Archive for holidays

Part Time Holidays

08/01/2012 Joh Business, gratitude, holidays, learn, work

I’m continuing my part-time job during the school holidays. I love working there, some days it doesn’t even feel like work. My days off are more precious because they are rarer.

This week a customer came in who is converting a barn and we had a great conversation about all the challenges involved and found the perfect floor covering for her needs. I’m delivering it to them next week and will get to see the project. I meet lots of interesting people making their homes in their own ways and it’s fun to help them select the perfect floor covering.

I enjoy my drive to work. It’s about 45 minutes through really open country. Lots of people complain about the boringness of that drive, but I experience the spaciousness. The countryside changes colour with the clouds. I love it. There are a couple of spots on the way that I pay particular attention to.  Such big views! I enjoy listening to my music and making playlists for the trip.

I had big plans for the shop over Christmas. I was expecting less traffic and getting lots done. We did a bit but were busier than I expected, which is always a good thing, so there are still a few more jobs on my list. I have found a place for all our new tile samples. I enjoy maintaining the displays and getting to know each pattern, texture and size, imagining where it would best serve. Filing it away in my mind so when the right person comes I will know where to find it.

We are getting the computer program and systems into better shape. I need to learn more about MYOB. It is a different package to the one I used for ‘The Butchers Dog’ so there are things I am tweaking. The book-keeping is different. I did the book-keeping for ’Unique Furnishings’ and ‘Total Vision’ manually and I had systems in place to keep informed of the business stats. I am still working towards finding the way to get this businesses stats.

I love the freedom and responsibility my boss gives me to have a hand in all aspects of the business. It feels as though it is my own, yet I am working with a team. There is another sales person as well. We often all have different opinions and this makes for more interesting discussions.

I am immersed in home improvement. I am learning. That is what I love most about my part-time work.

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My Son is 21!

09/05/2011 Joh family, food, friends, gratitude, holidays, love

I could not be more proud of my son. He organised the most magnificent weekend for his family and friends. It was lovely to see where he works and to meet his friends and co-workers. They are such gorgeous and happy young people. I’ve known he was in a good place because of the growth and happiness I’ve seen when he’s been home to visit, but it was great to have it confirmed. He is so loved. His partner Dean was amazing and attended to all the details with love, he was in and out all weekend organising food, beverages, a gorgeous cake and making sure we were all well looked after. As a mum, I enjoyed hearing his friends tell me about how much they love him and share their stories and adventures with me. One of his friends made him this amazing book with photos and a poem, it was like a hardcover picture book. I was thrilled to see it. What a thoughtful and creative young woman.

He booked us all into opulent accomodation, catering for everyone’s needs. My parents stayed at Beach Club resort and were overwhelmed by the beauty of the place and service they received. We all stayed at the party house (The Round House). His dad and step mum had a place of their own because they have a baby. He looked after everyone and considered their needs. I had the best time. It was pretty hard to come home really.

I can’t believe my baby is 21. A lady came into ‘The Butchers Dog’ today with a baby boy and she looked so tired. I remembered when Tom was a baby, he cried a lot. I looked at her baby and thought I would do it all again because he has been such a gift to me. Not just this weekend but all his life. He has always loved and cared for me in ways that no else has even known to. He has shared his friendships and fun with me and it I’ve enjoyed being a part of his people as much as I do my own. I miss him fiercely but knowing he is living in a beautiful place, surrounded by loving people helps.

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New Moon in Taurus – Tuesday 3rd May 2011

02/05/2011 Joh family, holidays

I have been really busy this dark moon. I haven’t had a chance to read many articles about this moon. From what I’ve skimmed it sounds like a good one. I love Taurus. Good taste, food loving,pleasure seeking and earthy people and times. I am so excited about my son turning 21 and going to Hamilton Island. I feel like I have a million things to do before I go. The weekend was filled with tasks to complete and I’m still finishing them up! So excited but no time for much more.

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So, I still don’t have a laptop- grrr Acer!

27/04/2011 Joh family, film, gratitude, holidays, home, learn, love, random

OK, so what I have learnt about being without a laptop and the internet by association, is that I rely on it for a lot of things. It makes life easier and more enjoyable for me. Perhaps I’ve come to take it for granted, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate it:). Yeah I have learnt how to do a lot more on my phone, and I appreciate that too, it makes me even more connected than I was before. Actually I don’t know if I do appreciate that! The thing is you can’t know less and I’m sure it could be useful.

Grrrr… the latest news is that I have to pay for recovery disks because my laptop is out of warranty now! In the space of a couple of weeks of being without a laptop because of a fault that was under warranty and getting it back and then not creating recovery disks, I have found myself without a laptop again for an extended period of time. I use my laptop a lot. I’m bloody annoyed. I can’t even begin to say how annoyed I am and how much I’ve learnt from this experience, so I’ll just get on with saying what I need to say.

