I enjoyed that Pru. A lot of synchronicity going on. Not only do I live in Tasmania (in Hobart) and am also in my seventies (and delighting in being in a rut) but I also read both the David Mitchell post and the Katherine Hart one you mentioned and wrote down the same quote in my journal last Sunday : Held by the Earth / Moved by the Moon / Sparked by the Sun / Swayed by the Sea / Lived, lost, rediscovered and reclaimed. All a bit bizarre really!
Lee, hi! My postal address is Hobart although I'm mostly on the east coast. How lovely to know I have a fellow Tasmanian reading Knots! And what synchronicity that you read David and Posh. I've just seen your Substack (subscribed!) and have seen another quote I rather like to go in the journal.
Thank you for commenting, and here's to more chats.
Prue, I have to tell you how much I loved Gisborne: Book of Pawns, and have the other two in the series waiting for me; just leaving a little space before digging in again. As far as ruts go, I have had more than my fair share of wonderful moments and am now enjoying the slower pace of life in my 70s. It’s how it should be: still interested, still curious, still learning, but on my own terms now.
Thanks so much re Pawns, Kate. It was fun writing it at the time, as it was a spin-off from Robin Hood (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0787985/?ref_=vp_close) which was so big. The Armitage Army developed from the series, a huge fan base dedicated to Richard Armitage who played Guy of Gisborne. I wanted to see if I could change his future, imagine him as a renegade medieval merchant who turned his back on England and all that it was and who had a host of unusual men working for him. The nice thing about the three books is that they led me to three other characters: Tobias, Guillaume and Michael, and I really do love the stories those three men had to tell. The latest series, starting with Reliquary, still carries the same merchant house and characters but with a new principle in each one.
As to life being slower - yes. I do believe that in one's 70's its perhaps been earned. I'm so glad to hear that you enjoy your little piece of sanctuary. Rut is such a harsh name for the precious place we find ourselves, isn't it? Cheers!
I recently took the Tube in London, it had been a while. I stood and noticed.
I noticed the ring on the finger of a young woman with a good handbag.
The curly hair of a baby in a pram.
I noticed the scuffed shoes of the man next to me, and I also noticed that I was the only person in the carriage without a phone in my hands. I was startled by this.
Nobody is noticing.
There endeth my blether on 'why on earth'... Have a lovely rest of your weekend x
Hello Kathleen, yes I agree. I like people-watching, especially old couples, wondering about their lives and imagining how they looked as starry eyed young lovers and how the years have changed them. I’m envying your warm weather right now, sitting on my sofa in chilly Perth. Yes, it does get cold in Western Australia. And also in beautiful Tasmania, but not the cold of Scotland in winter. But cold enough.
Kate, have you seen the chap on Insta who stops random folk in the streets of New York, and asks if they are a couple, and if so, when did they first meet.
It mesmerises me. Mostly they seem to have been together for decades. Something I envy, and will never achieve, unless I marry tomorrow and live until I’m 110!!
Sending you warming breezes from sub-tropical Scotland, land of unicorns and palm trees! x
I don't know if a rut is a cousin of routine, but I'm devoted to the latter. I don't get rut vibes from you, Prue, more a sense of someone who knows what she loves.
Highlights: Claire Kinton's piece, the *look* from the dog, and this: "At nearly 75, how many days, weeks, months, years does one have left? Best to enjoy it all whilst one can."
Rut? Routine? Possibly they're connected but I agree, like you routine is the backbone of my day. I always, though, leave some time for spontaneity. It's the sparkle to any life...
I am glad you touch on the elephant in the 'link in bio' room Prue.
It's a difficult one, and I have dithered and procrastinated over it for weeks.
That in itself is telling. That as a published author with decades of toil behind me, and hours spent honing the craft, I feel reluctant to put a value to it.
It's not just the decades of toil behind us, it's the 'what is coming next' I find so concerning. The penny dropped whilst I was sitting watching my father a few months ago at his 90th birthday party. He is 30 years ahead of me, vital and energetic, I am on the bus behind.
A foolish virgin, oblivious as a younger woman to rather important matters like, pension plan, investments, stocks and shares etc. I was head down, holding it together as a single parent, scraping it, winging it, very poorly, and trying not to look too far into the future.
Well, that future has just arrived. If I live another 30 years, like my dad, (unlikely, as my body has been pushed to the limits,) then I have to pay for it. My dad, not a foolish virgin, did invest, and has the luxury of fabulous pensions and annuities.
