Sadly for me, May was mostly a blur of work. Again, I over committed due to my inability to say no and ended up making 33 observations (which means writing 33 reports) and three presentations. My boss came along to one of my presentations and was impressed and then I received ‘overwhelmingly positive’ feedback from another, so that feels good. I still have alot to learn about managing my caseload and how much work I take on as I know I can’t keep up with it. I have put myself second to work - no lunch breaks, no exercise, not even reading at night. I am scared of burning out so I am going to get through the next month then start saying no. Weekends have bit a bit of catching up on work, gardening, prepping the house, and took a drive down to see Luc in Wollongong.

Listening to - 

* The Lively Show - addicted to this one

* The Manifestation Babe - she always sounds so excited. Its a buzz to listen to

* How To Fail - was listening then half way through realised it was the Australian MAFS lady; Mel Schilling talking about dating and her failures

 Read - 

* The Tea Gardens by Fiona McIntosh - been having a weird feeling I’ve read all these books before. Storyline is familiar. Not sure what it is.

* Home With God by Neale Donald Walsch - all about death, dying and the meaning of life

* The Space Between The Stars by Indira Naidoo - my sister recommended this one. Very descriptive which became annoying after a while but still meaningful. Nice way to cope with grief

Splurged on - 

* new rug for the bedroom - after I pulled up the carpet in the bedroom, the room is cold, and not ready for flooring just yet so rug is for in the meantime

Watching - 

* Grand Designs on a Sunday night otherwise I don’t turn TV on. Not even excited for Have You Been Paying Attention? this year

Went to - 

* Church Bar for lunch with a good friend

* dinner with my bff to spanish at Parramatta

* Nurragingy Reserve for the Outback Country Music Festival with the parentals for Mothers Day

* out to dinner a few times this month - Quakers Inn, Red Galangal, Griddle, Fiddler, Stir Crazy, Kashi Indian Restaurant

* took parents to Fiddler for dinner for their 46th Wedding Anniversary

* Carmel Village Opening Day and helped out with the Bush Fire brigade, chatting to the kids and handing out fire helmets

Booked - 

* a sauna. Sweated it out in 55 degrees.

Cooked - 

* mars bar slice, brownie with my niece, gf chocolate cake, gf choc chip cookies

* beef stroganoff, crumbed chicken, tuna rice, curried chicken, Moroccan sausages

What's new - 

* house reno - fourth time lucky with the flooring; my boyfriend didn’t go with the last quote we got but has instead decided on carpet in the bedrooms which I am happy about, no commitment yet. He has gone from vinyl, to floating floor to now thinking real floor boards in the rest of the house…painful. We did a big clean out one Sunday and took all tools and the workbench out of the house. Less of a work zone, more of a house, still not a home. Getting there… I had plants in pots out the back scattered everywhere so my bf installed a large wooden beam for a shelf so my plants are now much more organised.

* blog - fixed up a couple of teaching blogs at the start of the month and then actually have two travel profiles to schdeule and post. Watch this space.

* we lit the chimenea and sat outside with a cheese platter one night before the cold nights set in. My bf has lit the fire for a few nights now, really warms the kitchen and dining space up.

* bought a new white filing cabinet to replace the old crappy silver one my bf had. Have had my eye on it for ages at Officeworks but found it on Facebook for only $50 so snatched it up quickly. Took time to label, declutter and organise all our papers and it feels good

* each year I get these whispy baby hairs at the edge of my hair line and they just look ridiculous so I finally caved and bought some Kristen Ess recovery balm which slicks them down. It does make my hair abit oily but otherwise I am impressed.

* took my car to be polished and detailed inside. Happy with the job

* my youngest niece turned one and she had a party. My brother has got all rock work done behind his house to help with water issues and it looks so good

* my boyfriends birthday this month but I didn’t make much of a fuss. Bought him a few little gifts and gave him one each day over the week hiding them around the house

* big sis bought a house on acreage, which is a bit of a shock but good news. Only ten to fifteen minutes from her place now so they are still in the area

* little sis put in her resignation after being bullied by management for way too long. On to bigger and better things

* my mum and I took my niece shopping one afternoon. She has her confirmation next week so needed a white jacket and shoes to go with her white dress. Managed to get them in the first store we went. Quick and easy done

* sadly one of my brothers good mates wives passed away at the age of 36 of cancer this week. Firstly my cousin a couple of years ago, then one of my best friends last year and now Rachael. All taken way to young by cancer. It’s shocking and so devastating

 Looking for - 

* some white space in my life, it’s too busy at the moment

 Sold -

* Wisdom coffee table book, PlayStation 3 game, Cast Iron Skillet, two cane chairs I bought a couple of years ago

Started - 

* planting succulents in the front garden. Hoping they take over like they have in my other front garden

Attempting to -

* find time to get my flu shot, go to Vivid in the city, Anne Frank exhibition at Blacktown Library and plan a holiday for July

Hoping your May was not just work for you. Hoping you got out and about. Would you change anything looking back in hindsight? Feel free to join the conversation and leave a comment below.

For other months in hindsight click here