Fridge Full
Darin has the weekend off and the kids are here. It’s been a while since he’s been home for the weekend. He has cooked here this afternoon and my fridge is now bulging with yummy food and my stomach is full of dinner that was amazing.
My parents took off today on their winter escape. It’s great to seeing them enjoy this lifestyle. I slept in this morning and thought I had missed them, but luckily bumped into them in the supermarket.
I feel full of gratitude for my life today. This afternoon was a beautiful sunny autumn one and all the huge trees around were showing their colours. The air and light in autumn inspires contentment in me. The kids were playing happily and I got a wonderful text message from Tom. These are the days:-)
Popularity: 1% [?]
Blissful Weekend
Just when I thought winter had crept in, this weekend was a sunny, welcome one. It kick-started for me on Friday when Asha surprised me at school bringing a box of delicious muffins for me for lunch. I got to show her my new office and we caught up. She popped around after school and I am really pleased she is going to be around for a couple of weeks while she does her placement here.
Darin got home early so we had a great Friday night together. The kids came Saturday morning and I have enjoyed their company for the weekend. I love hearing them talk to their nanny in Sydney on Skype. Technology is so fantastic for keeping people in touch. We went to the park and enjoyed the weather. We fed the ducks and they had another fish, this time no carps lost their lives. It brightens my time having these three little people around with their unique personalities.
I talked to Tom tonight. He sounds well. I saw some photos on facebook taken by one of his friends who went to visit. I miss him. This is probably the longest time I have gone without seeing him. He won’t be home till after his birthday now.
This week will be busy. We have a Marist basketball carnival at school so there will be plenty on. I feel very happy at work now. I got a laptop from school on Thursday. Now I can leave mine at home and not have to lug one around as much. I think the improvement in technology at school has also added to my enjoyment. I have been waiting for this for so long. On Friday one of my students created an excellent documentary for his Local History project. It excites me to think what they will be able to do now they have the tools. I think there is greater independence and engagement in their learning.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Unhappy at Work?
I just read an interesting post on our ability to be happy at work: Shrink Rap: Psychologists Search for the Secret of Happiness at Work. When I say it was interesting it is because I have heard this before in an anecdotal way when I began teaching. A senior member of staff said to me that no one leaves our place of employment unless they are unhappy with their personal life.
Popularity: 6% [?]
Stuck in the Slow Lane
Every time we go to the airport we are too early and have time to kill. This time we left a little later and got caught up in traffic. It was stressful! I take my hat off to people who travel in the city. I nearly stacked into the back of a car that seemed to suddenly stop today, though in truth I was engrossed in conversation and wasn’t paying full attention. We made it in time.
I dropped him off in the departures lane this time rather than parking and going in with him. I hate that walk back from the gate with the tears, it’s awkward, especially for him! I was much better dropping him off in the car and driving on. There were still a couple of tears but it was well and truly over by the time I got to Bolte Bridge and I managed to wait till he was out of the car.
It was a great drive home. I love driving alone. It’s a great space for reflection. I felt really grateful today for so many things in my life.
Tonight’s online webinar thingy for my uni course was good and it put me at ease in a lot of ways. I am excited now about the skills I will have to develop and pleased the ‘lecturer’ although he prefers ‘catalyst’ as a term for what he does, shares my general philosophy about learning. I felt quite self conscious about speaking with the microphone and chose to turn it off rather than hear my voice in that space.
Popularity: 6% [?]
Braces
Tom is home frequently to get his braces attended to. I didn’t want him to get braces, but now I am glad because they mean I see my son more than I would have. He’s been promoted since the last trip to a ‘workplace trainer’, which means he’ll be doing some extra study at his employers expence as well as the improvement in pay for him. He’s also had a cocktail named after him, but that’s a longer and more complicated story. I am most pleased to see him looking well and happy.
When his friends all come around and they sit and share their stories, I must admit I am glad he has work he loves and is living in a place where he is happy. I miss him, but it would be harder to have him here unhappy. We are about to go to dinner together. Tomorrow I am taking him to the airport, that’s the part that is difficult…. although I’m getting quite familiar with it now.
