the year that was... (2023 and 2024)
In 2023, I took 10 months of annual and long service leave. I travelled to Malaysia, Taipei and Turkiye with my parents (Feb) and London (May-Aug). I was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Caselberg Trust Margaret Egan Cities of Literature Writers Residency (Oct-Nov). Partway through the six-week residency, when asked if Dunedin had stolen my heart, I replied, "Dunedin has joined my heart." Through a restructure, I was offered a redundancy package but couldn't bring myself to take it. I applied for other jobs in the same department and changed teams. It was a shock to return to work and for a while, I regretted not taking the money. I was depressed and anxious during the first half of 2024. Work gradually improved. I vented to friends. I volunteered with primary school children at a weekly after-school creative program. I fell out of love and ended a two-year LDR. I dated casually. I went on holidays to South Korea and Penang ( George To...
