7:50 on a Monday morning, I cycle to the station. A euphemism would be I am not particularly looking forward to eight hours at the call centre. For comfort, I hope to see the huge blue and red parrot that sits in a tree about five minutes from my house. No such luck. And then, then it all changes.
I cross over the unusually near-empty street, and here they are. The gang of 7 who brighten up my day, and walk into The Leeuwarden Lovers, the book I am working on.
As I posted on Substack last week in a note recently, more as encouragement to myself than anything else:
“The most important thing to do as a writer, surprisingly perhaps, is write.”
You do need a bit of inspiration, though. And, honestly, none is provided by my day job. (Not completely true, I have started a new book; a comedy about two friends who kick it all in to do their own thing.)
Are they for real?
As I cycle on the bumpy cobblestones of the Oostersingel, a man had crossed the road with two long leashes, one for a Friese Stabij (a pointer) and one for a Golden Retriever. The man could be my age, in his 60s definitely, and is wearing a t-shirt and jeans. So far, nothing special, right?
Suddenly from the corner of my left eye where the guy is somewhat lingering in front of the Youth Theatre, I spot a cat trying to crawl under a paper container. A black and white cat like our Max. My right eye then catches three more cats, some more black than black and white, but all very scaredy cats, trying to cross the road from the houseboats’ side. This gang of seven make my day!
At that very moment a van comes driving behind us, at high speed. I jump off my bike and wave for him to slow down, which he does. The cats stand still and wait for the van to carry on. I urge the three cats staring at me to wiggle on to the other side, but their leader says, “Oh, don’t worry about them, they do their own thing. Thank you so much!” I reply they are very welcome, and wish them a good day; they have certainly made mine.
Unexpected inspiration
I see today as a reminder that no matter your mood or planning, being open for inspiration is a blessing. Writing does not only happen at your desk. It’s everywhere, in the most unusual places.
- What I am working on: The Leeuwarden Lovers
- What I am reading: Just finished When the Cranes fly South (review in next post)
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