Hilary Murray's Blog, page 4
December 23, 2016
House sit no. 8
Well, this is turning out to be a house-sitting assignment with a difference! Not only are we looking after a good-sized twenty-year-old property and caring for a rather gorgeous cat until mid-January, but we are also renovating both the bathroom and the ensuite during our stay! (Perhaps I shouldn’t say we, since other than providing mugs of tea and trying to offer helpful suggestions that turn out to be anything but, I seem to be more in the way than anything else!)
As these things so often do, it started out as a conversation regarding a lever tap that over the years, had stiffened. Annoying rather than anything else, Jas was asked as a plumbing contractor how much it would cost to replace it. And from there the project grew... and grew…and grew! Overall, it’s definitely a win for the home owner as they aren’t having to deal with the dust and mess from what is essentially a rip-out when they would otherwise be coming home from work. Instead, while they are relaxing and enjoying their holiday, I am sending emails and photographs updating them on the progress.
How great is that! Coming home and knowing all the work is done – and to a very high standard of course - and wanting to freshen up after their long plane journey they can step into their new walk-in shower while admiring the modern tiling, and afterwards stand at their stone-look Corian topped vanities and make full use of their very stylish vessel basins.
You know, I think there’s a business idea here!!
As these things so often do, it started out as a conversation regarding a lever tap that over the years, had stiffened. Annoying rather than anything else, Jas was asked as a plumbing contractor how much it would cost to replace it. And from there the project grew... and grew…and grew! Overall, it’s definitely a win for the home owner as they aren’t having to deal with the dust and mess from what is essentially a rip-out when they would otherwise be coming home from work. Instead, while they are relaxing and enjoying their holiday, I am sending emails and photographs updating them on the progress.
How great is that! Coming home and knowing all the work is done – and to a very high standard of course - and wanting to freshen up after their long plane journey they can step into their new walk-in shower while admiring the modern tiling, and afterwards stand at their stone-look Corian topped vanities and make full use of their very stylish vessel basins.
You know, I think there’s a business idea here!!
November 30, 2016
Moving on...
It’s almost eight thirty in the morning, and after spending the last three months enjoying a 1930's character home in the lovely tree lined avenue above, the owners will soon be here and we will be making our way via a slightly circular route to the Skycity Grand Hotel for two nights. After that, it’s on to our next assignment. Meanwhile, our bags are packed and our boxes lined up ready for the off. I have to say, living in such a quiet residential area has been a first for us, since our previous homes have tended to be newer and in more vibrant areas. But the gardens around here, oh they are lovely! Well-established with lawns and floral borders, and shaded from the afternoon sun by mature trees surely planted some fifty or sixty years ago, it reminds me a lot of England!
November 28, 2016
I'm having a moment!
So there I was, sitting in the hairdressers flicking though a very glossy magazine when I came across an article discussing fashion trends and advice for women over a certain age. Fronted by half a dozen celebrities, all beautifully made-up and attired of course, it focused on styles such as the Contemporary Fashionista, the Femme Fatale, the Scandinavian Minimalist, the BoHo…
Now, had you asked me in my twenties exactly what my style was, I could have easily told you. As I could in my thirties. But today? The thought left me feeling somewhat deflated and wishing I’d picked up a gossip rag instead. Where was my category, the I’ll buy it as it’s such a bargain/will fit me once I’ve lost a few pounds/you can never have too much black category, often associated with the either way I’m sure it’ll go with the (fill in the blank) I bought last year and never wore?
The thing is, I’d love to have a particular style. And given the money, I'd nudge towards Patsy from AbFab. But I have a confession to make. I hate clothes shopping. And not just hate, but loathe and detest!! Some will be astonished and wonder how on earth such a thing is possible, and yes I’m talking to you Miss Tall and Willowy and a Perfect Size 8. Others I’m sure know where I’m coming from.
I have to say though, pondering over my latte I did wonder if perhaps it was time to re-think my wardrobe of odds and sods, and even consider a less-is-more approach. After all, wouldn't a capsule of cleverly selected and very stylish pieces say all the right things about me? Not to mention have me ready on time, rather than stamping around the bedroom rejecting one unsuitable outfit after another and getting in a temper!
