Once in a Blue Moon
First of all, a very Happy New Year to everyone.
2010 is going to be as hectic as usual, and that’s why the time passes by so quickly. I’m off to Africa again in a couple of days, and then back to check out Lausanne and Geneva for the screenplay. Then, quite possibly off to America. And the travel weary computer will be coming with me while I carry on writing another book – five chapters already completed.
There are also school visits being scheduled, so I look forward to meeting some of you during the year.
Although I say it’s hectic it is at times rather like standing still and watching the earth whiz by at its 17 000 odd miles per hour in space. So reflective thought and moments of quiet are essential – to me, at least.
Day dreaming and star gazing are enormously helpful activities for writers. No one can accuse you of not working. I can get a whole book or film inside my head if I spend enough time gazing upwards. And if it looks as though I’m sleeping, you’re mistaken - it’s deep thought.
To that end I was looking forward to seeing the Blue Moon that completed the decade. We had clear, bright skies and I gazed expectantly waiting for its hue to change. And it didn’t. It was not that kind of Blue Moon – it’s just the name given to the second full moon of the same calendar month.
Over the centuries the moon in each month was given its own name – Hunter’s Moon, Harvest Moon and so on – and because this extra moon appeared someone called it a Blue Moon.
I didn’t know that.
The next thing they’ll be telling me it’s not made of cheese. Tell that to Wallace and Gromit.
I hope you all have a great 2010 and that you achieve everything you set out to do.
Good luck!
