Holiday Ends and Friendship Beginnings Continue

Chilled out and relaxed. Stretched and challenged. Books read. Days sitting in the sun. Tanned and burnt bodies. Sand between the toes. And one little dog with separation anxiety.

The excitement and thrill of going away on holiday is beginning to fade as thoughts of returning home begin to surface.

I’m luckier than most. I take my home on holiday with me because I live in my motorhome. But for two weeks I’ve been able to travel and explore with new friends Sharon and Adrienne. Two years ago we didn’t know each other.

What we have in common is a love of travel, and travel in motorhomes in particular. We each have our own motorhome and fix our own meals (or go out). We plan our tomorrow over a few wines.

We’ve had lots of laughs and a few honest tears. And in two days time we will go our separate ways again. But we’ll meet up again at the end of January. It turns out we’re all going to the same festival.

It’s so cool when begin a new friendship and find out what you have in common.

Writing
I took a break for a couple of days from writing, but the new year has begun with a new book.
I rolled over in that half sleep, half wake state, to hold my I hubby’s hand as we used to do in the night when we lay and listened to the surf.
He’d passed away in July 2020. And I realised a small book needed to be written.

Background Photo
The end of State Highway 67 is at the Kohaihai DOC Camp. The start/end of the Heaphy Track. Home of a pretty lagoon and beach with rolling sea.

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Goal: Read 52 Books In 2022

A reading challenge for 2022 is to help expand the genre and topics I would normally read. Fifty-two books in fifty-two weeks.

The rules are reasonably flexible and creativity is encouraged.

The books don’t need to be read in order.

Books can be listened to instead of read. I use the apps Audible and Libby as well as Kobo (which manages both e-books and audio).

Libby provides books for free via the local library.

I’ve completed my first book, Untamed, ‘challenge number 7 – A Non Fiction Bestseller’

Glennon Doyle’s coming out story is full of honesty in a part memoir work. Its also about how women in particular look out to others for permission about what choices they make. Men make their own decisions.
An example was the simple question “are you hungry?” The boys made their own decision. Glennon watch the girls take a silent poll, even to appointing a spokesperson for all of them. I found this example of the differences enlightening. The book was full of aha and raised eyebrows moments.
And about judgement.
I’d recommend the book, but not a repeat read.

I’ll keep you updated as I work my way through the challenge. If you’re joining in, let me know how your going and I’d love to hear your recommendations.

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The Best Use of My Time

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot” – Michael Altshuler

The end of year is looming at break kneck speed. Smell the roses? Put up a Christmas tree? Hurrying past the people in our lives, all but yelling “get out of my way”. Don’t these people know how busy we are?

And yet…

Once it was important to make time for family and friends. Not to rush to the next place. The next job. The next…whatever has our attention.

At the start of each year, do you set goals? Possible covering all the important areas of life:

Career and business
Finances
Education
Relationships
Health and fitness
Personal growth
Spiritual growth

When was the last time these were reviewed?
How are these goals tracking?

What if we squeezed ten minutes to take a look, now.

Celebrate the wins.

What if the order of these goals were reversed?

My goals have been partially realised, but I’ve been wondering what the outcome would have been if I’d begun with spirituality, personal growth etc.

A long time ago, we decided to get ready for Christmas a week early. And go camping.
Hardly anyone else was wherever we went. They were jostling shoulders with the maddening crowds while we soaked in the sun, read a book, played board games and splashed in the water, enjoy a campfire. Carefree. No hustle. No hassle. We returned home relaxed and ready to enjoy Christmas and our Christmas traditions.

Take time to chill out and celebrate this year’s wins. Its been a tough one very few people would have known to plan for. That makes all you have achieved special.

Go you!

Picked up the Key To The Door

Moved into my new home on wheels and I am Loving it. Thank you Karon and the team at RV Supercenter, Christchurch

Its been a stressful week getting it sorted and I keep reminding myself how fortunate I am. It will seem so easy when viewd in a tear from now.

I haven’t been getting many words written, and keep going off on a tangent. My mind wouldn’t settle. It was most likely stress. Or, was I allowing myself an excuse to procrastinate?

Homeless

My dear friends Gerard and Femmy, I’m so grateful for your hospitality while I was homeless. Even havong to share your company with an Irishman turned out to be fun. He happened to be on his way from a MMM project in the top of the south to Karitane near the bottom of the south.

MMM

MMM refurbish and help maintain Christian churches, camps and schools. Check them out on mmm dot org if your interested in volunteering your skills, or seeking their help.

Road Trip

A group of motorhome Babes are getting together tomorrow to plan a North Island tour. How awesome is that? Yep, I’m going. We’re departing the South Island the last weekend in January ’22.

Writing

And finally, we’re down to the truth. I’m settling in to the daily routine in a different way. Cracked my daily goal of 1500 words but didn’t reach my catch up goal of 5k. I’ll keep chipping away at it. There’s two sides to every story. I realised I needed to include the other side. It’s been an interesting insight.

Sleep deprivation and PTSD have both made very interesting research.

Don’t Plan to Write – Write!