Feeling decidedly motivated by then, an hour later and coloured, conditioned and blown dry into my Cilla-bob, I was trying on a pair of retro, turned up and faded boyfriend (or are they girl-friend? Is there even a difference?) jeans while thinking ‘I don’t believe it! I’m a size twelve?? Oh joy of joys. I’ll take them.’
(That they are distressed did, I will admit, gave me a moment. Especially since the last time I wore ripped denim I had big hair and shoulder pads, and Bros were headlining Top of the Pops with ‘When will I be famous?’!) But on the plus side, now I've got them I can match them to the gorgeous black patent brogues I recently bought on a whim. (They were in the sale and just happened to be my size, so what is a girl supposed to do?) They'll go together perfectly. Now, if I can just find a Lady Di blazer...
Now, had you asked me in my twenties exactly what my style was, I could have easily told you. As I could in my thirties. But today? The thought left me feeling somewhat deflated and wishing I’d picked up a gossip rag instead. Where was my category, the I’ll buy it as it’s such a bargain/will fit me once I’ve lost a few pounds/you can never have too much black category, often associated with the either way I’m sure it’ll go with the (fill in the blank) I bought last year and never wore?
The thing is, I’d love to have a particular style. And given the money, I'd nudge towards Patsy from AbFab. But I have a confession to make. I hate clothes shopping. And not just hate, but loathe and detest!! Some will be astonished and wonder how on earth such a thing is possible, and yes I’m talking to you Miss Tall and Willowy and a Perfect Size 8. Others I’m sure know where I’m coming from.
I have to say though, pondering over my latte I did wonder if perhaps it was time to re-think my wardrobe of odds and sods, and even consider a less-is-more approach. After all, wouldn't a capsule of cleverly selected and very stylish pieces say all the right things about me? Not to mention have me ready on time, rather than stamping around the bedroom rejecting one unsuitable outfit after another and getting in a temper!
Feeling decidedly motivated by then, an hour later and coloured, conditioned and blown dry into my Cilla-bob, I was trying on a pair of retro, turned up and faded boyfriend (or are they girl-friend? Is there even a difference?) jeans while thinking ‘I don’t believe it! I’m a size twelve?? Oh joy of joys. I’ll take them.’
(That they are distressed did, I will admit, gave me a moment. Especially since the last time I wore ripped denim I had big hair and shoulder pads, and Bros were headlining Top of the Pops with ‘When will I be famous?’!) But on the plus side, now I've got them I can match them to the gorgeous black patent brogues I recently bought on a whim. (They were in the sale and just happened to be my size, so what is a girl supposed to do?) They'll go together perfectly. Now, if I can just find a Lady Di blazer...
November 2, 2016
More thoughts on house-sitting...
I have to say we've been fortunate in our choice of housesits. I mean, who wouldn't jump at the chance of three months on a remote Pacific island? Or six weeks in a two million dollar property in one of Auckland's sought after suburbs? But there has to be some negatives, right? Determined to give a balanced reply I've been sitting here thinking about just that.
Aside from feeling a touch ‘rootless’ right now, the biggest thing of course is that we are off the property ladder for the time being. Is it scary? Strangely, no. Should it be? Possibly! House prices are currently going through the roof. But for some thirty odd years we have bought, built, renovated and sold houses, each of which has required considerable outlay in terms of time, income and commitment. And it wasn't just hefty mortgage repayments making such demands. Rates, insurances, maintenance, and utilities all wanted their fair share. Even so, being free of all that is a little strange. What is exhilarating though are the boundless opportunities available to us now we are living a more adventurous lifestyle. Such as the recent house-sitting position in Panama in central America. Remote, off the grid, and with the nearest town some twenty minutes by boat, not to mention howler monkeys in the garden, sadly the owner's dates didn’t work for us. Next time though!
