A holiday to me means new experiences — whether they are local or global. Every month I lived in Canada I chronicled my working holiday in Expat Updates. Now I am back in Australia, I have created Hayley Lately. At the end of each month I talk about my life lately, my blog posts, what I’ve been reading (both online and for my reading challenge) and my writing. I hope you enjoy learning about my new home and Melbourne moments. 

Life Lately

How is it October? August and September passed by way too quickly. August saw me start a new job and return home to Magnetic Island for a lovely (and warm) long weekend. It was so nice to defrost in the sunshine and of course, catch up with the family. It was exactly what I needed. I am still trying to get into a routine between job 1, job 2 and my writing. Check back at the end of this month to see how I do.

September saw me stay in Melbourne, enjoying the change in season. I have loved going for weekly walks around the city to discover the little laneways and enjoy its many festivals, including Mexican Fest.

Blogging Lately

I have featured a lot of work for Hipmunk on the blog over the past couple of months.

• #HipmunkCityLove featuring Bora Bora and Madrid.

• Boutique Hotels Campaign featuring South San Francisco, Ocean City, West Hollywood and South Lake Tahoe.

I also wrote about one of my favourite travel hacks, which is using Webjet.

Challenging Lately

I am still a little bit behind in my reading challenge, but I will finish 52 books this year…somehow.

• The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

So I gave in and read this novel, but it underwhelmed me. I found the main protagonist to be an annoying character that I just couldn’t relate to. But I did like the twist at the end.

Challenge Completed: A book published this year.

• Dark Places by Gillian Flynn 

The last novel of Flynn’s I had to read was Dark Places. 25 years ago, Ben Day was sentenced for murdering his mother and two sisters. His other sister, Libby survived and the novel is written from her point of view today, and Ben and his mother’s point of view in the past. I think Gone Girl may still be my favourite, but the ending was surprising.

Challenge Completed: A mystery or thriller.

• We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler

I heard about this novel through another blog and it was an interesting story, which I won’t spoil. I would recommend it if you feel like reading something different.

Challenge Completed: A book by an author you’ve never read before.

• My Criminal World by Henry Sutton 

The only reason I chose this book was that I needed a novel written by someone with my initials. It turned out to be not a bad read, but not one I would go around recommending to others.

Challenge Completed: A book written by an author with your same initials.

• Elite by Kiera Cass

I love an easy-to-read young adult novel, and this book fits the bill. I am hoping to finish the trilogy this month.

Challenge Completed: A book set in the future.

• The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

I had heard about The Joy Luck Club, prior to reading it. But it just so happens it was published in 1989, the year I was born. It was a quick read but nonetheless a fascinating insight into Chinese-American cultural differences.

Challenge Completed: A book that came out the year you were born.

Reading Lately

Nicole from Polkadot Passport shared some beautiful photos from the Cinque Terre in Italy on her blog. I only got to see Montreal for a day, so this list of 10 things to do in the city by Flying the Nest’s Stephen and Jess have me longing to return. I have bookmarked this post from Y Travel Blog about the best getaways from Melbourne. I also really liked this unique compilation from Roam & Golightly. There are some great ideas about what to feature in your next travel journal.

Watching Lately

I am so excited that most of my favourite television shows returned to screens at the end of September. How to Get Away with Murder’s first two episodes have me longing for the rest of the season. I am also currently reading Outlander (what a massive book that is), so have been watching that series as well. I love Scotland scenery and a certain male character. It makes me want to visit so badly.

Writing Lately

I continued writing for The Australia Times and Feast Melbourne. I went and saw the one-man production, Picnic in August, and wrote about the performance for The Australia Times’ Theatre Magazine. I also wrote about my experience at Easey’s Burgers in Collingwood for Feast Melbourne. We are doing some Melbourne burger research, and I am not complaining.

October sees me in Melbourne, working hard but also catching up to Kate – the girl I went on many adventures with in Vancouver. I will be checking out the Great Ocean Road (finally) with her and can’t wait to share my photos. Remember to follow me on Facebook and Instagram for real-time snapshots.

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