Changing gears...

Dearest blog readers,

Time seems to pass me by with all things but blogging and writing. But I feel that I will turn the corner soon enough. I’ve gone down a gear since end October, and now the new year  is here, there will be another gear change down.


Space Project
The school project with Master 11 was a blast - we learned about different aspects of space by reading and watching documentaries, visiting the planetarium, and of course research on the net - including how to do a 'rocket'. We eventually did have success using effervescent tablets in warm water and plastic bottles (thanks to my brother- I am hopeless at that sort of thing). Lots of fun and I was honoured to be chosen to do the project with him. I was also happy to learn a new skill in using iMovie. (Unfortunately, I can’t show you the movie because of copyright of images - okay for school projects but not for putting it out there - but also because of the privacy I keep for my family.)


Blogging OWL
The Blogging OWL went very well I thought, and I was lucky to have an amazing co-presenter in Daniel de Lorne who took the lead as I dealt with some health issues. Blogging is such a big topic and we managed to fit it into 4 one-two hour sessions. Another new skill learned was using software to present in real time. I keep on learning new things every time I revisit the topic, and new resources as well. 

If you're looking for online courses for your writing, check out the Romance Writers of Australia OWLs - the new year will have a range of new topics soon.



What’s next?
I am catching up some design work and some volunteer work to pass on, but in the new few weeks, I want to get back into my writing and working on my stories. My brain has been so overfull in the last few years, that it slowly lost its creative drive for capturing my stories. It’s still in my head of course, but all my energy had been diverted elsewhere. And therefore, I’ve been too tired to concentrate in the way that I want.


Reading
The good thing is that on the whole my reading has increased - there a few busy weeks where again, it takes a back seat and while the stories are gripping, it’s my mind that is too tired to follow. But on the whole I’m able to read a little a day. I managed 49 books last year which is an increase from 24 books in 2014 (hey that's double!).

Check out Eleni's Library to keep up with what I am reading, including how I'm going in my 60 Book Reading Challenge for 2016 (also widget on the sidebar of this blog).



2016

Since 2015 was such a horrid year for me personally, I'm glad for the freshness that a new year brings. I hope to be around more and get back to some more regular features but I'm not rushing myself. 

Have a fantabulous 2016 everyone!! Take care.
-Eleni

Yia!!!!

Super Sunday week in review: Space, reading, OWL, oh my...

I've still been recuperating, much more in the last two weeks thanks to a procedure.

This is what I've been doing the past week or so...

School Project with Godson
This is going to be fun. This is a project to designed to be done with a family member. My Godson is very much interested in Space, which I am too. While I'm not the most scientific of minds myself, I appreciate all things scientific, so it'll be good for me to learn a thing or two as well.

So far we've borrowed a few things from the library and been reading bits. It's such a huge topic and the presentation in front of the class is only 5 minutes, so it'll have to be us learning and giving a recap to the class. Some art may be involved. :)


Reading
Oh, be still my reading heart, I've managed to pick up the pace again. It's been slow going with the mind fog at times, but that's okay. I'm enjoying being a reader and while sometimes the writer part of me notices something in the writing, I'm trying to push that part to the subconscious to relish the act of reading for reading sake.

This in turn has made me update my details on Eleni's Library and even start a new reading quote feature. I love quotes as you know *wink*.



Blogging OWL

As mentioned in an earlier post, I'm co-presenter in online Blogging workshop for Romance Writers of Australia. Week one's lesson went well with Daniel de Lorne presenting the bulk of it (he kindly took the lead in while I've been recuperating). This week Dan will talk about Wordpress, and the following week, I'll talk about Blogger.

It's great immersing myself in blogging again and picking up some nifty items - like Canva (created the graphic for Neil Gaiman quote - that have changed in my time focused on other parts of my life. And I'll be looking at my blogging schedule as well.




Family time

I've been spending more time with family and would you believe this night owl is getting up to have breakfast at a reasonable hour (around 8am). I know, right! But it's been great. And we've been watching some TV programs together - Castle and Arrow are faves for all three of us. 

Our pup (who is almost 9 years old) had surgery to remove some cancer spots and is doing well now a few weeks later. Here he is waiting for my brother to come back home. Yep, she's a cutie but a cheeky one. 

Coming Week
I'll pretty much be focusing on the above as well as a design project, so while I'm still doing things it's not at the break neck speed I was doing previously.

Have a great week!
~yia~