Meanwhile, a question we’re often asked is, how do we cope between assignments? So far we’ve minimized any downtime by applying only for those starting as close as possible to the previous finish date, regardless how wonderful others might sound! And this time, with just two days between leaving here and a second six-week assignment in the seaside village of St Heliers we are treating ourselves to an early Christmas present. Two nights of luxury at the five star Skycity Grand in the city! Forty-eight hours of spa treatments, fine dining and of course the casino!!!
Sheer bliss!
Aside from feeling a touch ‘rootless’ right now, the biggest thing of course is that we are off the property ladder for the time being. Is it scary? Strangely, no. Should it be? Possibly! House prices are currently going through the roof. But for some thirty odd years we have bought, built, renovated and sold houses, each of which has required considerable outlay in terms of time, income and commitment. And it wasn't just hefty mortgage repayments making such demands. Rates, insurances, maintenance, and utilities all wanted their fair share. Even so, being free of all that is a little strange. What is exhilarating though are the boundless opportunities available to us now we are living a more adventurous lifestyle. Such as the recent house-sitting position in Panama in central America. Remote, off the grid, and with the nearest town some twenty minutes by boat, not to mention howler monkeys in the garden, sadly the owner's dates didn’t work for us. Next time though!
Meanwhile, a question we’re often asked is, how do we cope between assignments? So far we’ve minimized any downtime by applying only for those starting as close as possible to the previous finish date, regardless how wonderful others might sound! And this time, with just two days between leaving here and a second six-week assignment in the seaside village of St Heliers we are treating ourselves to an early Christmas present. Two nights of luxury at the five star Skycity Grand in the city! Forty-eight hours of spa treatments, fine dining and of course the casino!!!
Sheer bliss!
October 3, 2016
Aghh! The infamous curse of writer’s block…!
Over the past weeks I've rewritten the opening chapters for my next book at least five times, on each occasion getting to some three or four thousand words before deciding the whole thing was just not working for me!!
So here I am, wallowing in a mess of doubt, distraction and disinterest. Where is the energy with which I dashed off my previous novels and novella’s? What happened to throwing back the duvet at three in the morning to get in front of my computer and try out the ideas keeping me awake? I’m still up between six and seven each day, but instead of creating I’m checking emails and social media and stats, and ploughing through articles on new and innovative ways of marketing – which rather sadly turn out to be neither.
Looking for solutions I’ve read up how others cope with this affliction. One piece of advice seems fairly doable; day one, write a sentence. Any sentence. Then write another. Then following day, write a paragraph. The next a page, and so on. Sounds easy? Believe me, it’s not! Worse, I’m over-critiquing even these attempts. Others recommend breaking away from writing altogether. Do something else. Then, feeling fresh and relaxed, come back to it with renewed vigour. But to me that’s wasting time. I should be able to conquer this.
Read more, is yet another suggestion. This I can do, though the Paulo Coelho I picked up and started quite avidly began dragging halfway through. So changing tack, I've dived into a gritty Chris Ryan instead.
All I need is that little spark...!
So here I am, wallowing in a mess of doubt, distraction and disinterest. Where is the energy with which I dashed off my previous novels and novella’s? What happened to throwing back the duvet at three in the morning to get in front of my computer and try out the ideas keeping me awake? I’m still up between six and seven each day, but instead of creating I’m checking emails and social media and stats, and ploughing through articles on new and innovative ways of marketing – which rather sadly turn out to be neither.
Looking for solutions I’ve read up how others cope with this affliction. One piece of advice seems fairly doable; day one, write a sentence. Any sentence. Then write another. Then following day, write a paragraph. The next a page, and so on. Sounds easy? Believe me, it’s not! Worse, I’m over-critiquing even these attempts. Others recommend breaking away from writing altogether. Do something else. Then, feeling fresh and relaxed, come back to it with renewed vigour. But to me that’s wasting time. I should be able to conquer this.
Read more, is yet another suggestion. This I can do, though the Paulo Coelho I picked up and started quite avidly began dragging halfway through. So changing tack, I've dived into a gritty Chris Ryan instead.
All I need is that little spark...!
