• Musical Monday
    Blog

    Musical Monday – July 20, 2020 – a little nostalgia in a crazy year

    Musical Monday

    It’s a while since I did a Musical Monday post – sorry if you’ve missed them. I’ve been on a crazy writing jag and honestly I haven’t even listened to much music lately. I tend to listen to music in my car, but due to isolation and weeks of writing at home, I haven’t been in the car much so music hasn’t been on my mind much.

    Last week, however, we drove our daughter back to university in Canberra. We’re very lucky Australia is (while not perfect by any strecth) doing better with COVID than a lot of places and the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) where her university is hasn’t had any cases for a while. Anyway, the point is we took a road trip and after 3 months of having her home our girl is back at college.

    A few songs were played…in fact she put together a playlist entitled something like
    “Songs to play in the car so mum doesn’t cry.”

    Let me tell you that was so sweet of her because she is an absolute sweetheart –  but people I cried several times.  I could cry for Australia I’m so good at it, especially if I’m feeling sentimental!

    Instead of that playlist –  because I’m feeling nostalgic – I thought I’d share some songs that remind me of my daughter.

    This song – I christened  The Serial Killer song back when it came out – because who else collects hearts in a jar? We always have a laugh when we hear it in the car.

    I love this song and I love a musical. I’m constantly disappointed people don’t break into song as they walk down the street – this is probably actually lucky for me – I can’t sing. Anyway, if there’s a musical I can go see then I’m in. I love Wicked and my girl and I have seen it together. (I have seen it without her as well because even though it’s hard to remember I did have a life before her – as she grows up and moves away I need to remind myself of that right? ).

    I think everyone changes us – particularly our families.

    Finally, this is a sweet song that gets me every time – about the dreams we have for our kids  – by Kasey Chambers and Keith Urban.  (My husband and I try to get tickets to see a concert at Taronga Zoo every summer and we were lucky enough to see Kasey Chambers there a couple of years back and it was fabulous)

    Anyway this song sums up a lot about my journey as a parent as the mother of a miracle! (That line “even doctors can’t explain – that’s me and it reminds me to be grateful every time I hear it.)

    Happy Musical Monday (I’ll be off having a litttle cry now).

     

     

  • Blog

    Balancing writing and summer vacation

    1/22/2013

    North Sydney Pool and Luna ParkSorry I missed a Taste of Tuesday. It will be back next week.

    It’s January here and the equivalent of the US summer vacation. What that means is no routine (and believe me when I say we are one of the last routinised homes in Australia anyway), people in and out, the desire to make the most of the summer and somewhere in there an urge to start the year off on the right food.

    I normally don’t plan to achieve anything in January with my writing. Experience has taught me that honestly I’m better off to give myself a break and come back hard in February rather than feeling guilty all month.

    This January I decided to set myself a few writing goals and I must say I’m falling short. I’m also working my regular part-time job which I’ve not done before so that needs to be done and that’s enough time away from the fun and frivolity of summer for me.

    Add in the fact that my lovely daughter starts High School (Yr7 in Australia) and I am all too aware next summer she’ll want to spend more time hanging at the beach with friends than she will with me, so I’m trying to make the most of the now. I think perhaps I should be doing that guilt-free.

    Meanwhile I am plugging away at re-writes on Alphabet Dating, albeit a bit more slowly than I’d like and I sure hope I can show you the cover soon!

    That photo above is a place Allegra and Teddy visit in Mr Right and Other Mongrels, they actually dine there. If you’ve read the book you’ll know which scene I’m talking about.

    I know I’m not alone in my quest to find balance over the summer months…I wonder how others do it with any success? Any advice would be welcomed.