Author: Suzanne Robinson

Categories
Family

Jurassic World by Brickman

I love LEGO, my twin girls love LEGO and now my little boy loves LEGO.

We are also massive fans of Brickman. Who is also known as Ryan McNaught. Yes, his real name isn’t Brickman. And you probably wouldn’t be surprised to learn that I also watch LEGO Masters. Okay, so now you know it is a natural progression to have gone to the Brickman exhibit at The Australian Museum.

One exciting part of being in the city is catching trains. My little boy and I caught a train to Museum and the exhibit was a short walk from the station.

  • Alexander at Museum Station
  • Museum Station
  • Paddle Pop advertisement at Museum Station
  • Speedo Advertisement at Museum Station
  • We exited via Liverpool Street – Museum Station
  • Ready to go to see the Jurassic World Brickman Exhibit at The Australian Museum
My six year old boy and I visited the Jurassic World by Brickman exhibit at the Australian Museum. We saw so many LEGO dinosaurs and got hands on with all the LEGO. Learn what you an do at the exhibition.
Arriving at the Australian Museum

The exhibit was a secret surprise for my little boy, actually, it was a fun weekend with Mummy in the city.

About Jurassic World by Brickman

Dates: The exhibition is open until 17 July.

Location: The Australian Museum, Sydney, NSW
1 William Street Sydney NSW 2010 
If travelling by public transport get off at Museum Station, it is only a short walk to the Australian Museum.

Tickets: Tickets for a family of 4 are $95 and you can book your tickets at Ticketek

Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm

The Jurassic World Brickman Exhibit features over 50 large-scale dinosaurs, props, scenes, and activities made from over 6 million LEGO® bricks. Plus, in a Sydney exclusive, the newest Jurassic World by Brickman® dinosaur will be unveiled. Weighing in at 400 kilograms, the Baryonyx is over 4.8 metres long and made up of 102,317 LEGO® bricks. Relive the magic of beloved stories and characters from the Jurassic World franchise, as you embark on a thrilling journey across the island – Isla Nublar.

Walk through the iconic gates of the park (all made out of LEGO) and experience the inner workings of the Jurassic Worldlab. Venture into the baby dinosaur enclosure, where a life-size Brachiosaurus weighing well over 1.8 tonnes awaits! Encounter incredible models of Triceratops, Velociraptors, T.rex, and many more.

There will be 2.5 million LEGO® bricks for you to show off your own building skills. Get hands-on with LEGO® brick paleontology, mystery mosaics, island-building, hybrid dinosaur creations, and much more.

  • Alex being cheeky touching the dinosaur
  • Run as fast you can! There is a HUGE dinosaur.
  • Run faster!
  • Alex is trying to run away… the dinosaur is still there
  • Running is not enough with this enormous LEGO dinosaur

More than two years and 10,000 build hours have gone into the creation of Jurassic World by Brickman®, making it the biggest exhibition the Brickman team has ever created. This is a not to be missed experience for kids and adults alike.

LEGO Jurassic Fossil

New Jurassic Film out soon

If you are a Jurassic World fan like I am you will be excited for the new Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment film Jurassic World: Dominion debuts in cinemas in June 2022.

Jurassic World Brickman exhibit at the Australian Muesum

We had a blast at the exhibition. The dinosaurs and the world that was created were amazing and all out of LEGO. It must have taken ages and been hard work to create the signs, doors, lights, and of course life-like dinosaur statues.

It was fantastic that kids were able to be hands-on and get totally involved by creating their own LEGO pieces as well. Alexander spent hours creating his version of a Pterodactyl as well as some interesting art that was meant to be a dinosaur footprint but ended up being an artwork.

Be prepared to stay for hours longer for your LEGO-obsessed child to play with all the LEGO.

Getting hands-on with LEGO
So much to create in the Jurassic World with LEGO
Alexander added his art to the wall
The art and footprints on the wall
All the LEGO
Alex is proud of his art creation in LEGO
Creating his artwork

Brekkie with the Brickman

Would you like to meet Brickman? How about having breakfast with the man? I wish we could have done this as well… the exhibit was amazing. However, learning a few tips and techniques to make my LEGO creations more fabulous ( I can dream right?)

Ryan ‘the Brickman’ McNaught. Image from the Australian Museum website

You can join Brickman for conversation and a Masterclass with the only LEGO® Certified Professional in the Southern Hemisphere- Ryan ‘the Brickman’ McNaught. Enjoy a light breakfast in Hintze Hall before gaining insights and tips in the Masterclass, as Ryan answers your questions and takes you through a range of fun activities. Explore Jurassic World by Brickman® and snap a selfie with the Brickman himself.

Make sure to book to not be disappointed and have Brekkie with Brickman.

Friday mornings, 29 April & 27 May: 7:30 – 9:30am
All persons under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

An exclusive after-hours Masterclass for grownups with Ryan ‘The Brickman’ McNaught.

Late Night LEGO with the Brickman
Thursday nights, 28 April & 26 May: 8:30 – 10pm

This is perfect for adults who are LEGO lovers. Have a drink and learn from Brickman and find out how to improve your LEGO creations.

Book today to make sure you don’t miss out.

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Categories
Review

The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window

Are you in need of a new show to watch? Something that is captivating, and keeps you guessing?

Well if the answer is yes, then I have the show for you. Netflix’s new series called, The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window

I read a little about the show, and of course love Kristen Bell so watched the first episode and was hooked. I think I finished the whole first series in a weekend. You could do it in a day if you didn’t have interruptions with kids and other things to do.

The show is a suspense thriller but also has some dark humour rolled into it as well. I found myself guessing and yes there is a HUGE plot twist that I didn’t guess at all, so make sure to keep watching until the end.

This is one show that I now cannot what for series 2, and yes, I binged it.

The way it ends it indicates that there will be another series, and I hope I am right.

What is The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window about?

Anna (Kristen Bell) is homebound due to a tragedy that you don’t learn about until later in the show. You see her staring out her window and loosing herself in copious amounts of red wine. She sees a new handsome neighbour move in across the street and she starts to wonder about him and his little girl. One night while watching the world through her window sees a murder, well she thinks she did, but no one believes her. Now she is doubting herself and trying to prove what she saw to the local police by doing her own detective work.

This is another show that uses the whole Hitchcock Rear Window theme, the plot is advanced by the main character Anna staring out her window. I will be writing soon about another show “Only Murders in the Building” where it is very similar to Rear Window and in that post I will address why.

Here are two lines that I loved from the show:

“No thank you I don’t drink wine anymore.. I’ll have a vodka”

“You are no longer in my prayers”

Have you loved The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window? What is it you liked so much?

Also I wondered about the extremely long title. The meeting with the executives about this title would have been interesting, and it definitely gets you interested. I for one was curious about it and then got hooked. Maybe it is clever marketing and we will see longer titles?

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Categories
Family

I Hope The 2022 School Year Is Unbroken

Tomorrow my little boy starts grade one and then the next day my twin girls start grade eight, yep they are growing up fast.

The last two years have been up and down with lockdowns and schools mandating learning from home. I do hope that schools stay open and that kids will have an unbroken school year. Not only is it a struggle when kids are learning from home, it is a huge strain to help kids learn while you are also working full time.

