Where have I been this past year?

I honestly cannot believe it’s been more than a year since I last posted to my blog. So much has happened in my life since my flight landed in Sydney back in April 2020 during the start of the pandemic.

I wasn’t really sure what to write and how to explain why I’ve been away for so long. I would like to let you all know that I have been busy writing a novel (or two), which I hope to publish someday very soon – and you will be the first to know of course! To be honest, like a lot of people, I think 2020 was just a really tumultuous year for me (for both good and bad reasons) and I’ve been hibernating ever since.

After flying back to Australia because of Covid, I found myself jobless, single and living with my parents. I know I’m not the only one who had to retreat to the welcoming embrace of the family unit in 2020, a safe harbour in the storm raging around us. I will forever be thankful to my parents for taking me in during one of the toughest times of my life (I absolutely know how lucky I am to have them.) I’m sure I wasn’t the most fun person to be around after my entire life imploded around me!

And where am I now? Safe to say my life has almost done a complete turnaround. I spent a few months living by the beach at the end of last year, finally fulfilling my dream of living in a picturesque beach shack while writing another not-so-magnum-opus, the ocean breeze salting my hair as I contemplated characters, plots and what the hell I was going to do next.

Something rather extraordinary happened while I was writing by the ocean (besides putting on 10kgs). I met someone. Typical, yes, but this was more than a summer romance. I could never have imagined I’d find someone like him, but safe to say, I did.

After a few glorious sunshine-filled months living on the North Coast, we ended up moving back to my hometown in the country, where my lovely old house was waiting for me, the one with the great views but badly in need of some TLC.

That’s where you’ll find me now, working from home and sitting in my newly renovated third bedroom, with its polished floorboards, white walls and the leafy green trees out the window. It’s the writing study/artist studio that I’ve always dreamed about. Now I need to back up all my hard work and actually finish some of those dang novels!

Unfortunately, things are still pretty hectic here in Australia due to the delta strain of Covid-19. While the never-ending, long days of lockdowns are almost now behind us, there is still so much uncertainty up ahead as we come up to Freedom Day. I’ve never been so thankful that I finally found an anchor to help me weather any future storms (or perhaps we are in for some sunshine instead??)

Lastly, I do hope that some of my blogging friends from the years gone by are still around, and I’m going to do my upmost best to hunt you down and see how you are all going!

Stay safe everyone 🙂

45 thoughts

  2. Lots of things have happened for you, Milly. So good of your parents to take you in when you needed to get reestablished. So exciting about the new person in your life and newly renovated home. All the best on the book.

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  3. First off, I can’t believe I missed this post. I was doing a bit of digital decluttering when I came across your name and it said you posted two months ago. So I stopped my decluttering to head right here.
    Thank you for sharing your life with us and I hope your writing is going well.

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  4. Welcome back. I was randomly stopped by checking blogs that I used to read but have been inactive (you’re not the only one; hell, I’ve been very sporadic in my own blogging). Glad things are working out.

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  5. Pingback: Where have I been this past year? – Kuchimittai

  7. Hi and welcome back! Occasionally I found myself wondering where you went, were you just another person who ghosted me during the pandemic? Of course when you’ve never met so I’m joking a bit.

    Glad you’re ok. I seem to recall a marriage and going off to Vietnam. Or was.that a shirt story? Either way, you’ve turned the page, so good on ya!

    That’s great you’ve found your way back home and it’s working out, plus you found someone new. I should do that some day. They say love happens when you’re not looking for it, but I’ve been not looking for a very long time now so I think that’s balderdash, poppycock, or maybe caca del toro.

    I keep thinking I should quit my blog to finish revising my bicycle memoir, but I haven’t been able to yet. I took a revision course through Writers League of Texas (yes, we read and write here — it’s a state I’m apparently still stuck in, like a bad country and western version of The Matrix and Westworld meets A Handmaid’s Tale). The teacher said my book sounds like it’s a lot about grief. Who knew? I sure didn’t. But revising IS writing so I need to get to it. Hard to do when it’s your life. Not easy when fiction either, I’m sure.

    Best wishes finishing your novels, your house, with your new person, etc. Glad you’re back, M.

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  9. Pingback: Where have I been this past year? – Site Title

  10. Nice to see you back . Good thing that you started writing blog . Very good thing is that you are writing about your sojourn. And best thing is that you blog is true to what you really felt during the dreadful year of 2020 when life itself had become a twenty-twenty cricket match . Very very painful . We will wait for your novel to come . Thanks . Please read my blogs also and like them .

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  13. Welcome back! So glad to see you posting again. I’m still working full-time, but back in the office three days a week now after working at home for 17 months (March 2020-July 2021). It’s been an interesting journey for sure! I finished the first draft of my second novel during Camp NaNoWriMo in April. After taking NaNoWriMo 2020 off for mental health, I’m excited to dive back in next month to make progress with my third novel.

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  15. Living by the beach, and writing every day, is a dream of mine. It’s the starting point of my last novel (though inevitably, it all begins to go wrong). I’d love to live it myself one day, but for now, it helps to hear that someone else has actually enjoyed it. And I’m glad things are working out for you Millie. The pandemic has been tough, but when I’m struggling, I close my eyes and imagine myself back on my favourite beach in NSW, and it gets me through.

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  20. I always enjoy posts from people who are gone for a while because it gives me some sense of closure. There are times when I will wonder what happened to X, Y, or Z, and posts like this answer my curiosity.

    It’s even better that your post is a positive one. CongratZ on making progress on your writing, your house, and, in your love life.

    I’ve been here, but kind of away most of the time. I long to the days when I am back regularly. Writing, reading, interacting.

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    1. I was really hoping you would post! Very glad to see you around and that you’ve been blogging all this time I’ve been away. Will jump over to your blog right now to see what you’ve been up to! I also long for the days when I am back regularly. I used to spend 1-2 hours on WordPress every day, like… the dedication!

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  26. Best of luck getting your novels finished and out into the world. It looks like you spent time in a stunningly beautiful place and it sounds like it worked some magic for you. Someday I’d love to visit Australia – such a big country, there’s so much to see, and the culture is fascinating. Thanks for the follow – I appreciate it.

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  29. I was just thinking of you a couple of weeks ago and re-read your blog about your adventure returning home! I’m so glad to hear that you’re safe and finding happiness! And still writing 😀

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  31. You sound as though you’re in a really good place. I’m so happy for you, and especially that you’ve found someone special to share your life. Wishing you a world of happiness ahead. Love from me on the road in WA. 💜

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