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Pleasure
The satisfaction that comes from overcoming obstacles. Or watching the sun set into the sea. The sort of things that get me off my arse and away from the tv (or internet). Though should I sit to read a novel, or lie in a bubble bath that is another thing entirely.
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Alexandria’s Adventures with a stop doing list
On to week five of Dr Amantha Imber’s energy experiments. This week, and the stop doing list, was all about boundaries (links to the others are at the bottom of this post).
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Alexandria’s Adventures with Permission Slips
My fourth Dr Amantha Imber energy experiment was permission slips. The links to the others are at the bottom of this post.
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Day of overwhelm
It’s been one day of overwhelm after another, with the fond hope the next day will somehow be different.
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This Month’s Free Short Story
I wrote April/May’s free short story, Bread, Roses and Dignity, for May Day a couple of years ago.
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A change is as good as a holiday
The other day I found myself saying a change is as good as a holiday, and then I wondered, is it really?
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The man with the glass brain
I recently heard about a man with the glass brain – the only person in recorded history whose brain turned to glass.
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The Wind in the Trees
We’ve had some wild weather recently and I noticed that sometimes, the sound of the wind in the trees is like the sound of the surf on the beach.
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Happy Holidays 2024
It’s that time again. Time to wish you Happy Holidays 2024. This year the whole season has caught me unaware.
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2024 Stringybark Short Story Award Finalist
Just a quick note to let you know I came Highly Commended in the 2024 Stringybark Short Story Award! And that my story “Witches Blessing,” is among the forty-one stories published in Crowd Surfing, the anthology containing this year’s finalists.
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Happy Holidays 2023!
Time again to wish you Happy Holidays 2023 wishes – my tenth year wishing you all well for whatever season you’re celebrating at the end of this year.
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Joy and Sorrow of Christmas Lights 2023
We live near a street with “famous” Christmas Lights. It’s often featured in lists of “Best Christmas Lights,” and people come from miles around to see them.
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My 3 favorite reads in 2023
After the success of my last list, I was approached by Shepherd to follow up with my 3 favorite reads in 2023!
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The Defeat of Winter
rching something else, and came across the quote by Robert Haddon (see below) I’ve paraphrased in my haiku – the defeat of winter is necessary for the coming of spring. Very appropriate given we’re at the changeable part of the year – one day summer, the next winter.
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Wonderful Habits and Routines
I’ve been thinking about habits and routines. I’ve written many times about morning routines, and each of these routines are actually long chains of habits.
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Blundering About Like a Caffeinated Spider
You just need to read a couple of posts to know I like to be organised. So, it shouldn’t surprise anyone I feel like a caffeinated spider.
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Utter Chaos
There’s a saying, or perhaps it’s a proverb or idiom about planning. I know it as When man plans the devil laughs… But I’ve also heard variations including, god, ducks, and chaos. Chaos Chaos, in the Ancient Greek creation myths, was the first entity. According to Hesiod, Chaos was a gaping abyss located somewhere between…
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Life Raft
r some reason, my mind turns to Titanic style life boats, along with the cutting edge cork life vests. Little boats tossing and turning on the dark and stormy seas of life.
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What to do next?
Lately I’ve been finding myself tired. There’s so much stuff going on I have no idea what to do next.
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Expectation
Expectation is a way of thinking about the future. You’re expecting a particular outcome from the actions you’re taking. Maybe you’re following a recipe expecting for a delicious meal.
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What’s a Good Book Like?
I’ve been reading a lot about book marketing and branding lately, asking the question, what’t a good book like? I even asked friends and colleagues, “how does a book make you feel?”
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Injured My Hand
I injured my hand gardening over the Christmas/New Year break – couldn’t type, hold a pencil, paintbrush, or mouse for several weeks.
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My Ghost Best Friends Books
Many of you know I like writing stories about people with ghost best friends… Well, I was recently invited by Shepherd.com to share my favourites. The hard part was narrowing it down to just five!
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I’m Not Ready!
Somehow, we’ve arrived at January 9th, theoretically, my first day back at work, and I’m not ready. It’s not really my first day back, I’ve worked more or less through the break, taking care of business in the back office.
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Happy Holidays 2022!
Here we are again, approaching Christmas and the excesses of the season, in my ninth seasonal greeting – Happy Holidays 2022!
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The Smell of Woodsmoke
The other day, we took Clever girl for a walk around the neighbourhood. There was a beautiful blue sky, and the temperature was warm, but not too warm, with just a lazy wind. And the smell of woodsmoke.
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Christmas is coming
I saw my first Christmas decorations recently, and I suddenly realised Christmas is coming. It came as quite a surprise.
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Little Seal Pup
We managed to get away and took Clever Girl for a long walk along the beach. While we were there, we saw a little seal pup.
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Too Late Now!
I admit it – now and again; I get annoyed with Clever Girl and want to send her back. But I recently realised it’s too late now. We can’t let her go.
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Daffodils in Bloom
The other day, I happened to notice the daffodils in bloom. It’s not as exciting as when I lived in the UK – one day nothing, the next masses of them.
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In Case of Doubt
I recently came across an emergency alarm – “in case of emergency, break glass”. A clear and simple instruction, along with a clear and simple action – break the glass.
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Life With Dog
Check any dog owner’s instagram, tiktok, or whatever feed, you’ll see any number of cute life with dog pictures of dogs doing adorable things.
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Who are you?
I had my hair cut today. That neatly generic old lady in the mirror didn’t feel like me. “Who are you?” I asked myself.
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Filing Cabinet
Decluttering my filing cabinet has been on my to do list for at least the last five years.
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Bold and Beautiful
Having been out of action for a few weeks, I’ve had plenty of time to look around me at my home. The one we bought and did up twenty years ago, but haven’t really done much with since. It’s not exactly bold and beautiful.
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Isn’t it Odd?
I’ve discovered it’s possible to be frustrated and amused at the same time. Isn’t it odd? And a bit weird?
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New Life Emerging!
And here we are, emerging into 2022. And despite the ongoing Covid Cataclysm, I feel more positive about “things” than I have at any other time during the last two years.
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Happy Holidays 2021!
I feel more positive about the 2021 Holidays than I did about the 2020 Holidays. Perhpas because last year was looking like more of the same, but this year, I feel like 2022 might actually be better than 2021. Even if the Covid affected supply chains can’t catch up. Like Canada dipping into its maple…
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Tidy Desk Tidy Mind
Does a tidy desk really equal a tidy mind? Or is it just that the open, expansive space feels more relaxing? Rife with possibilities.
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The Smell of Fresh Laundry
I LOVE the smell of fresh laundry – hints of lavender, mown lawn, and a little little bit of sunshine. So with the odd warm day we’ve had lately, I’ve been catching up on the washing.
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Time and Tide Wait for No One
Time and tide bring to mind the story of King Canute commanding the tide to be still. But tide is also an Old English word, meaning a period of time, such as Yuletide, (good) tidings and (woe) betide for example.
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I Got My Voice Back!
You may or may not know that when I had the stroke last year, my inner dialogue went missing. For a while I really missed it. But I got used to it.
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Some Things to Live By
After another few weeks in lockdown, I’ve been thinking about “things”. Both the physical some things and the mental some things we accumulate as the days go by.
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The Joy of Freshly Mown Lawn
In a rare break of sunshine, we did a little yard work; pruning, weeding, lawn mowing. It’s amazing how much better the garden looks with a freshly mown lawn.
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The Day Seems Bleak
We’ve had FIVE covid related lockdowns. Full of long, bleak days. So many that even I, an introvert who works from home, has about had enough.
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The Time Flew By
Have you ever lost yourself in some kind of activity and wondered where the time went? You say, “oh my gosh, the time flew by, I have no idea where it went!”
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Liquidambar Leaves Falling
This time of year, liquidambar leaves are falling, though I only just noticed them. I mentioned before, that we take Clever Girl to the local park every day.
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NBN Outages
Over the last few days we’ve seen been severe storms and power outages across Vicoria. Some people have been warned not to expect the power back on until June 17th.
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Silent Walk in the Park
We take Clever Girl to the park every day – because if I want to get anything done, it has to be done. Recently, it’s been a silent walk in the park.
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The Nature of Pleasure
I recently that stoke survivors have a decreased ability to experience pleasure and it made me wonder about the nature of pleasure.
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The Miracle of Rain
The miracle of rain is that it happens at all – drinking water just falls from the sky. It supports all life on this planet, and literally falls fall from the sky! That’s amazing.
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Puppy has Sharp Teeth
It’s hardly groundbreaking news for anyone who owns a puppy (or is owned by one), but they have sharp teeth.
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I’m Losing My Mind (I think)
I think as well as rats (of the flying and furry kind) we are infested with mischievous pixies. Either that or I’m losing my mind.
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Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
Something I’ve learned since becoming a dog owner again is that it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie. When they’re sleeping they are quiet.
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5 Things I Learned From My New Dog
We recently got a new dog, and boy it’s been exhausting. Lily died at 16. And I’d forgotten what she was like during the first few months.
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When the Sun Comes Out
Last week was a bit cloudy and miserable, and I was struck by how beautiful the garden was when the sun comes out. Raindrops glistening and all that.
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Taking Pleasure Where You Find it
Taking pleasure is largely a matter of choice. Sometimes the things that bring you pleasure are the things you have to work for.
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Stop and Smell the Roses
Last year, I wrote about tiny little things. How pausing to stop and smell the roses might help you feel a little bit more in control. It does for me at any rate.
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Time Passes Slowly
I’d like to say my vacation time passes slowly, and I really enjoyed my break, but that would be a lie. I’d also like to say I’ve got grand plans for 2021, but I didn’t really make time to work them out yet.
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Happy Holidays 2020!
Happy holidays 2020! But, let’s be honest. The only happy thing about holidays in 2020, is that the year is nearly over.
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Welcome Back!
Welcome, welcome back! It’s been ages since I wrote. I didn’t mean to leave such a long gap between posts.
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The Tiny Pretty Things
When you think about it, life is all about the tiny things. The tiny pretty things.
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“My” Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine is out!
Just a quick note to let you know my story is in the September/October Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, available from August 21, 2020.
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Beauty Excites Emotion
Okay, so we all know that the last few months have been hard, emotionally draining, and not very beautiful. Especially here in Australia, what with it being winter and all. Some days, I look out the window at the cold grey skies, and wonder where all the beauty went. Though beauty is as beauty does.…
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Melody for Marbles
In a recent blog post, Dean Wesley Smith mentioned driving from Lincoln City, Oregon to Las Vegas, Nevada with a car full of marbles. Carefully packed to not “bang together.”
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We’re Busy Doing Nothing
Many of my friends are marooned at home, busy doing nothing. For them the world has ended, but for me nothing much has changed.
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Times Are Tough and Getting Tougher
There’s no doubt times are tough right now – June especially so under Covid restrictions has passed, even though they’re easing a bit.
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The Joy of Being
It seems to me, despite the sh*t going on right now, the joy of being alive balances it out.
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The Pleasure of Getting Things Done
Despite the hope of getting things done, we’re often better at starting than finishing them. Yet by definition, getting things done is all about the finish. Finish: A1. to complete something or come to the end of an activityB1. to eat, drink, or use something completely so that none remains Cambridge Dictionary And there’s the…
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Virtual Dinner Party
It’s hard to stay connected in lock-down. You can’t meet in person, but you can get online and host a Virtual Dinner Party.
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It’s Weather for Ducks
I’m not sure why people compain about rain they call it nasty – weather for ducks! (Though I’m not exactly sure why it’s only weather for ducks, and not swans or ibis.)
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I Still Survive
Sometimes you’re not thriving, sometimes it’s as much as you can do to come to a place where you can say “I still survive!”
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It’s Not War, it’s Sickness
All these fat old white men talking about a war on Covid-19 is making me irritable. It’s not war, it’s sickness.