Getting ready for back to school

My children do much better when they are at school for face to face lessons. I am also not cut out for homeschooling anyone. Although last year the kids had four months learning from home, the twins got awards from school and glowing report cards. Even the youngest got awards too.

It is sad to say goodbye to the holidays and will be back to the weekly schedule yet again. There are a few things I do like when school returns, the quiet time during the day that will finally allow me to think and get a few things done. I also love the fact that all kids will be with friends, learn new things and grow.

One other good thing about kids going back to school is that they will be so tired and sleep well. Yep, too much info and to do, so mentally and physically exhausted. A win win for mummy!

The youngest is super excited to be entering stage one, now grade one. He is keen to see his mates but not keen to go to school. He told me that he wants to stay home and play with mummy. I do hope that he changes his mind and has a good day tomorrow.

The thirteen year olds were not that keen to go back but it has grown on them. They have a good group of fiends and are keen to see them again at school (although they have been hanging out during he holidays). The girls also have been lucky to get their first choices for their starter electives and are excited to experience these subjects and get a taste of what high school is really like.

The girls also have some good mates that are starting grade seven as well and I hope that they welcome them warmly to the new school and help them feel at home. When the twins started high school some of the kids that they were friendly with were not very nice at all, due to the twins being the older kids in their year they are the same age as some kids in the year above but now they are a year apart the kids in the year above didn’t want to be friends. Which of course upset my girls no end.

So as the girls know how it feels, I hope they don’t do the same to their mates that are the year below them.

As long as the schools can stay open and we don’t have homeschooling it will be a better year than the last two.

Are your kids looking forward to going back or starting school?

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Categories
Lifestyle

I Want to Live in Bluey’s House

I have always wanted a Queenslander and the one in Bluey is exactly what I would like for a home. According to a Kidspot article the house if it was real and for sale, today would be worth well over
$4 million dollars!

Bluey’s House – I want it so badly!

As a mum to a kid obsessed with Bluey, I have had hours and hours of time to look at the house and dream of it maybe one day being mine. Below is my quick list of why I am lusting after the Heelers house and why it is so amazing:

The bench seat under the Poinciana tree
  1. High Ceilings and Period features
    The Heeler house has very high ceilings which I love as many new houses now days have very low ceilings and make you feel very inclosed and on top of others. The ceilings allow for more freedom of movement and of course more art to be hung on the walls.

  2. Wrap Around Verandah
    I love being outdoors and especially if the weather is great, and in Queensland that is practically nearly all year. Having a verandah that wraps around the whole house is a feature that I really want. When I was a baby I lived in a Queenslander with a wrap around verandah and there are pictures somewhere of me naked taking sun baths on my lambs wool rug. Not only can the kids play safely, you can have a BBQ with mates or just sit with a drink and watch the sunset after a long hard day. A verandah gives you more usable space – in my opinion more houses should have this feature.

  3. City Views
    Wouldn’t it be nice to sit on your verandah with a gin and tonic/glass of wine or cold beer and look at the lights from the city views from the comfort of your amazing house.

  4. Large and stunning backyard with bench seat around a Poinciana tree
    The Heelers backyard seems to be very spacious and not only do they have heaps of room to run around the family also have a stunning bench seat that is set around a huge Poinciana tree. Not only can you sit on the verandah but now with the bench seat you can also sit here and just relax with a drink, a book or just sit and meditate.

  5. Large bedrooms & Many Rooms
    For an older house the rooms are very large and generous and the house has many rooms. A play room, a study, bedrooms and more. It seems that the house is magical and always reveals more spaces that I didn’t know they had.

  6. Stained glass and French Doors
    I LOVE stained glass windows, not only do they look wonderful you can add some character to your home. French doors add style and allow you to open up the outside and keep with the style of the house too. The Heelers have all this and more!

  7. Modern Kitchen and Bathroom that keeps the traditional Queenslander Charm
    The kitchen in Bluey has bench seats, open layout and a table that allows all the family to seat around to enjoy dinners, lunches and breakfast.
The Heelers outside their house

So if you are like me and have been drooling over Bluey’s house you are not alone. It seems a quick Google search shows that many are wanting the Heeler’s house as much as I do.

I do wonder what Bandit and Chilli have done to afford a $4 Million dollar house? Maybe it was in the family? Maybe the Heelers bought it years ago when it was super cheap? Who knows.

If you really want to experience the Heeler’s house you finally can. Bluey’s house has been listed on Airbnb. I know my kids would adore this and especially the 6-year-old. How cool would this be!

Do you want Bluey’s house too? If so let me know what is your favourite part of the house?

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Categories
Family

Learn about my COVID Booster Experience

Me after my booster shot. Here I am well and had no idea of what was to come.

Last Friday I had my COVID Booster. I had heard reports that some people had bad reactions and some nothing at all. I had no idea what group I would end up in. Below is a photo of me after my booster shot and well before I knew if I would be well or not.

Come 2am Saturday morning it was clear that I ended up in the bad reaction group. I woke to shaking, shivering, feeling absolutely freezing, wanting to throw up (although that never happened I did feel very nauseous). To add to these symptoms I also had a very high temperature that I could not shake.

To make myself feel warm, I added long pants, a jumper, a beanie, bed socks to my freezing feet and about 5 extra blankets to my bed. I thought this would instantly help, but NO I was still freezing and shaking and shivering. Not good at all.

I also could not get comfortable and found myself not sleeping. I was so tired and yet struggled to fall asleep. My pillow was uncomfortable and so was my bed, nothing was right.

I continued to have high temperatures for the next 2 – 3 days, body aches, feeling of being nauseous and was exhausted that I could close my eyes and instantly be asleep.

I was annoyed that this was affecting me so badly. I was also thinking that if this is a taste of COVID I don’t want it. I am glad to get vaccinated and hopefully have this protect me and my family. However, fully vaccinated people can still get the virus and can still get very ill, the only positive about being vaccinated is that it is meant to help you not get too ill and need ICU hospitalisation. I am not sure about this as I for one have not contracted COVID and don’t want to, but with the number of cases and the fact more and more are getting it, it might happen regardless.

I was very angry that I lost my weekend to feeling ill from a vaccination. Yes, I chose to do it. And yes, I am pro-vaccination. I feel that it is the right thing to do to protect me, my family and others.

I’m doing my part and making sure that our family is protected as much as we can possibly be. The youngest is booked into his first shot in February and then his final one in April. The twins cannot get their booster as it is not available for those under 18’s currently.

Hubby got his booster shot yesterday and has fallen into the group of nothing happened at all. Typical he had a good run and managed to feel fine. I wonder why he had a better reaction than I did?

My first COVID vaccination was fine, but then my second was horrible. I felt like my bones were cold, I had temperatures, body aches and felt like I was the walking dead for at least a week. I was hoping that the booster shot would be like my first but it was not to be.

With school soon to start, I hope that the case numbers stay low and don’t close schools. My concern is that due to the kids not being able to get their booster shots they might be vulnerable to the virus. Also if there is an outbreak at school it might close and homeschooling might start again. I am not a fan of homeschooling as it didn’t work well for my kids and our household, and it is very hard to homeschool while working full time too!

