April Check In, May Goals

 I'm the first one to say that April got the better of me. The wheels fell off just after Easter when the doctor said I needed to have this issue investigated, see the specialist, have a small operation. That stuff doesn't make for good goal keeping. But then again, I'm looking at my list of things I wanted to achieve, and I did get somewhere. Maybe not where I was hoping, but I did get on with some stuff.

Anyway, here's how I went :

The Forty Hour Novel Challenge

Yeah, didn't happen. But things are starting to move again, thank goodness. 

Participate in the annual Writers Victoria annual Flash Fiction Event on Twitter. 

Yes, I got my last 30 word story for the month in this morning. Not some of my best work, but it was done and I participated and enjoyed myself. That is all that matters. 

Be in the gym at least four days a week.

The health scare really knocked the wind out of my sails this month - but I have managed to get to the gym three times a week, and that is okay. I really do enjoy being really fit. 

Read four books:

I managed six books this month.

• Hilary Mantel's Bring up the Bodies
• Emily St John Mandel's The Glass Hotel.
• The Duke and I (Bridgerton #1) by Julia Quinn
• The Viscount Who Loved me (Bridgerton #2)
• An Offer from a Gentleman (Bridgerton #3)
• Romancing Mr Bridgerton (Bridgeron #4)

Yes, I've resorted to reading crappy romance books. I like them in times of stress for the complete zone out they provide (I also like watching Pride and Prejudice - the Colin Firth version, at times like these. They're comforting. Don't judge. 

Finish the f*cking painting

F*cking painting needs still to be finished. Maybe this weekend. It's fiddly. I hate doing architraves. 

See a film a week

I managed this one too. Over April I've seen:

• Nomadland
• Godzilla vs Kong (much better than you think it's going to be)
• Supernova

And I'm seeing Six Minutes to Midnight tonight. Job done. 

No brushing my hair for a month

This sounds like a strange one, but with a couple of lapses (Surgery was the biggie - I just needed to brush my hair then, I've resisted brushing my hair and the results have shown my hair stays a lot curlier for a lot longer. I like it. Seeing the hairdresser tomorrow to see where to go from here. 

And my May goals:

Read four books:

Maybe I should also say, read four books that aren't crappy romance books...

See a film a week:

I like this one too - there are a few film festivals about. 

Walk 100 kilometres.

This isn't as hard as it sounds - but I need to up the walking. I miss the walking. I just need to get off my bum. Four kilometres a day and you're set. it's all about being consistent. This on top of my other gym work, my fitness, which is already good, should get even better

Just write.

Not putting on a time or a word count on it. I just need to do it. 

Minimise discretionary spending:

I've got a really big bill at the end of the month. My bills are are up to date and paid - I just have to be very careful this next month so I don't go too far into the red. So there's no buying unnecessary crap on the internet. Just stick to the basics and the budget. 

That will do. COVID vaccination day tomorrow. Yay.

Today's Song: