SOLC – Slice of Life Challenge

I woke up this morning and thought how strange it was that my birthday was a whole month ago – it feels like I am living a completely different life than that of the summer!

Time is fleeting quickly though and I have so much more I want to achieve this year.

Winter has definitely arrived in the past week, we have gone from flip flops and sun-tops straight to woolly cardigans, coats and boots, it won’t be long until I start wearing my brilliant hat and scarf combo, bought in Poland in February. I would prefer to have an autumn though and acclimatise gradually!

A week ago I got my first call for (possible) work, I had to go for a mini interview and take a class, the contract would mean missing a poetry workshop I have booked onto for part of the Literature Festival, after a quick conversation with Mr G I agree to the challenge, the work will pay the mortgages for October.

I spent half a day preparing resources and plans for Friday. I also managed to get my hands on the latest copy of my writing magazine, fortunately I phoned the newsagents and reserved one – it was there last copy.

I had the interview – and wasn’t picked for the job, this was fortuitous, firstly I can attend my workshop and secondly they have met me and seen me in action now, hopefully more work will come my way. And if it does I will know my route! And after the summer off it got me over that hurdle of ‘can I do this anymore?’ YES! I can and WILL!

Then it was the– every weekend between now and mid October is booked up with events! This weekend saw my old hometown celebrate the Annual SaltFest – a festival of local community and business. Which included a book launch of a poet I only discovered this week – how’s that for timing?!

Mr G and I usually like to potter around the craft and food stalls and soak up the atmosphere of the day (now a whole weekend event) – however, Saturday morning I received an Arts Programme in the post and as I read through the brochure a Writers’ Network Meeting jumped out at me as they had Simon Thirsk (Bloodaxe Books) speaking. It was in Oswestry (Shropshire), close to the Welsh boarder. I have driven through it plenty of times and didn’t think it was too far away!

Well it was … a 2 hour drive, a fantastic afternoon – which you can read all about here and then after the 2 hour drive home I went to an amazing book launch of Sarah James’ second collection. It was a great night. Beyond book launch

By the end of Saturday I had met more writers than I can count on both hands and stumbled/ pushed through two new opportunities, one of which may lead (eventually) to paid employment!

It was such a buzz, surrounding myself with creative individuals.

On Sunday there was another writing event, I decided to give it a miss as I have made my decision to focus on poetry and the other event was more focussed on reading and novel writing.

Besides we had to do all the things I hadn’t done on Saturday as I chose to spend the whole day at events.

We picked sweetcorn, beans, cucumbers and beetroot from the allotment. And last night Mr G and I cooked our first ever allotment grown Winter Squash, a stuffed squash recipe that was gorgeous and we had sweetcorn on the side, I think my tummy has only just gone down!

This week I have more applications and interviews, lots to do on the house, we have finally managed to order a freezer we have been after for a month and so need to get space organised (and painted!)

I have also got some submissions to make, poetry to write and a short story to attempt to write. In addition to this I am still organising INKSPILL (online writing retreat 25- 27th Oct) and hoping for some paid work.

‘Money will flow…’

The estate agents have shown a fair few people around, however the apartment is still waiting for an offer to be made by anybody! That sale will fund my mortgage and help me panic less about money issues!

A fabulous week in which I have felt TRULY alive!

SOLC- Slice of Life Challenge

I will link this page up tomorrow. I came to bed for an early night so I am using my phone.

Tuesday again, so soon. I feel like I am leaving lots of slices at the minute with all the daily post challenges.

The days are beginning to blur, it has been a week since my last interview and I remember that jam packed day. In complete contrast today I only had 1 appointment and I forgot about it and had to reschedule! I never do that.

This morning was spent online with work emails & forms. I made a few calls and by evening I had an offer of work. Typically everything clashes. You wait forever and then it happens and you’re already booked. I am booked onto a poetry workshop as part of the literature festival in October and it means being offline for the 1st writing retreat day. There is another stage, an informal interview so they may choose to give the work to somebody else. On the flipside it is a 21 day contract and would pay my monthly outgoings and both mortgages.

