I’m heading to the first of my Christmas celebrations tonight: a dinner with friends. And tomorrow night I have a work dinner (bizarrely, at the same place I’m going to tonight!). And then a break-up for my pilates class on Sunday. My work area closes between Christmas and New Year so we’re forced to take time off and I’m most certainly excited about the impending break. I may pop back in here for a #5before50 update before the end of the year but I’m thinking this might be my last post for a while so figured it was a good time to wrap-up my year.

Books and reading

Last week I shared with you my favourite books published in 2017. I thought I was pretty safe in making the call in early December as Christmas seems to offer a plethora of non-fiction options… cookbooks intermingled with those about dieting and health and a gazillion books about sporting heroes. Books perfect for gift-giving but not the kind of books I enjoy.

Again, I know the year isn’t finished yet so my ‘stats’ may improve; but with three weeks to go I’ve read 149 books.

And I participated in two ‘challenges’. For the Australian Women’s Writers challenge I’d set myself a goal of equaling the 30 books I read in 2016 – which I felt was a bumper year for women’s fiction. And I read a total of 37 books this year!

And I knew I’d easily cruise through the Cloak & Dagger challenge – mysteries and novels of suspense being my reading bread and butter. My target was the highest level (Sherlock Holmes, reading 56+ books) and of the books I’ve read in 2017 to date, 119 were mystery / suspense / crime fiction.

You can find all of my book-related posts here, or click on the magnifying glass in the top right corner to find an author / book in particular. You can also check out my book reviews in Goodreads and I tend to post summaries there along with a link to the full review on my blog. (Although I am a little behind in adding those summaries!)

Work 

The last two years have been ones of major change. Though I guess I’d say the same of 2011 and 2012. My return to full-time work (just months ago) has been less fraught than I expected though I continue to struggle with the old ‘balance’ chestnut. Particularly in terms of my priorities and values. And the fact I even have time to consider that shit means I’m pretty bloody lucky either way.

My job is predominantly based in a neighbouring town (where my mother lives) so I’m spending a couple of nights with her to cut down on driving. It’s good as we get to catch up and she furnishes me with home-cooked meals and leftovers. The only bad thing is that the clothes I want to wear are often in the wrong house at the wrong time, and I tend to wake at night confused about where I am.

Health & happiness

I did get into a bit of a pattern in terms of incidental exercise and was able to hit my 8000 steps per day pretty consistently. Until I started full time work. A combination of different (more enclosed) workspace, less space at my mum’s house, wet weather, hot weather and new-job laziness has meant I’m currently lucky to get 5000 steps in each day. 🙁

I have – however – recently started twice-weekly pilates (small group) classes and am enjoying those.

Life

I’ve met some new local friends this past year and it’s been such a treat to have them in my life. I tend to err on the side of hermit-like living but even having them at the other end of Facebook messenger has been wonderful. And then of course there’s my bloggy buddies – some of whom I’ve finally met in real life and others who tend to just be ‘there’ when I need them.

I’m heading for a milestone birthday before the end of the year and though I’ve not achieved all of my pre-fifty bucket-list / goals, I’ve been working on them (with my mini photo-shoot scheduled for Friday!). So that’s okay. I’ll soon be celebrating the milestone with old and new friends, though not making a HUGE deal of it, in recognition of the fact I’m heading on my long-awaited Italian trip in September 2018.

I’m not sure what the next year will hold. Shit, I’m not sure what the next two weeks will hold… but no doubt there will be adventures to be had by all.

You’ll note I’ve not commented on the good, bad and ugly of world events or politics of 2017. Cos it’s all about me me me!!!

How has 2017 been for you you you? 

The Lovin’ Life team includes: