Tag: Christmas

Healthy Living – Work Life Balance

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I don’t always get this right; the work life balance.

I like to do my best and do it well, which sometimes means I end up working long hours.
But when I get a chance, I make sure I get the life balance part in.

Like right now, on my 10 day break from work.

I found myself without family this Christmas for the first time in my life, and I have to admit I struggled with the idea. Knowing I would be in a bad mood I turned down invites from well-meaning friends, and decided instead to book myself into a small cabin up the coast for the 3 days around Christmas time.

Right up until the day I was due to leave I had doubts. Was I doing the right thing? Should I stay and celebrate with friends I loved?

But I hit the road and it was the best thing I could have done. I had 3 days of pure bliss; total me time and total relaxation. My cabin was in a quiet coastal town within walking distance to a lake. You can see the photos here

Lake Budgewoi Track Walk

Sunsets at Lake Budgewoi

Birdlife on Lake Budgewoi

As soon as I arrived, I could feel myself relax, and I fell in love with the peace and quiet; the sound of nature; the sweet smell of green bush and trees along the lake; the bird life and the smooth shimmering water.

I found my life balance, and can highly recommend time alone. It may not be for everyone, but as an introvert I need it to recharge properly.

Coming back to the city has been a shock, but I am making the most of it. I live in a lovely area near the beach, and it is easy to continue the holiday balanced living when on a break.

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This morning I headed for the beach, and after a long walk I hopped into the ocean for a refreshing swim followed by an extra strong late at the beach cafe. I love watching people; imagining stories about them; finding new plots for future stories. Doing it on a hot summer’s day with the sound of the waves makes it so much more enjoyable.

By the time I got home I had worked up an appetite, and prepared myself some brunch to enjoy on the porch with my current read ‘The Obsession” by Nora Roberts.

Brunch was a delicious meal of:

Organic sourdough toast
Advocado
Vegemite, a spread us Aussies love, but most of the rest of the world hate
Truss tomato sliced
Cheese
Baby spinach leaves
Strawberries

Plus another coffee, of course.

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Best part is I have another 3 days off before work calls me back.

Right now the Work Life balance is tipping towards life.

I hope yours is too.

See you soon. I am off to the beach again this afternoon with a friend for some reading and no doubt girly chatting 🙂

Dreaming Of a White Xmas

The day has finally come.

In another hour I will be bound for Copenhagen. The cold north for a, fingers crossed, white Christmas.

We have been planning it for over 6 months and trust me coordinating time off, flights,​train trips​, ​and accommodation​ for 3 people living in 3 different places has been a challenge. But we are all on our way. On different flights, but all meeting up in Copenhagen for the rest of our 3-hour​ train trip to spend Christmas with our family in Denmark.

I still can’t believe it is actually happening. This is the first time in over 20 years that we have all been together for Christmas. My sister and brother and their family and me and my girls. It’s​ a Christmas miracle.

Last time I traveled​ to Denmark with my girls, I spent most of the 30-hour​ flight with my 3-year-old​ on my lap. She is now 26! My oldest was about 6 or 7 and too excited to sleep. Until we finally landed in Copenhagen. Knowing we had finally arrived in Denmark she relaxed and fell into a coma style sleep. We still had a 2-hour​ wait in Copenhagen before boarding a short flight to my​​ hometown​. If you have ever tried to wake up a comatose​ child with a toddler on your hip and 3 backpacks on your back​,​, you know what​ I am talking about.

This time will be easier. For starters, ​they are much older and flying on different flights!

But back​ to being excited! It really hit me this afternoon when I finished work and headed home to get ready for my trip. It became real then. Both my daughters were on their way and I was the last to board on my plane here from Sydney. I am leaving Sydney in a heatwave and will be arriving in ​freezing cold Denmark. It was almost impossible to think of winter coats, boots, ​and scarves in our sweltering​ heat. Time will tell if I have packed the right gear.

My sister will be picking us all up from the train station when we arrive around 7pm. She has planned a nice supper of Danish smorrebrod,​ fancy open sandwiched, and my brother and his wife will join us. They are all equally excited to finally see my daughters as well. They have seen me a few times over the last few years, always in the ​summertime​. But this time we could all make it and everyone is​ filled with anticipation.

I feel so lucky to finally be able to organize​ this. Its been a long time coming.

Just​ goes to show,​ if you want something bad enough and keep working towards it, anything is possible.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday time and safe entry into 2018. Thank​ you​ for your continued support and for following and commenting on my posts.

Keep dreaming big.

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