Compared to the rest of 2023, November has been pretty chill – although this doesn’t mean the calendar hasn’t been full.
Social stuff …
We’ve had friends visiting during the month and staying with us – which has been fun – and others visiting the coast but staying elsewhere. This means there’s been way too much eating out – but I’ll tell you about that next week in What’s On Your Plate.
Health Stuff …
Hot on the heels of the friends visiting from interstate came another bout of covid – my third. Hey ho. This time around though it didn’t hit me so hard – partly, I think, because I’m up to date with my vaccinations and partly because it was my third dose and partly because I didn’t have to work through it. I still had dreadful brain fog and the fatigue that hangs about for a couple of weeks, but at least this time the asthma and the cough didn’t linger and I’m pretty much back to normal.
It – and the heavy socialising (eating and drinking) – has put me way behind on my plan to get fit and healthy for Queen Charlotte Track in February. Heavy heavy sighs. And with Christmas coming and more of the same, the struggle is real.
Christmas came early …
We’ve also celebrated Christmas early. Sarah flew out yesterday to do a bus tour in Europe and Christmas in the UK. While I’m beyond excited for her adventure, I’m also both sad and worried about my (25-year-old) baby being away and on the other side of the world for Christmas.
We put the Christmas tree up on Sunday (in case you’re interested, this year’s ornament is a Big Ben in honour of Sarah’s trip) and we had a special Christmas seafood platter with Grant’s Christmas trifle on Sunday night.
Travel
As I can’t see them at Christmas I managed a quick mid-week break to Sydney to see Mum and Dad, catch up with my siblings, and meet Morgan, the new addition to the Lyons Den – isn’t she a little sweetie?
It was also lovely to catch up with a friend for lunch in the city and to check out the decorations in the Queen Victoria Building, the Strand Arcade, and the Martin Place tree.
Watching …
On account of the covid and the brain fog I’ve been watching more than I’ve been reading and have this month enjoyed:
- Netflix documentaries on David Beckham and Robbie Williams
- New series of Great British Sewing Bee and Great British Bake-off
- All Creatures Great and Small – Season 4 tugs at the heartstrings even more than usual. This really is the nicest show on telly.
- The new series of Shetland – Jimmy might not be with us anymore, but I’m loving Ashley Jensen as DI Ruth Calder.
- the new series of The Crown
- Christmas movies – I told you all about these here.
Words of the year – Change, Colour, Create
The month began with a fun Paint and Sip session at Frida’s in Mooloolaba to celebrate a friend’s milestone birthday. Bubbles, platters and paints – it doesn’t get much better.
On the change front I’ve struggled this month to settle into a new work routine. I find myself bristling when people ask how my “retirement” is going or how I’m filling my time, and bristle even more when my protests that I’ve changed careers rather than retired are either dismissed or laughed off … usually followed with a comment about how now I’m not working I’ll be free for lunch or to hang out.
Having said that I’m struggling with setting routines and structures and, as a result, productivity. Sure, I’ve had friends in town and plenty of social activities, but 2024 will be about building a business from my writing so I’m trying to give myself a break and allow myself to take the time to plan a way forward, but old habits do die hard – and as much as it’s those habits that make it hard for me to give myself a break, it’s also those habits that will get me to where I want to get to. It might not be fashionable, but I am still ambitious and driven – just not in a corporate way.
Speaking of creativity, I’ve also struggled on the word front this month. While I rewrote the (still untitled) first book in my new Whale Bay series, I’ve only managed 20,000 words of my new book Christmas at Curlew Cottage.
My aim is to finish this in December and get it to my editor some time in January, although it’s not scheduled to release until November next year.
Over to you …
What’s been on your calendar this month? Perhaps you’d like to update us on your word of the year or intentions? We’d love to hear about what you’ve been up to…
The linky is below and it’s open for a week…
My co-hosts are:
Deb at Deb’s World
Sue at Women Living Well Over 50
Donna at Retirement Reflections
And Anyways... 
Looks like a good month – apart from Covid, I am also enjoying the new series of Shetland,
I agree, All Creatures Great and Small is wonderful and season four was extra special. It took me a while to settle into not working a 9 to 5 job and working at my writing. It’s been 9 years and the other day my father-in-law introduced me as someone who likes to write??? I wanted to shout, I work at writing and have published ten books. But I just smiled. After all, he’s 91 years old. You will find a routine that works for you.
Hi, Jo – I am glad that you are feeling better from your recent COVID. That’s so unfair to get it three times. Hopefully the bouts of COVID have now made you hyper-protected.
Richard also watched the David Beckham and Robbie Williams documentaries and really enjoyed them. I believe he also watched recent episodes of The Crown. I’d bet money that he did!
Morgan is absolutely adorable. I ❤ the questioning eyes!
Hi Jo – Morgan is soooo cute, and the Queen Victoria Building was a favourite of mine when we visited it several years ago. Be kind to yourself as you transition into this next phase of life – I struggled mightily with “what’s next” and how to adapt to not being in the workforce – other people don’t quite get it. I think it wasn’t until I went back to work, and then re-retired, that the idea of being retired finally settled in. You are a long way from that stage of life – but people can’t see what goes on behind the scenes and how writing can be a career in itself…. Great catching up on all your news.
