So, funny thing. It's been a year since I posted anything on here. A. Whole. Year. And honestly, I'm scratching my head about a) quite how that happened and b) what the hell I have been doing in all that time. In case you're actually interested, I think the short answers are that a) I'm hopeless at actually sticking to anything and b) starting and giving up on various new fads.
In case you're interested, here are a few things I've done in the last year:
- Started a new job
- Finished that job (it was a contract role)
- Started a completely different job in a completely different industry. (It's going ok, thanks for asking)
- Got caught out in a thunderstorm in Vienna
- Took my kids on the same rollercoaster I rode with my Mum 30 years ago (don't worry they've refurbished it since then)
- Cycled in two countries in one day (it's not that impressive, they were very close to each other)
- Read 60 books (a record)
- Accidentally deleted almost 20 years of my reading history by pressing one wrong button (sob)
- Learnt a little more Spanish (un poco)
- Finished couch to 5K for the 3rd time (and then promptly hung up my trainers as soon as it got cold)
Given the heady and exciting life I've been leading, I'm sure you can see why I've been away so long.
Ta Ta TBR
If you were actually reading any of the stuff above this sentence, you'll notice that I said I accidentally deleted all of my reading history of the last 20 years. Yep. I managed to wipe out my carefully maintained records of everything I've read and everything I wanted to read since 2005. This may not seem like a big deal to some people, but to a very bookish person who organises information for a living, this was not a good day. There was a lot of swearing. A LOT.
But after the initial shock and self loathing had died down, and after I spent a while trying and failing to remember just what was on that TBR list of 200+ books, I realised something.
It doesn't matter.
For YEARS I have been dragging that list around like Jacob Marley with his chains. Always trying to make a dent in it, whilst simultaneously piling on more and more, and constantly feeling guilty for reading something that I just picked up in the library on a whim. It was like having a very long queue of slightly grumpy old women at your door, muttering about who's turn it was next, and tutting with disgust everytime anyone else dared to try and jump the line.
Well, much like that scene in Mary Poppins where all the grumpy nannies are blown away, the TBR has been scattered to the four winds, and I am free to read whatever I like! It doesn't matter if I forget about a book that someone told me to read 10 years ago! Because you know what? There will always be other books! It's awesome.
For sure, I'll probably carry on logging the books I've read. Much like photographs, it's fun to look back and remember the good times and to learn from the rubbish ones. But, no, I won't be recreating my TBR. I never, ever in a million years would have gotten rid of that list if someone had suggested it a few weeks ago. But I'm telling you people - just do it. You'll feel better.
I certainly feel better. And guess what? I also realised that if I was now free to read what I liked, when I liked, then I was also surely free to write what I liked, when I liked. I don't actually have to stick to a schedule, and I don't have to feel guilty when I inevitably fail to do so.
So there you go, I'm back. I was going to write an actual blog post, about a book and everything, but for now I think I'll just leave it at that - a bit of a wave to say, don't worry - I'm not dead. I will be back with more bookish chat soon. Probably.