Head for the Hills

Edie and Jude in Barmera, with thanks to the splendid horses

We’ve recently returned from three weeks in Barmera, South Australia. It was a lovely break, Edie had two weeks out of school, Bim joined us for a week, and we appreciated spending time with the grandparents. It was a busy time, though, with the long trip there, and me working while on holidays, which adds an extra level of complexity. Dad also worked the whole time we were there, so it felt like a working household rather than a holiday household. Still good fun, but too much work all round.

We’ve been back for a fortnight today and it’s nice to be home. I love going to Barmera but there’s nothing like getting home to your own bed, own routines, own gym…

Back into the gym routine in a great way and loving it. The combat/pump double this morning really hit the spot and I’m feeling strong and fast. On the home front, Bim has almost finished building our beautiful new fence out the front, and we’ve bought a second car to take the pressure off on the transport front.

Although it’s all systems go I’m still trying to find a few spare minutes to carve out some quiet times. The Monday morning swims are going…well…swimmingly. I’m loving them. But I probably need to start reading a book or going for walks, or *something*. Work is encroaching, running the house is all consuming, staying fit and healthy is a necessity and beyond that there’s little left for just…being.

So I’m looking for that right now. If anyone finds it, please let me know.

I finally made it back to the pool today. I think it’s been about six months since I last swam. I have no good reason why. Just one of those habits that fell away somewhere along the line. Then once the habit was lost it seemed really challenging in winter – stripping off and getting into the water – so I chose other forms of exercise instead.

But today I woke up feeling a bit crummy, I’ve had a throat thing, and instead of doing pump and RPM I decided to do pump and then swim a few laps.

It was *so* good. I remember now how much I love swimming and why I do it. I love the monotony of it, the fact it frees my mind up to tease out the curly little problems that live in its corners while I lap away.

I managed 50 laps then had a sauna and spa. I had the entire pool to myself and I’ve resolved to do it more often. Now I just have to hold myself to that promise.

Okay, so it’s only 8.48am and I should be getting dressed for the gym but I wanted to quickly report that I started my 40s at 2am today by cleaning up Jude’s vomit.

Totally glamorous.

I farewell my thirties today. It’s been a pretty good day, a pretty good week all round. Small bits of news, the usual textures that make up the fabric of our life….

1. Edie has her first loose tooth. It’s in the middle at the bottom and I’m pretty sure it’s the first one she cut as a babe.

2. Bim found an echidna outside our house today. The kids had a good look at it, named it Beanie, then let it loose in the bush.

3. We all trucked off to the school’s Kindergarten Expo last night at 7pm (= bed-time) and when we entered the hall, Edie turned around and said “oh, that’s right, I’m not in the choir so I’m not meant to be here!). We left soon after.

4. Mum and I went on a beautiful bush walk on Wednesday.

5. The days are beautiful, getting longer and it’ll be 30 over the weekend.

6. The kids have been eating their meals at the table and eating every bite. They are playing in the garden after school, and making books and entertaining themselves most of the time. It’s sweet.

7. My bum is still sore from the double pump/rpm class Monday backed up with double step/balance class Tuesday.

8. Bim and I are going out and staying at the Carrington in Katoomba tomorrow night, Mum is looking after the kids. Everyone is looking forward to it!

9. I haven’t turned the television on all week and don’t miss it. As much as I love television, I also love having control over it.

10. I think I am choosing to do a gym class first up on my 40th birthday. I don’t know what this says about me but it’s Body Vive – lots of dancing around with balls and straps and it involves a Foreigner track, so I *do* know it’ll be fun.

That’s all for now, I can’t be arsed with pictures but I’ll get there soon!

Edie had her purse stolen from her bag at school. Her Hello Kitty purse, no less. And full of gold coins ready for the Father’s Day stall. Today, after gentle prodding from the teachers, the purse was anonymously returned, minus its contents. Edie is delighted at its return. Not so much because of natural justice but because it means I won’t be grumpy any more.