The house got a lot quieter this morning. Emily, Farooq and their cat Harriette left to return to Sydney. Come Friday they will pack their cars up and head to the Nations Capital - Canberra - to begin their new life there.
The house seems a bit empty. Although we still have Danika here, her fiance is away also this week so it is just the four of us - plus three dogs!
Chris' back is still giving him bucket loads of curry. He still cannot sleep in a bed and is very tired all the time. 9 times out of ten, when I look over at him, his head is down to his chest and he is out to it. I am really hoping and praying for a miracle by next Monday, sooner would be even better of course.
This week will be chocka block with last minute appointments and a trip down the coast to see Dad before I leave. Dental, podiatry, hair etc - all have to be seen to before I get on that boat on Monday night. When I think about it all, I get a nervy tummy and the butterflies turn into antelopes galloping about. Everyone assures me that it will all be fine but I am truly at the stage now, that I just want to go and get to Karratha and start our new life there.
I have minimal packing left, mostly clothes and the last few things that kick around for a final grab. The lists are still with me, taunting me when I walk past the bench - in a "Don't Forget Me!" kinda way. At least the packing station aka The Dining Table is in it's unextended state, which is a plus I think. The last thing to be disconnected and packed will be the stereo. I cannot live without my music.
I have gone over the box allocation so will need to talk to the removalist about that when he arrives. Hope he is amiable to a few more. Not much but at least two extra boxes. I have a small and tidy pile sitting down in the garage waiting to be squeezed into the car along with the cases etc. Thank Goodness in a way, that we aren't taking Dizzy. That will make packing the car a much more tolerable task.
Today I am going to move all our stuff out of our bedroom and put it in the spare bedroom so that Danika can continue to unpack her gear and actually have room to put it somewhere. In some ways it is a lot easier having them move in but in another it presents other difficulties that need to be accommodated - working around each others boxes etc. But then we have had the pleasure of being here together at the same time, so that part was fun.
So between the care giving to the patient and the waving goodbye; unpacking; cleaning; washing - and there is a small mountain of that ~ it has been an exhausting day. A wonderful respite comes this afternoon in the form of a hair appointment -bliss - a whole hour or so of nothing! Can't wait.
Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts
Monday, 6 January 2014
Monday, 23 December 2013
The No Title Post :)
Like all of you, we have been busy over the last few days.
Last Friday, we decided to take Farooq and Emily to Hobart for the weekend. Farooq has not visited our fair capital before and it was a great excuse to get away and have a mini break before the real fun begins with inundatedness of everything Christmas.
Unfortunately, Chris has come home very miserable. He has had a back injury imposed on him by some half wit workplace assessor who clearly had no idea whatsoever how to conduct such an examination correctly or even responsibly. The idiot was getting Chris to pick up 20 kgs of weights in a milk crate with his arms stretched out in front of him. Did I mention the guy was an absolute drop kick. If I sound cranky it's because I am furious and trying hard to hide exactly how furious and frustrated I am !!
Poor Chris :( He has been extremely lucky to have maintained a great health rap so far, with no ongoing issues of any kind and now to be in extreme pain through no fault of his own but due to someone else's incompetence! Well!
Plus we have so much to do and so many places to go that involve a few hours in the car, so you can imagine how much that is going to hurt.
Anyway in the wee wee hours of Saturday morning, I had to get the ambulance to the hotel to take Chris to the A&E as he was in so much agony and I could not move him. So, unfortunately, that kinda ruined our little trip to Hobart. Thanks again Idiot Workplace Examiner!
So the kids went out and did stuff while Chris and I went to bed and tried to get a few hours kip. They visited Salamanca Markets, which is of course a Hobart Institution and drove up Mount Wellington. They took some great photos too.
They told us they did have a good time though, but it was not what we had planned and hoped for.
Today we have cause for celebration however - Daughter D and SIL to be S arrive on the boat tonight!! YAY, wave your arms in the air like you just don't care! Can't wait.
Daughter E is busy baking and son J and SIL have mowed the lawns and tidied up the garden a bit. So I think that we are pretty much ready now. If we can just get Chris right.
