Have you ever felt that you could do with just one more day in the week, the month or the year, to get things done? Do you ever hear yourself say, ‘if I only had a bit more time.?’
The good news is, this year, as in every four years, you do. It’s February and it’s a leap year. We have one whole extra day to do all those things we keep putting off for another day. How are you going to spend your extra day?
This blog post is part of a #Gr8Blogs Leap Year 2020 Blog Hop, where fellow authors and myself are suggesting ways we are spending our extra day, hoping to inspire your thoughts and actions so that you don’t waste a second of those precious moments.
Research suggests that unless your birthday happens to fall on February 29, to most people, it is just another ordinary day. No one really slows down or takes notice of the fact that it is an extra day in the year. February 29 falls on a Saturday this year, why not take advantage of that and use it wisely. Here’s a little known fact for you, did you know that on February 29 it is said that a woman is allowed to ask a proposal of marriage? Out-dated I know, but a fun fact if you want to take advantage of it.
This Summer has been a particularly long and difficult one for most of us here in Australia. The devastating bushfires have touched the lives of most of us in one way or another. We have been impacted for months by thick smoke that has prevented us from our usual summer outdoor activities, most coastal beach towns were closed to holiday makers and even a simple walk was impossible without wearing a mask. Some of us here in Royalla were impacted by evacuation prospects twice. I had neighbours who were down the South Coast when the fires burnt through there, only to face the same scare several weeks later when two fire fronts, from the west and south, threatened our own small community. When the call-out came to help feed our heroic firefighters, I knew I had to help. I couldn’t evacuate and leave our home until I had done my bit to help in whatever small way I could. Within days we were told the winds had changed, the temperature had dropped, we were finally safe to return., for now We still prayed for rain. The threat continued.
The smoke haze that engulfed our property most of the Summer.
The Orroral Fire in Namadgi National park quickly raged out of control spreading quickly depending on the wind direction. Photo taken from our back deck.
Little did we know, rain too, would bring its own destructive force. Hail hit Canberra in an unprecedented size. Many were caught unaware and 39,000 cars were destroyed. A further 31,00 cars were destroyed in Sydney and Melbourne combined, bringing the total from the storm to 70,000. My son watched from his office window, knowing there was nothing he could do as the hail pelted golf ball sized holes into every panel of his car and smashed both his front and back windows. Like so many people, his insurance company has written off his car, he is still waiting for the payout to purchase a new car. That won’t be an easy task either, with so many people now looking.
Parliament House in the centre of Canberra, two photos taken just a week apart.
Alex’s car as a result of the hail damage.
Amidst all this climatic stress, I also received the devastating news of the sudden loss of a very dear friend’s son. As any mother will tell you, this is impossible to comprehend. It took me weeks to come to terms with this. Even now, I struggle to understand and feel so hopeless being unable to comfort a friend in a time when she needs me most, but we are separated by the size of this huge country of ours. My arms can’t reach across from east to west, although my heart does every day.
The final blow, the termination of my contract. I knew it was probably coming, but I was living in hope. Sadly, due to circumstances out of my control, my publisher can longer continue trading. So, while I have two amazing Adamson Adventures out in the world, I now need to find a new publisher for the third.
2020 has not been a great start for me, but I have made steps forward to change that. Out of the depths of despair comes a ray of hope. I have picked myself up, dusted myself off and am ready to face the world again. I have begun the submission process to publishers for Fossil Frenzy, the Adamson Adventures 3, and submitted two PB’s to a publisher and a short story to a competition. I have started the process of entering A Lighthouse in Time, The Adamson Adventures 2, into Award Competitions for this year and the most exciting bit of news - I entered Fossil Frenzy into the Queensland Writer’s Centre Adaptable Competition and have so far been longlisted. This was a competition I accidentally stumbled across while searching for publishers. The closing date was approaching, so I figured I had nothing to lose and entered. The shortlist of 25 is to pitch to film producers at the Gold Coast Film Festival in April. This shortlist was due to be announced on Feb 15, but due to the overwhelming amount of entries, so far they have whittled it down to a longlist of 40. I feel proud and excited to have reached the longlist, but am hoping my manuscript is strong enough to make the shortlist. Consequently just last Wednesday I attended a course on body language and public speaking to help me prepare my pitch.
The Adaptable Longlist
Kerry Malone and I at the Speakers Institute Workshop on Body Language and Effective Communication.
What does my story have to do with an extra day for leap year? I am spending Feb 29 doing another workshop. Business Skills and Marketing Prowess for Authors. I am not wasting my extra day and I implore you not to either. If there is one thing I have learnt this Summer, it is life can be all too fleeting. We need to be grateful for who we have in our lives, appreciate what we have and fulfil our dreams. Don’t put things off. Make a plan and take action today. Spend the day with your loved ones, take care of your health and rest if you need to, or start that project you always wanted to do.
By the way, for the next month, for every copy sold, I am donating a copy of A Lighthouse in Time to schools down the South Coast devastated by the fires, Have you ever walked into a room and felt there was a presence in there? I have found there is usually a logical explanation, but not always. Research has shown that 35% of Australians believe in ghosts, while over 46% of Americans do. I can tell you stories of my experiences another time. 'A Lighthouse in Time' explores this possibility as the kids investigate the old ruined lighthouse at Cape St George in Jervis Bay. I have been told by delighted readers that it is even scarier than some Harry Potter books. Buy a copy today or on Feb 29, and a school in need down the coast will receive a free copy.
You can purchase a copy here.
Update to this post: Yesterday, 25th Feb, it was announced that I have made the Adaptable shortlist. I’m off to Queensland in April to pitch Fossil Frenzy to producers. Yay, so excited!
I hope I have inspired you to stop and make a special plan for that extra day this month. How will you spend your extra day? Please leave a comment in the section below.
Before you leave, if you enjoyed this post, please consider reading the other #Gr8Blogs about how they'll celebrate a year with an extra day on 29 February..
Cat Michaels - Five Easy Things You Can Do with Your Extra 24 Hours on Leap Day
Rebecca Lyndsey - Very Superstitious...
Rosie Russell - We're Leaping and Hopping for Leap Year 2020
Julie Gorges - How Baby Boomers Can Make Leap Day Count!
Jim Milson - Happy Leap Year Day! What Will You Do With Your Extra Time?
Carmela Dutra - How to Take a Leap on Leap Day
Auden Johnson- How Will You Spend Your Extra Day This Leap Year?
https://www.audenjohnson.com/2020/02/how-will-you-spend-your-extra-day-this.html
Chris Gorges - A Rare Gift https://aslbasics.com/?p=359
Julie Schooler - https://julieschooler.com/3-easy-ways-to-make-february-29th-your-best-leap-day-ever/
