10 things in my life right now....

1. Listening

To be honest, I've been avoiding music like the plague.  Have you ever noticed how many songs apply to you when you're in the middle of an emotional crisis?  Well, maybe not LMFAO's catchy dance hit "I'm sexy and I know it" - I'm not sure that applies at all hahaha -but all the men-hating  ballad/love song type ones.

I've never been one of those people that likes to sit around moping and listening to depressing music when I am down....well, not generally.  And if I was going to sit there in my own misery, I would probably choose something classical and stirring, Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata or a Puccini aria (if you have never listened to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata before do yourself a favour, it will stir your soul).

But I had to turn the radio off in the car the other day after a particularly depressing incident during the school run ....Good Charlotte's latest song '1979' was playing.  The chorus lyrics....

All the decades and the years have passed

Not every family is built to last,

No time can take away these memories

Remember when you said to me

That we'd be alright

And I found myself crying in the car thinking about the broken family I come from and the one I have created.  I wasn't crying because it had happened, it was ultimately my decision in the end, but because I/we had failed.  The last 3 years have been so full of hurt, bitterness and resentment and I couldn't make it work in the end.  Its painful to know that our kids will pay the final price for that.  So, yes, I've been avoiding music like the plague.

2. Eating

Still not eating properly....unless you can call Vegemite on toast eating properly :)  Its about the only thing I can be bothered with these days.  I've been cooking for the kids but I find myself sitting down with them at dinner time and either not eating at all or just picking at salad.  The upside of that is I've lost a little weight.  I think what I need is a really good dinner at a really good restaurant, something that will make me sit up and go 'wow! this tastes really good!'.  So I will have to save up my pennies for a big splurge.  If you have any restaurant recommendations in Melbourne, let me know!

3. Drinking

My coffee addiction is being managed quite well, I've been indulging in one or two glasses of wine at night and with the last few days of warmer weather I've even had a beer or two!  I've just discovered a great new bar in the city,  courtesy of the Melbourne Writers Social Group, where we meet for drinks every Tuesday night.  

The bar is called is The Wharf and is situated at the bottom of the World Trade Centre right on the banks of the Yarra.  Its directly across the river from the Melbourne Exhibition building.  Its a great place for meeting friends and having a drink - lots of space, awesome river/city views, great prices and close to transport (Southern Cross Station is a short walk up the road and there are trams nearby on Spencer St near Crown Casino).  Check it out if you get the chance!

4. Wearing

Spandex and lots of it!  What wonderful stuff Spandex is....my warm thanks go out to C.L. Sandquist and Joseph Shivers who invented Spandex in 1959 :)  I remember my mother telling me that my grandmother (who was born in 1916 and lived to the age of 94) wore a girdle every day of her life.  I'm beginning to think this was a fabulous idea!

After having 4 kids in 5 years, my body is never going to be the same again.  Even if I slogged my ass off at the gym for the next 12 months with a personal trainer, there are some things that have been stretched that cannot be unstretched (lol, actually probably quite a few things hahaha) and this is where Spandex is my friend :)

Recently I had to perform infront of a television camera crew while wearing a purple satin ballgown (more on this in coming weeks).  Now we all know that television adds like 10 kilos or something and let me just tell you that purple satin ballgowns add at least another 10 kilos.....but in my Spandex all-in-one sucker upperer, body slimming, fat trimming, flesh molding, boob holding wonder from Ricki-Lee Coulter's "Hold Me Tight" range (available at Big W nationally and from their online store) I felt fantastic!  

Okay, so if I'm ever in a situation where Hugh Grant whisks me off my feet for a night of seduction I will have to own up to my Spandex saviour, ala Bridget Jones and her granny knickers, but I think I'll take that calculated risk :)

5. Reading

I've just finished reading Evelyn Waugh's "Decline and Fall" for the second, or is it third, time.  I do so love reading Waugh and this is a light, amusing read.  Decline and Fall was Waugh's first novel, published in 1928.

I've been lucky to pick up quite a few of Waugh's books at the secondhand Book Fair held every Saturday in the atrium at Federation Square (near the NGV/BMW Edge).  Trawling around the Book Fair is my favourite way to spend a Saturday morning in the city.  

I'm desperately seeking the third book in Waugh's trilogy 'Sword of Arms' so if you see a copy of 'Unconditional Surrender' lying around, please let me know!

