Hello 2022

It's a good job I haven't put blog more as one of my goals for 2022 because I think I would epically fail. 

However, I have some FAB news and I want to share on my blog (although I know I do have a newsletter that needs writing too!)

I'm not very good at setting New Year Resolutions. I am sure I've told you this before. However, with my new network marketing side show, I am encouraged to set goals, and to write them down and visualize them, as well as say affirmations. I've even recently done a positive coaching session with Liz Doyle who calls them intentions rather than goals. 

So among some business goals/intentions for 2022, I wrote on a post-it note as well as on my little white board to find a new job by 31st March 2022. (I wanted to change my job back in 2020 and then became a key-worker, remember?)

Well, peeps, I've only gone and done just that! 

2022 has started off superbly with Mistletoe At The Manor selling well and remaining a Best Seller for over 2 months (more on that in my newsletter.) But now I also have a fresh start! 

I have only four more shifts at the Post Office and then I'm having a couple of weeks off before I start my new job! It's more hours, and I will be working in Corporate Services for my local council. It'll include some home working too once I am fully trained. 

I will still have time to write (more on that another day) and time to work my home-based business. 

The great thing is no more working Saturdays and no more Christmases in the Post Office! 

So I am now fully onboard with this visualising your goals business because the Universe WILL provide. 

Write them down, make them visible and say those affirmations every morning! You can do this! 

My Dream...

As most of my friends know, writing is my passion. I discovered it in 2006, which means I've been writing for 14 years now. (Wow!) All I want in life is to keep writing. 

But as we writers know, writing is not that lucrative (for some/most) - especially in fiction department!

At the moment I am financially supported through working part-time, working tax credits, and maintenance I receive from the boys' dad. But as my children grow older (Ben is 16 this year), looking for a full time job is looming - otherwise how else will I pay my bills?

However, without wanting to sound lazy, I don't want to go back to full-time employment.

I very much doubt I'll find a job - due to my lack of experience and not having been in a "proper" job (as I call it) for 15 years - that will fulfill me mentally as writing fiction does. 

And, more importantly, when will I get to write? 

I am in the middle of completing my proofreading/copy editing course, so maybe something will come of that. It's taken longer than planned to complete due to Covid-19. 

However, recently I started in a new business venture, where I am surrounded by a great team for support and it's something I can do from home and work around my writing! This new chapter in my life relies on referrals, so I'm depending at the moment, in the early stages and while we can't physically network, on friends to watch my presentation. 

I'm not flogging beauty products, cards, tupperware, timeshares or anything like that. In fact, I'm not asking anyone to part with their money but I look at saving you money on bills you're already spending on.

I desperately want this to work. I want to be a success story. I just want financial independence - I have given up on finding a man, let alone a bloomin' rich one! I want to be able to afford to take my kids away on family holidays abroad... it's not about the money, it's about living the life I want. 

So, if I message you, please could you give me thirty minutes of your time? It might not suit you, but you may know someone it does, and I just want that to spread far and wide... I need the referrals.

 Right, back off out in the garden to read You Are A Badass! 

(And if you're a bit nosey and want to know what I do, message me and I'll show you!)

Oh, January....

I thought of this as I was running my 5K today. It was cold, and I was thinking how I couldn't wait for the warmer weather to arrive. A dog walker laughed at me as I passed, saying to her, "Lord knows why I'm doing this..."

But I told myself this was me, making myself fitter, stronger and healthier for 2018. If I was taught anything from last year, you just don't know what real life is going to throw at you, and I want to make sure I'm at my strongest mentally and physically when I receive the next curve ball.

However, trying to be clean in January is practically impossible, as I still have chocolate hanging around, and cheese and biscuits, and cake. I don't like wasting food. I can't just throw it out - besides some of it belongs to the boys!

I'm trying to be good, but I think I'll be able to make a more concerted effort February, with less chocolate and treats still filling my cupboards. February, I'll try harder at sticking at being clean Monday to Friday. Of course weekends are the 20% naughtiness we're allowed.

Anyway, how's your 2018 going so far? I think it takes a couple of weeks to get back into routine and back on track.

First Post In 2018

My first blog post for the New Year!

And I've realised I never shared a picture of my scrummy, chocolate Christmas cake!

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and a fun New Year. I spent New Year with a best friend, and we had a giggle, or two, or three...

For my birthday I was given a new diary, which I am using to keep up writing my 3 positives each day. It lives by my bed, so it's the last thing I do before turning off my lamp. Some days are easier than others, but it's amazing, if you dig deep, even the little things each day are all positive.

Like I've said before I don't really do resolutions, but being in the process of reading Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers, she's made me focus on the elements important in my life, and I'm going be more conscious of keeping focused on the things that make me happy. Keep dedicated to friendships (and relationships), making time for the people important to me. Making sure I look after myself, physically, which in turn will help with my mental health. (I'm not mad... but I want to stay positive, be stronger minded, more confident.)

I am also going to look into changing my part-time job. Although I enjoy my current job as it fits well around the boys, there are elements of it that make me unhappy, and I've been thinking for a long time now I'd love to give up working Saturdays. I think I've been cradled by the safety net of the company I work for, and because I've been there thirteen years I fear leaving.

I have a few things to look forward to. 27th February is the Weston-super-Mare Literary festival. If you're interested, you can book your tickets here! I'm on the panel of "This is what a romance author looks like." You can follow the Weston Lit Festival Facebook page also!

Also pencilled in the diary is the RNA conference in July and the Romantic Novel of the Year Awards Presentation in March.

Slightly further away are my two holidays! Polzeath in May and Kos in October!

And of course I hope book four gets published this year!

2018 is already so exciting!