A simple life in the ‘burbs’.

Well, this week, we’ve said goodbye to “Miss Daisy” and hello to a boat. The boat is an 18ft catamaran.  A good fishing and whale watching boat.   Miss Daisy, who was given to a good home,  will be sadly missed.  But it’s time now for us to explore our own backyard and a boat will be required for doing that.

Chris, with his ‘CEO hat’,  has been doing his thing in organizing all the tradesmen to set this, that, and the other thing up.

  We have the extra kitchen cupboards done so the kitchen now LOOKS finished, we just have to wait on the desk now.  The plumber has connected the water to the fridge, the slab for the shed is down and the shed gets completed next week.  The fence palings have been delivered and stacked ready for fixing. And the backyard looks like a construction site.   And, after many trips around the neighbourhood, It has taken us two weeks to sort out what we want to do with the fence, but we finally got there.  And we’ve also got an idea for what to plant in the front yard now.

We picked up Rob’s Scout for him at the beginning of the week.  He’ll be here this weekend to pick up “Doodle” (Doodle?!  are you serious?!!)  But it will be nice to see both him and Casey this weekend and weather permitting, our first day out in the boat should be excellent.

We had a lovely dust storm come through yesterday, but you wouldn’t know it.  With us being in a new estate and a new house being built across the street AND with no vegetation to stop the flow of dirt, the layer of dirt INSIDE the house is the norm around here.  I figured it was time for a clean up when I could write my name on the kitchen table and the CLEAN spots on the floor was where you had been walking.

I’ve started riding my bike again.  Although with the gusty winds this week, I missed my ride on Wednesday, but today is looking pretty good.  Even Chris has bought a new bike so we can enjoy rides down to the esplanade together.  I just have to convince him to RIDE down to the esplanade, not drive there.  It’s not THAT far!    And I’m also working on the photo album, sorting out which pictures to use.  My aunt and uncle sent some old sepia photos of my family, which I’ve printed and hung on the walls.  Now, I’m just sorting out the photos from our trip.

So as you can see, while we wait for our new grandson to arrive, we’re keeping busy.  Even the dogs are enjoying the hustle and bustle of ‘tradies’ going in and out of the backyard.

Now when did THAT happen?

So here we were, running around like mad chooks trying to get furniture in, unpack boxes, get the electrician, the plumber, and the kitchen guys organized, all the while trying to clean up the caravan to sell. 

Well, we’ve sold the caravan.(woohoo!) The plumbers, electrician, and kitchen guys have already been.  The boxes are unpacked and ALL of the furniture is here.  And then arrives Jenny, Scott, and Camille for a visit to Papa and Grandma’s house.

The buzz of their visit started well before they arrived.  Both Chris and I were all hyped up for their visit.  The kids arrived about an hour after the kitchen guys left.  We all sat down to dinner and the talking didn’t stop until we all went to bed.  Catching up on this and that.

The following day we showed them around Hervey Bay.  We had a nice lunch of fish and chips, a play in the park for Camille, and a great walk down the jetty.  We were all very tired, but the only ones who got any naps was Papa and Grandma!  I’m just not sure if it was the sun and fresh air or the relaxation  after all of the unpacking and organizing we did, but we finished the day off with a BBQ and the boys watching the finals on the Rugby League while  us girls played a game of Scrabble.

But this morning, it happened.  The kids left…and there was this silence.   And it was in THAT moment that I realized that I’m in the same situation  LIKE MY GRANDPARENTS!  That whirlwind energy of the kids and grandkids coming in to the house  making it hard to focus on the many conversations around me and then that silence when they’re were gone, leaving me with those feelings of being old fashioned, (which to me is really a sign of being relaxed and comfortable).  And when did this happen that I’m not able to keep up with the conversations?   I can remember being able to listen to each child’s request for what kind of sandwich they wanted while  AT THE SAME TIME  listening to my husband call out for something he needed in another room, all the while listening for the dog that might get the postie as he drove by,  AND waiting for the baby to wake up.  This morning my husband asked me if I wanted a cuppa and while I HEARD him, I didn’t register that he was talking to me.  Is this a sign of getting old or do I just need some vitamins?  My focus doesn’t seem to be as good as it once was, but for the life of me, I don’t know whether to put it down to discipline or age.  The art of conversation seems to have disappeared from me and I’m not sure why.  Is THIS a sign of getting old or that I need to get out more?  Where did all my energy GO?!  hmmm…  So,  while Papa is curled up on the couch for a nap and I type away on the computer, I contemplate my situation.  Maybe I’m just going through a transition period from parent to grandparent.  Maybe I just need to get out there and do more exercise and meet people.  Who knows?  But for the moment, at least I can gather my thoughts and focus on writing this blog. 

A pause for reflection

Chris and I are relaxing this morning.  As the movers put the last of the boxes in to the house yesterday, our house began to look smaller and smaller.  (It looked so BIG when there wasn’t a stick of furniture in it.)  And last night, it dawned on me.  This move is really different.  We don’t have any kids on this move.  I don’t have to get drinks and food for everybody in between the unpacking of boxes.  No more excited noises about what they’re going to do in the THEIR bedroom.  No more chattering. I didn’t have to put the kids to bed last night or worry about the school run this morning.   This is the first time in 28 years that we’ve moved WITHOUT any kids. (sigh)  I don’t whether to be excited or sad.

At any rate, we’re both sitting here relaxing with boxes stacked up around us, not having to worry about kids going to school or getting the unpacking done quickly so we can go back to work.  It’s an odd feeling.

And while our minds are spinning around in circles with all of the things we need to get done, I just can’t quite focus on ONE thought.  I’ve made a list out and we’re slowly going through that,… along with adding to the list as we go along.

So today, we’re off to restock the fridge and pantry…oh! and get another set of drawers for our clothes.  For the life of me, I don’t remember having so many clothes before!  Hopefully, I can still fit into them.  I stepped on the scales yesterday and was horrified that I’d gained 7 kgs while away. (that’s 15lbs!!)  And Chris already knows that he’s gained weight.  How much?….don’t know,.. he’s afraid to step on the scales to find out.  So our diet may..I mean WILL.. need changing.

And now if you will excuse me,..I need to start unpacking some more boxes.