Tuesday 11th December 2007 (pp1480-91)

I spent a lot of time thinking about the reality of someone living on an island away from everyone else. How could I make it believable? There were many small questions that needed answering. I wanted to work it out, to make it good.

One of the main practicalities to consider was the issue of supplies. How would he have enough food and so on? I decided there would be a 'go-between', who inherits the island and the island man buys the island off this go-between.

Monday 10th December 2007 (pp1464-79)

I probably wrote some before work at the post office and then some more at the bystander café after work and maybe even some in the breaks, because I got a lot done on this day. Perhaps my state of mind was happy? That always helps. It's harder to write when I have arguments playing themselves out again and again in my head, trying to prove I'm right and she's wrong, realising what I should have said at the time.

Sunday 9th December 2007 (pp1454-63)

It was a large scale project and I realised that I would have to spend some time planning out the small details, making it a coherent intricate story, a novel, and the writing on the pages was to consist purely of this planning for a good long while.

Saturday 8th December 2007 (pp1442-53)

Today we went Christmas shopping. It was busy and festive and when we got home, James had rearranged the living room and was sitting in there with his friend Josie who had brought with her some fancy chocolates. The UK Snooker Championship started.