🎈My 12th Blogoversary & a Flash Fic Award (The Sunday Post)

Posted March 7, 2021 in Life Updates / 5 Comments

the sunday post

The Latest in my Life

Yesterday was my 12th Blogoversary! Although this blog has been through many reincarnations over the last 12 years, the core theme remains the same and all the old posts can still be found in the archives somewhere. I have become much more of a casual blogger in recent years due to my other commitments, but I think that’s a good thing. I enjoy it a lot more now that I don’t feel the pressure to post reviews all the time. Thank you for reading my ramblings and leaving such wonderful, uplifting comments.

I haven’t done a Sunday Post since Valentine’s Day because I’ve been quite busy lately. I’ve been working from home and homeschooling “Little Dreamer” 3 days a week for the last couple of months. We’ve had lots of fun together despite the challenges, and I’m really proud of all we’ve achieved. I have mixed feelings about us all returning to work and school tomorrow, but overall I am looking forward to getting back into our usual routine.

For the next two weeks, I’ll be working in the school library before going back to literacy classes. It should be a nice change and I’m looking forward to seeing my students and colleagues again.

Writing

I was delighted to receive the WEP encouragement award for my latest piece of flash fiction: Golden Summer. Congratulations to the winner, Jemi Fraser; the runner-up, Rebecca Douglas; and the Brilliant Debut award winner, Steph Wolmarans.

WEP encouragement award February 2021 Anstice Brown

You can read more about the other entries here. As usual, I enjoyed reading all the different interpretations of the prompt. Thank you so much to the WEP team.

Blogging

Recently on the blog:

Reading

I had to read My Life as a Rat by Joyce Carol Oates for my work book club. It is a contemporary drama/thriller and far from what I would normally read. Although Oates is obviously a very talented writer, the subject matter was too bleak and harrowing for me. The main character suffers so much horrific abuse from almost everyone in her life. At times, it turned my stomach to read about what she went through. I was hoping for some sense of peace or retribution at the end, but sadly it left me feeling a little depressed. It seemed like a very realistic novel, though, so fans of this genre would probably enjoy it. It just wasn’t for me.

Both my daughter and I loved Ronja the Robber’s Daughter by Astrid Lindgren and I was pleased to find that the TV show is a faithful adaptation of it. It’s a gentle and imaginative book. It took me right back to my childhood and gave me all the warm and fuzzies.

We then moved on to James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. This was never a favourite Dahl book when I was growing up, and I didn’t really enjoy it that much as an adult. It wasn’t bad, but some of Dahl’s usual magic seemed missing (I can’t put my finger on what exactly) and I just found it a bit dull overall. Little Dreamer liked it, but she was much more excited about The BFG and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Watching

I thought the WandaVision finale was pretty awesome. It made me tear up a bit, as I expected. A few of my predictions were wrong but might happen in the Dr. Strange “Multiverse of Madness” movie. We shall see.

I’m on series 7 of House M.D now. This is probably the season I’m least familiar with, as I think I stopped watching halfway through it.

Today I watched Raya and the Last Dragon with my family as a last treat before returning to work. It’s a great film. The story, characters and animation are all fantastic. My only complaint is that there are no songs. But the score is beautiful.

Listening to

As it’s International Women’s Day tomorrow and I’m in need of a confidence boost to face Monday morning, I’m shaking my booty to Beyonce.

Quote of the Week

“I lied and said I was busy.
I was busy;
but not in a way most people understand.

I was busy taking deeper breaths.
I was busy silencing irrational thoughts.
I was busy calming a racing heart.
I was busy telling myself I am okay.

Sometimes, this is my busy –
and I will not apologize for it.”

~Brittin Oakman

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

How are you doing? Did you watch Raya and the Last Dragon or the WandaVision finale yet? Do you enjoy reading or watching gritty dramas? Let me know in the comments!

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5 responses to “🎈My 12th Blogoversary & a Flash Fic Award (The Sunday Post)

  1. I have watched all of House. Excellent show, an ending that filled me with hope, but certainly a series of unrealistic expectations for the medical community. “Take an aspirin, lose ten pounds, and come back next week if you’re not better.”

    Looks like some good books you’re reading.

    Congratulations on the WEP win.

    I’m getting ready for the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge. And hoping to honor the wonderful women in my life on March 8 for International Women’s Day.

    J Lenni Dorner~ Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge, Debut Author Interviewer, Reference& Speculative Fiction Author

  2. Congratulations and happy blogoversary as well! That’s awesome about your fan fic. I’m going to go over and read it. 🙂

    Hope you have a fabulous week!

  3. I seem to be on a JCO jag lately, having just finished We Were the Mulvaneys and Zombie, so thanks for bringing My Life As a Rat to my attention. I have just downloaded it from the library.

    Happy Blogoversary!

  4. I somehow didn’t read any Dahl until I was an adult and I’ve only read Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory both of which I enjoyed. I have James and the Giant Peach on a homeschool reading list for my son but I will keep the expectations down! Have a great week!

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