The Novelling Wombat #2

As part of his NaNoWriMo activities, The Wombat attended the infamous and amazing Night of Writing Dangerously in San Francisco (much to the envy of his blogger).

The Wombat was privileged to meet the one-and-only Chris Baty, founder of NaNoWriMo (on the right), and the incredible Lindsey Grant, Municipal Liaison wrangler extraordinaire.


He was a bit more creeped out when he met the one-and-only Chris Baty doll...


At least he got to dive into Cybele's candy buffet (in a very literal way).


And he performed his solemn mascot duties for his handler Emily, as she wrote her way towards 50,000 words.

The Novelling Wombat #1

November is National Novel Writing Month, and although The Wombat himself isn't taking part (typing is too slow, and handling a pen too awkward, with those furry little paws), several of his friends are. So at the start of November, The Wombat set off for Austin, Texas, to join some of them.

He hung out with the Austin WriMos and their penguins at a write-in at Genuine Joe's cafe (click the link for a photo), and then at another at Cafe Caffeine (below).


The Wombat also joined in worshipping William Shatner during a lock-down write-in at the Writer's League of Texas... (Best not to ask about this, really.)


Novellists also like to read, so The Wombat visited a bookshop too. He seems to like children's mystery novels...

Happy Halloween from The Wombat

The Wombat got dressed up for a Halloween party; shame his moustache kept falling off.


To make up for his lack of interest in fancy dress, here's a photo from earlier in the year. It has a pumpkin in it. (And a less-groomed Wombat.)

The Wombat in China

The Wombat spent the last couple of weeks of October travelling through China (with a new handler). Here are some of his holiday snaps...

If The Wombat sits on the Great Wall, can he be seen from space?


The Wombat checks out the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium in Beijing, and dreams of winning gold... in the marsupial sprint, perhaps? (Shame he's a year late.)


If this is the Forbidden Palace, is it OK for The Wombat to look at it?


The Wombat took a trip down the River Yangtze - he's not actually on the edge of the boat here, which he was very relieved about.


The Wombat is impressed by the giant head, although he's not sure who it belongs to...


This is as close as The Wombat managed to get to a real panda - they are vegetarians, right?

More castle-visiting for The Wombat

Back in the summer, The Wombat took a trip around Donegal, including through the Glenveagh National Park. He liked it so much that he decided to go back in September, and this time, to visit the castle. (He likes castles a lot.)

Although no photos were allowed in Glenveagh Castle itself, The Wombat greatly enjoyed the short tour. Even if all the stag motifs all over the place were a bit much.
The weather wasn't all that great, but the gardens still looked lovely - here The Wombat is looking at the back of the orangery.


Outside of the sheltered grounds, the weather was very blustery - The Wombat had to cling tightly to this fence to avoid being blown into the old swimming pool or the lough below!