A bed of roses

So, people are talking about how they want change! - and then you look at the Labour party and realise about all that's going to change is the colour of the rosettes. Although Jonathan Pie did point out that Starmer is a former human rights lawyer; I mean, at least he realises human rights is a Thing... right...? Anyway, I'm voting Green. Not because I believe the Green Party candidate will oust the sitting Labour MP - Liverpool, indeed, the whole of Merseyside these days, is pretty firmly red - but because I want to send a message to a) the Green Party to let them know they have support and they shouldn't give up and b) my MP to let them know I give a shit about the planet and I want them to, too. Meanwhile, Starmer is talking up his defence plans... Does nobody realise that working for environmental and social justice will make the world a safer place?! There'll be less competition for land and resources, a reduction in the threat of flooding and extreme weather, and less need to point a gun at people to make your point.

*heavy sigh*

Anyway, voting is a duty for me and no vote is wasted.

I showed the husband the latest Count Binface video, which raised a smile. Seriously, look him up. I only wish there was a Binface in Liverpool :D

Today was a desky day, and I actually got quite a bit done. Project ideas that have been approved by the prioritisation body now have a record on P4W, and I did a deep overhaul of the old SharePoint site because I'm going to have to keep using that in the short term. There are currently 3 projects not being tracked on P4W but two of them are on the brink of being finished - I think I will then have an argument for bringing the last one into the fold since it's expected to keep going until Q1 next year. It just felt really good to have the time and space to do a proper job rather than squeezing it in between other tasks and/or meetings. I've also reorganised the dashboard we use for reporting to follow the new PMF, which gets us away from 'what does delivery mean to you today?'.

I'm going to swap my days round so I WFH tomorrow and go into the office on Friday. This will allow me to go and vote in a civilised manner and be on time for a 9am meeting.

Watched 'Coming to America' with the husband, so no Psych tonight. CTA is still a funny film, although some of it is pretty dated, now.

Eldest grandson is having a lot of fun - he went jet skiing today! I'm equal parts terrified at the thought of him out there alone (apart from his 5 mates, of course...) and proud that he organised and paid for the trip all by himself.

Granddaughter is measuring extra-large just like younger grandson - any thoughts we might have had about a delicate little flower of a girl have been firmly quashed >D Daughter's midwife has requested an extra scan for her, just to keep an eye on everything.

And my new nail shaper/buffer arrived, so I spent a couple of minutes buffing my nails. Sometimes I'm just a girl.

So, it's the last Saturday before Christmas and the last time I will venture into town this year, I hope - other than to pick up some nice cakes for the family assembly on Christmas Eve.  Next Saturday is Boxing Day - combining a Saturday with the first day of the sales is NOT something I want to experience!  Also, I want to hibernate as much as possible next week.

OK, so most of this year has been spent in hibernation, but I mean not doing anything indoors, either.

I read a really interesting article about Mary the other day - unlike most women in the Bible, you never find her in a domestic setting.  I'm going to be More Mary between Christmas and New Year :D

I worked right up to the last minute yesterday, which was one advantage of working from home.  When we're in the office, there's usually someone trying to chivvy us out of the building early.  My PDPR is drafted, based on my new JD, but needs a bit more work - this is now officially Next Year's Problem.  I also managed to complete my refresh of the doc suite and write the governance doc.

And now I have 3 glorious weeks of nesting and playing games ahead.  Bye for now, DW!

 I am hardly ever bored - there's always something to do. And I'm also getting better at doing things I don't want to do.

Yesterday was one of the fullest days I think I've ever had! The husband is getting a taste for going out and has taken up going for short walks, which I encourage because otherwise he'd just seize up completely. So, yesterday we decided to go for a walk together, since I was off work and had nothing more important than cleaning and gaming on my 'to do' list. We ended up being out for longer than either of us expected and paying for a rather expensive lunch that wasn't all that great. But, it was good to be out and to be together.

I also managed three loads of washing, full clean of the living room and (this is the discipline part!) a full clean of the kitchen, which I almost persuaded myself I didn't need to do. But I felt so much better when it was done - and it only took half-an-hour.

And I made progress with 'I Am Setsuna' and 'Once Upon a Time'.

OUAT is getting to be a bit like 'Lost' - I just want it to be over, now. The 7th series really wasn't necessary and there have been so many twists and turns. Who really is the Big Bad in this one?! Two characters that are fascinating me, though, and are keeping me watching are Tilly/Alice and Samdi/Facilier. Oh, and Gothel/Eloise - completely amoral, which makes her probably the most interesting of all!

Today is pay day and I am taking myself shopping for journaling supplies, Lush stuff, and some new trainers. Retail therapy!!!

I've managed to break the back of the editing of Mannerley. I've cleaned up a number of niggly things that bothered me during my read through and I've also strengthened the ghost scene which is, after all, the climax of the plot. I want to go over that once more, though. Then it's the Big Job - the dialogue. I've found some excellent blog posts on The Write Practice and Ride The Pen, which I am going to use. First step is making sure the dialogue works for each scene - driving plot, developing character, all that. Then, I'll make sure each character's 'voice' is properly represented. And then I smooth out any remaining roughness before sending out to my Betas, take on board any final feedback and (drum roll, please!) then we self-publish. *squeals with excitement* I think my deadline of end of August is probably over-ambitious, so it might be September, but having an aggressive timeline has really pushed me to Get It Done. I also thought it was nearer to being done-done than it was. But I have enjoyed the editing process far more than I expected to, perhaps because of the delay. Anyway, there is light at the end of the tunnel and I will reach it by taking one step at a time.

I have a bit of a mammoth list of stuff to pick up today - but then I haven't been out all week, so that explains it.  I am also going to get my hair cut.

Yesterday was a nice, relaxed day.  Hooray for spending all day in pyjamas.  I watched three episodes of ST:V and Snow White and the Huntsman.  Which was... interesting...?  I did like the fact that she didn't HAVE to marry someone at the end.  And I made more progress with Primal.  I am enjoying the Aetha section.

OK, I need to get moving.  Bye for now, DW.