September 2023 (Torquay, Rye, Melbourne)

(^A current photo of our beautiful "fur babies" Albus, 3, and Harry who turns 2 next week).

This year has brought a few things into focus and one is that I am very much “in” the Sandwich Generation, caring for and supporting aging parents at the same time as caring for and supporting adult kids. I am so glad that we sold our business when we did as the demands of the business (and the 35 people we employed) on top of the familial demands could have been overwhelming. 

Parent update - Andrew’s Mum is recovering from a knee operation after a lengthy stint in hospital, my Mum is still suffering the effects of Long Covid and my Dad has had over 2 weeks this month in hospital with a few issues including a new diagnosis of an incurable (but, hopefully, manageable) disease.

Side by side with all this, we had really happy events. Our eldest son (who does not live with us) celebrated his Engagement and we met the parents of our second son’s long term girlfriend. (Another Engagement incoming??!!)

And, as usual, we juggled the cooking, cleaning and food shopping for the three adult kids who live at home with us.

I am not complaining – I will dearly miss each of the kids as they move out and I am sure I will hate being an Empty Nester (to start with at least!!) But it is a lot running around after parents, visiting them in hospital and carrying on with normal, family demands at home.

To all of you in a similar position, I see you 😀

I don’t want to make this month’s post all doom and gloom. Although we haven’t escaped to Rye as much we normally would (due to family demands), we have had a great month with our footy team reaching the Grand Final. Saturday 30 September is the day. All fingers and toes are crossed that Collingwood can bring it home!!

We saw a production of “Death of a Salesman” – a play both Andrew and had studied at High School and loved. The story, for anyone who doesn’t know, is very grim but also very thought-provoking. The actors, Anthony LaPaglia and Alison Whyte among them, were fantastic!

We had a lovely couple of days at seaside Torquay too, taking advantage of an RACV Club special. The Resort there is amazing and we loved our stay so much that we are repeating it in October at the Goldfields Resort. I've added a photo of the view from our room and one of the beach. It was a wild and woolly couple of days but still beautiful.

I started my assessment job and, despite initial nerves, I am really enjoying it. One of the aspects I loved most about my role in the business we sold (which was a legal business) was mentoring law graduates. This new job allows me to do that again which is a real thrill.

I am still beavering away trying to get some travel writing published – it is proving to be a hard nut to crack but I will keep persisting. Surely, someone will answer one of my emails??!!!

I am also doing a self-paced Travel Writing course with the Australian Writers’ Centre so I am learning little nuggets as I go.

Only one short story published this month - https://www.cafelitmagazine.uk/2023/09/london-calling-by-leonie-jarrett-glass.html – but I have 3 already slated for October so happy days!

30 September is the one year anniversary of us finishing our handover to the new owners of our business (two year anniversary of the sale). 

What have I learned? I have learned that stress is a silent weight that you carry. I have felt lighter and lighter this year (literally and figuratively actually) and that has to be a good thing. Conversely, I have learnt that you can waste a lot of time doing word games on your phone!!

I have learned that it is good to do nothing sometimes and that not working or thinking about working all the time is a lot less boring than I thought that it would be.

We have done lots of trips – little ones and one big one – and it has been lovely to do that without having to handle work crises at the same time. We have ticked off some Bucket List items and we have one big one left before Christmas (a cruise to Antarctica!!!!). Our Golden Retrievers have benefitted from a lot more walks and are even more spoiled than they were before as they are hardly ever left on their own!

The year has not been all positive – I do think that I still waste too much time. For instance, I still haven’t gone to a Pilates class nor done a whole lot of things that I was going to do “when I had time.” But, in my effort to not waste time on negative emotions like guilt, I will not worry about that. 

In short, it has been an adjustment but not as hard a one as I thought it would be.

I am grateful. Very grateful for having this opportunity to re-set and to look forward to the next phases of my life without the pressure of 35 staff depending on me.

Go Pies!!