Before Ben and I officially start our year’s sabbatical in a couple of days, we have taken a quick side trip to New Zealand, a place we have now been to four times together, and which holds a special place in our hearts. Seven out of eight nights have been booked in Airbnbs, and here’s … Continue reading
Take, Chuck or Store?
Over the past few weeks and months, Ben and I have been playing our own version of Shoot, Shag or Marry – only with our stuff. We have literally handled and considered every item we own and have asked ourselves, ‘take, chuck or store?’ That’s every darned thing. When we originally talked about taking this sabbatical, … Continue reading
Beautiful Chaos
Last time it was about details, drowning in them, to be more specific. While I am still up to my chin in the minutiae of departing the country for a year, I have found myself in another not-particularly-comfortable predicament: I’m surrounded by chaos. Our usually orderly home is a study in disarray. There are boxes … Continue reading
New Year’s Absolutions 2018
Every year I like to write a list of things I absolve myself from doing, no matter how good they may be for my mind/body/soul/relationships/success/wallet, and so on. This year I absolve myself of the following: Eating spaghetti squash as ‘pasta’ While I am all for substituting healthier foods for less-healthy foods, like Greek yoghurt … Continue reading
The Devil’s in the Details
We are now in the T-minus state of departing Melbourne, and then Australia, for a year. As in, T-minus: 17 days of work left. And T-minus: 33 days until we fly out of Melbourne. And T-minus: several hours until I lose my damned mind. I woke up at 4am last night (or this morning). I … Continue reading
I Think I Met Someone (Book 2 in the ‘Someone’ Series)
The sequel to You Might Meet Someone picks up Sarah’s story a few months after her Greek adventure. Here’s the preface… “Have a great time!” my best friend, Lindsey, called as she climbed into the driver’s seat of her car. “I hope he shows up,” said her husband, Chris, grinning at me through the passenger window. … Continue reading
Why I’m taking a mid-career sabbatical
“Let’s trade a year of our retirement for 2018,” said Ben. We’d been toying with the idea for years, but he was giving it a time-frame, making it concrete. Initially, my stomach clenched at the thought, but I took a deep breath and said yes. Ben and I have long described ourselves as ‘location-agnostic’, but … Continue reading
Opinion vs Ideology: Same-Sex Marriage
I’m angry. Our (ridiculous) government has gone through with an expensive plan to survey Australians, asking, “Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry?” In the context of the discussions and campaigns associated with this survey, I’ve been told – and I have read and I have heard and seen – that … Continue reading
Where the winds take you
A year ago, Ben and I were about to embark on a journey back to the Greek Islands, revisiting some of the places we discovered together in 2006 – when we met. Our skipper from the sailing trip in ’06, Patrick, would be at the helm again. We’d get to see new places, we’d make … Continue reading
Guest Blogger (My Awesome Mother): Changing the face of teaching in the 70s and 80s
My sister and I grew up with young parents. Mum and Dad were 21 when I was born and 25 when my sister came along. They were both primary school teachers. We grew up in the 70s, surrounded by 20-somethings – our parents and a slew of aunties and uncles – actual and honorary. When I … Continue reading
