September has been good. So good, in fact, that without any further palaver we’ll get stuck in.
Health
2024 hasn’t exactly gone according to plan healthwise (and in other ways), but September was the first month when I felt, if not on top of my game, then certainly getting back into it—the game, that is.
Travel
During September we took a day trip to Hervey Bay to jump on a whale watching cruise.
While you can see whales up the east coast during their migration to and from Antarctica (we saw some this morning from the beach), Hervey Bay is different – it’s like a stopover, a place where they spend a few days, perhaps a week, doing whatever it is whales do for R&R. Mums teach bubs (especially at this time of the year) how to be whales; young adults flex their whaley muscles; and males make last-ditch attempts to mate before everyone heads back to colder waters. It’s why Hervey Bay is one of the best places in the world to watch whales and has been given world heritage status.
It’s also, along with Mooloolaba, the inspiration for Whale Bay in my Clementine Carter series.
We saw heaps, and they’d all read the pamphlet and performed accordingly.
A few days later I flew down to Sydney to see my parents and catch some sessions at the BAD Sydney Crime Writing Festival. (I wrote a bit about the sessions on my Substack).
Not only are Mum’s azaleas all out…
but I also ducked into David Jones in the city to check out their annual spring flower display.
Flowering things…
Speaking of spring flowers, while we don’t have blossom trees or bulb flowers up here (it doesn’t get cold enough overnight), the bottlebrush has been putting on quite the show and hums with bees and birds. The flame trees are beginning to bloom and the rainforest plants I see on my lunchtime walks are also flowering. And yesterday, I saw my first glimpses of jacaranda blossoms for the year.
Watching
The Grand Tour – One For The Road (Prime)
I might have even shed a little tear at the end – I blame the music … “Brothers In Arms” does it to me every time.
The Perfect Couple (Netflix)
I’m not a massive Nicole Kidman fan, but this one hooked me in – and the fashion is stunning.
Welcome to Wrexham Season 2 (Disney)
Yep, I’m addicted.
A Very Royal Scandal (Prime)
I couldn’t not watch this – and the acting was sublime.
Brokenwood Mysteries Season 9 (Acorn)
New Zealand’s answer to Midsomer Murders but, if at all possible, even more tongue-in-cheek and quirkier.
Writing
I’m currently drafting Murder In The Mangroves – the second Clementine Carter mystery. I’m also proofreading Christmas at Fountains Hall to send out to my beta readers in the next few days. We don’t have a cover for that one yet, but it shouldn’t be far away. I’ll be announcing the preorder dates in my author newsletter later this week.
Due to some issues with my previous cover designer for the Philly books (the cost has gone up and is now payable in USD, which adds even further to the cost), I’ve had to get the first two Philly covers redesigned—an expense I could have done without, but with the number of Philly mysteries I intend to write, it’s short-term pain for longer term gain.
I’m consolidating all things writing and newsletter-ish over onto my Substack. Because these are newsletters of sorts, my Substack is free, so you’ll be able to read the posts in their entirety without an irritating upgrade to read more message. Going forward into 2025, this site will be used purely for travel-related posts – or anything that doesn’t fit into the Substack categories. Oh, and speaking of categories, if you want to subscribe but aren’t interested in the foodie or writing-related posts, you can opt out easily by changing the settings in your profile.
You’ll find the weekly updates here:
The one about DNFs, cover news and carrots
The one about whales, flowers, murder most foul and very bad shorts
The one about frosty fruits by the pool, metamorphosis and a culinary failure
The Temperature Blanket Update
We had some unseasonably warm weather in early September and that’s been reflected in the temperature blanket with my first “purple” day since summer.
(For those who haven’t been playing along at home and waiting for updates with bated breath, the temperature blanket consists of a crocheted square for each day with the inner circle reflecting the overnight low temperature for the day and the outer circle, the daily high.)
What does purple mean? It’s for temperatures 35C and over. The rest of the key is:
- Orangey-red is 30-34
- Yellow 25-29
- Aquamarine 20-24
- Grey 15-19
- Light Blue 10-14
- Slate Blue 5-9
- Mercury Blue Below 5
Even though I’m doing this in cotton rather than wool it’s getting quite heavy and unwieldy to work with. Once it’s completed I’ll do some crochet borders and may even line it … I haven’t decided.
I also knitted three cotton dishcloths, each in a different stitch, to give to Mum when I was in Sydney the other week. They were quick and easy to make, and Mum seemed to like them—I just hope she uses them.
