An emotional week.

This week I had a difference of opinion with my son about how I mind Ziggy. I was terribly upset and I know he was also but I  couldn't quite understand how he had come to his view that I didn't respect his wishes.  I cried myself to sleep a few nights and was terribly concerned that I had damaged our relationship irrevocably.  I thought and thought about the cause and finally settled on my approach being to put Ziggy first when he is with me, before the concerns of his parents. I let him sleep longer than usual because he seemed to need it and then followed with a late play date. He had a great day, he was not overtired but it was symbolic of my attitude.

From their point of view they were probably correct that I wasn't respecting their wishes entirely but I was in Grandma mode. I don't spoil him but I also don't see the point in forcing issues over minor things.  Minor to me anyway but perhaps not so to my son. They are raising a delightful child so I will just do as they wish always from now on. 

I have and had a more relaxed approach to childcare. We had a loose routine when my children were small but I was always happy to change the routine if something came up. They are less spontaneous and stricter with the routines. There is no right or wrong but what suits the family.

I started work this week and took my first class. I was in very early to prepare and like a turtle, had all my materials in a back pack. We are 'hot desking'  which means sharing a desk with several teachers over the week. You don't feel you can leave your 'stuff' so I carry it all back and forwards. I have to admit I actually enjoyed the experience and the students seem really nice. It is a group of 10 and range in age from school leaver to mature career changers.  It was good being back in the class room actually.  I managed to remember how to manage the student learning system even though I have done nothing with it for twelve months. My brain hasn't gone soft yet. I feel more motivated to get on with the writing now too. 

My watercolour class was great fun this week and I got lots of encouragement and positive feedback back on my drawing ability. I am loving it. 

I finished 'Wild' finally and found it one of the best books I  have read for awhile. I found it very moving on several occasions.  I could have re read it straight away but I have ' The House of Grief' by Helen Garner to read for book club next week so I loaned it to Irene.  I feel like I might reconsider book club because I want to read what I want to read rather than the set boo and I don't have quite enough time to do both, I just don't read fast enough! I weakened and bought 10 new books from the bookshop downstairs that is closing down. They were all interesting and at $5 each too cheap to pass up but when will I get to read them? I am so weak sometimes. Now I will have to set up a system whereby I take one unread book at a time until I read them all.

Dinner with my husband's  old university friends on Friday was very enjoyable.  One couple have downsized from their larger home and garden to a smaller town house style and since I saw it first, when they moved in they have done so much renovation it looks amazing. Jude is very accomplished  at making a place look like a magazine but still feel like a home.  I was so impressed. The back courtyard was transformed from a dingy unevenly paved triangle into an elegant, level, smoothly paved leisure space.  I almost felt envious and when I came home I decided my place needs sprucing up. I am out so often it can get away from me. I went through that flurry when I first moved in but now I just live my life and don't pay that much attention.

Saturday I did the usual chores and actually some work before getting organised to go to 'the White Night'.  It is an extravaganza of 12 hours devoted to art, light and music from 7:00pm till 7:00 am situated around the CBD.  This is the third year and I have never been before. I found it an interesting and stimulating experience. There was too much to take in though and we also walked from one end of town to the other. At  St Paul's Cathedral - Bach on the organ.

 The       State Library

 The Exhibition Buildings Four Elements.

Irene and I at the museum Chinese tumblers busking

 Wonderland lights in Flinders Street

 Sitar's garden on the River with floating Bollywood dancers.

The crowds were large but not  jammed as they have been in the past. It had such a happy atmosphere and catching the train at 1:30 am was a hoot. The station announcer was so upbeat that when he announced our train people cheered. Everyone was chatting  which is so different to the usual morning train rides of people glued to their phones. Eventually I got home about 3:00 am after a cup of tea at Irene's place. 

Needless to say I slept in till about 9:30 am Sunday and felt quite disoriented all day. I ended up visiting Bill and Irene again to give Bill his birthday present. Irene showed me her renovations which are fantastic. Very modern  and striking tile work n the laundry and bathroom. She is in a bad way ( like I was last year) with her work.  They are expecting too much from one person and she is just exhausted and anxious about responding to all the queries without even any admin support. I don't understand why bean counters think it is more efficient for professionals to do admin work as well as the work they are actually employed to do and no one else can do! Admin work is essential so it must be done. Expecting people to do two jobs all the time is  inhuman. It is like we are back in the factories of the industrial revolution. It certainly reinforced my intention to stick to teaching only one  class!

