Shelf Help

 

This time of year always has a way of dragging me down a little. The darker evenings creep in, the moods dip, and I find myself needing a good talking-to just to get moving. This week, I decided to take action — starting with my environment. More specifically, my sitting room.

Somehow, I’d let the clutter build up, and every time I sat down, I felt weighed down by it. I figured what I really needed was something simple to make life a little better: a bookshelf. Off I went into town on the hunt.

The first few I saw were giant oak ones that would have turned my little sitting room into something resembling a library annex. Eventually, I found the perfect one in Woodies — slim, neat, and just what I needed. Of course, there was a catch: self-assembly.

Now, I’m an independent woman — not so much by choice as by necessity — but I wasn’t about to let a flat-pack defeat me. After all, I’m “a carpenter’s daughter.” Dad didn’t exactly pass down his woodworking skills, but he did leave behind an array of tools. Not intentionally, mind you — they were just left in my house after he helped build it, one of the last jobs he did before he got sick.

I’ll never forget when we were organising Dad’s funeral and trying to choose symbols of his life to bring up. Someone asked if we had anything from his work. Without hesitation, I offered up his hammer. It’s been in my house ever since and, I’m glad to say, it’s hammered in more than a few nails since then.

So today, armed with Dad’s tools and a good dose of determination, I set about building my new bookshelf. And — hey presto! — I did it. Sitting back in my now uncluttered living room, books neatly stacked and order restored, I felt my mood lift instantly.

Sometimes it’s the little victories, isn’t it?

Sometimes it’s the little victories, isn’t it?

My Lucky Break, (or so I hope)

 My Messenger pinged with the words: “Congratulations Noeleen, you have won…”

I sighed inwardly. Not another scam, I thought. But then I noticed it was from Esker Arts Centre, and a vague memory surfaced — hadn’t I entered some sort of competition a while back?

Tentatively, I opened the message and, to my delight, discovered that I had actually won two tickets to see the play The 3 Hail Marys. My sister had been before and said it was hilarious, so I was planning to go anyway. Even better, I had to physically collect the tickets from the box office — no requests for my credit card details, blood type, or every password I’ve ever created. That alone reassured me it was the real deal.

It’s always great to get something for nothing, isn’t it? And since my luck seems to be in, I’m off to buy a Lotto ticket. If I win that, I’m jetting off to sunnier climes… and there’ll be two spare tickets for The 3 Hail Marys going free if anyone wants them!

Autumn Bucket List

 I’m suffering withdrawal symptoms now that my 100 Days of Summer challenge has come to an end. It became such a big part of my life over the last few months that suddenly stopping feels… well, wrong.

So, imagine my delight when I spotted a book in a local shop—almost like a sign from above—telling me that maybe, just maybe, it’s time for a new challenge.

Now, the teacher in me knows full well that autumn technically runs through August, September, and October. But let’s be honest: schools are closed in August, summer holidays end in September, and that’s when autumn truly begins in my book. Which means I have about 60 glorious days of autumn to fill.

Autumn has always been a favourite of mine—the colours, the crisp air, that cozy feeling as evenings start to draw in. Well, right up until the clocks go back and the evenings are bunched. That’s when the mood dips. So my plan? Make the most of every single day before the dark evenings arrive to ruin the party.

Bring on the 60 Days of Autumn Challenge.