Tomorrow I will stuff the turkey and get the lamb ready; get all the vegies prepared and make a couple of salads. Of course we need to have pavlova and a trifle. So may well start on those tonight. What isn't done by tomorrow, we will just have to do without. As long as we have food on the table and everyone is seated and together ~ I think that is all that matters.
So I want to wish you all the very, very happiest of Christmas Joy. I hope that you all have a fabulous day and enjoy the company of people that you love and care for. May God Bless you all with the true spirit of the season. xxx <3 <3 <3
Last Friday, we decided to take Farooq and Emily to Hobart for the weekend. Farooq has not visited our fair capital before and it was a great excuse to get away and have a mini break before the real fun begins with inundatedness of everything Christmas.
Unfortunately, Chris has come home very miserable. He has had a back injury imposed on him by some half wit workplace assessor who clearly had no idea whatsoever how to conduct such an examination correctly or even responsibly. The idiot was getting Chris to pick up 20 kgs of weights in a milk crate with his arms stretched out in front of him. Did I mention the guy was an absolute drop kick. If I sound cranky it's because I am furious and trying hard to hide exactly how furious and frustrated I am !!
Poor Chris :( He has been extremely lucky to have maintained a great health rap so far, with no ongoing issues of any kind and now to be in extreme pain through no fault of his own but due to someone else's incompetence! Well!
Plus we have so much to do and so many places to go that involve a few hours in the car, so you can imagine how much that is going to hurt.
Anyway in the wee wee hours of Saturday morning, I had to get the ambulance to the hotel to take Chris to the A&E as he was in so much agony and I could not move him. So, unfortunately, that kinda ruined our little trip to Hobart. Thanks again Idiot Workplace Examiner!
So the kids went out and did stuff while Chris and I went to bed and tried to get a few hours kip. They visited Salamanca Markets, which is of course a Hobart Institution and drove up Mount Wellington. They took some great photos too.
They told us they did have a good time though, but it was not what we had planned and hoped for.
Today we have cause for celebration however - Daughter D and SIL to be S arrive on the boat tonight!! YAY, wave your arms in the air like you just don't care! Can't wait.
Daughter E is busy baking and son J and SIL have mowed the lawns and tidied up the garden a bit. So I think that we are pretty much ready now. If we can just get Chris right.
Tomorrow I will stuff the turkey and get the lamb ready; get all the vegies prepared and make a couple of salads. Of course we need to have pavlova and a trifle. So may well start on those tonight. What isn't done by tomorrow, we will just have to do without. As long as we have food on the table and everyone is seated and together ~ I think that is all that matters.
So I want to wish you all the very, very happiest of Christmas Joy. I hope that you all have a fabulous day and enjoy the company of people that you love and care for. May God Bless you all with the true spirit of the season. xxx <3 <3 <3
Monday, 9 December 2013
Progress Update
The last few days I have been satisfyingly efficient. I have completed heaps of jobs and organised other tasks off The List. Actually there is a new list every day, not so overwhelming that way :)
The car is now confirmed for pick up from Adelaide on January 17th. The removalist company representative is coming in the morning to give me a firm quote and bring me more boxes! I have packed most of the possessions we are taking except for clothes and kitchen ware that we are still using and will use until after Christmas.
I took a car load of donations to the Charity shop this morning, that cleared up a heap of room in the living room. I have already started another little pile, but this won't get as big as the last one, hopefully.
The Playroom is mostly packed apart from one last quilt that I am cutting out ready to sew when we get settled in Karratha. That will be Daughter D's wedding quilt ~ wheee
I have ordered a new chest of drawers from IKEA for our bedroom and some storage units for the WIR; and today I finally got in first for some new lounge chairs on Karratha, Buy, Swap and Sell. That is one tough cookie to crack. I have seen heaps of good lounges etc that are going quite reasonably, but by the time I see the ad, another person has already put a bid in or asked for the option on it. It is a very popular site.
Chris went to check out the chairs, two leather electric recliners. Not that I really wanted electric anything, but we did want comfort. Apparently the couple that were selling the chairs, bought the whole suite but only wanted the sofa. Hence we got the two chairs, brand new, still in the wrapping, quite reasonably. We will look out for a comfy sofa when I get there in January. Must have something for our visitors to sit on!
