It’s time for a recap of 2025.
As much as I want to say the year was bullshit – it wasn’t like that the whole year. There were wonderful parts of the year and some of the shit had wonderful aspects. It’s easy for us to focus on the bad things, but we don’t know bad unless we know good and vice versa.
Okay here we go:
Geoff came home early in the year. Yay!
G1 had a psychotic episode.
I taught my crime writing course twice this year. (And now we have a Discord channel.)
We had almost everyone together for the first time in about 13 years: Caleb was here from London with his family. Josh was here from Sydney with his family. Bex came down from Tauranga with her family. Unfortunately, Superman was convinced by someone that he shouldn’t come up. (WTF?)
[Indigo Romeo Lima] VT book 6, launched at a UH library event.
I wrote [Foxtrot Foxtrot Sierra] VT Book 7 and sent off to beta readers and then to my editor: [FFS] is due out in April, 2026.
Superman had a suspicious head injury and turned the house into a crime scene. That was the beginning of hell. But the positives that came out of that were – Joshy flew back from Sydney to be with me and Superman in Wairau Hospital. Doris and her bestie flew over to Blenheim. Chrissy drove up from CHCH. Jojo and her girls came over. Jojo’s first solo drive onto and off the ferry, and first time driving in the South Island.
The home invasion: While we were in Blenheim there was a home invasion. Four people armed with softball bats and machete’s smashed their way into our home. Long story short. Trish and Tim got things secured, cleaned up blood, glass, tried to find the cats, and dealt with police. The cats were terrified and Diesel was a wreck. (Thank you Police for looking after the big guy until Freda could take him to her place.) Grandson One disappeared.
It took a long time to recover from the home invasion. But I discovered something – I have wonderful adult children.
Oops accidentally started writing [Echo Mike Papa] VT book 8 – escapism at its finest.
Then for funsies I wrote a longish short story for an anthology called LA Xtras to help raise money for recovery from the LA fires.
The whole time I was trying to get Superman moved from Blenheim to Wellington and get him the hell out of the care home an incompetent social worker in Wairau thought was a good fit. I have EPOA for property and welfare (medical) so I could fight for Superman behind the scenes. Just finding the right realestate agent took some time. But I did and I love her. I seemed to be constantly on the phone with doctors, social workers, ACC, and care home staff while trying to get all the legal things sorted. Emails so many emails.
Geoff came back to help get the house sorted for selling etc – we went to CHCH in time for Chrissy’s birthday. Caught up with family and Geoff’s mum. Once back in the Sounds we got moving on the house – following advice from my realestate agent and had many meetings with doctors and nurse managers trying to circumvent someone who was not doing her job well. Got to spend time with the cousins. (Pam is fucking wonderful and Lee is too.)
Sold Superman’s car. Lee sold Superman’s boat and sold the tractor. Family is everything.

In the background was the home invasion and the aftermath – that was fucking shit. Not knowing where Grandson 1 was or what really happened. There were also quite a few phone calls from Police as they tried to find him too.
So much happened this year. So much.
Diesel crossed the rainbow Nov 1st with Freda, Matt, Doris, and I all touching him and telling him what wonderful boy he was and how much we loved him.
I did play Bluesky secret Santa and it was fun. Super fun. A real bright spot.
And Little Johnny Cake (a sweet little red point Birman girl) arrived. The kitten the big cats didn’t know they needed until they got her. Now they’re a wee family.
You know what?
I’m done with this year. I am done with fuckwits who make assumptions based on nothing factual because they don’t and will never have the information they think they’re entitled to – they’re not family. Family gets information and no one else. FYI, how many times we all visit Superman is no one’s business. Why he’s in Miramar – also no one’s business.

In amongst the shit, it was a two novel year. Last time that happened Wonder woman was dying.
It turns out I have wonderfully supportive friends and family. And that is everything a person could possibly need. (Apart from ‘Ramona’ to sell, so I don’t have to keep paying insurance and power! LOL)
Fuck off 2025. I don’t deal with you again.