What will be will be.

Today I also received the last of 3 Amazon parcels. Enough reading for this month. I am in bed with the first book that came. I need to read them in order… and no, it’s not a trilogy!

They are writing books. I will share this sprinkle of gold-dust with you all… A literary nightcap!

Finish your writing projects and don’t even think about judging them until they are redrafted and polished. Don’t compare your work to the greats. As others have said- ‘look in the mirror, that’s your competition.’

I think teachers say it best. We say it all the time. And it is so basic, even our four year olds understand.

 Always do your best. Try to do your best everytime.

If you’re struggling remember encouragement and praise you received when you tried your hardest. Now you are an adult, accept the wisdom of always trying YOUR best.

Do your best. Always do your best.

 

SOLC – Slice of Life Challenge – The Beginning of a New Chapter

Today has been such a busy day – I would get yourself a drink (and a biscuit) before you start to read this.

 

 

Last Friday I started to sort work life out and as with most people – this involves a whole paper trail when starting somewhere new. Over the weekend CV’s and emails were all sent efficiently and fast via technology, then last night I received the ‘what I need to take’ with me today and I started the paperwork treasure hunt. We moved house and I still have a few (understatement) boxes to unpack and most paperwork from the past few months was not so much filed as stuffed into a few folders.

So this morning I got up early and continued the search followed by more work online. I also phoned my old place of work – they were all back there today and it felt really strange to speak to them and not see them. I sent an email.

I also received a parcel (I love getting post and it is one thing I miss from pre- e-mail days) to be fair I placed a book order on Amazon whilst completing some writing research, I was taken in by an advert banner and a 1p book! I hadn’t expected to receive any until the 6th at the earliest so it was a nice surprise! I hadn’t got time to open it as I was getting ready as it arrived.

This afternoon I had an interview, after which I went to check my apartment (which is on the market) and collect lots of post. I also found some unwanted guests of the arachnid variety. I went to the Estate Agents to find out the latest on marketing of my property and discussed this week’s viewings (of which there is only 1).

Then I called a friend – who moved to my old town just as I moved out and we met for a soft drink in the sun! Then I went for a walk in the park en route to my Gran, who I had called earlier from the flat. She has one of those spider removing gadgets (it doesn’t harm them) and as I have no ladders or feather dusters in the apartment anymore and all the spiders were in the corners of the ceiling I needed some help. I saw some other members of my family who were over with my Gran and after catching the spiders, I (eventually) came home!

I had missed most of the sun in the garden as it was near 7pm when I got home. Mr G and I went up to the garden anyway to peel potatoes and top and tail home-grown French beans. The sky was amazing, a beautiful sunset and pink clouds.

Yesterday I made my first ever crumble (which I thoroughly enjoyed doing) – I knew where my kitchen apron was, I don’t know where important certificates and my passport is, both of which I use more regularly than a kitchen apron, in fact I bought it 3 years ago and have worn it 3 times and one of those was on a food tech course! Our neighbours are lovely and in exchange for some of our cucumbers, we have had cooking apples, blackberries and yellow plums. The apples and blackberries made a wonderfully tasty crumble, which took three days to get around to cooking. Tonight I had the pleasure of Mr G cooking tea with all our allotment ingredients – beautiful, I love this new, simple life!

I am also busy writing a short story and this has inspired me to create some HOW TO posts which have been linked on many other blogs, which is flattering. A big thank you to all who posted related article links or commented on how useful these posts were.

Tonight I am catching up in Blogland and hope to read some slices!

SOLC – Slice of Life Challenge – Two for the Price of One!

Two slices that is…

Grab yourself a coffee (or preferred beverage) and enjoy!

Last Tuesday I promised a slice all about the birthday celebrations – then I didn’t manage to post a slice at all… let’s step back to mid-August – there are many of us now wishing we could step back a few weeks and relive the summer…

I started celebrations on the Friday as I went to a Jazz Festival (my dad’s band ‘Broadband’ were playing) -it was a fantastic night with friends and afterwards I went to spend a bit of time with my Dad. I got home close to 1 a.m and crept to bed.

