New glasses and reading

So not a lot has changed since I last wrote here. It was work as usual this week, the housework still beckons - but I steadfastly ignore it - and the weeds I mentioned last time are winning the war (my fingernails are the main casualty).

On the accomplishment side of the ledger, I have however made another hundred cards for Giant Steps, I've had an eye test and am awaiting my new glasses and I read six books from Christina Dodd's Governess series this week- which took some doing. But more about her later.

I feel great about the cards; they are a nice little fundraiser for the school. Needing new glasses didn't surprise me. My long vision seems to be a little worse each time I see the optometrist, but I'm looking forward to getting my new trendy frames in about ten days. Unfortunately my drivers licence expires this week and I'm going to have to take my renewal photo wearing the old frames. Sighhh. And we all know how the Driver's licence photo is such a keeper!

But back to my reading blitz this week.

I feel kinda let down by this author. I lurve connected books and I was looking forward to reading the first six in her Governess series on the strength of her earlier Medieval novels.

The medievals are very good, but I have to say I've found this series and her other historicals quite a let down.

Often she'll start off very strongly and I'm filled with optimism, and then either the characters do an unexpected about- face in behaviour or the plot becomes derailed with poorly executed plot twists and rushed/unbelievable endings.
And don't get me started on the use of modern language in these latter books! Grr.

Give me Loretta Chase or Liz Carlyle any day. Their plotting is always good and her characters totally believable and engaging. But I've already read all of their books.

It's all happening this weekend

The first week of February is going to be great. Sue and her husband Dave are coming downunder to join a Cruise and we are going to meet up in Sydney and do some touristy thingsbefore they sail.
The Taronga Park Zoo is on our must- see list


When I talked about taking a few days off work to meet her, my boss told me that the Beach Boys will be there that weekend playing with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Operal House!

I asked Sue and David, plus my Sydney-based concert Diva mate, Jen to come along.
There were some excellent seats left for the Saturday, which I was tempted to book, but didn't.

I didn't want to get stuck with them. so held off. Of course they were gone by this morning, but I managed to get four very reasonable seats in the stalls a few rows further back.

I've never seen a show at the Opera House before. This is something for the bucket list. I think it will be awesome with a capital A.


I have to thank Michael, my boss, for the heads up. Brilliant timing for us, eh? Roll on Feb. I say.


On the other hand, this weekend is not going to be long enough for me to do everything I want (or need to do)

The weeds in the garden have reached new heights of juicy lushness. I must kill them (or at least maim them severely) or pay for a man to come around and do it for me.

I have to finish off making some hand made Christmas Cards I'm doing for Giant Steps to sell. There's about a hundred or so.

The rush of blood to my head that produced my last chapter has waned. Plus I lost the first draft somewhere - and have already wasted too much time trying to find it. Sighh... will have to start again.

Then as if I didn't have enough on, Miss Snark's FV has a new comp. 51 first 250 words to critique. I try to do a bunch, because I learn so much from the exercise. I will make an effort to do a few at least

I guess I'm going to have to prioritize.

Housework? What's that?

I spoke to Andrea today. She popped into work to say Hi. She's been at her boyfriend's all week. I can't say I'm happy about that, but what can I say. She's almost 18 and a putting down of the foot will not end well - if I know my daughter.

Anyway, she's feeling pretty pleased with herself because she's been offered two waitressing jobs and has an interview for a third on Monday. Now if she can just get her driver's licence underway, she'll be set.

My muse, she went missing

My muse was MIA for weeks and it was giving me the absolute shits. I'd sit down at the computer and nothing was coming. I felt as though I was pulling teeth with every word.

I don't know if she went missing because I was doing a lot of reading, preferring to read others' words than churning out my own; that the story has hit that saggy middle section all aspiring authors dread, or perhaps I am simply over the FF trope?

When I wrote my last story I could write four or five chapters a week - every week. I wish I could say the same about this story. It's not that I dislike it, but it hasn't quite hit the same chord with me as that earlier one.

Let me just say, it took me three weeks to write a recent chapter and another week to write the one after that. But then, late last night my muse came back and in three hours I had a workable chapter.

Whoo hoo!

I felt like smiling all day. It's that kind of thing that keeps me going with this writing caper.