Taking Stock – September 2019

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Hello there! It’s time for Taking Stock again. This is my 3rd quarterly Taking Stock post for 2019. You can read my first two at these links – Taking Stock – March 2019; and Taking Stock – June 2019. Those aren’t the only Taking Stock posts I’ve done though. I’ve been doing these for years. If you’d like to have a peep at what was going on in my world in other years, here’s where you can see all my Taking Stock posts.

September started out full of promise and I’m very grateful that I managed to go on my trip to Cairns with Mum (4-8 September – photos in slideshow at top of this post) to visit my daughter and finally see where she is living and spend some time with her. I also enjoyed doing a bit of touristy stuff while up there.  

Once back home I felt a bit off but convinced myself I was imagining it and just carried on as usual. Then came my sister’s 50th birthday lunch on 12 September and there was no denying I was feeling sick. However, I dosed up on Panadol, and went along and managed to enjoy the day and collapsed on the bed when I got home. Since then, I’ve been sick. I guess it was some virus to start with (caught from my son) and then it developed into a chest infection. Anyone who knows me knows that when I get sick, I don’t do things by halves, I get very sick. At the time of typing this (Tuesday 24 September) I’m on my second lot of antibiotics and my second lot of steroids (stronger ones) and I’m still pretty sick.  I’m typing this between coughing bouts and naps. Hopefully by the time this publishes on Thursday 26 September, I’ll be much, much better!

So the month started out great but the second half has been a bit of a challenge. As you’ll see under ‘Hoping’ – I really would like to be well by Saturday thank you very much Universe!  It seems that September seems to be the month where I get sick – as evidenced in my Taking Stock – September 2018 post!  

Ok – let’s get to it!

Making:  Stock for my planned new Etsy shop to be announced and opened in the near future (but not so much since I’ve been sick).
Cooking:  Simple things of late as I haven’t been well enough to bother with fussy, lengthy spells in the kitchen.
Sipping:  Hot lemon and honey drinks to try and soothe and reduce the constant coughing!

Reading:  A lot about something I’m contemplating doing but may not. I often go off on whims that may not be so practical or wise so I need to be measured about things – take time over them – mull them over. It would require attending some workshops and some courage but it’s something that I would really like to do. I have not yet told a soul about this and won’t unless I make the decision to go ahead with it.
Looking:  Forward to feeling well again!!

Listening:  To lots of Podcasts. Gee there’s some good ones about aren’t there?! Since I’ve been sick I’ve been too weak and tired to crochet, read or even watch TV or Netflix sometimes. However, it’s easy to lie back, close your eyes and listen to Podcasts. They have been my saviour from boredom! 
Wishing:  My little sister a Happy 50th birthday on 12 September was surreal. How is she now 50? How am I 55?  Look at the gorgeous cake Mum made. We went back to another sister’s house after lunch to have cake and coffee.

Here’s a quick video that shows where we were located. Such a divine outlook – so serene!

Enjoying: The fact that at least I managed to get my trip to Cairns in before I got sick!
Waiting:  To feel the ‘shift’, when I know I’m on the road to being well again.
Liking:  These last days of cool mornings and evenings and comfortable days.
Loving:  This absolutely divine Lobster Mornay that I ate at my sister’s 50th birthday lunch at Wilsons Boathouse – Seafood Restaurant at Manly.

Buying:  Pink Hope’s Limited Edition Lipstick set – as my show of support for their Bright Pink Lipstick Day that was on 20 September. Such a good cause. This is a charity I have supported for years now (see posts here and here). They do such great work!  Oh – and I bought a really cute owl from Port Douglas to add to my wee little owl collection.

Watching:  Lots of YouTube videos lately about that thing I mentioned under ‘Reading’.  All research and knowledge to help me in my decision making.
Hoping:  I will be well by Saturday so I can go to see Muriel’s Wedding at QPAC with my friend as planned!
Needing:  To get well. I have so much I want to be doing.
Wearing:  Lotsa daggy comfy clothes that provide comfort while spending lots of time in bed sick!  BUT I did wear a new dress for my sister’s birthday lunch which was nice. It was Day 1 of feeling sick, so I dosed up and at least got to go. The dress is the Francesca Dress from She Street. Isn’t she so bright and happy and lovely?! Here’s a sad sack pic of me in the dress (though you don’t see much of it) just before I left for the lunch – feeling so sick I was! I felt it went too low at the front on me exposing far too much of the girls (eeek!) so I wore a little purple coloured tank top under it that kinda matched in ok I think!

Following:  My medication schedule religiously. I wanna get better!

Noticing:  The days are getting longer.
Sorting:  Myself out at the moment. No room for much else. Just got to get well again!
Getting:  Sick of being sick!
Saving:  Energy where I can at the moment. Gee I’m missing Pilates though!
Bookmarking:  Information. Resources. Video’s – relative to what I’ve referred to under ‘Reading’ and ‘Watching’.
Coveting:  Clarity – I get so many ideas and whims and get myself confused and overwhelmed. I want to do it all but know I can’t. Which is right for me? Clarity would be good!
Opening:  Many, many, many, many ventolin nebules to use in my Nebuliser.
Giggling:  This video gave me the giggles just the other day when I saw it in my Facebook feed. Such simple joys!

Hearing:  Wrestling on the TV.  Twin 2 is home sick. Yep … it’s doing the rounds.  Twin 1 was sick first. His turned to chest infection too but he is well again now. Then me. Now Twin 2.  His is not a chest infection as yet. I’m hoping it won’t be. Fingers crossed!
Obsessing:  Over what I mentioned earlier that I’m contemplating doing (refer to ‘Reading’, ‘Watching’, and ‘Bookmarking’). Researching, learning and thinking and then will discuss with others before making final decision. But yep – I’m pretty obsessed. Perhaps it’s the fever causing this?

So all in all not a bad month!  Isn’t it incredible how much can take place and how different things can be from one Taking Stock post to another.  In my last Taking Stock post in June, I’d been to Melbourne with my daughter to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (incidentally, that was the last time I saw her until this recent visit to Cairns), I was enjoying the winter weather and cooking up lovely meals in the slow cooker, I was crocheting Willow squares for a blanket (on hold now as I try and get a bit of stock together for my upcoming Etsy shop), and I was excited to soon be heading off to Stradbroke Island for a bit of a holiday!

The next Taking Stock post will be towards the end of December – the last one for 2019.  It might be before Christmas, or it might be after.  We shall see!  No doubt by then I’ll be spending a lot of time in the pool and complaining about the heat!  Hopefully I will be fit, healthy and happy and you will be too! 

Can you believe how close 2020 is?  How weird is that?!  Whenever I see ‘2020’ I think of the term 20/20 Vision. I hope that is a sign that I will find visual acuity in terms of my passions and purpose during 2020!  Oh and maybe my Port Douglas owl find is another clue – meaning wisdom and clarity!  Haha – here’s hoping!

If you’re interested in Taking Stock too, pop over to this post at Pip’s blog – Meet me at Mikes, where the whole idea originated from. Scroll to the bottom of the post and you can copy and paste a blank list of the prompt words and go from there!

Finally – this has been an effort to get done but look I’m nearly there. It might be full of typos and a bit dodgy in parts but it’s 4:55pm on Wednesday 25 September and I think I’m done and can schedule this to publish tomorrow. It’s been done in little bouts over several days. I wasn’t sure it’d get there but ta da! You’re welcome.

Ciao for now,