The next morning I expected to wake late – but I am still like a child with birthday excitement! I was awake at 5 a.m and in Blogland so as to not wake Mr G.

Then we shared a lovely birthday breakfast*. I treated myself to some cereal (chocolate pillows filled with hazelnut chocolate – I am such a big kid!) and croissants and coffee and some special ‘Gooey’ biscuits Mr G had bought!

Then I had a treasure hunt to find presents (told ‘ya… big kid!) it was the first birthday/ any celebration in our new house and I wanted to remember it! I had 8 clues text to my mobile. I had to ask for help on social media… who says it’s for networking?! Eventually I found them all – by this point a friend was over and I had to get ready for a family lunch.

My family lunch was amazing and I enjoyed a lovely meal out in good company! My bro and his partner managed to get there with my nephews… any excuse to play the birthday child! I loved sharing it with a 5 and 8 year old. All their needs met. Excited questions about presents answered eagerly!

I got home in time for a quick outfit change and went out to a local bar for birthday evening drinks with a few friends. We got home for 10ish (incredibly early) but I had been out for almost 10 hours and was exhausted. Our friend who came back with us had the superb idea of ordering a take-away, we finished the night off with a film and a curry. (Oh and some more drinks!)

My birthday continued on the Sunday with a birthday brunch of hash browns, potato waffles, eggs and beans, something there was no time or stomach room to have on my actual birthday.  Oh AND I got a cake with candles… Thanks Mr. G!

This past week I have been relaxing (offline for the Bank Holiday weekend – as Mr G had time off and has completely transformed the garden!) I have had family visit and helped babysit two incredibly cute nephews in their onesies!

Today is the first day I need to get back to ‘work’, organise my future. Which leads me to the banking fiasco of today!

Today… started early as I woke up with a hacking cough sometime just after 6AM and didn’t manage to get back to bed, let alone sleep. (I’ve had the cough for over 3 weeks and due to the PSA adverts got a little worried. Eventually had a Dr appointment last week, airways seem to be clear. So as long as it has gone in 3 weeks (now 2.5 weeks) I should be okay, if not at that point they will order a chest x-ray!) It isn’t as bad as it was – but when I start I can’t stop and lying down is the most likely thing to set it off!)

THE BANKING FIASCO

I decided to ACTION my two main tasks for the day – joining agencies for work this September and activating online banking (having forgotten to transfer bill payment money last week before the Bank Holiday weekend. Eek!)

And so begins my day – it is hard to imagine without an image of Calamity Jane! I am a real techno phobic deep down and am one of the rare species who prefer face to face contact in a local branch. Firstly, I discover I have online banking, last accessed 6 months ago. Of course I have to change all my details as I cannot recall usernames and passwords and all paperwork is still in a ‘I just moved house (this June) box’!

Secondly, I discover that I don’t have the right telephone number logged with them so they cannot verify who I am. I look up a landline number to contact (as I only have mobile access) and wait until after 8 a.m. I eat my last bowl of birthday cereal* and watch some TV.

I phone the bank. I confirm the changed details. I log into my account, online. I process the transaction – incorrectly at first, of course (see note about techno phobic), I try again. The transaction is successful – they will phone to verify.

The phone number is incorrect. I change it. That will take 3 days to process. (As will the financial transaction – the first payments are already going out and there is no overdraft facility!) I look up another alternative telephone contact and phone for assistance. I am told I don’t have telephone banking so they can’t help me. I set up telephone banking so I am never in this farcical scenario again. That will take another 5 days.

An hour later I have to walk into town (close to us) in baking sun (thank goodness we have a few more sunny days at the end of the school holiday to enjoy!) I queue at my bank and get served by a trainee so everything needs to happen twice and be confirmed (we all started somewhere) – but for some UNKNOWN reason my bank cannot transfer the money across to another account of mine in a different bank and so I have to walk the street with cash for all my bill money. Fortunately the banks are all close together and I don’t have far to walk… needless to say I prayed all the way!