What strikes me even more Prue, is how many women are in a similar position. I see it all the time on my Instagram account, where for 12 years I have checked in every day, with a positive, cheery hellooo, and not for one minute thought about 'link in bio'. I receive DM's every day from women like me, who turned up, did the graft, raised their kids, cared for their parents, worked two jobs, and are now in utter panic. It's an epidemic.
I wish I knew the answer to it. I'm waiting for Hollywood to call with a blockbuster offer for Devorgilla Days! I'm going to write about this. Because for women who have done as they were bidden, worked physically, put in the emotional labour, put everyone else ahead of them, it's now a scary place to be, and the options are grim. Suggestions on a postcard please!
Oh my gosh, elephant in the room indeed and very hard if one is an indie author, where every aspect of taking a work to a readership is paid for by the author, so at the very least, one hopes to break even. Ha! Fat chance!
I do know what you mean about single women who have really done the hard yard and have little to no superannuation or investments. A dear relative is in exactly that position. Worse too, if one has any sort of illness which has chewed into one's income and savings, as you know.
I think you can truthfully write from a position of knowledge - your horrendous illness, the path you followed, singlehandedly turning your life around. And it's that soft voice DAILY on Insta, saying 'Good morning. How's your day?' that is so grounding for any feeling the pressure.
By the way - I've been waiting for a movie contract for any of my novels since 2010. Still waiting. But you have to be in it to win it!
And as an aside, I pay-subscribe to four accounts: Tom Ryan, David Michie, Jennifer Granville and yourself. That speaks volumes. Perhaps I should have put that in my post just to clarify. XXXX
I wonder what would happen to creatives, particularly women, who are having a go, and doing the work, without generous patrons like you Prue.
I read recently that the average salary of an author in the UK is £8,000 per year. So unless you're Margaret Atwood or Richard Osman, other routes to revenue are imperative.
I used to love Plastic Bertrand and Ca Plane pour Moi, Prue! I haven't met anyone else who even knew that song but .. why am I surprised to find it referenced here!? The pic of your shoes is really evocative (so buttery soft!) and also must say how handsome that Womble with the Side Eye is. Clearly, he is aware of this, too. Your writing is a delight. I would say if you are ever considered to be in a "rut" (like-minded and sensible) people would be lining up to join you. I know I would! PS Just saw Neal the Seal in Tasmania! His antics are being well documented now, lol.
Bless Neal - I wonder if he thrives on his fame. Lovely that he was born in Tasmanian waters and despite being orphaned quite early, still recognises Tasmanian waters and locations for seasonal visits.
But people here seem to forget that he IS wild, needs his space and I wish they'd leave him alone to do his thing. Folk have been told to stay beyond 20 metres but they don't.
And then there's social media. So that whenever he moves to a new location, some twerp puts it on social media and the whole circus hassles him again.
Anyway, he has gone now. Possibly to the southwest to his fellow sea-lions, although he may pop up again. Perhaps fame is a magnet...
What A great read Prue, and to be honest your "rut" sounds idyllic to me, one I'd happy be in. I know what you mean, simple pleasures mean so much, and you can't beat a good picnic !!!
the weather doesn't matter if you have the right clothing. I remember when we were training to do the" West Highland Way" we did lots of training in the winter in Derbyshire we always packed a good picnic and were out most weekends. (its was 30 years ago, but we backpacked carrying out tent and food etc, it was hard work, but such fun, putting the world to rights as well ) x
Prue it was such fun, 95 miles challenging at times as we'd carried our tent food etc.
There was one episode that I abandoned Jeff. It was at Bengelas farm We woke up and when I popped my head out it was Midge heaven. They love me !! So I went to the cooking area whilst Jeff took the tent down and brought the bits over so I could pack at leisure. My Hero !! When I washed my hair the water was full of these little black creatures. But it was still fun. Couldn't do it these days. Xx
Your pondering around a rut or routine has caused ME to ponder a bit; thank you. I don't ever feel as if my life is too much of the same thing because we change locations often. And now, at the end of one of our month-long visits I am longing for my own bed and my garden and the routine of home life. I think our routine, though not to everyone's taste, suits us and gives us access to family and friends in a seasonal rhythm.