I heard from the HR Team leader at Nickol Bay Hospital today. She was calling to confirm that she had received all the pre-employment paperwork that I filled out last week. Another reason she called was to check again my start date: January 28th!
The house is looking empty. Most of the pictures are off the walls and all of the little things are gone from sidebaords, book shelves and bench tops. Even the linen is pared down to the bare essentials. Just enough to tide us over the Christmas period with the family at home.
I changed my bank details for my pay and also for the salary packaging - two more ticks. I even had time today to vacuum out the car and the garage/downstairs. The little things count as well :)
So even though this is the most boring post in blogland history, I feel that I have passed a huge milestone over the last few days. I am not as stressed and am sleeping better. I think a little celebration is in order. I might go visit a friend tomorrow, have a lovely cup of tea and chill.
The car is now confirmed for pick up from Adelaide on January 17th. The removalist company representative is coming in the morning to give me a firm quote and bring me more boxes! I have packed most of the possessions we are taking except for clothes and kitchen ware that we are still using and will use until after Christmas.
I took a car load of donations to the Charity shop this morning, that cleared up a heap of room in the living room. I have already started another little pile, but this won't get as big as the last one, hopefully.
The Playroom is mostly packed apart from one last quilt that I am cutting out ready to sew when we get settled in Karratha. That will be Daughter D's wedding quilt ~ wheee
I have ordered a new chest of drawers from IKEA for our bedroom and some storage units for the WIR; and today I finally got in first for some new lounge chairs on Karratha, Buy, Swap and Sell. That is one tough cookie to crack. I have seen heaps of good lounges etc that are going quite reasonably, but by the time I see the ad, another person has already put a bid in or asked for the option on it. It is a very popular site.
Chris went to check out the chairs, two leather electric recliners. Not that I really wanted electric anything, but we did want comfort. Apparently the couple that were selling the chairs, bought the whole suite but only wanted the sofa. Hence we got the two chairs, brand new, still in the wrapping, quite reasonably. We will look out for a comfy sofa when I get there in January. Must have something for our visitors to sit on!
I heard from the HR Team leader at Nickol Bay Hospital today. She was calling to confirm that she had received all the pre-employment paperwork that I filled out last week. Another reason she called was to check again my start date: January 28th!
The house is looking empty. Most of the pictures are off the walls and all of the little things are gone from sidebaords, book shelves and bench tops. Even the linen is pared down to the bare essentials. Just enough to tide us over the Christmas period with the family at home.
I changed my bank details for my pay and also for the salary packaging - two more ticks. I even had time today to vacuum out the car and the garage/downstairs. The little things count as well :)
So even though this is the most boring post in blogland history, I feel that I have passed a huge milestone over the last few days. I am not as stressed and am sleeping better. I think a little celebration is in order. I might go visit a friend tomorrow, have a lovely cup of tea and chill.
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
So Far, So Good
Today has been a really productive day. I have finally got the go ahead from Chris' manager to make our bookings myself. So after a good sleep, I felt inspired to get stuck into the days list early. So early in fact that I went to message my BIL (brother in law) at 6.40 re printing. Good thing, I didn't send it, they are not early risers.
The Spirit of Tassie was the first and easiest to book. We have a cabin reserved due to set sail on January 13th at 2100. Dizzy's bed for the night will cost the grand sum of $22! I certainly hope that he will be comfortable and not fret too much.
I am off to buy his pet carrier tomorrow and am going to put it in the sitting room where his little bed usually is. That way I figure he will get used to the sight of it, if nothing else. I am getting some spare blankies ready for the trip but giving them to him for a few hours, letting him play and sleep on them and then putting them away. This is so I have a few spares, in case I need to throw a couple away.
Dizzy went to the Vet this afternoon and he was well behaved, so I am telling myself that that bodes well for the boat and plane expeditions coming up.