I wait in an EXCEPTIONALLY long queue and EVENTUALLY transfer my HARD earned pay into our joint account to pay for Household bills! The total transaction time approx: 3 hours! And they say internet banking makes everything quicker – we will see next month when hopefully it will be up and running! I cannot set a debit as the monthly amount varies before any of you suggest such sensible solutions.

Now I have half a day to sort agencies for the Autumn – and to relax and enjoy the sunshine. We still have boxes to unpack and rooms to sort – but it is sunny and anybody who lives in the UK will tell you, when this happens – you get outside and enjoy it!

 Off to get a big coffee of my own now!

SOLC – Slice of Life Challenge – The Birthday Week!

For my whole life (not surprisingly) my older brother and I have shared the same birthday week (I know technically some years the birth dates fall in two different weeks, not this year though!) – and once (only once – with two Leo children my mother never made the same mistake again!) even a birthday cake was shared.

I should explain it was a gift from an Aunty who was practising the cake decorating craze of the 80’s and as my mum tried to explain the cake half was as big (if not bigger) than a full birthday cake would have been! I should also add that at the time (and again for the only time) mum had booked our summer holiday during the birthday week and we were in a caravan – so there was a certain space storage issue.

Still the jealous little sister in me (of which there was a high percentage!) never got over the fact that on my birthday half a cake was revealed – a half I had already seen 5 days earlier!

 

Okay so after that intro where is this slice heading? The jealousy has subsided – especially as he is closer to 40 than me and this brings me some relief! And also (I hope) I grew up a little bit!
So today is my older brother’s birthday … I don’t know what his plans are but I plan on dropping his card and gift in later so I hope he is in!

This week we are also both seeing Dad (he is a jazz musician) I have arranged for some friends to come to a gig on the Friday night for a pre-birthday outing (I am a LEO – my birthday can last a week! – For my 21st I did 21 days/nights – I no longer have the stamina, time or money for such a feat! I was fresh out of college and enjoying what I thought would be my last free summer… two years before I went back to college as a teacher and got every summer free!) There is another gig on Saturday (my actual birthday that my bro and his family are going to!) Fortunately they can squeeze me and a meal in first!

I have just remembered (now my ego has taken a breath!) that the slices are retrospective of the week past… I will start again and you can wait for next week to hear the birthday instalment!

A week ago my mum came to help me get the house straight – we now have the whole of the downstairs (if I forget the cupboard and lean to) sorted, unpacked, clean and lived in.
I didn’t get up to much last week as I was in recovery after socialising to the max whilst we had our houseguest. I kind of needed a rest!

People came to view my apartment and the estate agents gave me feedback – I spent a while imagining it was sold. And fingers crossed I think that wish is manifesting!

I took mum for an appointment and had lunch with her. It was nice to spend time together. I also caught up with a few friends – had a lovely day in the park and lunch at a friend’s and enjoyed the sunshine.

We had planned to go to the allotment over the weekend – the strawberries of the summer are no more – we are now enjoying cucumber, tomatoes, potatoes, French beans and soon onions too!

We went last night instead as we were both asleep for a great part of Sunday!

Mr G spent a while prepping the summer house as our drying out venue for the veg and we shared a glass in the garden before coming in and cooking our first meal together in the kitchen (it’s the little things!) He found my fridge magnet word set and we had a word battle on the fridge before serving up! The allotment beans and potatoes were GORGEOUS!

I woke up this morning to a social media influx of shooting stars and cosmos based statuses – after all the nights we have spent star gazing (the constellations are so clear) we were inside cooking, eating and sleeping whilst the rest of my friends were watching an amazing meteor shower! Gutted. Although I did see lots of shooting stars the other week.

Anyway another great week and half way through the summer holiday.

 

For all slicers remember the connection theme – go and read someone you have never read before!

SOLC Slice of Life Challenge

This week has flown by. At the beginning of the week we had our houseguest back from France. I finished the DIY on the apartment and FINALLY got it on the market! I socialised with friends. Celebrated a surprise birthday party and another Leo birthday and a wedding and also had friends over to the house at the weekend.

