Europe here we come

As many of you may (or may not) know, my family and I are heading overseas tomorrow. Six weeks of togetherness.

We're all looking forward to it. It's a chance for the hubby to switch off from work. A chance for the kids to 'explore the world'. A chance for the four of us to step back from our rather manic lives and enjoy just being a family unit. Because of this it's going to be a challenge.

Why? Because it's probably the longest period of time the four of us have spent all together (apart from a few major knee surgeries which grounded the hubby). About a year after we married the hubby started travelling for work. When the kids were growing up my oldest pointed to any plane that flew overhead and said 'daddy's plane' (and no, he's not a pilot). We worked out he was pretty much away a third of the year for a while there. I do joke that even though we've officially been married 14 years, in reality for time served its only been about 10 years ;)

But when the hubby got long service leave the idea of this trip was planted. It also coincided with our eldest's last year in primary school. So tomorrow we head off for six weeks of togetherness - the first four of those in an RV touring round parts of Europe. The kids and I can't wait for the experience - the hubby I think a little apprehensive about the whole RV thing. But it's going to be fun.

I'll let you know how we went - and whether we survived the six weeks of togetherness. I think we can.

Memories

Memories,
An entanglement of pictures
invading the mind.
A jigsaw puzzle
best left unsolved.

The future looms bright.
Time to shut out the past
and look forward to the endless possibilities
the future may bring.

Morning Call

The sun rises slowly,
Gently kissing the earth,
Enveloping it in warmth and sunlight.

The birds' morning calls grow more loudly,
Welcoming the new day,
And the sun on its journey.

Leaves curled up against the cold of the night
slowly unfurl,
Taking comfort from the warmth.

It's the awakening of a new day.

10 Reasons Why Giving Up Work is a Good Thing

Thought I'd put together a list of the 10 best reasons for giving up work, based on my experiences over the last 5 months (time flies!).

1. No more stress (which equals no waking up in the middle of the night with a million and one thoughts running through your head of what lays ahead to be done at work. It also means you don't snap at your kids first thing in the morning as you're stressing about work).
2. No spending an hour of your day stuck in traffic as you try to make your way to work.
3. Time to join your kids on their school excursions (which means you can check out your daughter's potential boyfriend!)
4. Time to cheer your kids on at their school cross country (and hold them upright when they think they're going to feint!)
5. Time to be able to walk the kids to school every day instead of dumping them out the car door at the drop off zone as you rush to get to work.
   
6. Time to spend catching up with your friends.
7. You can join the gym and actually go (which after catching up with your friends for lunch quite frequently is not a bad thing).
8. Time to spend sorting through that study that really needs sorting (well theoretically anyway!)
9. You can get organised and plan dinner before 7pm at night (I know that doesn't sound so great to some, but I know the hubby is appreciating not having to worry about cooking during the week).
10. Lastly, but most importantly you realise the things that are most important to you - for me it's my family and being able to give them as much as myself as possible, to support them, love them and let them be the best that they can be. It's also my friends who are there for me, and me for them no matter what.

At the end of the day I know I am lucky to be able to not work and I thank my hubby for supporting me and allowing me to do this. Also to my all my friends who I've caught up with frequently thanks for the adult conversation - there's only so much talking you can do inside your head, or singing out loud along with the music for that matter - so cheers!