Tag: Personal
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Signs of Life
Okay, you guys. This is not a drill. I’m glad to announce I’m officially back on the blog. I dropped off of the face of the planet without much of an explanation, and I’m sorry about that. My Patreon tribe still saw posts, art, and heard my chancing accent via podcast episodes, but I just […]
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Writing Retreat to Rocky Mountain House
My family and friends were lucky enough to go on a mid-week retreat to a fantabulous cabin just outside of Rocky Mountain House. My plan for this retreat was to WRITE and I’m happy to report I managed to revise a few chapters of Book 3. The setting was ideal for writing. Loads of gorgeous […]
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My Publishing Journey (Podcast Episode #4)
In this episode, I talk about why I chose to indie publish my books, and some of the obstacles I’ve faced along the way. 🙂 The links mentioned: Nerine Dorman, author and editor: https://nerinedorman.wordpress.com/editing/ My Patreon (LuminLore): https://www.patreon.com/luminlore Episode 4: And just in case you’d prefer to read the episode: *Music* Hello, and welcome to […]
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Weekend in Cold Lake
We went away for the first time in, like, ever, and it was incredible. Worth every second of the 6-hour drive, worth every mosquito bite, and worth the ‘spot the *insert colour here* car’ games born out of serious boredom. That said, I don’t want to come off as insensitive. It’s starting to feel something […]
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Dedications (Podcast Episode #3)
In this episode, I talk about the wonderful women who inspired the dedications of my books. I hope you enjoy it! The links mentioned in the podcast: https://yolandiehorak.com/2019/06/13/ideas-for-writers-of-instagram/ https://yolandiehorak.com/2016/02/24/a-tribute/ https://yolandiehorak.com/2019/07/15/we-had-more-time/ In case you’d prefer to read the episode, here you go: *Music* Hello, and welcome to Book Talk with Yolandie. This is the place where […]
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June in Photos
It’s been a busy one, folks. My kid finished Gr 2 (with three dress up spirit days thrown into the mix), Jan and I were fully vaccinated, and we’re surviving an intense heatwave. There was a lot of drawing, yummy treats, and time spent outdoors. Here are some highlights. Have a good one. Yolandie
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I’ve Added a Social Media Manager to my Team, Introducing LuminLore, and Other News
Friends, it’s been a WEEK. In fact, it’s been a few weeks, and I kind of feel like scrambled eggs. So much has happened, so I figured it was about time to fill you in. I’m fully vaccinated I’m so happy that the second vaccination has officially been crossed off my list, though I will […]
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Why I Write (Podcast Episode #2)
I’m really excited about this second podcast episode! I had so much fun recording it for you, and I hope you love it too. So, we’re talking about what drives me when it comes to writing, but let’s keep the conversation going! What drives you to chase your passion pursuit? Please let me know in […]
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Chalk Fun Day
I’m in that weird ‘just finished a book’ phase of the writing cycle. During this time, I struggle to focus on anything for long periods of time and my mind constantly wanders. I reckon it’s because so much of my brain capacity is allocated to storylines and keeping the plot together while I’m writing. My […]
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Some Weekend Stuff
It was a busy one, folks. Kayla wanted a girls’ day, so that’s how my Friday went down. In the late afternoon, I had another buddy write with the fabulous JR Rainsville, and actually got some stuff done! With the lockdown restrictions tightening again, the only time we can see other people is while outdoors. […]
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A Summary
I feel like this is the first time this week I’ve sat down and attempted to actually get my ducks in a row. At this stage, they’re all over, running and quacking and pooping wherever they want. It’s chaos. Feathers everywhere. Please send help and or coffee. A lot has been happening. I’ve been revamping […]
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I Fell, And Other Life Stories
This post will come to you in four parts. Part One – I Fell People who know me well know I’m super clumsy. I can trip on air (and I have). I’m hasty by nature. Everything has to be done quickly, so it’s quickly this, quickly that, and scurrying in between. Ents would hate me. […]
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My Week as a List
And so begins the season of sludge. It’s no fun to see photos of babies in hospitals. (Get well soon, Joshua!) My kid gives the best hugs. Yay, a new patron! Clients who settle their accounts immediately are unicorns, and must be celebrated and protected at all times. My new glasses are so much comfier […]
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Do You See Books?