Yesterday my friend started her long journey back to Australia. I was so tired I tried to sort the house but ended up sleeping lots!
Today I asked my mum for help – accepting I needed motivating. I collected Garden furniture from hers and then she helped me unpack the lounge. We shared lunch & then she stayed until teatime helping me LOTS!
Couldn’t have achieved it without her. Also did laundry and other chores. The whole DOWNSTAIRS of the house is now done!
When Mr G came home from work he set up the Wii and we played The Cube (Christmas present)it was fab. Addictive. We played for over an hour. We both beat the Cube, once! Great fun.

Mr G cooked a curry and we watched a film. Now drinking a ginger wine sample (Christmas present) it’s the day for them… Next stop – bed!

Slice of Life SOLC – Where did July go?

SLICE OF LIFE CHALLENGE

The End of July

This month seems to have passed me by in a flash, I can’t believe it is almost the end of July and my 2nd Camp NaNoWriMo already!

I am mainly unpacking boxes – today’s mission was to get the kitchen and lounge straight – I think if I keep going until midnight I may manage it!

My friend is on her way back from Europe today after a week away and is using our pad as her base for the next week of her travels around the island. Be good to see her again. This really has been the week for reunions!

I went to a Critique night with the writers from the children’s picture books course on Wednesday, followed by an adventure across town to see my friends who had come up from the South-East – last seen 2 yrs ago at their wedding! Great to see them again!

The first day of my holiday (last Thursday) was supposed to be dedicated to getting the house unpacked. I did some in the kitchen and then ran some errands before Jen and Alon (friends from South-East seen briefly the night before) came to see our new place. Then no sooner were they going when another friend popped in. we shared some drinks in the sun in the garden with Mr G when he got home and then I went out to the village pub to see people (friends) that I haven’t seen for months! (Mainly teachers so holiday is the only catching up time we have) it was a lovely night and I got home around midnight for the 2nd night in a row!

Friday I was really tired from all the late nights but Mr G had taken the day off to do the house and he wasn’t letting me sleep through it! We had a lovely breakfast in the garden and then started on the front garden and the hedge! We also started building my nightmare double wardrobes – which take up the whole floor when down on the ground and really aren’t a flat pack item  – once they are built – they are built. Unfortunately I wasn’t much help and even though a friend helped move them into position on Saturday, they are still incomplete – as I realised the sides are on the wrong way around!

Mr G is waiting for help – as it is a 2 man job that I am just not strong enough or tall enough to help with!

This means the bed is still not built – we need the room for the wardrobe construction 1st. We had one night camping back in the lounge and the rest on the mattress on the floor.

Saturday we planned to carry on with what we ran out of time to do Friday – kitchen & wardrobes/ bed. A friend came over instead and we spent the day in the sun in the garden, I ran a few errands and supermarket pick ups apart from that I didn’t do much other than sort clothes out ready to go in the wardrobe and some laundry.

Watched a film and SLEPT!

Sunday again we planned to work on the house – best laid plans – by the time we had had a leisurely start – breakfast in the garden and I’d got up we had a little time to work on things. I was going out to a college reunion – theatre students – been in the planning process for best part of 12 months!

It was fab – really felt like we had never left each other – it is 2 decades since we met and at least 17 years since we have seen each other. Wonderful experience, I was on such a high when I got home.

Mr G (Bless him) had rearranged furniture and got rooms well on the go ready for me to get in and sort. Which I did a lil’ before bed!

Monday I planned an entire day on the house whilst Mr G was at work. I got up at 8:30 and started – had no energy – was asleep by 10! Woke up at 2:30 pm – was asleep again 7pm – 11pm – and finally went to bed after falling asleep on, sofa close to 2AM!

Body on TOTAL shut down. So tired!

Fortunately today I have been up since 8 and have cleared unpacked and sorted lots on the kitchen and lounge! Hope to get most of it done before bed!

