In September I had botox. Not botox for cosmetic reasons, but botox as a last resort for migraines – medical botox!

I didn’t mention it in my previous round-up posts because I wanted to give it some time before I wrote about it to see how I really felt. A few months later – and you can read about it here.

So, how was Christmas for you? In my November round-up I was a little concerned that I hadn’t made much headway on the Christmas shopping, but I managed to pull out all the stops to have most of it done by mid-December.

Christmas came and went and I didn’t do too badly with the mince pie making – a tradition that I’ve kept since I was in my early 30s, possibly longer. I make them with marzipan and even though I’m not a huge fan of mince pies, I have to say, these taste particularly nice.

It was great to enjoy some downtime over the festive season (from Christmas Day onwards) – I told VIP that it’s my favourite time of the year as it’s the only opportunity I have when I can switch off.

#BCDiaries

Last time I wrote I mentioned that the hospital has been investigating my continuing bone aches and headaches. I had a bone and brain scan, and although the bone scan was clear, there were a few questions on the brain scan. I was hoping one of them wouldn’t be ‘where was it?’.

At the time of writing all I know is that it’s nothing serious to worry about, but the hospital just wants to do some further investigations. I’ll keep you posted.

Apart from that, I’m back on the Nortriptyline pills (to control the migraines) and a friend of mine mentioned some medicine called Rizatriptan. I’ve since been prescribed it and, for the first time since I started getting migraines all those years ago, I’ve finally found something that stops the migraine in its tracks. It’s like a breath of fresh air – long make this last and I don’t end up building up a resistance to it.

I’m due to speak with my oncologist again at the end of January – I’m going to ask about the joint pain as this month it has been particularly bad. Either I try something to limit the side effects of letrozole – or I look at switching drugs to something that doesn’t make me feel like a 90-year old when I’ve been sitting down for too long. We’ll see!

Blog life & business

As mentioned earlier, this month I’ve been trying to enjoy some downtime, particularly around Christmas. However, with two video clients booked back-to-back, some social media posts to attend to, plus another new client I’ve just taken on board, it wasn’t the downtime I was hoping for. It has certainly made me question that perhaps I’ve bitten off more than I can chew lately.

Right up to – and including Christmas Eve, I was working away – recording and editing videos for clients. So much so, that I only managed to make a couple of small videos myself – Tropic’s Best-Selling Gifts For Xmas and The £8 Treat You Need In Your Shower. I’ve got so many video ideas planned – magazine reviews, my new Macbook Pro unboxing and more Tropic goodies of course – but I just need time to stand still so I can crack on!

Talking of time standing still (and productivity), I’ve taken myself out of my comfort zone again by putting myself forward for a presentation on productivity in February. There are certain systems and tools I use to run 3 businesses, raise a family and have the time to keep this blog up to date, so I thought I’d share them for those who’ll listen. Hopefully it will be interesting, informative and maybe even inspiring to those watching.

However, I do know that as much as I’m a grafter when it comes to work, I also need to take more time for myself in 2021. This means more ‘me time’ to do the things I love – swimming, reading and baking in particular. Maybe something will have to give or maybe I can find a way of perfecting the work/life balance. Time will tell I guess.

Some good news is that I got some fab pictures taken for my videography business by a friend of mine – once I get my website up and running I’ll be able to put a few of them on there including this one…

On the blog, I worked alongside Summerhouse24 to get a post uploaded earlier this month. Only it wasn’t me that wrote it! For the first time since launching my blog all those years ago, VIP has put pen to paper (or rather finger to keyboard) to put together a guest post called The Summerhouse Files.

I hinted that he might do this in my November round-up – and the boy did me proud. So much so, that the company was delighted in what I published. Now to get VIP working on that book I know he can do!

My favourite pressies

I normally reserve this section of my monthly update for ‘My Latest Purchases’, but given that we’ve just had Christmas, I thought I’d share a few of my favourite gifts.

As you might know, I’m a huge fan of TKMaxx, so having received a few TKMaxx vouchers, I can’t wait to get back into the stores. I’ve got a few things that I’d like to purchase (new bedding, cutlery, crockery and a Chaise Longue spring to mind!), and I’d rather I spend the vouchers on something I need or really want rather than something that will just go in a drawer.

My other pressies included They Ask You Answer, Smartphone Video Rig, Smart Tracking Holder and this cool Desk Organiser.

I gave a few ideas for presents to VIP and was pleased to find them under the tree on Christmas Day. They included They Ask, You Answer to get stuck into, a Smartphone Video Rig Kit, a Smart Tracker for Smartphones and a Desk Organiser for my makeup. To say I did well this year is an understatement – I’m very lucky.

A few friends also bought me some really thoughtful gifts – an Oliver Bonas travel jewellery case and a beautiful link charm for my Nomination bracelet spring to mind. Oh and some fab plant markers to remind me to water my Patch plants!

What I’m grateful for

I’ve mostly been writing in my ‘5 Minute Journal’ about being grateful for sleeping well. I’m usually so worn out at the end of the day that I tend to fall asleep really easily. But then I’ll usually wake at silly o’clock in the morning or just find it a bit of a struggle to get out of bed.

I feel grateful that 2021 will be a much better year to look forward to – I said that about 2020, but none of us could have predicted the extent to which Covid-19 has affected our lives. Next year has to be better, right?

My goals from last month included

1. Don’t leave it until the last minute to finish the Xmas shopping! I’m super pleased I managed to finish the Christmas shopping early!
2. Stay on top of my work schedule (the calendars and priority list are working well) So far, so good – at the time of writing I’m one day behind, but with me taking a few days off, that’s not bad at all!
3. Start my new exercise plan in earnest! Mmmh…I was hoping that the swimming pools would have been opened by now (and that my Fresh Start Back To Exercise Plan hadn’t been cancelled!), but that wasn’t to be. Instead I’ve been taking a few walks to blow off the cobwebs, but I’m looking forward to getting more of a routine in place, which will probably happen once the kids are back at school.

My goals for January include

1. Write one blog post a week for the whole of January!
2. Get my priorities for 2021 down on paper – and work out a schedule to achieve them.
3. Make sure I get some downtime every day.

I’d love to hear how your December went – and what you’re looking forward to for 2021?