Just recently when we were out walking the dogs, I told my daughter I honestly couldn’t remember what I’d been doing this past month since I came back from France.
“Write a ‘things I’ve done today’ each evening,” she suggested. “Don’t write your to-do list every morning. Write your ‘what I’ve done’ list instead.”
I think she’s right, but I haven’t started it yet, so I still haven’t got to grips with it all. All I can recall is that I’ve been busy working on audio versions of my Africa memoirs. I’ve managed to publish the first two now, which is very rewarding. I’ve been using Amazon’s beta program with a virtual voice over. It has limitations and pronunciation errors, but overall, it’s not bad at all. Since I could never afford to hire a voice artist and don’t have the skills (or technical equipment) to do it myself, it’s a fair compromise to be able to offer the books to people with vision problems. On the writing front, I’m working on a collection of stories that were originally published as articles in a sailing magazine for women, Sistership. I’m enjoying editing and adding to them for an anthology I’m putting together.
Oh yes, I’ve also succeeded in scraping, sanding and painting the Hennie H’s roof, and Koos has repaired the broken entrance hatch. Our poor little boat has suffered badly in the heat this summer and the flaking paint was getting beyond bearable. Now, I’m busy with the two roof windows, koekhoeks in Dutch. I’ve replaced them with the temporary windows I made a few years back and brought the real ones back to the crumbly cottage to work on. Restoring all things wood is something I love, so that’s no hardship.
There have been other mini projects as well, but this blog isn’t meant to be my ‘what I’ve done list’, so I think I’ve ticked off all the important things.
What’s marked the month, though, has been the fine, dry weather. From a boating perspective, it’s been much too dry. Canals have been closing all over France and England. From a farming perspective, it’s been even worse, but for once, the conditions have been pretty good for working outside. Koos did a sterling job of painting the fence at the front of the crumbly cottage Mk 2, and I’ve managed with my daughter’s help to do more paintwork repair on both Vereeniging and Hennie H than in several previous years combined, despite the restrictions of the heat.
So yes, although it hasn’t been a month of great excitement or events, it’s been a busy one. Last weekend, however, we drove north 200 km to celebrate Koos’s sister’s 87th birthday. Given that she looks at least ten years younger, still lives independently and is as bright as a button, she’s an example to us all. It was a lovely day and although it took over six hours of driving, it was worth every minute to spend some time with her.
Have a good weekend, allemaal! Next week, it will be September. I wonder where (and how) that month will go! I won’t jinx it by saying what or when, but we have a plan…
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| Koos and his two older sisters. The birthday Girl is on the right |
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| Still work to do, but she’s looking better! |
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| One of the daily delights: seeing tugs and ships On the canal |
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| Our other daily delight: Zoe doing cute as only she know how. |
I'm trying to see if it has likes on here, I can't see anywhere to do that? Also I've put a follow button on my new blog now.
ReplyDeleteYes it has been a very pleasant August weatherwise. A What I've Done List sounds like an excellent idea. I must try that, if only to highlight what I havent done. 😉
Thanks, Gill! You’ve succeeded! And you’re following, so I’ll follow you now. :)
DeleteDitto for me that spends a lot of doing but not remembering what I've done. 😄
ReplyDeleteHaha, I suppose it happens to us all!
DeleteA good idea not to write to-do lists but what I've done lists each day! Your dog is the absolute sweetest.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shirley! I must try the ‘what I’ve done’, but confess I haven’t started yet! :)
DeleteWe've had the same head our end of France, Val, it's been punishing. Well done you and Koos for managing to get painting done. I'm sure your Hennie H looks super now. Huge congrats to Koos' sister, what a lovely photo. And what a gorgeous photo to wrap up with. Zoe looks sooo cosy there! xx
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading my blog and the lovely comment, Beth. Yes, Zoe is well practiced in the art of making herself comfy! 😄 xxxx
DeleteTwo beautiful sisters! A blessing to get to celebrate with them. And your dry warm weather - another blessing! You accomplish so much that it's amazing you can remember anything! Plus, your talents are unending and also amazing. (Steph)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Steph. It’s all been good, but when I try to remember what I’ve done for my blog, everything goes a bit hazy. 😄
DeleteHi Val, I have had a "to do" list for many years now, certainly since I retired. I find that the more spare time I've had means trying to cram more things into it so a tick list becomes essential.
ReplyDeleteThe painting looks really colourful, as does Koos in his contrasting outfit + red tie. Zoe just looks.....Zoe
Take care,David and Popcorn.
I love your daughter's idea. Writing what one has done instead of a list of intentions. I am going to try it. If I remember. That's the hardest part, isn't it? Getting from idea, through the mental toil of fixing it in the grey matter to habit. But try I will. That aside, this is a lovely post as yours always are. I get such a flavour of your life through your words and your pictures and feel myself alongside you and your Koos and sweet Zoë, your crumbly cottages and your beautiful craft. Thank you for the delightful pause.
ReplyDeleteHi Val!
ReplyDeleteI'm finally able to comment here. It sounds like you've had the opposite weather than us this summer. We're generally hot and dry, but it's been a cooler and wetter summer than usual. It's been good for me, as I suffer in anything over 30C. We've spent most of the season out camping. There are no forest fires nearby, so we've been able to have campfires all summer!
It sounds like you've been busy, too! Very happy birthday wishes to Koos' older sister; good for her to still be quick as a whip and still on her own. I can only hope that for myself ;)
Congratulations on tackling your audio books! Your tales are well worth the effort. I've been writing, too. I've begun a story in a sort-of screenplay format and I'm having so much fun with it! I've fallen in love with my character, Ana; she tends to get herself into all sorts of mischief and predicaments.
On a further note, I've always admired what you accomplish; regardless whether you feel you have or not. I agree with your daughter; write a daily what-I've-got-done list! Or, how about a what-I-don't-have-to-do list...
Please, give that wee doggie of yours a hug and a kiss from me.
Sending you and Koos mountains of love!
Dale