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Time out to reset
Time out – My book
As you may have noticed my book is still not finished. Life continues and my book is printed out next to me needing its first real edit. Reading through many forums, I know that Editors are essential but are not cheap. Writing a book is not an easy task, and its it one that if I ever do get it published could end up costing me thousands. Confidence in my writing and time are right now two things I struggle with.
(Note, this blog contains affiliate links that if you purchase from Amazon after clicking on them, this will benefit me at no additional cost to you)
Me
Two weeks ago, I had an operation for an Abdominal Hernia. Recovery has been painful and as I sit here typing I can feel why I would not want to be at work today. The pain around my tummy area is an ache that I can’t really describe, but I really hope that it goes away soon.
Looking at my garden I would love to get out there and sort out the weeds, but I am scared of doing myself an injury. The weeds will just have to wait!
Last week it was my birthday and yesterday I purchased a new garden clock. I am now waiting for Amazon to deliver it. My current clock went wrong months ago, so it will be nice to look out the kitchen window and see the correct time.
There is so much I would like to achieve these next few weeks, but I also need to not injure myself. Over doing things would be very easy right now!
The children
It has been a long time since I have written about the children. Today my ten year old is sitting her SATS. Though people keep saying they are not important I know they mean a lot to her. Despite me buying books to revise with she has not done any work for them. Like many ten year olds she would rather be in the garden playing with her older brother. Last night she said to me, “SATS tomorrow and oops I haven’t studied” I held her and said, “just do your best and you will be okay.”
She is growing up too fast and will be off to Secondary school in September. We are very proud of her and all her achievements. She is diagnosed with ADHD which has meant some barriers to her success, but she can be very determined and strong willed. I can rely on her to make a complete mess of her room and the house. However, if I need help cooking she is there. Her creativity is an asset to her, and when she says she wants to be a Teacher one day, I know she could achieve this if she really wants to. Either that or a designer of some sort. She is the only child I know who has cut arms of jumpers and made them into leg warmers!
My twelve year old
Our son is progressing well at school. Normal twelve year old issues, but working hard and achieving good grades. One of his greatest passions is to his Lego. His latest being Concorde. He builds these with no help from us and is happy creating. We need a bigger house though to accommodate it all. These are big (adult) Lego sets so over £100 a time, and hours of building.
He has now chosen his subjects for year nine. Art, Construction, Technology, Spanish and IT. He is wanting to be an Architect one day and thankfully Maths is one of his favourite subjects. However, he needs to do a lot more sketching and drawing as Art is essential too.
Time out
So, I have been gifted time off. The pain in my tummy and advice to relax is hard. I have been watching a lot of television, but this is not me. I am normally very active and will happily walk miles in a day. The most I am managing at the moment is a mile. This is much better than a week ago, so slowly improving.
Maybe I might get the house sorted out, maybe I might, with help, get the garden tidy, time will tell. What I do know though, that for a family of four we have a lot of clutter. How do you deal with clutter? DVDS and Blu – rays never watched. Books not read in years! We still have all the Thomas the Tank Engine DVDs – very hard to part with them. I have friends that tell me to just chuck it all! I can’t! So, for now we live in the clutter – and I will continue to admire my friend’s tidy houses with minimal clutter / stuff! Any advice here?
I love my books and stuff -the thought of parting with a lot of it scares me. I also have a cupboard full of records and yes, I do have a record player. We have Alexa and Google but I still have CD’s, cassette tapes and records. The thought of getting rid of it is something I can not face. We would have more space though and it would make a big difference to the room.
The answer here could be to build an extension for it all -when we win the lottery, that we never do!
I’m now going to make myself a mug of tea and try and tidy this kitchen. Sitting is starting to really hurt! It seems that sitting upright hurts more than slouching in my recliner. I’m spending too many hours in the recliner, I need to get active. The children have swimming later today. They started learning around August 2023, and they are moving to group three tonight. Half an hour once a week so slow steady progress.
So, how is life treating you?
For more – last months post for Blog Battle –Mess, money and corruption – Just muddling through life
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My blogging year 2022
Here we are at the end of 2022, how has your year been?
As far as my blog year goes, I’ve been unproductive, but my life has been productive with little time for my blog. I hoped to read 45 books this year, my Good reads account is at 38, so that’s not good either. So, what have I been up to?
January 2022
This year I set myself a reading marathon, trying to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK. I read all the Jack Reacher books at speed. I would not advise this to anyone as I can barely remember the books and it was exhausting! Plus, people don’t appear to donate money to reading marathons. Here is why PCUK –(loss of my dad).