I have my first online uni ‘lecture’ tomorrow night. I am still thinking about it but with Tom home, it’s a distant voice in the background.
Popularity: 6% [?]
Drenched
I got soaked walking from my office to my car after school today. I was saturated to the bone and the coolness of that has stayed with me all night. I have been super active and handled lots of tasks that I’ve been too hot and bothered to attend to all week. I was on bus duty tonight and watched the dark clouds get closer and closer until as the last bus pulled in the rain dropped on the few remaining in the yard.
I’ve been back at school over a week. I like it. The senior campus is different and so far in a good way. I feel very indulged to have an air conditioned office. The students have been most pleasant. I am glad I took this risk no matter how threatening it seemed at times.
On a personal level this week has been crazy. Unmentionable happenings have settled, and all I can say is I am glad they are behind me. Issues that have been lingering since April last year have been resolved this week, but not without a share of worry. I am just glad everything has turned out as I hoped and I feel a level of freedom from stress that I haven’t felt for a while.
My daughter has found and began to settle into a new place, which is another source of relief for me. I hope to visit her on Sunday. We have Darin’s kids this weekend, yet I am sure they won’t miss me for a few hours on Sunday! I really can’t wait to see her new place and make sure she doesn’t need anything.
I’ve changed ISPs this week so anyone emailing to my optusnet address … Í won’t get it! You can use the contact form on this blog if you want to find me:-)
Popularity: 11% [?]
I Love Sydney
We arrived in Sydney late Thursday night and I met Darin’s parents for the first time. They were warm and welcoming. I felt immediately at home. During my stay I met friends and family and enjoyed their humour and generous hospitality. I was nervous contemplating meeting so many new people, yet I needn’t have been.
I spent one day racing around Sydney with Darin. Sydney is beautiful. We caught the ferry from just near the Rocks to Manly. I loved cruising through the harbour seeing the properties lined along the shore, as well as the iconic bridge and Opera House. I couldn’t imagine ever getting to work or school if I caught a ferry everyday. I think I would head straight to the beach.
It’s a whole new experience being here with someone who knows their way around. I’ve been to Sydney twice before. Once for a Feng Shui course in Glebe on a rainy long weekend and another time for a Karate competition with my kids. I saw very little on both trips and had no idea how great Sydney was to be honest.
We went all over Sydney and I got to eat lots of delicious things. I think the dim sims are the thing I’d like to see most here in Victoria. They are delicious, full of veges and opposed to our dim sims, taste fresh.
Darin has a similar pace as I do, he is on the move and we packed heaps into our days. Traveling there by car was also a pleasant surprise. We both made CD’s for the trip and in amongst lively discussions enjoyed listening to each other’s music. It was the most comfortable long drive I’ve had with someone to be honest. I’ve left out plenty, but I’m unpacking and relaxing into being home right now, so maybe later:-)
Popularity: 9% [?]
Progress and Exes
I have been really productive today. I have cleaned the house and attended to a few overlooked personal matters that I have been putting off. I have downloaded all my photo’s from my camera and my mum’s and put some on facebook for the family to see. I also put my little clip from Asha’s 21st on for the family only… she is still a bit wary, but so many wanted a copy, it seemed the easiest way. I found my iPod! It had been used at the party for the music and whilst I remembered grabbing it, I couldn’t find it anywhere. It was in dad’s car!
I have resumed my exercise today and didn’t do as poorly as I expected. I think the cough I had for most of last term has finally subsided! I chatted with my friends today. It was great to talk to them and bring them up to speed with my fast changing life and hear about theirs also.
I took a risk today. I made Darin and his mum a clip of the photos and small snatches of video I’d taken of his children throughout the year. I was pretty happy that Darin enjoyed it so much. I haven’t got it to his mum yet because she lives in Sydney and I only finished it Boxing Day. Darin’s ex, the mother of his children sent a beautiful gift of home baked goodies to me on Christmas Day. She also put one in for my daughter. I was so touched by this gesture. I sent her a copy of the clip when he went to visit today. She cried when she watched it and said it was the best gift she’d received all year. It made me feel good.