“Don’t just plan to write — write. It is only by writing, not dreaming about it, that we develop our own style.” — PD James

Nanowrimo:
Day 10
Writing, writing, writing. Time to revise goals? Yes. Thank you Black Wolf Editor for your wise insight.
I write six days a week. Its been my habit for four years. But this year’s Nanowrimo I’ve put unnecessary pressure on myself. Not helpful.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
If its not working, find out why.
Then write.
Don’t just plan to write — write.

Quietly, in the background there’s been something very special happening, that I’ve been privileged to be a (small) part of.
Obstacles have been overcome and just maybe in time for Christmas…

The background photo – is part of the very special project.

The Shelfie – Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

The Shelfie is an author and reader thing. My current book shelf is on Audible, Kindle and in my basket is my notebooks, Motorhomes, Caravans and Destinations Magazine, and writing craft books, Fast Feast Repeat, by Gin Stephens, and a spiritual book for digging deep.

Quote for Today
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” – Saint Augustine

Writing
Even the possible threat of a COVID outbreak lockdown sent everyone in Christchurch into a spin and my intentions to write at the beach went out the window – I did visit the beach.

Nanowrimo – three days to go!. Look out for a celebration launch in your area (you can find your local people – even though Nano have said no physical meetings).
Christchurch writers can check out the ChristchurchNZwriters dot org for events in their area (because we’re online, anyone can join in).

The background photo is of my current bookshelf because I live in my campervan. When I move into my motorhome in a few weeks, I get a bookshelf again.

Writing Snacks – Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

Todays challenge is writing snacks. Simple. I dont eat until later in the day on 16/8 or 19/5 intermittent fasting. That means my body fasts for 16 or 19 hours and I eat in an 8 or 5 hour window.
Check out Gin Stephens book Fast, Feast, Repeat or her inspirational podcast of Intermittent Fasting Stories.
Take the 28 Day Challenge and you’ll find this is an easy way to care for your body.
They say people come to intermittent fasting to loose weight, but stay for the health benefits. You just feel better. The body doesn’t ache so much.
And there’s no “diet” foods. There is no expense to eat this way. No marketing to follow. It’s free apart from your normal food costs.
If you choose this way of eating remember to fast clean. Black coffe/tea and water. Anything else triggers an insulin response.

Quote for Today
“Your diet is a bank account. Good food choices are good investments.” – Bethenny Frankel – TV personality and entrepreneur.

Meditation
Let food be your medicine and medicine your food – Hippocrates

Writing
Yesterday was a national holiday in New Zealand. I took it as a holiday too, hiring a motorhome while the one I call home is in for its annual service and deep clean.
I also caught up with my cousins and we all agreed we need to get together more frequently.

Nanowrimo is nearly here. It isn’t too late to decide to join in.

The background photo is the mile long jetty at Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia. Don’t you just love pelicans?

Pelican, Hervey Bay Jetty. Your diet is a bank account.

Soundtrack and Speedrun – Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

Todays two challenges are soundtrack (best music to write to, or specifically chosen to lend a specific mood to the story) and speedrun (a summary of your story in five words).
When I write it can only be music – no words. Currently I’m listening to brain stimulating classical music.
The story: heroine ignites people; saves country.

Quote for Today
“Wake up thinking Thank You”

Meditation
Think of three things your grateful for.

The sermon on Sunday was about how we wake up, thinking grrr I didn’t get enough sleep. We rush through our day and then go to bed late at night thinking grrr I didn’t get enough done.

Each time you take a break, write down what you’ve done in the last hour or so. At the end of the day you’ve created a “ta dah” list. Focusing on what was done, not left undone, go to bed with a grateful heart.

Let me know if this practice changes your day.

Nanowrimo is nearly here. I now have a mindmap of my plot. (She does a little dance).

The background photo is of the beautiful Tarawera Falls, New Zealand

Plot Twist- Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

Todays challenge is for mystery and thriller writers. Readers love working it out, but they love a good twist, whether they see it in advance or not – because the author must give clues leading to the end result.

Quote for Today
“When something goes wrong in your life just yell ‘Plot Twist’ and move on.” – Molly Weisf

Meditation
“Above everything else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Pr 4:25

Writing Today
The writing took a back seat. It happens. I met with a group of writing friends. Such an encouraging and positive experience.

Nanowrimo has helped many successful writers get their career started.

The background photo is of the newest family members. Five little kittens joined us yesterday morning.

Favourite Book – Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

Todays challenge is for you and me both. What is your favourite book?

The answer is such a hard one.

My most read is Anne Of Green Gables, after the Bible.

My favourite genre is mystery, with romance.

I love books with strong characters that stick around in my mind long after the book is finished. The author was done their job creating believable people.

I also like a strong message, not cringing from topical issues like family violence, protecting our planet, giving a hand up for the less fortunate, encouraging world peace, and not placing a high priority on possessions and consumables – living simply, with a light footprint.

Quote for Today
“So please, oh please, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away, and in its place you can install a lovely bookshelf on the wall.” – Roald Dahl

Meditation
“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” Rom 10:17

Writing Today
The WIP took a leap forward. After the school run my morning was free to ensconce myself at the library and work for two solid hours.

Nanowrimo has YouTube videos on how to write a book.

The background photo is of the goats and sheep on my daughter and her partners lifestyle block at sunset. Peaceful.

Leave a note in the comments of your favourite book. We readers are always looking for our next book.