I accidentally booked him onto the wrong flights when I did the animal freight booking. When booking with Qantas pet freight, you have to get clearance from the airline to ensure that they have room on the flight you want before they can accept the booking. So before I booked our seats, I had to make sure that they could fit Dizzy underneath. It was a nervous wait to hear back via email. When I received the confirmation to go ahead, that was when I realised I had made the reservation on the wrong QF!
After a 30 minute wait on hold, a lovely lady, called Tina, sorted it all out for me. Good to know for an ex Call Centre teacher like me that there are still excellent customer service representatives out there in telephone world. Thanks Tina from Qantas Pet Freight.
Now Dizzy is sorted, bookings are made, the removalist is on standby for the appointed date and I am starting to feel much more relaxed.
The plan in all it's glory is now starting to come together nicely. We will take the ferry over to Melbourne; drive just north of Geelong to spend the night with an old friend whom I have known since kindergarten; travel on to Victor Harbour to stay with dear friends, who have settled there recently. After two days break we will leave the car in Adelaide and catch flights to Karratha. This will save us at least 7 days driving. Better for us; better for Dizzy.
Now all I have to do, is get this house in some kind of order, pack away each and everything that we may need for our lives in Karratha and arrange to put the rest into storage.
The Spirit of Tassie was the first and easiest to book. We have a cabin reserved due to set sail on January 13th at 2100. Dizzy's bed for the night will cost the grand sum of $22! I certainly hope that he will be comfortable and not fret too much.
I am off to buy his pet carrier tomorrow and am going to put it in the sitting room where his little bed usually is. That way I figure he will get used to the sight of it, if nothing else. I am getting some spare blankies ready for the trip but giving them to him for a few hours, letting him play and sleep on them and then putting them away. This is so I have a few spares, in case I need to throw a couple away.
See he loves his blankies
Dizzy went to the Vet this afternoon and he was well behaved, so I am telling myself that that bodes well for the boat and plane expeditions coming up.
I accidentally booked him onto the wrong flights when I did the animal freight booking. When booking with Qantas pet freight, you have to get clearance from the airline to ensure that they have room on the flight you want before they can accept the booking. So before I booked our seats, I had to make sure that they could fit Dizzy underneath. It was a nervous wait to hear back via email. When I received the confirmation to go ahead, that was when I realised I had made the reservation on the wrong QF!
After a 30 minute wait on hold, a lovely lady, called Tina, sorted it all out for me. Good to know for an ex Call Centre teacher like me that there are still excellent customer service representatives out there in telephone world. Thanks Tina from Qantas Pet Freight.
Now Dizzy is sorted, bookings are made, the removalist is on standby for the appointed date and I am starting to feel much more relaxed.
The plan in all it's glory is now starting to come together nicely. We will take the ferry over to Melbourne; drive just north of Geelong to spend the night with an old friend whom I have known since kindergarten; travel on to Victor Harbour to stay with dear friends, who have settled there recently. After two days break we will leave the car in Adelaide and catch flights to Karratha. This will save us at least 7 days driving. Better for us; better for Dizzy.
Now all I have to do, is get this house in some kind of order, pack away each and everything that we may need for our lives in Karratha and arrange to put the rest into storage.
Saturday, 30 November 2013
Cutting off the Knots
You know I was reading a book the other day when I was struck by a phrase that just sang to me off the page. I would like to share that with you as sometimes we need a nudge to do something that we have wanted to do for quite some time.
Speaking of time, and we are now, as a small digressive move :) , it is only three weeks till the house will be full to the brim again. Chris will be home in three weeks; Emily and Farooq will be home two days before him; then Danika and Shaun arrive closer to C. Day! There will not be a more excited household in Launceston than right here on this street at No. 20!
The fly in the ointment though is the huge amount of work that I need to complete before then. Those blasted lists are back with a vengeance. There is always a fly, isn't there.
I had Dad and two sisters here when I got back from Karratha on Thursday, which was lovely. I was talking to Dad about the move and everything and I said to him that even though I am going to be exhausted, tired and worn out by the time Christmas rocks around, I am happy. I am happy that I can do all these jobs that I need to do. I am happy that I have been able to finish "work" sooner than I thought, to enable me the luxury of only having 1 full time job to do instead of two. I am happy that all this planning is going to lead to us having a great new adventure.
