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Taking stock of life in November – let’s chat!

Taking Stock – November 2018

Are you comfortable and ready for a catchup chat?

Hello from me!

Hello from me
Hello from me

Another month has flown by and we’re on the home straight heading for the end of the year, and it also just happens to be my birthday month too!

As much as birthdays and Christmas are happy times, this year will have its fair share of sadness, as we prepare to have some more ‘firsts’ without my father and father in law. I know it’s not an easy time for many.

So how was November?

I felt that I had enjoyed a slower pace during November but once I started writing this post I realised that it wasn’t much slower at all. In other ways I’ve been faster – in my running and cycling in particular. I’ve also done a lot of driving backwards and forwards mainly between home and Canberra.  Maybe it wasn’t such a slow month after-all!

Family visits

My mother came to visit and we enjoyed spending time together.  She was doing a tour of family, meeting the newest family member and catching up with many of her other children and grandchildren.  We joked that she’s been on an International Ironing Tour as she has travelled overseas this year visiting family and wherever she’s been she’s done the ironing!  Here’s a lovely photo of four generations with mum, me, my daughter and baby Emilia.

I was lucky to have two of my daughters and their husbands home with us for a few short days during the month.  Due to plane cancellations it was a shortened visit but we got to have a few laughs, and hang out together in between wedding preparations (my daughter was Maid of Honour at her best friend’s wedding) and we also Facetimed my eldest daughter in England so she was with us as well.  I love technology!!

I took a cute shot of Aunty and niece in matching socks when they met for the first time.

We’ve enjoyed time at home during the month and I even had a stint at being home alone as the Mathematician visited his mother.  I wrote about it here – Home Alone with spiders, echidnas, rain and a bodyguard

Another proud family moment was attending the Australian Citizenship ceremony, in Canberra, for my son-in-law.

  • Four generations
  • Family photo with the Queen
  • Matching socks

Blogging Update….

I’ve been guesting all over the place lately – my interview with Esme from Esme Salon was fun, making me think about why I started blogging, what’s my blogging style, my achievements to date and a fun question asking me to describe myself in 3 words – I chose quirky, fun, enthusiastic….you can read the full interview here: Interview with Debbie

What 3 words would you choose to describe yourself?

I was also a guest over at Sam’s blog, Loving the Fifty Something and again I enjoyed the questions she posed.  You can read it here if you missed it – Amazing Over 50s – guest post.  I met sam at the Annual Bloggers Bash Awards in London earlier this year and we hit it off immediately, so it was lovely to be a guest in her Amazing 50s series.

I had fun putting together a few words for a collaboration post on A Not So Young Woman Abroad – where travel bloggers were asked to showcase our home town just for a change!  Little old Tumbarumba is up there with words about Montreal, Brisbane, Vancouver,California, Bath, Quebec…. The link is here if you’re interested: Travel Blogger’s Tips from their home towns.

I read a lot of blogs each week and I try to comment and share as much as I can, so I truly appreciate any interaction on my blog.  Thanks to all those who leave me comments, ‘like’ my posts or share them around! We have a great community of bloggers 🙂

Photo challenges:

I’m having fun participating in Terri’s Sunday Stills Photo Challenge, where she has a set theme for each week’s posts.  Terri missed the now defunct WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge so much, she started her own challenge.  It’s good fun to be involved! Anyone can join in.

Here are my posts for the November prompts: Time, On the Road, Thankful and Bucket List Images

My favourite post this month:

I have to say my favourite post this month is the one I wrote about giving and receiving compliments – Why can’t we just accept a compliment?  And it seems to have hit a nerve with many other readers too, and not just women either.  I love receiving comments where readers share their thoughts and stories and this post has elicited quite a few of these.

It all started with my mother, having returned form her overseas travels and everyone kept saying how ‘well’ she looked.  She immediately took it that they thought she had put on weight and were making a comment without saying as much!  It got me thinking about compliments in general and how we tend to brush them off or read too much into them.  On a wet day when I was stuck indoors, I sat and wrote and researched compliments and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I’m happy to say others seemed to have enjoyed it too. It’s not too late to add your own two cents worth if you haven’t done so already!

From other bloggers:

I’m happy to share these five posts from other bloggers who I’ve enjoyed reading recently.  They cover a variety of subjects. I’m sure they’d appreciate your visit, just click on the links.

