Guess who just joined the local gliding club? (I’ll give you a hint: It wasn’t me. Or Chanbe.)
Hubs went gliding last weekend with our good friends Nathan and Cal. And he got hooked. Real bad. Can you see why?
Well, one of them anyway… (and I may or may not have bought it in red, as well as black and white polka-dot 🙂 )
It may seem dramatic, but I’m officially writing-off the next 6 months. There is no normality in our lives; no consistency, no routine, no continuity. This may seem like an exciting way to live, but when you have an almost-11-month-old, it’s not ideal. We’re in Wang for most of October, in MB for most of November, going to Brisbane for December and January, and who knows what next year will bring. So instead of stressing about it, and trying to be normal in any way I can, I’m just going to fly by the seat of my pants and accept that this is our life right now.
I’m sitting here, at our friend’s place in Wangaratta where we stay when we’re here, listening out for Chanbe in case he wakes up, as he is on our bed instead of in his cot as he seems to have developed an aversion for his portacot, and my back just doesn’t have anything left to be picking him up, putting him down (repeat repeat repeat), hoping he has a good sleep. He still doesn’t sleep well, and there is nothing we can do while we are living this transient lifestyle: I’ve just got to go with it.
I’m devoting this time to catching up on my google reader, doing a bit of blogging, and reading trashy magazines that my friend buys. And hoping that this lifestyle we are leading won’t impact too dramatically on our little guy.
For a few months now, we have been teaching Chanbe how to “let go”. Like when he grabs a fist full of my hair and gives it a big tug, if we say in a firm, but kind tone “let go”, he usually does. And of course we follow that up with “good letting go!” to encourage this behaviour.
If only it were that easy for adults. There are so many things that I want to “let go”, and I wish all it took was for my Mum or Dad or Hubs to say in a firm, but kind tone “let go”. Things like memories of times I’ve been hurt, or harsh words that I have spoken to people in anger or frustration, or things. So many things in our house I wish I could just let go, but hold onto just in case I might need them one day. Is it the same with feelings? Do I hold on to them just in case I need them one day? In case I need to remember the hurt; to punish the person who wronged me, or to punish myself for what I’ve said?
With all our to-ing and fro-ing we’ve been doing lately, I wish I didn’t have to bring so much stuff with us, but I bring so much “just in case.” Yeuch. It’s something else I’m working on. So much work to do, so many distractions…
While I was in Albury for the day a couple of weekends ago, Hubs took Chanbe for a play at the local park. They had such a great time, and Hubs took some great photos and video for me to see when I got home!
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this much, but Hubs and I don’t have a TV. We haven’t had one since we moved to Melbourne over 3 years ago. Do I miss it? Sometimes. Would I watch it if we had one? All the time. Would it be quality TV? Probably not.
The only thing I really miss is watching the footy (or any sport for that matter), but every time I get the opportunity to watch tv, all I do is complain that there’s nothing good on. You see, I hate reality tv shows, almost as much as I hate facebook, and when seemingly 80% of tv shows are “reality” (and I use the term VERY loosely, just as I would use the term “friends” on facebook) there doesn’t seem much point in getting a telly.
Other reasons?
– I end up watching crappy shows that I don’t even really like and feel shame afterwards.
– I find myself planning my whole day around what’s on TV. (Friends is on for an hour between 10-11am, so I try and get Chance down for his sleep before 10am or after 11am. Shocking.)
– I get annoyed when Chanbe wakes up and I’m in the middle of watching Master Renovator’s Dinner Date Idol.
– Infomercials. Need I say more? Yes I need. I bought something I saw on an infomercial the other day, and I’m not proud of myself for doing so. I just get. Sucked. IN!! (I haven’t told Hubs yet – I’ll “surprise” him when it turns up! Woo!)
Since we’re in Wang for the better part of the next month, I’m sure I’ll be watching a lot of crappy tv. I just won’t be able to help myself!!!
means different things to Hubs and I. For me, it means:
Taking the dishes from the coffee table to the kitchen
Making sure all the food has been put away
Going to have a shower
Brushing my teeth
Taking my seretide
Hear Chance wake up
Go and feed and re-settle Chance
Turn the lights off, lock the doors
Get into bed
Realise I’ve left my phone in the loungeroom
Go and get phone and then get back into bed
For Hubs, it means:
Walk into bedroom, take clothes off and get into bed
Boys are such simple creatures 🙂
I don’t mind a spot of clothes shopping here and there, but since I had Chanbe, my body has changed somewhat and many of my old clothes didn’t quite fit right. So I culled. Big time. I donated all the clothes that I hadn’t worn since Chance was born, and many of the clothes I had been keeping “just in case my body morphs again and I fit into them some day.” I figure, in 10 years time after we’ve had our 7th baby (ha ha ha ha ha) I won’t be looking to fit into the clothes I had 10 years before. I’ll want to buy new stuff. So I let them go.
Some of the items hadn’t even been worn, as I had bought them years ago thinking “when I lose weight” blah blah blah. Well I did lose some weight a few years ago, but those things, mainly skirts, never suited my body type. So to Vinnies they went. In the last few weeks, I have been practically buying a new wardrobe. We had some money come in that we had been waiting for, and finally we could relax a bit with our super-strict budget, and splurge a little bit.
I still bought most of my stuff from KMart and Target, and as much as I love op-shopping, it was really lovely to buy some new stuff. I also bought some super-cute dresses on an online store (after trying stuff on at a shop to get my size) and I cannot wait for them to turn up! And it turns out that my complete body shape/type change has worked in my favour in many ways. First of all, I could never before fit into Target trousers, but the other day I bought 6 pairs of pants in the one go! 6!!! And I don’t mind saying, they look pretty darn cute!
This is one of the first times in my life that I have bought a whole bunch of clothes that fit beautifully right now. Not clothes that I buy because they’re on sale and they’re 1 or 2 sizes too small for me and I stash them in my cupboard and they sit there taunting me, waiting for me to lose the weight I keep promising myself I’ll lose. No. I’m buying for who I am right now, which means, also for the first time (maybe just in a long time) I’m accepting myself for who I am, and what I look like. Not just accepting, but loving. I tell you, as a girl who has struggled with body image for a looooonnnnng time, this is a damn nice place to be.
I can’t wait to show you some of the outfits!
…we will be spending a total of:
22 days in Wang
7 days at home
3 days at student accommodation
Frith will spend 3 days in Melbourne
and I’ll spend the entire time thinking “we did not sign up for this!!!”
I’m trying to keep positive by thinking about all the good things about our situation, like the fact that I get to spend a lot of time with my Wang friends, and that I’ll get to watch rubbish tv at our friend’s house where we’re staying, and that I’ve become really good at packing and unpacking (maybe not in a timely manner, but still.)
I have a to-do list as long as my arm at the moment, and I really need to get back to it. I don’t know how much I’ll be blogging in the weeks to come, but I’m feeling inspired again, so hopefully I’ll get the opportunity to write a few posts that are kicking around in my head.
Back to the packing!