I am on set tonight, and it wll be a loooong shoot, so I’ve brought along a notebook in order to spend the time working out plot kinks in my new novel (tentatively titled “That Wonderfully Self-Indulgent Meta Epic Fantasy Thingy” Hopefully my beta readers will help me come up with something a bit more catchy when its done).

Turns out this notebook is also the same one I brought with me to England last summer while visiting my friend in Bristol/doing research for a different novel in Bath. Flipping through the book I found some lovely little observations that say a lot about British vs Canadian landscapes (both geographical and human) and thought, since I have a long night ahead, would take the time to share them.

Please forgive any spelling errors, as I’m doing this all via my phone.

“Things I See In England From The Window of my Bus”

*Little blond boys practicing cricket in the yard. Boys of every colour combination and creed playing footy wherever they can find space. Mostly in sweet cardigans and short trousers (school uniforms?)

*Solariums with fussy, doiley-like roof peak decorations.

*Pretty little name plaques on the houses, but only a variation on the same ten names.

*Little blurs coming at me from the wrong side of the street. Startling and frightning at first, until I remember that they are cars.

*The weight of history settled over the feilds and buildings, well-worn and welcome, slightly shabby. perhaps too big and pulled slightly out of shape - like granddad’s favourite cardigans.

(Different from Japan, where history is never at odds, but always segregated and kept pristenely apart from the future)

*Windows that are just too small and squinty, even in the new buildings.

*a void of splashy ads or overtly worn brand loyalty (at least, outside of London)

*Walls that rigorously police property lines, leniniating public and private, seperating sidewalk from garden, neighbour from neighbour — yet are low enough that everyone can share the sight of the bright, beautiful gardens.