The Sunday Post: January’s Not So Bad

Posted January 26, 2020 in Life Updates / 6 Comments

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer.

It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog. This is your news post, so personalize it! Include as much as you want or as little. Be creative, it can be a vlog or just a showcase of your goodies. Link up once a week or once a month, you decide. Book haul can include library books, yard sale finds, arcs and bought books..share them!

~Kimberly

It’s been ages since I did a weekly recap, but I’d like to get back into the habit of blogging regularly again and I feel like it does me good to reflect on my life and goals each week.

The Latest in my Life

As someone who is practically solar-powered, I often suffer from the January blues. But the cold and dark hasn’t affected my mental health too badly so far, perhaps because I’ve been too busy to let it get to me.

Back in September, I started a new job as a Literacy Learning Assistant, and I’ve settled into my role nicely now. It’s challenging and occasionally stressful, but I’m enjoying the process of learning and stretching myself. I get to teach small groups of secondary school students and my week is filled with a variety of different classes, which keeps it interesting. I have groups for guided reading, spelling, formal writing, GCSE English preparation and Lexonik. The latter is a 6 week interactive literacy programme that involves lots of fast-paced games, and it’s my favourite “additional learning” programme to deliver. The best part of my job is seeing students improve in confidence, which is so rewarding.

The only downside to this new role is that I’m so tired in the evenings. My previous role was admin-based, and although looking at spreadsheets all day was tiring in its own way, this is a whole new level of exhaustion. I think part of that is because there’s so much social interaction (with students and colleagues) all day long, and that takes its toll on my introvert batteries. I’m also supporting my old department since my previous line-manager is off work for a while, so my head feels a little cluttered with all the things I need to remember. I’m trying to be kind to myself at the moment and take lots of time to recharge. But that of course means I’m not as productive (with writing, blogging, reading, housework, etc.) as I would like to be.

Nothing particularly eventful has happened this week, except that I broke my glasses and have ordered some new bright pink/reddish frames. I’m looking forward to not having to wear contact lenses all day long as I’ve had two migraines within the space of a few days.

On the Blog

[Gif of tumbleweed rolling down the road]

I haven’t been feeling it lately, so this has been my first post since the 8th. I’m hoping to get inspired again and start posting more regularly. I have been enjoying reading other blogs, though. Here are some of the posts I found interesting this week:

Coming soon

  • Book review of Peel by Angela Brown
  • Sun 2nd Feb: The Sunday Post
  • Wed 5th Feb: IWSG Post

What I’m Writing

I’ve just been planning and making notes this week. There’s a short story competition I’m planning to enter next month, and I’m also working out details for the plot of my science-fantasy novel.

Book Talk

I’m currently reading The Vine Witch by Luane G Smith on my Kindle. It’s an interesting fantasy about a young witch who cares for a vineyard and is seeking revenge on the one who cursed her. I’m also still listening to the audiobook of The Last Jedi by Jason Fry. It provides some interesting additional details which add to the story and Marc Thompson does a good job of all the voices.

One of the bonuses of my new job is that I get to listen to kids read, and since I read along with them, I’m totally counting that towards my reading goals! I just finished reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid with my Y8 students. It was o.k, but not really my cuppa tea. We’ve now started reading Matilda and A Roald Dahl Selection, which are much more my thing!

TV, Tunes & Podcasts

TV is starting to get good again. I’ve been catching up with Call the Midwife for my fix of sweet and wholesome content and Silent Witness to satisfy my morbid curiosity. This weekend, I watched the first episode of the new Star Trek series, Picard. I’m impressed so far and so excited to see more familiar faces. Picard has always been one of my favourite characters and Patrick Stewart is as brilliant as ever. I think this series is going to be amazing.

I’m only just discovered the wonder of Podcasts and I’ve subscribed to quite a few about writing, sci-fi & fantasy and literacy. If you have any recommendations, please drop them in the comments!

Over to you

How was your week? If you’re an introvert, how do you like to recharge in a busy week? What good books have you read lately? Have you seen Picard?

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6 responses to “The Sunday Post: January’s Not So Bad

  1. Your new job sounds very rewarding but as an introvert I totally get how you’d be wiped at the end of the day. That’s a lot of interaction I imagine! And I hear you on the dreary weather. It’s very gray here in January and it’s easy to get the winter doldrums. Hopefully spring comes early. 🙂

    Good luck with the writing!

    • True! I’m setting the bar low but at least we are clean and fed! Glad you enjoyed Picard. It’s a shame we have to wait a whole week for a new episode. Hope you have a great week too!

  2. I actually completely understand! Back when I was working in a nursery I was going to sleep at 8pm to 8:30pm. I was loving it but drained! And I am au pairing now and I get a 3 hour break in the middle of the day and spend at least one napping, so yeah, it can be intense! I am glad you’re enjoying this new position a lot though. And thank you for sharing my post. I’m so happy you enjoyed it <3

    • Wow, I have so much respect for anyone who works with young children. I’m working with secondary school students and not sure I would have the patience to handle lots of tiny ones (knowing how much my four-year-old drives me nuts at times!) You’re welcome, Olivia. You always deliver the best bookish content!

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