It’s December :)
We bought a real Christmas tree this year, for the first time. And it’s true what everyone says: it’s gorgeous and the pine scent it brings is divine.
But what nobody told me was the bugs it would bring too.
Just as my husband carried the tree across the threshold of our main door, I suddenly thought to myself in dismay: uh oh, what have we done?
True enough, a couple of beetles soon introduced themselves. And the next morning we woke up to slug trails on the carpet…
But well, I guess that’s nature?? Ha!
Anyway, after a few mornings of checking for slug trails (and following them), the kids and I are now declaring that the slug is gone/dead/hiding very well. And we’re doing our best to focus on the beauty that is the tree – rather than the bug farm that it is…
What else has been happening?
Alistair’s hair has started falling again. He doesn’t seem to be in any way affected by it, but I am disheartened, worried and unsettled. Because it’s very uncommon for hair loss to be happening at this stage of treatment. We suspect it’s because his chemo dose has recently been increased, but we’re not sure.
I’ve reached out to his care team, and though they’ve confirmed that it’s uncommon for hair loss at this stage, they don’t seem to find it too concerning, as long as Alistair is otherwise well. Which he is. So, we’ll just have to wait for our next appointment to find out more.
In other news, Koala Kids Foundation has once again sent Alistair a birthday smash cake this year, and he was over the moon! And no, he did not even try to pretend that he would wait till his birthday (in January) to smash the cake. He smashed it the very day the cake arrived. Which was 8 December.
We also received a gingerbread house kit from them, and we had such a great time building and decorating it.
Thank you Koala Kids, for doing what you can to make cancer kids (and their families) happy.
A lookback at 2023
Since I-can’t-remember-when, I’ve started the habit of writing down the year’s highlights as they happen. Anything that I feel is a big deal to me (even if it’s a small thing) gets jotted down. And I love it. Because sometimes the year passes by so quickly, everything seems to be a blur by the time we reach December. But when I look at this list, it reminds me all that I – or we as a family – have achieved and experienced.
Here’s just some of what’s on my list for 2023:
Went camping at Halls Gap, Mornington, and Phillip Island
Hiked up the Pinnacle
Alistair started prep!
Published 5 episodes on Stories of Yore
Pitched, created, hosted and produced The Why Between the Lines podcast
Resumed full-time hours at work
Completed CBC’s 30-day writing bootcamp
Promoted to Senior Copywriter
Moved house
Alistair started sleeping in his own bed!
Took on a new job as Content Marketing Lead
Climbed up the 1000 Steps – twice!
Signed up to BBC Maestro
There were a few more other personal events. But overall, it’s been a big year. It’s been a good year. I’m grateful.
Do you have a similar list? I encourage you to try having one. It doesn’t have to be only about groundbreaking experiences or achievements. Anything you’d like to remember or celebrate. Sometimes I also write down defining, difficult or challenging moments. It sort of gives me a better perspective when I look back, if you get what I mean.
On writing
For work, I did a couple of interviews and articles recently:
The heart of Shaw Wellness: Empowering women to take better care of themselves – a feature on a wellness coach, who specialises in helping women transition to shorter work weeks and take care of themselves in the process.
A renaissance of wellbeing in workplaces – an interview with the endota spa team, about how they help workplaces support employee wellbeing.
For myself, I’ve got a few writing ideas and plans that I’d really love to explore. They’ve been brewing in my heart, but I haven’t had the time.
No. Actually, you know what? I could probably find the time to do it if I really wanted to. But the real issue is, I haven’t been able to find the energy to.
Since the end of 2022, I’ve been well and truly burned out, and I’m still trying to find my way to recover. So, as much as it frustrates me sometimes that I’m not writing or creating what I really want to, I’m reminding myself that I need this time to refill the well. And that resting and taking care of my own wellbeing is a big part of productivity too. Because I cannot give if I have nothing left within me.
So my priority now is to recover – and then, I can pursue goals again.
If you’re going through something similar – because according to statistics, a big chunk of people are currently feeling burned out, exhausted and fatigued – then I hope these words will encourage you too. Remember to be kind and gentle on yourself.
A roundup of recs
What I’ve been reading
All the above were such good reads, but my mind was especially blown by Wrong Place Wrong Time. I cannot say anything else, as I don’t want to spoil anything, but the plot, the characters, the mystery, the suspense, the OMG-OMG-OMG as you slowly work things out – and at the core of it, the love story… Five. Full. Stars.
Wrong Place Wrong Time is not a love story, but it’s also a love story. And not in the way you think. Am I being too cryptic? Well, it’s for your own good. My advice, if you plan to read it, is for you to go into the book blind as a bat. It’s just so beautifully done. A masterpiece indeed.
And now, what to read next? My to-read pile is slowly but surely growing on my shelf.
I saw a meme somewhere that said we should start looking at our bookshelves as wine cellars. Rather than forcing ourselves to finish reading what we have before buying new ones (and feeling guilty when we buy new ones anyway), think of it as us collecting fine books so that we can pick and choose which to read and enjoy according to our mood. Just like how we pick and choose which wine to enjoy according to the meal.
I like that. Very much. *proceeds to add more books to the cart*
What I’ve been watching
The School of Good and Evil. Which was not bad, actually!
A bunch of The Graham Norton Show interviews. His is really one of the funniest and more entertaining chat shows I’ve seen.
What I’ve been listening
Other random bits
Pantone’s colour of the year 2024 is Peach Fuzz. How pretty is that colour?
The hubby and I have finished playing It Takes Two on PS5. I enjoyed the game more than I thought I would – and towards the end, I was extremely invested in the story progression. It also felt almost like a real-time marriage counselling. (Joking! Or am I?) Anyway, now that we’re done with it, I’m feeling a bit lost. Anyone with any good games to recommend?
Alright then. As we head into the holidays, I hope you’ll have a restful break and lots of quality time with your family, friends, and – don’t forget – yourself.
Merry Christmas, and take care!
It takes two is a nice game.