You would have thought that with a send-off like this on Friday (my last day of work for the year) that 2020 would have taken the hint, read the room and declared the rest of the year drama and bad news free. But no, the year that keeps on giving has spoken from its almost…

And breathe…… because the official countdown to the SSG Manor 2.0 annual season of celebration can now officially begin. I’ve done my last weekend for work while the summer school holidays have also officially begun. It’s been quite a year for all of us but I think school life was probably the subject of the…

I didn’t expect myself to be as emotional as I was but it was what it was. After almost eight years, I ended things with my gym.  For all the usual excuses and reasons.  Variations on the theme of basically not being there enough in recent months: – the mum / work / life balancing…

Time’s just hurtling by, isn’t it?  This has definitely been one of those years where that’s been a positive.    November has had its moments for me.   Ranging from the very good to the very ordinary – they’ve all been memorable and character-building if nothing else.    My first takeaway coffee of  November was sipped…

I’m going to say it because I doubt there’s a soul in Sydney today who hasn’t said it as well. How.  About.  This.  Heat.  It’s energy-sapping and almost soul-destroying in its ability to make everything too much effort.  And it’s been relentless in pursuit of all creatures great and small.  Sun  up or sundown, the…

It’s just under 4 weeks until I’m off on annual leave and I’m consciously un-stressing in anticipation.  Going for the fuss-free option wherever possible.  Leaving things off my ‘to-do’ list if they are neither necessary or contributing in a positive way to the un-stressing process.   Just breathing.  Just being.  Just seeing.  It’s all sunshine and…

It’s beginning to look a lot like summer / Christmas / birthdays / New Years. To be honest, I was a little frightened that the holiday season glimmer that I usually see this time of the year filtered through would be a no show but fortunately this hasn’t come to pass.  I’m a creature of…

My favourite time of the year here in Sydney has Arrived.  I’ve got the last dregs of a cold today, my to-do list of life admin has doubled thanks to the happy addition of end of year events and I’m on the ‘one more coffee at 4pm’ level of daily caffeine ingestion but when I…

In Audible news this week, I’m listening to ‘More Than A Woman’, written and narrated by Catilin Moran. Make a cup of tea or get yourself a coffee because there’s much to discuss. Both about the book and the week that was and about being ‘More Than A Woman’. The week has been a mix…

We’re nearly at the business (read parties and good times) end of the year!!! Continuing to be counseled by Michelle Obama’s ‘Becoming’.  Her considered reflection and wisdom take my mind to places it needs to go on my commutes each day. The low key dramas of work today could only herald one thing – I’m…