On the twelfth day of Christmas

I was surprised to read Jo’s post as I had been thinking the same sort of thing. No epiphany, just an awareness that I need to address my life in a better way. This year I have been working in senior management, which has drained me in number of ways. The last time I managed in a senior position, nine years ago, I swore I wouldn’t do it again. I was too young and inexperienced in many ways, and found the management role difficult in juggling the political agendas and constantly battling the ‘bush fires’ that prevent a smooth working environment. I also saw sides of people that I didn’t like, including myself.

This time I am more mature, with a lot of experience behind me, but the challenges are still there though they are different in nature. I am still juggling political agendas and fighting ‘bush fires’ – in some cases more successfully than before. As part of the job I have also needed to give up purchased leave, which has taken its toll – on me but mostly on my time with family.

So during the break I need to address the life factors Jo mentioned.

The health thing – definitely this needs attention so, due to dodgy knees, I plan to start water aerobics so that I am at least doing something. I also need to look carefully at what I’m eating as when I rush, I eat crap. When I am unhappy, I eat crap. I need to not do that.

The cooking thing – is not my thing. Luckily hubby does most of the cooking, and is very good at it. He is also very good at listening, so if I need to eat healthier he will ensure he cooks appropriately.

The decluttering thing – this will be a major focus of the next couple of weeks. As I haven’t had the leave across the year that I usually enjoy, the house is a nightmare. Closets are over loaded, the garden is atrocious, windows needed to be cleaned. This will be a physical workout in itself. I will say I enjoy it, or enjoy the result so am looking forward to getting stuck in.

The time for me thing – this is the whole reason I have taken five weeks off, using some Long Service Leave to do so. I am not so much after an epiphany, though wouldn’t knock one back. I need the time to both regain some inner balance and to re-focus. It’s probably a mid life crisis thing, though I am unlikely to live to 90! I haven’t enjoyed the work I have been doing, so it’s time to rethink. I need to think about where I would like to be, what work I would like to do, and – the reality question – how much I need to earn. Though its unlikely I will get full clarity by the end of January.

So there is the 12th day – nothing overly riveting, but I did get a wonderful break with great company. Not a bad start.

On the eleventh day of Christmas

Homeward bound today, and we left early. We needed to be out by 10am, but as hubby and I woke early we were ready to leave just after 9.

Kids1 & 2 were not happy – way too early for their teen bods. Any yet they still stay up to midnight, fighting the concept of an early night.

Back at home it’s like we have never been away. A kindly neighbour collected our mail – only 2 letters, but also put our bins out for us. What a champion. But the house still shows signs of a rapid departure on Boxing Day, with Christmas stuff still strewn across the house. At least I’d left the kitchen clean, though the kids’ bedrooms are bomb sites. I have no energy today to deal with this, especially as it’s 40 degrees outside and the heat kills any inclination.

I’ve played a lot on the iPad, cos I can now. Caught up with some emails, played Words with friends, dithered around. I’ve also looked at job sites, but there’s not much out there – to be expected in January.

Though I am not embracing it today, I plan to give the house a thorough emptying of the crap that accumulates across the year. Will probably start with our bedroom and work my way through the house. Not really happy holiday stuff, but I do always feel better once it’s all done.

Anyways, this post is late. Again. Started it last night but got distracted with the Bones episodes I was catching up on. Needed a fix after a week and a half. Now to clean.

On the tenth day of Christmas

Most of our last full day at Ocean Grove was spent at the beach – with the masses.

Hubby went early to set up our sunshade, which marks our spot. We then headed down about 2 hours later. While there is plenty of sand, we prefer the grass area – far less sand in everything, as well as far less people stomping through your setup.

The tide was out when we first arrived, but started coming in not much later, followed by lots of people having to grab their stuff to move further up the beach before it got caught up in the waves. The water won in any cases.

As a family we had have different ‘beach’ styles. Hubby like to go in no further than above his knees. With the waves this gets him wet enough to cool down. Kid2 like to head right out and body surf the waves in. She can happily stay out there for hours. Kid1 loves to head further out, where the waves are only beginning to swell and she is only a dot to the naked eye. As I am still a worrywart they must promise me to stay between the flags if they wish to do this. My preference is to walk into the beach till the water is about chest height, and rise with the waves. I don’t like the full dunking, and don’t purposefully dive under, but find they I am usually fully drenched where I am. About 20 minutes is my staying time. I’ll then head back in to dry in the sun, heat back up till I need to repeat the process.

All up we spent about 6′hours there and walked home exhausted. Hubby drove up later to collect the sunshade when he could get a park close to the beach.

It has been a blissful holiday, and our first beach holiday in years. All have agreed they want to do it again next Christmas, so on Monday I’ll contact the agency through which we booked the house to see if we can get it again. Never thought we’d be beach people, but there you go.

On the ninth day of Christmas

Catching up again….. Wednesday was a beach day & bloody marvellous. It was followed by the extended family coming to dinner again.

We were meant to go to their place but they pleaded a grotty BBQ, so they all headed to our place – an additional 6 this time. After a lovely two settings for dinner (BBQ not big enough to fit all the meat on it) we settle to recreational pursuits.

The boys played the PS3, having found a game where 3 can play at once. It is obviously an ageless game as the players in rotation included a primary school kid, a Year 11 kid, a financial advisor in his 20s and a middle aged man.

The women played Rummikub, where I did finally win one game. I had told all they couldn’t leave until I won – it could have been a long night I still love playing games – board games, card games… But the video games ( is that still the appropriate term???) leave me totally uninterested. Part of it is my complete inability to work the controllers – who the heck needs seventeen buttons per hand? But the lads enjoy, and it keeps them sort of quiet.

It is lovely to have family that are very good company!

On the eighth day of Christmas

Well I know I have holiday brain now as I had to think about how to spell ‘eighth’. Seriously. Obviously the salt water has entered my brain and is smoothing all the fissures over.

After another day at the beach (lovely) we are having a quiet night, and I am trying to watch Bridget Jones. However the TV is also suffering from crappy reception so I hear every third line only. Not really a problem as I could probably quote it from heart. It is very rude though what is happening to Colin Firth.

He is of course the reason I (& every same woman in the world) is watching. Alas, no Darcy tonight. It’s enough to drive a woman to chocolate!

On the seventh day of Christmas

Well though I wrote the previous post this morning I’ve only just been able to send it through. So now this one’s late too, though only by a couple of hours.

Today was well & truly a beach day, and it was wonderful. We found a lovely piece of lawn (yes lawn not sand), the sky was an incredible blue and the sea was cold – of course it was cold, it is a Victorian beach!

Tonight was spent with extended family. Dinner at our place, cards & drinks at theirs, followed by a walk to the beach to watch the fireworks. With only a few hundred people

So, here’s to the arrival of 2013. I hope it’s a great year for all.

On the sixth day of Christmas

This post is a bit late as the glasses of wine caught up with me last night. Typing one fingered on my phone was not a priority.

Tis early-ish still and all others in the house are still sleeping, though the builders next door are very busy. I’ve been surprised as these guys have worked since we got here – even yesterday (Sunday). You wouldn’t get that in Melbourne – maybe it’s their own place?

Anyways, today is usually the day for rash New Year’s resolutions. I don’t make any as a rule, as I know I won’t keep them. No willpower. But today I will promise to not think of stuff I can delay till the New Year! I think I can do that cos it’s only 15 hours away.

I thinks thoughts today will focus on beach. Have a good day!