We sometimes think about and miss the privilege that comes with living in the same place year-round, but we also wouldn't want to miss out on half our family and long-time friends in the other place. So we adapt. Sometimes the moving comes too quickly, sometimes not soon enough. But remembering to notice and pay attention wherever we are is always key. Thank you for the thoughtful discussion you provide for all of us to ponder!
We all have our own ways of living. Like I remarked - what floats my boat won't necessarily float yours.
I'm lucky that my family and most of my friends are close by. The other two live interstate but it's only an hour's flight away. For the rest of our lifestyle, we are remarkably content. I very rarely if ever have wanderlust anymore. I know its not an age thing as many of my contemporaries are always on the move. Perhaps it's just that I've discovered peace and contentment a little earlier than my peers. Who knows?
In the end, we all do what's right for us and fair enough too.
PS: Opened up the research info on L'ile Barbe last week. And found addresses of French historians who may be able to help when I jump back in to The Oblate. Quite exciting!
Very thought-provoking essay, Prue! I appreciate so much, that your words made me see the value in my own “ruts”—a life spent mostly at our place and the neighborhood; with the opportunity to live more deeply, paying close attention to the small, even tiny aspects of my world.
I also think living in a “rut,” having a routine that includes observing one’s surroundings, is rather necessary to be a novelist! E.M. Foster said (paraphrased) “A writer is someone upon whom nothing is lost.”
And as an aside, I so admire the way you live so fully alongside your vibrant writing life!
Some days though, to keep the writing life in perspective, I only edit what came before and add maybe 200-500 words. As I age, to sit an write 1-2000 words a day seems time I need to spend elsewhere.
As to ruts - such a good place to be from where we can view our world. Each to their own, Susan and you and I are definitely on the same wavelength.
I enjoyed that Pru. A lot of synchronicity going on. Not only do I live in Tasmania (in Hobart) and am also in my seventies (and delighting in being in a rut) but I also read both the David Mitchell post and the Katherine Hart one you mentioned and wrote down the same quote in my journal last Sunday : Held by the Earth / Moved by the Moon / Sparked by the Sun / Swayed by the Sea / Lived, lost, rediscovered and reclaimed. All a bit bizarre really!
Hello Lee, I'm so glad the quote resonated.
It's a marvel to me that connections and friendships are being made across oceans and mountains.
Our common ground seems to be seeking the words to help us make sense of the world.
Prue has waved her magic wand once again, and written words which always make me ponder. X
Lee, hi! My postal address is Hobart although I'm mostly on the east coast. How lovely to know I have a fellow Tasmanian reading Knots! And what synchronicity that you read David and Posh. I've just seen your Substack (subscribed!) and have seen another quote I rather like to go in the journal.
Thank you for commenting, and here's to more chats.
(Oops. This didn’t go as a reply so Lee might miss it)
A delight in words and pics! And perspective! Thanks Prue!
XXXX
Prue, I have to tell you how much I loved Gisborne: Book of Pawns, and have the other two in the series waiting for me; just leaving a little space before digging in again. As far as ruts go, I have had more than my fair share of wonderful moments and am now enjoying the slower pace of life in my 70s. It’s how it should be: still interested, still curious, still learning, but on my own terms now.
Thanks so much re Pawns, Kate. It was fun writing it at the time, as it was a spin-off from Robin Hood (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0787985/?ref_=vp_close) which was so big. The Armitage Army developed from the series, a huge fan base dedicated to Richard Armitage who played Guy of Gisborne. I wanted to see if I could change his future, imagine him as a renegade medieval merchant who turned his back on England and all that it was and who had a host of unusual men working for him. The nice thing about the three books is that they led me to three other characters: Tobias, Guillaume and Michael, and I really do love the stories those three men had to tell. The latest series, starting with Reliquary, still carries the same merchant house and characters but with a new principle in each one.
As to life being slower - yes. I do believe that in one's 70's its perhaps been earned. I'm so glad to hear that you enjoy your little piece of sanctuary. Rut is such a harsh name for the precious place we find ourselves, isn't it? Cheers!
Hello there Kate.
Being curious is the key to so much in life.
I recently took the Tube in London, it had been a while. I stood and noticed.
I noticed the ring on the finger of a young woman with a good handbag.
The curly hair of a baby in a pram.
I noticed the scuffed shoes of the man next to me, and I also noticed that I was the only person in the carriage without a phone in my hands. I was startled by this.
Nobody is noticing.
