Saturday 15 January 2011

Zen & the Art of Sleep



Here's yet another picture of my shadow! I didn't know this dog of mine could sleep so much. One of the things about this bug is that I seem to be either tired or asleep and whichever it is, Grumps is always lying next to me, usually snoring.

Thank you for all the wonderful comments on my last post. My uncle is now out of Critical Care and although I think it may take a while, he seems to be on the mend, which is a huge relief. My mother seems fine too.

I haven't done any writing, although I have mulled through various scenes, ways to develope certain characters, so that's something and I've just finished Please Don't Stop The Music by Jane Lovering, which I've reviewed for Novelicious.*whispers* worth pre-ordering this book. Publish date 1st Feb.

I follow Sarah Duncan's excellent blog and subscribe to her daily blog posts. Here's the link to her blog if you don't already have it. Certainly worth checking out for any unpublished writers as there's so much useful information/advice about all aspects of writing.

I'll be spending the rest of the weekend taking it easy, mainly by sitting in front of the fire, as it's back to work on Monday. I'm looking forward to the final episode of Zen (Sunday 9pm). Rufus Sewell is watchable in everything he does, but I'm loving watching him play, Aurelio Zen, an honest detective in Rome. Even my son is watching this. I do hope they commission a further series as it's excellent.

32 comments:

B.E. Sanderson said...

Feel better soon. I'm so glad to see your uncle is doing better and that your mom is fine. I hate when my family's sick and I can't do anything about it.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

B E Sanderson - thanks so much. It's horrible when family members are unwell. Such a relief he seems to be on the mend.

Leigh Russell said...

So glad to hear your family are on the mend. You're probably suffering a reaction to the stress. I missed Zen, although I intended to watch it. Rufus Sewell is great - loved him in Pillars of the Earth and also his Macbeth (long time ago).
Writing isn't only about putting words on the page - I'm sure your thinking time will prove worthwhile when you start writing again very soon.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

Glad everyone is on the mend. It sounds like even the doggy is tired.

Pauline Barclay said...

Hello Debs, so pleased to hear that your uncle is recovering and everyone is now doing fine. Take good care of yourself. Hugs x

Amanda said...

What a great photo of Grumps!

Sorry I missed your post about your uncle - but pleased to hear thing are looking up.

I'm going to follow your link to Sarah Duncan's blog - thanks for sharing! :-)

D.J.Kirkby said...

Glad tha tyour uncle is on the mend and that you are too. That is a beautifu photo of Divadog.

HelenMWalters said...

That is a magnificent photo of the Grumpy one. Hope you're fully better soon.

Talli Roland said...

I love Sarah's blog - full of excellent advice!

What a great photo of Grumps. I hope you're on the mend now!

Karen said...

Love the new look blog, and that photo's hiLARIOUS!!

I'll be watching Zen tonight too. Don't you think he has a look of Lovejoy about him? (Giving my age away now!)

~SwAmPy~ said...

The photo of that dog is classic. I love it. Seems like there should be a contest for you to enter and win something.
Good to hear those you love are getting better.

Jen said...

I don't know. Is it just me or just Grumps have a touch of Rufus about him? Those dark, brooding eyes... oh yes. That dog should be the inspiration for all manly heroes.

(Mmmmm... Rufus Sewell...)

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

leigh - thanks, it's good that everything is slowly getting back to normal. I loved Zen & hope it comes back to or screens soon.

kareng - he's always wanting to sleep. He's either dozing or barking!

pauline - thank you. This bug is lasting forever, or so it seems, but being back at work is making things feel more normal now.

amanda - thanks.

I've learnt so much from Sarah Duncan's blog & her books are very good too.

dj - thanks so much. Divadog does love the occasional pose in front of the camera.

helen - thank you. I'm feeling much better now.

talli - it is good, isn't it?

Thanks, I'm certainly getting there.

karen - I love it too.

I have to agree with you about Zen!

swampy - many thanks. I'm glad you like the photo of Himself and we're all getting much better now.

jen - lol. I hadn't thought of that before, although people are always saying that Grumps is handsome. I suppose he is.

Sarah Duncan said...

Hi Debs, thanks for your nice comments about the blog - glad it's helpful!

Zen is great, tho I'd would like to see more of Rome as it's one of my favourite cities. (And more of Rufus too...)