Next on my reading list is "The Book Thief" which was recommended to me by a friend in Glasgow (an English Lit professor who always recommends awesome books that I might not read otherwise).  The author, Markus Zusak, is a young Australian guy so I'm very keen to read it.

6. Weather

Its definitely getting warmer in Melbourne, in fact its been quite humid over the last couple of weeks.  A big storm rolled through last night and had my lights flickering but today is all blue skies and fluffy white clouds.

The other afternoon I sat outside on my front steps while the boys were playing outside and felt the sun on my back and I instantly felt like I was back in WA.  Oh how I have missed that warm feeling.  I can't wait for summer to get here and stick around for a while! 

7. Wanting

I really want to take the boys on a holiday - I'd love to do a campervan/motorhome type thing and drive up to Canberra and Sydney or maybe take the ferry over to Tasmania.  But Christmas is approaching and single mum budget restraints do not allow for $2,000 holidays.

So, I figure we will have to stick to camping this Christmas.  I am a little bit nervous about it - having never camped on my own with the kids - but then again, their dad was completely hopeless at setting up our tent and I would generally end up doing it on my own anyway while throwing daggers in his direction for his complete lack of tent-setting-up-ability.

Yep, I think I'm up to the single mum camping challenge :)

8. Feeling

I am feeling less weighed down these days although I still feel like I'm in limbo - not quite married and not quite single.   Its been nearly 3 months and I guess it will take a period of time for things to adjust, calm down and get back some level of equilibrium. It has been a bit of a struggle getting into a routine and sorting out who has the kids when and where but I think we have it sorted now.

As we are sharing custody I end up on my own a few nights a week and one day every weekend so I've been using that time to get out and about and keep busy instead of moping around missing the boys.   In between meeting up with the writers group, choir rehearsals and working on the book, I'm keeping myself pretty busy.  Keeping myself from feeling, anything.

9. Thinking

With all this time on my hands, I've been spending a lot of time thinking - 

• are relationships fundamentally flawed, 
• are people supposed to be monogamous, 
• does compromising mean conceding, 
• is following your heart to find happiness, at the expense of hurting others, ever okay, 
• did Neitzsche have it right all along, 
• should I get a cat, 
• is it better to protect yourself from being hurt so it can never happen again or allow yourself to be vulnerable, 
• is 'frisson' just a nicer way of explaining dopamine addiction, 
• is independence another word for selfishness, 
• is there any point in dating when you have 4 kids and are not interested in being in another relationship (and are a cynical bitch most of the time)
• is sex with your ex really the VERY BAD idea that I think it is, etc. etc.

Each and any of these could be its own blog post :) So, if I run out of inspiration in the short term, expect to see a blog post titled 'Should I get a Cat vs. Old Cat Lady Syndrome'

10. Enjoying

I've been really enjoying writing again - especially on the book.  I've written more words towards the book in the last 6 weeks than I have in the last 18 months and it feels great.  Strange coincidence huh.

I've been carrying a notebook with me wherever I go and when ideas/character conversations are going through my head but I don't have time to write I quickly note them down so I don't forget.  The creative juices are really flowing at the moment and not just on the book but new story ideas and plots and themes are swirling around in my brain.  Its been a very long time since that happened.

Writing this blog has been a great help, as have the Write on Wednesday and 5 Sentence Fiction weekly writing challenges.  Probably the biggest motivation and inspiration though has been joining the Melbourne Writers Social Group.  The MWSG meets once a week and is a group of new, emerging, published and non-published writers based in Melbourne.  Over a few drinks we chat about books, reading, writing, plot, themes, scripts, motivation, achievements, goal setting, etc.  This is proper grown up conversation with grown up people and I love it!  Its a very informal setting and less structured than most of the literary 'critique' groups that exist in Melbourne.

You can find out more about the Melbourne Writers Social Group here -

Email: melbournewriters@gmail.com

Twitter: @MelbCityWriters

Facebook: Melbourne Writers Social Group

Website: http://melbournewriters.wordpress.com

10 things in my life right now....

1. Listening

I wouldn't say I am very adventurous in my musical choices.  If I like something, I like it for life, which doesn't leave a whole lotta room for anything new.  And I tend to only listen to the stuff I really like.  But this week I discovered a whole new genre of music I have never listened to before, and frankly, I think I'm in love!

The new music I am listening to is indie/ambient acoustic stuff . I've even seen it referred to as 'forest fantasy' which is actually a pretty cool description.  My new favourites include The Paper Kites; a local Melbourne band, and The Honey Trees, who are from the U.S.

Other big names in this genre are Georgia Fair, Angus & Julia Stone, Owl City and Lisa Mitchell (remember her as a gawky freckly way-too-talented teenager on Australian Idol a few years ago?)

•   Bloom by The Paper Kites 

•   Woodland by The Paper Kites 

•   Orchard by The Honey Trees  

•   Picture Frames by Georgia Fair (which I think was used in an ad somewhere)

•   Big Jet Plane by Angus & Julia Stone 

2. Eating

With all the crap that has been going on lately in my life, I've completely lost my appetite.  This can only be a good thing when it comes to my camembert addiction!  Everything I eat seems tasteless and I think I'm just going through the motions of eating to stop me from keeling over.  If I had to press myself to think about something I would really like to eat, I would probably choose angel hair pasta with crab....probably because its the most delicious thing I have ever eaten (thank you Lamonts in Perth for that dining experience....it was over 12 years ago and I still remember it!)

3. Drinking

Kicking the coffee habit is going well, surprisingly.  I can't remember the last time I bought a coffee....well, it was probably last week but that is some kind of miracle for me.  I've been drinking far too much wine than is good for me (hellooooo white shiraz) and should probably get a free membership to the 'Mums who need wine' club but oh well, whatever gets you through.  And considering that I paid $12 for a PINT OF BEER the other day, I think I'd rather drink wine!  Coming into summer, I'm looking forward to drinking a plentiful amount of Mojitos, yummmmm.  I had a Ruby Red Mojito (infused with crushed raspberries) the other night at Lumia Cocktail Lounge in Crown which was to die for.  I may even have to make my own. Here's a recipe from Gourmet Traveller:

Raspberry and Mint Mojito 

• 7 small mint leaves, plus extra to garnish
• 7 raspberries, plus extra to garnish
• Half a lime
• 1 tsp sugar syrup (see below)
• 40 ml medium bodied rum
• Soda water, chilled

In a tumbler add mint, raspberries, lime and sugar syrup and muddle gently.

Fill with crushed ice, add rum and give a good stir, lifting the mint up from the bottom and through the drink

Top with soda water and garnish with mint and a raspberry

For sugar syrup, combine equal parts sugar and water, bring to the boil, cool completely and refrigerate for up to a year.

4. Wearing

Still in daggy tracksuit mode.  These days I consider it a bonus if I manage to drag myself out of the t-shirt I wore to bed.  It's kind of feral and gross but this is what I do when I'm have a meltdown bad patch.

I know its only temporary and I will 'get my shit together' sooner rather than later so that's okay.  Some days its perfectly alright to wear your pyjamas the whole day.  

I did buy a cute pair of earrings to cheer myself up.  Here's a photo.

5. Reading

Somewhere along the line I have lost my Billy Sing book so I will have to finish that later.  My sister (being fully aware of my WWI obsession and being an excellent giver of presents) bought me a vintage second hand book while she was on holidays last year so I've have been reading that.  Its called 'A Diary of the Great Warr' (with two r's for some strange reason) and is an extremely tongue-in-cheek account of an upperclass middle-aged gentleman's attempts to avoid war service.  The copy I have is an original 1917 edition with a nice inscription in the front 'To Dad, from Campbell, Xmas 1918'.  I'm rather happy Campbell survived the war to give his Dad a pressie at Xmas.  I just had a quick look online to see if I can find a photo of the book, to save the bother of taking one myself, and I found another one for sale on a 'Rare Books' website for $100!  Woohoo!  Not that I would sell it, its too funny a read and it was a present after all.

6. Weather

Last week Melbourne was deluged with the wettest September day on record in 50 years.  During the downpour my roof started leaking, we lost power for 4 hours and I believe a house in my neighbourhood was struck by lightning and caught on fire.  Oh dear.

Melbourne has been voted as the No. 1 most liveable city on the planet.  Obviously weather had absolutely nothing to do with the judging criteria.  I know I sound very petulant, but I just want some sunshine.

7. Wanting

I cannot think of a single physical thing I want right now (okay, okay, so that Hermes wrap watch is still in the back of my mind lol) but really, there is no creature comfort that I "want".  In my 20's I had a hard time separating my wants and needs.  I'm much better at that now.  Its probably a realisation sprung from motherhood - where your own wants become less important.  As long as I have a roof over my head, some form of transport and can feed my children, I'm pretty satisfied.