I have to admit there have been challenging times for me this year. I’ve been the ex and I haven’t always treated my exes new partner with the respect she deserves. Mostly to be honest, I’ve just ignored her, after making a few attempts that weren’t well received. I have felt wary of Darin’s ex. I have projected my own attitude on to her. She has really shown the way though and has always been polite and helpful to me. She is the mother of these precious children and as the primary care giver, it is also her influence that makes them such great kids to be around. I realise these situations will always be fraught with emotional responses, but I hope this is the start of a relationship that will ultimately benefit all involved.
Popularity: 11% [?]
The Jolly Blur that has been this week
It’s hard to believe it’s less than a week since Asha’s 21st. What a packed week I’ve had! It’s all been lovely and I have seen most of the people I love this week. I miss Kate and Tom today, but had Tom here this time last week for the weekend, which almost makes up for it. I’ve had two phone conversations with Kate this week so that’s pretty good too for someone who lives in the UK. My brother Brendan is home from Darwin and Jane and Sam were here last weekend from WA, so these things have been the real gifts for me this week. Watching my daughter shine at her 21st and entertain all her family and friends with the beauty and grace she carries with her was also a priceless treat. I’ve had Darin by my side cooking, entertaining, cleaning up, holding me up when I’ve had a panic and just generally being rock solid there for me is worth more to me than I can say. I feel absolutely surrounded by goodness.
I received great stuff too, as you do at this time. I especially appreciated the camera from my parents. Darin and I bought a camera recently that has disappeared. I’ve really missed having a camera. I didn’t realise how much I would. I got it in time to capture some of the delight of Darin’s beautiful kids opening their presents today and the smiles and glee at playing with all their new toys. I’m not going to list all the other lovely things.
I’m off to bed, full of gratitude for all I have in my life. I hope all readers have had a safe and lovely festive season.
Popularity: 12% [?]
School finished for 2009
Today we had our breakup for school. We had breakfast together, a liturgy and then a lunch. At last! This school year is over. My office is empty at the junior campus. I think I’ve got everything completed there.
So this first day of the six weeks ahead is mine at last. When I got home Darin had picked up the girls from childcare to have a swim in the pool. I’m not sure if I mentioned it before but we bought the kids a blow up pool. It’s awesome. I hitched up my white dress and had a wade in there myself. Then I had lots of cold cuddles before he took them back and went to work. The house is quiet and empty and I’ve enjoyed a nap and am now beginning to clean.
It’s a new moon tomorrow night and I want to give my home a major cleanout before then. I am excited about the next few days. My brother returns from Darwin tomorrow. Tom returns from Hamilton Island on Friday. We have Asha’s 21st on Saturday night. This day has finally come 
.
Popularity: 11% [?]
Falling Brick-
- Stumbles
- Seths Blog: Little lies and small promises
- 10 Tips Before Seeking Intuitive Counsel | Evolve - The Human Experience
- the only thing you need to know about soul mate love... & danae sinclair
- Why did the chicken cross the road? | Dancing with Frogs
- Billionaires vow to give away half their fortune
- Life balance still not working
- Food memories | Jill Dupleix, Table Talk Blog
- The Green Bough: Coming Home To Myself
- Saturn in Libra: Committed : Moonkissd by Jessica
- Suspended | poohduck
- My Favourites on Watch and Learn Magnify Channel
Subscribe
Recent Comments
- Michael J Flannery: Queenslander never give the seasons a second thought thereis no human meddling with the clocks...
- Jessica Shepherd: Hi Joh, Thanks for the sweet mention of my site, Moonkissd.com. It warms my heart to know folks...
- Kristy yr 9: i read the book and loved it im now doing a reveiw on it for a school assignment but i have lost my copy...
- PlanningQueen: I have heard goog things about Breaking Bad and it is on my list to check it out.
- Snoskred: I am a huge fan of Breaking Bad awesome show!
