I missed last month as we enjoyed a 10-day trip to Sydney which included a 4-night Cruise from Brisbane to Sydney, followed by 4 days playing tourist and catching up with one of my favourite people in my life.
Here we are again for another WBOYC? link up for the end of the first quarter of 2025 and it only seems like yesterday we were welcoming a New Year!
March flew by and it certainly was full of surprises starting with a cyclone warning for Brisbane! Cyclones rarely come this far down the Coast of Queensland, so it was a big deal for S.E. Queensland and Northern NSW.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred was certainly an unwelcome visitor. Fortunately, we managed to come through without any damage although many weren’t so lucky due to the post cyclone flooding. It’s difficult to find positives but I did dig deep and was able to find some joy which I wrote about in my weekly Sparks of Joy post, Finding Joy during Tropical Cyclone Alfred
The diary for the month was full but enjoyable and I feel I’m certainly living up to my WOTY ‘Bloom’.
There were a couple of lunch dates with my darling, the monthly Groovy Grans lunch as well as our monthly Coffee & Chat get together with the Probus group, apart from the general Probus meeting.
Exciting times ahead as I accepted a new role as Publicity Officer for the Chatsworth-Carindale Probus group . Mike and I have enjoyed our new membership and want to become members who are involved. As well as my new role, Mike gave a member talk at the last meeting which was very well received.
Podcast and Blogging – I interviewed more interesting and inspiring women for the Women Living Well After 50 podcast, continued my weekly Newsletter in Substack called ‘Your Weekly Boost – Living Life in Full Bloom’ as well as being on the other side of the microphone for an interview ‘Blueprint for Blooming After 60’
No Social Media Sundays were a new introduction for me and I’m loving them. No computer or phone checking of Facebook and Instagram. Just enjoying the relaxed atmosphere and stepping out of the world for a time. Reading, baking and walking in nature – bliss.
Regular workouts were maintained although due to the cyclone our first Half Marathon event was cancelled. I stepped in to take some personal training sessions for Strong Healthy Women and started giving my daughter Strength training sessions as her P.T I wonder how long we will last! LOL 🙂 I maintained the WLWA50 Daily Exercise Challenge in Facebook.
March was also the month for another Share the Dignity drive, which unfortunately was very disrupted due to Cyclone Alfred.
Recorded some videos for the Cooki Hair Care company – Mike is so patient and such a good videographer! We both have fun doing these projects together. I’ve now become an affiliate code: SUE for a 15% discount on all products except bundles. I highly recommend them. Sue’s Favourites – Cookie Haircare Page
In the kitchen I made ice cream and chocolate oat balls which were healthy alternatives and did taste good. I will share the recipes in a separate post.
More travel planning for our trip to the UK and Norway in the second half of the year.
Some fun Trivia for you – The Haggis is actually a mammal! I thought it was just the dish but they are adorable.
Podcasts for the Month
Igniting a Revolution – The 5 components of Wealth
Food Reset: Why I Quit Ultra-Processed Foods for a Healthier Life
Blog Posts you may have missed
Recharge & Thrive: The 7 Types of Rest Every Woman Needs
Mindful March – Action for Happiness
Reinvention After 50: Becoming More ‘You’, Not Someone New
Sparks of Joy #25: Caring & Sharing for International Day of Happiness
Book Reviews What’s On Your Bookshelf? – March 2025 – Women Living Well After 50
I’m sharing my co-hosts’ links as well so remember to pop over and visit to see how their month progressed.
Debbie Harris
Donna Connolly
Jo Tracey
Enjoy your month and I look forward to next month’s WBOYC? edition. Please note link up dates below.
What’s Been On Your Calendar? #WBOYC
What: 2024 Monthly Wrap-Up Link Party.
When: Last Thursday PM (Northern Hemisphere)/ Last Friday AM (Southern Hemisphere). The link will be open for 48 hours
Why: A space to share highlights from your past month.
Where: Link Party, Blog, Blog Comments, Instagram or other social media.
Who: This linkup is open to everyone.
How: You can share in the comments, with a blog post, or on other social media of your choice. Include the hashtag so that we can find you and include your link in our posts.
Dates for the Diary in 2025:
Last Thursday, 2 pm (PST)/Last Friday, 8 am (AEST). Please note dates slightly different for July and December – aren’t we organised! LOL 🙂
March 27/28
April 24/25
May 29/30
June 27/28
*July 31/August 01
August 28/29
September 26/27
October 30/31
November 27/28
*January 01/02 2025
14 Comments
Hi, Sue – It’s been another busy and productive month for you. Congratulations on your new role of Publicity Officer for the Chatsworth-Carindale Probus group. That’s super exciting! No Social Media Sundays is a great idea. I have been reducing my social media time as well. Thank you for including this month’s podcast links. It was a pleasure and a priviledge to join you to discuss ultra-processed foods. <3
Hi Sue, you certainly make the most of your days and are an inspiring co-host for these linkups. I love the reminders of your podcasts (I really enjoy listening to them) and posts from the month. Well done on the new role you’ve taken on, you’ll be great in it! Have a great month ahead x
Thanks, Deb! I was sorry to miss last month but these posts take time to write don’t they? I’m looking forward to my new role and have had a win already! x
Hi Sue, No Social Media day is a great idea. I might take it on myself but perhaps another day. Chris works on Sunday and I’d like to do it on a day that we spend together. Congrats on your new position at Probus. It sounds like one that you would be perfect for. Good to read that you’ve had a great month. Thanks again for the FB challenge. I’m loving it, and looking forward to contributing more, now that we are home from holidays.
Hi Jen, I like Sundays because I don’t have anything on first up. Of course, you can select any day but I’m finding having at least one day Social Media Free is very relaxing. I’m looking forward to some mini challenges in the FB group in April x
I love the idea of a No Social Media Sunday! What a great way to focus on other things! I enjoy these posts so much! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Laura, No Social Media Sundays is very freeing! x
Hi Sue, Congrats on your new Publicity Officer role! That sounds exciting. Good for you to keep Sundays free of social media. Time is a precious resource that we all need to use wisely. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and happy April!
Thanks Natalie, I’m looking forward to the new role. x
I did not know that haggis was an animal too; I had only ever heard about the dish as well. Congratulations on your new role!
Hi Joanne, the Haggis was a surprise to me so I will keep my eyes peeled when we visit Scotland later in the year. x
I’m so glad the cyclone missed your area. It seems the same as bad storms here. The flooding is usually worse than the storm itself. I didn’t realize you were going to Norway, too! What a fun and varied trip! Congrats on your new role with PROBUS.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Hi Marsha, we were very lucky with the cyclone. Poor Queensland is getting hit though. Now there is flooding in the west of the State and so many farmers and their livestock are suffering. Mother Nature can be so cruel. x
Congratulations on your new post with the Chatsworth-Carindale Probus group. I looked up Chatsworth-Carindale Probus but I am still not sure exactly what it is. Although, I saw your pretty face in a photograph on the group’s webpage. Hope you continue to enjoy the group and its activities.
On your no-media Sundays, do you use your phone at all? We don’t have a home phone so I would want to be able to answer calls and texts. But I have such trouble feeling overwhelmed by blog reading, trying to keep up with Facebook and Instagram and even Substack. Maybe I will try a version of no-media Sundays myself.