Prosperous soul, mortgage neutrality & creativity Year 2

savingholmes

Some recent photos

savingholmes

Thanks Dancing, Merlin, MF, Jwil and Humdinger1 and @Starlight_at_Sea

No idea when book 2 will be available - as even once it's finished I'll need it to be proofread and edited. I've written another 2,200 words today - part before I went out and part after even after deleting some words while polishing yesterday's work. Part of the time away was earmarked for writing. I enjoy it - and I'd love to turn it into a vocation at some point. Meanwhile I just consider myself undiscovered - and revel in the release from pressure that comes from that - and hope that it improves the work somehow versus writing purely for money. It doesn't feel like work to me - anymore than posting on here does... although it does take effort. The harder part is trying to work out how to market what I do - writing or art - that is work... 

MF - longer term my goal would be to reduce my day job hours - so I can write and create art more - but that only works if I'm confident that I would use that time well - so this is a kind of practice for that.

I had a coffee and lemon muffin in a nearby village and had a chat with a cyclist there today. Yesterday I chatted to a couple of people at the pub - and the cottage owners. There are caravanners on the field next to my cottage and some of them say hello and chat too.

I set myself writing and steps goals this week and doing well on both so far. I had hoped to improve my eating more than I have - but I am eating a rainbow at least...

Blackcats

Glad that you are having a good break.  Nice to have opportunities for some casual chats with people around you.  

Book 2 is making real progress. - well done!  Good idea for the computer to read it back to you - I wish that I could have done that with my dissertation - that would certainly have helped me with any sleepless nights 😁

skint_spice

Looks lovely, so peaceful.

WelshmansDaughter

Sounds like you're enjoying your time away

EssexHebridean

One of the things we always enjoy about time in the Hebrides is just getting into conversations with people - both locals and other visitors.

The views where you are are beautiful SH - glad you're having a nice relaxing week. Is the folding table something you'll be able to make use of back at home too? 

LadyWithAPlan

Well done on all the writing progress, very impressive! Glad to see you are having some trips as well

savingholmes

Thanks @LadyWithAPlan , Skint, EH, WD and Blackcats.

My writing is still going well - I've deleted/saved elsewhere about 4,000 words of character profiles that I used to help me care about the characters but then wrote a couple of thousand words yesterday. I feel it is still going well and hope to write more today. I am hoping I manage to keep writing my story this weekend while on a roll.

Yesterday I nipped to a CS and bought a dinner set for £15 that's really pretty. I saw it Saturday but wanted to check I really wanted it. I may then sell a previous one I bought from a CS and keep the newer one as a spare. I'm enjoying my Alice set but think it will bore me at some point and this is the nicest 'serious' one I've seen. I bought a mug for DD - they could only take cash - so gave me a discount of £1 as I didn't have enough. I also went for a walk last night. The day before I went to Durham for a mooch around there.

I am planning to max my enjoyment of being here today - and then travel home tonight so I have the benefit of a full day's holiday at home tomorrow. Looking forward to being back in my own bed too. Tomorrow I will go to the Optician, help someone finalise their P1p appeal and take DD to pick up her first car. Monday I have a follow-up hospital appointment - but I haven't done some of what the specialist wanted so reluctant to go - but equally not had some treatment I was promised that I'm still not at the top of the list for. Adulting sucks... 

I will also work at decluttering what's become a room of doom - dumping ground - but was intended to be a mini art studio. I want to clear out the stuff that's not needed (residue from the loft and other areas) and maybe even paint it or at least get it ready to paint. Next time the handyman/gardener comes I'll see if he can put castors on the desk in there so I can move it around more easily. It's a sit/stand desk - so ideal for using for art whether I am standing or sitting. I also want to look at alternative flooring in there that's more conducive to an art studio (i.e. vinyl). Even if it doesn't all get sorted this weekend with the long weekends coming up it should be sorted soon.

Hope things are going well where you are.

Whoever asked whether I could use the fold up furniture that I bought at home - yes that kind of thing is always useful. I will also take it on future cottage stays as I often find the furniture isn't ideal for what I want to do. It's very hard to work on a laptop at a round table for example and holiday cottages often have uncomfortable dining chairs... This one only had a breakfast bar and I couldn't safely perch on the bar stools due to balance and other issues etc.

I have loved this cottage/apartment. Stunning views. Super-king bed. Very spacious rooms - albeit just two plus a bathroom and a mini store. I think I was so lucky to get it for only £375. 

savingholmes

Sent £50 to savings.

jwil

Lovely photos, hope you've enjoyed your last day.  That sounds like a bargain for the week.