Hello Everyone,
I hope your holidays were enjoyable. Whatever you did, I hope you got a chance to relax, recharge, and ready yourself for the new year.
January is always a good time to look back at what we’ve accomplished over the past year, and then look ahead and think about what we would like the new year to bring us.
Looking back
As I look back over 2018, it seems like I spent much of the year moving house. We moved twice: from Nice to London, then to a different apartment in London. Our new place is a bit smaller than our previous ones – and downsizing is not easy. We’ve been on a mission to simplify and get rid of things. We’re still at it but the end is coming into view.
We usually travel during the Christmas holiday, but since we were just getting settled into our new apartment, we stayed in London this year. So, fittingly, we had a Dickensian holiday. First, we watched the film The Man Who Invented Christmas, which is about how Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol. Then, on Christmas Eve we visited the Dickens House and Museum where we listened to storytellers, drank mulled wine and ate mince pies. And on Christmas day, we took a Dickens walk around London with London Walks. So, I think I’ve had enough Dickens to last me for a while.
New Book
I did manage to get a new book out in 2018, just squeaking under the wire in November. My friend, Rose, made my Christmas Day when she sent me the above photo of her family with my new book which they all received as Christmas presents.
I received another “Christmas present” when Adrian Leeds of House Hunter International fame (in the US) gave my book a nice mention in her newsletter. You can read what she has to say here.
E-Book Winners
In my December 9 post, I announced a drawing to give away two e-book copies of The First Noël at the Villa des Violettes, a Provence Christmas story by Patricia Sands. And the winners were… Kathi E. and Glenda S. I hope you both have received your e-books and are enjoying them.
I also had a raffle to give away two e-book copies of my new book, Berets, Baguettes, and Beyond. But then, in a wave of holiday spirit, I decided to give a copy to everyone who had registered for the drawing. They were sent out around the 24th. Hopefully, everyone received their e-book, but if you registered and didn’t hear from me, check your spam folder. If there’s nothing there, let me know via the “Contact Me” tab in the menu at the top of the page.
Looking forward
What will 2019 bring? Hopefully we will all have a good year and make many, happy memories.
Instead of making New Year’s resolutions, I like to set goals. I’m still working on them for this year, but I know a few things that will definitely be on the list:
- Organize my life and work (I’m not too disorganized, but could use a little extra effort.)
- Write fiction – This year, I’d like to try my hand at a bit of fiction. I’ll let you know how that goes.
- Do things that bring me joy – I’d like to concentrate on things that make me happy this year. Life is short, so it makes sense to enjoy it as much as possible.
What about you? What are your goals/resolutions for 2019? Whatever they are, I wish you the very best.
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