I actually cleared my ironing basket and a few more clothes out of the wardrobe as well today so all was not lost.

Monday I got stuck into uploading my lectures and also trying on dresses for the weddings. I had a call from Jonathan about a restructure at work which will mean he and Nick will get put on the payroll at last and start getting super, sick leave and holiday leave. It is a good move and won't impinge on their fledgling business.  We have had a couple of communications over the weekend so I felt relieved that we are again on good terms. The night finished on a high with my drawing class. I feel like I am really learning and getting better. The teacher does a lot of exercises to stimulate the artistic side of your brain so you are less inhibited.

 Drawn upside downand looking down on my leg.

The week ahead is full of dinners and friends.  I am happy.

A week of new beginnings

I started my drawing class on Monday night and discovered this is a serious class. None of this do what you like, but a structured learning experience. I was the one and only new raw beginner so I had special tasks to accomplish before the teacher will let me do the regular class work.  It was a bit scary because they have all been there for at least a term and also exciting because their work is evidence she is a great teacher.  By the rapture of the students they have been very pleased to have her back as a stand in for the other teacher who was to take the class. I drew a passable hand and a terrible drawing of Nick from my memory as my class tasks.
I had orientation for my unit on Wednesday and got to see where I will be teaching.  The location of the campus is right in the middle of the city in the edgy, interesting Flinders Lane precinct

  There are numerous quirky shops and arcades, coffee places and generally a great atmosphere. The classrooms are all computer rooms so everyone will be facing the wall unless I get people to turn their chairs around. This is not my ideal teaching room because I like lots of interaction with the students. I will need to be creative.. Otherwise it is a 'hot desk' office. This means no dedicated computer or personal space. I will be like a turtle with my home on my back.  At least now I have no more excuses and I will be able to buckle down and focus on the task of lecturing.

I still managed to get to Pilates and feel that it is doing me a power of good. If only I could fit in yoga as well somewhere I would have a whole body program.
We finally had the hot weather and I had wet evidence of the leak. Immediate response from the building manager and the lady above discovered an even worse leak and then it was diagnosed as originating between  floors so it is in the builder's hands. I am prepared for a long wait for repair.  In the meantime a bucket catches the run off! 

 Dripping on the insulation.

Thursday I had my second watercolour class and felt quite surprised at how timid I was. I have been quite gung-ho up to date but again a more structured class induced a hesitancy I hadn't experienced for a long time. It is good for teachers to be reminded of how it feels to be out of your comfort zone as a learner I think.  I actually got stuck into some degree work afterwards and felt more comfortable and enthusiastic than I have for sometime.
Not for too long as the Friday afternoon movie group assembled to see Billy Connelly in 'What we did on our holiday'.  It was so funny and sad too. A thoroughly good entertaining movie. Next I was off to Supergraph at the Exhibition buildings. This is a event  for emerging young graphic artists to show there wears which is run by Mikala Tai. She is the daughter of my long time friend Janine and like a sister to the boys. She is an amazing young woman, with fabulous entrepreneurial ability, excellent people skills and just delightful. Her Supergraph has made the international scene with an invitation from London and NewYork to showcase the best at their similar shows. These young people today are so inspiring. Their ideas have no borders. Below left is the drawing Olympics.

