I’m sure you all noticed I was AWOL last week. And yes, that question was rhetorical as I’m also sure your world was bleak and unappealing without my words of wisdom; barely worth the effort of extricating oneself from one’s bed without me to brighten your day with my random blitherings.

In all honesty I was having a shocker of a week at work. It was pretty much the culmination of the big project I’ve been working on for the past year, plus some other bits and pieces.

On a positive note, that project – well my work on it – is basically done. On a negative note, I’ll soon be unemployed.

Obviously however there’s a silver lining because before the looming unemployment is…. MY ITALIAN HOLIDAY!

The holiday

I must confess I’m actually almost as excited about the break from work as I am about the trip to Italy. For almost all of my last decade pre-seachange, I didn’t travel during holidays. I just took a break from work and stayed at home, or visited my parents. Time away from work was enough for me.

Of course this time around I’m off to Italy and I’m finally getting organised. Which is a good thing as I leave in just a few days.

Sure, I’ve not yet packed but I’ve made a list of what I’ll take. I’m also yet to do any pre-writing retreat prep – put things on USBs or print stuff out… but I’ve got at least 2 nights left. #eek

Books and stuff

Of course the horrible week at work, plus a visit from the prodigal son (aka my big brother) meant I did no reading last week. Like none. So it means I’m at least 3 books and 2 reviews behind in my pre-holiday reading and reviewing.

Interestingly I’m more stressed about that than I am about the packing thing. (Which my friends think is weird!)

I did read the new Liane Moriarty (Nine Perfect Strangers) on the weekend which is due to be released while I’m away, but yet to read the epic Kate Morton. I’m running out of time but loath to have to take it with me (unless I can get an electronic copy) cos it’s friggin’ huge and I don’t have the luggage space. Also I’ve heard such good things about it I’m sure I won’t want to leave it in the northern hemisphere.

Walls

You’ll obviously recall (given you’ve committed all of my posts and incredibly eloquent prose to memory) that I’d pondered on doing something with my walls. Since much of my project management day job has centred around capital works, building, furniture etc, I’ve collected ideas for stuff at home. If money permitted I’d get the exterior of my far-too-white house painted, but as that’s not the case I’ve been fantasising for a while about getting a dark and atmospheric wall (or two) painted INSIDE.

I recently guilt-tripped my brother enough (ie. ‘poor me, no man to look after me and do the heavy lifting’ type thing) that he came and painted walls during last week’s visit to my mother. I felt bad when I discovered it was more than an hour or two’s work (apparently he cleaned the bloody wall and taped around things…. *sigh*) but I’m very happy with the result. I’d gone with the Dulux colour Enterprise though been worried it was too dark. In retrospect I could have gone darker, but love this. I’m yet to rearrange the art on those walls but with limited headspace (white space for thinking and creativity) at the moment I’ll have to do that on my return.

Post holiday planning

I actually had a job interview last Saturday for a part-time job. I’m not sure how it went as they seemed to be worried about me being satisfied with the rate of pay and the type of work, but I’m looking forward to a change of pace. Of course there is something in my current organisation I’m also thinking of applying for…. but who knows?!

And that’s it. I had other ideas for posts over the last week or two. One was particularly interesting and about the ‘branding’ of my blog (and myself to an extent) but… fuck it, I couldn’t get my arse into gear to write it, so this is what you get.

Are you insanely jealous of my holiday and / or my trip?
Any packing suggestions or last minute things I ‘might’ (ahem) have forgotten?

The Lovin’ Life team includes: