Tuesday, May 31, 2005
I guess Avagadro will have to wait.

I had all sorts of plans for interesting things to say about Avagadro's constant and how to express it in tangible terms. But then I realised they weren't that interesting and decided not to bother. You may have guessed but I haven't been around much recently. It's amazing how a new laptop will inspire you though.

I am currently sat in London with a wireless connection writing a Sci-fi story that I think maight be fairly short and listening to the Clash. Oh, did I mention I'm getting paid for this.

Life's hard.

Plymouth eh? Mixed emotion sums it up pretty well. I am annoyed at the prospect of moving again. I have moved house once a year for about the last five years, the last three have been long distance, this one isn't exactly local. I'm also a little upset about having to leave behind the things I have got to know. I like the area we're in now, it's just too damn expensive. However it isn't all bad. I'm really looking forward to having a bit more space. The flat we're in at the moment whilst lovely is miniscule and it drives me mad sometimes. I'm really looking forward to being near the sea and maybe getting in a yacht again. Hopefully I can start to do some of those things I've been meaning to do for years.

It's gonna be great I'm sure. I just wish it was sooner. There is no point in commiting to anything at the moment because I won't be around in six weeks butsix weeks is a long time to sit around twiddling your thumbs!

Oh yeah, writing... Been doing lots of that. Put TBAMB aside for the moment. Knocked out about five shorts, three of which are ready to send out. Been tidying The Ratcatcher up with ASIM, that's quite a learning experience. Am enjoying it though. Also have some new leads for the non-fiction book I've been researching and have two more stories on the go. One a dark, post-apocalyptic 1st person novel, the other a 3rd person Sci fi funny. I have no idea how long it is going to be, it was supposed to be a short but is now at about 2k with no signs of slowing down. Hopefully I'll get it out in less than 10k and then I can submit to ASIM.

Time will tell

Posted by Martin Austwick 2005-05-31 08:25:45

Friday, April 22, 2005
Space

Just been reading TBlue's blog and I feel inspired to write about space. Did you know that if we created a scale model of our solar system with the Earth being the size of a pea, using the same scale our nearest star (other than the sun of course) would be sixteen thousand miles away?

Now how about Aliens? A cornell professor by the mane of Frank Drake worked out an equation to calculate the probability of other intelligent life existing. Even using the most conservative figures it would seem that there should be millions of other planets with intellignet life within the Milky Way alone. This however is where it gets interesting. On average (mean) the distance between these life bearing planets would be 200 light years, which means even if they have telescopes far in excess of ours and are able to watch us our nearest neighbours are watching light that left here 200 years ago. They are watching rapier duels on the common and scientists like Reverend Buckland flouncing around in his academic robes with his geological hammer in hand...

Of course then you have t add in the fact that there are roughly 140 billion other galaxies. Space is truly big.

The next blog will be based around Avagadros Number...

Posted by Martin Austwick 2005-04-22 18:34:34

Friday, April 22, 2005
Been a while...

I don't really know how long its been since I last blogged, I'm having trouble being enthusiastic about the net at the moment. I go through phases, it'll pass I'm sure. I'm working full time in London at the moment, pretty tiring but the money is great. The knife thing isn't going great at the moment and there seems to be little point in pushing it as I will be without a forge as of July. Hopefully I'll be able to sort something out but I'll be moving to Plymouth and I have no idea about commercial rentals there. Time will tell I suppose.

With a bit of luck it will give me the spur to do dome more writing, I have a couple fo pieces in mind, one of them is finished and just needs submitting. Courage Oz, the worst that can happen is that you have the same amount of stuff published as you do now... I am trying a slightly different tack. I am currently selling out and providing fillers and such like to womens magazines... at least that is the plan. I'll let you know if it works out!

Right, back to the wine I think.

Posted by Martin Austwick 2005-04-22 18:14:51

Saturday, March 12, 2005
Emotion and growing old...

I've been noticing a few changes in me over the last few years. I seem to be becoming a much more emotional person. Well perhaps. Perhaps I am just becoming more able to accept my emotions. Either way the end result is pretty much the same.

Last night as I sat and watched Comic Relief on TV I found myself close to tears on a number of occasions. Not really a surprise if you watched it, there was some of the most moving television I have ever seen mixed with the usual eclectic muddle of comedy, some brilliasnt, some decidedly average. I'm guessing this is really an attempt for me to work out why it is I am experiencing more emotion. Is it because I am getting older and finally growing up? It's distinctly possible, though it could equally be a simple reaction to the fact that I am a long way away form the place I think of as home and a lot of my friends. My life has changed a lot over the last few years, some for the better and some I'm not so sure about so perhaps it is simply a reaction to the fact that I am constantly a little more emotional these days...

I've spent most of my life as a very insular person and never really let anyone get to know me properly. I am useless at keeping in touch with people I consider friends and even my family and it is only recently that it has begun to bother me. I regret losing touch with a lot of people that I used to be close to... The question of course is; Is this because I am more in touch with my emotions or is the converse the case?

I have no idea. I don't suppose it matters at the end of the day. I just have to accept that life goes on. I should put it behind me and try no to make the same mistakes again. Though that is one of my specialities.

I can't go without a quick word about the rugby... I know we should win this one, but a part of me can't quite believe that we will. I am beginning to hope that Wales get the Grand Slam. It is about time they won something again. They play an nice looking game, but if the World Cup has shown anything imho it is that a good team playing what has now becoem European style Rugby will usually win. The Wales play a very traditional game in a way that we don't often see in the northern hemisphere, and I think that is what has led to their losing streak of late. Maybe that will change now...

Posted by Martin Austwick 2005-03-12 05:51:55

Monday, March 7, 2005
Picking up

Last night was hell. I didn't sleep a wink.

Toothache.

I was taking every painkiller known to man and it didn't even come close to getting rid of it so I finally gave in and went to the dentist today. About one hour later I was on my way home with a numb face. Apart from the fact that I seem to have developed a lisp reminiscent of Big Gay Al in Southpark I feel a lot better. I don't know why I put of going as long as I do, it's never as bad as I think it's going to be and the relief is just amazing...

I've been playing the guitar a lot over the last few months and I seem to have reached a new level. As with all musical instruments (I play a lot) I reach plateaux where it is hard to find the enthusiasm to carry on because I just don't seem to be getting any better. I managed to keep with it this time and I am currently knocking out some quality tunes, I think it shows that I've been listening to The Who a lot recently, which is by no means a bad thing. It has added a new dimension to my music. Shame I can't write lyrics to save my life...

Oh and while I'm here, on writing. I am sadly behind Owen in the writing stakes, I keep wnating to write but more important things crop up. I am however doing a bit and I have yet another story bubbling around in my head... You read Jamaica Inn? I want to write something similar set on the moors I grew up on. We'll see how it goes.

Just when I thought the rugby couldn't get any worse we lost another player. Ok Cohen wasn't exactly first choice, but with every othger man in Englandwith the possible exception of the Bishop of Bath and Wells injured a lot was riding on him. Of course he's injured too now. (Cohen, not the Bishop of Bath and Wells). Maybe I should start following wheelchair rugby...

Posted by Martin Austwick 2005-03-07 07:27:44