Phillipa Ashley said...

So glad about the positive news and can Grumpy get any cuter?!

I am totally loving Zen - so sorry that it's finished. Wahhh...

sheepish said...

Grumps does look handsome. So glad that the news is better. I also follow Sarah Duncan's blog, very informative and entertaining.
Take care of yourself, obviously Grumps knows how important sleep is when you're not well.

Lane Mathias said...

That is the best photo of Grumpy ever. What a star he is.

Glad to hear you're on the mend and your uncle and mother too.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

sarah - I love your blog and all the brilliant advice you post each day, thanks.

I enjoyed your book, A Single To Rome too.

phillipa - he is rather cute, isn't he?

I know! I can't believe there were only three episodes. Talk about a taster, where's the rest of the series?

sheepish - thanks. Grumps would spend his entire time, sleeping, eating and running on the beach. In fact that's pretty much what he does each day.

lane - I didn't realize how handsome he looked until I'd posted it.

Thanks, it's good that he's on the mend now.

Karen said...

Sorry but I keep popping back to show people the photo of Grumps - it's SO good, I can imagine it on a greetings card with some sort of caption!

Anna Scott Graham said...

So glad your uncle is improving and your mum is well. Peaceful days are truly appreciated. My eldest and I were speaking of the recent shooting in Arizona, also our own neighborhood activities. I tried to explain how things changed in the UK after Dunblane, and neither of us could even contemplate that sort of gun ban passing here in the US.

But I digress.. Great picture of Grumpy! He's quite photogenic; I wonder if he'd appreciate that... :)))

Kath said...

Love the picture of Grumpy! That is quite some stare he has on him. *shifts uneasily in chair*

Happy to hear that everyone is on the mend again and that you're looking after yourself properly with doses of Rufus in Rome and Jane's book. If that doesn't cure you, I doubt much else will. Feel better soon. xx

Faye said...

Ah, this photo of His Grumpiness really shows why he deserves his name--that black mask around those eyes and down his nose and then that proper beard.

I tried to locate Zen on this side of the Pond--no promise of it yet on Netflix. Must be patient. Glad you had some good amusements while you were mending, Debs.

Maggie Christie said...

I spotted Grumps peeking out of the sidebar on Chris's Home Thoughts Weekly and just had to come and see him. (I've just got a new one of those of my own.)
Sorry to hear about your uncle, I hope he makes a full, comfortable and speedy recovery. What a shock for you all.

Flowerpot said...

Lovely pic of Grumps - glad uncle is on the way to recovery - and yes I love Rufus Sewell too - those wonderful chiselled cheekbones...

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

karen - pop back as many times as you want to. I'm glad you like Grumps' picture so much. He does look gorgeous, if a little serious.

anna - at my last job there was someone there who'd gone to that school and she was such a quiet girl. Dunblane was a horrible tragedy and Arizona too. So sad.

Thanks re the picture, glad you like it.

kath - lol, he looks as if he only needs a lamp and I'd certainly tell him everything.

Thanks, we're all getting there.

faye - he is rather dashing.

I do hope you get Zen soon, it was so good, but unfortunately only three episodes long. Hopefully, they'll commission more asap.

preseli mags - oh you have one too? How wonderful. They are the most adorable pets and such fun.

He is on the mend and should get there eventually.

flowerpot - he is so handsome, I was sorry there were only three episodes.

Kaye Manro said...

Sorry for all the badness. I hope you are better now. I meant to get here sooner to wish you happiness in the New Year. But your blog got lost on my list somehow. You are back on now. Take care and be well, Debs. (I like the paw prints!)

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

kaye - I'm much better now, thanks. I'm glad you like the paw prints too.

Susie Vereker said...

Glad you and family better. Love Grumps (my new puppy arrives next week.) Agree about Zen, very atmospheric.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

susie - thank you.

I do hope we are going to have another series of Zen on our screens at some point fairly soon.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

susie - thank you.

I do hope we are going to have another series of Zen on our screens at some point fairly soon.

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

I've not been blogging for a while, Debs, sorry to hear things have been tough for you and your family.

Thinking of you and hope things look up soon.

XX

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

suzanne - thanks very much. We're all fine, although my uncle still has a way to go yet.x