Schools are saying that kids need to be tested multiple times a week with RAT tests and these tests are in short supply so god knows how they will acquire over 2 million tests for all kids to get a couple done each week. One report was saying that parents might be needed to supervise kids due to a teacher shortage. Not sure how this will work as parents are working, will need to go through the working with a kids safety check and some minimum training even to just supervise kids.

I do hope that schools remain open and that they eventually allow kids under the age of 18 to get their booster shots. However, I am not sure how things will work if they have to constantly get tested each week to attend school, what happens if they cannot get tests to do the test in the first place? Will the child be allowed to go to school? I am not sure what the process is going to be and I for one am finding it rather confusing.

Have you had your booster shot? Were you well?

Are you concerned about how back to school and testing will work? I think many of the mixed messages about how you are not a close contact and when to get tested is just very strange. It has not helped things that tests have been hard to get during the holiday period.

There was a news article stating that Omicron is going to be the last wave of COVID where others say that we will be constantly living with COVID but hopefully not in a life-threatening way. I don’t know how true this is, it is all very scary from my perspective and I for one don’t want to get it or have it infect my family or friends, or anyone else for that matter. I want it gone so that we can all live our lives again.

Let me know your thoughts.

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Categories
Recipes

Make Mini Meat Pies

Would you like a super easy meat pie for your party? How about dinner or lunch? Or your Australia Day celebration?

Well, I have an easy recipe for you and it is very yummy too!

Preheat the oven: Heat the oven to 180°C or 356 °F

INGREDIENTS

  • 500 grams of beef mince (You can choose chicken, pork or turkey if you wish)
  • Frozen puff pastry sheets
  • 2 carrots grated
  • 2 big cups of chopped mushrooms
  • Soy Sauce – I added a sprinkle when cooking the mince
  • 2 spanish onions – finely cut
  • 1 brown onion – finely cut
  • 1 pack of Masterfoods Spicy Chilli Con Carne (this is used as sauce rather than a gravy)

METHOD

  • Take out 4 sheets of pastry to defrost
  • Cut up the onions and add them to the fry pan
  • Add the mince
  • Add the soy sauce
  • Add the grated carrot
  • Add the Spicy Chilli Con Carne sauce mix and then add the pouch with water to get all the sauce out and add to the sauce in the fry pan
  • Cook all ingredients until the water in the sauce has reduced a little but all as you need to have the sauce there to add to the mixture for the pie
  • Once all ingredients are cooked for the inside of the pie, turn off the fry pan
  • I used a muffin and friand tin to put my puff pastry in. I did find that the friand tin did it better. Also you will see that my pastry was not perfect and actually more rustic than I was hoping for.
  • Cut out a good square of pastry that will match the bottom and sides of the tin. I then pressed the pastry down to the bottom and the sides.
  • I then filled the pastry pie in the tin with the filling from the fry pan and finished off each individual pie with more pastry. This was measured by seeing if a big glass was a little bit bigger than the top of the pie width for each pie in the tin. I used a big gin glass to cut out a circle to then pinch closed on top of each indivual pie.
  • Bake for 30 minutes or until the pastry is very golden brown and looking crunchy.

I served the pies with a salad. It was very yummy and filling.

POST FEAST REVIEW

I thought that making pies would be easy and I was right. It really isn’t hard. However, I don’t really have a pie tin and made do with using a muffin and friand tin as a substitute. It worked out well with these tins but I did notice that the friand tin worked better.

The pastry was a bit clumsy and rustic but worked on the whole. A few pies had their bottom give out a little when I attempted to remove them from the tin.

I found that the pies were just the right size and a salad or vegetables for dinner. If you do decide to make this you can make a few different pies and then mix and match to have a few different ones on your dinner plate.

The pies were very tasty and the Spicy Chilli Con Carne sauce made it very tasty indeed as well as the chewy and melt in your mouth mushrooms.

I did read a few recipes but made it up as I went along, although this alarmed and annoyed my husband. He thought that I was following a recipe and got quite frustrated to learn I wasn’t. I then pointed out it was an experiment and he wasn’t cooking so it really didn’t matter.

WOULD I MAKE THIS AGAIN?

Yes, I would make this again. I think I need to get proper individual pie tins or make one big pie and have it as a slice of one pie for each person at dinner or lunch. It was rather quick and simple and for the remaining pies, I can have them in the fridge and just heat up for the next meal.

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Categories
Family

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all. I hope you are having a good day with family and friends.

I still need to wrap presents for the kids and get things ready for Santa to arrive. I have managed to bake presents for the adults as a token gift, but the kids all get some presents. Yes, we are not buying anything for the adults.

Do your kids write a note to Santa mine did, and now the youngest wants to. I hope that Santa has heard what the kids want and they are super surprised tomorrow.

I have left it very late to wrap presents so will be wrapping presents later tonight, and hope that it will be done quickly so I might relax and then to bed to finally get some sleep before my three kids decide to wake me too early.

I hope whatever you are up to tomorrow you have a wonderful day.

Categories
Family

Frazzled

Lately, I have felt frazzled. On edge, tired, annoyed, exhausted, overworked, too much to do, waiting for something to happen and then nothing does, upset, worried about money, worried full stop about everything, unable to do things I had planned, sad that I had to cancel plans that I was looking forward to and a lot of other things that I find I cannot name.

I think all these feelings have stemmed from the COVID Pandemic.  As well lockdowns making sure that we are all stuck in a small house and the outcome means that there is no time for anything that I wish to do, or the space to do it, or the money to do it and when I might finally have time I am looking after kids and that means I cannot do my thing at all anyway, so I don’t bother. Yes, no time for me at all! 

Sometimes I feel rather sad, miserable, and downright depressed. Sometimes I am feeling happy and upbeat, and then most of the time I am feeling downtrodden and ordinary. 

I am getting up and doing what feels like five million jobs. I do a week’s work, and then do more work at night, to then have children argue with me about just helping around the house.

Normally I keep myself busy but for the last two years, I feel like I have been running a marathon non-stop and not getting a break. 

Oh, what would I give for an all-expenses trip to a beach somewhere? On this beach, I would have a cocktail in my hand, and I would just be lying on the beach resting. Oh, there is that word, resting….

I have not had much of that lately. The good old downtime to rest. God knows when I have really rested. When I am resting, I am worrying about all the things that are yet to be done. 

My weekends consist of being with kids and attempting to get a very messy house for the week ahead, and of course that comes with a tonne of clothes to wash, fold and ask that people put away, but they get added to the bedroom floor and then tossed around, thrown, and of course stomped on to then need washing again. 

Geez…. Why can’t someone just do as I ask the first time!!!!!! Put the clothes away. Pick up the mess on the floor! C’mon you say, and all you get is yelling, moaning and doors being slammed in your face. So of course, you give up as all you wish to do is to rest and have a quiet house for a change, however that never happens. 

Not sure if being frazzled is a medical term or a condition. Maybe it is a direct outcome of the COVID lockdowns and aftermath it has caused. 

This is quite accurate.

You might have thought that it is all getting better in the world. Well, I thought so too. However, my car was recently stolen, driven terribly that it was practically falling apart and then set on fire. Yes, burnt everything down to the ground. If it hadn’t been for the weeks of non-stop rain the stupid horrible beasts and dickheads that took my car could have caused another bushfire. Yes, it was dumped and set on fire in the middle of the national park…. not smart but these are the idiots that steal cars so I guess they don’t think about that type of thing. 