There endeth my blether on 'why on earth'... Have a lovely rest of your weekend x
Love that. 'Nobody is noticing...' WHAT are they missing!
Life.
Hello Kathleen, yes I agree. I like people-watching, especially old couples, wondering about their lives and imagining how they looked as starry eyed young lovers and how the years have changed them. I’m envying your warm weather right now, sitting on my sofa in chilly Perth. Yes, it does get cold in Western Australia. And also in beautiful Tasmania, but not the cold of Scotland in winter. But cold enough.
Kate, have you seen the chap on Insta who stops random folk in the streets of New York, and asks if they are a couple, and if so, when did they first meet.
It mesmerises me. Mostly they seem to have been together for decades. Something I envy, and will never achieve, unless I marry tomorrow and live until I’m 110!!
Sending you warming breezes from sub-tropical Scotland, land of unicorns and palm trees! x
Yay to ‘ruts’. The Good Life. 🤗🤗🤗
Ruts Anonymous!!!! Huzzah!
I don't know if a rut is a cousin of routine, but I'm devoted to the latter. I don't get rut vibes from you, Prue, more a sense of someone who knows what she loves.
Highlights: Claire Kinton's piece, the *look* from the dog, and this: "At nearly 75, how many days, weeks, months, years does one have left? Best to enjoy it all whilst one can."
Rut? Routine? Possibly they're connected but I agree, like you routine is the backbone of my day. I always, though, leave some time for spontaneity. It's the sparkle to any life...
You shine!
I am glad you touch on the elephant in the 'link in bio' room Prue.
It's a difficult one, and I have dithered and procrastinated over it for weeks.
That in itself is telling. That as a published author with decades of toil behind me, and hours spent honing the craft, I feel reluctant to put a value to it.
It's not just the decades of toil behind us, it's the 'what is coming next' I find so concerning. The penny dropped whilst I was sitting watching my father a few months ago at his 90th birthday party. He is 30 years ahead of me, vital and energetic, I am on the bus behind.
A foolish virgin, oblivious as a younger woman to rather important matters like, pension plan, investments, stocks and shares etc. I was head down, holding it together as a single parent, scraping it, winging it, very poorly, and trying not to look too far into the future.
Well, that future has just arrived. If I live another 30 years, like my dad, (unlikely, as my body has been pushed to the limits,) then I have to pay for it. My dad, not a foolish virgin, did invest, and has the luxury of fabulous pensions and annuities.
What strikes me even more Prue, is how many women are in a similar position. I see it all the time on my Instagram account, where for 12 years I have checked in every day, with a positive, cheery hellooo, and not for one minute thought about 'link in bio'. I receive DM's every day from women like me, who turned up, did the graft, raised their kids, cared for their parents, worked two jobs, and are now in utter panic. It's an epidemic.
I wish I knew the answer to it. I'm waiting for Hollywood to call with a blockbuster offer for Devorgilla Days! I'm going to write about this. Because for women who have done as they were bidden, worked physically, put in the emotional labour, put everyone else ahead of them, it's now a scary place to be, and the options are grim. Suggestions on a postcard please!
Oh my gosh, elephant in the room indeed and very hard if one is an indie author, where every aspect of taking a work to a readership is paid for by the author, so at the very least, one hopes to break even. Ha! Fat chance!
I do know what you mean about single women who have really done the hard yard and have little to no superannuation or investments. A dear relative is in exactly that position. Worse too, if one has any sort of illness which has chewed into one's income and savings, as you know.
I think you can truthfully write from a position of knowledge - your horrendous illness, the path you followed, singlehandedly turning your life around. And it's that soft voice DAILY on Insta, saying 'Good morning. How's your day?' that is so grounding for any feeling the pressure.
By the way - I've been waiting for a movie contract for any of my novels since 2010. Still waiting. But you have to be in it to win it!
And as an aside, I pay-subscribe to four accounts: Tom Ryan, David Michie, Jennifer Granville and yourself. That speaks volumes. Perhaps I should have put that in my post just to clarify. XXXX
I wonder what would happen to creatives, particularly women, who are having a go, and doing the work, without generous patrons like you Prue.
I read recently that the average salary of an author in the UK is £8,000 per year. So unless you're Margaret Atwood or Richard Osman, other routes to revenue are imperative.