 The crowd at Supergraph face-o-mat 

Saturday I indulged with reading my book Wild by Cheryl Strayed. I am loving it and of course it is much better than the movie with Reece Witherspoon. She writes so well and I feel a connection with her as a long distance walker myself. My walks were not such wildernesses but still long distances. It makes me long for the wide open spaces and the simplicity of that life. We or I lead an overstimulated life I think and I wonder if the Protestant work ethic plus hyper civilisation is not a sort of addiction? The old adage that the devil finds work for idle hands or some such saying underlies our compulsion to be busy busy all the time.  It really takes some getting used to not working and not feeling selfish or lazy because you aren't . I can sense a change in my mental framework because I am back to doing some teaching again. I certainly don't want to get sucked into the politics, just teach is my intention. That I can stick to.
Sunday morning I took a swim in the pool downstairs which was such a nice change for my body and yet I kept swimming too fast so I got puffed. I really need to practice the slow and steady pace I began before Christmas so it is more meditative.
Tara has finally returned to set up their flat and her mum Anthea came across too.  I invited them to dinner. I managed a second Jamie Olover menu from his book and executed it well. I am enjoying doing different recipes and it is fun working through the book.
This week I felt that I was developing a rhythm to my week that was satisfying, and while busy,  it wasn't stressful and I had time on my own as well as company. It felt balanced. Can I maintain this ?

Life after the Camino : different but the same.

I was keen to leave free days for reflection and breathing space when I returned from my trip. What is my  report card on this task? A little like my  primary school reports - 'Kathryn could do better if she didn't talk so much".  I could do better if I said no more often. I have had a stream of visitors all very welcome and enjoyed. I have had fun showing them around Melbourne or going to dinner and shows or just exploring Melbourne like a tourist.  It wasn't helpful to my deadlines of work so of course now I am very behind and we have orientation this week. 

 the Australian Botanical Gardens at Cranbourne

Prostate Banksia

I have hosted my niece Tara and her boyfriend Patrick while they were looking for an apartment to rent. My cousin Diane has visited from Brisbane and we played tourists. It is lovely seeing Melbourne from that perspective and was quite fresh for me too as much has changed while I was away. Melbourne is nearing the end of  Summer Festival mode and there are lots of interesting events to attend. More reason not to be working. 

My daughter-in-law Clare has landed a full time job as a marketing assistant in a fashion house and so I committed to helping mind Ziggy for an extra day a week to help them save a bit of money.

On the way to Swimming lessons. Loves  to wear " giggles" , his word for goggles.

  Like magic I am now tired up three days a week. On top of that I have embarked on a drawing class and a watercolour class. I am delighted with all but realise I am feeling a bit conflicted about being so structured. Without some commitments I would get nothing achieved yet it still feels like being restricted. Is the issue 'achievement' or the nature of that term being related to working?  Perhaps I needed to be slower in taking on commitment.  Well, too late now. My nature the frog who leaps into things has triumphed and here I am.  Child minder,  lecturer, committe member, art student, and book club member.  Miss involved.

On the other hand just drifting along can also be frustrating because I have nothing concrete to show for my time other than a few books read if I am lucky.

Is it possible this human being is just contrary? Is this a transition phase?

Life and living is about being engaged with people, activities, places and also about just being too. Life involves unpredictability and that requires us to respond with flexibility and adaptability. My plumbing waits for no man or woman and is certainly not affected by a philosophy of life! 

Still trying to work out from where the water has come. More wall removed and waiting on the hot weather to generate water leakage from possibly an airconditioner that isn't mine.

A week of appointments

Oakridge Estate Winery in the Yarra Valley has really expanded since I was last there for a Grape grazing Festival. They have built an elegant restaurant and tasting area for visitors. Robert my brother in law whose birthday we were celebrating had booked a table. The restaurant looks over the vines to   Mt. Donna Buang on the far horizon. It is a very bucolic vista.

The food was really delicious and I was adventurous and opted for a King Island Wallaby entre. It was much gamier than Kangaroo but tasty and beautifully cooked. I opted for the beef too for main course. It was baked and just oerfect.

 They had a special kid's menu as well which I thought was a great idea. Roberts long term friend from work (40 years!) Michael and Annabelle and their daughter  as well as Gary's friend Gregl and Vicky and their son Emille, along with Gary, Micky and Mitzi and Rob's wife Wanda made up the party. Wanda had bought a birthday cake for which we were charged $40 to cut and serve.  I thought that was a bit rich. Still it was a most enjoyable day and we later visited at Gregl and Vicky's place for awhile before going to Chinatown for noodles. 

On the way to the Chinese restaurant we passed through  the park alongside  Parliament House and found a poor little ringtail possum that had been savaged. It was still alive and both Gary and I were trying to work out how to help it when a woman arrived with a towel and a box to pick it up and take it to the animal rescue vet. It was so distressing to see it struggling and such a relief when the woman arrived. Micky and Mitzi were squealing and huddling together as if it was going to attack them. 

