Looking for the silver linings

My husband took a redundancy package from work last week. He’s been there over five and a half years, which is like a lifetime in mining! He pretty much saw it coming, and was more cranky that they made him fly in to work only to fly back home again the same day, than about the actual redundancy. Well, he was disappointed in a few other things too, but not actually sad to give up a weekly cross-country flight on the rubbish roster they’ve been on this year, and the “politics” of the job. And financially we’re in good shape, so there’s no stress about job hunting just yet. Still, it’s the first time both of us have basically been stay at home parents. Ever! Wish us luck

But there was an immediate silver lining as a consequence – I got to attend the Aurealis Awards! I was cancelling flights on Wednesday afternoon when it suddenly occurred to me that I could go, with just the baby to worry about. Lots of flight credits meant no out of pocket there, and the hotel had rooms, so I booked – as an added bonus, when I rang my aunt to let her know I was coming on a flying visit, I ended up with lifts to and from airport, and a babysitter for the afternoon/evening! I’m very spoilt

Had an absolutely excellent time, although it’s never long enough to see everyone or chat properly. Still, it’s enough to recharge the creative batteries and catch up, however briefly, with friends. And meeting people face to face for the first time is a highlight!

Cat Sparks did her usual brilliant job of capturing the action, but here’s a couple of photos I got of folks “frocking the Aurealis Awards”.

Rivqa, Lisa, Angela & Kirstyn

Donna & Kate

Thoraiya & Joanne

Richard & Daniel

Cathie, Katharine & Cat

Kate, Kaaron & Deborah

So, we’ve moved again!

Yes, we just moved three months ago. Yes, moving again so soon hurt, a LOT. And I’m very cross with the owner of the last rental who refused to let us sign for a four month period because she wanted to put the house on the market (house still not on market, nor is it occupied). Grrr. Still, we’re done now, and finally back into a home of our own! It’s been a busy week. I had uni marking due Monday, so had to finish that before I could start packing. Spent Monday arvo & all day Tuesday packing. Removalists came yesterday (and whinged the whole time – not impressed!). They finished about 5.30. Managed to get beds organised for us all, amongst kid commitments (husband bought Chinese home for dinner thank goodness!) and I was zonked out by 9pm. So weary!

Thanks to a baby who only woke for one nighttime feed then slept until nearly 7am, I woke up feeling quite chirpy! Lucky, as today was pretty full on as well!

Today’s achievements included:
Solar installation
Screen doors installed
Foxtel connected
Powerpoint & light switch in new room
Blinds measured up for new room
Cleaning done at old house (not by me!)
Kitchen almost unpacked (by me)
Our bed put together (by husband)

Things not achieved:
All the other boxes
Internet access (Telstra says it’s connected. I’ve borrowed a phone from them to test the line before we escalate to faults).

So. Many. Boxes.

Whoops, there went April…

Just scrolled back and realised it has been over a month since I did a proper update here. It’s been busy and May has completely caught me unawares so I’ve had to hit the ground running!

Alisa setting up the launch of One Small Step and The Bone Chime Song and Other Stories (and Asymmetry from TPP) at Conflux

I seem to have had deadline after deadline, some of them big, some small, but they’ve been piling up like crazy. Over the past month or so I have:

• had the house settle, and organised a bunch of renovations to happen before we move in (next week!).
• presented an hour long talk on getting published, thanks to CBCA Tas.
• attended kids’ school events and chauffeured them about to various things.
• got sick (just a cold, which luckily never really laid me low, but was annoying).
• had Mum & Dad visit, with the lovely touring about (mostly to find fishing spots for Grandpop & Master Ten) that entailed.
• went to Conflux, the spec fic Natcon in Canberra (just for two days, but was great!).
• launched two books.
• published more books/stories electronically.
• had Alisa come to visit for a week (wherein we made lots of plans and progressed some projects).
• had a husband home for almost the whole time as he was sick.
• edited and laid out the WASLA journal.
• proofed some cool projects.
• marked a bunch of uni assignments (okay, that’s still in progress…)
• socialised a fair bit.
• read some books
• lots more stuff I can’t remember.

And had a fairly unsettled baby throughout – he’s been sleeping shockingly, but touch wood is improving a bit both with longer day sleeps and less night waking. Hopefully next week’s move doesn’t muck him up again.

I’m a lot in love with our new house. Really not looking forward to the packing and moving and unpacking next week, but SO looking forward to being in this house. Husband got the trampoline put up today, and he and the kids have been around there swimming almost every day since it settled, despite the builders/painters etc being there! We have built in the garage to be a fifth bedroom, and it has BUILT IN BOOKSHELVES! Ridiculously excited about this, and the other shelving in the house. We also tiled some living areas, and got a fair bit of painting done. We’ve also got some new screen doors coming, and solar panels (to subsidise the heated indoor pool running costs!), but the house is just fantastic.

Might be a bit slack on the updates for a bit longer, but hopefully in another week or so I can get back into being more present!

Oh, I forgot!

Heh, we’ve had a couple of other little things this past few days. Bubs has started having a bit of “solid” food (rice cereal barely counts as solid!) – I’d forgotten how cute babies are when they are learning to eat! The perplexed look they get, the little tongue working, trying to understand the new textures and tastes – cute! So that’s a fun new thing.

Oh, and husband has sold his mine. I banked the final cheque today. That’s also fun

Saturday driving

Loaded up all the kids (plus bonus Flinthart offspring) yesterday morning and hoyed ourselves off down to Hobart. Dream run down (after 10 minutes by the roadside just after we left, when I realised all the podcasts and music were missing from my phone!) with no stops (no crying baby! no urgent toilet breaks!) to enjoy a lovely four or five hours with Tansy, Finchy & the girls. Far too many ideas now racing through my brain! I love having such creative friends. Not quite as good a trip home, but kids were generally pretty good. Was a lovely day, in all!

Spending today working on the very long list of completely and utterly urgent jobs that can no longer be put off. So much to do!