Speaking of time, and we are now, as a small digressive move :) , it is only three weeks till the house will be full to the brim again. Chris will be home in three weeks; Emily and Farooq will be home two days before him; then Danika and Shaun arrive closer to C. Day! There will not be a more excited household in Launceston than right here on this street at No. 20!
Some of the beautiful people heading my way soon
The fly in the ointment though is the huge amount of work that I need to complete before then. Those blasted lists are back with a vengeance. There is always a fly, isn't there.
I had Dad and two sisters here when I got back from Karratha on Thursday, which was lovely. I was talking to Dad about the move and everything and I said to him that even though I am going to be exhausted, tired and worn out by the time Christmas rocks around, I am happy. I am happy that I can do all these jobs that I need to do. I am happy that I have been able to finish "work" sooner than I thought, to enable me the luxury of only having 1 full time job to do instead of two. I am happy that all this planning is going to lead to us having a great new adventure.
This is a good place to insert the Happy Face
Anyway back to that book; There have often been times in my life when I really needed to let something go. For my own health; my own sanity; for the end to relentless ruminations in my head at night when I should be sleeping.
I'm not good at letting things go. Chris will back me up here as he has been on the rough end of the pineapple at times with this particular fault of mine. Pig headed determination can be a good thing at times but ....anyway you get the picture.
People let you down, you can be certain of that. The choice that we have about that is to let it go and get over it, or doctor it along like a festering pimple. The more you poke at it, the redder and more irritated it becomes; A sore tooth that you just cannot leave alone.
When people let me down, I tend to think that it is my fault - that I must have done something to cause that. Instead of just thinking, "well that's human nature for you - people can be shits". A hurt person hurts; a happy person is too busy being happy to want to out and out hurt someone else.
I would like to think that as I get older I get wiser. At times I get that down pat. Other times not so much. But I am learning. I am learning to let it go, to not keep poking that sore tooth with my tongue until both are so sore that I cant think or talk of anything else.
The thing that I would like to share is this - Sometimes you just need to cut the knot off instead of trying to unravel the mess.
Sounds really simple doesn't it? I'm going to leave that with you cos I need to think a bit more about it too.
Hope that everyone is having a lovely sunny Saturday. Thank you to the lovely people who are leaving positive encouraging comments, I love those. Remember you can leave a comment, you may need to set yourself up a Google profile but that's easy :)
Next post I will put up some photos of the new house in Karratha.
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
Learning to walk on the slow side...
is not easy for me ~ not that I walk terribly fast. Ask any of my kids who all have legs double the length of mine, I can hardly keep up with them. But figuratively speaking, slowness in any form is not my forte.
Generally I have never taken things slowly ~ despite what my general appearance may lead you to believe :) I like to do many things at once and if I am doing anything, I try to get it finished as quickly as I can so I can get onto the next thing. I hate to waste time; I don't even really enjoy the hairdressers cos I think of all the things that I could be doing instead of sitting in the chair. When she tells me that she is going to put the heater on my hair so the colour takes quicker, I love it!
Impatience is my worst trait, which goes hand in glove with this other "bad" trait of mine.
Point of example, my love of lists. So as soon as I cross one thing off, I can get straight onto that next thing. My tea often gets cold as I set it down to just do a little something and then after 20 minutes, 40 minutes, I will come back to it and of course it has gone cold. Even as I write this post, I am doing a bit of the washing up, blanching some broad beans Jonathan and I picked out of the garden and trying to enjoy a cup of tea, which of course has gone cold. It's crazy ~ I'm crazy
It's an annoying trait for some people who are in my vicinity too. I know a couple of my immediate family shake their head in dismay as I tear around the place doing all sorts of little jobs, when I could be sitting with a drink and enjoy a quiet minute talking to them, instead of shouting out conversations allover the house! It is not a good trait.....all of the time
Years ago I had to train someone to take over my job of Night Classified Clerk at a newspaper. After a couple of nights, she said, "I just don't know how I am going to get all this done. You do everything fast p- you talk fast, you type fast ( but alas not well!! ), you move fast and you think fast. I just don't think I am going to be able to keep your pace up." Poor dear thing.
