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.

Another week of frustrations and fun.

This week I focused on putting together the documents required for my contract. I needed an up- to-date CV and certified copies of all my qualifications, passport, working with children and I needed a new Prolice Check.  This took most of Monday, and Wednesday. It still rankles that I am having to do this but I accept it is a requirement. I feel too committed to the library team and the course to refuse and opt out of the job but I  have a lot of mixed feelings over this work commitment. I find it hard to get my head focused on the work. This is a sign I am doing something I was trying to get away from in the first place. It feels so restrictive after the freedom of last year.

I went into work on Wednesday to sign the contract with most of the documents completed and only the Police check outstanding.  I ended up staying to search for my Diploma and then clean out several files as the team is shifting to a new location and I never did it properly when I left last year.  I was so engrossed that I nearly forgot about my Pilates class! 

This time I just dropped everything and went off immediately to make the class. When I was working I would have decided it was too hard. I was pleased with myself and Michelle the instructor is making us work hard on different parts of our bodies so that I feel a real benefit. It is a good contrast to the regular Gym work.

Tuesday after minding Ziggy Nick and Jonathan my sons, came back to my place for dinner and to work on their Tshirt business Common Dust. They had established a routine while I was away of coming  once a week to work together  on the business. They always used to come and visit me fairly regularly but this was a good way of keeping the plants watered and gives them a space free from distractions. I whipped up a quick pork and vegetable and rice dish that was pretty delicious and then they got to work and I read and watched the tennis. Very comfortable. I enjoy having them here because I get to see how they are and how the fledgling business is developing. I always get a warm glow of  love and pride. Peter would be so proud to see them as the men they are now.

I sat up too late again trying to decide where to go for Yum Cha Saturday and for dinner Thursday night with my sister-in-law Micky. She is in Melbourne waiting for her husband Gary and daughter Vivienne to return from riding in the public part of the Tour Down Under in Adelaide. We are all going to my other B-I-L's birthday on Sunday at Oakridge winery in the Yarra Valley.

In the end I selected the Hare and Grace not far from their hotel in Collins Street for dinner and it proved to be perfect. Great interesting food, a warm ambience where we could talk without shouting. So many restaurants get so noisy it is hard to hear each other and you end up with a sore throat from straining to talk. The wait staff were very amiable and attentive though we were always distracted by our conversation and not ready to order etc.

Friday Janine and I went off to see Wild the movie about Cheryl Strayed  walking the Pacific Trail up the west coast of America. It was enjoyable but I felt that Reese Witherspoon didn't really capture the difficulty and physical pain of such a trek. The first days, with a pack too large and heavy and without a hat or any real preparation, she never ever looked red in the face or got sunburnt. She didn't look like a real hiker. Janine and I had a lot of discussion over coffee about the story and the films's portrayal.

I had a late dinner at home and sat up again too late watching tennis and reading.

Saturday I took the train to town to meet Micky and the boys with Ziggy for Yum Cha.  Ziggy loves Yum Cha and it was a lively lunch.

 

We all went our separate ways, Micky and I to shop the boys home. I ended up in David Jones in search of some pretty  underwear. After the walk everything looks very used!! My first job was in the underwear section of Myer and I have always loved pretty underwear since but it is so expensive these days and frankly not really designed for the more mature bod.  It was hard work trying on about 16 bras in order to get four pretty but also effective bras. Forget pretty knickers to match. Ceaser scars and post twins tummy need a bit more than flimsy lace.  I left and headed for the train via the new Emporium shopping complex where Clare (Jonathan's partner) works part-time at Sass & bide. The Emporium is all fancy shops and glamour and very international feeling. It is my first time in the complex and I am impressed.  

This will be a regular stop when I am teaching in the city. Clare needed to walk to their other shop in Melbourne Central so we walked and talked and I received the warmest of hugs when we parted. That made me feel good. We seem to be getting closer which is lovely. By now I am feeling weary but I have promised to go to dinner with Micky and Gary and friends before the tennis tonight at 7:00pm. The old compulsion to say yes hasn't left me. I have a quick coffee and realise I am probably dehydrated so down a bottle of water. 

