I worked all day on Good Friday. It made me cranky as I am already giving up Easter Monday and Anzac Day to work. That makes 4 public holidays I have worked in the last two months as well as 3 weekends I have travelled on. The time zones make it hideous as well - I did a call at 5.30am on Friday to talk to someone in the US. But. There is an upside. I am still employed which is a blessing when so many in this town are losing theirs. And I still have enormous flexibility in managing my work - which is why doing a call at 5.30am is not so bad when you are in your pyjamas with a cup of tea and a snoring cat next to you.
I leave on Monday for ten days in China. I was there two weeks ago, as well. We are running a large conference and there are many moving parts to fit together. Fingers crossed. Oldest has produced a booklet with a selection of copy goods she hopes I can procure while I am there. My ambitions are more modest - I would like to eat one meal in nice restaurant and go to the Great Wall.
Today was blissfully domestic and cosy. The oldest is house sitting so has not been seen for a few days. The youngest started work at 7am so I drove her to work and then Charlie and I walked up Red Hill. Since the schools are on holiday we were able to walk across the school grounds which means he can go lead free nearly the whole way. It's a steep hill up but the morning was beautiful and crisp and the air so beautiful and clean. I stopped to get my breath and three kangaroos bounded away. Strangely, Charlie was looking the other way and didn't even notice them. At the top, I could see everything laid out and the trees all starting to change colour. The way down is easier but there was a pool of stagnant water at the bottom in which Charlie chose to swim so when we got home I hosed and washed him to his disgust. He is all clean and fluffy now.
I was diligent in my chores - changed sheets, vacuumed under the bed, steam cleaned all the floors, changed over cushions to more autumnal colours, made bread, did several loads of laundry and took my daughter some lunch over to her job. Then Charlie and I did a little trip to buy new bags for the Miele (take that Dyson) and were rewarded with a discount from a nice sales girl, came home and did a small piece of work and then collected by daughter from work.
I laid out my stuff for packing but I can't work out what shoes to take. I have truly embraced middle age with feet issues and am consulting a podiatrist about some ongoing problems and this has screwed up all my shoe choices. Sadly Birkenstocks are still not considered acceptable corporate wear so I am trying several flat shoe options to see what works. I don't quite know who I am anymore.
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