One of my writer friends shared this meme on Facebook, and it’s been swimming in my head since. Which one of these are you? People often ask me if I see the things I write, and the answer is no. With the exception of single scenes here and there, I don’t visualise. I don’t know […]
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My Glasses Broke & Other Life Snippets
Do I like change? No. And especially not while my anxiety is breaking free of its adamant prison in my head, but hey? Whatcha gonna do about it? So, new glasses. The old ones broke so randomly I’m still not exactly sure what happened. Maybe the cold? Old age? Eh. But I think I’m mostly […]
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Finding Myself Again
So, I’ve been doing yoga. This is a massive first for me, made interesting by the fact that I’m not the most active of people. I bought the yoga mat last year and signed up for a class with a friend, but then 2020 did its thing and we never made it to class. As […]
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The Update Post
What exactly happened while I was away? So. Damn. Much. Let me catch you up. With the virus gaining momentum in South Africa, the risk grew for my loved ones (and is still growing). We’re lucky enough to have no Covid-related deaths in our direct family, but people I care about were now exposed, some […]
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While I was Away
This post is basically a collection of random photos. I took some with my Instagram account in mind, but most are just spur of the moment, hey-look-a-shiny! pics. Did they make it to Instagram? Nope. Still, this is a pretty good collage of my quiet, uneventful lockdown life, and I figure I should document it […]
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Two-Oh-Two-One
Call the Ghost Busters or a necromancer–it’s me. For realzies. I’ve been the rarest of online sightings in the past few months, but the blog suffered most. So, allow me this moment to dust off the cobwebs and breathe in the stale air… Yes, I’m back. I’d tell you about the incredible lows my mental […]
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And, Scene.
The internet is full of it. Do this to attract followers. You are the brand. Here’s the key to understanding the algorithms. Put this in your newsletter. Use these hashtags and you’ll be successful. Everybody tells you not to compare yourself to others. Heck, I’ve even written those very words in blog posts. The problem […]
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Five
It was unreasonably sunny, after the ordeal we’d had. Kayla–not yet two–had experienced the worst possible first flight. She’d been sick and unable to sleep, and while I’d struggled to soothe her, the creepy flight attendant had flirted with me all night. I’d also been motion sick, overheated, and generally uncomfortable, but all of it […]
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Hello
It’s me. I’m still on a high after Friday’s release of A Trial of Sparks & Kindling. I honestly still can’t get over the fact that I now have two books out there. Two. It’s surreal. Maybe it’s because of this high that I have the energy to blog. 🙂 I’m not going to lie, […]
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An Update
Friends, it’s been a hot minute. My mental state has been especially low, and I’ve just not had the capacity to put myself anywhere online. Both my Instagram accounts have been abandoned, my Facebook page gathered cobwebs, and though I’ve made a lot of little tweaks to the website, I’ve basically ghosted the blog. But […]
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The New Normal
Welcome to my captain’s log, day who the hell even knows anymore. We’ve been isolating since mid-March and are officially in the third new month of doing this weird thing. Seven weeks. But I guess it’s normal now? Everything is weird. My husband had a birthday this week, but it didn’t really feel that way. […]
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Hello From the Inside
This weekend, we went for a drive. We didn’t get out of the car, we just drove. It had been so long since I’d been out of the house, I almost felt weird leaving. Which got me thinking. (In my head, I hear Lefou singing it’s a dangerous pastime.) But I’ve realised I’m one of […]
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Last Week Wasn’t a Good Week
Let’s not play games, we all get depressed sometimes. And it’s no wonder so many of us are feeling the strain, considering how we are now, cut off from each other except through screens. Last week was my strain week. It’s been weird. We’re healthy, so I can’t complain, but we’re suffering this collective trauma […]
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I Haven’t Left the House in 9 Days
What I miss is walking. Up until last Friday, I walked every single day. Making my steps was important to me, so I made sure I made them. Then my kid woke up sick. Last Sunday, while I’d been up since before dawn to write, the house had been quiet. I’d expected just another day, […]
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Tales from Self-Isolation
Honestly, as someone who spends the greater part of her day typing away in the basement and avoids going out as far as possible, this isn’t much different than business as usual for me. Sure, my kid isn’t going to school, so I can now get up at odd hours to write and pass out […]
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This Post Comes to You in Four Parts
Totally paraphrasing John Green there. 🙂 DFTBA, people. Anyway. Part One – Writing By last Tuesday, I had five complete chapters written for Book 3. By last Friday, I’d rewritten all five. That’s all fine and dandy, but now I’m stuck on chapter 6, which I’ve rewritten no less than three times, and poor chapter […]
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The Book was Better – My Thoughts on Adaptations
I recently reread the Harry Potter series, and watched the movies available on Netflix at the time (from The Goblet of Fire and on). Of course this started a debate. Wherever I expressed my love for the series, people from ‘the books were better’ camp collided with people from ‘the movies were great’ camp. The […]
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It’s Happening Again (A Life Update)
I guess you all know by now that when I disappear from cyberspace, it’s because I’m up to my eyeballs in either A) a new manuscript, B) revisions, or C) obsessed with reading. For the past few weeks, it’s been C. I’ve reread the Harry Potter series, and spent every moment not reading working on […]
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On Perspective
Just the other day, my fellow blogger and author, SM Mitchell, asked me for my thoughts on impostor syndrome for a blog post. This is the quote she included from yours truly: “No critic can tell you how much is wrong with what I’ve written better than I can. It’s so hard for me to […]
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Spot the Differences – Writer vs Main Character
I posted an excerpt from A Study of Ash & Smoke over on Instagram yesterday, and wrote a bit about the anxieties that Cara and I share. Which got me thinking. People often assume that authors base protagonists on their own personalities. While I suspect there are loads of authors out there who do just […]
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Hello 2020
New year, new decade, new opportunities. How lucky am I to be able to write that statement? I won’t lie, 2019 was tough. Full of head-in-hands moments. Times when loved ones were critically sick and in the hospital–loved ones at the peak of their health. Kids. The worry associated with a sickbed is never easy. […]
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Vacation Pics (Part One)
Aren’t you proud that we managed to take some photos on this last visit to South Africa. You know, amid the chaos that was this last visit to South Africa. 🙂 We managed to do a total of one touristy thing, the pics of which I’ll share with you next week. Brace yourselves for lots […]
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Miss Me Much?
Why hello! It’s good to see you again. We’re officially back from our little trip to South Africa, and it’s seriously good to be home. We’ve spoken about me and my routine before, but you don’t really realise how much you cling to your routine until it’s broken. Friends, much as I loved seeing family […]
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Leaving on a Jetplane
This is really just a quick note to say I’ll be MIA for the next few weeks. In other words, some cobwebs might gather around the blog, my newsletter, and my social media platforms, as I probably won’t make an appearance on any of these in the near future. Except maybe the odd story on […]
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Behind the Scenes – Editing
I figure I might as well clue you all in on how it goes behind the scenes. You know, the stuff you don’t see on my posed and filtered Instagram feed. Everybody who knows me knows I’m currently editing A Trial of Sparks & Kindling. I haven’t been shy about that fact so far. But […]
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November Life Update
The last time I wrote a life update, I had a wrist injury. Guess what. Funny story, but I tend to fall a lot. I’m a pretty clumsy human, which means I spend way too much crashing to my butt or knees. Yay me. So, the other day, I eye this set of stairs, decide […]
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Losing Sunshine
In Johannesburg, where I grew up, the seasons turn in such a predictable manner. You know that the sun will almost always shine, and even in the heart of the winter, the days are basically the same length as those warm, blessed summer days. At the most, summer and winter days differ in length by […]
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Johnston Canyon Revisited
The last time we went to this magical place, the ice was thick and we had no spikes on our shoes. We’re noobs. How are we supposed to know you need spike strips when visiting Canadian parks in the winter. 😛 We’ve wanted to go back since that first time–heck, we’ve even tried–but somehow, something […]
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SA Bookswap
The South African Bookswap, organised by Tams, or Bibliobookwolf on Instagram, is one of the coolest bookswaps ever, and I wanted in. Of course, South African as I may be, I don’t live in the country. Or even on the African continent. With shipping costs as high as they are, pairing me with a bookswapper […]
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Wake Me Up When September Ends
Well, I’m back. I’m happy to inform you the two blog-free weeks haven’t been spent in vain, as the first draft of A Trial of Sparks & Kindling is officially done. Did that read first draft? What I really mean is first complete draft. You see, it’s the fifth version of the document on my […]
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The Random Photo Post
These are the last of the vacation photos, the stragglers who didn’t come in with the rest of the herd. My in-laws aren’t really photo people. I have a wall of photos in my house, a display of all of the faces we love, but the last family photo I have of us and my […]
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August Life Update
This thing happened with my hand this week and I couldn’t work on my novel as much as I’d have liked, which got me thinking. I haven’t really updated you on the stuff in my life in a long while. Let’s talk about the hand first, since you’re probably wondering. In December of 2016, I […]
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We Had More Time
Last week, we lost two family members. We witnessed the slow decline of my husband’s grandfather over long years. Seeing him suffer, seeing him fade away–that was torture. While his entire body and mind failed, our distress was restricted to the heart-zone. We knew he was ill, and we knew our every visit with him […]
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Ideas For Writers of Instagram
I’ve been trying to up my Instagram game. I stumbled into the whole thing because the Dragon Writers group on Facebook ran an Insta challenge back in January, and my good friend Tallulah encouraged me to keep going when the challenge ended. So, since January, I’ve tried my hand at Bookstagram. I really enjoy taking […]
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No Time For Burnout
Folks, after all the effort it took to get the book written, edited, revised, edited again (and again, three more times) then prepared for print, proofread, revised, and finally ready to publish–my mind has gone blank. The words, it seems, have fled me. It’s probably an oh-boy-my-book-is-published phenomenon. The project is finally out of my […]
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When Do You Find the Time? An Essay by a Work-From-Home Mother
When Kayla was little, I worked when she slept. This is how I managed to write a book in just over 7 weeks when she was a few months old. I was lucky she was a good sleeper. As she grew and the daytime sleeping hours dwindled, I wrote in those moments she was occupied […]
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I’m Yolandie – Revisited
A few years ago, I had an epiphany–I’m not done growing yet. Like all things at that time, ended up on the blog, in this introductory post (it has been edited a little to keep it current, but the essence is the same). It’s four years later, and I’m still not done growing. I don’t […]
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Hello 2019
After a number of years filled with great unknowns, loads of stress, and general exhaustion after everything that had happened, all I have for 2019 is hope. No expectations, no great plans, just hope. Having said that, I do have a few goals for the year, ones I seriously hope I’ll accomplish. 😛 I set […]
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2018 Recap
How does one start a recap post? I can tell you about the moments that made up this year. Some were joy in abundance. Some were desolate and sorrowful. Some were spent in limbo, neither one nor the other, a little apprehensive, a little excited. Most were in between. I’d like to chat about all […]
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Calgary
Toronto is a city of skyscrapers. Steel and glass. Grey. Yet, there’s an energy there that refuses to be contained. It’s always on the move. Vendors and tourist and business people, rushing from place to place, night or day. Festival after festival, ball games, concerts, camera crews, and every culture represented in food and drink. […]
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Homeward
When you’ve left as many times as we have, you learn that home isn’t the land, air, or water. Definitely not bricks and mortar. Home is a smile, a hug, a long conversation at the end of the day, a week, or even a month. Home is a beating heart. For this reason, I know […]
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Final Countdown
I can’ believe we’re on the verge of another move, but here we are. it’s like the last few years of my life have been lived out of boxes. I’m ready for this to be the last time we move such a long way. For now though, we still have a lot to do, and […]
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Moving On
I guess now that the affected parties have been notified, it’s time to announce it here too. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the high cost of living in Toronto, and some personal reasons, our little family is moving on again. This time, we’re staying in the same country, thank goodness, but are moving to […]
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After the Silence
I admit my recent blogging history has been a little strange. After 4 years of never taking more than a week off – even when on holiday, and even when sick – the last three and a half years have been riddled with random weeks or longer of absence. I’ve tried tighter schedules and more […]
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Half-Year Update
I turned over in bed somewhere around 2 am, and realised July is almost over. Where has this year even gone? I’d planned to do an update for you, 6 months after my Hello 2018 post, but missed it. Meh. Life. Better late than never, right? Right? Let’s get to it. The first point on […]
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Life Update
Folks, it’s that time again for me – editing. As you can imagine, I’m pretty much consumed by fixing my novel at this stage. Where everything else is concerned, this meme has me covered. Still, I must take a break from accepting changes now and then, so here we are. I haven’t done one of […]
