A look back on February…

Posted 13th Mar 2021 1 Comment by Zita Norton

Right, okay friends.

Frankly, I can’t remember 2 hours ago so this Feb overview is going to be… interesting.

This is exactly why I use a calendar, a journal and a diary, because otherwise my life would be a complete mystery.

For example: in Woolworths this morning I was trying to remember what I had for breakfast so I could figure out if I needed to buy more of it, before realising I haven’t eaten today.

Which reminds me. I need to eat.

This is why I live my life in lists, reminders and calendars. But I digress. Let’s talk about February!

First up, the biggest, bestest news! I bought a house! 🥳🥳🥳

Y’all. What the hell. This is so incredibly wild.

Settlement is next week and then that’s it! I own a whole dang house. I have a mortgage!

I’m gasp… a proper adult…

The house needs work done, but I’m looking at this as a life-long passion project. I’m talking painting the walls, restoring the floors, replacing windows + the roof. Plus it’s on 2 acres. Think of all the VEGETABLE PATCHES.

Truly, this is big enough news to be Feb’s update alone.

There are fairies in here, I’m sure of it.

But for now, let’s talk about everything else that happened in Feb!

Mum moved to Melbourne!
Celebrated 3 friendo’s birthdays 🎉
Went to see a live performance of Romeo and Juliette
Bilv (my housemate) and I had our 8 year anniversary of living together/knowing each other
My dear friend Matt (who lives in Canada) and I celebrated our three year friendaversary!
Started pain management again
Got my finance approved (eeeeek!)
Watched my fave podcast (And That’s Why We Drink) do an online live show 👻 🍷

My fave duo! Em Schulz (they/them) and Christine Schiefer (she/her)

I also took essentially the first ten days of February off and it was rejuvenating.

I mainly just journalled, pottered around my house and read books!

Speaking of books! Here’s what I read in Feb:

Aunt Dimity: Snowbound by Nancy Atherton – ⭐️ ⭐️ not my fave Aunt Dim mystery to date. I still defo recommend the series, cozy mystery novels are one of my fave genres!
Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ honestly this might be the best book I’ve ever read. Part of me wishes it had been around when I was 12, but as a 27yo with divorcing parents and rough mental health, reading it now has been incredibly healing.
Fight or Flight by Samantha Young – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ enemies to lovers trope, angry Scotsman, missed flights? Yes please.
Highfire by Eoin Colfer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I grew up reading Colfer’s Artemis Fowl novels (and pretty much everything else he published). I enjoyed the “found family” theme in this one a lot. Also dragons.
It Didn’t Start With You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ the case studies in this book are FASCINATING and I found myself peering at some of my own behaviours & fears that I’ve always felt don’t belong to me.
The Survivors by Jane Harper ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ oh my god this one put me through the ringer. I LOVE Jane Harper’s books (thanks to my lovely friend Kirby for the rec) and this one was no exception. The seaside town setting reminded me of where I live and the mystery had me HOOKED.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ recommended by my dear friend Matt, this book took me on a journey. I absolutely adored the story and I found myself letting out the biggest breath as I read the last couple of chapters.
The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain & Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel A. van der Kolk ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ a fascinating, in-depth look into the history of PTSD as a disorder, and how treatment options and our understanding of trauma have grown. I got a lot from this book.
Fear by Roald Dahl ⭐️⭐️ did you know Roald Dahl was a raging misogynist? I did not until I read the foreword to this book where he spent close to 5 pages utterly aghast at female creatives. It was incredibly condescending. The man didn’t actually write the book, he just compiled the ghost stories of other writers. (Spoilers: the best ones are written by women…)

I also went to a Library After Dark event, and basically just sat in the library until 10pm with my wonderful friend Laura. It was delightful and also being in a library at night is such an experience. It almost feels like a liminal space, I love it.

Autumn finally started kicking the door down half way through Feb. I say ‘finally’ not because it was late (it’s definitely come early this year) but because I’ve been ready for cold weather since approximately October last year.

Mikasa is very pleased too. In fact the entire household much prefers colder weather. We live to be cozy.

What else?

Ah yes! I made a new resin piece, which was delightful and sits in my office now!

I also made excellent progress on my Everest climb, and a blog post regarding that will be coming hopefully by the end of March!

My little town got a Kmart (well, it’s called a K-Hub because we’re still too small for a full Kmart) and I bought much needed supplies, including a new outfit and camping cooking utensils…