I’m back with my new novel. It’s hardly a new novel yet, more the thought of a new novel, but I left it for two or three weeks and had begun to wonder if anything really existed. Something does and it is very exciting. It has, in a way, only just begun, and I certainly have no idea where it is going, but it has quite definitely begun, and its connection to Estonia seems to be strengthening.

I’ve started reading about Estonia, first a book by an English aristocrat travelling in the 1840s, Elizabeth Rigby, Letters from the Shores of the Baltic. I found it free on Google books, a facsimile of the original. I’ve bought a book of bird migration patterns – Maisie, one of my characters is a bird watcher, Northern Folk Tales and a history of the Baltic World 1772 – 1993. I’ve listened to snatches of music by Arvo Part – quite terrifying, and I am getting excited again about the trip to the region in the summer.

In other news my Polish lodger has bought her plane ticket home for Christmas. She has been teaching my dog Polish and feeding her scraps. Lily and I worked on a secret and fun project of which I can say no more until Christmas. I ordered an Indian takeaway tonight which I did not need (but was very tasty and will feed me for several days) and Daniel put a lovely picture of himself and baby Michael on Facebook, which was a delight to see.

So good night, and sleep well, and I must say I am very much enjoying making choices and taking steps. Way to go!