The text comes from Gary that we are going to eat in Swan Street. After checking with Janine about parking at her place I decide to take the car. Last year after the Tennis finished so late catching a train was out of the question and  I had to take a group taxi. I arrive before the others and secure a table at Meatballs wine bar.

It is very trendy and the food was good and quick. Lovely meatballs of beef, pork, chicken or vegetable.  As we left the music was cranking up and my ears were beginning to ring! I am getting too old to eat in such an environment now! Gary, Vivienne and I went off to the Tennis at the Margaret Court Arena while the others went home. The match featured the French player Guille Simon and Spanish David Ferrer.  At first it seemed a bit workmanlike  but when we thought it was all over for the Frenchman,  he fought back to make it into a five set match that could have gone either way. 

 

Gary and Vivienne were tired from their cycling in the Tour Down Under so I drove them back to their hotel . 

Tomorrow is the lunch in the Yarra Valley and I am taking them all out there. Another big day.

Life is so full- of choices.

I have had such an interesting and in some ways challenging few days.  My husbands cousin in Adelaide rang to see if I could visit a couple of apartments for their daughter who has landed a job at the Melbourne Children's hospital. I haven't viewed rentals since I was first married so it was a bit of an adventure and gave an insight into the process. Lots of competition and the places were not that fabulous. When I think of Nick and Jonathan with their apartments,the first above a Vietnamese restaurant, these weren't too bad.  I did get to explore the vicinity which was fun., like being a tourist in my own city. 

 The Elwood place. 

After visiting the Elwood flat I wandered down to St Kilda looking for brioche for dinner. St Kilda is not far and it was hopping. It is famous for its cake shops and beach vibe.

  Cup cake tree.

Next on my agenda was going out to Warrandyte( my old suburb) for another birthday dinner with Angie and her husband Tim. They have a lovely pool and spa which we retired to after dinner. Such a relaxing evening it was midnight before  we knew it. I stayed overnight and returned home to do some spring cleaning and find all my qualifications and documents for the casual teaching job. I cleared out heaps of paper and magazines. That was cathartic. The days of saying "I can do that tomorrow " are over.  I am as bad as our students. I feel quite reluctant to put my work shackles back on. Even using those words says it all but I want to help the team out so I will buckle down and get work focused. Time is running out as the term starts in early February.  

This week is just as busy as last week with the Sydney Leong's visiting for the Australian Open Tennis and  my other brother in law's birthday lunch on Sunday.

I keep saying I will do it next week when things calm down and they never do. I am responsible for my actions and I am keeping some days free so I don't get overwhelmed and over complicated. It is so tempting and easy to have every moment filled.  Camino calm requires space in my life.

Back in Melbourne

After a couple of days with Mum at Edens Landing and a catch up with Cousin Jan (with whom I travelled in Croatia last year) I returned to Melbourne. I was back on Ziggy minding duty immediately which is a joy mostly. We had a busy day painting, going for baby chino and doing inside games because of the rain,

Wednesday was my first chance to catch up on mail, watering (the balcony garden is looking a sorry site with plants lost to heat and lack of watering), the chillis have survived and are beginning to ripen. It was my birthday and I had made arrangements with the sons and partners to have dinner. It is not often I get the whole group together so this was special. I received so many well wishes I felt very loved. Dinner was fun at ZumZum in Nrth Carlton. It is a Middle eastern restaurant and not too expensive. Necessary after the Christmas splurge! The boys paid and handed me gorgeous bunches of flowers. I am blessed to have such loving sons and delightful partners.

Thursday I went into Box Hill Institute to sign a contract for this years casual teaching. This now involves getting a certified copy of my passport to prove I am eligible to work in Australia! I have only worked there for 18 years and need to provide a CV, working with children card, police check etc . It is bureaucratic lunacy. I have actually only been I engaged with BHI for less than three months. It is not like I am completely new employee. I am regretting saying yes to this and tying myself down again. My stars said I needed to break old patterns and I thought what did that mean? Now here I am repeating the same crap; the Stars had something, I should have listened.  I am doing it for the team not BHI but... The idiocy is galling. I am even crosser at myself for being cross. Go figure. 

