Thanks for taking the time to read the posts

Thank you to all who have read this blog recently. I'm thrilled that people are still finding it and are interested in reading the posts.

I would love you to have a look at my new project http://www.kerrymalone.com.au/ and follow the story of self-publishing my first children's picture book!

Kerry
xx

Final blog post

What to do with my twitter account has been taking up brain time. I follow lots of fabulous people and it's a great way to keep up-to-date with news around the world and what is happening in the bookish world.

My interests have changed over the last 12 months or so and therefore the people I want to follow has changed too. I have been going through my following list, so if I have taken you off my list it isn’t because I didn’t like your tweets. To all those who have followed me thankyou.

This blog will also be put away for good this time. I know I came back and said I would put posts up once a month but in all honesty I don’t have anything new to say and have been racking my tired brain trying to think of something to write. It's the end of another chapter for me and I have had fun during the last few years writing my stuff but it's time to let go. I have been getting better at letting go and concentrating on what I am happy doing at the moment. I love my jobs, have been having fun trying to crochet and am still reading lots.

Thanks again to those who have read my blogs.

Kerry

xx

I love my house-husband

I am back working full-time and my husband has taken on the role of house-husband. Those who have read this blog before will know that I don’t cook much – well actually it’s a rare occurrence. It is fabulous walking into the house after the drive back from the city to the amazing aroma of something awesome on the stovetop or in the oven!

It’s me who now walks in and says, ‘Hi honey, I’m home’ and we still crack up. I’m the one who calls home before I leave town in case we need something from the supermarket. He has taken to his new role like a duck to water.

I am not good at housework but my husband is actually really good. I was in hospital many years ago at a time we were having a kitchen renovation and when I came home to a lovely new kitchen the kids told me that dad was actually much better at cleaning than I was. Some women may have been upset by that statement but not me. It has taken many years but now that he is taking time off work I leave him to it.

 

On the weekend we had a party at home. I usually spend the days before such an event cleaning everything within an inch of its life and stressing that everything will be just right. A complete waste of time and energy I know as the guests don’t care at all – they are there to have fun not check out my house cleaning skills. I left a list of jobs which I thought needed to be done and off to work I went. I expected the list to be thrown out but came home to a sparkling house. I was stunned - he had even cleaned the windows!

He even cooks for me when he won't be home. A few weeks ago he was going out before I would be getting home from work and I thought I would rustle up a sandwich or something for dinner but I arrived home to this series of notes. Even with me finishing off the meal it was delicious!



turn on oven and put the tray in!



okay I can do this



this was next to a bowl with cornflour mixture 

Not too much crocheting has happened as I have been reading lots. I have just started reading The Best Man by Dianne Blacklock. Three little books have been sent to my great-niece.

Grand Final days

The month of September was grand final month!

The first was youngest daughter's soccer grand final. She plays in the all-age women's team for our local soccer club. The women's division is played in Canberra and this was our first year in the competition.


Youngest daughter in goals!

They only had one loss during the year and it was that team they played in the grand final. Family and friends travelled to watch them play each week and grand final day was no different. They didn't win but gained the respect of the other teams in the competition and the administrators of Capital Football. The game was a cracker and we all yelled ourselves hoarse.

Last weekend my husband and I travelled to Melbourne to watch the Fremantle Dockers in their first AFL Grand Final!

It was a fabulous experience. Everyone we came across was in a good mood and regardless what team they followed, wished each other good luck.

My husband and cousins had tickets to the game but I didn’t so I spent the afternoon at Federation Square with thousands of fans. I even came across some people from our town which is a long way from Melbourne and has more rugby fans than AFL ones!

Just before three quarter time I was wet and cold and went for a walk and discovered the Ian Potter Centre in the National Gallery of Victoria was full of people watching the game on a big screen. I found a spot to sit and with a warming coffee settled in to watch the rest of the game.

After the game we ended up at a bar next to the NGV with Dockers and Hawks supporters enjoying themselves and dissecting every moment of the game. As we wandered around the city afterwards supporters of both teams were offering congratulations or commiserations to passers-by.

Bought a new purse in Melbourne to match my scarf

We didn’t get the result we wanted but Fremantle played their first grand final, the fans turned Melbourne purple, we met a lot of friendly, happy people and caught up with cousins we haven’t seen for a while and can’t wait to do it all again next year! Go Freo in 2014!

Not Without You by Harriet Evans is on top of the reading pile, still crocheting and the first story for my great-niece has been posted to her!

