I have a blog post about ‘creativity’ that I apparently started writing in late January. I keep opening it, intending to finish and post it but alas… The creativity I thought I’d discuss in that post seems to fail me. So today – to FINALLY write something other than a book review – I thought I’d just write about… stuff. About life lately – as riveting as that may be.

Work travel

My new job involves a bit of travel as my team members are spread across Queensland. So as well as a couple of trips to the state’s capital (to head office) I’ve been to the north and far north. In March I went to Cairns and Cape York. In Weipa we were welcomed to Queensland’s west coast and it was surreal to remember that we do indeed have one!

And just last week I had my first trip to the mining communities of Mt Isa and Cloncurry. Both trips have given me the chance to chat to people from parts of the state I’ve previously never visited.

I talked a while ago about being pleasantly reminded that I actually [do] enjoy learning new stuff but wonder if old stuff seeps out of our brains to make way for the new stuff.

Weipa sunset

Reading & watching

Travelling means I’ve done less reading and a more-intense work environment often means I don’t have the headspace I need to sit and write. Either reviews or navel-gazing insightful blog posts.

Instead I’ve been watching a lot of television. I resubscribed to Apple TV+ again recently to watch the latest season of Ted Lasso, so naturally had to watch Shrinking and am currently watching The Last Thing He Told Me. I feel like I’ve read the book but perhaps just one (or several) similar.

I’ve also been watching: The Night Agent, Manifest, Mr Malcolm’s List, Wednesday, Unstable, Alice in Borderland, Irreverent, Emily the Criminal and many more on Netflix. I also need to resubscribe to Prime/Amazon to watch the final season of The Marvellous Mrs Maisel, which is one of my fave shows.

Holidaying

Longer-term readers may recall I’d planned to go to the Theakston Crime Writers Festival in Harrogate last year but changed my mind given COVID concerns. I’d booked my tickets for the festival but got no further.

This year stars and planets aligned and I’m planning to attend. My festival tickets (including accommodation and author dinners) are booked along with some very expensive flights to the UK. Nothing else, but it’s a start. I arrive in England just in time for the festival so am thinking from there I’ll head south. I’m very ignorant about all-things-England so continuing to eye off places with names one sees in Agatha Christie novels or Escape to the Country. I’ve got about two weeks to make the trek back to London (where I’ll spent a day or two before flying home) so starting to scour maps!

Any suggestions for holiday destinations or accommodation welcome.
And TV viewing recommendations invited as well!