And ... I'm back (deep breath)

-
Part of the reason I changed jobs was so that I could work in a school and get school holidays.  What a great blessing they are, because having two weeks in a row away with our family was lovely.  I actually feel rested and not stressed for the first time in ages.  Spent time with our friends in Melbourne (had a bit of a reality TV tragic fan day seeing a contestant from Masterchef filming in a patisserie and the winners of the show 'The Block' leaving their newly renovated house- haven't laughed so hard in ages).

We then drove back up to the south coast of NSW and had a lovely week with friends near the beach.  Sunny days, long walks on the beach, bike rides, lots of reading.  Watching the Brady Bunch together (how come they have six children and a full-time housekeeper?  I have one less child ... mmm.  Oh, and that's right, I don't want a cleaner).  Enjoying Masterchef, Le Tour.  

It was the first holiday when we didn't have one of our children with us.  Our 14 year old spent the second week away at a camp that he loves going on.  Felt a bit sad that we've got to this stage, but we decided we'd compromise for everyone's happiness.  It's only going to get harder and more complicated in the years ahead.

And so what's ahead?  Piles of washing, shopping, cooking, getting number 2 child ready to go to a NSW state music camp this afternoon, another child to a sleepover tonight.  Three music exams to 'encourage' practice for, band competitions over the next two weekends, one Saturday in a few weeks with four birthday parties to attend (not for me, the children - did you think for a moment that I'm out having a life? - hee, hee!), husband going away, me back to work, reading, homework, regional speech competition. Actually, I can't really remember all the details - I know there's more. Usual madness.

Time to gear up, but glad for the rest.

Comments

Karen said…
Welcome back, love your beach shack photo backgrounds!
July 14, 2012 at 1:51 PM
Richard said…
Glad you had a great time Jenny,
you certainly deserve it :) You are a great mum!
July 14, 2012 at 3:03 PM
Graham and Heather said…
Melbourne really does look cold!
July 14, 2012 at 4:05 PM
Meredith said…
What a lovely post. Sounds like a lovely holiday. Go well this coming term.
July 14, 2012 at 7:13 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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 throw d
Read more

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).  Camomile (wee
Read more

Christmas memory creating

-
Image
This is OK I'm sure I've written about this before but every year I struggle with the pressure to be an uber mum and have some kind of Christmas craft decorating the house.  Instead I end up with a leaning Christmas tree that the kids have decorated themselves (certainly not going to make the cut for a Myer catalogue), with lights that drove the husband to distraction to untangle. There's a trend (especially in Christian circles) to create family traditions.  And I'm a total believer.  Good, healthy childhood memories and traditions have been shown to be very significant in developing high levels of security and resilience. But over time the memories/tradition trend seems to have developed into some kind of Pinterest Christmas competition.  No longer is the knitted nativity scene that Aunty Pip bought for us from the Mother's Union stall in 2003 enough.  It needs to be done by me.  And this is how my family will unite, bond and be functional. The problem i
Read more