  1. Sue is having an Advent Calendar with a difference and is inviting us all along each day.  You can check it out here, My 25 Day Countdown to a happy Christmas
  2. My friend Miriam always writes such lovely posts and this is just one example – A Satisfied Mind
  3. This post from Sue and Dave at Travel Tales of Life was another post where my husband and I contributed some words during the month.  50 Affordable Travel Gifts loved by Travel Bloggers
  4. If you need to know anything about life in New Zealand then Suz is the person to read.  Her post Life at No.22 Titbits about New Zealand is a fun read!
  5. Now for some more NZ fun, watch this Christmas video from Air New Zealand – see if you can see the Trump moment!!

Feeling….

Better!  I’m just waiting for my latest blood test results and I’m hoping my 3 months of careful eating – no sugar, no bread, no alcohol, no pasta or rice, more water and fresh real foods – has made a difference.  Whatever the result I am definitely feeling healthier, fitter and more energetic and I’ve lost a few kilos along the way.  I may even get into my bikini this year.

Reading….

I’ve read some great books this month including Richard Glover’s The land before Avocados Jane Harper’s The Lost Man, Joanne Tracey’s Happy Ever After and Toni Pike’s Dead Dry Heart – all highly recommended!

So that’s it for another month!  It’s been busier than I thought 🙂

How are things with you? I’d love to hear what’s been happening in your life lately.  Take care of yourself as we enter the official Silly Season – just enjoy the lead up to Christmas and New Year and do what you can, don’t stress and try to do too much! (I’m talking to myself as much as anyone here!)

Feel free to leave me a comment below. I always enjoy hearing from you.

Deb xx

Joining in with Denys’e #Lifethisweek with the prompt of Taking Stock

This is my version of A Sentence a Day.  Click here for more information or to join in.

Are you on Instagram? Check out Deb’s World here: Instagram for photo updates

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Midlife is an adventure

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59 Replies to “Taking stock of life in November – let’s chat!”

  2. You have been busy, Deb! I love that your mom is taking a tour of the family–and ironing too! That seems to be a dying art. I don’t believe my children even own irons. I still do some. The photo you shared of the four generations of women is just beautiful. How wonderful to be all together in one place. As for me, I just got back from a quick vacation to Mexico, and I have put up my Christmas decorations, so I am feeling a little more festive, ready to relax and enjoy. Happy December! #MLSTL

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    1. Lovely to hear from you Christie, it has been a busy time and having Emilia has made us all so much happier these past few months. Ironing does seem to be a lost art these days. Mexico sounds exciting, another place I’ve not been to.
      Would you recommend it? Enjoy your festivities. All the best 🙂

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  4. How fascinating to read about another Deb’s World on the other side of the world! Seems that in a quite a few ways we have a lot in common! Looks like you had a busy November – and now the countdown to Christmas madness starts. So pleased to have found your blog, I’ll be popping back again!

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  5. Sounds as if you’ve had a busy but enriching month Deb. Well done on being featured in so many interviews. It’s always revealing to be asked questions and have to think more about life, love and just living isn’t it? Hope you get to spend lots of time with your gorgeous daughter, grandaughter and of course Mum too, over the festive period particularly. I’m missing my Mum who’s in England. #MLSTL

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    1. Thanks Jo. I enjoyed being a guest blogger but as they were written ages ago, I’d almost forgotten I’d done them until I came to write my post! I’m looking forward to spending time with the family and especially Emilia. I can imagine you miss your mum particularly at this time of the year. The years my daughter doesn’t come home from the UK is always a hard one for us. Great to have you visit 😊

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  7. Loved your November wrap Deb and thank you for the shoutout. How lovely to spend time with family and more time with that gorgeous granddaughter of yours. I know that this year will be sad without your father and FIL but at least you have your beautiful granddaughter who will bring much joy. I went to High School with Toni Pike and definitely recommend her books and I’ve just finished Jo’s ‘Happy Ever After’. It is amazing when we write these posts how much we can fit into a month! Thank you for sharing with us at #MLSTL and your continued support and friendship. Have a beautiful week and thanks for taking part in my 25 day countdown to a Happy Christmas. xx

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  8. That was one big and busy month but I suspect you wouldn’t have it any other way!!
    Thank you for linking up this week for #lifethisweek Next week’s optional prompt is the photo-based “Share Your Snaps.” Denyse

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  9. Wow, Deb, and I thought I was busy…!
    It does seem when you sit down and think about it (or write about it!) you realize how much you really do experience and accomplish in a month. This month is sure to be busy as well, with the holidays especially. I am making a concerted effort to simplify holiday giving, so this has helped as I do not feel as frantic with shopping and planning. The adult children are not getting physical gifts, but I am making charitable donations in their names instead.
    Being in Florida for the season is aiding with simplification as well, but we are having a ton of guests who are glad to escape from the cold New England weather. Son and family arrive in 3 days…and a trip to Disney is planned in there so am looking forward to sharing that with the granddaughters.
    Enjoy your birthday!
    Nancy

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    1. Lovely to have your thoughts Nancy. I’m very impressed with the charitable donations instead of presents. A trip to Disney as well, that sounds fabulous especially with your granddaughters. Does Florida get very warm in December? Sorry to show my ignorance but I’m not too sure of the climatic differences in the US. I do hope you all enjoy the time together and keep it simple!!

