Army of Two

You wouldn't know because I've never said a word about it, but I have the army in my blood. Family who served proudly, men who trained at Sandhurst. My divine late godfather was in the Royal Air Force - like a freakin' boss. I was honestly considering the Navy, before I remembered I don't like getting up early. Or exercise. Or boats. And I will admit that it only takes the words 'I'm in the army' for the elastic of my knickers to be tested. Sorry I had to take it down to that level for my own good.

I didn't fancy putting any of those experiences on paper. It's all a bit too close to home - the waiting around for one lousy single page letter or a two line email (I mean what the fk, I know you're bored, but come on!); the arguments with people who pretend to be pacifists and despise the military but have no problem smacking a bottle over someone's head if they've had too much to drink; the heart stopping moment when you watch the news and hear the words "a soldier was killed today..." until you remember that you'll be informed before they make it public or you freaking hope they would.

Nothing fun or romantic about it as far as I knew. But writing is my therapy. I understand better if I can make up a whole story around it. So I'm pretty close (please God, thank you) finishing this tale and putting it to bed. If only the stupid thing would stop making me cry... Let me watch a few episodes of American Dad and I'll be fine. American Dad or Confessions of a Male Stripper. That'll do it.

Beautiful Monster

When I was writing Shibah's Monster, it pretty much played out in my head, like a film. Apart from the middle bit, when Marek and Shibah got bored with me and abandoned me for about two weeks, so I couldn't finish the damn book... It's all right. I'm not mad any more. Much... In any case, while I was writing and editing, these songs carried me through, made me remember, helped me find my nostalgia, my rage, my fear and my love. You can tell I was a teenager in the 90s can't you?

1. Craig Armstrong - Storm 
2. Tom Odell - Another Love
3. Kanye West & Jay-Z - No Church in the Wild
4. ASAP Rocky ft Florence Welch - I Come Apart
5. Dante Alighieri & Patrick Cassidy - Vide Cor Meum
6. XX - Reunion
7. 112 - Cupid
8. Radiohead - Karma Police
9. Portishead - Machine Gun
10. Massive Attack - Paradise Circus
11. Bloc Party - The Prayer
12. Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun
13. Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be
14. S. Carey - We All Grow
15. Fauvre Requiem - Agnus Dei
16. XX - Fantasy

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