A Slice of Life Near the end of July #2

This is only the 2nd week this month I have managed to write a slice. I want this day remembered for several reasons;

• the storm
• leaving work
• visiting friends
• a Royal Baby

The Perfect Storm

Firstly the storm – so exciting after 3 weeks of constant heat and sun – hotter than Hawaii and totally unusual and a sure sign of Global warming for this Island! And now the rain to help the allotment, garden and plants Mr G bought me to brighten up the front doorstep that needed to be watered. The best is – IT IS NOT COLD – the temperature has rocketed up and there are many lulls in between monsoon downpours. I am loving it right now as I am dry inside and looking at the magnificence through a huge window – we will see if I like it the same when I am out in going to work or trying to calm down a class full of freaked out small children!

The 1st thing I wrote this morning was a poem – read it here

The end of an Era

Speaking of which it is the last but one day. I handed my notice in in May and plan to freelance and work for Local Authorities and Agencies come September. The 60-80 hour weeks were making me ill and a decision had to be made. I am very indecisive but fortunately some actions have made the decision for me really. It is strange but because of the medication I feel neither happiness nor sadness at this life changing event. 8 years in the same place and 13 years into my career I would expect to feel something. Maybe that feeling stopped long ago – or I am staying strong and suppressing the tidal wave of emotions.

Across the Oceans – Au Revoir!

Last Monday (another reason there was no slice last week) my friend travelled back from Australia! She has been gone 4 years, although now we have reunited it doesn’t seem that long! She has been staying with Mr G and I – I am embarrassed because the house is so far from straight, her room is filled with boxes and every night we all worry about a mountain of cardboard falling down!

She has managed to get out and see lots of people and now she is one night off the next leg of her journey to France.

Having to tear myself away from possibilities of fun and adventure to go to work and not being able to play because I have to redecorate the flat frustrates me. I will be on holiday when she makes it back. It has been lovely having her here and she doesn’t know it but she has inspired a  story or two!

Royal Blue *

And this slice wouldn’t be a true slice if this wasn’t mentioned…

Unlike the rest of the world I was busy last night and not glued to media filling time before the birth of the Royal Baby. However I do have Facebook and the wall was full of messages about the baby, so before I went to bed I knew Kate had given birth to a baby boy!

It kind of takes the shine off waking up and finding out by watching breakfast news (as I would have done today – especially as I was woken up early by the storm!)

Royal Baby BBC

A formal bulletin confirming the birth was displayed at Buckingham Palace

BBC © 2013

* very pleased with my thunder bolt inspired title

And in other parts of my fractious life I am ruled by TO DO lists and clock watching!

• Flat decorate and sell
• Applications & agency sign ups
• Finishing work
• Sorting new home
• NaNoWriMo
• Picture Book Group

I cannot believe this but I STILL have to finish the flat – we only live 7 miles away but after work it is hard to have the energy for the tasks ahead. TONIGHT I am going over and finishing the jobs! Also (fingers crossed) showing someone around.

I need to sign up with agencies for September and complete the LA application form – and post them by the end of the day – have not found time in the past 4 weeks to deal with this!

NaNoWriMo – I am struggling with this as the short story I was writing turned into a novella. I have overcome the writing block by starting another story and hope to find time to edit and submit both manuscripts over the summer!

The Picture Book Group had to postpone our weekend meeting due to riots in the city, we are meeting tomorrow night instead, tonight after work and the flat I have to critique 5 manuscripts.

And my friend thought her flight was today – it is tomorrow so all the busy-ness I planned means I won’t get to see much of her.

Happy Summer!

SOLC Slice of Life – The first Piece of July Pie!

I am delighted to have made it back online and there is so much going on these slices could be bigger than humble pie! I will try and limit myself to news from the past week!

Well the big news of course – which if you follow my blog you will know I moved house! Mr G and I are now happily living with bits of furniture in the wrong room and boxes and boxes of stuff. I am busy sorting the kitchen first – despite it being a good size the storage is a mini size and with the combination of all our things it is a bit of a nightmare. Plus the removal man couldn’t fit the washing machine so we need someone around to do that. And the laundry has piled up, I planned to do final washes at the apartment – I was worried about water everywhere though – and with good reason the floor needed quite a mopping when the machine was moved!