I bought the car before the four-month lockdown and have hardly driven it. It seems rather sad but also very ironic, that it is now gone. I did think that I caused the lockdown with my car purchase.



I am still very miserable about the loss of my car. I miss it. My car gave me independence, it allowed me to do whatever I wanted, and now it is gone. I have been fortunate to have good insurance so now I need to find a replacement.  I just now need to do all the research I did the first time with my car that is no longer here anymore. Currently, I do have an idea of what I want but it is a bit out of reach now, and yes, another thing to be annoyed about!

Also, a new COVID variant making infections increase is not a good sign of what is to come. I do hope that we don’t have another lengthy lockdown. I could not handle work and home-schooling again. The only solution for this I believe is to lock things down again but personally, I don’t want that to happen either if we have too many more I wonder what the solution will be other than a lockdown?  

Let’s just hope that we will still be able to travel in our state as the kids and I are really looking forward to visiting their Grandma and Grandad and also the beach. No offence to my in-laws but the kids, especially the youngest is hanging for the beach (they are excited to see their grandparents but the beach is the highlight at the moment) and I am right there with them. I think we need it after being cooped up not being able to travel.

My fix for feeling frazzled is a holiday (It would be nice to have a little holiday on my own as that would allow for less frazzle). A holiday where I can rest, not worry, just be and finally relax. However, this holiday is coming soon, it is still a while away yet and one that will be greatly welcomed. 

I am sure I am not the only one feeling frazzled this year. Have you been feeling all mixed up lately? Is it a feeling of being frazzled and on edge? I feel like this year has just piled more terrible things on top of each other that you just shrug your shoulders and say, of course, yes it makes sense that would happen. 

After I am done with work, I need to really focus on getting organised for Christmas. I have the gifts but need to wrap them and loads more to be all good to go for Christmas Day.  I just want to be finally done for a bit and put my feet up for a bit longer than 5 minutes, I am sure you know what I mean.

So, as you can see 2021 has been a HUGE year, and I am sure you are in a similar situation. It would be nice to have a bit more luck in 2022 and for the car and holiday gods to smile on me in 2022. 

I’ve now put my out of office on and I am officially on holiday! Let the relaxing begin.

Let me know how you are going? Have you been feeling frazzled too? 

Categories
Lifestyle

The Global Realignment

The global pandemic has made us all rethink everything!  Yes, everything….

Our jobs.

Where we live.

Our lives.

Our relationships.

And what makes us happy

           and what would we rather be doing. 

There have been so many articles about the “great resignation”, some have called it the great reshuffle, and I personally feel it is the great realignment.

Although the COVID pandemic has been horrendous, horrible and devastating to so many people worldwide. It has finally made businesses see that employees can truly work remotely and function just as well as if they are in the office. 

For years there has been the capability and technology to allow for remote work, for years organisations have told us their propaganda and spouted how flexible and family friendly they are. Join us and see how we embrace flexible working, however if you really wanted to have a fully remote or more flexible role in the past this was frowned upon. Maybe it would have happened for long term employees?  Maybe it happened for the executive team but not for many in other roles, even though many roles are all computer based and not client facing, companies still demand you front up at an office for face-to-face working. 

I do admit that being in the office and having some time with actual people is good but being able to work from home is ideal in my book.

The problem with the world before was that the promise of the carrot, yes, the idea of flexibility that really wasn’t flexible.   

If it was never offered at your work, there was always a reason. You just started at the company, we need you in the office, it is good for morale and so on to have people all together. And so, it went on. 

Many roles that I applied for had the promise of working from home, and were all computer based and not client facing. Yes, all these jobs can be done online, and you guessed it, you had to travel to be in the office to do a job that can also be done from home very effectively.

As a mother to three kids I need flexible options. I also don’t live in the middle of the city. Yep, I do love to travel (Travel when I’m going somewhere amazing like a beach holiday, or somewhere overseas is what I long for when I think of travel), but to waste travel every day when I can maximise my time working from home is ideal, and what I need in my life at the moment. 

I find it sad that it took a worldwide health crisis to make workplaces embrace the idea of working remotely. 

One saying that has been popular online is that “We expect women to work like they don’t have children and raise children as if they don’t work”.   I cannot wear all the hats I am supposed to at all times. Why is it that during the pandemic that women were the ones that were greatly affected with employment? It is interesting that women are still the ones that suffer the most in a crisis…just sad really. 

So, getting back to the “great reshuffle” or what the world should be like for the world of work. 

With so many people able to finally embrace remote work they have relooked at where they are living. Why not move to the beach? Why not move to the country? You can now!   If you were living on a yacht and had internet you could sail around the world and still work, it is up to you. 

It has become clear that we need to have a real focus on our mental health, lifestyle and have more time with family. The last few years we have been all working hard, been super stressed and in desperate need of a holiday and down time. 

However, for many a break or even a holiday is a far-off dream or wish.  So many have been unemployed due to the pandemic and in turn had to put bills on hold and were lucky if they kept their mortgage paid or if renting had to move in with family or friends. It has been a hard and tough financial road and for many they are working extra jobs to get back on track and pay back the bills that have been piling up. 

Now with restrictions easing, borders slowly opening, offices opening, and businesses welcoming customers back Australia is getting back to some sort of normal, although with QR code check ins, social distancing and some mask wearing. 

With the hope of life getting back to a new normal many are finally now rethinking what they truly want out of life?

Does this job give me joy?  Yes, we are Marie Kondoing our jobs. Does where I live allow me to do what I want? Does it make me happy? 

With the fact that many are working remotely you are not tied to an area, in fact you could be working anywhere that has internet access. We are now really looking at what is beneficial for us as individuals and the family too.

On employment sites I have noticed that many advertisements are listing that the role is ‘on site’, many of these jobs can still be done remotely and have a day or two in the office, if needed, but 100% can be done from your office at home. 

I wonder how many are not applying for these roles that say must be ‘on site.’ It has been called an employee market at the moment and companies not embracing remote work and making it a part of their business will lose out on talented employees. 

One candidate I spoke to said that she interviewed for a content marketing role and the very young HR recruiter said, “With a young family would you be able to do your job while working from home”. Geez! Talk about already making your mind up about a person and her situation. This person has had years of experience working from home and it wasn’t an issue and said as much. However, with these glam young things (who I’m sure don’t have children and have no idea of what it takes to work and be a parent) making decisions about women who do have a family and a job is disgusting. I thought that in 2021 people where not supposed to do this and especially from a young woman as well. This example is really making the case for the business to force the employee into physically coming into the office. 

Personally, why would you want to not have a flexible work life, why would you not want to be available to your children, why would you want all the stress from commuting all the time. There are better ways, and these have been proven in the last two years. 

Remote work and flexibility need to be embraced and adopted by all businesses to allow people to have a life and also a job. Rather simple really.

I feel that many will not want to be told to be in an office after working remotely for so long. You cannot say that it hasn’t worked…this used to be the excuse before, we cannot do it and the structure is not set up for working from home…NOT ANYMORE!