So see I have been like this for years. Sadly I do believe that losing my dear sister, who was still quite young, made me a bit worse. I don't want to miss a thing and that sense of urgency is getting stronger as I get older. Steven Tyler sings my theme song!
It has its advantages - I get loads and loads of stuff done. Others may say it could be put off, done by someone else, not done at all or delayed until I have a proper window of time. I don't have a lot of unfinished sewing projects on the go and I finish my work quickly too. I can get a meal together quickly, run errands quickly and multi task like a woman possessed.
It has of course distinct disadvantages too. A few weeks ago I drove two hours to visit my Dad. Dad lives alone in his own unit and is completely self sufficient. When I go there I like to do things to help him, wash the floors, clean the loo, change his bed. This particular time I visited him on my own as Chris had already left for WA. I made us some scones for lunch and then we just sat at the table and chatted.....while I knitted (I cant just sit there, this includes while i am watching TV, listening to music etc. The only time that I do sit and do nothing is at the movies and when in another persons house)
Anyway I asked Dad if there was anything that he would like me to do for him while I was there. "No, I just want you to sit there and talk to me." But surely there was something that I could do to help. He said, "I don't need any help. I just want you to sit there and talk to me. You drive all this way and then say, 'I went to visit Dad' but you go off and do things and only talk to me for 10 minutes before you have to leave again."
WOW! If ever I needed a wake up nudge to make see the big lights coming at me, that was it! I told him I feel bad if I don't do something for him. Really it is all about me learning to do nothing, savouring the moment, basking in the joy of calmness, peaceful togetherness. Don't just sit there, do something is my mantra. I need to learn to do nothing! Oh I bet my daughter is nodding her head so hard that she has a headache right now!
The other big disadvantage is that I sometimes expect those around me to run at my pace, do things quickly and instantly like i do, never put things off and do everything NOW! I'm sure that can be very annoying. Danika loves to say to me, "It's a marathon not a sprint, Mum!"
It is difficult for me to slow down. I am mindful - mindful that I need to cram every little thing, experience, travel, song, movie, book, quilt, knitting pattern, gift, everything into my life. I want to do everything and not waste a second. I find it hard to relax, impossible to just sit. Poor Chris on holidays with me. No wonder I always come back much more tired than when I left!
When I was a kid though, I remember lying on my back staring at the clouds for ages, trying to make out what the clouds represented. Where did that ease of doing nothing go? I would like it back. I would actually love to be able to just enjoy the art of nothingness.
I can hear you all screaming at my in my head - well practice doing nothing! Meditate! take up yoga! Make friends with a nice anaesthetist...oh hang on, that's me. One of my good friends is going to give me a book on mindfulness - I think I do need it! My very good friend Garth Brooks says, " You can always smell the roses when you are running with them in your hand." That man is a bad example for me.
Someone once said to me that I have a lot of energy - being someone who suffers with fibromyalgia - I never considered myself terribly energetic. But I guess that drive to just achieve, achieve, achieve is more powerful than slim long legs that can run like the wind.
Any tips on slowing down?
Generally I have never taken things slowly ~ despite what my general appearance may lead you to believe :) I like to do many things at once and if I am doing anything, I try to get it finished as quickly as I can so I can get onto the next thing. I hate to waste time; I don't even really enjoy the hairdressers cos I think of all the things that I could be doing instead of sitting in the chair. When she tells me that she is going to put the heater on my hair so the colour takes quicker, I love it!
Impatience is my worst trait, which goes hand in glove with this other "bad" trait of mine.
