Ending on a lighter note…

We have spent the past few days exploring Hobart. It’s one of those rare places, that if we were to ever leave Melbourne, I would consider moving too.

Odd, given my hatred of Launceston; but it has a charm about it that is just so, well, Melbourne-like. The shopping is good, the appreciation for a proper coffee is strong, the food options are plentiful and there are excellent schools. Still too far for my in-laws to visit too regularly, but closer, which, I have to admit, would be nice.

There have been times when we have seriously gave it consideration. Looked at houses, investigated schools, searched for jobs on Seek. But something always stops us. I’m not sure what. Maybe we are just Melbourne people.

However, spending time here is never a chore. And I am finally starting to see beyond the slight haze that the end of the year seemed to bring on in me. Busy. Always busy. But still tied to things, defining things, but things that were stopping me from seeing the good.

But here, in Hobart town, they are starting to lift, clear and sort. And the timing couldn’t be better.

There are things that slipped by me in the last few weeks, good things. Things I am proud of. Things that make me smile, that I didn’t share here because the other things were to heavy for me to carry alone, so I shared them instead, lightening the load.

But now, as the year takes it’s final breath, I wanted to go out on a high. Fill my space with happy thoughts in the hope it’s what carries into 2013. So…

• Poss got an awesome school report this term. It is, by far, the best one that she has had since starting school. She has come so very far. Phrases like “listening and is able to follow instructions” and “comprehending much more” shone out from every page. There *may* have been tears as I read through it…

• I quit my job. I know I wrote about that back here, but it was with trepidation and fear. Now I know it was a good thing. I know it will be the best thing for our family, and for me.

• Quitting my job hasn’t meant I am not working though. Instead I am now working for myself. This is something I am really proud of; I have a wonderful client list, am collaborating with people I really respect and importantly I am still contributing to my family financially. It’s a leap of faith, but the net is there. I can feel it.

• Christmas passed with only a slight mention of the Chow Chow, but no tantrums. This in itself makes me happy. Only a few weeks till Poss’ birthday – fingers crossed it stays forgotten…

• My sister is coming home in February for three weeks. Last time she came over, I was just starting a new job. The time before, I was working in one that was making me increasingly miserable. This time, there will be time for us.

• I know I was sad on my birthday. In fact, I’ve been a bit sad most of December. But you know what? The flip side of being being sad is that it shows me how blessed I am. We are surrounded by people who make me laugh, take the silly fears and blow the cobwebs out, ply me with gin, bake me cakes or cut my hair, taking Poss for a few hours, feed our pets while we are on holidays or simply send a text or a tweet to say they are thinking of us. Blessed, I tell you.

And with that; I re-iterate my New Years wish from yesterday’s post. Here is to a 2013 filled with more laughs, more love and more gin.