A to Z Writing Challenge - E for Embrace

Embrace

As a detail-eyed autistic

With sensory overload

I tend to hide in my small space

But that is not always best

For my system

When I go out into nature

Remove the hunch from my back

And allow my heart to expand

To the horizon

That is when my senses relax

And I say

The world is a safe

And gloriously happy place

And I can embrace

All its possibilities

5/3/20

A to Z Writing Challenge - D for Dread

Dread 

I have autism

With executive functioning problems

Going to the Drs

Is hard work for my brain

There are all the germs

And all the procedures.

Because we are currently homeless

In another town

This time my visit

Is to a new Dr

With new procedures

And to top it off

There is the virus

Get procedures wrong

And you get fined

Or die!

Oh and I am taking

My two sons

One with OCD

And I have shortness of breath

Due to asthma

So no pressure!

I arrive with dread

Holding my breath

As I walk through the door

Masked

To save them from me.

I was met with smiles

Kind words

Accomodations

The nurse was a ninja

With the flushots

Chatting quietly

The Dr -who is Doc Martin-

Was relaxed and careful

Renewing my lost scripts

I put in a special

Unknown place

During the move.

I made it to the chemist

With minutes to spare

Before closing.

Had help

Following their new rules

And came out triumphant

With new asthma treatment.

I feel like I have sat an exam

And passed

And if we don't get the virus or flu

It will be an A!

4/4/20

A to Z Writing Challenge - C for Community

Community

One thing I love

Is New Year's Eve

When I get the sense

The whole world is perched

On the edge

Of the new year

Celebrating

The same thing,

At the same time.

I am connecting

Into this sense

Right now during the crisis

To help me see this time

As a time of immense

Togetherness

All the way

Around the world

We are acting

As one

How rare is that?

This is a precious time.

3/4/20

A to Z Writing Challenge - B for Boat

Boat

I am watching

My boat

On its trailer

Waiting

In the rain

Remembering

Those days

Not long past

When we whirred

Up the river

Floating over seaweed

Banging and bouncing

On wind induced waves

Feeling the spray

Soak its seats

Hearing the motor

Roar in the sunshine

The world was free

And we were amongst it.

We are all dreaming

Of our lives

And when they return

We will treasure them!

2/4/20

A to Z Writing Challenge : A for Absence

Absence

I woke

To a power cut

Sudden silence

All machine noise

Stopped

The whir of the fan

The refrigerator hum

And the sudden choking

Of my husband

As his c-pap

Cut out

Slowly the natural sounds

Filtered in

A kookaburra's laugh

Chuckling through

The open blind

And then the power

Came on again

I felt relief

And the ceasation

Of my brain meanderings

About fridges

And solar panels

And batteries

I realised how

Tied we are

To that slim line

It became powerful

In its absence

1/4/20

Update on our lives

Greetings all!

It’s been a long time since we caught up. I thought I would touch base about our lives and share a new writing series I am involved in.

We are currently ensconced in our beach cabin “Leeway” at Moruya Heads which you have heard about before if you follow my blog. It’s been quite a year all in all.

First we had the fires over Christmas and New Year where we couldn’t breathe due to the smoke. There were fires all around us although fortunately we were never in danger due to our urban environment. But there really was no direction the wind could blow which could give us relief except Westerly which then brought the blistering heat.

Our windows were shut 24/7 and our poor air conditioner and filter fan had a great workout.

Although sadly we did lose “Heartwoods” our bush block in the fire. Long time readers will know it.

Except for two miraculous saves. The two structures Miles built survived intact! 

During this time we were renovating our bathroom ourselves and packing up our house. As you can imagine that was a fun time! Oh and throw Christmas in there as well.

Still we survived it and managed to rent the house out to a lovely couple with a small child and two dogs.

I’m not sure I mentioned on the blog but the reason for all this unrest was due to the exciting advent of our new apartment we bought which was being built. It is a 13 storey building right on the shores of our local lake in the city centre. We will be on the 12th floor facing the lake all squashed into a two bedroom unit!

Some sad news, our cat Smart Blue decided he couldn’t make the trip and died on the last day in the house. Which just happened to be Cris’ 60th birthday. That was a day for sure!

So the kids and I came down to “Leeway” and Cris moved into our campervan “Brumhilda”. He camped during the week in a caravan park in Canberra and commuted to see us on the weekends. This went on for three weeks until he was told to work from home due to the current virus crisis. So he has moved down with us permanently. Which is a gain for us!

Now the apartment build is in its final stages and we have the certificate of occupancy already. Next week will see the bank valuations go ahead and after that is settlement. We have yet to see if we will be allowed to move in due to travel restrictions, but at this stage with the current rules it looks like we will.

Although it is idyllic being down here we are all eager for the completion of this long journey we have been on for more than a year as we watched it being built. Cris and Miles have had the privilege of actually visiting the apartment (which is yet to be named) and setting foot on its hallowed ground. They went to check it out for nicks and scratches which can occur during fit out. Aiden and I are yet to see it!

We are keeping to our social distancing down here and only exercising on the beach which is right behind us, or around the caravan park. At least we have a beautiful environment even if it is a bit boring sometimes. The kids are feeling their wings clipped a bit as they have to forgo some of their explorations and creations. Eg. visiting the airport to watch the planes arrive and depart, or driving long distances to ride on their skateboards. But we are doing OK. Enjoying having Dad around.

So that is our brief update.

We will hopefully bring you some images of the new place in time.

I hope you are all adapting to this new normal and trying, as I am, to see the positive.

My next posts will contain some poems I am writing for an A to Z writing challenge for April. I thought I might as well share them here too, as they contain a few stories of our current situation.

So until next time, keep on creating, and stay safe my dears.

Much love,

Jazzy Jack

A fleeting visit

Hello folks!
I wonder if you remember me? 

I just stopped by quickly to let you see a video I made. It once again features the magical Moruya River and my gorgeous family.
We are all well. 
Miles is 17 and now drives. He has officially graduated from homeschooling, although we still go about life the same. He is actively looking for work and handing out resumes. Very interested in some form of mechanical engineering at this stage for a career.

Aiden is 14 and looooves bikes. Motorcycles I should say. He is counting the days until he can get his learners licence. (16 and 9 months)
Every day he has a new bike he would like to buy and the strategy to go about it.
He is now swimming once a week in swimming lessons, takes the dog for regular long walks, rides his ebike around town and is generally a much fitter and much happier human.

I am busy decluttering our house and sorting things through because we are moving soon to our new apartment. We have bought a two bedroom apartment which we have crazily decided to try out for a year. It will be a drastic change and downsize, but we are keen for the challenge. It is in the town centre overlooking a lake, on the twelfth floor. So slightly different to our groundlevel four bedroom two bathroom house in suburbia!
At the same time we have been renovating one of our bathrooms due to a hole which developed in the floor. So life has seemed full of flux and messiness for about a year now. I am looking forward to the move perhaps around Christmas or early next year, so we can get back a little stability and tidiness.

So to give ourselves a break we took off for ten days to our beloved coastal hideaway.
Here is the video we took the time before.
I hope you enjoy another glimpse into our lives and our country.

Love,

Jazzy Jack