So why do I think the current issue with the workforce is the “great realignment”

The “great realignment” is getting us all to how things should be. Value our family, value our friends, value our health and lives more rather than work non-stop and burn out.  The focus before was all about being physically present to do work, but we have all seen that even if we are not psychically present at an office the work gets done.

Things still happen and the wheels are still turning. This realignment is something that I think we need to factor into all corporations to make sure that we are not falling back to old ways and demanding that everyone turns up to be marked off a roll at work. Investing in people and prioritising ways we can be more flexible and lifestyle friendly is what is needed to attract the bright and talented staff to any future company. 

Remote working is not just for younger workers. Mature age and older workers want more freedoms too. I think in the years to come there will be a dramatic shift away from organisations that are not willing to offer remote work options to their employees. Those that don’t offer this flexibility will find it tough to recruit staff, especially if they are not open to what it means to be a working parent. 

What do you think would happen if we all decided to not accept jobs if they don’t offer flexibility and work from home options?

I do understand some jobs need us to be there to do the job. However, for these roles we could factor in more down time, more RDO’s, help with care if you have kids or family that needs assistance, and of course support for further training and education pathways. 

With different strains of COVID continuing to happen we need to make sure that we are set up to continue to work remotely no matter what the situation, we can keep on going. 

Are you an advocate for keeping this flexibility in your work? Do you work from home and love it?

What do you think about all the job ads that are saying you must be ‘on site’ for roles that are computer based?

Let us know your thoughts, and send in a comment to this blog post.

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Family

The Importance of Clean Underpants

Vector Cartoon Red Mens Underwear. Male Briefs.

I took my five-year-old to one of his friend’s birthday parties a few weeks back now, and while the kids were playing some of the mums and I were chatting.

The conversation was about making sure you have clean undies in case you get hit by a bus.

Everyone thought it was odd that our mums told us the same thing. I pointed out it is interesting that it has still been told regardless of age difference and cultural background.

Stylish red clean underpants

We pondered the reason for making sure we had clean and good knickers on in case we were hit by a bus or any other heavy vehicle. It might not be a bus that someone has an unfortunate adventure with. It could be a multitude of other horrible options, and not just a bus.

However the saying “Make sure you are wearing clean underwear, you might get hit by a bus” is not a saying that is only said in Australia. A quick look online shows that this saying is said in America, France, The United Kingdom, New Zealand and Canada. It is possibly said in other places but this is what I could find on Google.

My theory of why my mum said I needed clean undies was just to make sure that I wasn’t wearing stinky old clothes.

Maybe this was a weird way to make sure kids wore clean clothes, scare them about an accident that will most likely never happen!

Personally I don’t think the paramedics, doctors, nurses or anyone would be interested in your knickers if you had a horrible accident. I think their first priority is to make sure you are well, still breathing and tend to your injuries, and yes the sexy undies that you are wearing are not something that people will comment on. Or if you are wearing your daggy every day comfy undies you will be safe from the fashion police at the doctors.

Could it be if you are wearing a skirt or dress and the wind blows your skirt or dress up that your best undies are on display…. admittedly if this happened I would love to be wearing my lacy best and not looking like I’m in my comfy nana undies. However, I really wouldn’t want this to happen at all. However it did but not like you think…

I had to pull over on the side of the M4 (one of the main highways in Sydney), one of the girls when she was about 5 or 6 threw up all over the car! Yes disgusting and I had to get out and sort it all out. Change clothes, get a towel and do what I could. It was about a 40 degree summer day and I was in a dress, It was windy and while bent over dealing with the throw up incident a gust of wind picked up my dress and displayed my black stretchy undies to the whole of the M4. Not glamorous or stylish but it happened. I couldn’t do much about it, and I hope it put some smiles on peoples faces.

One concern is that telling kids, especially girls that they have to have good undies on at all times is a worry. Why? Who is going to see your undies? Why does it matter? It is not like your going to be flashing your undies to everyone! Also people will not think less of you if you do not have on your best ones, no one cares!

I think that telling girls to always be dressed to the best is not great, you need to dress for comfort and do what feels right. Mind you, I asked hubby and his mum said this to him as well, he had to wear clean undies in case of a bus accident too! So I was happy it wasn’t just girls it was said to.

Also if you are indeed in a terrible accident the emergency services will most likely cut off your clothes, so it might be best to not wear the expensive and best pair of knickers. Although, if you are the type of person to wear stunning underwear to feel good, why not. If it makes you feel fabulous, do it! Just don’t do it if your mum said, “Make sure to wear clean underwear in case you get hit by a bus”

I suppose it isn’t just the worry of bus accidents that clean underwear is needed for, whenever I go away I do always pack a lot more underwear. I look at the days that I am away and always add about 3-4 extra pairs. Who knows you might have an accident, get wet, fall over or yes, get hit by a bus! Basically no harm in being prepared and if you need them, you have them, if you don’t you can leave them in your suitcase.

Maybe the whole saying has made me an over packer of underpants?
It might have implanted a real concern about any future accidents that could result in me needing clean underwear. Do you over pack underwear when you travel? (mind you with lockdown there has been no travel, so no need to pack any undies ever!)

Are you telling your kids that they need to wear clean underpants in case they get hit by a bus too? I think I am guilty of this. Let me know your thoughts. Also I have been conditioned to say it from my mum and nana so don’t blame me here…seems like everyone was told this weird saying.

Categories
Lifestyle

Have you forgotten how to morning?

My work office has opened back up due to restrictions easing and this Tuesday I was lucky to be able to travel into the city, see the team I work with, and experience working from the office for a change. (I am still nearly 100% remote but do enjoy the day each week in the office).

Not much you can do if you have forgotten the perfume.

I managed to get up early enough to allow a leisurely breakfast, shower, and allow for makeup and hair.

To make the morning routine easier I always have my clothes sorted, bag packed and a few essential items ready to go for the two-hour journey to the city. Yep, it is two hours each way by train. I could make it quicker by driving, but that would mean fighting with city traffic and paying through the nose for parking. I would rather sit on the train do some blogging, listen to a podcast or possibly catch up on sleep?

While on the train I got super involved in doing things on my laptop. I then realised that my Macbook needed a software update(of course it did!). I downloaded the update, then when it was all ready to install it had no room on the hard disk to install the update. Okay I thought, I would remove files and get them transferred to the cloud and then remove them from the laptop, easy really. However, while trying to do this I nearly missed the fact that I had to change trains and just got off at the right stop to get to the next train.

I decided to leave my computer issue until later, yes it can all wait. It has waited this long, what is a few more days?

While on the city train I had a silly thought. What station do I go to get my train home? Is it Wynard? No, I’m sure it isn’t. Oh wait, it is Central. I have to go to Wynard to get to Central to then get my train home. Phew! I figured it out.

You are that tired that you don’t get the coffee in the cup and fall back to sleep.
Maybe mornings are not good for anyone!

I do know how to do this! I have done it a million times. I am a city kid, I grew up in the city. I know this. However, after not being on a train for over four months, not having to be anywhere and working from home non-stop, I was troubled by the answer not coming to my head more quickly. Yes, why was I asking myself this question?

More like what is happening. It might be a while before the normal station is fully functional.

