Okay, yes… I realise it’s mid August but I forgot I was supposed to post this two weeks ago and wrote about Dry July instead. Then last week I couldn’t be arsed posting anything. I feel a bit the same this week but found this post wallowing in my drafts folder so… you’re welcome!
Work and jobs
Nada. There has been NOTHING available locally, so I’ve spent the last two months madly submitting expressions of interest in Brisbane temporary government jobs. My covering letter(s) basically say I’d be prepared to couch-surf for a couple of months if it meant earning a bit of money. Well, obviously they don’t say that but I rave on about the lack of opportunities here and the realisation I might need to look further afield on a temporary basis.
It adds to the uncertainty though and I keep telling myself I WON’T express interest in any more jobs elsewhere and – if I’m feeling desperate enough look at the local fruit picking jobs – (MBA be damned!) but then I see something come up and am tempted by the money on offer. (Which I must add is actually less than I once earned but seems like a fortune now!)
Not homeless yet
I have however been doing a bit of contract work for a couple of local companies. It’s involved everything from website content to uploading stuff onto sites, to helping with presentations, business plans and doing some social media stuff. It occurs to me that if I was ever going to pursue freelance writing opportunities I should set up my website and bloody do it. But…. *sigh*
Mum’s kitchen reno
If you know me or follow me on social media you’ll know my mother’s recently had her kitchen renovated. I actually started writing a post about it all months ago so should dig that out and share our experiences.
Mum was a bit stressed about the whole idea of her 55yr old kitchen being updated and only wanted the bare minimum so we went with that and I attempted to take care of as much as possible for her so she didn’t have to worry. And… the end result is pretty good. #ifIdosaysomyself
BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival
I think I’ve mentioned here I’ve had a travel agency gift card burning a hole in my pocket for the last year. I did think about a frivolous short o/s trip to New Zealand to scoff red wine in the snow, but then this Crime Writing Festival appeared on my radar in Sydney.
It feels like a slightly boring (ie. RESPONSIBLE) way to spend the voucher (flights and accommodation) but it features some of my fave authors: Candice Fox, Sarah Bailey, Michael Robotham, Val McDermid… just to name a few.
So, I’ve booked my flights, accommodation and some session tickets. I’ve actually got both Saturday and Sunday mornings free so perhaps looking to catch up with some virtual friends there if available!
Also, if anyone is going to the Ned Kelly Awards thingy, I’d love to catch up there. (Also cos otherwise I might have to sit alone!)
Less social media
I mentioned earlier that I’d been doing some social media stuff for a client for much of this year but I pulled the plug on that this week and ‘announced’ on Instagram and my blog Facebook page that I was having a break. Essentially I’ve just taken that stuff off my phone as Instagram is frustrating the hell out of me and I need to spend less time wallowing and procrastinating.
And there you have it… July (and now half of August) done and dusted. What’s been happening in your part of the world?
Linking up with the Lovin’ life linky gang.
August 15, 2019
I have never felt the need to take a break from social media (I do seem to drift in and out of it) although if I feel that it is ‘getting to me’ in any way, I unfollow/de-friend people – I decided long ago that Twitter etc was for entertainment and that if stuff made me mad or anxious, then I would rid myself of it. Have stuck to this approach for years.
August 15, 2019
Now that I’ve been off for a few days I realise it was predominantly Instagram I’ve been struggling with. The whole ‘comparison trap’ is a big one for me. Plus I just spend ages on there looking at tiny houses and vans etc… I realise I rarely ‘like’ things and just scroll through again and again.
Facebook is less of an issue for me though I’m going to keep it off my phone. I’ve kept twitter on as I’d like to use it more again. I used to use it a lot years ago when I was commuting each day – its pace was a perfect way to kill 45mins twice a day… though it did mean a lot would happen between catch-ups!
August 15, 2019
Hi Deb, I could catch up on the Sunday morning and then spend time researching in the library. Lilian Magill
August 15, 2019
That’d be great! Not sure if I should just suggest a place and see if anyone is free? I think my first session that day is 12.30pm.
August 15, 2019
Your Mom’s new kitchen looks very nice. I like the clean lines and the drawer handles (more friendly to our hands and wrists than the knob type). I just finished Crimson Lake book by Candice Fox and enjoyed it very much. Have a good time in Sydney and at the festival!
August 15, 2019
Oh yes, the drawers mean she doesn’t have to bend down to see what’s in the bottom of the cupboard. Plus her old ones were falling apart a little and disintegrating. The drawers are also all soft-close so she won’t get fingers stuck or leave them open accidentally. (And we chose handles that will be easy if – as she ages – she finds it hard to grip, and that don’t have edges to bruise on or catch clothing etc.)