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Dance of Death
I was reminded of Danse Macabre, also known as the Dance of Death. An allegorical concept, highlighting that regardless of your station, death comes to us all.
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Do I Start Again or Start Something New?
Poor Pretty Girl is gone now, and I find myself not only orphaned but petless too. It’s been hard to start again
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In Memoriam Pretty Girl; Maidenbelle Snow Lily (2004 – 2020)
Little pretty girl, playful and so very sweet, goodbye, yu good dog
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Was that a Radio Conversation or Not?
The other day I was trotting around doing some chores before work, and I thought I heard a radio conversation.
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What, Why, and How of Pleasure
When times get tough, one of the first expenses cut is pleasure. In the face of all other considerations, it becomes frivolous and wasteful. And yet, without pleasure, life can look and feel very grim.
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Public Bathroom Benefits
A while back, someone told me that most people are too lazy to travel more than one or two cubicles in a public bathroom. And the longer the run, the cleaner the end is by comparison to the beginning.
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Welcome 2020, good to see you
It seems like no time at all since I was wishing you Happy Holidays, and now it’s all Welcome 2020.
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Happy Holidays 2019!!!
The fifth anniversary of this blog passed quietly during the year, so this is the sixth time I’ve wished you all Happy Holidays. So, happy holidays 2019.
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The Melodious Dawn Chorus Daily
One of the amazing things about birds and animals, is vocal group communications, whether that’s the Dawn Chorus, Twighlight Barking, or the alarm tones that signal mass evacuations.
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Thank You Mrs Sparkle
Mrs Sparkle is the most selflessly loving person I know. She’s always making and doing things for other people, and no one ever says thank you.
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Medieval Dinner Party
I watched The King, so now I’m doing a Medieval Dinner Party. Though I suppose more technically it should be called a Banquet.
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Joy in Matching Beanies
The other day, I saw a young couple wearing matching beanies on the train. He had his arm around her, and she was nestled into his armpit, leaning her head on his shoulder.
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Alice ‘mid the Starships
When I first saw this image I was intrigued because it’s a Victorian glass lantern slide titled ” Oh there, ‘mid the starships, Alice, I know a”. And I was really curious about the starships.
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Stealing Kisses
Sometimes, I think the best viewing comes from watching ordinary people doing ordinary things, like stealing kisses.
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What I Need Right Now
The other day I was watching Men in Black: International, and among other things that made me laugh, were the red buttons. The “what I need right now” buttons that supercharge whatever thing they’re attached to
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Busy Bees Buzz Buzz Buzzing
I don’t know about you, but it didn’t really occur to me that bees exist in Winter, even if they aren’t busy. Well, not until I saw a couple the other day.
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5 Hints for Achieving Happiness
Some days it seems you are exhortated to be happy. Other days you might as well try to be cheese as be happy. So, how do you go about Achieving Happiness?
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Being Alone But Not Lonely With Others
I recently went to a writer’s conference. And that was kind of funny; writers are generally solitary creatures. Even in a crowded room we’re busy being alone.
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London Blitz Dinner Party
Just recently I’ve read (and written) a few stories about World War II London. I’m inspired to write a London Blitz Dinner Party. Food shortages not withstanding, it’s easier than you think.
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The Bizarre And Confusing Logic Of Creative Pursuits
I don’t believe in writer’s block, I believe in the logic of creative pursuits. Generally, when I sit down to write, I just write the next sentence.
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The Joy of New Undergarments
I mentioned in my Winter Wardrobe Plan that I needed new undergarments. But it was a kind of off-hand addition that suggested there was no particular need or rush.
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Life is Passing Me By
I can’t believe the year is a quarter gone – it’s passing me by. I had grand plans, but I’ve achieved nothing. Panic has set in.
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The Benefit of a Good Night’s Sleep
We recently replaced our old worn out mattresses. Not before time, because you can’t beat a good night’s sleep.
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Books: to keep or not?
Since I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying, I keep falling over intense, library voice (whispered) bookish debates about books – to keep or not.