If it’s not fixed by the weekend then we will need launderette trips.

I have just under three weeks left at work. I need to sign up for some agencies and the like ready for some earning potential – particularly as I am still paying for the apartment, I did manage to arrange estate agent evaluations this week though! Finally – been wanting to have it on the market since May but there was so much stuff in it I could never have got it to a presentable standard. I need to do a deep clean and some DIY in the kitchen but they can at least come and tell me what I can hope to get for it.

My neighbours are selling too – 3 of us in the same part of the building – I am hoping the ‘no chain’ factor helps push mine and I have a feeling it may be going on for less than the others. (As there are basic and deluxe kitchens and I believe my side has the basic fittings.)

That’s my next mission sell my flat before Christmas!

The past fortnight has been a mission – offline – no TV – just work – sleep – and packing! Apart from my friends BBQ housewarming which was a lovely evening and the first time I have been out in months!

The weekend together at the new house was lovely though – the sun finally shining – summer FINALLY here! Lots of relaxing in the garden after weeks/months of high stress house move feelings! It took us a while to get here but here we are and it was worth waiting for – like all good things.

And in my writing life I have started Camp NaNoWriMo (my 2nd trip to the virtual writers retreat this year, I did 54000 words in April), my summer camp target is just 35000 I am dancing around the 8000 mark – but work will finish before camp does allowing me some catch up time!

Off to grab breakfast in the box city kitchen and read some of your slices before unpacking the house some more!

Slice of Life Challenge (SOLC) – A Slice of Layers

Another week of many fingers… many pies!

The House

The Electrician signed the work off and we got a plasterer in to quote the touch up work in every room. We have been busy most days (by we I mean Mr G) on the garden – I have sat on a chair in the sun and looked through design catalogues for inspiration on décor for inside! I have done some watering. We have strawberries, tomatoes, chilli’s & peppers growing really well as our Garden is a sun trap! Mr G has been busy sorting all the bedding plants out and rearranging the use of the garden space.

Writing

I have been busy catching up on my online writing course I have an assignment due this Thursday that is still in the research stages! I am trying not to panic, today I need to post an outline – that will help write the final piece, then complete research and post assignment…

Sounds simple – but I have this morning to finish all online research. I have work this afternoon and tomorrow, + writing classes in the city tomorrow night and I am working all day Thurs! Eek!

As mentioned the writing classes continue – we have 3 weeks left, half way through. I have a homework assignment to do for this too. On character motivation – I do have the reading material offline which makes it more manageable!

I am thoroughly enjoying The Writing Picture Books classes with Clare Bell.

 I have my June Writing schedule underway and there is one project I am working on for submission.  And I am also posting articles on my blog in preparation for Camp NaNoWriMo summer camp next month! (Go on you know you want to join up! Sign up NOW!)

Life

I need to pack up my apartment and arrange removal firms over the next few weeks, I have been busy with work, the allotment, the house and staying with Mr G. Packing is on the schedule for this weekend coming up – unfortunately there are also 2 writing events this weekend that I was supposed to attend. I think I still will, I will just go to bed early, get up early and fit it in!

I have over the past few weeks felt torn by the amount I am trying to do is so many areas – it is no wonder I am going slightly mad. The thing that keeps me going is that in a month or so everything will be settled and much more smooth. (Well as long as I don’t imagine the wallpaper

© A.Cooke 2013

stripping and paint pots!)

The sun was out all weekend which was lovely and summery! So we spent Saturday in the allotment and Sunday in the garden, followed by 7 hrs worth of paperwork to prepare me for this week! I have also managed to catch up on my sleep! And got to see my family. My mum is raising money for the Mumbai Project at the moment and will be doing a jewellery store sale, her spare room is full of sparkling jewellery, I have bought a few items, to start off her funds.

Let me know if you are interested in making a donation. I will get the details and add them to this post!