I’ve had a great Easter. We had the kids for most of the break, which was lovely. We went fishing twice. The first time we got rained out at the sandbanks. The next day we went out along the creek and had fun skimming stones but no fish were to be lured by our noisy and fun loving party:). Next time! There were some great stone skimming feats and I think that was the more fun activity of the day. I would love to share the photo’s, but alas the laptop I am borrowing doesn’t have the software! 

We got to watch some great films due to the bad weather. Up! What a classic. I will never forget seeing it at the cinema in 3D with Darin and J(who was about 8 at the time). Darin and I kept looking at each other and at Jack. I cried and laughed. It’s a great film. We watched ‘Holes’. I love that I get to share all my old favourites again with Darin’s kids.  The kids went home to their mum’s cause it was her turn this year for the Easter bunny, and they returned the afternoon to have the hunt here. It was lovely to spend time with them and enjoy the chocolately indulgence.

I did manage to work on the clip for Tom’s 21st using my expandable hard drive and Darin’s laptop. I am not a big fan of lengthy speeches(particularly if I have to make them). I made a clip for Asha’s 21st of photos and songs that I felt were meaningful to her. People asked for a copy of it, so I felt that it was effective. I got good feedback:). I find times like that very emotional so I find it easier to just press play on something I prepared earlier, than to speak. I am so excited about Tom’s 21st. I haven’t been to Hamilton Island before so that’s exciting in itself. I hope he will let me publish it to the family once he’s seen it, cause I know many won’t be able to make it to the party and yet would love to enjoy the occasion. I know I have loved seeing photo’s of events I haven’t been able to attend.

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I Dream of Rearranging

31/03/2011 Joh holidays, home

Today one of my past students visited me at work. It’s always lovely to see them. He asked me what I was doing for Easter. The first time someone has asked me what I’m doing for my now drastically reduced holiday period. I realised what I would really like to do and what I usually do at Easter holidays is stay home and rearrange. In fact if I look back on the past that is what I’ve usually done at Easter. If I were to do a timeline on rennovations to my home, painting, etc it would often be at this time of the year. I like this time of year. I really love Autumn light.

It’s when I set myself up for winter and each sunny day is appreciated. It requires a rethink of living space.I want to move our furniture so we are facing the fire, instead of having it to the side. I want more blankets draped around the lounge room. I want a rug on the tiles. I want to prepare for the colder times ahead.I want to prune the summery things from my wardrobe and make sure I have the warm clothes available.

Daylight savings ends Sunday. I’m looking forward to winter. It’s more comfortable working in a kitchen when it’s not hot outside.

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Christmas

26/12/2010 Joh family, food, friends, gratitude, holidays, love

Yesterday was jam packed amazing. So many luscious moments!

It’s so good to have little ones in my life again, especially at Christmas time. Watching them open their gifts, check that santa had drank the milk and the reindeers eaten their carrot, was such a treat for me. My big ones were awesome too. Having Asha around more now is a gift in itself. She has been so good to me these last few weeks, helping out at the shop, reminding me to breath and being there just when I need her. Tom rang yesterday and it was lovely to hear his voice. He worked all day and snuck a call in during a break. I always wish he was here, but I know he is where he is meant to be.

We had the family at our house for lunch and the food, company and gifts were outstanding. It was actually very relaxing and enjoyable. I don’t think I had enough time the last few weeks to panic about it too much. We kept it all pretty simple and had a roast lunch, mum brought the pudding, we had some leftover tarts and tiramisu from the shop, so there was plenty of great food and drinks. I got the BEST gifts ever. Lingerie, essential oils,perfume, books, a signed David Bowie photograph,a reading and cd’s from Tim, pretty much all my dreams come true.

I’m feeling a little damaged from overindulgence today. I have a lovely couple of weeks ahead of much less activity and I feel very relaxed about it. It’s Darin’s birthday tomorrow, so another celebration to go yet! Life is good:-)

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A weeks holiday in a day

19/12/2010 Joh family, food, friends, gratitude, health, holidays, learn

Yesterday I slept for most of the day. I usually do this on the first day of the school holidays. I also read a great chunk of the book I’m reading right now. I’ve been so tired at the end of the day, my progress on ‘Atlas Shrugged’ is slowing. It was cool and I’d been to the shop in the morning and had another practice on the coffee machine, we’d done all the little things we had to do and I spent the afternoon napping, reading and eating. It is enough. I still slept soundly last night so I obviously need a bit of a catch up.