Point of example, my love of lists. So as soon as I cross one thing off, I can get straight onto that next thing. My tea often gets cold as I set it down to just do a little something and then after 20 minutes, 40 minutes, I will come back to it and of course it has gone cold. Even as I write this post, I am doing a bit of the washing up, blanching some broad beans Jonathan and I picked out of the garden and trying to enjoy a cup of tea, which of course has gone cold. It's crazy ~ I'm crazy
It's an annoying trait for some people who are in my vicinity too. I know a couple of my immediate family shake their head in dismay as I tear around the place doing all sorts of little jobs, when I could be sitting with a drink and enjoy a quiet minute talking to them, instead of shouting out conversations allover the house! It is not a good trait.....all of the time
Years ago I had to train someone to take over my job of Night Classified Clerk at a newspaper. After a couple of nights, she said, "I just don't know how I am going to get all this done. You do everything fast p- you talk fast, you type fast ( but alas not well!! ), you move fast and you think fast. I just don't think I am going to be able to keep your pace up." Poor dear thing.
So see I have been like this for years. Sadly I do believe that losing my dear sister, who was still quite young, made me a bit worse. I don't want to miss a thing and that sense of urgency is getting stronger as I get older. Steven Tyler sings my theme song!
It has its advantages - I get loads and loads of stuff done. Others may say it could be put off, done by someone else, not done at all or delayed until I have a proper window of time. I don't have a lot of unfinished sewing projects on the go and I finish my work quickly too. I can get a meal together quickly, run errands quickly and multi task like a woman possessed.
It has of course distinct disadvantages too. A few weeks ago I drove two hours to visit my Dad. Dad lives alone in his own unit and is completely self sufficient. When I go there I like to do things to help him, wash the floors, clean the loo, change his bed. This particular time I visited him on my own as Chris had already left for WA. I made us some scones for lunch and then we just sat at the table and chatted.....while I knitted (I cant just sit there, this includes while i am watching TV, listening to music etc. The only time that I do sit and do nothing is at the movies and when in another persons house)
Anyway I asked Dad if there was anything that he would like me to do for him while I was there. "No, I just want you to sit there and talk to me." But surely there was something that I could do to help. He said, "I don't need any help. I just want you to sit there and talk to me. You drive all this way and then say, 'I went to visit Dad' but you go off and do things and only talk to me for 10 minutes before you have to leave again."
WOW! If ever I needed a wake up nudge to make see the big lights coming at me, that was it! I told him I feel bad if I don't do something for him. Really it is all about me learning to do nothing, savouring the moment, basking in the joy of calmness, peaceful togetherness. Don't just sit there, do something is my mantra. I need to learn to do nothing! Oh I bet my daughter is nodding her head so hard that she has a headache right now!
'Don't just do something, sit there' is what I need to be comfortable doing.
The other big disadvantage is that I sometimes expect those around me to run at my pace, do things quickly and instantly like i do, never put things off and do everything NOW! I'm sure that can be very annoying. Danika loves to say to me, "It's a marathon not a sprint, Mum!"
It is difficult for me to slow down. I am mindful - mindful that I need to cram every little thing, experience, travel, song, movie, book, quilt, knitting pattern, gift, everything into my life. I want to do everything and not waste a second. I find it hard to relax, impossible to just sit. Poor Chris on holidays with me. No wonder I always come back much more tired than when I left!
When I was a kid though, I remember lying on my back staring at the clouds for ages, trying to make out what the clouds represented. Where did that ease of doing nothing go? I would like it back. I would actually love to be able to just enjoy the art of nothingness.
I can hear you all screaming at my in my head - well practice doing nothing! Meditate! take up yoga! Make friends with a nice anaesthetist...oh hang on, that's me. One of my good friends is going to give me a book on mindfulness - I think I do need it! My very good friend Garth Brooks says, " You can always smell the roses when you are running with them in your hand." That man is a bad example for me.
Someone once said to me that I have a lot of energy - being someone who suffers with fibromyalgia - I never considered myself terribly energetic. But I guess that drive to just achieve, achieve, achieve is more powerful than slim long legs that can run like the wind.
Any tips on slowing down?
Thursday, 31 October 2013
AAH that's better
I feel much better today, not sure why, not sure I care why just happy that I do. After such an emotionally charged day yesterday, today is about quiet peace. I am home from work due to aches and pains that have become exacerbated through the stress and going to doctor this afternoon. Not sure he can give me any advice that I don't already know, but I will pay him $73 to listen to me for 15 minutes anyway :)
Chris rang and all is good with him. Another induction day, I think. at the moment it is all about the inductions, as he has to complete one for each site that he will visit. The Port Pass is the main event and that requires heavy duty security clearance, sounds major! Still that will allow him clearance to visit any port in Australia, so I guess it is a big deal.
