Happy New Year
I have written this before. Many times, actually. In my head whilst out for a run or in the garden or while cooking and a wrote it again on our trip back to Melbourne from holidays in Beechworth. In my head I needn’t “save draft” and can happily start again whenever a quiet moment comes along. And on holidays, there are many. But, out of my head and onto the page I really did write and finish a special post just after New Year, the first since 2010, and in my excitement to have finally summoned the courage to publish I deleted the whole thing. Poohf. Gone. It had taken me all day to write and out of practise, I neglected to save it. Without lamenting its loss too much, I did learn a lesson and I also felt very proud of my calm-it’s-ok-this-is-not-a-sign-not-to-write-again handling of the situation. I sat down, took a deep breath and went for a run. I’ll just have to write it again. So here I am. I’m very pleased to be back. – save draft- Done.
Since posting last, all those months ago, a lot has happened. I have, with my little family, experienced big changes, have shared in loss, much much love, laughter, happy times, difficult moments, excitement and all those bits that make up the everyday. I’ve gone back to work full time (!) and Ramzy is now a very, very happy stay at home dad. We decided to take a big leap and make a necessary change that has proven to be more than worthwhile. We now have lots of time together, I have been able to take on something really exciting at work and Ramzy gets to have that oh so special time that I got to have with M. M is, as usually, a bright, funny, creative, thoughtful and caring little kid who has just turned 3. I can’t believe it. We had a lovely party with all of her friends and our friends, a big green number 3 cake (that looked pretty awesome, I have to admit!), lots of lanterns in the garden and a little game of “high up lucky dip”. M had a blast and so did we. It was nice to have all of friends (new and old) together at our place. It was just really, really fun. After the party, Ramzy and I drank Rose in the garden surrounded by left over fairy bread crusts. M chilled out in her new sandpit and we congratulated our efforts on a birthday party well done. It also felt like a great beginning to 2012 and we resolved to have more get together so that we can spend time with our awesome friends and family more often. Next week, I’ll be heading back to work and starting my new role. Big and exciting (a little terrifying), I’m looking forward to it. I have such brilliant holidays and have loved all this time with M and Ramz, with most of our days spent hanging out in the garden or in Beechworth (more about that in the next post!). M and I have had many happy days out together too – just like old times – going to galleries and seeing friends at the park. Drinking coffee – well I did. Good times. And even though I am working full time now, I know that many more of these days are to come.
So, I have decided to dust of the blog and get writing again. I want to get this book club happening and get back to sharing books and ideas with you again. It was hard for me to write after my last posts.I just didn’t have my writing mojo and needed to focus on other things for a while. But 2012 is a year for taking action. I feel inspired and revved up. Come along with me! Waiting In Gums started as a book club and a space to write about ideas, plans, the day-to-day little things and to keep track as well. Keeping track is hard to do sometimes with life being so busy and is seemingly speeding by it is nice to keep a record or a journal, I suppose, of these special days. I have neglected to keep track of the books that I have read over the last year or so and I actually can’t remember all the books I’ve read. But I have read some great ones and I am thankful to my brother’s partner Brett for putting me onto some great books that have had a big impact on me. So I thought I would end this post and kick of Waiting In Gums 2012 by making a list. A list of the top ten books that I read last year…but not in any particular order. So here goes:
- Freedom, Jonathan Franzen
- To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee (brilliant!!)
- The Shipping News, Annie, Proulx
- The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen
- The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Muriel Barbery
- The Hours, Micheal Cunningham (I LOVED this book – thanks Brett!)
- Flesh and Blood, Micheal Cunningham (again, thanks Brett!)
- By Nightfall, Micheal Cunningham (yes, I really got into his books and went to see him speak. You could say I’m a bit of a fan now.)
- Norwedgian Wood, Haruki Murakami (beautiful)
- When God Was A Rabbit, Sarah Winman
Ok, is that 10? There were other books that I really enjoyed too but these were the first 10 that came to mind. I have also just finished reading Autumn Laing by Alex Miller and and now reading two books plus a lots of blogs (how am I going to manage back at work!). The holidays have given me a lot of space to read and I’ve especially enjoyed the quiet mornings when I am up with my coffee and M and Ramz sleep. I’m the early bird of the family it seems but hopeless at night. I have a few more days left until my new/old routine begins but I’m determined to keep up with the books and with you. I hope you’ll join me.
