This Month’s Free Short Story
December’s free short story, Christmas Bonanza, is something a little twisted for after dinner. Something to go with overeating, drinking too much, and needing a good long lie down.
Memories and unpacking
We’ve moved back into the house, and I’ve been unpacking, and each box is full of memories as well as artifacts.
Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is an event in November which takes place between the Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales to encourage people to shop locally.
Quitting
Lately I’ve been thinking about quitting. In general, I’m the kind of person that just keeps moving on until the job is done.
2024 Transplantiversary
The last few months have been so busy I barely saw it coming, and now, all of a sudden, it’s my 2024 transplantiversary – my 13th!
Slow and steady wins the race
The other day, I watched all 36 strangely compelling minutes of a carpet cleaning video in which a man cleans a Persian Carpet, taking it slow and steady.
Planning for Chaos
The next four to eight weeks are going to be chaotic, with house finishing noise. So I wondered, how can I plan when I know there will be chaos?
Five stages of dog calling
This morning as we were walking Clever Girl, I heard a woman going through 5 stages of dog calling, and it occurred to me they’re quite similar to Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s stages of grief.
Minimally Viable Morning
Trades are visiting so early, I’ve been more or less in my pyjamas and bed hair getting them started, so it’s time for a minimally viable morning.
Sometimes you just have to start afresh
Looking at what remains of my floor, I’m reminded that sometimes in life you have to cut your losses and start afresh.
Use it or lose it
The other day I went to my local post box ony to find it wasn’t there. It’s disappointing on so many levels, but guess the old adage “use it or lose it” applies more widely than musculature.
Walking in the rain
Sometimes walking in the rain on a rainy day is a blessing in disguise. If you need a bit of peace, taking a walk in the rain is a beautiful way to get it.
Being Grateful
Someone, somewhere, more or less, said when life get tough, think of stuff you’re grateful for. I know I’ve written about the little things, for those who worked through Covid, and for being alive. I wanted to write something else
Stripping Wallpaper and Life
After what seems like years of preparing and quote procuring and so on, we’ve finally made a start on the renovating the big house. We moved into the cottage the weekend before last, and over the last week, stripped out the kitchen, laundry and flooring. And started repairing the floor, and stripping off the wallpaper.…
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.
Easing Back into the Swing of Things
When you’re done with the break, even if you haven’t finished all the tasks you set yourself, you have to get back to into the swing of things.
Taking a Short Break
I wish I could say we’re taking a short break vacation, but sadly, I’m just taking care of a crap-tonne of pre-renovation stuff behind the scenes.
Generosity and Reciprocity
It has to be said, that not all acts of generosity are the kind that generate reciprocity. It is possible to give without expectation of return.
Reciprocity, Relationships, and Power
I’ve been thinking more about respect, relationships, and reciprocity. Mainly, as I mentioned, because we’ve started looking at updating the house.
2023 Post-Mastectomy Summer Wardrobe Update
It’s time to examine the full horror of my 2023 post-mastectomy summer wardrobe update. I happily said, all I need is a dog walking dress and a top for $395; just enough to get me through the season.
Freak Situations
In one of a number of freak situations, we recently endured a major power outage/failure/interruption caused by wild weather. Fingers are pointing, accusations are flying, and we’re ducking recriminations all round. More than half the state of Victoria was affected.
Is It Reluctance or Agoraphobia?
were subject to the lockdowns, I used to joke I was in danger of becoming agoraphobic. And given Melbourne may have endured the longest lockdown on the planet, or the most consecutive days in lockdown, or if you compare a very small number of cities…
Iceberg Dead Ahead
Do you sometimes think about what’s coming. Perhaps with a mixed feeling of excitement and dread, all the time thinking there’s an iceberg dead ahead.
What is Proper Self-Care?
I’ve found self-care described as both frivolous and necessary, and the frivolity seems a simple distraction. So what is proper self-care? The kind that nourishes you in mind, body and soul.
Writing Hangover
Now that it’s a new year, and work on the cottage is over, I’ve been trying to get back into my writing routine. But the thing making it difficult, is I’m getting writing hangovers. I’ll be walking down the street or around the supermarket, and I’ll think it’s weird that I’m “here” instead of “there.”…
Planning a Post-Mastectomy (flat chested) Wardrobe
Going by how much difficulty I had with my post-mastectomy Summer Plan, I wanted to write something specifically for post-matectomy women planning to go flat chested. This post will do until I can find the time to update the book with my findings.
Decluttering and Creativity
We’re in the process of sorting ourselves out for some home renovation. Clearly there’s decluttering involved. And some decluttering creativity as well.
Q4 2023 Review and Q1 2024 Plan
It’s exactly what it sounds like – I’m going to review Q4 2023, and taking the results into account, plan Q1 2024. As I mentioned in the 2024 plan, it’s all about building on last year’s foundations.
Health Goals for 2024
You might remember, I believe “wealth” is more than just money. Health goals can help you make sure you’re healthy enough, to spend the time doing all the things you want to do.
2023 Post-Mastectomy Summer Wardrobe Plan
Five minutes ago summer arrived, so I decided to revamp my summer plan with the mastectomy to produce a 2023 post-mastectomy Summer Wardrobe Plan.
December 2023 Progress Report
Ah, December 2023 – the final lingering touch of one of my least favourite years. More appointments… Only this time following up on the surgery, though as a bonus, visits to the Cookie Shop. (Which didn’t inspire the story, but did remind me to publish it).
Welcome 2024!
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say welcome 2024! For some of us, 2023 was a crap year, and I’m hoping for better in 2024. Can’t be any worse than 2023 (touch wood)
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.