JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH/APRIL DIARY

I am writing this in June, stupefied at how fast this year has gone. As I go through what I have done in these first 4 months, no wonder really!

So, the year starts with me still without a car after my stupid car accident back in October at Port Macquarie. Not having a car was quite freeing in a way, but ultimately you lose a lot of freedom, which doesn't make sense, but what about this crazy life makes sense anyway!

I got it back finally mid-month, just over 3 months without it. I was initially very nervous about driving again, but it didn't take long to get back into shape. Roundabouts still give me a bit of PTSD though.

Work has been insane. In my day-job at Belmont Library, the work still delights and entertains me, however I have taken on a few other bits and pieces to help out, so my dance card is incredibly full. This has been exhausting. During this time I have been helping out with our Collections department, Readers Advisory and Collections (ordering books etc) is my great love and area of expertise, so I enjoy the experience, but it is a lot. I also filled in for my boss for a month or so, and I have been working on my large project, which is a Comic Con type event called Pop Bam: popular culture festival planned for late July. 

You can read more about POP BAM here.

And I am back teaching at TAFE, 2 nights a week online. I love this so very much. The actual teaching, and lesson prep comes pretty easily to me, so I don't find it too tiresome. However, the admin can be a killer, and even now I am only getting better at it. I have lovely colleagues who are very helpful and kind. This term I have been teaching copyright, which I thought was going to be pretty dull, but I have found it absolutely fascinating and get to teach it again next term with my other class!

First term was full on - juggling both jobs - and I had moments of oh boy, I have taken on too much (and I had), but by second term, some of the smaller things had fallen away and things were much more manageable, plus the more you do something the easier it becomes. It just means being super organised and only taking on what is important, I am super great at the first, and getting better at the second. And I wouldn't change a thing!

My health has been - touch wood - good, but my menopause has been a big pain in the arse. Menopause (and peri-menopause) is getting more traction these days. As always, it is up to GEN X to push the boundaries, but you do not hear much about this incredibly important rite of passage, until it hits you and even then, not much is said. This needs to be changed, and many of us are talking about our experiences. I felt like my experience has been mild until I started reading up about it more recently. And whilst it is nowhere near as bad as it could be, I realised I had been going through much worse than I had been thinking or saying. Not to whine or need sympathy, it is a fact and you need to be realistic about it! It can be tough, hot sweats (I get them really bad), mood swings, foggy brain, dry skin, and much much more. It is all there, so be nice to your late 40s to 50s ladies, you never know what they are going through!

I have also been having regular osteo and massage visits and this seems to be keeping my osteo arthritis under control...as such...I am always in chronic pain, but for the most part it is very manageable...except for severe weather changes...then it is a huge pain.

And I have made it 5 years clear of cancer, so that is something worth writing about.

Andrew and I continue to go back forth between Sydney and Newcastle most weekends, which is a lot of fun.

We have done a few cool things over these months.

Our friends fostered a heavily pregnant hound in between Christmas and NY, and 12 puppies later they were in a whole lot of beauty...and work. So we went puppy visiting and it was divine!!!

We saw David Sedaris at Sydney Opera House

And spent a little time in Sydney.

Beatnix at Lizottes

I did my usual Oscar Watch, here are my predictions and other information.

We saw Weird Al Yankovic at The Enmore

Tim Rogers at Lizottes

We celebrated Andrew's Dad's 90th birthday. He is in pretty good shape, mentally and mostly physically for 90. It was a joyous celebration

There was the remarkable Newcastle Writer's Festival

AND RocKwiz at The Civic Theatre.

A couple of weeks off at Easter.

And The World is a Vampire Tour.

The usual reviews:

Jan/Feb here.

And Mar/Apr here.

Life is most definitely for the living!

And here are some pics...

MARCH/APRIL DIARY

March commenced with a visit from my sister from Melbourne, and a lovely night out at Emilios.

Jayne and I headed into City Hall for the Newcastle Writer's Festival Launch with the amazing force of energy that is Costa Georgiadis. Now, I didn't really know much about him or gardening for that matter, and he was so very impressive. His nervous energy was catchy and admirable. He was absolute joy and it was a fabulous way to launch what looked like to be a great program.

Our work held their yearly GLAM conference, and I was lucky enough to attend on the Friday afternoon, listening to some creative and inspiring colleagues and being treated to the fabulousness that is Timberlina. Also these events mean long overdue networking and catch ups with colleagues all over the state.

I had my yearly check-up with my oncologist, the first one in real life for a while. And after 4 years I was discharged, what a relief and odd feeling it was. I was very emotional and the tears flowed once I made it to my car. I still need to have my regular breast check ups with my surgeon of course, but one more milestone passed and behind me. Whilst being a cancer survivor is absolutely a gift that I am blissfully aware of every day of my life, it can be a heavy thing to carry around.

We finally got all the gals together and headed back to Rombergs for drinks, supper and chats. It was as impressive as the first time, I don't think those view will ever get old. 

Andrew and I headed to the Burwood Inn for one of their big steaks for lunch one Saturday. I had been promising to take him for ages, and he was super impressed. It is an excellent meal there.

As always the Oscars were celebrated. Every year I say I am going to give it up, but every year I get sucked back into the vortex!

Here are my reviews of some Oscar films.

Here are my predictions.

And here is how I went along with some thoughts and fashion!

I also finished my first TAFE teaching stint at the end of March. I have been teaching Collection Management - my most favourite thing in the whole world of libraries. It was pretty full on juggling the teaching with FT regular work but I got there and enjoyed the experience too.

The month ended with a literary trivia night at The Stag for the NWF. Our group, which was initially 5 but became 3 ended up coming second, which was pretty impressive. It was such a fun night.

April commence with the Newcastle Writers Festival, as always it was magical and wonderful, you can read about it here.

Due to our brilliance at the literary trivia night, we won a table at the Moho Magic Bar that was in town, so headed there for an early show. What fun it was. We sat at a bar, where roving magicians moved around and did amazing tricks right in front of us. Some lovely cocktails were had, and many laughs.

I headed to our Toronto Branch to do a little guest gig, as you can see the views there are unparalleled. I don't think I could work there, well, I wouldn't get much work done!

We also had a belated Christmas dinner for work at The Argy Hotel and also had a go at their trivia.

I had a lovely 2.5 weeks off around Easter, commencing with a lovely family gathering at my sister's on Easter Sunday, then I spent the first week with Andrew at his place, which was a nice break, returning to celebrate my sister's birthday. MY second week was a chill week catching up on jobs around Club Cathy and catching up with friends and taking in the beauty that is Newcastle.

The month ended with a trip to Maitland and Morpeth, with a great lunch - as always - at Morpeth Pub.

AS always there were markets.

Bookclub and my radio spot at the ABC.

And some photography