I am really trying hard to think of anything I actually want.  A holiday would be nice, or just a change of scenery, but I wrote about that last time.  I guess I will have to be more altruistic.....I would like a cure for diabetes (preferably one that doesn't involve stem cell harvesting).

8. Feeling

Peace, equilibrium, calm, solitude, contentment, resolve.  I don't feel any of these right now but the good news is, I know I'm capable of it.  Sometimes you have to ride out the storm to get to calmer waters....and if that involves wearing your pyjamas all day, so be it.

I will be 40 in February and I'm looking forward to embarking on the next stage of my journey.  But I would really, really like it if that stage was as drama-free, angst-free and shitty-nappy free as possible (although I think I have the 3rd one well and truly under control!).

I want to feel light....buoyant even.  I want to take more walks in the grass in my bare feet and feel the sea spray on my face.  I want to feel uplifted by beautiful music and wonderful stories and inspiring works of art.  Most of all I want to feel free.  I want my heart and my mind and my moods and my behaviour to be independent of the moods and behaviour of those who would exert an unwielding influence upon me.

This is my time.  I can FEEL it.

(This is Natsumi Hayashi....you can read more about her awesome levitation photos here)

9. Thinking

I was going to write about something else but this morning I heard the news that Steve Jobs, the founder and former CEO of Apple, has died today and I feel sad in my heart at the news.  

Steve Jobs was only 56 years old and died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer (he had a liver transplant in 2009).  With an estimated net worth of $4.6 billion dollars,  Steve Job's death brings home to me the knowledge that mortality does not care about money, or creative genius, or drive, or passion, or work.  All of those things are insignificant and powerless in the face of death.  We are only here temporarily.  Our lives are but a second in the span of time.  So why should I spend one more minute miserable or powerless or unhappy?  I don't want to waste my seconds.  I may never be the creative genius that Steve Jobs was, or influence the lives of billions of people, but I have my part to play, just as he did.

I've been an Apple geek since Steve Jobs came out of 'retirement' and was welcomed back into the corporate fold by Apple.  I had the original iMac G3 bought out by Apple in 1998 and the cutest little iBook clamshell laptop in 1999.  And then later on I upgraded to my behemoth....a great big blue screen that sat on my desk like a giant whale.  Its old technology now but god I loved that screen.  Now I sit here writing my blog in front of my 27 inch iMac in happy Apple bliss.

Coming from a design background, I don't just love the way Apple's technology works, I love the way it looks and feels.  Hell, I even love the packaging!  Apple has changed the way I work and live and I seriously pray they don't lose their mojo now.  

Yesterday, my brand new iPhone 4 arrived on my doorstep.  Thank you, Steve Jobs.

10. Enjoying

I am enjoying spending time with my children.  Yep, pretty predictable.  Its school holidays and although its been quite mentally challenging to work fulltime from home with the kids here, I've enjoyed their company and they have really been on their best behaviour, entertaining themselves with Lego and watching movies and kicking their footy around.

The boys have just spent the last 2 days with their dad and it was a lonely, quiet, empty house without them.  I've never been so happy to make 10 slices of toast as I was this morning when they were dropped off before breakfast.

I am really enjoying the ages they are now.  Mr 8 thrills me with his thirst for knowledge and his current obsession with Star Wars, Mr 6 pulls at my heart every time he smiles and I see the big gap where his two front teeth have just fallen out, Mr 4 continues to make me laugh with his matter-of-fact pronouncements (mummy, your boobs are sooooo squashy!) and Mr 3, well, Mr 3 is still - and always will be - my baby and there is nothing better than cuddles with your baby.

10 things in my life right now....

1. Listening

I've mentioned before that I'm a member of a show choir called the Sunbury Divas.  We are working on some new repertoire that is 30's and 40's inspired - think Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day, Judy Garland, Gershwin and Cole Porter.  These are songs my grandparents would have listened to in their hey day, and if you are in your 20's, maybe even your great grandparents.

