What the heck did I do?

Where did the last month go but thank goodness we are marching through the winter months. After suffering one storm after another, freezing cold temperatures and a few dramas I’m certainly ready for warmer days and cruising. Also, if someone knows what i did to upset the world then please let me know because it hasn’t been the relaxed, calm and stress free life i’ve been trying to live!

To give you an idea in the last four weeks: We found a lot of water in the hull of the boat, our shower pump broke, the leak from the hatch caused more damage than we thought. I ended up in A&E (helping someone. Not me) and went 36 hours without sleep. I angered the tech Gods and got locked out of my freelance email and had other tech issues, my signal has been shocking with O2 and I tried and failed to cancel it due to a dodgy signal and spent so long trying to get the robot to transfer me through a human. I have so far been unable to get hold a human from Outlook to help me.  ((Oh the Irony!))

Due to the many tech issues and wi-fi issues I’ve suffered since moving onto the boat I’m coming the realisation that working from the boat is probably not going to be a long term option for me. There are too many hurdles to overcome, be that wi-fi issues, random tech issues or boat emergencies. No matter how I try, or what I change, I cannot seem to work consistently. I’ve spoken before that at some point our option will be to moor up somewhere more permanently and get ‘proper jobs’ ((OMG Peachy my heart is palpitating on your behalf!)) I know Brackets, but this boat life was all about trying out different options. I’m not sure how other boaters manage – I’m in awe of their skills to work from a boat if they need tech to do it, but whatever happens the writing is here to stay and I’m going to give the freelance work one last chance!

I finally made the decision to pause our YouTube channel. As my tech assault continued they wanted me to confirm more ID, despite the fact i’ve done this before and various other things and stopped my option to have paid members for the channel and I thought it’s a sign ((Finally, you’re listening to the signs)) Doing DIY on a boat is hard enough without filming it as well and if I really needed to concentrate on paid work then the 20-30 hours spent on YouTube had to go. I might pick it up again one day and put up the odd vlog if I have time. I’ve enjoyed sharing the vlogs and as always with any project I have learnt a lot. I never thought i would be a ‘YouTuber’ and doubt i will ever stop ‘giving things a go’ no matter how much stress I give myself. I blame my dad for that – he gave me the ‘Del Boy Syndrome from him’ lol. I apologise to my friends and family, you must be sick of the ‘what the heck is she doing now!’ Sorry.

I have notified the few fantastic people who were supporting me through YouTube. I still do have the buy me a coffee ((or at the moment, vodka!)) option on my website if anyone is feeling sorry for me lol. Powertheauthor via this link.

In boating world we are starting to suffer from itchy tiller ((Erm, I think you’ve written the wrong blog for talking about ‘those’ kinds of things Peachy!)) don’t be rude, it means we are feeling the need to untie the ropes and get cruising again, although there is still lots to do before we leave but it finally feels like the boat jobs are coming to an end and we can just enjoy living on it – imagine that!

On the book front I’m not as far as I hoped with editing my Psychological Thriller series. I’ve edited around 15 chapters but I am enjoying discovering this story and the characters again and I’m adding a richness to the storytelling, developing the characters and plot which is good! Hopefully when I start submitting to publishers this will help me secure a new publishing deal – keep everything crossed.

I had a good chat with my Indian publisher, The Bombay Circle Press about the marketing for my Jersey book so that’s all plodding along nicely for June. My book sales for Lost the Plot have slowed down and either people don’t want to put on a review because they hated it, haven’t read it yet or just don’t like doing reviews but I’ve sold over 100 hundred copies and only have 8 reviews which is disappointing as reviews sell the book to new people but I cannot keep asking or nagging people. I’m grateful people have bought the book but if you have read it and could leave a star rating or review it would really help. https://amzn.eu/d/cKHnzTp

Right then, I’m hoping February brings progress on my thriller book, the boat DIY is finished – weather permitting. The tech Gods decide they have punished me enough for whatever I have done – isn’t the online world complicated and frustrating. We have started making plans for cruising again this year which is exciting.

I’ve firmly pulled up my big girls pants ((I’ve heard you can buy special cranes for them – they specialise in oversized and weighty objects!)) and it’s onwards and upwards to have the fabulous cruising year with lots of writing, book publishing, events and birthday celebrations.

Thanks for supporting me during this ranting time.

Until next month. xx