Goodbye 2021

As the year comes to a close, I thought I would reflect a little. 2021 hasn't been all bad, (thanks to journaling my 3 positives a day) although it does feel like it amalgamated with 2020 a bit. I am so done with Covid! I really hope we do see the back of it in 2022! 

Mistletoe At The Manor has remained in the top 500 in the UK Amazon charts for a month! I can't believe this. It's been No 1 in Inspirational Religious Fiction (only because it's set at Christmas lol!) and as I type this, it's No 2 in British and Irish Humour and Satire Fiction - which is a little more my category! This is a great way to end the year with my writing career. 

I do have edits for my third novel (due summer 2022) which I will look at next week. But I have really taken the last two weeks off. It's been hard to concentrate with the kids home and getting ready for Christmas, from cake decorating, mince pie making and present wrapping! 

One of my best friends bought me a Jane Austen puzzle for Christmas, and I have spent time finishing this. Something I'm not very good at doing is taking time to do nothing - without feeling guilty about it. Christmas feels like the only time I can justify stopping everything and doing a puzzle. So I did! 

With my UW business, it came to a halt with not many people wanting to take a look at their bills with Christmas approaching - completely understandable! But in 2022, I really want to help more people save money on their bills. There are more price increases coming, and the cost of living is just going up and up. With this in mind, I'd also love to help people make some extra cash like I do. £250-500 extra a month to most people will make a huge difference to their everyday lives. I know it does with me. 2022 we have a holiday in Corfu to look forward to, and I wouldn't have been able to book this without my UW business income. 

But UW hasn't just given me a financial benefit. It has taken me on a path of personal development no other organisation I've worked with has even thought to give me. I want to grow and develop and be a better version of myself in 2022. And I hope that will make me a better person to support the people closest to me. 

Also, if I want to get another book out there, I need to start writing properly again, so I'm setting myself a word target for each week of 2000 words. 

I'm not really one for New Year Resolutions, and if anything, I've learnt it's best to set goals. Do you set goals? If so, what are they? 

Another of my goals is to find a part-time job as I really need to get out of the Post Office!

On that note, Happy New Year, everyone. I hope 2022 brings you happiness and health, because these two things are what makes real wealth. 

Xxxx 

Lucky To Be Surrounded By Awesome People

It's been a while since I've blogged - again! It feels a bit of a thing of the past when we're all encouraged to send newsletters now. 

And there's only so much I can think to write about and only so much time in the day. You could be blogging and sending newsletters all day long, and not get what you're supposed to be doing done! 

(My latest newsletter is here, by the way).

However, I do want to blog about this. So I will. 

At the weekend, I attended my first live event - because we could! Yay! - with my network marketing business, Utility Warehouse. And all I can say is WOW. 

I feel very lucky, that as a writer, I've attended some amazing amazing parties, where I am surrounded by like-minded people with the voices in their heads. And long may those parties continue!

Well, on Sunday, I was surrounded by a different sort of like-minded people. People that are working towards building a better future for themselves, keen on self-development, and also wanting to help other people too.

It's very satisfying when you can help people save money... and if they choose, make money. 

The event was so empowering and motivating, and then we got to have some fun like play on the dodgems. I love dodgems! 

I think the only difference between these two groups is that usually my writing/author events involve a lot more prosecco! 

The reason I joined Utility Warehouse as a distributor is so that it will give me the time freedom to continue to write - which is my passion. 

I love how I love both now, and I'm surrounded by awesome people in the two different areas of my life. It makes me feel incredibly lucky.

A Big Shout Out To Women!

I need to give a big shout out to Weston Business Women today.

They hold a meeting the first Thursday of every month, and I try not to miss it.

It's an ever growing group of self-employed women, each with individual businesses. It's a great way to network, and you just don't know who you're going to meet and how they'll help you.

I attend, yet I don't have a business as such, being a writer/author. But I am technically self-employed, and it can be a lonely business at times.

I do feel that when and if I become a more successful writer, I have a network of women I can approach, whether it be for a website design, business cards, etc. Even help with my social media and marketing.

Anyway, every time I come away from this meeting I feel inspired, empowered and most importantly, happy!

If you're a self-employed woman, who wants to build her business, you're stuck on how to make it grow, or just need to get out of the house, I really recommend finding such a group locally to you.

It doesn't matter what you do but you might find someone you can connect with, cross business and clients with. It might just help you grow!

Women empowering women is such an amazing thing.