On track, just too fast

I don’t even know where April went. I feel like I only did a recap last week, but it’s already four days into May as I’m starting to write this (probably a few more before I finish and post it).

Read on for my monthly recap, where I take a look at the areas of my life that are important to me, that I’m working on or trying to improve.

Reading

Four books finished this month, which feels really good.

Finished:

• The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. I’m so glad to be finished with this one. I did not enjoy it. The relationship was so problematic and I don’t know how anyone could read this and think it a great romance.
• The Kingdom of Copper by Shannon A Chakraborty. Really enjoyed it, even if it is a bit cheesy and the main character is a bit of a Mary Sue. Looking forward to the last book once I can get it from the library.
• Lightbringer by Pierce Brown. These books are so dense, but I got through this one surprisingly quickly. I thought that it was the last in the series, but it doesn’t feel like the end, so I’ll have to check if there’s more.
• The Waste Lands by Stephen King. I love this series so much. I can’t wait to start on the next book, but I’m forcing myself to space it out as much as I can.

In progress:

• Winter’s Heart by Robert Jordan. Still on the back burner, no progress.
• Heroes by Stephen Fry. Hadn’t intended to start this one, but needed something that both S and I could listen to together and this fit the bill.
• Gormenghast Trilogy. No progress here. I might grab this from the library if it’s there when I go to the writer's group this week.
• The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. Restarted this to give it more attention. I’m glad I did because I don’t think I really took in what I read the first time around.
• The King in Yellow by Robert W Chambers. No progress again on this one, but I picked it up a handful of times and almost read some, so it might get a good run in May.
• The Golden Fool by Robin Hobb. Had to take a break while this one went back to the library for a while. It’s back now and I’m getting through it surprisingly quickly given that it’s my sleeper book. Or perhaps that just shows I’m not sleeping so well at the moment.

Health

Have been ok health wise. Been getting quite a few headaches the last couple of weeks, which could be due to work stress, or could just be the usual ups and downs that I get with headaches.

Have trained fairly consistently - Mondays and Fridays at Muay Thai and Saturday park runs. I think I did that every week in April. For the last three weeks at least. My last park run was a respectable time, and if I keep consistent then I think I’ll get a new PB again soon. My goal is to get to 35 mins, but I don’t have a goal for when I reach that, it’s just an eventual goal.

I’ve not been weighing myself for a while. I was seeing the scales go up, and could see my body holding onto the weight again so I made a conscious decision to not weigh myself. I tried to be more consistent with my food, less snacks and treats and get back into walking to work regularly again.

I’ve been walking to work consistently, but have not been walking home as much. I’d like to do that more, as I think it really helps build up the endurance for hills. When I got my parkrun PB I had been walking home a lot, and I think the hills practice, even though it was walking, helped condition me for parkrun.

Mental health has been manageable. I’ve definitely been feeling the drag of work, but I think I’m handling it ok. There were a lot of holidays this month because of easter and anzac day, which was nice, but it made it hard to go back to 5 day work weeks.

Writing

We went to writer’s group in April. Most of the session was listening to the competition winners read their stories. The main thought I had was that they were ok, but I could write better. I didn’t though, because I didn’t write anything, and that’s the point isn’t it. You have to actually write to be a writer.

I did my prompt story, which was pretty easy this month, only 500 words. I feel like I wrote something very self-insert and it was very obvious. I wish I’d been able to mask it better. Next month’s is 1800 words so I’d like to get a head start on it if I can, instead of leave it to the last minute as always.

Book of Stitches

All my stitching time this month went to putting together two pieces for the regional exhibition. I don’t think there’s any prizes, other than being able to say you won it. No cash or anything though. I really like one of my pieces, but I don’t know if it will be accepted as it’s not really something you can hang on the wall to display. The second piece, I’m not sure how I feel about it. I think it’s pretty neat, but it’s not really the style of work I want to do. I think it might be technically a bit sloppy for this level of exhibition as well.

Still all good intentions with no actual action in regards to Etsy. Stats for this month, last month in brackets.

Views: 102 (120)

Visits: 68 (74)

Sales: 3 (2)

Finances

Things are going ok here. Starting to notice the increase in electricity costs now that it’s colder and the heating is being used a bit. Groceries seem to be getting more and more expensive each week.

Reached a nice milestone on the credit card repayment - dropped under $3,000 left to pay off. Currently scheduled to finish paying it off on 18th August 2026, and all debt to be gone by 26 April 2027.

Work

Work’s a bit of a struggle, but I think I’m going well with leaving work at work and doing what’s needed and not pushing for more than that.

I’ve signed up for some job alerts and keeping an eye out for things that offer work from home in the same salary range. If something comes up I’ll apply for it. I really miss working from home.

Actionable goals

It’s a 50% success rate for goals this month.

• Exercise once a week.

Succeeded. I think I did 3 sessions for three of the weeks, and I know I did at least one in the first week.

• Put Thylacine pattern up on Etsy

Failed. I did not do this.

• Finish two books

Succeeded. I finished four books.

• Write this months prompt earlier than the weekend before it’s due

Failed. I wrote it the weekend before it was due.

Next month’s goals will be the same, but exercise twice a week.

Exercise twice a week

Put Thylacine pattern up on Etsy

Finish two books

Write this months prompt earlier than the weekend before it’s due

I’ll report back next month with updates!