There is something smooth and soothing about them.  There's a certain swell and sway to the music.  Don't get me wrong, I love modern music (I am a huge Foo Fighters fan) but most modern music has a really fast beat - we are always rushing to say what we have to say. Compared to our fascination with up tempo, these 30's and 40's songs drip it out like melted butter.  It's pretty awesome.  Here are some of my favourites - 

•   Summertime by Ella Fitzgerald (written by George Gershwin in 1935)

•   Night and Day by Ella Fitzgerald (written by Cole Porter in 1932)

•   Get Happy by Judy Garland   (written by Harold Arlen & Ted Koehler in 1930)

•   You Made Me Love You by Doris Day (written by James Monaco & Joseph McCarthy in 1913)

•   Sentimental Journey by  Doris Day (written by Les Brown, Ben Homer & Arthur Green in 1944)

and my absolute favourite is......(I swear will you feel instantly relaxed listening to this)

•   Dream A little Dream of Me by Ella Fitzgerald (written by Fabian Andre, Wilbur Schwandt & Gus Kahn in 1931)

 

2. Eating

Anything and everything!  I'm not sure if its because of the freezing cold weather in Melbourne or because I've been a bit down lately but for some reason I've been craving comfort food (which is unlike me normally).  

Unfortunately, this comfort food craving has involved all the things that have a ZILLION calories - roast pork and the crackling, camembert cheese, and chocolate - pounds of it! Its like I'm trying to sabotage myself.  And I don't like it.  I don't even want to know how many grams of fat are in a wheel of camembert *sigh*. 

Something must be done.  I'm pretty sure I said exactly the same thing about an exercise routine a few weeks ago and we all know how far that has gone.  Exactly no where!  I did read a fantastic post by Daisy over at Daisy, Roo and Two about her weight loss efforts which has inspired me.  I think I need Daisy to come over here and kick my ass into gear!  Or maybe I should just get off my ass, stop eating camembert cheese and go for a walk.

3. Drinking

Back to my coffee habit again.  I'm almost ashamed of it - its like a crack addiction.  Sometimes I think its the only thing keeping me sane awake (well, that, and the 2 sugars I have with each coffee) and its costing me about $10 a day, tsk tsk. 

I think coffee has become my crutch, and that's not a good thing.  Greg from over at Hiking Fiasco (a very hilarious chap who has me in stitches with his posts) was talking recently about his change to drinking tea. When I was pregnant with No. 3 I could not get enough of green tea - I would sometimes have 3 cups in a row! - but once the 8 pound plus watermelon precious child was pushed forth from my loins you couldn't have paid me to drink the stuff. Weird. 

All in all, I think green tea is a much healthier alternative.  Good for the mind, body and spirit.  And it has NO calories unlike my full milk coffee with 2 sugars.  I am a little worried about what will happen if I go cold turkey with my coffee addiction.  Watch out friends, family and innocent bystanders who cross my path , this might not be pretty!

4. Wearing

The ONLY things I have been gadding about in lately are hideous tracksuit pants that I believe I wore during my last pregnancy, three and a half years ago, plus assorted t-shirts that usually double as nightwear.  

You know those floppy, comfy clothes that you sloth around in and just PRAY no one sees you. You know they look hideous, you know they will make you look like you have gained 15 kilos and you know you will make justifications to yourself like 'well, Im not getting out of the car when I do the school pick up so it doesn't really matter if I wear these all day'.  

And even worse than that, I've been going bra-less.  This is a sure sign I am letting myself go.  I've breastfed 4 kids....these boobs should not be unfettered in public.  I feel like a prime candidate for 'People of Walmart'.

Yep, I'm seeing a pattern here folks.  Comfort food, comfort coffee, comfort clothes.  Something is not all right in the hen house.

 

5. Reading

I have started my new book about Billy Sing, the Gallipoli sniper, but I'm not far enough into it to do a review.  Apart from that, the only other thing I have read recently is a copy of 'Shop Til You Drop' magazine which I bought on a sudden impulse.  I used to buy fashion magazines religiously (click here to read about my compulsion which ultimately almost led to the Rock God's early demise) but its been years since I went out and bought a magazine. 

Now, either I have just become too old and crusty to appreciate style anymore, or I have absolutely no idea what is in fashion these days because there were some SHOCKERS in that magazine.  

Apparently, a pair of leather shorts, smaller than my underpants, which lace up from the crotch to the navel are 'on trend'.  Where these would be worn, and by whom, is beyond me.  I can only imagine the wearer would look like an outdoorsy pole dancer.  

