Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Kez's Achievements in 2012

What about me? How did I go in 2012?

Quite well, thanks for asking!

I continued with my Defendo training, graded up to orange belt and attended a weapon's defence course and a Jujitsu seminar. I lost about 7kg over the year and am down to my ideal weight. I still need to tone more but baby steps.



I FINISHED WRITING MY BOOK! I think that was my biggest achievement for the year! I kept meeting with my wonderful writer's group who keep me going.


I also did several online writing courses, and attended the RWA conference at the Gold Coast where I learnt heaps and had a great time. I served on the RWA Committee.



I started Italian lessons and will continue those this year.

So yeah, it's been a pretty good year :)


Monday, January 28, 2013

2012 homeschooling highlights in pictures

I usually do this in December, but one thing led to another and - hey, how did it get to be the end of January?

So now my thoughts are turning to the new school year. I seem to have been answering a lot of queries from people lately interested in homeschooling for the new year. One of these days, our freedom may even become 'normal'. (Nope, can't see that happening!)

Now a look back at some of the highlights of 2012.

January


February

March


April


May


June


July


August



September



October

November


And that was just the start :) We had a focus on Australian history, plus Peter Pan rehearsals and performance were a big part of the year. Throughout the year, he took part in weekly classes - cubs, martial arts, drama and archery.

Looking forward to 2013 - I wonder what it will bring?


Welcome to 2013



*testing* *testing*

Is anyone still out there?

Sorry for disappearing - I didn't realise it had been a month since I posted. Ooops. Blame Facebook - I post photos on there and forget to put them on my blog.

So what's been happening? Did you all have a good Xmas and New Year?

We had a great couple of weeks up at Stuarts Pt - lovely weather so lots of the following:





Eagle-eyed friends may actually realise that yes, that is me on the ski biscuit! My words for the year are leap / risk / take a chance. It was meant to relate to my writing, but I've decided to relate it to the rest of my life as well!

Speaking of writing - while up at Stuarts Pt, I finished editing my novel so that it actually hung together properly, with decent pacing, emotion etc. And just in time, as last Sunday I got an email telling me that I had made it through to the 2nd round of the Emerald writing competition! Much squeeing and OMG!ing ensued! What that meant was that I had 5 days to send off the full manuscript for the next round of judging - 3 copies printed and posted. The top 3 will go in front of an editor from St Martins Press, so its a pretty big deal to get through.

I spent 3 intense days polishing and repolishing my manuscript until I was sick of the sight of it. When I couldn't bear to look at it a moment longer, I figured it was time to send it in. So it's gone, and I need to put it out of my mind for a few months. In the meantime, I've asked a writer friend who I trust to give me an honest opinion, to have a look at it and tell me if it's ready for submission. And now onto book 2.

We really haven't been anywhere much or done anything much since we got back. My thoughts are now turning to the new school year and getting back into routine.