Can it really be that the last days of summer are upon us? Outside, it's overcast and raining, and sitting in my room, I actually feel cold. My feet are freezing. In twenty days, it'll be September. Autumn's just around the corner.

This time last year, I had a pretty good idea of what I'd e doing in the upcoming September. I'd be going back to Sixth Form, regardless of grades; I just didn't know whether I'd be moving on to A2s or resitting it all. This year, I don't even know if i'll be returning to Sixth Form; if I'll even be allowed to, whether I fail or not. I could be in a different college - not that fresh starts are entirely new to me. Or I could be gap yearring, with the grades I need, raising a bit of cash for uni. Maybe I'll even have been abducted by aliens by then. I simply don't know.

Not knowing what lies ahead is scary. It's like having to walk around a blind corner on the street, only you know that on the other side you'll find either a slap in the face, an axe murderer or a piece of delicious cake. Or even alien abduction. But you can't turn around; the only way is forward. You can only go on and hope it's the cake, because cake is better than being slapped, murdered and abducted.

I had a good night's writing last night, though Dad would probably disagree - I woke him up by moving my chair. This is precisely why I need a carpet, Dad! Chairs don't scrape noisily on carpet! They do on wood! And with a bookshelf to keep anything non-essential out of the way, I'd make less noise tidying up before bed.

Ergh. Rain, rain, sod the hell off or I'll smash your face in. Seriously. You annoy me. I want the sun!

I've finally started to practice guitar again, and I'm just taking a break while my fingertips recover. Today I've begun with the C Major Scale and chord, as well as having a shot at Paul Weller's 'Wild Wood'. I'm tackling the E Minor and A Minor chords, learning how to alternate between the two, before adding in the D Minor chord which will complete the basic chord sequence of the song.

I think I've noticed a slight problem with my scale book, though. The C Major scale has eight notes, right? Well, when I play the scale according to the tab in the scale book, two of the notes (fourth string, third fret and open third) are exactly the same.

It could be a mistake on my part, but I'm not sure. Maybe if I played the scale on my keyboard to hear it as it should sound, it might clarify things a bit.

Now, then... where's the adapter for my keyboard gone, again?

I've lost my keyboard adapter. In fact, I fear I may have thrown it out by accident. When we were moving house, I just tossed it into a bag of old socks, which was then thrown under my bed and forgotten. I can't remember if I ever took that adapter out (probably not, as I last used my keyboard yonks ago), but during a massive cleanout I had recently, I'm pretty sure that bag wound up straight in the bin.

Actually, it could be in my wardrobe somewhere. I may have taken it out of the bag and then shoved it in a box somewhere. I hope this is the case, because I'd love to learn how to play keyboard, as well.

I. Am. So. Bored. Seriously, I am. I've been back for five days, now, and all the time I've been at my house it's just been the four of us, sitting around doing bugger all. And now I'm realising that I can't live like this; not anymore. I have to get out somewhere, to do something. Maybe I could get a job.

Ooh, I have an idea! Laura phoned while I was away. I'll call her back, tomorrow. Or I could even phone her tonight.

What I need is to get a list of cheap, fun and accessible stuff to do. Stuff that gets me out, and that I could do with friends. We could go ice skating, for instance, or have a picnic. We could go walking, and visit the nature reserve at Formby. A few of us could join a drama society.

Right, I'm phoning Holly, as well. I'm going to ask her about Lowton's drama society.

I had a good auld chinwag with Laura before. We were on the phone for 47 minutes and now I have a really bad case of phone arm. It hurts quite a bit! Anyway, we've arranged to go out about St. Helens on Wednesday, so my era of boredom may not last for much longer.

This means I've only the gap of Tuesday to fill in. What to do on Tuesday... there's the usual, I suppose; take a bath, read, write, practise guitar and paint, but I could always go for a walk as well, drop in at the library ad finally apply for a card, sit and read a book in the grass at a park. If I took a flask and some food, I could stay out a little while, maybe write a bit as well.

There's my plan, then! Library, then walk to the park and have a little picnic while I read, write and get out of this bloody house.

I've set my alarm to 7AM, anyway, so I'll be up in plenty of time. For now, though, the main order of business is my novel.

I'd like to mention before I go that I've had a bit of a texting session with my Irish family:

( Said session follows, beneath the cut... )

Look at the time. I haven't even managed a page yet. Maybe about two thirds of one. I've just sat here for hours, scribbling the occasional line and listening to music.

I should probably call it quits for tonight and have another go tomorrow. I seriously can't focus, tonight. Today's been so drab that I just want a new morning, a new day. I'll try to make an effort tomorrow to fight the boredom. Maybe then, my muse will come back.

It's worth mentioning that I would love to learn this song ('And You And I' - Yes) on guitar; the rhythm section that I could play to accompany vocals. I wouldn't mind doing the vocals, either; i'm not a brilliant singer but I'm not tone deaf and it doesn't stop me loving a good yodel!

Right, then. Now to tidy up for bed.

Ancient pines breathe unspoken wisdom through the hill-mists by the sea. The sun traces golden fingers through the forest, digits stroking a lover's hair, and these flashes of warmth spill over you as you trip the grey gravel path. Everything lives, from the sky to the trees to the burning muscles in your legs. Hours have passed and you have hours to go.

A break in the woods reveals a shard of the sea, distant, glistening. The sky, the sea, the mountain, the forest. All four gathered eternally to greet you.

Your soul awakens here, is nurtured. To tear it away would be to repeat injury.