Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Hello from the other side...


If normal life is punctuated by major life events then my timeline would resemble someone on the brink of a coronary - a series of peaks and troughs with barely a horizontal line amongst it. There's never a dull moment around here but it can be a tad tiring living in a constant state of flux.



I recently met up with a friend I hadn't seen for a while and when I asked him how his year had been he replied "too many life events this year!". I completely understood for I feel like I've been living that kind of year for the past couple of decades. There have just been so many life events and sharp deviations to my normal life path - some lengthy stints living overseas, 6 interstate moves, a few career changes, some major ups and downs, divorces and marriages within the family, more than a few babies welcomed into our own home, the losing of loved ones, and most recently the starting up of our own business. Just life I guess.


To cope with major life events I tend to temporarily "drop out" of ordinary life to focus on the new - to settle in, find my feet, adjust to the new normal and enjoy the new path and challenges before picking up where I left off. I've always had the philosophy that good friendships stand the test of time and that it doesn't matter how much time has passed from one conversation to the next.  However, I realise not everyone feels the same. Sometimes I return from my physical or emotional absences to find that people have simply moved on, and fair enough I say. Sometimes I have moved on too. Sometimes a complete break from a daily or weekly routine is exactly what's needed to grow, to find out whether something is still important or whether you are doing it just for the sake of doing it. I've come to the conclusion that blogging and more importantly the connections I've made through blogging is important to me and is something I want to continue doing.



So here I am, back in that familiar territory of wanting to pick up where I left off but not knowing where I fit in anymore, apologising profusely for the lack of advance communique for my absence, feeling like it has only been a few weeks rather than 5 months since Coal River Farm happened and turned our lives upside down, and hoping that there are still a few of you left around who share the same philosophy as me. I have really missed this space and in spite of my lack of contact I have thought about you all often, berating myself for being so slack.  I'm looking forward to jumping back in now that I'm coming out the other side of yet another major life event and have a bit more headspace to do so.....


Needless to say, my camera hasn't seen the light of day for months now. Thankfully, there has been someone behind the scenes capturing some moments for me. After a very teary farewell to Vanessa last weekend after 6 months of living with us as part of our family, she presented us with the most beautiful and thoughtful gift - a scrapbook of precious memories gathered over the time she spent with us. And since a blog post without photos just will not do, I've included a few pages of the album for you.


We will miss you too Vanessa!!! xxx





28 comments :

  1. Mel
    So pleased to hear from you! I too have thought of you the past five months, assumed you were swimming frantically with the tide. Love to hear how it's all been going.
    and what a most thoughtful gift from your au pair!! a glimpse to how lovely she is.

    Wishing you a Happy New Year xxx

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  2. Hi Mel, so lovely to see you back here! I've had a year of sporadic blogging too but am hopeing to write and share a bit more regularly this year. I do miss this space and connecting with all you other lovelies out there. Was Vanessa an au pair or a student visiting Australia? What a lovely gift she left you with xx

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    1. An au pair Amanda, from Germany. She was so lovely and wonderful with the kids. It was the perfect option for us during those first few months of starting up the business which required a lot of our attention on weekends, something regular child care does not cater for x

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  3. Lovely to hear you and hoping that your new venture is going well! I also hope that somewhere in your new normal you find time for your camera again. I love your photos x

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    1. It's all going well thanks Kate and I think I'll dust off the camera tomorrow. Thank you for your lovely comment x

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  4. Hi Mel, so GREAT to have you back. I drove past today and thought what a tremendous thing you and Daniel have achieved.
    I know what you mean about life events. 2015 for me had two deaths, major illnesses for my husband and self, and moving house. On top of that, the drought on the farm. But am still trucking! And laughing and loving life and all its HUGE variations. I can see you now, up at the top of that stunning view, taking a deep breath with a glass of wine in the hand and saying 'We did it!'.

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    1. Hi Prue, great to hear from YOU too! Thanks for your lovely words. Sorry to hear 2015 dealt you some blows, and having to deal with the drought on top of everything. I hope we get some rain soon, all the farms are doing it pretty tough at the moment xxx

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  5. I do t think you should ever have to apologise for living in the real world more than the online world. Life happens & that's great!!! I'm always happy to see blog posts from my faves whether it's daily, weekly or whenever they have the chance. So welcome back xx

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    1. True, I feel the same way too but I guess I feel a little guilty for not keeping in contact in some form these past few months x

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  6. It's a blog - IT HAS NO RULES.

    Write when you can, and live well the rest of the time.

    xx

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  7. Yes, we're still here! Wonderful to hear how things are going for you, and amazing how much the kids have grown. Still wishing you all the best in the new venture, and looking forward to hearing more about it!

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  8. Hello!! Well look at that, we both got back on the blogging horse today. I realised I had only taken iphone pics for the last 12 months when i finally sat down to post. Great to hear from you. I'm a big fan of picking up where you left off, no matter how long ago that was (in real life and online!).

    Rachel xo

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  9. It was a lovely surprise to see a blog post from you when I got up this morning! It's nice to know you are all okay, and that you've come out the other side of getting your farm business up and running. Hopefully life will settle down into more of a routine for you now. The scrapbook was such a thoughtful gift! Looking forward to your next post!

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  10. I have often wondering how you have been getting on over the past few months and thought you absence was due to having too much to do! The additional part of your business must be just like have another baby! It is lovely to hear from you and notice how the children have grown too. I sure many friendships through blogging will stand the test of time too and periods of absence. Sarah x

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  11. How great to see a post from you Mel, I often wonder how you are doing and how the farm is going. Such a brilliant achievement. I read something about artists once, and it said they sometimes disappear from their social scene for a year or two, then reappear suddenly, and fellow artists completely understand and carry on as if it was just yesterday they were last together. So I hope it is like that for you here. CJ xx

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  12. Wonderful to hear from you!! Glad to know that life is going well. That was a beautiful gift for you to have received wasn't it, so very kind. Thank you for sharing it with us too! I hope that life keeps treating you well in 2016! xx

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  13. What a super gift! Nice to see you blogging again.
    Caz xx

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  14. Lovely to see you here Mel! I have often wondered how you are doing. Whenever I see strawberries I think of you and your strawberry farm. x

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  15. Looking forward to you jumping back in again!

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  16. Hi Mel, yes it seems to draw us back this blogging doesn't it! Can't wait to hear more of your adventures, even the mundane if that still exists for you. Here's to a wonderful 2016.

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  17. What a great gift and nice to hear from you. Hope you can find a bit more time for blogging but I too know how life can get in the way. I have not been blogging much because I have been busy enjoying some down time after a crazy 6 months and lots has been going on in our lives that will soon make it onto the blog.

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  18. Lovely to see you back here, I think everyone guessed what you were doing while you were away, but so nice you're back to share it. I have started the year with a new determination to blog more too so I'll see you back here :-)

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  19. Ooh, hello! Don't disappear again now Mel, we miss you!

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  20. Snap! Five months away from the screen, gone in a heartbeat. I have no business but a busy family to blame for it, but it is rather nice to be back, just the same. Hope you all had a wonderful summer. Looking forward to reading more of your family adventures. xx

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  21. Nice to see you back Mel. Real life does get in the way of blogging sometimes, good job really, otherwise we'd have nothing to blog about! xx

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