Random Thoughts.
Usually when I wake up on a Sunday, I am thinking about something specific. That wasn’t the case today, so I decided to present my collection of random thoughts instead.
One.
It was very cold this morning. Cold enough to make me want to stay in the warmth of the bed for a while. That made me think about how much colder it used to be when I was a boy. No central heating, no double-glazed windows, and the whole house heated by one coal-fire in the living room. I often wore extra clothes to go to bed in, rather than getting undressed. The risk of waking up to frozen water pipes meant that my mum would fill saucepans and a kettle the night before. Then at least she had water to make tea, and to heat up so we could wash.
How soon we become accustomed to the luxuries of progress.
Two.
I thought I should get up, to let Ollie out into the garden. Then I started to think about how Ollie would feel if I died of Covid-19. (Or anything else for that matter.) He is so dependent on always being close to me, I feel sure he would pine badly, and be inconsolable. I concluded that it would be best if I outlived him. But then I would be the one grieving. It’s a tough call, either way.
Three.
Writing my new serial was on my mind. I am sure I am making errors in trying to write it from the perspective of a young woman who has just had a baby. I have never been a woman, had a baby, or even fathered a child. More so than anything else I have written, it feels like a challenge to get through each episode. Then I reminded myself that I have never been a serial killer either, yet I have written stories about them. Perhaps real serial kilers languishing in jail somewhere are reading my stories online, and noticing errors?
Then I couldn’t stay in bed any longer, so got up.
I am back! 🙂 I have to apologize once again. Time is flowing too fast these days, some extraordinary busy one for me. ;-( Deep thoughts indeed, but i hope your thought about the lifetime of Ollie and you will not end in a murder mystery. 🙂 If you will have a longer staying in bed also this Sunday no one will reget. 🙂 Best wishes, Michael
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Thanks, Michael. I got up a lot earlier today. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I love it. It was well written.
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Thanks, glad you thought so.
Best wishes, Pete.
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These are good sound thoughts for a Sunday. Best wishes Pete.
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Thanks, Lloyd. That’s what happens when I linger in bed!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Interesting thoughts. I’m not sure I’ve ever been too worried about the point of view I was writing from, although most of my characters (perhaps except for a couple) I could identify with to a certain extent, but it probably makes it all the more interesting. I also hope both you and Ollie live very long lives.
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Thanks very much, dear Olga.
Best wishes, Pete.
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We were thrown back in time yesterday, 30+ cm of snow, a power-cut and no chance of driving anywhere (the Niva ended up in a very deep ditch after I dropped the kids to school)
Luckily we have a log burner and the walk to pick up the kids is doable (an hour or so walk) The village was out in force and the walk back with the kids saw a group of about 20 of us walking up the hill together, all sledges and snow balls, peeling off to our own little homesteads on the way 🙂
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That does sound like a nice historical scene, Eddy. It takes me just over an hour to walk the 3+ miles into Dereham. I have done it many times, but only in decent weather.
Cheers, Pete.
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1) You’re younger than I am, so when I read about no central heating in the UK, I instinctively think of post war. What a twist, yet this must have been common in the ’50s. Maybe the 60’s? 2) Don’t go there. It’s loose-loose. 3) Frankly, I think you’re as good of a mom with a new baby as you are a serial killer. Gee, that’s really interesting!
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Thanks, Jennie. We didn’t live in a house with central heating until 1968, when I was 16. So my recollections are from the mid-1950s, until then.
Best wishes, Pete
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Thanks, Pete. Best to you.
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It appears that the awful dream has lingered in some form. I am very glad you got out of that bed!
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It as rare for me to stay in bed, Elizabeth. It has a tendency to make my mind wander, as evidenced here. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I think bouncing right up is your best bet. Or at least getting up sooner rather than later.
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Please outlive Ollie! Our primal duty to those who need us most is not to die first. Howl. Px
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I will try my best to do that, dear Pippa. xx
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It took me a little time to figure out you were referencing perspective when you used the word “errors.” But I can see what you mean give you have not been that of what you write. Nonetheless, it is an interesting observation given that all the serial killers and all the young women giving birth have unique experiences. Warmest regards, Theo
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Thanks, Theo. I was torn between the words ‘errors’, and ‘mistakes’. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I would have had the same reaction to mistakes that I did to errors. I have no idea of what would have prevented that, My problem not your problem, Warmest regards, Theo
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Your mother was forward thinking, I wish I had done that last night. I woke up to a broken boiler this morning!
Very grateful for the kettle😊.
Have a lovely week Pete
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Back in the 1950s, they had learned the hard way, after living through WW2.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I know what you mean about Ollie…..MoMo will be lost without me….she already has a hard time with the absence of Little Man……The fact that you are trying to write the serial is a undertaking that I admire. chuq
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Thanks, chuq. On balance, I think it is better for us to outlive our animals. I wouldn’t get another dog after Ollie anyay.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I thought that when Jaz died….then Sue thought I was being too withdrawal and MoMo came and I cannot imagine my life without her. chuq
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That’s fine, chuq. I just don’t want a situation where I become too old to enjoy a dog, or die and leave it to be cared for by others.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I understand…..chuq
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🤣🤣🤣loved the last one
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Thanks, Shaily. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Great post 🙂 I hope you and Ollie live beyond 100 🙂 Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂
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If either of us live past 100, it will be a miracle, John. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Sunday thoughts…I remember the cold well as a child the ice on the inside of the windows made such pretty patterns, hot water bottles…memories 🙂 x
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When my hot water bottle got cold, I used to kick it out of the bed. I remember the excitement of my first electric underblanket. The joy of getting into a warm bed! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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We were not that lucky…but we did end up having central heating but I can’t remember how old I was then x
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We got central heating the year after we moved to the Kent suburbs. 1968, and I was 16. It was the old ‘Servowarm’ system, and my dad was so proud when it was installed. 🙂 x
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I couldn’t tell you what system we had I was a girl and girls just want to be warm…lol x
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I only knew because my dad kept going on about it. 🙂
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Haha.. I guess my dad did but as I said we were girls.. x
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Ollie would much prefer you out living him, Pete. He would be lost without you. And he wouldn’t understand.
–Pam
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Thanks, Pam. I feel that too.
Best wishes, Pete.
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how very true that we take a lot of luxuries for granted, Pete. it is hard to imagine having just one coal-fire for heat nowadays. 🙂
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Yes indeed. When I see film of people in other countries having to draw water from wells and sit around a small wood fire, I remind myself how fortunate I am.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pondering a lot of stuff Pete! As for the cold, it was mid-40’s here in Los Angeles overnight, and people woke up not sure what to do – chaos is close!
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-4C here last night, John. How would the Angelinos cope? 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, mass hysteria!
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I think you’re doing an amazing job at writing from a woman’s perspective. Especially that of a first time mum. It seems to me that you have enough life experience and also of all different types of people to place yourself in their shoes and look at the world through their frame of reference. Re the serial killer stories, I’d love to read them if your current work is anything to go by.
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I will add the links, so you can read them when you have time. I will link to the complete long versions, easier than the serial parts. Thanks for your kind words about ‘My Bundle Of Joy’, Siobhain.
Best wishes, Pete.
This next one is about one murder, and the police investigation.
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I wonder about Max, if I ever pass before him. He has been a great companion.
I can’t imagine, trying to write from a womans perspective. Good luck.
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Thanks, Ron. Ollie is very much a one-person dog. And I am that person.
Best wishes, Pete.
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My dad always put a small paraffin lamp under the bathroom sink’s pipe to stop it freezing. Do you remember ice patterns on the inside of the windows?
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Oh yes. Ice inside windows, and on the bathroom mirror, Mary. In 1960, we got a wall-mounted electric fire in the bathroom. My mum used to get out of bed and put it on 20 minutes before she got up again. Luxury! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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While I never had a child, so far I think you’re doing an excellent job capturing Angela’s perspective.
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Thanks, Kim. I am trying hard to get into her mind. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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It’s funny the trails our minds take when allowed to wander. It’s chillier than normal here, as well. Cool enough I’ve set the tap dripping overnight to be on the safe side- living in an RV has its pitfalls!
I’ve read a couple segments of your serial and think it’s coming along nicely. I haven’t had the chance to read them all tet as I’m only days away from a book deadline- yikes!
Trust your gut, it won’t lead you astray.
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Thanks very much, Jacquie. Good luck with the book, and the taps! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I can’t lie-in anymore, but can sit in bed with a cup of tea and the paper 🙂
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I almost never lie-in. I wake up, I get up. Today was rare, as I was so cold this morning. Lying-in tends to make me think about things too much, as evidenced today. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Random thoughts while lying in bed can always take us in unforeseen directions. Hopefully you and Ollie will both be around for a long time to come.
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Thanks, Maggie. I rarely lie-in, once I am awake. Probably just as well. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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True. We take many luxuries for granted
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I wouldn’t want to go back to those days of frozen pipes, Rich. 🙂
Cheers, Pete.
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I am the same, Pete, I just can’t stay in bed long after I wake up. I have had two babies and my overwhelming memory is being exhausted all the time and just wanting to sleep when my baby slept.
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Thanks for confirming the tiredness of a new mum, Robbie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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How about a story involving an early 20th Century hit man who offs a single father by mistake, and then decides (out of guilt) to raise the newborn, whose mother died during delivery?
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Yes, that’s my next serial sorted! Thanks, David. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Your serial is well written, Pete, even though you’ve never fathered a child. I expect your wife has helped out with your research?
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Not at all. She doesn’t read my stories. She had four children, including identical twin girls. They are all grown up now of course. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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