So, how’s the WIP progressing? I think the best description is ‘not as quickly as I would wish’. But I do have an excuse.

A few weeks ago, I was diagnosed with a small hernia. Having been advised the waiting list for the necessary op was currently at around 21 months, I put it to the back of my mind and continued as usual. But, there’s so often a ‘but’ when it comes to medical matters, isn’t there? I had cause to visit the GP a short while later with my wife and, since I wasn’t then the patient, merely happened to mention, in response to the GP’s question, that the lump had grown. Did it need attention? That particular GP is thorough. She obviously heard and acted.

At the time, I’d already spent exhausting hours dismantling the decking that served as our relaxation spot in the garden. Rats had taken up residence beneath the wooden structure (we live very adjacent to a forest, and rats abound there.) In the process, I discovered part of the structure had rotted, so it made sense to get rid completely rather than repair.

Of course, we need somewhere to relax in the warmer weather. I decided the easiest route to that was to extend the rather wide stone slab area already adjoining the back of the house. I’d made a start on that process when the first of our three heatwaves set in. At 77, it’s considered unwise for me to exert myself in such temperatures, so progress stalled. That happened for each of the three-day heatwaves we’ve so far had this year.

Part way through this period, I received a letter advising me to visit a medical centre in the nearby city so a specialist could examine the hernia. Cut a lengthening story short, I was given an appointment for surgery in mid-July. For an unknown but relatively lengthy period following the knife work I’d be unable to do any physical work, and, let me tell you, those 60cm square slabs of reconstituted stone are pretty heavy! Also, the ground has the helpful consistency of hard-set concrete after the heat and lack of rain.

It was clear I’d need to get on with the job if I were to get it done before I faced the cut. That, of course, ate into my writing time. As luck would have it, that appointment was cancelled by the surgeon, who became unavailable for the specified date. I was given a new date of 28^th July.

I managed to complete the heavy work and finished off building the small patio area a couple of days ago.

The plus part of the coming surgery is that I’ll be incapacitated for at least a couple of weeks and will have no excuse to keep me from the keyboard for longer hours to get the writing done!

When I last updated my readers here about the WIP, on June 22, I’d got as far as chapter 5 of the 40 in the editing process. The word count was 116,686, and the page count 271. For those who care about figures, I’ll start editing chapter 24 as soon as I’ve posted this. The word count’s risen to 121,716, and the page count to 280.

Some of those words differ from what they were previously, of course, and others are additions to accommodate changes made during editing. That is, after all, what editing is all about.

I’m now about to continue the trek until I arrive at a point where I can invite my beta readers to join the journey and encourage them to slice, mangle, and generally advise, inevitably forcing rewrites, since their input is always positive and improving.

I’ll attempt to keep you posted on progress. Thanks for your patience in waiting for the story to be completed, published, and placed on your shelves ready for such discerning readers to enjoy!