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In the midst of tech issues (keys typing on their own, not in a good way), I was at the point of having a meltdown. I was making a few last minute edits to A Dangling Fish in Girl Town when my laptop became unusable. This problem has been ongoing since updates were installed, despite me telling it not to update. My system, though not old, is not compatible with the software and I suspect is the reason behind the ghost in my machine.
Besides using smaller devices which I struggle to write with, I currently have no other way to write. I need to use a proper keyboard that I can actually see and use, and a screen of adequate size also. The issue is with the software and wireless keyboards won’t fix it. For drafting, sure, I can use anything. I wrote the first draft of the first book with pen/pencil and paper, old school. Not a good idea, by the way. Pencil smudges, ink can get washed out, and I now wear reading glasses and still struggle to read my own handwriting. Enough about me and tech issues.
Greece is Burning
Greece is never far from my mind. The series I’m writing is inspired by my adventures in Greece, and the first place I went was Rhodes. It was 1999 and I had the time of my life. I stayed a while and did a few seasons. There were no fires back then, if I remember right.
But I was on Kefalonia one year, a holiday, and there was a serious out-of-control fire. Thinking about it, it was a funny holiday, but I’m not going into that. The main sticking point was being awoke in the middle of the night by banging on the door and smelling smoke. The island was on fire and we were being ‘warned’. Not evacuated. We were told it was normal and not to worry. The local ladies running down the street crying told me something else and we took our Jeep to the beach, our mask, fins and snorkel and whatever else in the back. The neighbouring island, Zante, was also on fire, the orange flames clearly visible.
And so I stopped my meltdown and my thought and heart goes out to Greece. Nothing serious happened to us, things were under control as we waited for our flight the next day, watching fire planes scoop up water and then drop it over the smouldering plumes in the distance.
Same happened to me in Spain not long ago (I forgot until now), but it was put out the same way. And from what I understand, all of these were caused by arson; all fuelled by hotter than average temperatures driven by climate change. I’ve noticed the difference, be it the sea-beds looking bleak or the heatwaves breaking the 50s more often. Here in the UK has been crazy enough, currently it is August 3rd, but the season could be anything from Spring to Autumn one day and Med-like the next. What interesting times we are going through.