Have you had moments when you are simply wondering what to do next? I think it is because we had no pressure to do anything for months, there was no need, and we were stuck at home and in our own LGA’s (Local Government Area/Council). Now with the world opening back up again, we have to go back to the way we were, well with facemasks, social distancing and QR Codes.

One of my colleagues said that she “Has forgotten how to morning”, and I then thought that is a brilliant topic for a blog post. So thank you for the idea!

Exactly I think doing nothing and a huge holiday is in order. What about you?

This workmate said that she had no idea what to wear, what day it was and getting things organised in the mornings before lockdown. Yes, the morning routine is now null and void. Maybe it never really was a routine, maybe it was more of an organised mess and if it went well just a whole lot of luck.

Another colleague said she rolled over and asked her partner to walk the dog and rolled over and went back to bed.

Have you forgotten how to morning?

Let me know.

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Review

Silent Pool Gin

See my wonderful gift from Silent Pool Gin

I was lucky to be sent a gift box from Silent Pool Gin. This gift box included a bottle of Silent Pool Gin and a stunning glass for my gin and tonic’s that was decorated with fabulous gold flowers just like my gift box.

This fantastic gift was a nice surprise during lockdown. It really put a HUGE smile on my face.

I do love gin and enjoy testing out all the different types that are now available.

The Luxury Gift Pack from Silent Pool Gin
The very pretty box that the Silent Pool Gin and Glass came in

With such pretty bottles for gin, it means that I cannot get rid of the bottles. Maybe they might be good water bottles for the next dinner party?

  • The pretty Silent Pool Gin Glass
  • Inside the fabulous glass from Silent Pool Gin

I was very surprised to get a very big and pretty glass alongside my new bottle of Silent Pool Gin. It is so pretty and makes me feel very glamourous when I have my sundowner.

If you have no idea what a sundowner is it is any drink that happens once the sun goes down. My Nana called her Gin and Tonic’s a sundowner and by the way, they were drunk regardless of where the sun was…yes the sun could still be up and it was still called a sundowner.

“Suzi the sun is down, see…. we can now have a sundowner!” said my Nana

I would then say, “Nana but the sun is still up?” As a kid, I was very confused, but now it makes perfect sense.

What did I think of Silent Pool Gin?

The decoration of the bottle, glass, and gift box really impressed me. It looks regal and very fancy.

Having gin delivered was much needed, as I had just finished a bottle of gin that I was testing out.

I really liked Silent Pool Gin as it has floral and slightly herbaceous flavours. It is perfect with a twist of orange or lemon.

I have tried the gin with homemade SodaStream and added fresh lime juice as well as slices of lime too! It tasted delicious and really made the drink pop with the addition of fresh juice.

Enjoying a Silent Pool Gin – It was a Gin and Tonic
What an attractive bottle and glass, thanks to Silent Pool Gin

Some drinks from Silent Pool Gin below

Would I buy Silent Pool Gin Again?

Yes, I would, it had a nice floral and refreshing taste that makes it a perfect summer drink or evening cocktail after work.

You can buy a bottle of Silent Pool Gin from Dan Murphy’s for $75 a bottle.

I did love it so much that I have finished the bottle and now need a new gin for my sundowners. Maybe that was lockdown or homeschooling that made the bottle go faster? I am not quite sure, but I think it was more like it was super yummy so it got drunk.

Categories
Family

Is It Pandemic Fatigue?

I don’t know about you but I am exhausted.

I feel like I am running on fumes.

If you really want to know how tired I am, all my cells need a 6-month nap to be able to replicate again, that’s how tired I am!

A very true picture of me needing sleep

I blame the constant stress of the COVID pandemic. The current climate has meant that I feel always on edge, wearing so many hats that it is not possible to do everything for all roles in one day and at the end of each day I feel like I have run a marathon, although I haven’t done any strenuous exercise. I also feel like I have achieved NOTHING!

I am mentally spent. I am running on empty and in desperate need of a break. I find that I am at my wit’s end.

With week 16 (starting tomorrow) and the new freedoms, we are allowed due to the higher rate of vaccinations, I am now able to go to a shop and buy something. I am now able to go to a cafe and eat, and being able to visit friends and family is just an amazing thing after four months of not being able to leave my LGA (local government area/council).

Monday the 18th of October my little boy returns to his Kindergarten class with his teacher. He is very excited and has really missed his teacher and his classmates. On the 25th of October, my twins return to grade 7 for the last few weeks of the year. One of the girls is super excited and the other is not keen as she has enjoyed working from home. Mummy and Daddy are very happy to have all kids back at school soon and we hope that all three kids really enjoy seeing their friends, teachers and getting more out of their school work with finally learning with face to face lessons again.

Gift Baskets and Hampers Delivered



There is light at the end of the tunnel and having kids back at school will make the house mine again for a while. Although the time that is mine I will be working so busy on other things, the house will be nice and quiet for a change.

I am finding it tough as we navigate again through the end of this long lockdown and find that I just want to fall in a heap and not get up for a while. This cannot happen as I need to solider on and keep working and plodding along. I need to work, I need to keep going for the family and all the things I do to keep the house, kids and life going.

Oh, how I wish I could travel somewhere to rest. Somewhere warm that will pamper me and let me rest. It would be nice to have a fancy resort but currently, the only thing that I am drooling over is a beach, sunshine and being in a room that will allow me to have time alone and of course a place that has room service so I don’t have to think about anything other than rest. At this point, I could be at the local hotel and never leave my room, an easy holiday!

Lately, I have had a million and one ideas about things I would love to be working on, however, my body and mind are not in sync. I find that I am either so tired I cannot keep my eyes open, or I am not thinking straight and cannot do justice to my ideas and thoughts. So instead of doing, I have prioritised sleep and rest as I believe that my body is saying that this is needed.

Below is what I would love to do while on holiday…yes not an actual picture of me.

This not doing is also making me very frustrated and annoyed. I see all these people getting so much done during lockdown and I am just trying to get out of it with everyone in one piece so to speak.

Maybe it is the pandemic that is giving me brain fog? Maybe it is the stress of the unknown and the financial crises that we have faced during COVID? I like many of you have been negatively impacted by COVID. We have been lucky to remain well but we have suffered terribly financially. We were very close to losing everything…yes everything we have worked over 20 years to build!


I know that we have been lucky in some respects and I thank my stars that I have a job that allows remote working and hubby got a job in July that has also been happy for him to work from home. I have been focusing on what I am grateful for, my house, health of family, jobs, being with my children, and so much more. I know others are not that lucky and I am very grateful for what we have.

What I would love to be doing now

It feels silly saying that I feel so out of sorts all the time. I feel silly thinking that I am on edge and worried about things all the time. I know it really isn’t silly, but I think that people might think it is silly because I should be over it by now. I should be adult enough to be on top of things.

In actual fact, I just want to stop being an adult for a while. What about you?

Having things taken away from you is tough; Your job, maybe your house, not being able to travel, not knowing when things will change, what is the point of making any plans when they all get cancelled and so on!


I suppose living for years with constant stress isn’t good for you at all. I feel for all the people working hard to make sure they pay their rent/mortgage, keep food in the bellies of their families and the lights on. It is a hard slog and one that makes you super super exhausted. All this chaos also means that you are not functioning as your best self.

