really complain, lol. This winter has been the best one yet. July is the worst month where we normally freeze our butts off, and hubbies birthday which he shares with Nelson Mandela, yet we are havering 20 degrees C and above days! So weird, but very welcome. I hope you continue to have a super summer for as long as possible. 🙂
20 degrees? No, can’t really complain if that’s winter. 🙂
It sounds like you had a lovely holiday. Sometimes it’s good just to chill. Maybe now you’ll feel refreshed and ready to jump into things writerly. 🙂
I was a bit annoyed I didn’t get more done, but I’ve the rest of the year to pick up the slack.
I have a hard time sitting still in Summer…too nice to sit still! It still sounds like you were productive!!!
I sat still mostly because I couldn’t take the heat. We’re not used to temperatures of 28 degrees C in this neck of the woods. 🙂
Ooooooo, how lovely. Sounds like a wonderful vacation to me, relaxing and blissfully warm. Someday, someday, I’ll make it back overseas (after I win the lotery probably, thanks for reminding me to get a ticket). Some work is better than no work, which is where I sit. Damn you Mr. Sun you’re bleaching my brain, but you feel soooooooooooooooooo good.
Sorry for the late reply. We must all hurry up and win the lottery. How lovely it would be not to have money issues. Mr. Sun feels grrrreat.
Gorgeous pictures, Emma! I especially like the one on the river with the house towards the back center. They’re all so soothing and have me wanting to go for a visit! Maybe one day. I’ll bring you some Taco Bell. 😉
That’s just by Fitzgerald’s Park, gorgeous area in the city. Yay, I can’t wait for Taco Bell.