 

Sheep do have legs!

We have had a fabulous August. The highlight was our trip to Sydney with our girls to see Pink! What an amazing experience!

We stayed in an awesome apartment and went to High Tea at the Westin and to the Opera House to see an opera! We celebrated my husband’s birthday while we were there and had drinks in beautiful old buildings and breakfast in cafes with harbour views. I love having fun in Sydney!

We have stayed at the hotel before – in 2007, but it was a much different story.

Those who have read my previous blog http://sheephavelegs.blogspot.com.au/ will know my eyesight drama story and when we last stayed at The York I was just about blind and in Sydney to have some major surgery. It was a very different visit to the one we just experienced. After we checked into our hotel in 2007 we went for a walk and it was getting dark. For me it was a nightmare of flashing lights from cars and shops and not being able to see where I was going and despite the efforts of my family I couldn’t see people walking towards me and was knocked around a fair bit. In the end I went back to the hotel to lay down in the dark and try to get rid of the pounding headache I had.

This trip was different. I could see the amazing view from our balconies (yes balconies) and appreciated the gorgeous apartment we were in. The crowds didn’t bother me at all as I wandered the streets at night and during the day with my family. I saw Pink and the Opera and shopped and none of it gave me a headache – well maybe too much sun at Circular Quay!


View from our apartment!

August 15 was the anniversary of the last surgery to restore my sight and six years on I still don’t take my sight for granted but notice colour and beauty all around me. I often think about the team of doctors who looked after me and wonder what new, amazing procedures they are doing six years on. 

At this time of year I have a huge smile on my face when I drive past paddocks of sheep and their beautiful lambs (not to forget the gorgeous calves). What I do notice particularly is that yes, sheep do have legs because for quite a while a few years ago I couldn't see them!

 

I have been reading lots of children’s and YA books this month. Janine has been proofreading the stories for my great-niece and my crocheting is improving! Ah, life with great eyesight!

 

 

 




 

I promised a blog post once a month, what have I got to tell you?



Edward enjoyed the crocheting too!

As mentioned in my last post I am now a crafty woman. Six weeks after I learnt to crochet my first scarf is finished. Lovely Liana who taught me has been continually sending me encouraging emails and made a lovely beret to match my scarf. The scarf and beret had their first outing last week when they were worn to dinner. My friends nearly fell off their chairs when I announced I had made the scarf! Our daughters think it is hilarious, my husband is proud of me!

The stories for my great niece are coming along nicely and I have borrowed a number of books from the library to find out how to make handmade books. I have been an excellent customer in our local newsagency buying all sorts of supplies to make covers. 

Work at the library has been fun as we have had a number of storytime events including celebrating Hairy Maclary’s 30^th birthday. The mums had a great time and read along with me – they too grew up with these fabulous books.

I have discovered the Alice-Miranda books by Jacqueline Harvey and love them. I will now be known as Kerry-Lynn Hamilton-Malone!

Do you enjoy reading children’s books? One of the perks I love about my job is waiting for the new books to come in. Recently we have had lots of children’s books and they are 'such fun'.*

*Favourite phrase borrowed from another famous Miranda.

 

Hello again

It has been six months since I last wrote a post for this blog and I am staggered that people are still finding it and are interested in reading my ramblings. People are still following me on twitter and I really don’t contribute much.

A lot has happened during the last six months including job changes. The job in the city didn’t work out as the requirements of that job (I discovered six weeks in) put my local job at risk and I wasn’t prepared to let that happen.
 
My husband and I are empty nesters and settling into this new era in our lives. Both our daughters are now at uni in the city and living on campus and having a ball. They are doing well with their studies and enjoying what they have chosen to do. When they come home for weekends we have a lovely time and often my husband and I have plans and they roll their eyes at the extent of our social life without them. My husband is enjoying working part-time and I haven't cooked since December last year!

Janine and I are keeping our hand in and proofreading for family and friends. We are currently working on a children's book with a local author.

I did buy an e-reader and on a recent trip back to Perth didn’t take a book and happily read my way through a couple of Janet Evanovich books on my lovely Kobo Mini.

The trip to Perth also turned out to be creatively inspiring. In one of my first blog posts I related my lack of craft skills. A friend taught me to crochet – yes crochet! Liana didn't believe that I couldn't do it and patiently set about teaching me. She gave me a ball of wool and a hook and I have been merrily but really slowly creating a scarf. I am not very good but love it!

During the trip we spent time with my great niece. She is now 14 months old and adorable. She recognised us each time we saw her and then we left. It will be some time before we see her again and I don’t want her to forget us so on the plane home I wrote two stories for her. I typed them up and am now making them into little books to send back to her.

I am on a roll – crocheting and writing stuff, so it seemed fitting to start the blog again and let you know what I am up to.

I realised I have been trying to figure out too much stuff. I was worried about getting extra work as my husband is taking some time off. I was trying too hard to get another job, trying to find something I could do from home and was going around in circles. I was worried about being bored and not having a project as I wasn’t writing my 'book’ anymore and had given up a long-term community activity which took up time and energy. It was time to move on. Those who have read this blog from the beginning will know I have struggled to figure stuff out during the last few years but it was during this last trip to Perth I realised I don’t have to figure it all out at once. Concentrate on a few things at a time and it will all fall into place. I am certainly sleeping better (menopause aside) as my head doesn’t have so much swirling around in it and I have actually continued on with the crocheting instead of giving up. I have sent photos of my progress back to my friend in Perth and she has been a great motivator. Writing stories for my niece has been fun and not worrying about work has seen an unexpected job come my way.

The Girl in Steel-Capped Boots by Loretta Hill is the only book I have read since coming back from Perth as I have been trying to crochet!

 

I don't know how much I will have to tell you so at this point I promise to do a post at the end of each month. I love this new era of our lives ... anything can happen if we let it!

 

New challenges

The New Year holds lots of changes for our family which I have already talked about in other posts but a new one has popped up during the last few weeks. I have a new job and will be commuting to work in a city library three days a week and working in our town library two days. I haven’t worked full-time for twenty years! It is pretty exciting and amazes me that at this stage of my life I have found a job I love, want to study for and learn more about.
 

In keeping with the Letting Go theme I have decided to let go of this blog for a while as I find my feet with the new job and commuting. My husband is very excited about being a house-husband for a while and I may never need to cook again!

I will need a new hobby as I won’t be pretending to write a book anymore. A friend suggested ‘beta-reading’. That sounds like fun as that’s what I do – I read. I will look into it.

Thanks to the lovely people who follow me on twitter, I now have a list of new authors to try and can’t wait to get my hands on their books. Uni student daughter is taking me shopping tomorrow to finally buy an e-reader.

False Advertising by Dianne Blacklock is on top of the reading pile at the moment and soon I will have all the lovely new ones on my e-reader!

 

To all of you who have taken the time to read this blog I wish you a Happy New Year and thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings.

 

The writing and proofreading has taken a back seat but I will always be a reader. 

Kerry

Merry Christmas

We do a fairly low key Christmas here. Everyone is on holidays and looking forward to putting their feet up before a new year of change for us all.

Enjoy your Christmas and have fun.

I have just started reading The Harp in the South by Ruth Park. An Australian classic I have never read.

One of my favourite bits

It’s been another busy week in our household. The job interview I mentioned last week turned into an offer of employment so I have been busy filling out paperwork. I will tell you more about my new job soon. Youngest daughter received an offer for Uni so she is very excited. My husband and I had three Christmas parties in a row and we are exhausted!

As promised I will put up one of my favourite bits from my ‘book’. I hope you like it. I will put up some more in a few weeks.

Favourite bit number one:

‘Are you going?’ Leah was looking at the clock.

‘I’m a bit tired.’

‘You know you’ll feel good if you go.’

‘Alright, Suzie and Victoria have promised they’ll come.’

‘You guys will never keep it up. We have a bet on to see how long you’ll all last. Don’t go for a drink after, you promised to take it seriously.’

Zumba has come to town. Lily went for the first time last week and the hall was jam-packed. Did she really want to go back and make a fool of herself again?

Suzie and Victoria were there when she arrived. The gorgeous Kelly was up on the stage and it looked really easy when she did it.

Lily, Suzie and Victoria puffed their way through the lesson. When they finished they congratulated each other on surviving another week.

‘Let’s go get a glass of champers.’ Lily said to Victoria as they picked up their bags.

‘Forget a glass, let’s get a bottle. Are you coming Suzie?’

Victoria and Lily went out to the bar while Suzie had a chat to Mary.

‘I’m dead!’ Lily flopped into the chair.

‘Me too, that was bloody hard.’ Victoria fell into her chair.

‘Where’s Suzie?’

Victoria turned to the door and burst out laughing. ‘Here she comes, quick get the walking frame out!’

‘What the hell do we think we’re doing? I hate Kelly. She’s so perky and fit.’ Suzie collapsed into her seat and pulled out her towel to wipe away the sweat.

‘Who’s going to the bar? Maybe we can just shout our order from here ... Steve ... a bottle of bubbles please.’

Steve looked over and started laughing. ‘Have you lot been to Zumba?’

‘Yes,’ they replied.

He brought a bottle and glasses to the table. ‘Can’t have you getting up and walking to the bar now can we?’

‘Thanks,’ they responded.

Victoria poured the drinks and they raised their glasses.

Suzie proposed a toast. ‘Cheers to perky bloody Kelly.’

‘Cheers to perky bloody Kelly,’ Lily and Victoria chimed in.


I've not had a lot of reading time but am trying to get through Secret Mothers' Business by Joanne Fedler.

 

 

 

 

Moving on



the tray is empty and ready for a new project

November was a big month for our family. There was a lot happening and some big events took place including finishing HSC exams, skydiving, a birthday event and a school formal. The end of semester and assignment deadlines were looming and a job interview needed some preparation. I ran out of steam for Nano. My word count was nearly 8000 and I am proud of what I have written but know I don't have the discipline to write 100,000 words. During the next few weeks I will put up some of my favourite bits but It is time to put the ‘book’ away and move on.

I will still write and tweet about whatever pops up as we figure out the ‘empty nest’ chapter of our lives. As promised I have figured out how to put photos on! I hope you continue to stop by and see what’s happening.

 

 Less Than Perfect by Ber Carroll is all I have had a chance to read.

School's out forever

Another milestone occurred this weekend as we all went to the Year 12 Formal. Our girls did their high school years at a K - 12 rural school with a population of around 420 kids. At the event Friday night were 36 Year 12 students and their families, friends and teachers. Everyone dressed up and danced the night away. This event officially finishes our connection to school.



 uni student's preschool photo

We started preschool in 1997 during the week we moved into our new house. Our daughter was so excited about preschool she wanted to have a uniform like the big kids at the primary school so we went out and bought some yellow t-shirts and a blue skirt. Within months I was asked to be President of the P&C and started years of committee positions at school and for sport. I even coached a netball team. They had no idea that I had no idea and some of the girls still play.




youngest daughter's preschool photo

So for us school is over. We know that whatever our girls choose to do they are well-equipped from their years of primary school in the city and high school in the country and they have great friends along with them for the ride.

 

I had a couple of days break from the textbooks as my final assignment is in. Just some tests to go. I am reading another Katie Fforde book called Stately Pursuits. 

My secretive family

I have just had the best weekend. It was my birthday during the week and my family and I were heading into Canberra for dinner  and to see Denise Scott at the Canberra Theatre. My husband and I were staying over at a very nice hotel and having a shopping day today.

Imagine my surprise when we arrived at the restaurant and the table was booked for 10! There are only four of us and in walked some of my best friends and neighbours. And they were all coming to the theatre too!

We had a lovely night and Denise was hilarious. I can’t believe they all kept the secret. This outing has been planned for months apparently and no one said a word. Even youngest daughter didn’t say a word when I was giving her a hard time about driving home after the show and trying to convince her to stay over as well. She had plenty of company for the drive as the car was full of my friends.

I did finish Love Letters but haven’t read anything else as the end of semester is looming and I have work to do.  Assignments have left NaNo behind too.

After the HSC - jump out of a plane!

This weekend has been a big one for our family. On Friday our youngest daughter finished her HSC! When I saw her after the exam her face was lit up with relief and excitement. We went to dinner with another family and their now finished HSC student. It is a strange time for them now as they wait to move on to the next stage of their lives.

After a late night we had an early start to head down to the coast for my husband and now finished HSC daughter to do their first skydive. It was so exciting! Uni student daughter and I are not inclined to dare-devil activity and we were happy to stay out on the deck at the airport watching the sky, taking photos and cheering the skydivers. This was a present to our youngest for her 18^th birthday and my husband has always wanted to have a go. Needless to say they loved it and wanted to go up again. My husband says he will go again but only if I go too. In his dreams! My dare-devil inner self was let loose a number of years ago for a significant birthday when I went up in a balloon. That was amazing and I would love to go again. It’s such a shame it happens at such an ungodly hour and now we would need to leave home around 3am to get there on time. He says he isn’t too keen on the balloon idea but is happy to jump out of a tiny plane at 14,000 feet!

