The M - Z of me

This is where my format of the previous half of the alphabet comes back to bite me.
I am a Writer who hopes to produce something more than the short fiction that is all I've had published so far, just not so good at the focus and dedication needed to get a book out.

I am an amatuer Photographer, and I love creating series for my own amusement - longtime readers will remember #Haunted and the #LittlePrince. I tend to do quite well in #SnapSydney, wining a camera once, and regularly published in it over the years. But of course, I have far greater ambitions. Good thing I've already used D as Deluded might be fitting - anyone noticing a pattern so far?

I love to Travel - pretty much everywhere, and indeed have a sporadic travel blog.

I am an avid Reader and of pretty much all genres. I like to research a destination by reading fiction and non fiction stories set in the location I'm heading to.

I love Music and am often at concerts or seeking out new artists.


I love festivities of any kind, and Vivid is one of my favourite times of year, like a three week celebration of the city for no reason!

I am Old but thankful to be getting older still.










These last letters are difficult.
I hope I'm Not Simply Using them all up by Questioning Your patience in this exercise. I don't have Xenoglossy but I do like to learn languages. I do it with Zeal rather than skill.

How would you have filled those tricky letters in the M-Z of you?


Linking with #Dreamteam #TwinklyTuesday #GlobalBlogger #Stayclassymama & #KCACOLS

2015 - a good year?

2015 has been a difficult year, but I suspect the older you get, the more difficult life gets, so you need to learn to roll with the punches. However, that is just to preface the highlight reel to follow, because when I look at parts of 2015, it's also been a good year.

Little change workwise, but I was published again in the Hunter Writers Centre's Grieve Anthology and I was runner up in #SnapSydney (and thanks to Cannon, got a replacement camera for my beloved little point & click that was eaten in the surf).

We managed to visit the amazing Big Island & Kauai in Hawaii, and also sneak in a short trip to Krabi. I had fabulous 'me' time by going early and spending 3 days at the Singapore Grand Prix, though Kimi didn't win :(


In good news, I've decided to start backing myself a little more and working on my self confidence. I'm hoping 2016 means we've moved out of the tricky stage with one child (though there's a second child moving into that stage as we speak - eek!).

 

Lastly, for 2016 I intend to focus a little more on my happiness. Cut myself a little more time with friends or exercising, and noticing when I'm having fun.

I guess ultimately 2015 has been a good year, it just doesn't feel like a good year as I sink into the mundane waters of the day to day. Kids are hard, making an income is hard, juggling the two is, at times, difficult.

The amount of extra hours in the car since we moved to the apartment is physically exhausting (and it is hours a day!!) and leaving little time to do anything creative or worthwhile, however, with only one child to pick up next year, I'm hoping that resolves itself.

So I hope for an improved 2016, but will settle with finding the happiness where I can. Because it is always there, we just sometimes don't notice it.

May 2016 bring you all that you wish for.

Linking with #IBOT

Proud moments round 2

Since I wrote this post in 2014, I've had a number of short stories published in Grieve (obviously that's my specialty ;), had a travel post translated into German (and I'm very pleased that it is a post promoting many NGO's in Siem Reap, so it is more than just flattery, it is extending my reach in helping people in need).

I've been published on a number of commercial sites and written for a major hotel chain.

I am small but I'm growing, and more importantly, my writing is improving.

Best of all, I'm not compromising on what interests me, nor on how I write. I suspect that is the key to longevity.  It's not being the bright burning star, it's the continued enjoyment and desire to write.

My photography is also improving (on occasion) and has been published in HuffPost and I won a fancy camera in #SnapSydney. I really need to do a course so I actually know how to use said camera, but for now I get a great deal of delight in playing around with photo ideas.

I may not be an economic success, but I am helping and defending people, and that means a lot to me.

I want to see change in the world, and let's face it, we desperately need it, and it starts with me.

I saw this on the internet with no name attached (sorry): 'Don't wait until you reach your goal to be proud of yourself. Be proud of every step you take to reach that goal'. There is no better advice.

What are you proud of?

Linking with #IMustConfess

Share My Snaps - May

It's been busy, already with concerts, cabarets, comedians and children's commitments (see what I did there?).







My photo has been picked for #SnapSydney in the Inner West. Really it's Sid Tapia's fabulous portrait of his daughter 'Skylar-Lovelle' that was special, but I'll take what I can get at the moment.

Loving Sydney more than ever, which is good because I'm not going anywhere due to kids exams and other obligations.

Falling behind in work but gradually knocking off other chores that need to be done - so half a win, half a fail. Which I guess means neutral?










Trying to get some aid over to Big Island, and encourage people to donate to help the displaced people on Kauai and Oahu (from the floods) and Big Island (Volcano). I loved those places and the people of Hawaii are such good people - they actively help the homeless in a way I've not witnessed elsewhere and even some of the recovering addicts checked themselves out of rehab to go and help on the ground in the aftermath of the lava evacuation. These are the type of good people they are, so it would be nice to help them where I can. If you had a good holiday in Hawaii, maybe you can give a little too?


A lot of this can be seen on my Insta, so sorry for the duplication...





What has been snapworthy for you this month?

 Linking with #PointShoot #WordlessWednesday #PictorialTuesday #TPThursday #ThruMyLens and #WednesdayAroundtheWorld