After walking about 36 miles in one go in 2021 I’m struggling to find a challenge to top it. I wrote 30 stories in 30 days in November 2021 – hard work but not a fundraising success. (30 stories in 30 days)
Any good fundraising ideas? I can’t run far and I’m not jumping out of a plane, so I’m stuck here. We walked over 1000 miles in 2021 and have done it again in 2022. (My 2022 fundraising page)
This year my daughter and I helped raise awareness by wearing our pyjamas around town and then posted it on the Facebook local resident’s page. We had been noticed by a lot of people and received many positive comments of support. Yes I am wearing my Oodie.
Also, in January 2022
We found out that our nine-year-old was eighteen months behind at school. This was why she was crying through every maths lesson and then banging her head into the table. Lots of tears and angst. Thankfully my sister is a primary school teacher, so from about February onwards she has been tutoring her once a week. My daughter now at December 2022 is in the top English group at school and is doing year 5 maths, no longer year 2 that she was doing in January. She is a lot happier and proud of her efforts, a productive year for her!
March 2022
I realised that I needed to chase up her referral for ADHD, and with help she was finally diagnosed in May 2022. Her medication, extra tutoring, teachers, and hard work and determination have all contributed to where she is today. She has come a long way!
July 2022
My eleven-year-old finished primary school this year. Lots of emotions about leaving, a leavers ball and a leavers assembly. Friends that he has parted from and then friends who we didn’t think he would still be friends with who, through the wonders of modern technology are still talking frequently. When I left school, we said goodbye and its only through Facebook that I see their faces and their news. Too many years have gone by to send a messenger message out of the blue, some of them would not recognise me in the street or say hello.
September 2022
My son started Secondary school and that has meant a lot more homework. I’m that mum who is working and monitoring the homework workload to ensure it is all completed. That might sound mad, but I’m also the mum who wishes she had worked harder at school. I would be working a very different job now. The homework I missed and the lessons that I daydreamed through all led to today. So, if I can help my children make better decisions and understand and do their school work well, I will.
Both children are working extremely hard at school, but like a lot of nine- and eleven-year-olds they hate homework. Social media is not helping there, the homework gets completed as soon as possible rather then maximum effort, and yes, I really need to step back and not worry.
December 2022
My son enjoys building Lego, current favourites are Lego Architecture and big Lego Technic, featured picture was his Christmas present, started yesterday and finished today. I’ve realised that he not only needs to work hard at school, but he also needs to one day have a house with a spare room to accommodate all of it. His collection is rapidly growing.
As of yesterday I have walked about 1020 miles this year and my children have walked too.
My writing
This year I have been too busy and too tired to write. Reading became a challenge as I kept falling asleep in my comfortable chair every night. I then moved into the kitchen but I still fought to stay awake.
I’ve seen writing challenges in my inbox and thought I need to do something. I’ve had ideas while going about my workday. Getting out the laptop and writing was something that prior November 2020 I just did. Afterwards my world fell apart, then life got busier with the children needing more of my time. (my plans for 2022)
My novel still sits here on my lap top. Draft one that needs a complete rewrite. Can I get back into this? I really hope I can.
2023 is just a week away, a whole new year! A new year to get back into writing and to make new memories with our families!
Hope you have all had a good Christmas, and best wishes for a happy and positive 2023!
My 2022 fundraising page again
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My life and my family poetry
Writing poetry
Writing poetry on ‘Just muddling through life’,
Recording my life, my family and strife.
Sitting here now in front of the television,
Watching the soaps, entertaining their mission.
Emmerdale, the farm, the pub, Yorkshire a treat,
And all the stress on Coronation Street.October 31st, it’s Halloween,
The costumes, the fun, the things I’ve seen.
From America, the fun has come to our shores,
Looking at the children, the love out pours.
The witches, the ghouls, the trick or treaters,
A knock, a rattle, the kids like to greet us.Working all day and earning a wage,
Making ends meet, in this day and age.
Tired and exhausted, at the end of the day,
Surrounding mum stress is all hearsay.
Trying to discipline them, being ignored,
There is no time for mum to be bored.Working together as husband and wife,
Here together, just muddling through life.
Life’s ups and downs, and all it’s challenges,
All the stress, the problems and its sacrifices.
Life is hard, and it can be cruel,
Raising children, I’m nobody’s fool.Enjoying spending time alone,
The peace and quiet of an empty home.
The love, the fun with the family together,
A family love that no one can sever.
The children, they often push their boundaries,
The stress, the problems, the places they take me.Being a mum
Being a mum, I’m often under pressure,
The art on my walls, I don’t wash it off for pleasure.
Trying to lead, having them answer back,
As a mum, all the answers, I fear I lack.
Asking them to stop messing around,
Problem, my daughter loves to be off the ground.So, on I go, just muddling through life,
Balancing the family, to keep things right.
Working hard to keep it all together,
Knowing this family can fight bad weather.
Keeping my head up, trying to stay positive,
These are the people, I’m spending my life with.For more see, School a great inspiration poetry
Please visit my other writing blog at www.marianwood.com
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