Nano is happening too. I have actually written about 5,000 words at this point.

I am still on Love Letters by Katie Fforde. It's been a bit busy around here but I must make some time for reading.

 

It's November

Offline October is finished and it’s on to Nano! I did pretty well with only going online for an hour a day during October. I did fall off the wagon a few times but that’s okay because overall I reduced my internet time wasting and only looked at what I need to look at.

So, it’s on to Nano for November. This will be a huge challenge but I am willing to give it a go. My goal is to write every day and get the words down, and however many words that is will make me happy!

Good luck to everyone having a go.

Letting go

For years my dream has been to write. I have done courses and read books about the craft and written bits and pieces and had some published in various forums. I have had ideas for two books, written a couple of thousand words, done lots of planning but never had the discipline to actually write them. Deadlines are good for a procrastinator like me and I have signed up for NaNoWriMo and am going to make an effort to get lots of words written.

If I don’t make the effort during November I probably don’t want this as much as I think I do and it is time to let go and move on to something else. Letting go is a recurring theme in our lives at the moment.

My husband has been back to Perth for the funeral of a family friend and met up with the ’gang’ he grew up with. Everyone is going through similar events in their lives and coming to terms with the ‘empty nest’, health issues and changing careers or retiring after a lifetime in one job or industry. His work life is changing too and he will be working one day a week next year and figuring out what he wants to do with the rest of his working life after 25 years in the same industry.

My proofreading partner has been offered a full-time job she really likes and I love my part-time library job and want to pursue more days. We have decided to wind up our business and see where these new opportunities take us.

Making decisions and letting go is scary but life is too short for holding on to jobs and projects we don’t have the passion for anymore. Finding new ones keeps us engaged, active and happy.

I have just discovered Katie Fforde and have finished Wedding Season and started Love Letters.

Good luck to all those having a go at NaNo!

 

Rain, snow and sunshine

What a week! The weather has been the talk all around town with lots of rain and snow. It snowed all around our district except where we live. By the time I arrived in town for work it had all gone! My husband has been on holidays, the sun is now shining and he has planted lots of new flowers in the garden.

 

 

I have done well with Offline October. I did go over the hour a couple of times but not for too long. My writing productivity hasn’t been as good as I had hoped but I have read some books, done my CIT homework and gone to bed early!

Just finished reading Heiress in Love by Christina Brooke and started Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich.

Offline October update

It’s day one of Offline October and I am feeling very pleased with myself. I did a lot of CIT work and although I did need to go on the internet for my assignment I did not go wandering. I stuck with what I needed to look for and got off!

I can keep this up for a month!

Offline October

I have decided to attempt Offline October. What a great idea! I have been spending too much time wandering around the internet, reading this and that and before I know it hours have passed. I haven’t done enough CIT work this semester, I have written very little of my ‘book’ and not spent any time figuring out and writing interesting blog posts. If I limit my internet time to one hour a day imagine how much writing can be done?

As I now know how the camera works my plan was to take photos for this blog and for one of my CIT assignments. How many photos have been taken? Not one! It’s time to get out and about with the camera.

 My goals for October:

Ø  spend more time on CIT work

Ø  write blog posts and take photos

Ø  write my ‘book’

Ø  read some of the books on the pile by my bed

Ø  don't waste time on the internet!

 

Have a look at http://offlineoctober.com/

I am reading The Charm Bracelet by Melissa Hill.

Proofreading, do we even care anymore?

I have been proofreading my husband’s essays. Yes, he too is studying – we are a family of students this year. I don’t pretend to understand a word his essays are on about but he is amazed by the errors I find! They are the usual spelling mistakes and typo’s that we all make.

I have been reading a lot lately, both online and in print and have been surprised by the mistakes creeping through. I know mistakes will always get through even a rigorous editing process but there just seems to be more these days. Or is it just me?

In this instant world we live in I am as guilty as the next person of dashing off a quick response to an email, a comment on a blog or a tweet. I press the send or publish button before I have had a good look at what has been written.

I recently read something where the author didn't think it was fair for proofreaders to charge for proofing words such as ‘the’ or ‘and’ when they appeared all through the document. Isn’t it the job of a proofreader to check every word? I know I often type ‘teh’ instead of ‘the’.

Do you get frustrated by mistakes you come across?

I came across Kate Hunter on Twitter and loved The Parfizz Pitch.

P.S.  Any mistakes in this blog post are the responsibility of the author and she did try to get it right!