And I had such plans for my retirement!

[wiseheart]

I expected to travel a lot, go to places inside my city I never got to visit before and, of course, to write a lot.

Well, the virus (and Mum's brilliant idea to sacrifice the summer of 2019 to the stupid flat renovation) took care of the first two. And even if the virus gets under control, eventually, Mum will be hardly in shape to travel any further than Vienna or St. Pölten (not that I wouldn't take a trip to either of these places any time), and I certainly won't leave her behind alone.

But the writing. I'd actually have the time for it now - if only I wouldn't waste said time with a thousand other things but writing! Oh, I do a bit of it here and there, but it's always because I force myself to do it. It's very disappointing that I barely make any headway, and the list of planned stories is growing longer with each passing year. *sigh*

That said, I did a bit of transcribing today and hope to progress with the two or three stories that show the most promise at the moment. I'm not planning to go anywhere in the next two days (did all the shopping today), so perhaps... perhaps... if finishing the bird house quiet book page doesn't eat all my spare time.

Comments

[meathiel]

I hear you on the travelling for sure ...

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Our travelling range would have been limited — we never managed to get any further than the closest Austrian cities for years — but we still loved it. I miss it terribly.

[disthrainsdotte.livejournal.com]

The virus has certainly stopped a lot of plans, let´s hope this year more things can happen.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Amen, my friend.

[unbound-ophelia.livejournal.com]

That really is a bummer :(
*hugs*

Try not to pressure yourself too much about writing — maybe you can try and schedule a certain time every day that is exclusively reserved for writing, at a time you know is free every day?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I've been trying to do my writing in the morning lately. That is the time when my mind works best. But I get distracted with other, easier things way too often. Mostly by crafting or baking because I like those, too, and they get me easier satisfaction.

[noadvertising.livejournal.com]

Two of my best friends retired at the same time as I did. None of us has achieved the goals we had strived for. And now that we realise that this virus will cost us more than one year of freedom, because nothing will change in the foreseeable future, the three of us have turned into more or less depressed characters who drift along instead of making the most of the situation. The new mobility — to the Supermarket and back again then a walk around the block, that´s what is left of our travel goals. And that´s why I feel with you. I wonder if we will live long enough to see improvement...

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is depressing to see how the time flies by. Especially as I know that Mum won't be any more mobile with the passing months, and I'd love to take her out again. However, I refuse to give up hope... even if I sometimes feel down.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I absolutely understand — I haven't done much of the travelling I wanted to do, for a variety of reasons including moving house and my mother's deteriorating health and death — but mainly, like you, I feel this should be writing time, but I am not writing unless I force myself to — and it is meant to be something I do for pleasure :(

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

What I'd like to have is a "writing partner" — someone with whom I could swap works in progress, talk about plot lines and characterization during the writing process. Back in my forgotten youth I used to have someone like that and so was how I managed to actually finish a 1000-and-some page original fantasy epos. I hoped that picowrimo could serve the same purpose, but in the recent years that wasn't the case. Mostly it was just about word count and hardly anyone wasted a thought about the snippets themselves.

As for travelling — yeah, I resigned to the knowledge that I might never see France again. That one short, superficial package holiday might have been the one and only time. :(

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

{{{hugs}}}

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks. The only comfort is that some die-hard, faithful Torchwood fans still seem to read my stuff occasionally. The Torchwood stories are the ones with the most hits and kudos' over at AO3.

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Torchwood never dies. Kind of like Jack. Mostly.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

True.

[red-day-dawning.livejournal.com]

It is so disheartening sometimes. *hugs*. I think (hope) things will begin so slowly improve. I have spent the last days in hospital again, and I swear there were many more places open and people active after I was let home, compared to when I went in. I believe things really are slowly improving.
I too would like to travel a little, again. Maybe you will get the chance to travel to Vienna and other cities sometime in the not-so-distant future? To future travels for us all!
I’ve been unable to work for so long; I would have thought that with all those hours per day unoccupied I would pick up online education and do classes in computer coding, creative writing, history, philosophy. Begin to write again. I thought I would pick up my drawing again, and explore new mediums like watercolours and painting. I thought I would visit my brother frequently, perhaps even weekly. None of that has happened. All I do is read and sleep. Go to doctors appointments. I haven’t even been shopping since corona. All my groceries etc are delivered. It is a grim review of my life, and I’m not that happy with it.
But I really hope and believe 2021 will be better for us all. I bloody hope so, anyway.
Maybe establish routines for your writing? Like setting aside certain times of the day to write?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

At least I have some personal advantage from your routine: you are one of my most faithful readers, and your comments always make my day. :)

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

I hear you re not writing. I just sit here, in front of the TV.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Mum and I had a GBBO marathon today. At least her TV does work. *knock on wood*

[akane42me.livejournal.com]

Sending hugs your way.

Most days are okay here, but there are some days I just get so blue thinking about how I miss the way things used to be. We're looking forward to travelling again and seeing family and friends. We're fortunate to have our granddaughter here so often, as it brightens our world and also keeps us very busy:

I'm always amazed at the great variety of things you do, and I love your posts. I'm glad you're still writing regularly, even though it's not as much as you think you could be doing.
I must confess, when the stay-at-home orders came I had visions of following the 'Novel in 90 Days' book and produce a first draft of the novel I started years ago. But here we are nearly a year later and I have yet to really did into it:)

Anyway. Life will return to normal. We just don't know when. I know your Mum won't be up to extended travels, but I do hope you'll be doing a lot of day trips or maybe one-night stays together, as much as she's up for.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Your word in God's ear, my friend.

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

I do believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel, just not sure when. Sorry about your writing, hope productivity improves.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I push myself to write, so that there would be at least some progress, but it isn't how it ought to be. :(