Car insurance as inspiration

It's endlessly fascinating to notice how what happens in life, the littlest things, get lodged in my brain and end up on a page.

Like the other day when Mr W changed the car insurance for the first time in a million years. Car insurance has always been something I deal with - only because I worked for an insurance company for a while so, of course, insurance became my specialist subject. Anyway, Mr W changed the insurance and it stuck in my mind. Then it popped out when Ruth was talking to Trip about the things she's had to learn to do since he died; bank statements, electricity bills, that sort of thing. Little things that are not difficult in themselves but had never been her job, so seemed like a big deal. She was proud of herself for sorting out the car insurance and I was proud of her too.

A facebook exchange Gary and I had this week is another example of how ideas build on each other and turn up in the novel. It started when Gary posted the photo of magic mushroom mountain that's in the post below on my facebook page. When the book's published you'll have to look out for the references...

Gary Twynam This is magic mountain, Lampeter...where a bit of Trip lives...

Karin Dixon there's a man on magic mushroom mountain!

Gary Twynam Yeah- just a sawdust student jape though...

Karin Dixon they should have made his willy bigger

Gary Twynam Probably got worn off from all the people shagging on it...

Karin Dixon did ruth & trip shag on mmm?

Gary Twynam God no - (well Ruth may have). Trip's never been up there.

Karin Dixon this photo should go on the blog really

Gary Twynam Yes - will do. Was thinking about when they have alfresco sex in the park - could possibly reference it in conversation.

Gary Twynam I was also thinking - and if I remember it correctly, the farmer, or someone of a censorius mind, got rid of the willy.

Karin Dixon oh yes, that could go in. in fact, one of ruth's feminist friends went up one moonlit night and removed it, replacing it with anatomically correct women's parts including vagina, fallopian tubes and uterus. the farmer, who hadn't been bothered by a massive cock, was out the next day with a tractor.