Monday 13 August 2018

My "annus horribilis"

Some years are more challenging than others; who would've thought moving and renovations would be so super stressful. 

We're finally in our new home after 5 weeks of squatting at my Mom, and poor Shadow spending 6 weeks in the cattery (I visited her as often as I could but it took a while for her to forgive me!) The short version of the move is - it was challenging! My beloved husband's health continues to deteriorate, although in his own quiet way, he is fighting the cancer with an indomitable strength, but his latest scan was not encouraging news. Between the move and his health, I had to make the hard decision to abandon my astrology course, but that plan will be reinstated in 2019! 

There is always some good news too - I received an email from Commonwealth Writers Prize (see below!) saying that the short story I had entered into the 2018 competition made it to the longlist of 200 entries out of 5000! I was so inspired I managed to write another short story which I entered into the 2019 Gerald Kraak/Jacana Award, and I'm busy on an outline to enter a new short story into the 2019 Commonwealth Prize which opens on 1/9/2018. There's also a vague outline of another poetry volume that is starting to bubble away but I must finish unpacking the rest of the boxes first!

And talking of boxes, I better return to the grindstone and unpack a few more before the day begins ... 

3 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Dear Judy - I am sorry to read this, yet heartened that things are settling down. I feel for you and Beric ... and sincerely hope he will feel easier now he's in his new home.

Congratulations on the award - that's great ... and it has inspired you to write more and given you something to take you forward ... take care and with love - it's good to have had the update ... all the very best - Hilary

Frances Garrood said...

I'm so sorry you've had such an awful year, Judy, and really hope things will now start to improve. Congratulations on making that long list!

Judy Croome | @judy_croome said...

Thank you both for your kind support, Hilary and Frances. This, too, shall pass and hopefully one day I'll be able to return to an active blogging life and pick up the ties with long-standing (but not forgotton!) blogging friends!
((hugs))
Judy