2022

 Greetings everyone!

Happy 2022!!

I thought I’d pop in and actually talk to you, instead of writing poetry. Although I have received a couple of nice comments about them. Thanks!

I did enjoy doing the A to Z challenge as it gave me a focus and a topic nudge. I struggle to know what to say, here in blogland and in life.

We had a delicious New Year’s celebration with fireworks for the first time in two years. They were absent due to the fires in 2019, and then due to the ubiquitous pest in 2020. It really felt like life returning to some semblance of normality having them back. Although it was interesting to note the change in philosophy. In the old days they moved them from the lake to the city centre so they could create a vibe and crowd all the people together in one place. This year they moved back to the lake and had three matching shows along the lake to spread people apart. I have to say it was stunning, and they will be much missed if they move it back again. Fireworks and water just go so well together!

Around the fireworks we had a picnic and played cards around the lake and in our campervan Brumhilda.

Following that we went home for some more snacks, The Blues Brothers movie, and the Sydney fireworks on TV. Along with some incidental fireworks from a house in the distance.

We had no issues with our dog Winter, despite our misgivings. She seemed pretty chill, until we were woken early the next morning with a fire alarm. As I’ve mentioned to a couple of friends, we do pay for our view. We seem to have an inordinate number of fire alarms which never end up being anything except some smoking in the car park etc. I try to be grateful for the protection of this system, but it becomes more difficult to manage when woken in the middle of the night!

That said, we are still having a blast living in our high kingdom in the clouds (as it feels to me). We are on the 12th floor, so not tooo high.

Currently the boys are having fun exploring the world with their new motorbikes. Yes, I have two kids on their Learner’s at the same time. Aren’t I a brave Mum? For Christmas we gave them motorbike accessories so they could go motocamping, which they have done once already. I think the fact they were both in a two person tent was a little tricky, but they made it work and are planning more outings.

I am often asked how I cope as a Mum with kids on motorbikes, or why I allowed my kids to have motorbikes. My answer is always that I want my kids to run their own lives and live the lives they are passionate about. I couldn’t squash their obvious desire just because I had some fears. As long as we’ve spoken about the dangers and we can see them addressing them, then I have to let go and support them, no matter what. It is their life after all. Especially at this late teen/early adult age.

However I feel unschooling has taught me a lot in this realm as that is the foundation pretty much for unschooling. Working together, and listening to each other, rather than a top down power approach which can turn kids off parents, and vice versa. We all need to be listened to, and kids are no different.

I am currently typing this sitting in Brumhilda after a rain storm, including hail, has battered me a bit. I was a little worried about the integrity of this ageing fibreglass roof to withstand the ‘giant hailstones’ that were heading our way, but I must have been lucky, because the hail wasn’t even a centimetre across.

Brumhilda has been a wonderful asset to us as a way to escape the apartment without having to sit out in the elements on a rug. With a table we can use it as a work space as well.

I also enjoy doing hand sewing while listening to podcasts. Currently I am piecing together some eco dyed bits and bobs to make a skirt. They were too good to abandon.

My mornings are mostly taken up with exercise at the moment. Recently I had a diagnosis of osteoporosis, so I have started treatment along with some weights exercises from my Physio, while still trying to continue with my yoga and walks in the mornings with Cris. It is a lot to take on, but hopefully it will make me buff! Ha! I’m certainly starting to see a change in my body. The goal is to eventually be able to start running. Yay!

This year we continued our tradition of videoing a time capsule to leave for ourselves next year this time. We watch last year’s video about our hopes and dreams and what has been happening that year, and then film a reaction to it along with what happened this year and what we hope to achieve in the next. It’s a nice little memory to have and look back on in the years to come, and helps us take a moment to reflect on where we’ve been and where we would like to go.

There is a part of me after reading that last paragraph, that wants to tell myself, ‘but what about the present’? I am making time to study people like Byron Katie and Eckhart Tolle who speak about not living in the past and the future, but living mostly in the now. I love this philosophy and find it very helpful. Hopefully I’m not upsetting the apple cart with our time capsule tradition!

Well, I might head home now the storm has passed and finish this back at the apartment.

Hello again! It’s a couple of days later and I’m sitting at home waiting for the effects of my booster shot to fade. I am feeling very privileged to live in a well developed country that, despite all its ups and downs, still manages to pull items out of its hat. I choose to focus on the blessing of my health being augmented.

Well, for someone who professed to not know what to say, I’ve rabbited on for ages!

I also want to apologise to all the blogs I follow. If anyone is reading this, know that I have tried multiple times on multiple devices to leave comments, but somehow the system won’t let me. It accepts them all and then they just disappear into thin air. Maybe some blogger in another universe is getting some nice random comments I like to imagine. Ha!

PS You can’t see it here, but I cut all my hair off again. I needed a break from the floofiness. But it was a fun experiment. I haven’t missed it one bit! Here is a photo if you want to see it

https://naturalmedley.blogspot.com/2021/12/a-to-z-poetry-challenge-2021-s.html

although it’s grown an amazing amount in one month. Almost as if it’s thanking me for taking all the weight off.

Alright, we’ll leave it there for now.

Til next time,

Keep on creating!

Love,

Jazzy Jack