A peek behind the curtain

Well hi there. What’s up? What’s been happening?

Things have been pleasantly busy at VMHQ, much domesticity and a little working and such making and many happy vibes all round. I have missed this space though, which has fallen by the wayside a bit.

On the upside, my house is super tidy.

School holidays were a sedate affair, I seem to remember leaving the house only once and that was to go to Ballarat to say howdy to my dad and stepmama who have moved here from Sydney. We stopped off at a waterfall on the way and the winter weather was GLORIOUS.

We had taken along a thermos and a mini picnic so I had a fat wedge of Dundee cake and a hot cup of tea out of an enamel mug and all was right with the world.

There has been much reading and hot chocolate drinking, doing things in the kitchen, and generally sorting out a rhythm for our days again now that school has gone back.

For some reason this winter we have been spoiled with days that are warmer than usual, and I demand everyone get outside. Even if we’re wearing eight layers, we’re OUTSIDE in the SUN. It’s v. good for my morale. I’ve so far managed to evade the gloom that settled last year and I hope to keep it that way.

The schoolkid is reading, which blows my mind.  I never really did much with her in the way of reading before school but she certainly knew her letters and I certainly read to her a lot. But by the end of term one she was powering through her little books and often pipes up asking what a word on a sign means. I’m also getting lots of notes, and they’re adorable. Five is such a fun age – although she’s got one hell of a competitive streak, and she often gets upset when other people are “gooder” than her at all manner of things. Sports day was just carnage to her feelings, and being a bit of a high self-standard holder myself I can only hug and sympathise. All the “as long as you tried your best”s in the world just doesn’t cut it. I’ll keep reminding her but I think this one’s built in.

The Smalls is just small, but also inching ever closer to being FOUR. My baby! I’m not ready. All the feels. All the thoughts. Quick, someone distract me.

Oh look a picture of me and my sister in 1987 that my dad has carted around all these years. I’ve spent my life trying to recreate that fringe.

Lunchbox and I braved the chill and went to see Shaun Micallef do his thing live at a taping of Mad as Hell. It was glorious. I joke all the time on the podcast that we’ll have Mr Micallef round for tea and a chat but he looks remarkably busy. I did consider asking him how to get a job writing his show – I’m awesome at getting takeaway food and getting cups of coffee at least.

Young miss has settled somewhat, after a tumultous first two years. After her rough beginnings she was skittish and not particularly affectionate, and for a while there we all didn’t really know what to do with her. But she and Bobbin are super best friends and while she’s never grown out of being a kitten (she plays constantly, 110% of the time, with any and everything she can get her paws onto, pouncing and flinging herself around the house) and she is all up in his (sleeping) grill every minute of the day he seems to really get a kick out of her.

I’ve found her sneaking onto my lap in the evenings now, and even wanting to get in on the sleeping action much like Bobbin does. It’s really nice – I was wondering if we’d ever really bond or if she’d just be our roommate, eating everyone’s food and shitting on the bathmat forever. She’s such a tiny little thing and I’m glad she’s keen to be a mate.

I suppose I had better go and do some work now, and think about school pickup and getting the dinner on. All the little homely things that make me happy.

What’s been going on with you lot?