Weekly check-in
I haven’t been quite as frazzled this past week (though my main sounding board may beg to differ*), but it seems to have flown by nonetheless. I didn’t get as much reading done as planned but did catch up on my reviewing and had a better balance of paid work vs my own commitments.
What I read
I kicked off the week by finishing Michael Robotham’s latest, Close Your Eyes—another instalment in his Joe O’Loughlin series.
I then went for something completely different, via Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Maybe in Another Life; before finally reading a book by a local author… The Crushing Season by Peta Jo, which I’ll be reviewing shortly.
What I wrote
I started the week with a bang and posted daily… well, for two days!
I had the opportunity to interview popular Aussie author Kathryn Fox about her experience in collaborating with James Patterson on Private Sydney, the latest in the series about the international detective agency.
I gushed about the trailer for the movie based on one of my favourite books, Room.
And finally I reviewed Close Your Eyes by Michael Robotham and Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
What I did
I didn’t spend as many hours on my admin gig this week though again did a bit of transcription at home. I find I can only do 90min blocks and only a couple of times a day. There was a bit of stuff to do in my project management consultancy (however) as that project is well and truly underway.
Most excitingly I went to the hairdresser and I realised that (after growing my hair for 3.5 years with minimal cuts) my hair is finally long. Not really long but long. I rarely wear it out so was gobsmacked… “I look like someone with long hair!” I kept saying. I’m not a big selfie person but I even took a pic via my iMac cos I was so excited about the length.
What I will be doing
By the time you’re reading this I will be enroute to Brisbane, my State’s capital city. My niece is performing in a show and my mother and I are heading there to see her (and celebrate her 19th birthday). I really cannot think of anything worse than going to an overcrowded show (fair) for several hours, but there’s little I wouldn’t do for my niece… so wish me luck. Our visit there is fleeting but I’m also seeing a couple of friends AND hoping to get to a bloggers’ meet-up as well.
What I plan to read
In short… #NFI. I know I won’t get through all five of these books given I’ll be away and have other commitments, but… I’m going to make an attempt!
And that’s it from me this week. I’m a tad disorganised but slowly finding my way out of the murky waters of overwhelm which have been threatening to swamp me of late.
What’s on your agenda this week?
Have you read any good books lately?
Linking up with Kimberley from the Caffeinated Book Reviewer for the Sunday Post and Sheila from Book Journey for It’s Monday!
* And no… I don’t mean Facebook!
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Jo
August 8, 2015I didn’t comment on instagram- but your hair looks great!
Debbish
August 8, 2015Thanks Jo.
Red Iza
August 8, 2015Yay for the hair ! I wish you luck for the trip to Brisbane, but I bet everything will be fine and you won’t need any. And yay for the bloggers’ meet up ! Enjoy the time with your friends and family, have a great week-end 🙂
Debbish
August 8, 2015Thanks Izabel. I’m looking forward to getting away!
Jess
August 8, 2015Sounds like lots is happening! I hope you enjoy Brisbane. I totally know what you mean about not enjoying crowded events I never went to ekka when I lived in Bris and I hate the Sydney show! I bet your niece will really appreciate the support though!
Debbish
August 9, 2015The pics of the show she’s in look good but yes…. Crowds and queuing, bah!
Michelle Weaver (@pinkypoinker)
August 9, 2015Your hair looks beautiful. So healthy and such a lovely colour. I haven’t been to a hairdresser in a year and need a trim. I’m reading a disappointing book at the moment and can’t wait to finish it so I can move on.
Debbish
August 9, 2015Wondering what you’re reading Michelle… My hair is back to a pretty natural colour now. My hairdresser just puts a couple of blonde foils in and washes through a dark blonde rinse. Once I stopped full time work I had to limit my hair appts!
Stormi D Johnson
August 9, 2015Your hair looks great, which mine looked like that! Mine is frizzy, I need to cut it all off..lol. Hope you enjoy those reads you have coming up! 🙂
Stormi
Week in Review
Debbish
August 9, 2015Ah yes, I always wanted curly hair and my friends with curls wanted straight hair!
