I've heard a lot of people say that 2023 was a tough year and I guess it was but for me it was a year of new beginnings as well.
I finally got 'home' after being locked out of Australia for 2 years. I got to see my kids and my granddaughter. I got to see my Dad for the first time in 4 years. I got to spend time with my brother, his wife and my nieces - things I haven't been able to do in the last 20+ years.
These are all wonderful things.
On top of that, I moved from Canberra to Far North Queensland and started to 'take back my health'. I walked more, I didn't spend "quite" as long in front of the computer, I made new friends.
My health is slowly recovering and I have to take to a moment to remember that it took me a long time to get into this shape, it's going to take just as long - if not longer to get out of it. The point is that each day, it gets better and better. I really have to thank Hollie Barlow from Botanical Synergies, a gifted Chinese Medicine practioner for believing me and working with me in identifying what we needed to do. I also have to thank my Dad, for simply just being there and being encouraging when it got tough.
I travelled to Hawaii (again) and whilst I couldn't stay for as long as I wanted (Border Patrol wouldn't let me) I got to spend valuable time with my friends and we did things we wouldn't normally do. I did the Lighthouse walk and hiked Diamondhead - things that I will never forget doing. I also got to Arizona and drove 2000 miles from there to Oklahoma and back again. I created lifetime memories.
On a business front, I met my wonderful Virtual Assistant Gail Budden and her daughter, Meg Robilliard and we created a team that helps each other and our clients out. Without their help, this year would have been much harder.
That wasn't the end of it either - I met some wonderful new clients who are now (I hope) lifelong clients. And of course, I got to work with my existing wonderful clients.
Has 2023 been all sunshine and roses? No, of course not - but I choose to focus on and share the good times with you.
I hope you all can list out some wonderful moments in 2023 and remember them.
Going into 2024, I want to thank my family and friends for being there, sharing 2023 with me and helping make happy memories.
Happy New Year everyone.
Life is busy and there's just so many things to remember. What tools do you use to help you keep on top of ALL the things?
If you're using Google Workspace and want to auto-reply to specific emails (like website inquiries) during the holidays, Charly's got your back. This episode breaks down how to enable Gmail templates and build a filtered auto-responder — without spamming your entire list.
📌 You’ll learn:
✅ How to enable and create Gmail templates
✅ Step-by-step setup for filters that auto-reply only to relevant emails
✅ Tips on using subject lines and sender filters
✅ Why this beats generic out-of-office replies
✅ Bonus: Use labels to keep everything organized
🛡️ Don't forget to disable the rule when you're back from your break.
📢Join the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com
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If you're using the Post SMTP plugin, you need to update to version 3.6.1 today.
Here's the issue: attackers can access your email logs without any authentication. Those logs contain password reset links. That means they can reset your admin password and take over your site.
Over 400,000 sites use this plugin. The vulnerability existed for 19 days before the patch was released. During that window, sites were exposed.
This is why weekly WordPress maintenance matters. Security patches don't come out on your schedule - they come out when developers discover vulnerabilities. If you're only checking monthly or when you remember, you're leaving gaps where your site is vulnerable.
If you manage your own site, log in today and check your plugins. If you use Post SMTP, update it now. If you're tired of having to track every security bulletin, that's what I'm here for.
Need to let people know you're away over the holidays without replying to every email? In this episode, Charly walks you through how to set up an auto-responder in Zoho Mail — perfect for small teams, community clubs, and businesses winding down for the festive season.
📌 You’ll learn:
✅ How to create filters that trigger auto-responses
✅ What subject lines and sender addresses to use
✅ Tips for customizing your message for holiday closures
✅ Why this is especially useful if your contact form is always active
✅ How to organize responses into folders and tag them for follow-up
🛡️ Bonus: Don’t forget to turn it off when you’re back in action to avoid confusion.
📢Join the discussion in my community: https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com
Follow us:
Locals:
https://askcharlyleetham.locals.com
Rumble:
https://rumble.com/askcharlyleetham
Odyssey:
https://odysee.com/@askcharlyleetham:4
YouTube:
https://youtube.com/askcharlyleetham
Facebook:
...