Just thought I would tell you what I have been up to, though more like not up to. I’m not writing my novel, that’s for sure.  Fresh start with a new week tomorrow. I am thinking about my story, when I can drag my thoughts away from potential blog posts.

The photos are from todays walk, taken with my Fujifilm Finepix A607. The mushrooms are still coming up and I’m still not eating them. I’d love to, but the insects would already be in them. Notice the fly on the dead leaf to the right. It’s probably just laid maggots in there. I wonder how many bugs and maggots I’ve eaten in the past.

Lately, I begin the week with my 2 km walk on the treadmill, all fired up to be good. Normally I’ll treadmill two or three times for the week, but this week no. I could hop on and do it now, but no. My doctor is happy with my blood pressure and I’m good to go for another five repeats on my pills.  My aim now is a healthy weight before my 60th birthday party. Eight months away, plenty of time to whittle the extra bits away. I’m around 75 kilograms and about 5′ 5 1/2″. LOL. A mix of metric and imperial there.

I began my first Coursera course yesterday. I discovered that I’m required to keep a journal for some of the writing tasks and I thought – hey, why not have another blog? – so I have.  Brain Brush Up, My Online Learning Journey. I’ve put a posts widget here, in the sidebar stuff, which previews the later posts. I thought it best to have another blog and, okay, I’ll admit I was keen to try that Greyzed theme.

Yesterday I began: Crafting an Effective Writer: Tools of the Trade (Fundamental English Writing)

Today I began: How to Change the World.

I worried the latter would be way over my head, but I thought some knowledge about ‘social good’ is better than none. The first video lecturer gave me hope. He spoke in a way I can understand and seemed warm and friendly. There is an incredible amount of reading to do, so I will need to replace my bedtime reading with class work.

Two days in and I am loving it. I like opening up Coursera, seeing my classes and clicking on ‘go to class’.

The winter solstice has passed. It has been cold by our standards this past week, though the sun had shone. Grey the past two days, drizzle all day yesterday. I’m giving you another photo of the autumn hues on the young elms growing where they shouldn’t. Mr R has a little chainsaw now, so we’ll cut them before they leaf again. There is an amazing contrast between the green and yellow, sometimes on the same leaf. Just green and yellow, no orange. It’s a bit weird.

Well, I better go off and work on another of the Writing 101 tasks – I’ll try to keep it simple this time. 🙂