Greg
August 9, 2015This week did go by fast, and it looks like you had good one. I hope you have great trip to Brisbane and enjoy your weekend. I think the Patterson/ Fox collaboration looks good…
Debbish
August 9, 2015Thanks Greg. Here in Brisbane already and had a nice trip here.
kimbacaffeinate
August 9, 2015Your hair is the perfect length. You can wear it up, braid it or wear it lose. Lovely selfie. Hope this week you get to read and write more but it sounds like you had a good week
Debbish
August 9, 2015Thanks Kimberley!
Christy
August 9, 2015Awww, what a good aunt you are. Oh yeah, you can really see the difference in your hair length when compared to your picture for the blog. I haven’t had hair past my shoulders in a couple years. Hope you have a great week!
Debbish
August 9, 2015I’ve had mine short for a long time. I started to grow it back in 2009 or so but gave up after a year or so (when it became style-less) and had it cut off again. I’ve had minimal cuts since starting to grow it over 3yrs ago and my main aim was to be able to do it up and get it out of my way!
Maree
August 9, 2015Your hair looks great! have a great week 🙂
Debbish
August 9, 2015Thanks Maree!
Char
August 9, 2015By show I’m guessing you mean the Ekka. Just don’t do what did I did last year when I went (first time in a couple of decades) – eat a spiral potato and an ice cream and then go on a wild ride. It did not end well.
Debbish
August 9, 2015Oh I love those spiral potato things and I think (without the chicken salt) they’re gluten-free. I don’t think we’ll be going on any rides. I’m fairly sure our visit will be centred around the fashion shows. Miss Em is performing some ballet-like stuff and aerial things as part of a circus theme for the fashion shows. They do three around lunchtime. Am hoping my visit involves little other effort. (Which is hilarious cos I LOVED our local show and rides when I was a kid. Now I worry too much about human error when it comes to rides and don’t have the tolerance to queue etc).
Kathryn
August 9, 2015Enjoy trip to Brisbane, always nice to see a relative perform. Good on you for going down. Love the long hair selfie. My sister just bought a selfie stick for her hubby’s and hers trip to Greece! Saw great review for Alice Hoffman’s book so now want to read it. Enjoy whatever you decide to read next.
Debbish
August 9, 2015I hadn’t realised the Alice Hoffman was published on 1 August until I finally got around to sorting and organising my TBR pile yesterday! I found 3 which had already been published!
Trish @ Between My Lines
August 9, 2015Your hair is definitely long! Hope the trip to Brisbane goes better than you think it will, at least catching up with friends and a blogger meet up sounds like a lot of fun. Have a good week 🙂
Debbish
August 9, 2015Thanks Trish. Got to see one of my besties’ 7wk old baby today… And had some nice family time. So a good start!
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
August 9, 2015WOW, 3.5 years of growing your hair? That’s why I can never do it! I get too impatient when it’s in the in-between stage, and then I just ask the hair-dresser to chop it all off again… It looks really good, though!
Good for you on finding some balance between your paid work and your own projects, I’m sure that will continue to become better and better as time goes by.
Have a fantastic week ahead and happy reading.
Debbish
August 9, 2015Lexxie I did that the attempt-at-growing before this last time. Fortunately it was at its ugly in-between-stage when I was hanging around home so I didn’t worry it was styleless.
Heather Duff (@hross42)
August 9, 2015Your hair looks fabulous!
Have a lovely time in Brisbane, I have only been the once to visit my husbands family back in 1999 (28 hours in a plane, I still have nightmares about it) but I remember it being a beautiful city, lots of green spaces though it may not be like that now.
Have a lovely week and enjoy your reads!