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Long Walks
As someone who’s spoken to her fair share of therapists, you’d think I remember how important exercise can be for mental health. You’d think, but you’d be wrong. I mean, in theory, I know. Of course I do. But I’ve never really done the recommended exercise. I’m a butt-in-chair kind of person. 🙂 Lately though, […]
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Note
Hi folks. I missed a couple of posts last week, but that’s because I’ve been working hard on ideas for the blog behind the scenes. From next week, things might be a little different here. I’ll see if I can put everything together before then, but will do an update post at the start of […]
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Seven Years
It’s so surreal, but this is my seventh year of blogging. Writing my thoughts and publishing them on the internet has always been strange, but stranger still is the fact that people read them. I’ve mentioned a bunch of times that I don’t always know what to write about. That’s been happening more frequently lately. […]
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Current Favourites
I’m always the slightest bit late with my favourites post, so that title should have been March Favourites, but I missed the deadline. It’s time to schedule these things, I know. 😛 I’ve been revising again, folks. Scatterbrained isn’t a strong enough word. Anyway, let’s get right to it. I’m currently reading two books, both […]
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Social Sabbatical Results
It’s been just over two months since I announced on the blog I’d be taking some time away from social media. In reality, I’d been avoiding those platforms for a while longer than the official post date, probably since around December. A friend of mine did something similar a few years back, only she wanted […]
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My Thoughts – The Office
I mentioned in another post that I was rewatching The Office. I’ve been finished with that for a few weeks and now I can’t stop thinking about it. I find myself looking at behind the scenes videos of the show on YouTube, and laughing so hard at all of the memes. I remember watching the […]
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Just Publish it Already
We’re back to reality today, after a week-long break (if it can be called that, considering we were so sick we could barely move). Kayla’s been dropped off at school, which means it’s back to work for me too after a mini-break from writing. Well, writing The Physician’s Apprentice anyway – I’ve been sporadically working […]
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A Quick Note
I just wanted to pop in and say I won’t be around this week. Since it’s March break here in Toronto, I thought I’d spend the week with Kayla. So, I’ll see you again with regular updates next week. Have a good one, Yolandie
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The Five-Month Update
This Wednesday edition of Maple Mondays is brought to you by a broken router. Being without internet in this day and age is a form of torture, I’m certain. First world problems and all that, but seriously, the internet has become such an important part of my work and daily life. Being cut off from it […]
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Keeping it Current
It’s been a really long time since I’ve blogged about what’s currently on my reading, watching and listening to lists. Since I’ve been a little absent from the internet in general and took some time off last week, I figured this would be a good post to help me ease back into blogging. So let’s […]
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Sledding Fun
I mentioned on Monday that we went sledding for the first time. Loads. Of. Fun. I never imagined I’d like it, I’m not a very sporty person, but I’m excited for when we go again. 🙂 And if I’m excited, you can imagine what’s going on in the Kayla’s mind. She had an absolute blast, […]
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Inadequate
You know what I mean. That so-out-of-my-depth feeling that hits us all from time to time. Like you’ve brought a football to a ping pong match and you’re going to smash your paddle to smithereens with your first serve. (Where are these sports metaphors even coming from?) Lately, this has been my reality. You’ve seen the trend in […]
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One of Those Days
Some days, I have zero direction. As you probably guessed by the title, today is one of those days. I could tell you all about our newest experiences here in Canada: our first Groundhog Day (apparently, we have six weeks of winter left) our first time sledding (photos incoming sometime this week) or our first Superbowl (not […]
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Niagara Falls and Fog
Lots and lots of fog. And thick. Trust us to lose one of the most impressive natural landmarks in the world in a blanket of fog. Oh, you don’t believe me, do you? Nobody can lose a waterfall, not one that big. Luckily, I have photos as proof. 🙂 We headed out to the falls two […]
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Social Sabbatical
Lately, I’ve been absent and apparently folks have been noticing. Except for sharing my posts from the safety of my blog, and maybe the occasional mini-scroll on Facebook once a day (if I actually make the effort to go there) I’ve been avoiding social media like the *cliche incoming* plague. Instagram is the exception to the […]
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Looking for Sympathy.
