Embedded Files
In a gazebo in Jamaica, Ian Fleming wrote the James Bond books.
In a gazebo in Jamaica, Ian Fleming wrote the James Bond books.
He’d start his day by taking the 36 steps down the cliff to his beach.
He’d start his day by taking the 36 steps down the cliff to his beach.
He’d swim out to the colourful coral reef, snorkel around and watch
He’d swim out to the colourful coral reef, snorkel around and watch
the fish of many colours, octopuses, lobsters, crabs.
the fish of many colours, octopuses, lobsters, crabs.
Then, wearing a sandals, shorts and a short-sleeved shirt,
Then, wearing a sandals, shorts and a short-sleeved shirt,
he’d have breakfast with his wife, Anne, in the garden.
he’d have breakfast with his wife, Anne, in the garden.
They ate scrambled eggs, bacon and pawpaws
They ate scrambled eggs, bacon and pawpaws
and drank Jamaica’s famous Blue Mountain coffee.
and drank Jamaica’s famous Blue Mountain coffee.
While Violet, the housekeeper, cleared off the table,
While Violet, the housekeeper, cleared off the table,
he kissed his wife and walked out to the gazebo.
he kissed his wife and walked out to the gazebo.
She stayed in the garden and wearing a big straw hat
She stayed in the garden and wearing a big straw hat
painted paintings of flowers and fish.
painted paintings of flowers and fish.
The gazebo was out on the far edge of his property near the cliff.
The gazebo was out on the far edge of his property near the cliff.
He closed the slatted blinds to keep the gazebo cool
He closed the slatted blinds to keep the gazebo cool
and so he wouldn’t be distracted.
and so he wouldn’t be distracted.
Then he wrote.
Then he wrote.
He wrote on a 30-year-old Imperial portable typewriter.
He wrote on a 30-year-old Imperial portable typewriter.
He wrote on sheets of expensive bond writing paper.
He wrote on sheets of expensive bond writing paper.
And he wrote fast – 2,000 words in three hours.
And he wrote fast – 2,000 words in three hours.
About noon, he stopped writing.
About noon, he stopped writing.
He went outside, took off his shirt
He went outside, took off his shirt
and sat on in the hot Jamaican sun.
and sat on in the hot Jamaican sun.
He looked across the blue Caribbean,
He looked across the blue Caribbean,
he felt the breeze and smelled the salt air,
he felt the breeze and smelled the salt air,
he listened to the waves on the beach down below.
he listened to the waves on the beach down below.
He and Anne had lunch in the garden;
He and Anne had lunch in the garden;
they liked Jamaican food
they liked Jamaican food
like ackee and saltfish or curried goat with rice.
like ackee and saltfish or curried goat with rice.
After lunch he had a nap for an hour or two.
After lunch he had a nap for an hour or two.
About 5 p.m., he went back to the gazebo.
About 5 p.m., he went back to the gazebo.
He read and revised
He read and revised
what he’d written that morning.
what he’d written that morning.
He put the pages in his desk’s bottom left-hand drawer.
He put the pages in his desk’s bottom left-hand drawer.
By 6:30 p.m. he was having his first good stiff gin and tonic of the day.
By 6:30 p.m. he was having his first good stiff gin and tonic of the day.
Google Sites
Report abuse