Heather | Random Redheaded Ramblings
Debbish
August 10, 2015Still lots of green spaces Heather, with a river winding through the middle. The river makes for a lovely vista but nightmarish traffic as one needs to cross it to get to the city from the southside! I lived there (here!) before my seachange and REALLY don’t miss my daily commute at all!
danielaark
August 9, 2015Hi Debbie, one of those weeks huh? I like your long hair, though! 🙂 What is your niece’s performance? I hope you do enjoy it! I heard the World without us is good. Looking forward to your review 🙂
Debbish
August 10, 2015My niece is actually in an aerial show. She’s a dancer (by ‘trade’) and has recently been expanding her repertoire by learning cheerleading, tumbling and aerial type stuff. Her ultimate dream is to work at one of the Disneys. She’s part of a show which takes place during the fashion parades.
fangswandsfairy(alt)
August 9, 2015I have been growing my hair out to mostly so I can do a face lifting ponytail. I sometimes get the most reading done when I travel. But not, of course if I am the one driving the car. have fun!
Debbish
August 10, 2015I’m the same re driving. If someone else drives then I really don’t mind, but as I’ve been single all of my life I’ve mostly not had someone else to do the driving (though my mother is sharing it this trip).
And I was VERY excited when my hair would go up into a ponytail and stay there!!!
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
August 10, 2015Your hair looks lovely! I’m a long hair fan myself. It’s just so much easier to me than having shorter hair. Plus my hair is ridiculously thick so I need the length to pull it down to a manageable width! Good luck on your trip to Brisbane. Crowds like the one you’re describing make me a bit anxious (or stabby actually) but I hope you enjoy your niece’s show. Enjoy your reading. You may not know what you’re going to read but you’ve got a lot of great options!
Debbish
August 10, 2015I have some great reading options there Katherine. I haven’t actually done any reading for 3 or so nights now so slipping behind a bit, but spending time with rellies has been nice. I hope to start on a new book today.
divabooknerd
August 10, 2015Sounds like you’ve had a much better week than previous weeks Deb and your hair looks magnificent! Beautiful and healthy. Mine is around the same length at the moment too, bit it gets too thick and moppy, Ooh, that sounds like a lovely night out in Brisvegas, pity about the crowds though. I’m not one for people either, usually in smaller doses. Hope you have a fabulous web Deb <3
Debbish
August 10, 2015My hair is quite thin Kelly but I have lots of it… so my hairdressers tell me!
Looking forward to seeing my niece perform as the pics looks amazing, but yes I could do without the crowds etc. Maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Grace @ Rebel Mommy Book Blog
August 10, 2015That is totally long hair and looks great!! Have a great trip in Brisbane and get to do a bloggers meet up. Enjoy your new books and have a wonderful week!
Debbish
August 10, 2015Thanks Grace. I haven’t really been to any blogging, writing or author events for some time so looking forward to connecting with like-minded peeps. There’s a big national blogging thing on next weekend nearby (ProBlogger Event) but my budget just didn’t allow for the ticket and accommodation this year.
laurelrainsnow
August 10, 2015I’ve been growing my hair, too, although after it got quite long, I had it trimmed and settled on this shoulder-length style, which is easier for me.
Yours looks great!
Enjoy the event, although crowds are challenging for me, too.
I am curious about Friction….
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Debbish
August 10, 2015I’m a Sandra Brown fan Laurel so looking forward to that one in particular. Not published til 18 August (along with the Kellerman) from memory so it probably will have to wait until after a couple of others!
On the hair front… I hate it on my neck and get sweaty so it needs to be off my face; so I either need mine long enough to do up or short enough to be out of the way..
Myrthe
August 10, 2015Oh, I’m not a fan of crowds either. Goodluck (and to your niece as well, of course). Your hair looks great too. Have a great week and happy reading!
Debbish
August 10, 2015Thanks Myrthe – hopefully I’ll get to share a pic of the performance in my next post!
Emma
August 10, 2015I didn’t know they were making Room into a movie. Loved the book but have to say a bit nervous because of that. Fingers crossed it’s been done well. Have a good trip despite the crowds. Emma
Debbish
August 10, 2015I’m very much the same re Room Emma but LOVE the trailer so I’m hopeful now. I read something on the IMDb forum from someone who’d seen an early cut and said it was good.