So I as I write this I am feeling over it all. I am cver all the crazy with kids at home. Over asking for kids to help and get attitude and arguments back, over having to be the teacher at home, over being the one policing everything, over having to be working full time, over not having time alone, over not being able to get to do anything I want to do, over not being able to travel, over having to catch up on bills due to a health crisis that was and is out of my control, over everything! Basically, I just want to be left alone for a while and for the house to be quiet for a decent period so that I can think.

However the quiet in the house and being left alone will not happen for another 18 or more years as I have children and one that is very young. I can live in hope though.

One other stress is what to do about Christmas, yes it is fast approaching and I have not organised anything at all. Have you got things sorted for Christmas? Or are you in a bit of a panic also about it? I do hope that I can work some miracles and find some things for all 3 kids that they will like, and that won’t break the bank. Send suggestions if you have them.

Tips to help you beat pandemic fatigue from NSW Health:

“Practice mindfulness: be in the moment and don’t dwell on problems or negative news of the day.

Take one step at a time: Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and allow yourself to take a break if you need it. Eat well: stay alert with a healthy balanced diet. Forego unhealthy snacks and temptations.

Stay energised: do regular exercise that you enjoy. This is a great way to clear your mind and boost your energy levels.

Rest: switch off from mobile devices or computers prior to going to bed. Give yourself time to relax and de-stress from the day to ensure you get a good night’s sleep.”
(https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/update/Pages/pandemic-fatigue.aspx)

How are you faring with the end of lockdown and many restrictions ending? Let me know how you are feeling?

Maybe once all kids are back at school they will be happier? Being with their peers and being able to do things they couldn’t do before will of course make them feel better.

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Family

Monty Python Was Right

Last night the twins were asked yet again to tidy their very messy room and yet again we were met with teenage moody angst.

Not the kid’s room but gives you an example of what I am referring to – oh and leaving expensive computer equipment on the floor!


They have been testing out the mannerisms and ways in which teenagers communicate for a few years now. Maybe this was so that the transition to actual teenagehood is a seamless occurrence and one that parents question when the moody, grumpy and yelling child actually started this weird and bizarre behaviour.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this means that the parent gets eased into the unruly behaviour stage and it seems to now be a normal occurrence. What are your thoughts?

So going back to the messy room and me asking for it for the billionth time to be tidied up….the kids think that my angst at the mess is not real and therefore me asking for them to be responsible for their own mess is a silly ask.

Not only do I get non-helpful people I get a lot of the following:

  • Moaning
  • Grunting
  • Stomping of feet
  • Yelling
  • Slamming doors
  • Saying yeah I know yah I will do it…and then nothing happens!

He’s not the messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!

Monty Python from the Life of Brian

In the film “The Life of Brian”, Brian is told by his mum (played by Terry Jones) and then promptly told to go to his room.

I thought of this moment in the Monty Python film and thought that my kids just are naughty and need to be sent to their room. However, there is no likeness to being a Messiah or at least I cannot see it.

One thing that has been working is taking away technology to make rooms get cleaned. It is so interesting how taking a phone away means kids work extra hard to get it back.

I do say that if they cannot help me and others then why should I help them? This means that if they want me or my hubby to buy or do something for them, it will not happen unless the kids help more.

Send tips for help with the teenage years and what you have done to ensure that they help out more.

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Recipes

Make Ted Lasso’s Biscuits

I’m a huge fan of the show Ted Lasso.

It is funny, has a nice message and is an interesting story of a man who is starting again in a new country.

The show is on Apple TV and is currently in season 2.

On the show, Ted Lasso brings biscuits to his boss to make a good first impression. The boss, Rebecca is taken with the biscuits and has no idea that Ted actually makes them. In other episodes, she calls around bakeries to see if they stock these exact biscuits.

Ingredients

  • 1 and a half cups of flour
  • Half a cup of almond flour
  • Half a cup of sugar
  • 1 lemon – juice and rind
  • 220 grams of butter
  • Half a teaspoon of salt
  • 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
The ingredients to make Ted Lasso’s Biscuits

Make sure to have your oven on for 180°C or 350°F

Method

  • Add flour, almond flour and salt into a bowl or food mixer to combine all together
  • Add the butter and vanilla until it is looking like breadcrumbs
  • Add the the lemon juice and lemon rind, you might need a little extra flour to make sure it is not that sticky
  • Butter or oil a square pan and press the mixture down so that is all flat
  • Bake for around 30-35 minutes or until it is golden brown (so could be less depending on your oven)
  • I made sure to check in around the 25-30min mark and it did need a little extra as the addition of the lemon juice made the mixture a little bit wetter and dense.
  • Cool down the pan and then put on a cutting board to cut into fingers
  • Now the biscuits are ready to serve and enjoy.

If you would like to have a pink biscuit box as I have in my pictures, I downloaded the printable from Salt Harvest Creatives. Just remember to print the page double-sided.

This is me (yes that is my box of biscuits in front of the TV) giving Rebecca my biscuits, I hope she likes them. I think they are very much like Ted’s.
The biscuits are made and now in the pink box
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Smash Blue Glass Bento Box was perfect for storing the rest of the Ted Lasso Biscuits
The SMASH Glass Bento Box is solid and
just the right size for the fridge.
They all fit nicely

Post Feast Review

I did think that the biscuits are more like shortbread. I think next time I make these I will use a traditional shortbread recipe and add a few tweaks to see what will work, adding lime, more lemon rind, orange zest, or maybe chocolate drops (dark chocolate of course)

A friend said that he made it before and thought it needed something and that is why he strongly suggested that I add lemon – he did so and thought it made a huge difference. I made this recipe with lemon and haven’t tried it without but as it is basically just a shortbread recipe I can see that it might need something else to make to take it to another level.

I do wonder if there is a way to limit the amount of butter in this recipe…maybe it will take a few experiments to see if adding less still gives you the desired biscuit result.

Would I make this again?

Yes, I would. It was a nice biscuit but I would love to play with different tastes and ingredients and limit the amount of butter as well.

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Family

Lockdown Struggles

I don’t know about you but I have been struggling with working full time and kids doing homeschooling.

It basically has been a complete mess and a disaster in our house. For me the reason is clear, 2 kids are the same age and at the same level and 1 is not. The 1 who is not is the person who wants to play, have fun, not do school work or in fact anything he is supposed to do.

We are all keeping busy at home, what about you?

This means that the 2 kids that have work to do cannot do their work due to interruptions, tantrums and very bad behaviour. When this does occur I end up leaving my work to sort it out to then have to calm this child down and distract him from his sisters. However, this never lasts and there are many back and forth disasters that have to get sorted and then the kid in question wants you to stay with him and play. I would love to do this but I cannot due to the fact I need to work and get things done too.

We are approaching the end of the 9th week of lockdown…yes we have been in lockdown for 9 weeks! And have more to come.

It is not just homeschooling that I am having issues with, it is the fact that all kids are eating everything in sight (as soon as something is purchased it is gone in seconds, I kid you not!), not tidying up and arguing when they make a mess. It is a struggle and an argument to get them to anything you ask. Maybe this is their age or could it be lockdown is causing naughty behaviour? Please let me know. I do think it is an age thing as this was happening well before lockdown.