We went to the Empress of China which was a fancy restaurant once but now is seriously shabby. The buns and noodles were delicious and it was very cheap. We had passed this fancy Chinese Smorgasbord place which was charging $69 for dinner( all you could eat of course). Everything looked amazing  including the food but on the way back we saw a woman had collapsed on the floor. The rest of the table was still eating but they indicated that they had rung for an ambulance and all was under control. I was thinking I might have to practice my first aid! I was rather shocked that the rest of the table seemed unconcerned and went on eating. Micky kept pointing out the overweight people who were in the restaurant. That is the problem with those smogasbords. They charge a fortune and then people feel they can eat way more than they should. It is a bit gross.  However Micky is determined to try it out sometime. She is stick thin and eats very moderately so I doubt she would get the value.

Monday was Australia Day and I fell in a heap. I was so tired from all the social whirl. I managed to do some housework in preparation for my visitors due on Wednesday. A bit of drama when Nick and Bec came for dinner and Nick was cleaning out his old wardrobe. We discovered a water leak that had caused mould in the carpet and swelling of the skirting boards. We surmised it may be from the airconditioner.  All I can think is $$$$!!

Tuesday was a return to Mini maestros for Ziggy and I. I was somewhat perplexed when I turned up and there was only Ziggy and a little boy named Slater.  I had expected to see all the group from last year. The teacher Jennifer said we could change to the earlier session but that they expected the class to build and the other class is very noisy. It is a bit weird to be just two kids and two mothers, yet also very personal so hopefully Ziggy will really benefit musically from the instruction.

After a full day babysitting I had Jonathan and Nick back for tea and working. It was a very long day.

Wednesday I contacted the building manager about the leak and he gave me the name of an airconditioning technician who I contacted and arranged to come. 

Wednesday Tara and Patrick arrived to stay for a few days. Tara is my niece by marriage and from 

Adelaide. She has a speech pathology job here in Melbourne and Patrick is studying honours in Economics at Monash so they are over looking for an apartment to rent. It was fun having them because they looked after themselves and gave me an excuse to cook interesting meals.  

Thursday was the skin specialist . Gail is very good and checked me all over with only one bump causing concern. She excised most of it and sent it to pathology but all else was remarkably good.  I need to go back next week for the pathology results. Skin doctors really charge, so more$$$.  

Back to the aircon guy and he needed to cut holes in the wall to determine the cause of the leak. $$$ more repairs though the aircon does not appear to be the issue and I need a plumber now. SIGH. The insurance company was contacted as I may have to claim.

After all this I decided a facial was long overdue and I haven't had one for over a year. It was gorgeous and it used Dermatologia products. The mask was mainly vitamins and my skin looked amazing. I will definitely be using that one!  The Skin specialist has given me ReTrieve again but with a lot more explanation so I will continue to use that. It is effective in smoothing out fine lines and blotchy skin caused by photoaging( sun). A girl needs all the help she can get especially if it really works which apparently this does.

Friday the plumber was supposed to come but it turns out that we have a new building manager and so I get three 'musketeers'  who were not plumbers and more concerned with me not blaming the builders. I felt quite bullied.  So no plumber to solve the issue till next week. I felt quite cross with their attitude to me. The previous building manager was very personable so I hope this new guy improves.

I got notice of some cheap seats for the musical Once and so booked for Tara and I. We loved it and delighted in a taster plate pre show and pre-ordered dessert for interval; very civilised.

Saturday Jan and Gavin, friends from Maffra in the La Trobe Valley had an impromptu drinks party in her Family home in Hawthorn, which was lots of fun and then Maree my long term ( since the cradle) friend from Darwin rang to say she was in town so she came for lunch and dinner Sunday. We haven't seen each other for about two years so we had lots to catch up on. Maree is the sort of friend where you just pick up like it was yesterday. Never an awkward moment. She and her husband Peter spent 3 months in the States and Canada last year and have decided to spend 4 months there this year. Since she has survived a cancer scare they don't put off till another day. Made my feet itchy.

Well that was the week.  Phew. No work done again. And classes drawing closer.