Where I will be from next week Tuesday to Fridays

It is sunny in Sydney today. We do not live right near the coastline, but on days like these I wish we did. I have a craving to pop onto the beach sand and go for a walk, hearing the sound of the ocean waves. But the craving does not extend to going for a forty minute drive to do so. I am feeling sadness wash over me, reminiscent of this time of year. April always has it’s own feel about it. It is my birthday month, and the month I lost my mother. Today is my niece’s birthday in South Africa, she will be ten today.

I took a sabbatical from work to spend time with my children, to enjoy my blog, and to finish my book. My book is finished. The first publisher let me down, so I am now publishing with another company. They do not seem to be in any rush to get it out the door it seems. But my part is done. I would have loved to have had a hard copy on my first day back at work, it seems that day is still a few weeks away. Even so, I love reading the pages on my iPhone, it makes me happy. I have learnt a lot in the past few months – inDesign skills, stock images, visual design. A whole new set of skills. My children’s book has been written, the illustrations and design of which are both work-in-progress.

I feel sad to leave the routine that I have created behind. Also, not sure what work I will be doing, apparently there is work waiting for me. I do not know what is in store, it always changes. This time next week I will be back in the office, and my blogging frequency will most likely decrease. Have started an online poetry course with the University of Iowa. I may share some of my posts here (Teddy Bear Haiku (I) from yesterday was the first), and look forward to learning “official” poetry skills. My blog lay dormant from Jan 2014 to Sept 2014, I really wanted to write and there was a desire to do so, but I didn’t know what to write about. Starting the Daily Prompts in September last year really helped to inspire me. Thankful for all the help and encouragement from the readers at WordPress, and especially those who have read from the beginning, helping and encouraging at each step ❤

My daughter is playing with the neighbours outside. I can hear their voices. My son is at a friend. It is his last year of "primary" school, next year he changes schools. My children are slipping out my fingers. The radio is playing, and the songs are making me somewhat melancholic. From next week I have a new beginning. A new beginning in a renovated office (my old desk is gone!). As an aside, I stood outside the building pictured above on a February day in 2007, wishing that some day I could work there. (I worked for the same company in South Africa). Not knowing how to make it happen. And it all fell into place. My time there is not yet complete, going back for another session!

The end of this precious time of my life, and a new beginning.

Thank you for reading 🙂

❤