HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 ...WELCOME 2023...

I'd like to start off by saying Happy New Year to everyone. May the year ahead be kinder than the year we just lived through.

This year I'm going to try and think more positive thoughts... and set myself realistic goals... I don't want to be causing myself stress needlessly. So for the last month while I've been out sick I have been working on this year's budget (loose) to keep me headed in the right direction. I've already been sharing some of the other things (monthly planner - to keep track of 6 people 7 pets and two houses)... Yes, I'm my daughter's backup appointment keeper.

My Goals:

1) Finish writing 6 books.

2) Read 10 books off my TBR list.

3) Stick to my budget.

4) Try and be more organized.

5) check in on my blogs more frequently.

Working on now:

1) The Connelly Chronicles 3: Because of You (starting at 55K/100K)

2) Misty River 1: Calm to My Storm (Starting at 35K/50K)

3) Quaide's Crossing 1: Saving Grace (Starting at 5K/50K)

4) Cotter Girls 1: TASH (40K/45K)

It's The End...

 

And by the end, I mean the end of another year. I can tell you I am so looking for this year to be finally over and done with. I'm hoping beyond all hope that 2023, brings me less illness. I still have the cough I can't seem to shake, and worse, I seem to have pulled a muscle in my neck while coughing... Freaking hurts like a bitch.

I got all the stuff I need to get my diary situation sorted out for 2023... when I'm trying to keep track of 6 people throughout the year I need a clear way of doing it... So I have a book I keep in my handbag for writing appointments and notes in, and then I have a monthly desk planner that I'll hang on my wall to keep everything so visual...  Everyone even has their own colour.

I'm really looking forward to writing again, and I have to be strict about my time as I have so much more stuff I also need to get done in 2023. But, I'm trying to make it as easy as possible for myself to stay on track. Feel free to drop me a comment along the way to make sure I'm still heading along the path I've set myself on.

Okay, I'll talk to you all again in the new year.

It could only happen to me

 

I'm having such a run of good luck━not. I go to the doctor with a reoccurring earache and come home with the flu (not Covid). Let's just say, my Christmas is going to be very quiet. I hate having a Summer cold. I just wish I could stop coughing. On the plus side... Mum isn't sick. The heat isn't helping matters. We've had some stinking hot days, and Summer isn't over yet. I need to find my asthma inhaler.

The birds are back in abundance. Lately, we seem to have a lot of corellas, crows, kookaburras, wild ducks, etc. They are so fricken loud. I've even heard a storm bird or two.

The best part about being sick is I can lie in bed and watch the whole Star Wars saga from start to finish... or... the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. I'm going to have to cook a batch of chicken soup or vegetable soup... something quick and easy.

getting closer and closer to the end of this year, the beginning of next year, and hopefully the start of a better way of living. I have been working on setting myself some realistic personal goals for next year.

My Week

 

My head is pounding today. It was my youngest granddaughter's 1st birthday. It was loud, but it wasn't too hot. But because I wasn't feeling 100%  it was so draining. The kids seemed to enjoy themselves.

Good news: the new handrail our landlord installed at our back stairs, is a godsend and worked so fricken well. So much easy for getting Mum in and out of the house.

Bad news: my specialist appointment has been rescheduled for 4 days later so I'm now going on January 10th. I guess I'll have to wait a little longer.

I watched Wednesday on Netflix... I must admit, I kind of enjoyed it. I hope they make a season 2. I even liked most of the characters. I did figure out who the baddies were early on, but it didn't take anything away from watching it. I guess I'll have to find something else to watch now... Don't suggest Sons of Anarchy because I couldn't get into that show. I just didn't like half the characters.

Still been working on getting my story notes together. It's slow going, but it'll be worth it in the end. At the moment I'm trying to work out a better way to keep things organized in each file... I want each story file to be more uniform. So I can find things more easily when looking for information. I'm thinking the excel files are the best way and then the character files with their picture.

Touching Base...

I'm still not feeling 100%. I'm hoping after my specialist appointment on 06-Jan-2023 that I'll start to turn everything around. Even if it can alleviate my migraines just a fraction I would be happy. But knowing you're on the wrong dosage of medication, and still having to take it until you see the specialist is doing my head in, which doesn't help with the headaches. Then my back is playing up again, my right ear still hurts, and for some strange reason, the soles of my feet are burning. I know, I know... quit complaining and talk about something interesting.

Well, I survive a spider attack, that sucker was huge. It almost got in my car, and now it's under my car just waiting to get me again. I might have to carry a big can of bug spray... Yes, I still don't like spiders. I just don't understand how they can run so damn fast.

We had another storm last night, and you'll be happy to know that we didn't lose any electrical stuff this time - though I did unplug the tv just to be on the safe side.

We got a new handrail put on the steps out the back (which is really our front door - but seeing as no one except us uses it, it's the back door.)

19 days until the end of the year. So 19 days to get all of my stuff in order before I start writing again. I'm still going through all my handwritten notes. There are just so many. I'm trying to get them all typed into the computer. I've also been trying to update all of my series files etc. Wish me luck.

Aftermath...

 

The aftermath of last night's storm is it blew our TV. and messed with one of our digital clocks. there are also a ton of puddles, branches, and leaves all over our yard... The good news is we have a secondary TV so Mum can still watch her cricket. The puddles will dry up eventually and I can clean up all the branches and leaves. The bad news is, it didn't seem to cool it down any, so I'm still sweating in places I'd rather not.

The heat makes it hard to want to finish spring/summer cleaning my house. I don't understand how the crap keeps accumulating. I swear I throw it away/donate it, and it comes back tenfold... it's like a conspiracy or something. I also swear it will never happen again, but it always does and makes a liar out of me. The good thing about this decluttering all-season cleaning is that I have been finding heaps of story notes that I've had stashed around the house.

I'm trying to get myself more organised for next year where my writing is concerned. But honestly, between the heat and being ill over the last year... it's been too hard to stay focused enough to even think. so for the last month, I've been telling myself I need to pull up my big girl panties and get the job done. Set a plan in place and stick to it.

Probably something easier said than done. I have to take the advice I keep giving my own granddaughters when they struggle to do something "It just takes practice, and the more you practice the better you'll get."

So has everyone got all their Christmas shopping completed? I have one left to buy but seeing as it is part birthday━part Christmas I don't actually have to have it until the middle of January. other than that all the important ones are bought.

It's So Bloody Hot

 

Today it felt like we were in the middle of a heatwave. It got to 38°, and I felt like I was melting. though right now I can hear thunder so hopefully it will break and cool down some.

I went and did some grocery shopping today. the shops were pretty bare in some spots. and the prices seem to be getting higher ad higher. I decided in 2023, gonna shop smarter. meal plan and only buy for those meals. buy the big bags of veg even if I have to split it with family. that way we can at least split the costs as well.

Okay, I've just seen lightning so I better get off of here and unplug. I don't want to cause any damage to my computer. talk again soon.