Monday 19th October, 2009

Vexen,

Wow! I'm really glad you liked the book. It's been published now (so exciting! I went to the bookshop in Glastonbury and there it was! Thought I'd buy a copy but that's possibly a little too narcissistic, even for me).

You have to send a picture of yourself to me, you know. Now I'm imagining you in a long, red velvet cape with long teeth - and I think I've just had an idea for a new story!

I think I mentioned before about my sitting room, how I'm redecorating it - well, I was clearing out the chimney (note to self: should have done that BEFORE I changed the carpet) and guess what I found! A whole group of bats living there! I called up the RSPCA and they don't think they can move the colony. So it looks like I have some new pets to add to Kairi, Sora and Naminé. I can't believe we never found them before!

Hope things are well over your side.

Yours,

Marly

24/10/09

Marluxia,

Bats...? Who's the vampire now, huh?

Speaking of crazy animals - I saw a chameleon on Wednesday, climbing over the car in the drive opposite me. I think it must have been an escaped pet, because we don't get them in the wild even in Florida (I think). Aside from that, nothing's really been going on. Just waiting for things to be sorted out in Boston so I can move back home.

They've started making cuts at the company I work for, thankfully not in my department - yet. Economic recession is hitting everybody hard, I guess.

Is everybody obsessing over this Swine Flu crap over in the UK? Apparently it's become a "national emergency" over here - I have never heard anything so stupid in my life before (except maybe the war on Iraq) - 1,000 deaths in the US is nothing compared to say, normal flu. Ugh. They're wasting all our money.

In response to your last letter, I finally dug out a photo of me to send to you. It's about a year or so old, but it's the best one I have.

Vexen

Friday 30th October, 2009

Vexen,

Well, on Swine Flu, I think that it's better to be prepared for it to become an epidemic and not have it happen than it to unexpectedly wipe out half the population of a country, right?

Photo: Oh my God, I love your hair. How do you keep it that straight? Mine's a frizzy, curly mess. You'd better still have it that long as well - it really suits you. You look gorgeous. That is going and staying on my notice board above my desk.

I've been having great fun doing up my sitting room (I'll send photos when I'm done) and I think that once I'm finished I'll remake the old spare room downstairs - it's really lonely here so I might see if I can make it into a bedroom and then rent it out to somebody - what do you think?

Yours,

Marly

4/11/09

Marluxia,

Hmm... I suppose you're right about that, but it still seems a little bit of a waste. I mean, it's just like bird flu which ended up being a complete blow over.

It's even longer now, actually, but the same style. But it's just naturally straight like that, so I don't really have to take much care of it.

I think that'd be a great idea - if I ever come over to the UK, I know where I'd like to stay!

Um... One last thing; this might seem like an odd question, but are you gay? Please don't take offense if you're not, I'm just curious.

Vexen

Saturday 14th November 2009

Vexen,

So sorry this letter is late - things have been a little hectic and what with postal strikes and all, things just haven't been getting through.

As for your question - no offence taken - yes, I am gay. I think it's pretty obvious what with my pink hair and passion for flowers (but I hasten to add that I don't have a lisp or walk with a limp), but I should have warned you, shouldn't I?

My parents came to visit last Tuesday and accidentally let Sora free all over the garden, so we ended up spending most of the afternoon trying to catch him. He's such a muppet, honestly.

I told them about you and they said that they were "glad I'm making friends" like I was some kind of a loner... But it set me thinking, I actually am a loner. Aside from you, I don't have any "friends" per say at all, only really mutual acquaintances. Depressing, isn't it?

Yours,

Marly

26/11/09

Marluxia,

If it's any consolation I don't really have any friends either, just people I know from work. But I don't have an excuse because I live in the middle of a city. I'm moving back to Boston next week, so replies should be quicker from then on. Not long until Christmas now...

... I actually don't care much for Christmas. It's nice to see the family again, I suppose, but it was always better when I was a little kid. What do you think?

Vexen

Tuesday 1st December 2009

Vexen,

Happy Advent! Oh, this might sound silly but I'm unbelievably excited about Christmas. Honestly, I can't wait! Insert smiley face here, I can't draw to save my life! I'm going to go see my family over in Salisbury and I might also be meeting my niece (or nephew) for the first time! My big sister is expecting the baby any day now... I love babies so much, they're adorable. Even if I don't think I'll ever have one myself (obviously not have have, since I'm a guy, I mean father) because I don't really believe in IVF and all this stuff... If I ever find myself a partner for life I might see if I can adopt a little baby though.

Last week I found myself at a village dance evening - the most surreal experience of my life. Most of the people there were, ahem, of a certain age but we were dancing to all this contemporary stuff. Weird. I'm also not so good at dancing, which I don't think helped. Oh, the embarrassment of being danced around in circles by OAPs...

Yours,

Marly

6/12/09

Marluxia,

Wow, good luck with the baby! I've never been much good with them, athough they are cute, I have to admit.

Speaking as a scientist, I also disagree with artificial forms of conception; it's a waste of resources and money that could have been spent on better medical advances that could actually save lives. If childless couples want a baby, they should adopt, that would also mean that laws on abortions could be more strict. It's just inhumane.

But enough of my ranting; I've got some good news myself. Remember talking about skiing? Well, I'm saving up some money to go on a skiing trip with my family this winter like the old times, and we've decided to throw in snowboarding too. I shouldn't be this excited, I'm a grown man...

Vexen

Thursday 10th December

Vexen,

Fifteen days and counting!!! My sister went into hospital this morning, they think that by the time I've posted this letter the baby will be born - so exciting! I'm in such a good mood right now, filled with festive cheer!

My new book is coming along well; you really are just like my muse at times. I have it all planned out - although I'm not going to tell you the plot until I'm at least halfway through (this might be a while). It's going to be very special indeed...

Wow, skiing, that's going to be so awesome, you'd better take photos out there and send them to me! I heard a new band (or musical project) the other day, it's Canadian and called Mythos - it's sort of new age and electronic music. I'm not sure if you'd like it but it's really been inspiring me. Youtube it!

Yours with Christmas cheer,

Marly

15/12/09

10 days...

I'm leaving for Utah tomorrow, I've included the address of where we're staying so we can still keep in touch, I'll be away until the new year.

I happened to look up Mythos when I got your letter, they're pretty cool. I didn't think I'd like that sort of music but it's good.

I've been really busy packing all week, it's crazy how much stuff I seem to need to take.

Not much else to say, hope things at your end are doing okay.

Vexen