My brother, Ian, has boarded his plane back to Cairns this morning; Dianne took him out to the airport. We ha a lovely night together last night, Angela came over as well. We giggle and guffawed like school kids again at the silliest of things. It was great :) It was so lovely to see Ian, even better to have the four of us in the same room for a few hours.
This coming weekend in Northern Tasmania is a long one - Recreation Day on Monday - also coincides with the Deloraine Craft Festival ,which has been going for about 30 years. we have only been twice and it is only 30 minutes drive away - but it attracts a huge crowd and gets quite hectic. So will give it a miss again this year. I am going to Hawley Beach for two nights with a quilting friend. Hope the weather is balmy.
A few things off The List in the last couple of days, so that's good: found out where to take all the garden pots for recycling; took back a picture to Jonathan's ex girlfriend that her daughter gave me; found out where to get some packing boxes from; and have distributed some books I no longer want. Small things, but hey they count as lines through the list.
Chris rang and all is good with him. Another induction day, I think. at the moment it is all about the inductions, as he has to complete one for each site that he will visit. The Port Pass is the main event and that requires heavy duty security clearance, sounds major! Still that will allow him clearance to visit any port in Australia, so I guess it is a big deal.
My brother, Ian, has boarded his plane back to Cairns this morning; Dianne took him out to the airport. We ha a lovely night together last night, Angela came over as well. We giggle and guffawed like school kids again at the silliest of things. It was great :) It was so lovely to see Ian, even better to have the four of us in the same room for a few hours.
This coming weekend in Northern Tasmania is a long one - Recreation Day on Monday - also coincides with the Deloraine Craft Festival ,which has been going for about 30 years. we have only been twice and it is only 30 minutes drive away - but it attracts a huge crowd and gets quite hectic. So will give it a miss again this year. I am going to Hawley Beach for two nights with a quilting friend. Hope the weather is balmy.
A few things off The List in the last couple of days, so that's good: found out where to take all the garden pots for recycling; took back a picture to Jonathan's ex girlfriend that her daughter gave me; found out where to get some packing boxes from; and have distributed some books I no longer want. Small things, but hey they count as lines through the list.
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Lists!
Lists!
That is what my life has become centred around. But the good thing about today is that I crossed quite a few things off the first list. Hair appointment, tick; pedicure, tick; dinner organised with Cathy, tick; dropped off ring for re-sizing, tick; picked up tickets from theatre, tick. No big things but all things that needed to be done.
Chris arrived safely in Karratha, even though he was late as the plane was delayed. He called though and was quite buoyed. Boy I hope that lasts; for his sake as I know how hard I would find starting off on my own. in a new town.
The new house is brand new and so far he thinks that it contains nearly everything we will need. It is 4 bedrooms plus an office with plenty of room. He sounded really excited about it.
I am concentrating on getting as many things sorted as soon as possible so that it will not be a mad dash towards Christmas. Some of the things I'd like to do soon:
That is what my life has become centred around. But the good thing about today is that I crossed quite a few things off the first list. Hair appointment, tick; pedicure, tick; dinner organised with Cathy, tick; dropped off ring for re-sizing, tick; picked up tickets from theatre, tick. No big things but all things that needed to be done.
Chris arrived safely in Karratha, even though he was late as the plane was delayed. He called though and was quite buoyed. Boy I hope that lasts; for his sake as I know how hard I would find starting off on my own. in a new town.
The new house is brand new and so far he thinks that it contains nearly everything we will need. It is 4 bedrooms plus an office with plenty of room. He sounded really excited about it.
I am concentrating on getting as many things sorted as soon as possible so that it will not be a mad dash towards Christmas. Some of the things I'd like to do soon:
- re house Chris' tuberous begonias
- get packing boxes
- pin down a date for the boat
- sort out my superannuation
- and always considering what to pack, what to throw and what to store??
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)