Today the NSW, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the back to school plan. I personally don’t think it will happen with the rate of infections but it does look like more and more are getting the vaccine so maybe this will let us reopen sooner. I do worry that if we open up people will go crazy and socialise and then we will be in lockdown yet again.

According to the ABC Website, this is what is going to happen or at least planned:

“A staggered return to face-to-face learning will begin on Monday, October 25. Students will return in the following order:

  • October 25: Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 12 (some Year 12 students have already returned to classrooms in a limited way, but they will be back full-time from this date)
  • November 1: Year 2, 6 and 11
  • November 8: Year 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10

Currently, all of NSW is in lockdown. If stay-at-home orders are lifted in any part of the state before October 25, students will return to school then too.”

Kids don’t have to be vaccinated but it is encouraged and today the government has added kids from 12-15 years of age have been added to the vaccine rollout. However, even with this update, I cannot book my 12-year-old kids in anywhere. The booking systems are not accepting kids this age and the doctors haven’t been updated on the change, when I rang they said to try next week. Although if you have an underlying health condition that would change the eligibility for booking a child from 12-15 years in for a covid vaccination.

Although some reports online have said by the end of the year all kids in this age group should be vaccinated. Let’s hope that is correct.

Teachers need to be all vaccinated and masks are compulsory for teachers and from what I have seen a requirement for high school and recommended for primary school kids too.

I watch other social media updates from other parents and see their picture-perfect kids that have magically done every last piece of work that was assigned to them from school. It makes me wonder if my kids have done everything they need to do, and then I think of the craziness that is my house at the moment and the answer is NO, they have done as much as they can and probably not everything.

It would be nice to post these types of posts but maybe this is not my family. It could be possible that there were a few arguments behind the picture-perfect posts too that I have no idea of.

My kids have been cooking and helping around the house, helping with their baby brother and just trying to not go insane with the fact we cannot go anywhere. Our only solace is that we live in a very large LGA (Local Government Area/Council) and we can take refuge in some lovely bush walks.

So I am counting down the weeks left of lockdown and we have 5 more weeks, so that will total 11 weeks, and I don’t believe that will be the end of it.

I am sure we will be in lockdown until all the kids go back to school, possibly another 2 more months till November.

Do you believe NSW will be out of lockdown at the end of September? Do you think kids will go back as the government has outlined today? Also, when do you really think kids from 12 years onwards will be able to be vaccinated.

Once kids from 12 years on can get the jab, will they be giving it to younger kids? My little boy will then be the only one not vaccinated and he is under the age to get the jab at the moment.

Being at home with everyone constantly is very stressful and I for one am keen for it all to end. I hope you are feeling okay if you are in lockdown too.

Take care and if you wish to chat about this please send me an email.

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After Lockdown I Need A Holiday Alone

We are about to enter our eighth week of lockdown. Yes, it will be nearly two months until we have been allowed to go anywhere other than our local LGA (council area).

Not only are we going stir crazy and getting frustrated, but it also looks like there is a huge possibility that the lockdown that was set to end at the end of August will be extended for another eleven weeks! However, this is not confirmed but has been a rumour, especially on Twitter.

So if it is true we have another few months of lockdown. It will end around the end of October or possibly be extended for Christmas and New Year, who knows at this stage.

A holiday at a hotel just for me!

It has been rather sad as the kids have missed out on their holidays as the lockdown started during the winter school holidays and it looks like the twins will celebrate their thirteenth birthday at home if we are still in lockdown in September.

I am sure I am not the only one that has missed alone time. With everyone at home there is nowhere to be and when you do finally stop working there is always something crazy going on with the kids that means that you are never truly relaxed.

I am living in a house that is constantly noisy, crazy with activity and with kids that don’t listen.

Not only is there no break but the kids have taken over my personal laptop for their school work, so that means that when I finally get some time for me, I cannot access my own computer due to the kids using it.

One thing that would make things much easier, is if all the kids could go back to school. It is a real struggle to get my five-year-old to do any school work and the constant arguments and negotiations are so draining.

After lockdown ends I know that many will be desperate to travel and I for one am one of those people, however, I have been thinking that after a huge lockdown trapped with family members that are making you frustrated, annoyed and making you feel like retreating.

I believe that holiday retreats for parents without kids or just the mum having some time out is what is going to happen. Bring it on I say!

I am drooling over the idea of going to a hotel all by myself. I don’t need to partake in all the services offered, however would be happy if the hotel of choice has a day spa. Mainly I would just enjoy the room on my own, sleeping in, watching my own tv and doing my own thing for a change. Oh and finally being able to not be responsible for the food and bedding would be awesome too!

Have you been thinking about the holiday you would take if you were not in lockdown? Currently, I don’t have to travel that far to get a nice hotel but as it is a huge cost staying at home is the cheaper option.

I am still getting emailed newsletters about holidays I can go on throughout Australia and also overseas, although with us not being able to travel at the moment, booking a holiday is not a good idea. I do spend a lot of time staring at the photos on the travel emails and wishing that I could go somewhere with the family or on my own. However, at this stage, it is not to be.

Wishing I was in the Maldives

Are you in the same boat? Wishing you could travel somewhere amazing? Are you also getting heaps of emails about booking your next holiday?

I know it sounds crazy that I wish to be alone after lockdown but with all the constant crazy energy I am seeking some calm time out. I am also wishing it would be nice to visit family and friends but mainly I am dreaming of a hotel room for just me.

Let me know if you are feeling the same.

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Family

Was It Me?

We have just finished week five of lockdown, and are set for another four weeks that will end at the end of August. However, I am thinking that it might be even longer than August as Sydney have been reporting constant high numbers of daily infections.

Lockdown started with the July school holidays, well in fact it started at the end of June to be precise.

Before lockdown began, I successfully purchased a really nice second-hand car and then was plunged into lockdown and now cannot go anywhere!

A fantasy photo of what I would look like in my new car. It is not a vintage car, but this is a nice dream.

So it made me think, is it now my action of buying a car that made lockdown happen?

It is like hanging clothes on the line to make it suddenly rain?

Booking a holiday to have other forces out of your control stop you from attending?

Or possibly excited to attend a concert or event and then can’t go!

I know this is silly but you never know, right? Maybe many of us decided to finally do a few things that we were desperate to do and then BAM lockdown hits us all. Yes, it was like the universe knew we were all happy to have a little bit more freedom while living with COVID and then it said, NO you don’t have this, and stopped everything.

COVID has defiantly stopped us in our tracks at the moment. The new strain is affecting younger people and even little kids whereas before it was only affecting older people.

What have you had planned before lockdown happened that you are now convinced that if you hadn’t organised then lockdown wouldn’t have happened?

The universe saw that a whole group of people in Australia were making plans and deciding to get outside and travel and then the lockdown hit again!

Maybe we are destined to never get toilet paper ever again!

Well, the majority of people affected are in the Greater Sydney region. Victoria, Northern Territory and South Australia have had a brief lockdown too, and unfortunately, as I write this Queensland has announced they are in lockdown again.

I do hope that we will get out of lockdown soon. The only time I will drive anywhere will be to finally get my Pfizer Vaccine.

Have you done something that now you think has impacted the lockdown? It could have been as simple as making plans to catch up with friends or family. Let me know.

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