Over to you …
Alrighty, that’s enough from me … 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 …
My co-hosts are:
Deb at Deb’s World
Sue at Women Living Well Over 50
Donna at Retirement Reflections
And Anyways... 
Hi Jo what a great September! Your photos of the whales are spectacular and I must book in for the Hervey Bay season next year. The blanket is beautiful and I really like your idea of matching the colours with the temperature. We have recently watched Moonflower Murders (following The Magpie Murders) and Elsbeth a US show based on Elsbeth Tascioni a quirky lawyer from both The Good Wife and The Good Fight series. I enjoyed both. Have a fabulous October, my friend and thanks for co-hosting #WBOYC?
I’ve been looking for Moonflower Murders … where’s that streaming?
Oh, and I loved the character of Elspeth…
Hi, Jo – What a full-on September! I’m delighted that it has been a good one.
Those dishclothes that you made for your mom are super cute (and your temperature blanket is amazing)! And I was extra pleased to read that ‘Christmas at Fountains Hall’ will be going to your beta readers soon! ❤
The blanket is really coming on! I loved seeing all the whale pictures – quite a special moment for you.
I am so taken with your very handy craft skills on top of your writing, photography and cooking Jo. I loved catching up here. I continue to follow you here and on Substack and whilst I could be making choices (as you shared) for what I want updates from I have not done that as I was an original subscriber.
About Nicole Kidman. I have no real idea why but I am not a fan. Yet I see she is a lovely Ambassador for Australia …and more. Is it a tall poppy thing? Don’t know.
Your nature photos are the best. I tried to get into the city for the flowers at DJs. Not the right time.
I spent part of my afternoon in Dural this afternoon after dropping an adult grandson to the dentist and has a smile when the white cockatoos (I never know the right term) were attacking the lovely red bottle brushes. They have NO shame those birds!! None.
Denyse x
So glad the whales made sure to read up on the brochures and knew how to act for you! I bet that was a lot of fun. We’ve been on a seal watch before but not a whale watch. I am love seeing all these beautiful blooms as all our have come to an end.. the trees are putting on a decent show though with all their yellow, orange, and red leaves for now.
I’m glad you are feeling better, Jo. Fingers crossed, things keep improving! I love your whale photos. My husband and I went on a whale watching tour years ago, and it’s still one of our fondest vacation memories. Such impressive creatures!
Stunning whale and flower photos, Jo. Your crochet blanket and knitted cotton dish cloths are beautiful. I’ve been on a few whale watching tours and love them all. Have a wonderful weekend! #WBOYC
Glad you’re starting to feel better this month. How fun to watch the whales! Looks like they put on an amazing show for you. Those flowers are so amazing. We’re heading into winter here, so I love seeing spring sights.
Hi Jo – the temperature blanket is coming along really well. The flowers are lovely and I’ve been wondering about The Perfect Couple – Nicole’s wig keeps putting me off….
Hi Jo, this was a fabulous update of your month and the Substack changes sound good. You’re very organised! Those whale shots are amazing, I’d love to see them sometime. Your temperature blanket is great and I never cease to be amazed at what you can do…
Lovely to see the spring blooms! It is whale season here as well, but not warm weather yet. We even had snow a few days ago. Hope your health continues to improve 🙂
Hope you are back to feeling 110% as you jump into spring and October. I think your daughter lived in Hervey Bay or close for a bit and I remember pictures of your visits to see her. Those whale photographs are amazing. I hope we see some of those magnificent creatures on our Alaskan cruise next April. Breathtaking. And how nice that they see that area as a place for a little R&R.
My parents always had azaleas but nowhere near as lush and full of blooms as your mum’s. Wow!!
I almost signed up to learn to crochet this summer but talked myself out of it because I have about a half-dozen other kinds of projects I need to wind up first. Your blanket is unique and such fun. I bet it is cumbersome to drag it around to work on it. We are finally having lows in the 60s here, but still suffering with close to triple digit heat in the afternoons. I am ready for fall.
You packed so much into the month of September! It’s so fun to see all the photos of your area of the world – the flowers and the whales are amazing! I’m so intrigued by your temperature blanket, too! What a cool idea!
I am so behind in reading! The whale watching looked amazing. Glad to hear there are lots more Philly books to come! The blanket is looking so awesome. Is it having the desired effect in the evenings?