Bea @Bea's Book Nook
August 10, 2015I hope you enjoyed your niece’s show and the trip to Brisbane and the crowds weren’t too awful.
It sounds as if you’ve had a lot on your plate, I hope this week is better for you and less overwhelming. You have lots of good reading options and I’ll be starting Friction too also.
Happy reading!.
Debbish
August 10, 2015I think I just need to be more organised Bea. I think part of the struggle is that I realise I need to prioritise the stuff I’m paid to do, but that means my blogging, reading and reviewing suffer (which means I do also!).
Yvonne
August 10, 2015Your hair looks beautiful. I hope you had a great time at Brisbane.
I read the first book in the James Patterson Private series, loved it, and then didn’t have time to read the rest. I want to, though.
Have a great week!
Debbish
August 10, 2015I’ve been a bit hit and miss with the Private series Yvonne but don’t think it’s mattered as the characters have been different in the few I’ve read. I’m not entirely sure it makes for a consistent series but I like that there’s a local flavour.
Jan @ Notes from a Readerholic
August 10, 2015It sounds like you had a good week. Enjoy Brisbane. It sounds like fun.
I like your long hair. I haven’t had long hair in years, but it’s so much fun to have long hair.
The James Patterson Private series sounds really interesting. And hope you have a good reading and writing week.
Debbish
August 10, 2015I should be wearing my hair out more in winter (here) Jan but tend to be a bit slack and wear it up. All. Of. The. Time. (Which is why I was so surprised at its length at the hairdresser.) I wear it up to bed and then get up, brush it and pull it up again.
A Fold in the Spine
August 10, 2015That must of been an awesome time interviewing the author! I hope you had a great time interviewing her. So, you didn’t do to much work at your other gig it’s ok. You have another week and you can try to do more this week right?
Have a great week!
Sunday Post #2
Debbish
August 10, 2015Finding a balance seems to be ridiculously hard! 🙂
Angelized1st
August 10, 2015Your hair has reached a nice length. I can’t remember the last time mine was that long. I’ve been wearing it short for years, but am kinda growing part of it out. At lest you have a lot of ways you can style it now. Have a great week!
Debbish
August 10, 2015I have to admit I almost only ever wear it in a ponytail though I have a terrible habit of: constantly taking it out & putting it up again as I’m talking to people!
Teddyree
August 10, 2015Your hair looks lovely, I’m envious … mine is wavy on a good day but mostly frizzy and I so wish I got the straight gene lol. Enjoy the Ekka, I resisted going for 14 years of Brisbane living (all those people make for a breeding ground for flu and other bugs) and now I’ve been 2 years running. Your comment re animals made me laugh … 🙂
Hoping we can do a catch up one of these days Deb. Have a great week and safe travels!
Debbish
August 10, 2015Did you know about the bloggers’ meetup on Tues? I think someone shared on the Aussie Book Bloggers’ FB page Teddyree.
Teddyree
August 31, 2015I didn’t Deb … only recently joined the group and the Bloggers Collective so hopefully there’ll be more get togethers. I’m in the loop now.
Debbish
August 31, 2015Excellent! xx
Lisa@RandomActsOfZen
August 10, 2015What a beautiful photo, Deb! Your hair looks gorgeous.
I haven’t been to the Ekka for so many years, hope it was fab for you xx
Debbish
August 10, 2015We’re actually going on the Ekka holiday (Wed) Lisa as it’s also my niece’s bday. I haven’t been since she was little (and she’s about to turn 19). I dropped her off and picked her up from there today though….
La La in the Library
August 10, 2015I am stealing that coffee quote for my Facebook Monday morning post. Ha ha! I have been getting more blog posting done only because my main job where I sit at the computer all day is out for the summer, and my part time job has relatively no computer time. Yay for growing your hair out. I quit getting my hair cut and styled a long time ago because ponytails and buns are much easier for me. It saves money, too. I just bought Alice Hoffman’s The Red Garden because it was on sale as an ebook for $1.99. I have only read one other book by her and it was a Middle Grade, Nightbird. I started reading the first Practical Magic book, but I was bogged down by a bunch of review books at the time and it was from the library, and had to go back. I will be looking forward to seeing what you think of The Marriage of Opposites. Have a wonderful week. 🙂
Debbish
August 10, 2015I’m hoping I enjoy the book but it’s been ages since I read her work. Will undoubtedly share my thought she! 😉
CARLA
August 10, 2015I LAUGH I saw your hair photo and immediately made it about me.
