Weekend away with the girls

-
OK - I do feel a little bit mean writing this post since it's about my child-free weekend in Melbourne.  I feel a bit mean because I'm aware that so many of you have small children and never even go to the toilet on your own let alone a weekend away.

However, in the spirit of sharing my life with you, I don't want you to miss out on the fun stuff (even if it is only vicariously).  Perhaps it will give you hope for the future.

I flew to Melbourne, stayed in an apartment in the city for three nights with a group of women that I was in a book group with for many years.  Quite a few of our number don't live in Sydney so it was a reunion in lots of ways.

We walked and walked and talked and talked!  I like walking especially if there are lots of interesting, new things to look at (and it does not involve whining children).  My favourite was our outing to the State Library of Victoria.  I wouldn't have even known about this library except that Rowan downloaded this picture onto my screen saver and I have been staring at it for months.  It was lovely to see it for myself.  Next stop the British Library? ... one can dream.

We also ate a lot - at strange times.  Dinner at 9, lunch at 3, breakfast at 9.  Bizarre to have time so fluid.  My life is crazily full and structured normally.

And once again my introvertedness (is that even a word?!) showed itself to me.  Three days with other adults was full on for me.  These are dear friends who I have a lot in common with and learn so much from so it shouldn't have tired me.  Where has that conference junkie disappeared to?  Strange ...

I did the spend the weekend in awe of the amazing capacity of these women to serve their families, their churches, their workplaces.  Inspiring.

Comments

Rodney Olsen said…
Sounds like a wonderful time.

I can really identify with your post. Being very much an introvert myself I love those times when I can retreat a little.

I adore my family and love spending time with them above almost anything else in this world, but I still need some alone time to be the best me I can be.
June 7, 2010 at 3:14 PM
Matthew Moffitt said…
The Victorian State Library looks amazing!
June 7, 2010 at 3:22 PM
Gina said…
Oh, don't feel mean. That sounds fabulous. I'm taking my first kid- free weekend away with a friend next month, and just the thought of it is getting me through some dreary times with more enthusiasm. Great to hear of some deep, longlasting friendships being nourished too.
June 7, 2010 at 6:25 PM
Sarah Condie said…
Jenny, was thinking of you over the weekend and I am so glad that it was such fun. The SLV looks positively inviting! I do hope that you manage to get to see the 100 exhibition at the SLNSW - only about 10 days to go though!
June 7, 2010 at 7:47 PM
Sarah said…
I visited SLV two years ago, it was amazing. Do they still have that huge painting of Warney there?
June 8, 2010 at 9:38 AM
Jenny said…
I didn't see the picture of Warney - but I wasn't looking for it. Next time maybe?!
June 8, 2010 at 1:14 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Confessions of an earl grey addict

-
Image
I have to confess in this public forum that I'm addicted to earl grey tea. I used to like the expensive stuff (Twinings) but because I drink so much of it, over the years I've had to buy the home brand version because I couldn't afford to sustain my habit. On Monday mornings I'd go to playgroup and have a cup of tea.  But one wasn't enough.  I'd have to go back for another. I'd visit a friend and enjoy the first cuppa.  But start to wonder if it too rude to ask for another, an hour into our visit. I don't have milk or sugar with it.  That just wrecks the purity of the experience.  I would branch out sometimes and enjoy Lady Grey or French Earl Grey for a treat.  But for everyday purposes my friend was the 'Earl'. But two weeks ago I went cold turkey.  I just decided that it was time to break the habit.  I have entered the world of herbal teas with all its strange flavours.  Peppermint (toothpaste dissolved in hot water).  Camom...
Read more

Going grey at 40

-
Image
I have written about this before , but after broaching the subject on facebook a few weeks ago I've been thinking a lot about the whole colouring your hair deal.  On facebook I asked when having natural coloured hair was going to become trendy like other old fashioned things like quilting and growing your veges?  I am quite tired of how time consuming colouring my hair is and how expensive it is. A very interesting conversation resulted with a huge variety of opinions.  Many of the women said they would be going natural, but of course they aren't gray now (and are my age) so I don't think that really counts.  Until you ACTUALLY start going seriously gray/white you can't see how it impacts on the way you look.  I think it is different to be almost white (like myself) at age 40 and agreeing in principle to going natural when it happens to you in the future (when you will be a lot older than I am now!). Just quietly, I'll believe it when I see it (let me thr...
Read more

Why I won't home school (if I don't have to)

-
Image
Occasionally I get asked what I think about home schooling.  Let me say from the outset that I'm not against it at all.  I was actually homeschooled for Year 3 because I wasn't coping with the local Indian school and I wasn't old enough for boarding school.  I have lots of friends who do it - some out of necessity (eg. missionary friends in remote places with no options) or out of choice (because their child doesn't cope with the mainstream school system).   So I'm fine with the whole concept. I have great admiration for families that choose to provide that education for their kids.  It is hard work and a significant drain on time and emotional energy (usually for the mum).  I also think that it can be a great gift for children who would otherwise get lost in a conventional educational institution. But why wouldn't I do it?  Partly because I did homeschooling myself and found it quite lonely.  I missed the social interaction of school a...
Read more