from the south 4

"In the morning when from slumber you awake,
Find me sleeping like a baby by your side..."
I’ve been listening to a bit of Weddings, Parties, Anything lately.
And watching old episodes of Seachange on DVD, borrowed from the Coburg library.
And then, whammo, cut off from communications for a day or two, we opened last Friday’s paper to find the smiling face of Kristy on Page 4 and Catherine thought: “Wow, what has Kristy done to get into the paper?” before reading the headline and finding that her cousin had died in a bus crash in Egypt.

All of which points life in a certain direction…
Too much of a cliché?

The peak summer took us to Moe & Toora for Christmas day, back up to Heidelberg for Boxing Day, and to the big new stand at the MCG for the Test as Hussey rattled up the improbable ton. We sweated out a hot week leading to New Year with Justine & Ian & Ted & Katya sharing our house & sharing some time in the stifling humidity of the Coburg indoor pool.
New Year’s Eve (42.9°C for those afar, but who’s counting?) saw us attend the afternoon wedding of Seona & Peter, with half the assembled throng venturing from Ireland for the occasion. Black tie was causing a few overheating issues. Wonderful reception at the Grand Hyatt, for which Catherine & I left Stephanie in the hands of babysitters for the first time (my parents). ‘Twas difficult to leave her. So Happy New Year!

2006. We took our little girl camping last week with Jeff & Kirsten. Down to Cumberland River, just beyond Lorne, for a couple of nights under the stars. Steph lolled around & seemed to enjoy the outdoors, coming with us on a bushwalk up to Jebb’s Pool. Those baby-carriers are great. Our biggest concern was how noisy she would be overnight, but she was very quiet. A great fun trip, even though the wind sprung up and prevented an ocean swim. Maybe next time.

My application to study a 1-year Graduate Diploma of secondary teaching was accepted last week – so I’m off to uni (again) to become a High School teacher of science & geography. This fits very nicely into the Weddo’s/ Seachange/ Life philosophy. Teaching is something I enjoy & see as the most worthwhile thing I can do right now. Down the track, it will give me holidays concurrent with Stephanie & also, it is a very portable vocation. And the continual search for the next research contract & source of funding had become a cross too large to bear. That was no way to live.
Now I’m in the market for part time work and so is Catherine. The plan for 2006 is that, between us, we can earn one full time wage and have full time care of Steph, too. And to get some native plants into our yard. And to harvest from our vegie garden. And to plant a vegie garden… An exciting time ahead.

I hope, wherever this finds you, that all is well. Ciao from Coburg
"Some people pray for rain, some people pray for holidays
Some people pray for money without swelter
We just pray for two shifts at the same end of the day
And a life that is not quite so helter-skelter"
- WPA; Step in, step out