I really liked the first and third in the Crimson Lake series. The second was good but first and third books were excellent.
August 15, 2019
Your Mum’s new kitchen looks great! It’s got a new lease on life. I hope you can find a suitable job soon – and local! Social Media can get me down – all that perfection and stuff that is better than my stuff *sigh* but I just back off now and then when I’m feeling that way and go back when I’m feeling a bit stronger. I think the writers festival will be great fun. Hope you have a ball! #TeamLovinLife
August 15, 2019
Yes, my reaction to Instagram stuff (etc) depends a bit on how fragile I’m feeling at the time. Often it’s “How did THEY get that book and I didn’t? I must be crap. Everyone hates me…” kind-of thing. Or “Oh, I SHOULD be doing that as well. I COULD do that but I’m too lazy. Why am I so lazy? So it’s my own fault really!”
Grrrrr…. it’s weird though, I’ve got no one to tell stuff to. (Which makes me realise Facebook probably doesn’t need to know what I’m watching on Netflix anyway!)
August 15, 2019
The writer’s festival sounds good! I’m keen to go to one of them these days. Friends from here regularly go to Sydney, Adelaide and they were just in Byron Bay recently, so I’ve got lots of information available. One of my friends in our area is author Sulari Gentill and I know she often goes to these events too. Best of luck for the continuing job hunt, it must be so frustrating. The kitchen reno looks great!! #teamLovinLife
August 16, 2019
I’m kinda wishing I’d gone to a romance writers’ festival in Melbourne a weekend or two ago Deb cos I would have known a lot of people there (although romance isn’t my fave genre). I’m yet to find anyone actually going as a participant to this, but that’s okay as I can come and go to sessions. (I’ve heard of Sulari of course though not read any of her work and she’s presenting at this… including one of the sessions I’m going to on the Sunday about fictional detectives!)
August 16, 2019
Oh wow, small world!!!
August 16, 2019
It looks like she’s doing two sessions on the Sunday and I’m going to the second one.
August 15, 2019
Yes, that writer’s festival sounds great! I’m going through a bit of a socials cull as well. Given up twitter. Can’t part with FB or insta though….
August 16, 2019
So far Instagram has been the weirdest for me. I waste a lot of time scrolling through looking at stuff, but it’s also that the ‘I must take a pic for Instagram’ idea pops into my head and then I remember I can’t. I’ve never focused on my Insta page being pretty etc. For me it’s always been about sharing what I’m doing and it feels weird not to do that.
August 16, 2019
I remain a bit of a social media junkie! I no doubt spend too much time there but I do enjoy it. It goes well with some freelance writing I’m getting into at the moment. I don’t have a website for that (just my blog) but I have been approaching particular publications directly. If you are looking for public service work in Brisbane, you may be able to register for short term work on their website. Depends on the agency, but I know in Canberra a lot of departments use these lists to draw contractors from. Agencies are probably a lot easier to go through rather than applying directly. That’ how I got a few jobs in Canberra and my daughter got a gig in Brisbane, which eventually turned into a permanent position. Good luck with it.
August 17, 2019
Thanks! I’ve been in touch with quite a few agencies and have half a dozen or so bookmarked. A short-term stint in Brisbane wouldn’t be ideal but at the moment it seems like a good option. The struggle though is often there’s a suggestion it could turn into something longer-term which doesn’t (of course) interest me… (given that I left Brissy / city life 7yrs ago!).
I think when I was setting up a ‘freelance writing’ site I’d linked the blog posts section to my debbish blog but had added a couple of simple pages. I let it lapse though and can’t decide if I want to go there again…
August 17, 2019
If you look look at freelance, I’d say forget the website. That’s a lot of work to set up and maintain. Just attach examples of work if required.
August 16, 2019
PS If you do go down the freelance writing path, take a look at Lindy Alexander online – she has great tips and resources and links to lots of other resources.
August 17, 2019
Thanks!
August 17, 2019
Good to catch up. I am glad about your Mum’s kitchen reno. Drawers are the best. I hope she is loving it. I probably can’t get down to Sydney for a catch up. 2 hours drive down on a weekend morning is somehow trickier in Sydney than during the week thanks to Sydney and kids’ sport!! I do hope you have a grea time. I have no advice to you re SM but I notice my mood can shift downwards if I scroll for more than a few minutes at a time. So, I guess I get myself onto other things. Sigh about the job thing. I hope what you end up doing – freelance or contract or whatever – does happen. Take care. Denyse
August 19, 2019
Thanks Denyse. I think mum’s enjoying her new kitchen and is finally getting used to things being in new places.