One of those things people forget to tell you about immigration is how often you’re going to be sick in the first while. We’re thoroughly submerged in the murky waters that involves getting all the known bugs through our systems. Along with some unknown bugs. I’d forgotten all about this phase, to be honest. We […]
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December/January Writing Update
The last few weeks of my life have been intense. Not in the way you’d probably picture intense, because most of my time was spent in front of the screen, typing and reading aloud what I’ve typed, over and over and over. To my neighbour on the left, despite the number of times you’ve seen me […]
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Book Review – Turtles all the way Down
It’s been a while since I wrote one of these. 🙂 If you know me at all, you know that I’m a huge fan of John Green. He inspires me in many ways, because he manages to be a thoughtful and giving human being, despite living with a crippling mental illness. I’ve been a nerdfighter for a […]
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Vacation Highlights
As many of you know, my parents came for a visit over the month of December. I’ve already shared photo posts of us doing the things tourists do (over here and here if you missed it) but we still had some other expeditions that you haven’t seen. Since there are SO MANY photos, I thought I’d […]
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Let’s Talk About Panic Attacks
Now here’s an uncomfortable topic. One of those most people feel is best left (read lost) in the closet forever. It’s one we need to talk about though, in the name of awareness and breaking the stigma. According to Google, we can define panic attacks this way. pan·ic at·tack ˈpanik əˌtak/ noun noun: panic attack; plural […]
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Hello 2018
Welcome back! I lost touch with the blog for a moment there – totally unplanned – and it’s great to be typing something especially for you again. I’m a creature of routine, so being back in routine is a relief. Here’s a little catch-up post. My parents visited us for 5 weeks. It was good […]
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Sick Note
Folks, I have nothing for you today. The thing about being a brand new immigrant while simultaneously having your kid in school for the first time – you are basically guaranteed to get every bug doing its rounds. In the past two and a half weeks, we’ve had everything from stomach flu to the common cold […]
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Snow Fun
I learned one of the most important lessons of my life as an immigrant this week – don’t leave the snow shovelling for the next morning. Also, snow shovelling? Not fun, but really satisfying when it’s over. Having a walkable sidewalk made me feel fantastic, weird as that may sound. And thankfully, I had my […]
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Blank
Today is one of those days where blank pages intimidate me, but somehow, no matter how fervently my fingers slam against the keyboard, the words just aren’t up to standard. These are also the days where everything is more interesting than the screen, from the single leaf that managed to escape being covered with snow to […]
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CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium (My WIP)
I’m typing this as the snow is falling and slowly piling up outside. Just thought I’d put that out there, since our friends and family in Europe and the UK have been spamming us with wonderful imagery of snow, and we’ve been feeling left out here in Toronto. Ironically, everybody was expecting us to spam […]
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A December Update
It’s been one of those weeks. My parents arrived from South Africa on Monday, so you can imagine emotions were all over the place at our reunion. We’ve been catching up, exploring and just being together. Then on Tuesday, Kayla’s school called me to come and fetch her. A stomach bug is running through (punny) […]
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Gingerbread House
When we saw gingerbread house kits in Michael’s the other day, my husband immediately knew we had to build one together. He’d always wanted to try baking a gingerbread house, but I’ve never been that interested in art of the food variety. Sure, I bake when I have to, but I much prefer a paintbrush to […]
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Toronto Christmas Market 2017
I guess we wanted to see how the Canadians do Christmas. You know, considering we’ve been to a lot of European Christmas markets. 🙂 Living in Germany will do that to you. Honestly, the Toronto Christmas Market was a lot like its German counterparts – merry, happy, jolly. Sure, this time around we understood the […]
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A Life Update
Aside from the immigration, we’ve been facing a lot of other changes recently. Life, it seems, goes on. Even amid the chaos. Kayla is *finally* going to school. Of all the changes, this is the biggest one. I’ve spoken about our troubles getting her enrolled in a kindergarten in Germany, and also mentioned how easy […]
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Photo Catch-Up
It’s been a while since I’ve shared some photos with you, I’ve barely been in front of my computer in the last few weeks. In the name of some semblance of normalcy though, it’s time to fix that. These pics span from around the middle of October to this past weekend. There’s no real theme […]
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Growing Pains
So, Kayla started school this week. Kindergarten in the rest of the world (well, the parts I’ve lived) and kindergarten (nursery school) in South Africa are vastly different concepts. ◄ This is something we’ve been learning really quickly. I also know how much some of you loved the differences posts I did while we were […]
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Let’s Do This
No, this isn’t another of those please-bear-with-me-posts, I really am here to blog to my little heart’s content. Starting today, the schedule is back in action. #FTW A general update on the Canada side of things – we’re getting there. Most of our stuff has been sorted. Heck, Kayla even started school today. You remember how […]
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I’ve been MIA again…
And I’m sorry. It’s been just a tad on the chaotic side of the spectrum here in our new home. You’d think I knew this by now, considering our recent history, but I’ve just realised that people have a distorted view of immigration. Many of the people we’ve spoken to recently picture the whole thing […]
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First Week in Canada
It’s difficult to believe, but there it is. We’ve been in our new home for a week already. One of the first observations or questions we get asked now has to do with the weather. Who’d have thought, right? 😛 But no, it’s really not freezing here in the north. In fact, at this stage, […]
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It’s ALIVE!!!!!!!
Honestly, this is only half a post. Just wanted to drop in and let you know we’re still breathing here in our new corner of the world. Immigration isn’t a simple thing, but I have to say moving to Canada is superior. If you want people who will welcome you with open arms and pretty […]
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Oh, it’s Monday…
And I’m supposed to blog. Folks, I’m going to ask for some patience here. My week is looking a little cluttered. Considering I’m leaving the country in the very near future, that’s probably not such a shocking admission. My computer will be packed away soon, so that’s going to make it difficult to maintain an […]
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Boxes and Suitcases
Boxes and suitcases everywhere. This is my current reality. Those boxes we’re not shipping to Canada are full of stuff for charity. It’s a minefield. The clutter makes me anxious. It’s a combination of excitement and being totally overwhelmed, so every now and then I find myself disengaging to regain some semblance of focus. I […]
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Anniversary Pics
As promised, here’s the bonus Thursday post. 🙂 For the 9th anniversary, we headed to Düsseldorf. This actually happened by accident. The real reason for the trip was to pick up our passports with the brand-spanking-new visas to enter Canada. Both of us had completely forgotten it happened to be our anniversary too. 😛 Since […]
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A(nother) Note
Today, folks, is my wedding anniversary. Nine years ago, I married the awesomest dude on the face of the planet – he’s my best friend and soulmate, the greatest father and sweetest husband ever. In honour of that, I’m taking the day off blogging. 🙂 OK, not only that, we’ve got some errands to run […]
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Explanations
Fair warning – this is a long post. After Friday’s big news, we’ve had a lot of good wishes, emails and questions. I thought I’d address some of those today. Most people were surprised that we’re so unhappy in Germany, especially considering how happy all of our photo diary posts look. I talked about this briefly […]
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The Big News
As a teenager, I dreamed of moving to Hollywood. At first, I wanted to act. Who doesn’t? But then, one fateful day, I saw the work of my first idol, Steven Spielberg. More than anything, I wanted to follow in his footsteps and make films. I wrote many brilliant screenplays (they were Oscar winners one […]