Today I feel totally refreshed and ready to get back into it all. It’s one week until Christmas. We are having lunch at our house this year. I’ve spent the morning writing lists of things to do. I have to post Tom and Dean’s Christmas present to Hamo, post Joan (Darin’s mum has the same name as my mum:-))her present, which I finished making this morning. I have to do a bit more shopping for some gifts I haven’t got yet, I’m guessing we will do most of the cooking for lunch at the shop and bring it home. When I say we, I mean Darin. Mum will help with the Christmas day preparations, she’s doing the pudding and dad’s getting the ham. We get the kids on Friday night until lunchtime Christmas day, so we need to have all that sorted out by then. I’m very excited about having a Christmas morning with little ones again.

I really like being so busy. I feel healthier than I have felt for a long time. Sometimes Darin and I look at each other and say ‘What were we thinking?’, but then we laugh and plow into it. It’s all coming together nicely, thanks to lots of help from other people as well as our own efforts.

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Quiet Day

30/09/2010 Joh Business, holidays

Yesterday was full of negotiations. It was busy and exciting. I was in and out of the house, on the phone and in meetings about what appeared to be hopeful talks about getting a place for Darin and I to start our business in. So far though no real progress has been made. I’ve reached the limit of my generosity in compensating people for struggling businesses that want us to purchase potential they haven’t realised. We’re not even interested in what they are doing. Their facilities are not ideal. More needs to be done. We have no intention in continuing their failed concepts, we are simply wanting a location without having to wrangle with a difficult to get along with council. Grrrr

Maybe it’s karma. I believe I sold a business once based on a lack of retail space. It was back in the 80′s when I had Asha and fell in love with her and wanted to stay home and not be in business anymore. I felt very blessed at that time and perhaps this is the balancing of the scales. We weren’t stupid and greedy though and we did have runs on the board to negotiate with. We sold the business to a former employee in the end who could clearly see what we’d built and continued with our idea. I think she was probably in business for 20 years.

Today by comparison was quiet. I’ve read, listened to audio books, done a bare minimum of housework and had a big sleep. I felt a bit indulgent about that, yet met a fellow teacher in the supermarket that announced he had an afternoon nap today quite proudly. It changed my perspective. I have managed to continue my half hour of exercise, even in the low energy of today. I am quietly determined to continue with it even when I get back to the last term of school. Damn that’s getting closer!

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Holiday Monday Mornings

27/09/2010 Joh friends, health, holidays

This will likely be the last school holiday Monday morning for me in the seeable future. I am enjoying it yet also feeling like I can’t afford to take it too easily with a long to do list stretching out before me. Last week disappeared in a blink. A week of pottering around. It was lovely, yet I feel more urgency to complete tasks this week.

I began exercising again last week. I have really let my fitness go the last 12 months or so. Not only has my clothes size climbed a few notches, I just don’t feel as energetic. I don’t like it. I enjoyed my half hour a day back on the cross trainer last week and I had a massage Friday. I want to continue the things I know work for me, and restore my health to the place I feel good. I have already noticed some increased ease in my body and whilst I still resist starting each little session, I get into it once I’m there and afterwards I feel more energised.

I had a great weekend. We watched the grand final with friends and went on a bit of an adventure Saturday. I enjoyed myself. I love going off the well worn track. Yesterday we watched the rest of Breaking Bad season 2, recovering on the couch as you do after a big day out:-).

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Full Moon in Aries – Thursday 23rd September 2010

22/09/2010 Joh astrology, blogging, family, health, holidays

Tomorrow night is the full moon in Aries. Lynda Hill’s Sabian Symbols post speaks of starting again with knowledge of where you’ve been. These holidays I’ve been investigating lots of possibilities for our new venture for next year. It seems each time I get my heart set on a place I think would be perfect, the flaws appear. The good thing is that as I let it go, a better option comes up. I’m starting to become more sensible about the process. I am excited, but in a grounded and trusting way. Darin is good for me in that he is calm about things when I am inclined to be carried away.

She also speaks of finding your voice. I’ve been reading over my past posts and I am still unhappy with my voice on this blog. I so often compose passionate posts about things I really care about, yet lack the courage to publish them. I still consider all the people I know who tell me they read my blog and get inhibited by revealing parts of myself unknown to them. I realise that is just sensible to some degree, but I want to stretch myself a little more in future. I will have been blogging for 5 years in a week. That seems an awful long time to continue without being serious:-). My life has changed massively in that time. It’s interesting for me to read anyway!

Tom went back to Hamilton Island on Monday. I am getting better at saying goodbye and only a few tears squeezed out this time on the trip home. Asha came down yesterday with a sore back and my wonderful chiropractor squeezed her in, even though she hasn’t been there for 4 years. She even fitted me in as well. I trust my chiropractor more than I would a doctor to be honest. I think it is in part because she considers diet and exercise in the equation. She has a great bedside manner. Anyway Asha feels much better today thank goodness.

My tulips are blooming. They have multiplied. Still waiting for a sunny day though.

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