My brother-in-law David and his wife Anne Marie and their daughter Jacina and her partner Andrew with Anne Marie's mother came for dinner the same evening and I started my campaign to cook through one whole cook book aka Julie Julia. I selected my Jamie Oliver 30 mins because of time constraints and  in an attempt to be realisitic about the challenge. After travelling for so long last year I wanted to modernise my cooking repertoire and improve my skills. It was a great success and though it took me more than 30 minutes it was quite quick overall. I added a dessert of poached white peaches with raspberries. Everyone seemed to like it and I felt a real sense of achievement but forgot to take photos. I learned about some new ingredients I don't use ( capers and anchovies). My skill has been more towards the Asian and Italian so this will extend my cooking. It was fun.

Friday was a day out walking the cliff top from Hampton to Black Rock with my friend Kim and sharing fish and chips at Half Moon Bay with her husband David who joined us. Kim and I returned by foot walking and talking of course and caught up on almost everything that has happened over the last few months. 

I had a nice quiet evening at home  eating some leftovers which tasted even better I am happy to say.

Flat Rock , Ballina, NSW 3rd January

Nick delivered me to the airport on the 27th and I flew to Brisbane to visit with my mother and brothers. Mum and I stayed with my younger brother Tim and his partner Donna in their apartment at Southport. It has a magnificent view up the Broadwater to Stradbroke Island.

 The weather is wet though so we took in two movies, Russell Crowes the Water Diviner and Mr Turner. The first was most enjoyable and the second was an interesting biography of the painter but not so engaging. I am hoping the weather will clear for camping at Flat Rock.

Tim had business in Coolangatta so I went with him early so we could continue on to Flat Rock later. It was fun to explore a place I visited so much as a child and young woman. It has developed but not in the same way as Surfers Paradise. It seems a bit slower paced. The beach at Greenmount still has the gutter where I saved Tim from drowning when he was about nine. The day was perfect and yet the beaches weren't crowded.

Irene and Bill had arrived in the 29 th and set up their tent and annexe as well as the ground sheet for my small 'pup' tent. It was good to see them and we put up my tent and later went off to Ballina to get another tarp for extra shelter over my tent. Just as well because we had some large downpours which could have made us very

miserable.

This is a beach, beer and books holiday. Very low key and relaxing. Irene and Bill are very tired because they have been busy with work and their renovation at home. Christmas on top just adds to the fun and the work.

We have booked at the Ballina RSl for New Years Eve Comedy night again and it proves to be an excellent show and even better night with a very convivial group on the table. The comedians were quite topical though the F word was frequent.  I sent lots of New Year's Eve messages but the phone is going flat and I don't get a lot until the next day when I have it recharged.

Bill and I both have boogy boards now and have had great fun catching waves. The water is crisp and clear and the waves seems so invigorating. Compared to Croatia which was beautiful, clear but smooth the experience is more challenging physically. I feel the effort of battling to get out to catch a wave and the exuberant pleasure when you catch one and get a long ride in. I laugh like a child. I feel so alive.

We are spending a lot of time reading which in itself is such a gift when usually I read only in snatches of time. I love being able to be so emersed in a story. I am trying to finish the Game of Thrones series. It is very absorbing but I also find it rather depressing too.  The world seems to reflect so much of its stories. Art imitating life and life imitating art. A vicious cycle of viscous behaviours.

This morning we had a huge downpour that sent buckets of water off the tarpaulins and flooded across our floor but we were all dry and Bill averted a catastrophe by catching a sagging pole in time. 

Ron and Jan arrived and are esconsced in their new camper trailer. It is incredibly well set up and roomy. It is good to have them here as well. Collin and Peter are next door and opposite  are Murray and Belinda. They used to be great mates but they have had a falling out and are not talking. Very sad but we keep out of it and nothing has been said to us about why.