Just another day

Happy 2012!

Once again I commence the New Year without any major objectives, plans or ambitions. 

We shrugged at celebrating New Years Eve, just another day really. Having spent the past 16 years, to the day trying to live just one day at a time, the temptation to 'Party' on New Years Eve has lost all it's allure. I welcome the opportunity for rebirth and renewal which the first of January has come to signify for me but the idea of making a fuss on New Years Eve just doesn't do it for me like it used to...

Christmas was quite nice, we spent the day with some friends who live around the corner. This year Santa was on a pretty tight budget so the kids got only a few presents, they were quite cheep but well and truly worth the money. Our eldest was warned not to expect too much, she may have been a little bit disappointed but she didn't really show it. As it turned out her presents were ideal, mostly crafty stuff, which she could have just thrown in a corner but she actually decided to use it and over the course of just a few days has learned how to thread a needle, do some basic straight stitches and tie off the thread when she is finished! We were extremely impressed with her enthusiasm for sewing and are now looking for some more advanced needle work to get her started on.

Hand stitched felt dog, (deliberately contrasting thread with material)


Hand stitched felt elephant

 

On Boxing day we received word from our landlord that he wanted to come and re-tile the living area and bathroom in our flat, so having spent the past week moving everything into the bedrooms we were ready to move out for a few days. Thankfully Sam decided that the Piano can stay in the bedroom!(I was dreading moving it back!) Thankfully some friends offered us a great opportunity to house sit while they were away, so we bundled up the kids, some bedding and essentials and headed off to stay at their place. The house we stayed at is elevated and the garden is full of bamboo! For me it was like paradise, Sam missed the aircon but the kids were happy exploring the garden, playing with the dog and feeding the chooks. After three days I had well and truly settled into our temporary treetop home. For some reason I always find it easier to read when I'm away from home and had just about knocked over the book that Sam gave me for Christmas (Pedaling Revolution by Jeff Mapes). I dreaded leaving the breezy bamboo loft retreat but Sam was desperate to get home. Time had come to return so we headed back to our poorly lit 2 bedroom unit where tiles had been laid over a cracked concrete floor and the dust of ground tilers cement hung from cobwebs and clung to the grimy walls! 

As we were moving all our stuff from the living area to the bedrooms in preparation for the repair of our floor, it occurred to us that we have accumulated TOO MUCH STUFF! So today on the second day of 2012 I have decided to make a beginning on a small personal transformation... (Damn as I write this I know how unoriginal it is to declare resolutions at this time of year but, I've nothing original to write and feel compelled to post something so you're gonna cop the cliche' ramblings of this unimaginative dilettante!) I intend to reduce my attachment... So as we've been moving all our crap around I realized that I've got boxes full of attachment that I need to get rid of! 

Today I have shed more of the treasured stuff that I've been hoarding! I'm sure I dumped piles of my old assessments from when I was studying but today I found some more and was able to half fill a bin with research papers, reports, assessment tasks and graded work from several years worth of TAFE study! Most of the land management papers I'd been saving are now in the bin.

Library studies assessments and projects.. ALL GONE! 

Tour guiding resources....70% GONE!

Disability Services assessments and projects....80% GONE!

Parks and Wildlife Management assessments and resources...70% GONE!

OK I held onto some of my projects, maybe I'll chuck them next year.

After having spent years of studying for various TAFE certificates I can't say that I have retained any of the knowledge that I once received certificates of competence in, that's not to say it was all a waste of time, it's brought me to the place I'm at today but I definitely don't know all I've learned... if that makes any sense? 

Once I started eliminating some of my old files Sam came forth with boxes of other stuff like old photos and various other memorabilia that I'd been holding on to. How much of these things to I need to fulfill my memories? What can I live without? Just about all of it actually. Out it Goes!

Having ditched a lot of stuff I feel a little lighter but still have a lot to go. Now I think I'll sit back with the kids and enjoy a shaved ice Snow Cup!