IVE NOT HAD A CUT CUT IN DECADES.
I need an intervention 🙂
Debbish
August 14, 2015As I’d grown mine from short Carla I had to keep getting layers cut out of it as it grew, but about 18mths ago it finally reached one length.
signourney
August 10, 2015I hope you had a good time in Brisbane. Yeay for long hair. I’m growing it out now as well but it takes such a long time.
Debbish
August 14, 2015I’d had a few false starts too Signourney. A few years before the last short cut I’d started growing it out but got frustrated as it became style-less and cut it off. My normal routine is to grow it for a few years, then cut it off, regret it, grow it, get frustrated, cut it off, then grow it. (Etc!)
Michelle @ In Libris Veritas
August 11, 2015Your hair looks great! I’ve only had one true hair cut in my life and I loathed it, i just get the edges trimmed up. I hope your time in Brisbane was a good one, I’m not fond of crowds either.
I hope you have a good week!
Debbish
August 14, 2015Wow, your hair must be long Michelle! My niece (the one I mention in the post) has hair down to her waist – but she’s always been a dancer and does pageants and stuff so needs lots of length.
amyh90
August 11, 2015It sounds like a really productive week! I’m glad you’re finding the balance easier.
Your hair looks fantastic! It really suits you that length 😀 It made me think of your banner straight away when we realised she had longer hair, lol.
I think it’s great that you’re going all the way to support your niece 🙂 especially since it’s something you wouldn’t do on your own (I hate crowds too!) I hope she has a great 19th birthday!
In reference to your reading, I always think it’s nice to go for something completely different every once in a while. That’s what I did when I read The Lovely Bones. Not my type of book at all, I don’t like the genre, but it was a really good book!
Have a great week!
Amy x
Debbish
August 12, 2015Thanks Amy. I’ve had a lot of time offline so only responding to this on my niece’s bday. We’re off to see her perform today and celebrating her bday tonight. She’s off overseas shortly so this will be the last time we’ll see her for a while!
Bec
August 15, 2015I love that there’s little you wouldn’t do for your niece
Debbish
August 15, 2015I feel like we were very close when she was little. I stayed and helped out a bit after she was born so was around for her first 6mths (before heading o/s) and then for a while again after before moving again.
One of the reasons I left international aid and development work was to live closer to her (same city).
My ParaHangover
August 16, 2015Hey, your hair IS long!!! It looks great!! You should wear it down.
How cool to interview Ms. Fox! I’m sure you weren’t short on questions 🙂
Make sure and let us know you survived the fair and enjoy the rest of your week!
Debbish
August 16, 2015Ah yes… I accidentally put the wrong link into this week’s linkup so this is last week’s. I survived the fair and lived to tell the tale!
Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf
August 16, 2015Your hair looks great! Mine is so thin that I can’t let it grow that long 🙁 Hope you enjoyed your trip and the show.
Debbish
August 17, 2015Thanks Melissa. I did!
Rita @ View From My Home
August 17, 2015I think I read this post last week ? but it was fun to read it again 🙂 and I do love your hair long like that, though it needs to be pinned up for those long soaks in the tub, reading. Have a great week and hope all went well when you were away.
Debbish
August 17, 2015Ah yes… I accidentally linked up last week’s post (was out and on my phone!). I think Kimberley’s fixed it for me now!
Megan @ reading away the days
August 17, 2015Your hair looks great 🙂 I love getting the chance to read books by local authors. Have a great week. I actually had a local author guest post on my blog this week.
Debbish
August 17, 2015Thanks Megan.