The day before Christmas and I’m spending it outside again lapping every bit of sunshine.

I thought I’d enjoy the sunny day because as of tomorrow on Christmas Day, there’ll be torrential rain and hail again all week.

The only negative out here are the mosquitos. That explains the can of Aeroguard on the table….

The wet weather means there’s puddles and water everywhere.

It’s the first time in years, I’ve seen moss growing on concrete and tiles, mushrooms sprouting on the grass everywhere. Humidity is high.

It’s bizarre to have this weather in Melbourne. It’s typical of weather in northern Australia which is experiencing the worst flooding in history. Entire towns decimated and cut off from regions. I have to scratch my head because the bureau of meteorology tells us we are in an El Niño season of extreme hot weather but we haven’t seen this here….yet.

We mucked up our Christmas plans this year which resulted in my parents to spend the day alone now and us spending it with Andrew’s sibling instead (where they weren’t planning Christmas).

Anyway, it’s a bit of a mess so it doesn’t feel Christmassy this year for me now unfortunately. I’ve not even bought gifts nor written any cards but part of me gets annoyed at myself for not caring enough when I should.

I think things have been a little more difficult this year for many people -us included – in various ways.

2023 has been “a” year for me.

I can’t even describe it. Some ups and downs. It’s given me the taste of retirement life and I’ve enjoyed meeting new people, learning French and playing golf. I’ve put on more weight unfortunately.

On the downside, I’ve seen my family and friends struggle with health problems, car accidents, mental health, money issues, bickering over politics, I’ve been to funerals…. – there’s a tinge of “something’s going to blow soon so let’s just get through the day” so people have become more insular, impolite, angry so when I choose to sit outside in the sunshine just reading, or not going anywhere other than staying in the house, playing golf or going to French classes, it’s really about giving myself some headspace from all the madness “out there”.

However, the positives, albeit small, were a welcome and wonderful relief for me. This is what I’ve achieved:

• Read 75 books mainly literature
• Read War and Peace (brilliant)
• Won the Stroke Jade Trophy Competition for Golf
• Highest points scored for the women on the day for Heritage Cup at another golf course
• Monetised my YouTube channel Life Lessons from Books
• Improved my French with more classes and Book Clubs, Social outings and met more Francophiles
• Invited to join the Woodlands Golf Course Heritage Group for an article I wrote about the mansion that used to be on its grounds in the 1800s
• Attended a few writing workshops
• Went on my first and only trip away from home this year which was an overnighter to play two rounds of golf at 13th Beach getting over 40 points on both days

What will 2024 hold?

No idea. I’ve made no plans or goals.

I know that all I want to do is travel a lot more but for now, or at least in the foreseeable future, it’s simply not possible unless I win the lottery – or go back to work (which I’d rather stick knitting needles in my eyes). Instead, I will continue to read, golf and continue French studies although I am thinking of ways to be able to bring a bit of income in through YouTube or some other freelance manner…. Just don’t know what. 🤣