Random thoughts & weird things I notice.

 

I babysat my two very adorable granddaughters for New Year's Eve, and I notice some strange things that should be bloody impossible. The youngest one Harper (6 months) has my ex-husbands grin. Considering he was my daughter's stepfather, you would think impossible, right? I know my daughter and I do, but even Emily has pointed it out to me. Sadly even Grace, the older girl, will look at us in a certain way and Emily and I will both go... well she's conjuring Steve, (ex-hubby). The reason we both think this is weird is that neither girl has ever met the man. He was long gone before they entered the world.

I heard recently (like yesterday) from someone, that not long after we split up that his mother died, which I was very sorry to hear. Mum Nielsen was a lovely lady, always had a smile and a laugh, and boy could she cook. I'll never forget the day she was at our house and making some sort of sweets with Emily, and the cream exploded all over the kitchen. She will be missed by all that knew her. The person who told me also sent a recent pic of Steve and it was a bit of a shock. He's put on a bit of weight and is growing out his hair. I should also add he looked happy. He was standing with his sisters. It makes me a little sad that he missed out on what would have been his grandchildren's lives as I know his other stepchild has also had a child since Steve left... But what he misses out on, I get to have all the time and I love every minute of being with them.

I've also started on trying to figure out what else I can get rid of to declutter my house some more. Seriously, I think I just get sick of looking at all the crap that I get too lazy to put away, so it has to go. If it's not here I won't leave it lying around. For the whole month of January, I'm working on my bedroom, because that's the place that's my worst, as it not only has my stuff but the bottom three shelves of all 4 bookcases are filled with the girl's toys. I need to get some baskets to keep them all in, so I don't have to look at them each and every day. I also need to go through all the DVDs and get rid of the ones I no longer watch.  They are just taking up room and I don't actually need them any more.

I want to make it easier for me to dust. I live on a fairly busy street, so every damn day it gets as dusty as hell in my house.

Hello 2021

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR:

Hopefully, this year will be a new beginning for us all. I know that everything is still up in the air with Covid still running rampant throughout the world.

I'm still working on that writing list for this year. I'm going to be happy if I even just get another 6 written. That will hopefully make 11 for the year if the 5 already in edits line up to get done. I'm not sure what ones I'll work on yet. I'll let you know as soon as I figure it out.

I'm still having trouble with my spine so I have to do a bit more to get my weight down some more. This is the year I hopefully get it done. No fad diets for me, I'm doing it the slow methodical way... through healthy-ish eating and exercise. If there is anyone out there who wants to get in on my weight loss plan let me know and we can cheer each other on. I'll add you to my charts and keep track of you along with myself and vice versa. I know sometimes it's easier to diet/lose weight if you're doing it with someone else for support━even if it is a total stranger. I'm hoping the extra weight loss will help with my migraines.

This year I'm trying something different and writing myself up a 5-year plan which will hopefully keep me on track with not only my diet but get my budget back on track and my debt to be non-existent. Actually, I'm hoping to teach the kids how to manage their own money better.

I'm hoping that everyone stays safe in the year ahead. Remember to tell everyone who matters that you love them because you never knows what the future may bring. Though I'm going to believe that 2021 has to be better than 2020 for so many different reasons for us all. This will also be the year I try and reconnect with you all.

2020: What can I say?

 

Even though I can almost guarantee that most of us have had a shit of a year I did have two books release, two that I'm very proud of having written. I also have 5 in the line up for edits at MLRPress, so I'll update you on those when I know more. I'll email my editor again today and ask what the go is.

I have also decided to write some MF series that I have been thinking about and I'd also like to once again to try my hand at first person. Though I'm not sure how well how that will turn out. I'm hoping it will go better than the last time.

After the horrendous year that was 2020, I've decided to reevaluate my writing schedule for 2021. I may not have had Covid and fingers crossed I never get it, but we have had a shit load of other viruses and illnesses run through our household.

On a better note: I was granted with another beautiful Grandaughter in 2020, and my daughter got married in 2020➖actually she went into labour in the middle of her wedding vows, but still ended up holding off for another couple of weeks before Harper was born. Her big sister Grace discovered what a mistake it is to play in sump oil when dad leaves it down where she can reach it.

