The end of March is nigh

 

So, when did that happen? We're crawling towards the proverbial light at the end of the proverbial tunnel as Lockdown Exit 3.1.1 inches closer. Schools have gone back already, and each stage appears to be in bi-weekly steps, which is quite sensible, seeing as we're moving forward with the vaccinations quite well. 

I have my first vaccine jab booked for 27 March, the second for 12 June.

What have I been doing otherwise? 

I had the onboarding session with the proofreading/editing company I took my course through, but have yet to find any jobs on the portal. Because we're currently limited to a max of 750 words while we get our editing feet under us, there's not a lot of work in that range available, and quite a number of new people who are likely all in the same place as me. I think part of the problem for me is that I'm only really available on weekends, but I do check during the week on occasion and have only seen one item - which was due three hours from when I saw it! Yikes! Not enough time for me to proof as a newbie.

They have since approached all editors with an opportunity to write for their blog (two posts per week), so I've thrown my hat into that ring and we'll see what happens there. If you get on board with them, it's a great fee so would be really worthwhile. All I can do is try, right?

I rearranged my flat last week. For some reason (spring?) I was itching to do it, so cleared it with my landlady (watch the floors!), and off I went. Two hours later, I had changed a few things around and it feels SO much better in here, bigger somehow. I took down a wardrobe in the bedroom, too, and moved my plants to the living room. It now feels more open and fresh. Much better. Helped a little, of course, by the sweeping and tidying I did as I went along.

I've been reading again! Quite a lot. I struggled with this for a couple of years and it's been so frustrating. I love to read (L.O.V.E.) and while my TBR pile and choice of reading material isn't the latest high-brow, literary, or award-winning type stuff, it's meant I can get back to do something that gives me great pleasure, no matter what I'm reading. To that end, I've veritably 'whizzed' through 14 books since January. Compared to last year's total 23 books, I'm definitely on a roll which I hope continues.

My new colleague is settling in slowly, which is good. We had a new surveyor start and then abruptly leave only a week later (a record, I think), but already have a new one replacing him next week! I'm adjusting to a somewhat new role (although not officially) and trying to keep my personal feelings about the situation within that to a minimum. They're rattling around in my head regardless, but it's because I know something I'm not supposed to, and there's nothing to be done about it at the moment.

I registered for an online writer's convention this weekend - Sleuthfest - out of Florida. It was only $20 and has been quite good. Considering it's my first ever writer's convention, I guess it's what I was expecting, but also not what I was expecting. Ha ha! Sort of like my very first glimpse of Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain, way back in 1996 (?): 'What, that's it?' (It's changed A LOT since then, and not necessarily in a good way).

It's hard to explain, but it's exceptionally truncated: only six or seven forums, as opposed to more than 40 (from what I understand) that would be there in Normal Times, so I guess the main thing is at least it's going ahead and the organisers are doing it as best they can under the circumstances. I'd never heard of it before (no surprise), but thought it might be worthwhile. And the talk I 'attended' last night was very interesting, 'Clues & Misdirection'. I made lots of notes! :D

I've got a couple of days holiday coming up around the long Easter weekend. It's my birthday on Good Friday, so took 1 & 6 April as holiday days, so I could have a proper long weekend. I'm going to have an Easter/birthday lunch with my friends at the old address which I'm really looking forward to. They're having lamb. I don't eat lamb, so I'll have to get something else.

I had some bloodwork done on Friday (long overdue - me not being organised) and have a telephone appointment with a nephrologist on Tuesday to see how things look. I'm feeling reasonably good lately - stopped eating so much bread. What a difference (sadly)! - so hopefully everything looks okay from their end. I took the bus down to the hospital, and six vials of blood and a urine sample later I was all done. I was back in the office just over an hour after I left. Not bad!

Yesterday, I had an online reading with a psychic I've seen before. My new colleague's mum is her best friend (!) so put in a word, and I got a slot yesterday because she'd had a cancellation. Lucky me! This lady has a HUGE waiting list. I saw her a couple of years ago and was really impressed. Yesterday's reading was excellent - several things cropped up that were the same/similar to my last reading with her, which I thought was interesting - and I'm feeling quite positive and pleased with it all. The underlying message is to take things slowly this year. This is already something I've been told to do, so that was interesting. Whether you're a believer or not, sometimes it's just nice to have some confirmation that you're on the right path, you know?

I'm still walking to work every day. According to my pedometer app, I've now walked 450 miles - Boston to Philly - so that's quite an accomplishment I'd say! I average about 6,000 steps per day, which is still a bit less than I'd like, but I'm consistent, which I think is the key right now, and I'm hoping to head into the reserve in the evenings, once it stays light later. It's a half-hour walk around the 'short' route, and that's sufficient before or after dinner.

Otherwise, my immediate future plans include such exciting things as repotting all my plants, something which is DESPERATELY overdue, weeding (more) stuff out of the flat for either selling or donating, buying another bird feeder, possibly going to see my sister in Devon at some point, and making - again - serious adjustments to both my eating and spending habits. The food thing cropped up in yesterday's reading, as it did two years ago, so it's obviously something I need to take to heart.

So that's about it from my little corner of the Kingdom. I hope this finds you well & safe where you are!