50K in 30 Days

Starting tomorrow, I'm joining in with RWA's 50K in 30 Days - like NanoWriMo but in June :)  And we get to set our own goals - we don't have to go for the full 50,000.  There'll be writing sprints, motivational quotes and the wonderful support of a group of others aiming to do the same thing.  (There's over 50 participants registered so far).

I'm aiming for 20,000 words.  666 per day.  Let's hope that number isn't an omen :)

Currently, I'm sitting at just under 50,000 words in my work in progress.  I haven't written in a week so I have some catching up to do to make the 80,000 by mid-July.

So if you see me too much on Facebook throughout June - you have my permission to slap me with the wet fish!

The last couple of weeks have been crazy.  I normally average about 5-6 hours paid work each week (as well as homeschooling, cooking, cleaning, taxi driving etc etc etc).  Last week I did 15 hours paid work.  This week I'm sitting at 7 with a couple of hours still to go.  It seems like every project I've had going has needed to be finished in these two weeks!  I've sent 2 new websites live, finished off working with a client on his Powerpoint presentation (to be presented by him tomorrow), worked on a heap of RWA stuff that has to launch tomorrow, done all the usual household stuff and dealt with a sick child.

Now I just want to rest - instead I'm signing up to write 600+ words / day.  Sometimes I think I'm insane :)

Field archery

Last week's archery was moved outdoors due to our usual venue being unavailable. 

We had gorgeous weather and had fun doing something different.  We were a lot closer to the targets than we normally are when we're indoors (we normally shoot at 10m for the younger ones and 18m for the older ones - this time we were all at 5m and 10m).  Our coach made it tricky though by changing up the scoring - things like reverse scoring, so a bullseye was only worth 1 point, and the outside circle worth 5.  Or only scoring if we shot an arrow into the corner of the target etc.  It was actually quite challenging and a workout for the brain :)

This week we were back indoors - luckily, as it is raining here today.

Waterwatch day

On Friday, we met up with a small group of local homeschoolers to learn how to do water testing to determine the health of the Hunter catchment area.  Some of us had done this a few years ago, so it was a good refresher and we learnt new information as well.

It was in a beautiful spot on the Williams River at Dungog - and we had perfect weather.  Not too hot, not too cold!

Firstly they gathered together to listen to what we'd be doing.  We then continued down to the river and did a site assessment - things like how much vegetation was there, was the area affected by erosion, pollution etc.

They were then taught how to take the water sample...

And the kids took it in turns to do their own...

They then measured air and water temperature,

measured the pH of the water..

a perfect 7 in this case,

then measured the salinity of the water (measured by electrical conductivity),

and the turbidity of the water (how clear it is).

Then after lunch, we went back down to the river and did dipnetting and bug identification.

Thanks to the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority for a great day.

Finding my mojo

Thanks for the support on my last post - I wasn't all that down about it, more frustrated, but it was good to hear your lovely comments.  Especially those who said I inspired them - I'm honoured :)  (And no, I wasn't really denying myself chocolate - I'm not actually that much of a chocolate person.  Chips / crisps on the other hand - they're my downfall!!)

It did make me look at what I did achieve in a more positive light though. In that time (since mid-Jan), I've:

• added ~36,000 words to my WIP (work in progress), and
• exercised ~55 hrs

That's not bad at all :)  I do forget to stop and celebrate what I've achieved.

We had our writer's meeting today and yes, I did have to wear the 'hat of shame' :)   I was the only one this time - so well done to everyone else for meeting their goals!

I've set my goals for the next 2 months.  I'm aiming for approx 80,000 words in my novel, and am currently up to 47,500.  I'm going to aim to get it finished (as a first draft) by 21st July.  I really, really want to say I've completed it! 

I've drawn up a schedule - to add another 30,000 words, it's 500 words per day with a couple of days free where I know I have a full day out.  It's doable, but I need to focus and make the time.  And not leave it until the last thing in the day when I'm tired and it's all too hard.

Now to get motivated on the exercise again too!

111 and out

Anyone who is a cricket fan can tell you that 111 is an unlucky score.  (Just a disclaimer, I'm not a cricket fan - I am just married to one so knowledge comes to me by osmosis!)

Well, it proved unlucky to me.  111 days in a row of exercising AND writing.  Then came the weekend.  I didn't exercise at such - I soothed my guilt by saying that I was hard at work at the camp and walking lots etc etc.  I'm good at justifying...  I may have let myself get away with it too, except I didn't write either.  I tried the 'but I thought about the plot' justification, but I was feeling harsh and wouldn't let myself off the hook.

So the streak has been broken.

Unfortunately, since then I've found it hard to start again.  The streak is broken.  I don't have to prove anything.  I can take a couple of days off.  I deserve a break - just like I deserved that chocolate I just ate! (See, told you I was good at justifying..)

I need kickstarting again.

The fact that I have 10 days left before my next writer's meeting and 7,906 words to write in that time to meet my goal isn't even enough to work yet.  I can see me wearing the hat of shame at the next meeting...

Butt-kicking welcome :)

District Cub Camp 2012

Billy went on a District Cub Camp on the weekend, and once again, I went along as a parent helper.  (I was in the 'kitchen' which meant food prep, cooking and serving for ~100 people, using BBQs and gas stoves!)

Our tents set up at Clarence Town - Williams River Holiday Park

Our 6 cubs, leader and 2 Scout helpers...

joined with around 60 other Cubs, lots of leaders and helpers..

for a weekend of Scouting traditions..

learning about morse code..

semaphore...

braille (also phonetic alphabet and using communication devices)...

They ate lots..  (this was our kitchen - state of the art!) - and then came back for more!

And even got in some fishing..

while the fog burnt off for two gorgeous days..

And what finishes a perfect day better than a campfire!