Glad you were better for your early xmas! Very sophisticated looking! Lovely stuff. #WBOYC
I saw the trifle and said I wish my Grant could make one of those!! A great recap on your month Jo and I’m glad you can see you’re in a transition zone and don’t beat yourself up about it! I’m sure Sarah will have a ball but I know the feelings. I have to say that frangipani photo is superb.
Driven, Striving….are you me? I am so trying to change my ways now I am , ahem 74, but it’s in me, as it is with you. I do ‘detest’ the stereotypes of retirement because “I” didn’t ever do a traditional one. Maybe we need to re-tire the word! Oh how I love seeing the frangipanis. The Sunny Coast is made for them. I am wishing I had more get up and go to get into the city but RSV felled me and it’s getting so busy. I am hoping to revive a tradition I had when I lived in Sydney before and go into the city in the ‘down time’ between Chrissy and New Year. Enjoy your different Christmas …with no Sarah. Denyse x
Jo, I am envious of Sarah’s bus tour of Europe. What a wonderful time of year to visit, with all the Christmas Markets and beautiful decorations. I know you will miss her, but she will have so many stories to share when she returns. Good for her!
It is great that you left behind the day job and can devote all your time to your ‘chosen career’. Of course, it will be an adjustment, but you will get there.
Best wishes for the holidays and allow yourself to ‘feel the feelings’ of a Christmas without Sarah, at least you made it special for her before she left. Take care.
Jo, I’m glad you’re feeling better after your recent/ 3rd COVID. Your photos of the frangipani, the foods and shopping centre decorations are all beautiful. Be kind to yourself and you’ll find a routine that works for you. I added my post to the #WBOYC link-up. Thank you for hosting. Happy December!
I hope Sarah has packed warm clothes! Our temperatures have plummeted this week. I hope she gets to visit some of the lovely European Christmas markets on her travels.
Have a great Christmas!
I hope your daughter has the best time in the UK; I’m sure she was thrilled to get to celebrate with you before she left. It sounds like you have had a lovely month. I know just what you mean about all the retirement and free time comments– believe it or not that’s how most people treated me when I chose to pull my boys out of school and homeschool them. I got so many comments about all my free time and I finally decided that perhaps it’s other people’s jealousy that spurs these?
Hi Jo, I wish you a quick covid recovery. Fortunately I haven’t had it but I’ve had 7 vaccinations due to my partner’s immunity issue. I do love the Queen Victoria Building, but it’s been a while since I was there. My daughter has been able to negotiate contracts to work from home for most of her working life, and she also gets angry when people don’t take her working life seriously. So yes, I understand your frustration.
Sorry, you got COVID again. It sounds like a good time to be retired (or working for yourself!) It’s hard to move forward and do things when you are tired and foggy. When I first retired, I was used to going 90 miles an hour, and it took me years and a move to Prescott to slow down. The big difference was that I didn’t make any money doing the things that kept me so busy – even writing a book was a donation rather than a money maker. 🙂
Great pictures, I love that Christmas came early. Happy Saturday, Joanne.
My husband got laid off and started a small company with another engineer. He works from home, but no one “gets it.” So I can understand your frustration. Apparently, if you aren’t “out there,” then you aren’t working?? The transition period is an adjustment, and you just need to lean into the change and ride the waves. You will find your way. You’ve got a lot of words in your head that want out. Good luck in December, but remember to respect your post Covid body and brain. Man, that sucks- round #3!
Hi Jo, COVID again is not what you wanted but the rest of November sounds lovely. Great to catch up with friends and also an early Christmas celebration with Sarah would have been bittersweet – it would have been festive, fun and yet I know as a Mum, I understand how you will feel with her first Christmas away from home. Take time to heal your body and don’t be hard on yourself. Sending love x
Hi Jo, I’m back to say thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare. I hope you’re feeling much better. Have a great week ahead!
I hope you have a full recovery from Covid. Your early Christmas looks so sophisticated! I hope you can have an enjoyable Christmas without Sarah. It’s always hard getting used to children not being home for Christmas.
It’s weird that after all the pandemic ‘working from home’ that people still don’t get it if that’s what your job entails. I’m sure you will soon get into a new work routine – well you need to because we are all eagerly awaiting your next books 😀
Hi, Jo,
I’m a newbie here, but I enjoyed reading your “About Me” page, especially your favorites list. We have a lot in common. I envy your daughter’s trip to Europe. The Christmas season was a wonderful time of the year when we lived there. Christmas seemed less frenzied than here in the US, and the Christmas Markets were so much fun. Among my most prized possessions, we still have the tree ornaments we purchased in Frankfurt. Grant’s Trifle looks fabulous. Have a great week! Joe
Thanks… and lovely to meet you…
Loved your wrap up…minus the covid 😦 so sorry. I love that ornament. I love the great british bake off. I haven’t watched it in awhile. that might be good to watch while on the treadmill.