Other frankly bizarre suggestions included buying your dad a set of cushions shaped like moustaches for Fathers Day (for the bargain price of $70).  I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure my dad would not know what to do with a moustache cushion....or any other type of cushion for that matter.  In my experience I have found that men, in general, are not cushion people.  Give my dad a beach chair with a hole in the armrest for holding a stubby and he's happy until next year.  

And don't get me started on "fashion's match of the moment"....tangerine and neon pink eyeshadow.  Unless you appeared in a Wham video back in 1985 and are performing some kind of tribute show, tangerine and neon pink eyeshadow should stay on the catwalk.

 

6. Weather

Meh.  Its back to crap.  Spring did live here briefly but then it pissed off to Aruba or somewhere much more pleasant than freezing cold Melbourne.  Even Spring couldn't stand the weather here!  I know I'm always complaining about the weather....I've had a lifetime of lovely Western Australian weather where its warm from September to April and this is a huge readjustment for me.  On a plus note, Melbourne has more beautiful flowering trees than any city I've seen and the spring blossoms are just gorgeous.

 

7. Wanting

I want a holiday.  I'm in two minds really.  I would love another holiday down at Phillip Island with the boys where we spend hours on the beach, walking on the rocks and playing in the sand.  Where we creep out at night with our torches and look for wallabies and possums.  Where everything is more relaxed, we don't have to rush around from one thing to another and there is no routine.  Where you can smell the salt in the air and hear the waves on the shore and its just peaceful and perfect.  Ahhhh. 

The other holiday I have in mind is just for me.  A writing/meditation retreat in Bali.  Away from all the distractions, away from everyone I know.  Time to write.  Time to sit in quiet solitude and reflect on my life and my attitudes and my well being.  Next year I will be 40 and I feel a need to take stock of my life and focus on my future for the next 10 years. Sure, I could do this at home.  But a tropical holiday in Bali sounds soooooo much better!  

Unfortunately, in the last 2 weeks, my house has become inhabited by the Bill Monster.  In fact, close to $3,000 in bills has just come walking through my door.  There goes the holiday idea.

8. Feeling

Writing this post has made me realise that I've got myself into a bit of a rut these past couple of weeks.  Its easy to do, especially when you are bouncing from one episode of chaos to another (and there has been PLENTY of those in the last few weeks) and don't have to time to ask yourself why you are doing the things you are doing. 

At the moment I feel like everything is a fight.  The Rock God and I are not in a good place relationship wise, AGAIN.  My 8 year old has been suspended from school for a week for completely outrageous behaviour (and is currently upstairs in his bedroom having a tanty about breaking a piece of lego - international world crisis, people!).  And I've already mentioned the Bill Monster who had decided to move in and take over the house.

Everything is a struggle and I feel like I am constantly fighting battles.  Battles which I can't win.  Or don't have the strategies to win.  Or, which aren't actually winnable but involve surrender instead.  And I don't do surrender.

 

9. Thinking

On this note, a lovely friend of mine was recently talking about Russ Harris's book "The Happiness Trap" which is about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).  I checked out the website and his theories reminded me of those by the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietszche. 

In effect, Nietszche's philosophy on happiness is that life is about survival (just like the stone age hunter/gatherers), navigating a series of problems and challenges, and only scattered with brief moments of happiness.  Nietszche said 'Man does not strive after happiness; only the Englishman does that'.  In effect, happiness is a 'first world' pursuit.  We spend so much of our time TRYING to be happy or buying our way to happiness that we actually make ourselves unhappy because its a futile exercise.  We are not here to be happy, we are here to survive.  Brief moments of happiness are just a side effect of that, as are strength and resilience built up from episodes of pain and loss.

I tend to identify with Nietszche's philosophy on happiness.  Unfortunately, Nietszche ended up stark raving bonkers and was committed to an asylum in his 40's.  Interesting.

 

10. Enjoying

At the moment I am really enjoying writing.  I have been taking part in Ink, Paper, Pen's "Write on Wednesday" challenges and these have been a great help in shaking off the cobwebs and get the pen moving again.  

I have also submitted a short story (700 words or under)  that I wrote a while ago to the EJ Brady Writing Competition run by the Mallacoota Arts Council.  I'm actually pretty chuffed that I have done this.  Its definitely a step forward in getting back to work on my book (more on this here).

And I'm really enjoying my blogging and reading other blogs too.  So, if you are here now and reading this post - thank you, you've made me very happy (if only briefly hahaha).