…..The minute somebody turns it on, I go into the library and read a good book.
I can relate to that quite a bit but must say I enjoyed my binge of Netflix last week of the British crime drama “Fool Me Once’ with Joanna Lumley playing the matriarch of a drug company doing the wrong thing. It has so many twists and turns.
I am just about finished with Zadie Smith’s book The Fraud. I am enjoying it so much. I am doing a read listen of it and Smith reads it. She is so good at all the voices and accents. It takes place in England, Jamaica and Australia across the 19th century. Lots of characters but I find listening to all the voices while I read along the book helps keep them sorted.
2024- I am really looking forward to this year. I made one resolution. I will not have any major health problems this year. 2020 was one big benign ovarian tumour. Doctor said it was the size of a baby’s head. 2022 was loss of vision in one eye. 2023 was a heart attack, lucky not major. 2024 is going to be the healthiest year I ever had. Sometimes I laugh at how ridiculous it has all been. Add all that to my stroke I had 10 yrs ago and the MS I’ve had for 23 years. You have to laugh and just keep going. Move!!
The gym will remain in my life. I finished listening to a couple of travel writing books. I tend to begin one audible book, listen to half of it, then the mood changes and off I go into another. I end up with three or four half listened to books then go back and clean them all up to finish them.
Another little book I was gifted and have looked at for 2024 is The Little Frog’s Guide to Self Care. It is all about getting out and socialising, taking care of one’s mental health. Spending time with friends and happy self affirmations all discussed with a spunky, small frog.
I am really looking forward to our two book clubs beginning next and my two photo clubs starting activities again. We have an excursion in one club where we drive up to the midlands area of Tasmania and travel back roads taking photos of whatever we fancy. Probably quite a few old abandoned buildings, sheds, farm photos. n all meet for coffees and lunch.
I am rejoining the seniors group I belonged to also. I had stopped going due to being so upset to so many health problems but after a couple of years away I am looking forward to the evening meal once a month, the occasional speakers and a country lunch here and there every month. I enjoy the members of the group, many who are in their 80s and 90s and live vibrant, active lives. I think the older one gets the more socialising and reading becomes for one’s mind. Also get down on the floor everyday and practice getting up. Sounds silly but such a skill once you get over 65/70.😏😏😏
I had good news when I entered a photo in the competition run by the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. The rule was we had to include a structure within the gardens. My photo came in second of about 80 entries that I could see. I missed out on the first place with a $300.00 prize but was very happy with the Highly Commended.
We are off and running into 2024 so stay tuned for the books coming up, the photographs, my sister’s month long visit in March. She lives in California. There will be road trips and day trips. There will be food.
And on a final note…each year, rather than a resolution being thought about I pick one word that I will attempt to live by. This year’s word is INTENTION. Each morning as I write a note in my diary I think of what intention I want to act on for the day. Gym, walk, read, be kind, do laundry, play with the dog, doesn’t matter, just get up and do something.
I hope the new year has kicked off for all of you cyber friends. All the best.
By the way, Penguin has a new friend this year too. Mr. Galah.
Travellin' Penguin 