I’ve been extremely slack on the personal blogging front of late. I’ve even struggled to get book reviews done and several have wallowed in my website drafts folder for far longer than usual.
My thoughts are weighty at the moment and it’s been easier to keep them firmly locked inside my mind. It’s probably not healthy but I’ve rehashed the good ol’ life purpose / meaning of life / direction I want my life to take thing again and again here, so will save you from that angst. Instead I’ll do a light check-in post… just to get my out of my blogging slump.
What I’ve been watching
I’m currently re-watching Doctor Who season 5 on ABCTV iView (catch-up) here. If there was a show I’d still like to buy to have on hand it’d be Doctor Who (Nu-Who) but I no longer have a DVD player (though I do have DVD collections) and there’s no way I’d buy stuff to have it stored online. I lost access to heaps of music I bought on iTunes over a decade ago and can’t work out how to retrieve it, so I don’t want to invest in something that would live in some ethereal cloud.
I’m also watching Blacklist. I delayed the inevitable for a really long time as I was not a fan of James Spader. I don’t know why. I suspect he played a villainous character in a 1980s or 1990s movie and I’d never forgiven him. But, he’s grown on me and I’m enjoying the series and midway through season 2.
What I’ve been stressing over
I lost my internet at home a couple of weeks ago. It came at a terrible time. I’d just started a short contract gig that required me to work online. And I had an online assignment due for university. Mobile reception is poor at my house so hot-spotting isn’t an option so I had to spend almost a week and a half at my mother’s and *borrow* her wifi.
Thank god she’s in a neighbouring town or I would have been screwed. It reminded me however, how dependent we are on the bloody internet nowadays.
What’s been occupying my time
I’m doing a bit of work for a not-for-profit that works in developing countries. It’s perfect really as I can do it from regional Queensland and it combines my project management and editing skills as well as my experience working in international development. A weird mix I realise, but there you have it!
There have been very few opportunities advertised lately and I’ve relied on short term contracts over the past two years. I realise – with little available locally – my only option would be to move to a larger centre and I really don’t want to do that at the moment.
Life in general
It occurs to me that what I love most about my house is what I hate most about my house: its distance from town and the isolation that brings. My neighbour’s house is on the market at the moment and I’ve been tempted to do the same. Moving back into town to something with a smaller yard. Of course I realise just getting my house ready for sale would be stressful. So though I’m kinda bored and realise I’m allowing myself to become too isolated, I probably don’t need the worry of selling and buying at this point in time.
And there you have it. Life lately.
Have you missed me? What’s happening in your part of the world?
* Linking up with Denyse today….
April 12, 2021
Glad you’ve got your internet back. Losing it for a day or longer would stress me out especially as we’re still in lockdown over here. #lifethisweek
April 13, 2021
The worst thing was – when the technician came out to fix it he just needed to flick a switch in a nearby telecommunications box. They’d been doing work nearby before it happened and he commented that they ‘didn’t turn it back on’ which is worrying.
April 12, 2021
Lots going on Deb and it’s great to see you back blogging. I and a huge Doctor Who fan and really must catch up past series! I love reading your book reviews and you always get it spot on, so I avidly follow to see what you’ve been reading then add it to my list – just thought I’d let you know that while we’re chatting!
I’ve just finished a huge volunteer event and can relax a little, so appreciate some watching and reading suggestions from you. Hope you can get sorted as to what you want to do re moving or not, it’s a big decision. Thanks for the catchup. #lifethisweek
April 13, 2021
Thank you for your lovely comment about my reviews. It feels like a bit of a thankless task sometimes and a lot of effort. It sometimes takes the joy out of reading.
I only started watching Doctor Who when Jodie started in the role but went back and caught up on all of the newer series. I must admit, Jodie’s seasons have been a bit disappointing. Too many companions and lame plots.
April 14, 2021
Yes I agree with you Deb about the lame plots but I do like Jodie in the role I must say. Your book reviews are the best!!
April 19, 2021
Mwah! Was feeling really down in last day or so about my book blogging… seeing others get books I’ve requested that I didn’t get and feeling like perhaps I just should quit etc, so you’ve cheered me up. x (Re your comment on my reviews not Dr Who obvs!) 😉
April 19, 2021
That’s good, I’d hate you to stop!! Keep on going please
April 12, 2021
Hi Deb, lovely to have a catch up and it is funny how we all feel a little ‘guilty’ if we don’t post, or we feel the need to explain. Losing the internet is like losing a limb these days, especially if you work from home so I can understand your stress and frustration. Like Debbie H, I enjoy your book reviews but also understand life can get in the way. Have a great week! #lifethisweek
April 13, 2021
The worst thing Sue was that – because I didn’t know what was wrong with the internet – I had no idea if it would magically be fixed. A few people in my area lost access after they did some work nearby (and after a storm) so I kept thinking when they realised what it was they’d fix it before the 9 days or whatever it was until they could come out.
April 12, 2021
Ben watches Blacklist so while I’ve never gotten hugely into it, it does look like a pretty good show from my half-assed paying attention to it.
I feel like attitudes still are that the internet is an optional luxury which couldn’t be further from the truth.
April 13, 2021
I remember Blacklist starting and know it’s gotten good reviews over the years and certainly it’s been going for a while.
I have to admit losing access to online streaming frustrated me as well as I never really watch real TV any more just Netflix, Prime, iView etc…
April 12, 2021
Glad to see you checking in. Those review slumps really are annoying. I also tend to find myself in them and wonder what I am doing, I have no words. It’s good to have some down time. It’s amazing how much we need the internet for everything now. I’m sure your mum loved having you.
April 13, 2021
I think sometimes it’s because I’m struggling with a particular review or leave it too long to review something so I’m stumped and then just get further and further behind.
April 12, 2021
Our internet has been the bane of my life lately – it drops out several times a day – for anywhere from a minute or so to an hour or so – VERY frustrating! So I feel your pain – it’s extremely stressful when you have stuff you need to get done and you can’t get on. I hope yours sorts itself out sooner rather than later. As far as the house selling thing goes, that’s another big stressor, the prep, the sales spiel from the agents, the viewings, the offers, the waiting etc – it does my head in just thinking about it – but I guess it’s a necessary evil if you want to make a big change. Maybe someone will just knock on your door with an amazing offer you can’t turn down – we can always dream!
April 13, 2021
Oh wouldn’t that be nice… if someone came looking at the neighbour’s house and saw mine and came knocking at the door with an amazing offer. Sigh…
April 13, 2021
The work you are doing for the non-profit sounds interesting and satisfying. Good for you! I can’t even imaging being without the internet for a week and a half. Isn’t it crazy how dependent we have all become for so many facets of our everyday life? And it happened in such a short time! Hubby and I have been mulling over selling our house and buying something smaller with a smaller yard closer to town too. We want to be able to walk to restaurants, etc. I assume at some point we will be able to go out again! 🙂
April 13, 2021
It was so frustrating Laurie, particularly given my inability to access the internet from my phone as well. (Or even make calls!) I certainly appreciated it all the more when it came back on.
April 13, 2021
I’ve missed you and have enjoyed catching up/checking in! I feel for you with the internet, being city dwellers we rarely get an outage but when we do it makes me rather twitchy! Lucky your mum is nearby. We’ve been watching Superstore which is such light relief and we will be televisually bereft when we get to the end of season 5 🙁 Wah! Your work sounds really interesting, I guess the flip side of having lots of short term contracts is that you can’t say you get bored of the variety! We keep talking about a sea change but like you the thought of a fresh start feels good but the thought of buying, selling and packing up and moving does not! Maybe when someone buys the neighbour’s plot they’ll rock up to your door with an offer that you can’t refuse!
April 13, 2021
I hadn’t realised there were so many seasons of Superstore available! A friend of mine likes it and I’ve saved it to my favourites… to get to at some stage.
April 13, 2021
Good to catch up Deb. I know how annoying it is to lose internet. It happens to us more than ocassionally. I’m a James Spader after watching him in Boston Legal. It was a great series. Hope you manage to get some peace with your thoughts. That voice in our heads can be an irritation constant. I totally understand #lifethisweek
April 13, 2021
Oh I never watched Boston Legal and wonder if he was part of the reason. I was very loath to start watching this because of him. I really must check his past movie credits to see what he was in that made me dislike him so. I have memories of something in which perhaps he was a drug addict or something…
April 13, 2021
I felt for you when your internet went down. It’s just awful. Hey I saw a (free) virtual crime writers conference in something or other this morning. I’ll dig it out and send it through to you.
April 13, 2021
It was a reminder how reliant I am on the internet. I think that was one of the reasons I thought about the whole ‘moving’ thing. I’d definitely be checking I had good mobile access if / when I move.
April 13, 2021
Hi Deb – I DO miss you when you don’t blog for a while but I understand the ups and downs of blogging when it comes to mojo and inspiration etc. It’s also a hard balance between authenticity/overshare/interest to followers/what we feel comfortable with etc. At the moment I am beating myself up over sharing too much of myself on my blog. It’s a bit of a cycle with me. I want to be authentic and real so that others experiencing similar things can relate and not feel along but then I can feel embarassed and/or judged. Overthinker much? lol Anyway – don’t rush into selling your home cos I know how much you love it! Take some time over that kind of decision until you are very sure. I can understand your stress over the lack of internet – especially as you’d just secure a contract and had an assignment both relying on it! Thank goodness your Mum wasn’t too far away. Hope you have a great week this week!
April 13, 2021
Oh I don’t feel as if you’ve been oversharing Min. I like that you’re honest in your posts and even your latest where your levels of anxiety over the painting was interesting to see how our thinking can change.
And yes, you’re right. I do love my house. And my space. And the quiet. I suspect if I was working – ie. going somewhere each day – this place would feel like a haven. At the moment though I’m just so slack about going out as if feels it’s a distance to travel. (I’m only 10km outside of town but I suspect it’s cos there are 80km and 100km zones between me and town that it feels like a trek!)
April 14, 2021
Lovely that you blogged Deb. I know we kind of catch up on social media anyway but your posts are always of interest. I visited a new friend last week and she & husband built house of their dreams close to the beach. She still drives back to Sydney to teach 4 days a week but this is where they want to be. The Real Estate prices have gone sky high on the Central Coast and beyond…and we will never be able to buy again…but, this friend had a real estate agent knock on the door and offer $500K over what it cost them to build.
Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. Next week, the optional prompt is Interesting. My post will be a continuation of Telling My Story as I am wanting to wrap the series up. It’s great to have your blogging support on my link up. Thank you. Denyse
April 19, 2021
I think my neighbour has had an offer already but not sure if it’s reasonable etc… I suspect the buy/sell/move debate is part of my overall dissatisfaction with life at the moment. Needing a change or wanting some direction.
April 23, 2021
Happens to me too. I realise then, I still have to have me with me wherever I go.