I think as well as rats (of the flying and furry kind) we are infested with mischievous pixies. Either that or I’m losing my mind. I can never find a pair of glasses when I need one, and I have about eight pairs of readers for just such an emergency. And I would swear that […]
Blog
Life is Short
Life is short. It’s over before you know it. Even without the Cult of Celebrity, most of us want to be remembered. Hopefully for something worthwhile. I’d prefer to be known more for my books than my lackadaisical housekeeping. You might prefer being a good parent, circus performer or surgeon. It’s funny that when I […]
The Cost of Money
Wealth is worth more than the cost of money. Wealth is an abundance of something, whether that’s time, money or physical wellbeing. And the relationship between them is illustrated below. I used this illustration in Holistic Personal Finance to illustrate the limitations of the cost of money. When you’re earning extra money, you generally end […]
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
Something I’ve learned since becoming a dog owner again is that it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie. When they’re sleeping they are quiet. They’re not taring around with the last roll of toilet paper or teething that squeaky toy like a demon. Or getting under your feet when you’re tidying or playing tug of […]
Secret Singer: A Short Story
La Dolce Vita. For real. Cosima is on a working holiday in Rome. Home of art, opera, and fine dining. She booked a hotel with an elegant staircase. Perfect for tiaras, masked balls, and holiday romances. Fabian is an aspiring opera singer. Working in her hotel. Preparing for his audition. His voice is mesmerising. An […]
January 2021 Progress Report
January 2021 is off to a good start. And hopefully, I’ll continue to be a little kinder to myself, and remember not to think too far ahead, and to stay focused on each day. Virtue Nov Jan Notes Beauty: bodyI enjoy exercising my lean, healthy 59 kg body several times a week.• Eat < 5g […]
5 Things I Learned From My New Dog
We recently got a new dog, and boy it’s been exhausting. Lily died at 16. And I’d forgotten what she was like during the first few months. And the amount of dog poo a single pet can produce. But, as well as the hardships, you forget the excitements a new dog faces. And watching her […]
When the Sun Comes Out
Last week was a bit cloudy and miserable, and I was struck by how beautiful the garden was when the sun comes out. Raindrops glistening and all that. When it’s cloudy, everything seems that little bit more dour, and when the sun comes out less so. There’s something about sunshine that makes everything seem just […]
Taking Pleasure Where You Find it
Taking pleasure is largely a matter of choice. Sometimes the things that bring you pleasure are the things you have to work for. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, pleasure is enjoyment, happiness, or satisfaction, or something that gives this [feeling]. This week, we’ve been taking pleasure as we’ve prepared to welcome a new dog into […]
Stop and Smell the Roses
In September last year, I wrote about tiny little things. How spending the smallest of increments of time on the smallest of inconsequential matters (like stopping to smell the roses) might help you feel a little bit more in control. It does for me at any rate. I recently came across an old post by […]
Planning 2021
Before we get to Planning 2021, let’s take a quick look back at previous years. According to global horoscope predictions… 2017 would be a difficult year full of turbulence (check). 2018 a year of rebuilding and gradual progress (maybe). 2019 would bring positive change, offering hope for a joyful and focused year (kinda). 2020 if […]
2020 Year End Review
Right then. I’m just going to skip December 2020, because what’s the point? We spent most of it in lockdown. I’ll just move right on to the 2020 Year End Review, and from there my plans for 2021. I didn’t expect to come out of 2020 back to normal, and I haven’t. Spoiler alert: I’m […]
Love in the Security Directorate: A Short Story
She can take him or she can take him. The Security Directorate controls your birth, education, marriage and sometimes your death. Captain Seraphina Robinson is about to marry a man she barely knows. Not that it matters. The eugenics programme matters more. She has nothing to lose and everything to gain. “Love in the Security […]
Time Passes Slowly
I’d like to say my vacation time passes slowly, and I really enjoyed my break, but that would be a lie. I’d also like to say I’ve got grand plans for 2021, but I didn’t really make time to work them out yet. Except for the barest minimum. So that would be a lie as […]
Happy Holidays 2020!
Well. Let’s be honest. The only happy thing about holidays in 2020, is that the year is nearly over. Vaccines are coming out, people are heading back to work, and things are returning to normal. Hopefully we can bring the good from 2020, and forget the rest. Have a safe and happy festive season. I’ll […]
The Mince Pie Mystery: A Short Story
Can the business’ most efficient and effective Personal Assistant solve a crime? Ginger’s the office’s Go-To Girl. Whatever it is, she’ll get it done almost before you finish asking. She’s got an overflowing in-tray. But now someone’s stolen the mince pies. A howdunnit office mystery for Christmas. “The Mince Pie Mystery” by Alexandria Blaelock, was […]
2020 Signature Wardrobe Summer Plan
Due to unforeseen circumstances, my 2020 Signature Wardrobe Summer Plan is the kind of extreme you get when you have to replace your entire wardrobe. 2020 Summer Plan As I mentioned in my last review, I had a stroke (which makes it sound more pleasant than it was). It’s had an unexpected and significant impact […]
September – November 2020 Progress Report
Right. Well. Um. I had a stroke. The months between September – November 2020 have been crammed full of doctors appointments, with naps in the spaces. It wasn’t a big stroke. Just a small one with no ongoing physical effects. For a while there, I couldn’t read, or write, or talk sense. It was horrific. […]
Welcome Back!
Welcome, welcome back! It’s been ages since I wrote. I didn’t mean to leave such a long gap between posts, but I was quite sick (not Covid thank goodness). But the thing about a long break, in conjunction with about about a million years of lockdown, is that it leaves you with a reeeaaaaallllllyyyyyy long […]
Taking a Short Break
This Will Pass (at some point)
I’m having one of those days when I look at all the “bad” shit happening all around me, and I ask, “what’s the point?” That’s not an actual literal translation of what I’m thinking. There’s another word in there that polite company won’t appreciate. It’s a word that make me glad my mother’s not alive […]
Alma’s Grace: A Short Story
What’s scarier than living with ghosts? In a world where ghosts exist, only Ghost Walkers can walk among them unharmed. Prince Indulf called. Alma answered. Is on her way to Court. In his flying carriage. Taking her Ghost Walking abilities with her. But Royal Protocol is a whole other universe. A fantastical tale of castles, […]
August 2020 Progress Report
I about reached the end of my rope in August 2020. For the most part nothing much has changed for me since January. I stay home, I write, I develop my Photoshop skills, I get through the day. But even I am having difficulties. I’d probably still choose to stay home, but having the choice […]
The Bygone Boyfriend: A Short Story
A single day can change a lifetime After fifteen years, Jennifer Hughes is back in her home town on business. It seemed big and busy then. Now it seems very small. Only the golden Summer sun remains the same. The ghosts of past friends surround her, but the only one she wonders about is Jason […]
Morning Star, Evening Star, Superstar: A Short Story
Long Exposure Love Christy Zachary is down on her luck. Working as a photographer for a private investigator. Staking out Hunter Preston. Barracuda of the Business World. Drop-dead gorgeous. She’s up a tree. Losing her grip. And her dignity. She’s already lost her scruples. Lucky he’s about to offer her the deal of a lifetime. […]