Fall

I took the photo of the glowing maple at the Botanic Gardens yesterday when saying farewell to a friend. First time out and about for a week as a few days ago I fell down a rabbit hole in the woods and twisted my ankle. But that’s fading into a purple, yellow bruise now, a bit like Autumn so I’m mobile again. Everywhere looks like it’s blooming its last before Winter sets in, and the colours are amazing.

Talking of Winter, have you seen Winter’s Bone? It’s an extraordinary film with an incredible central performance by Jennifer Lawrence. Cleverly structured, heartfelt, cold, terrifying, real and wonderful. The initial marketing made me think it wasn’t for me but I was encouraged to see it and am glad I did – a truly involving film. It was written and directed by Debra Granik and won the Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic Film at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Try and see it if you can – it suits this chilly time of year.

I’m finally about to head into (mild) horror territory tomorrow with a rewrite on a feature treatment – haven’t been able to do much writing as of late with so many other things going on, so am looking forward to it. Although I hate it at the time, sometimes an enforced break means you get to rediscover the excitement of writing all over again – absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Bring on the blank page and terror!

Happy Halloween – I wish you warm socks and treacle toffee.