With the amount of time we have all been stuck at home, I've come to realise I still have too much stuff. So 2021 I'll do another big declutter I think. My pets are both doing well. Though Robson is a little shitter at times. His favourite thing is to sneak into my closet and try and pull my dresses off of their coathangers. Oliver is still mellow and laid back.

Healthwise: in this past year I've had some ups and downs, but for the most part I've been okay. Just living life and keeping to ourselves and staying out of the main populace so that there is less of a chance of catching anything. Though I have never been more grateful to be an Australian when this pandemic struck the world. I've probably just jinxed us now that I've said that. I don't think they will ever cure the disease, but hopefully, they will find a way to finally get it under control.

I'm hoping the worst is now finally behind us. May our future be better.

Tree Trimming

 

And I don't mean as in the Christmas tree kind. I have two unruly Hibiscus that need to be brought back under control. All the others (I have 4) are behaving, but these two have just gone ballistic. So I want to get it done before 2021 arrive = start the new year off on a good note type of deal.

I spent an hour this morning weeding the two outside garden beds. In the morning when it's cooler, I'll dive into the one inside the cat enclosure and clean it up as well. I should add that I'm not the greatest gardener in the world. And living where I do, most of my plants are drought-tolerant species.

The problem is I hate getting bitten by ants, I'm mildly allergic to them. They make me itch like crazy. I'm also mildly allergic to wasp and bee stings. I won't die from them I just swell up some and it hurts like hell.

Writing-wise: I've been taking note on a new series that I'm thinking of writing. I haven't got a name for it yet, as I'm still trying to flesh out the characters and scenarios... This will be an MF series. I'll let you know more when I do.

I'm also cat-sitting for a while young miss Daisy has come to stay. Baby, Harper and Mum, Emily both have a bad case of hay fever. Daisy is enjoying her time here with Robson and Oliver. They drive me nuts playing chasey through the house at all hours of the night. Through the day they are just happy to find a cool spot and sleep the day away.

Can't wait for this year to be over

 

I feel that this year has just plain wor me the hell out. I'm so very thankful that Covid never touched me or mine (yet)... and hopefully, it never will. though it seems this year I was screwed over in the health department. I know I shouldn't complain because so many people who have been touched by Covid have had it much worse than I have.

Seriously though, my back/spine has been sorer than hell. So, in 2021 I'll definitely have to take better care of it and try and finish losing the weight that I need to, just to try and relieve the stress there. I also seem to have caught ever fricken virus that was going around, which then would kick in a bout of my Ross River Fever.

So I'll have to change my dietary habits for the upcoming year and eat foods that don't clash with my ailments, such as my thyroid etc. I'm not going to diet per se, but I will weigh in every week. So if there is anyone out there who wants to join me then please feel free to drop me a line and we can start this journey together. Sometimes all you need is someone there keeping you motivated. whether it be a friend or a perfect stranger like me. I'll be weighing in each Friday, so for all you Americans that will be a Thursday so we are inputting on the same day. This should be fun.

I've been trying to sort a few things out before I start writing again in 2021, but I have a massive headache today. I think I'm going to have to take a couple of pain killers to try and get it under control. I might even do a bit of reading to catch me up to date on one of the stories I have to get back into writing come 2021.

Talk to you all later.

Merry Christmas

 

Merry Christmas

From my family to yours.

Hope you all had an awesome couple of days and stayed safe. Hope Santa brought you all something you needed. 

In My Head-space...

 

Well, I haven't gotten the writing done this year that I have wanted to get done. I have actually been a little down and out with a bout of Ross River Fever. So my body has been tired as crap, and my brain has wanted to shut down completely on me. 

Though I have this one damn plotline for a new story that is fighting to make itself heard... so I have been thinking on it. It's more like a few series that intermingle both characters and plot-wise. I have been trying to write some notes down on it before it gets to twisted up inside my head.

I'm hoping 2021 is a better year than 2020 has been. This year has been a shocker for most of us. I need to get myself more organised. Heck, I only just realised how close it is for NaNoWriMo. If I'm going to compete this year I need to get my head back in the damn game and try and figure out how to stay in the here & now, instead of letting my mind drift as it has been known to do lately.

Other than that, my family is all well and doing fine. Covid-19 still hasn't gotten to us, and let's hope it stays that way until it's completely gone. I'll try not to let it go so long between posts again.