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  13. HI, Debbie – You are so right! I often think that my past month was not that busy — until I begin writing about it. I stopped by your Guest Posts and greatly enjoyed reading more about you. Happy upcoming birthday. I look forward to reading about that!

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    1. Thanks a lot Donna, it’s so weird how you think the month has been a bit slower than usual and then once you start writing it down, it hits you that it really wasn’t slow at all. I’m glad to hear you can relate to that thinking too. I enjoyed being a guest and it was good to read back what I’d written for them ages ago. I always enjoy visiting and sharing others. I’m sure I’ll write about my birthday in one way or another 😊

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  14. November was so good for you. Guest posts, family visiting, reading and more. I am sure your test results will be perfect. I like your idea of sharing the posts that you enjoyed over the month.

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    1. Thanks Rachna, lovely to hear from you. I enjoy sharing the work of others and I think the blogging community is all about meeting others. This is my way of doing just that and sharing the love!! I’m happy to say my blood test results were fine and I’m definitely on the right track now. 😊

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  15. Wow! What a busy and exciting month. Now to do it all again for Christmas! I love the Air NZ ad, and it’s certainly one of the most polite digs that anyone has made against Numpty Trumpty 😊

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  17. I hate to see what one of your months looks like when you’re busy, Deb. Ha ha. I had to laugh at the thought of your mother on an international ironing tour. I bet she’s a welcome guest for anyone who doesn’t like to iron. I have a spare room if she’d like to take a trip to Maine. Nice photos of the family and nice having a chat with you.

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  20. I always love these end of month catch ups Deb – it’s like sitting down and having a chat with a friend about what they’ve been up to isn’t it? You’ve certainly been blogging all over the place like a madwoman! Nice that you’ve been so popular and I’ve certainly enjoyed reading all your posts this month – the compliments one certainly spoke to a lot of us. I hope December is just as fabulous for you in the lead up to Christmas xx

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    1. It is like sitting down over a cup of coffee isn’t it, I love them too. It also surprises me what I have managed to get done and what I’ve been up to, hence I was much busier than I originally thought! I’d actually forgotten where I’d been a guest as I’d written them so long ago 🙂 Thanks for your support and encouragement and enjoy your time away.

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      1. Hi Deb – writing this from sunny Rottnest – just wanted to say that I’ve visited from MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂 Also I just noticed your nice little “Midlife is an adventure” at the end of your post – it looks great!

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        1. Hello Leanne on sunny Rottnest Island! One day I’ll get to visit as I’ve heard only good things about it. Maybe 2019 will be the time for a WA experience 🙂 I’m glad you like my little banner at the bottom of my post – thanks to you for your advice 🙂 Enjoy your holidays and thanks fro sharing for #mlstl x

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  23. Sounds like you’ve had a busy month. Really enjoyed this post and will be checking out the other bloggers. This is such a great way to discover interesting posts. Continued luck with the healthy eating … I need to start focusing on that myself.

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    1. Thanks for your visit Ingrid, I always enjoy sharing other blogger’s and their efforts. I’m making progress on my healthy eating regime and my test results were good news, I’m so pleased! I’d recommend giving it a go.

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  25. You’ve had a busy November. Loving that dress you’re wearing in the lead pic and the stripy socks. Thanks for the shout-out re my book – I really appreciate the support. We;; done too on the 3 months of healthy eating – I keep saying that I need to… I so need to… All the best for December.

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    1. It’s my pleasure Jo, I enjoyed your book! Thanks for the comment about my dress – it was one of my choices my daughter’s wedding in Fiji last year but I went with something else in the end. It’s now my go-to party dress for summer! The healthy eating has been really easy and I’ve not suffered at all. Thanks again and enjoy your December too!

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  26. Lovely catch up post Deb, I need to do a bit of catch up reading myself. Sounds like November was a busy month for you. Can’t believe we’re on the count down to Christmas and the end of another year. Hope it’s a wonderful month for you and your family. Thanks so much for including my post here. xx

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    1. It’s amazing how fast the year has gone isn’t it Miriam? It’s been a huge year for us with so much loss and then the birth of Emilia. It’s life and we must live it as best we can 🙂
      I must say I loved reading your recent post, just brilliant.

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