Thank you Prue. X
I used to love Plastic Bertrand and Ca Plane pour Moi, Prue! I haven't met anyone else who even knew that song but .. why am I surprised to find it referenced here!? The pic of your shoes is really evocative (so buttery soft!) and also must say how handsome that Womble with the Side Eye is. Clearly, he is aware of this, too. Your writing is a delight. I would say if you are ever considered to be in a "rut" (like-minded and sensible) people would be lining up to join you. I know I would! PS Just saw Neal the Seal in Tasmania! His antics are being well documented now, lol.
Bless Neal - I wonder if he thrives on his fame. Lovely that he was born in Tasmanian waters and despite being orphaned quite early, still recognises Tasmanian waters and locations for seasonal visits.
But people here seem to forget that he IS wild, needs his space and I wish they'd leave him alone to do his thing. Folk have been told to stay beyond 20 metres but they don't.
And then there's social media. So that whenever he moves to a new location, some twerp puts it on social media and the whole circus hassles him again.
Anyway, he has gone now. Possibly to the southwest to his fellow sea-lions, although he may pop up again. Perhaps fame is a magnet...
What A great read Prue, and to be honest your "rut" sounds idyllic to me, one I'd happy be in. I know what you mean, simple pleasures mean so much, and you can't beat a good picnic !!!
the weather doesn't matter if you have the right clothing. I remember when we were training to do the" West Highland Way" we did lots of training in the winter in Derbyshire we always packed a good picnic and were out most weekends. (its was 30 years ago, but we backpacked carrying out tent and food etc, it was hard work, but such fun, putting the world to rights as well ) x
Yep, have to say I love my rut. And picnics? Best things ever. I always feel that an old wicker picnic basket is the most romantic thing ever.
And good on you and Jeff for tackling that walk! It sounds fun. Thirty years ago we were all so spritely, weren't we?
Prue it was such fun, 95 miles challenging at times as we'd carried our tent food etc.
There was one episode that I abandoned Jeff. It was at Bengelas farm We woke up and when I popped my head out it was Midge heaven. They love me !! So I went to the cooking area whilst Jeff took the tent down and brought the bits over so I could pack at leisure. My Hero !! When I washed my hair the water was full of these little black creatures. But it was still fun. Couldn't do it these days. Xx
Neither could I, Libby. Probably not even if I was younger. You're amazing!
Your pondering around a rut or routine has caused ME to ponder a bit; thank you. I don't ever feel as if my life is too much of the same thing because we change locations often. And now, at the end of one of our month-long visits I am longing for my own bed and my garden and the routine of home life. I think our routine, though not to everyone's taste, suits us and gives us access to family and friends in a seasonal rhythm.
We sometimes think about and miss the privilege that comes with living in the same place year-round, but we also wouldn't want to miss out on half our family and long-time friends in the other place. So we adapt. Sometimes the moving comes too quickly, sometimes not soon enough. But remembering to notice and pay attention wherever we are is always key. Thank you for the thoughtful discussion you provide for all of us to ponder!
We all have our own ways of living. Like I remarked - what floats my boat won't necessarily float yours.
I'm lucky that my family and most of my friends are close by. The other two live interstate but it's only an hour's flight away. For the rest of our lifestyle, we are remarkably content. I very rarely if ever have wanderlust anymore. I know its not an age thing as many of my contemporaries are always on the move. Perhaps it's just that I've discovered peace and contentment a little earlier than my peers. Who knows?
In the end, we all do what's right for us and fair enough too.
PS: Opened up the research info on L'ile Barbe last week. And found addresses of French historians who may be able to help when I jump back in to The Oblate. Quite exciting!
Prue it was July 2001 so I was quite a bit younger x
Very thought-provoking essay, Prue! I appreciate so much, that your words made me see the value in my own “ruts”—a life spent mostly at our place and the neighborhood; with the opportunity to live more deeply, paying close attention to the small, even tiny aspects of my world.
I also think living in a “rut,” having a routine that includes observing one’s surroundings, is rather necessary to be a novelist! E.M. Foster said (paraphrased) “A writer is someone upon whom nothing is lost.”
And as an aside, I so admire the way you live so fully alongside your vibrant writing life!
Some days though, to keep the writing life in perspective, I only edit what came before and add maybe 200-500 words. As I age, to sit an write 1-2000 words a day seems time I need to spend elsewhere.
As to ruts - such a good place to be from where we can view our world. Each to their own, Susan and you and I are definitely on the same wavelength.