October 2023 In Hindsight
I started October by running, literally running through the airport to make my connecting flight from Munich to Tirana in Albania. By the time we landed I had 20 minutes to get to the gate. I managed to make it, sweaty and breathless with five minutes to spare. There was no way I was missing it. So I left Matt at Norway and I had a week solo. I hired a car and drove through Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia. I moved on everyday but got into a pattern of breakfast, driving, making it to my accommodation, exploring town, early dinner and crashing from exhaustion each night. It was full on, so no time for socialising or going out. I was buggered. Bonus was, I booked some very nice hotels. Their 5 star accommodation is nowhere near the price of our 5 star accommodation here in Australia so I splurged all the way (we are talking maybe $150 a night lol) and appreciated some luxury. I then met up with Matt again in Italy, had a day trip to San Marino (Country #87) and then we hired a car to get around the Puglia area. My mum commented ‘everything is so old, don’t they have anything new?’. Everything is old but the coast line was incredible, we saw some beautiful sights.
We came home via Paris and Ho Chi Minh which broke up the killer flights. Helped with jet lag as well. But within two days of being back home, I tested positive to COVID. Which ended up being okay. I got a pretty mild case as I have had all five shots and I just worked from home, catching up on all my admin tasks. Then spent the weekend getting on top of gardening and house chores. It also meant I had plenty of time to read. I think while I was away I read eleven books and then another five during my isolation period. I can never complain about more time to read.
Listening to -
* Children of Rutherford County - new Serial production and the first two episodes are up
* The Lively Podcast - Beauty of Being Alive series
Read -
* The Girl He Needs by Kristi Rose - fun one, 3/5
* We’ll Meet Again by Cheryl Adnams
* A Country of Eternal Light by Paul Dalgarno
* The House of Now and Then by Jo Dixon - read in one sitting on the plan, needed to know how it ended
* The Little Cottage on the Hill by Emma Davis - cute read
* The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris by Daisy Wood - one of those ones between two time periods
* The Next Girl by Carla Kovach - read it on the plane and the battery on my ipad flashed up 5% remaining. I torn through the ending just to see what happened. Another good one
* The Maid by Nita Prose - 5/5 loved it
* Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor - read it over two days. Loved it.
Splurged on -
* computer monitor, keyboard and mouse for my home office - white of course and love it all
Watching -
* Joe - not much on TV so this had to suffice
* James Bought a House - on Youtube
Went to -
* Griddle for dinner - went for the seafood basket and it was really good!
* The Ettamogah for dinner - they updated their furniture indoors and looks less RSLish
* Governor Philip Park at Windsor for mums birthday. Had fish and chips by the Hawkesbury River with the family
Booked -
* another council clean up for next month
Cooked -
* Coconut and Pineapple Cake
* Sweet Chilli Chicken, Zucchini Lasagne, Coconut Lentil Curry, Red Chicken Curry, Thai Beef Salad, Indian Butter Cauliflower, Roast Veg
What's new -
* house reno - I thought we were up to the exciting part of the renovation and boy how I was wrong, this is the painful part, where trades change dates, delays, have to live with half kitchen outside in afternoon heat, no flooring, empty house, kitchen in boxes which you have to trudge through just to find anything, it’s a bugger. Can’t wait for it to be finished. Christmas break is near which means shut down so the house will be half finished and then completed in the new year. Not happy. On a good note though we finally bought our black vanity for the bathroom and can pick up next week. Can’t wait to have a near complete ensuite. Also updated our kitchen design, spend a good afternoon going through it all and much happier with where everything is now.
* blog - quick work on a few Halloween teaching posts. Excited to put up my Iceland and Albania road trip posts shortly. After a few more profiles so that always takes abit of work. Let me know if you know of anyone keen to be featured
* got my second ear piercing redone. It’s been on my to do list for awhile and I was just in the mood to get shit done. I first got it done in Africa in 2012 but the hole kept getting infected so I let it close up. Hoping it works out better this time
* got my tax finally organised and sent it to my accountant. Knowing I am going to have to pay, how much is the question.
* got new wiper blades for my car and a nice guy at AutoBarn installed them for me, for free. Fun fact: At Supercheap Auto they want to charge $9 to put them on for you. No thanks!
Looking for -
* dress for Christmas day
Sold -
* nothing this month
Started -
* slowing down with work and man is it good. The intense insane period is over and my time and work is much more manageable and realistic. It is a big relief.
Attempting to -
* make more time for me and things I want to do rather than just house stuff, house chores and keeping house which just seems to be a full time job. Does anyone else feel that?
Is it to early to start counting down till Christmas break? When you come back from holidays, what do you do but start planning your next one. My birthday comes first so at least that’s something to look forward to. Feel free to join the conversation and leave a comment below.
For other months in hindsight click here
