Today I have returned to my empty and oddly smelling flat after a pleasant week floating about on a canal boat with my beloved and two very good friends (John and Rachel).  This is a short update as I have made a video of the whole thing, which did mostly consist of tillering, opening locks, closing locks, drinking ale, wondering about Lemington Spa, getting rained on and generally having a blast.  It'll be on my YouTube channel and also my Vimeo channel.

The rest of my life is going to re-start with a certain amount of vigour.  I intend to spend some of tomorrow writing and hopefully getting photos developed.

I'm going to be 29 in three weeks time.

Unreal... 

Posted via email from Deep Thought

Posted via email from Deep Thought

This post is a long time coming.  In fact it's so long, it's taken me most of the weekend to try and write it on my phone, type it on my Disgo and various failed attempts at getting my email to work.

So finally I am sat in front of a computer that works, a screen that won't freeze or die, a CPU that won't stop working because it feels like turning itself off.  And to be fair, most of what I have to say won't make much sense anyway as it never does.

So I am going to provide the entire weekend in a series of Brautigan-esque snippets that will convey life as I know it at the moment.

• I went to Taunton on Saturday and bought some books, including one on digital photography, a book called Blogged 2005 and a book about Upgrading Your PC. 
• I found a phone on the floor on Thursday night, rang the number that said 'home' and was greeted by a grateful mother who was despairing over the fact her daughter had lost her phone.
• When the daughter rang me up, she was not so grateful and received no thanks whatsoever.  I hope her phone is stolen and thrown in the sea.
• I am going to make a strong effort to write in this blog more.
• I have tried to keep a vlog. However, the results are disappointing because the camera is so awful.
• I am going to see my family this week because I have not made enough time for them recently.
• My car is going in for its MOT on Thursday.  I hate MOTs but I like my car.
• I am collaborating on a poetry CD with Bryce Dumont, and I am also writing a monologue too.
• I am going to have a busy week.

So there you are. If you wanted to know what's happening to me, now you know.  If you didn't realise you wanted to know what's happening to me, and now suddenly think that I am a wonderful person then send me money.  If you don't care then...why not?

Posted via email from Deep Thought

It's been one of those months.  First you are made to run three miles with a fridge on your back, then drink a litre of vodka whilst singing some sort of national anthem?  OK. Maybe not, but it feels like it.

I am still quiet with my blog updates as there is so much going on, I am incredibly busy with readings and life in general.  Although I have had a lot of good news recently especially with my health and my long term plans with finances and stuff, there is still a massive way to go and it's really only the beginning.

I am very happy with my job and I am growing and getting better at it, (I think), with a lot of involvement with CoFHE regionally and nationally, and my poetry is going well too.  In fits and starts more than anything else, but hoping for Minute Poems to be out within the next couple of weeks and the first edition of The Oddrot as well.

Posted via email from Deep Thought

I have no milk, I have spent the day on the phone to various mindless drones in call centres across the world changing my direct debits.  I still have no milk and I have ran out of bread which means I am going to have to go down the road and get some.  Not a hard task, but the battle weary soldier needs milk. (Hint for someone to bring me some milk?).

I have been quite quiet in this blog haven't I?  I am editing a poetry journal (less grand then it sounds), writing quite a bit in String Beans (http://cheesegreen.wordpress.com) and generally trying to promote myself and things that other people are doing to a wider audience.  I am involved in a lovely community of poets and creative types in Exeter that has built up around the Taking The Mic nights at the Phoenix and in general.  I have been experiencing the joys of Torbays finest creative talent at the Blue Walnut nights, and on Wednesday I'll be pootling down to Paignton to 'big it up' with Bryce Dumont at the Creative Writing Workshop he's putting on.

So, in essence I have been very very busy.  But I am also fighting off creditors as I prepare myself for bankruptcy (talking to someone today who'll be able to help me find trusts and grants to access for help), and trying to remain as unstressed as possible.  Oh and the divorce too...  All fun things, I can assure you.

The feeling of multiple spinning plates during an earthquake is one that has been with me since the beginning of the year.  It's not really gone away, it's still there at the back of my mind, but I am getting through it slowly.  Although the hardest part is yet to come, I feel I am going in to it fully armed emotionally and able to deal with whatever comes through.

Posted via email from Deep Thought

A very quick post to plug my book.  Minute Poems is nearly finished and is going to be a hand crafted masterpiece (self publishing the ol' fashioned way).  It's cheaper and greener, so we're making them.  If you want to buy one or get more information, email me.

Tori has designed the book and is in the process of doing the cover and a couple of illustrations, she has a website too www.toridee.co.uk so if you're after a commission then email her.

I have relaunched Veget8 and is now String Beans, the food blog with a new direction.  Enjoying writing for it immensely.  Today we're going to go and look at a car and hopefully I'll manage to do some writing too on route.  http://veget8.wordpress.com

Posted via web from Deep Thought

Happy valentines everyone!  You know what? that is all I really wanted to say.  Most of the time, valentines is just a lame excuse to buy red things with hearts on.  But there could be worse holiday.  Torture Day, Stabbing Day? So I guess it's not all that bad.

For the first time ever, I am going for a romantic meal on valentines day with Tori.  I am also trying to get my iPod to work (after a year in the drawer) but it's not looking happy (literally an unhappy iPod picture).

Posted via web from Chris Gower

Well the winter weather continues, the country remains at a stand still and everyone is panicing because it's snowing. I can imagine anyone from Scandanavia is pissing themselves with laughter at the reaction some snow and ice gets.
I know i sound unfair but, really. Roads are closed because people drive too fast, schools are closed because society has become litigation mad and in a culture that loves to blame faceless bodies of authority, of course it's the local authorities fault for not gritting the pavements. Here is a thought do it yourself. Spent a nice day playing sledging on a flat lilo, secretly hoping we have no more snow. Wondering if I can do a Sun dance or something pagan to bring clement weather.

Posted via email from chrisgower's posterous