A Day Off
Today I decided to take a day off from writing (well apart from this!). I suppose you could say it was a kind of celebration, as yesterday I reached 40,000 words which is half a novel by anyone’s standards!
Danny Beck my somewhat reluctant Private Investigator is no longer reluctant! He is up to his eyes in it and beginning to think he might be quite good at this investigation thing. Newcastle looms large in the novel, so I will be taking a few trips there when I get back with David who knows the city well and I hope to The Cluny club with Carole – (you’ll be pleased to know Carole, that Beck has already been there looking for a journalist who is heavily into the blues.) I think Beck has an eclectic taste in music- so some blues, jazz,(haven’t managed any French jazz yet Warren but still hoping – sure that gets in your soul too) classical, folk, (Miles of Aisles yes John!) rock – bit like me maybe.
The novel moves on at a pace I could only have dreamed of and Beck grows with it – I am getting very fond of him, he’s a great guy and the more I write, the more I am convinced that taking time-out to write is one of the best things you can do for your writing. This is the principal on which RoomToWrite was founded (by Wendy, Gillian and myself) – it is about attending to what you do and giving it the space to develop. It is also about being in the right surroundings with the right people.
So, tomorrow it will be back to work. But what to do on a Thursday off in Agde? My recipe is as follows:
– begin with a wander through the market and pick up any bargains -got a great man’s shirt today for 4 Euros
– buy flowers, cheese, olives and delicious apricots
-have coffee and croissant at the Café Plazza and people watch – so much to look at on market day
-hang out at lunchtime (or anytime for that matter) in the Café Capitaine in the Place de la Marine, down on the waterfront and drink wine. This is my favourite café, run by a lovely lady – its friendly, laid back, stylish, a cool breeze coming off the river, dappled shade of the plane trees and children playing in the square – excellent food too..
Agde Waterfront 
Wine at the Cafe Capitaine – take a siesta in the quiet of the afternoon
– eat fresh pasta and salad then follow it with an evening stroll by the waterfront or the canal – and who knows another glass or two of wine? And a lot of talk about writing of course.
Hi Avril, I’ve lifted my head from my own work to have a peek at your posts. As usual the photo’s you take are a real gift to my tired sore eyes.
On the subject of Cohen from your last post. Is there any greater delicious submission to all that is human than the lyrics to ‘Hallelujah’. My favourite quote from him regarding artists of all persuations: ‘We may be ugly, but we have the music’. Something I think he thought up when considering the student revolt.
Am i right in thinking you are to visit the Cluny in Newcastle because your detective character likes Jazz? It’s a bit of young people’s place, though not exclusively.
As a jazz fan, I suggest the Jazz cafe on Pink Lane? It’s an old hovel done out with posters and adverts from pre-war days, ran by an old miserable tyrant who you would think did not welcome your custom. They have a bashed up piano in the alcove for musicians, I’ve played there a few times in years gone by.
The Jazz cafe on Pink lane – its a date – maybe we should have awear valley writers night out – you can play!
A x
The photos you post are so beautiful I can easily envisage sitting in that very cafe with you! 40,000 words is a huge achievement and I can not wait to read the manuscript. It will be fascinating to see how you write through the eyes of Beck, as in your previous novels we mostly see the world through women.
The market sounds like an Aladin’s cave of treasures and inspired me to take a walk through Portabello market, where I bought some antique lace doillies and beautiful handmade papers, before heading to the college bar to consume 8 pints of Fosters (which I sincerley regret this morning) – ah well you know what they say …. you can take the girl out of newcastle ….
Kate x
8 pints oh no! Look forward to some cafe sititng with you when I get back!
A x
Really looking forward to going on a pub crawl with you. Of course, you’ll be all windswept and even more interesting than before – while I’m still trying to shake off 17 years of prison palor! Might do a bit of research myself before then, of course – all in the name of Danny Beck.
Enjoy every minute, Avril. It all looks stunning.
Take care.
Carole xx
Pub crawl – you bet! I’m beginning to think it was a very good idea creating a Newcastle detective. Have to say last time I saw you it looked to me like you’d already shaken off that prison palor – maybe it was that smile on your face as we walked into your new office and you showed me around!
A x