November stretching

Here is my account of a post lockdown month.

Starting with two accidental family calls, one from mum and one from Lucy. I'm especially honoured that I was the first person Lucy has ever called.

Did Banjo come in November or October? Ah it was October and he was still stressed. Well now he has settled down, had an operation and worn a cone, and started growling and biting men. He's a bit of a project as he's never been properly trained, but he's cute and entertaining.

Big news at work, the other graphic designer has gone on leave to probably retired, so me and V organised some farewells. It was an added stress bc I hate organising, but we got him an awesome gift, and had a lovely afternoon hanging out on the homestead verandah, which was probably the first work social thing post lockdown so there was a very happy atmosphere. We invited other retired colleagues back so it was very special.

Pepe Saya sent me and L a hamper of butter, crumpets and pancake mix, so we hosted a little morning tea breakfast.

Here now are some of my many non-work social activities! I have taken people to Tre Viet, my new favourite place around the corner!

I'm also trying to catch up with church people before church so this is me and some friends having gelato for dinner!

And this is a picnic I thought of where 4pm and 6pm can eat and mingle. 4pm have arvo tea and we bring picnics or kebabs. It has rained a lot and also I've been on music a lot, so it hasn't happened since this one time but this was great.

This is our new temporary home, we have been meeting in the afternoons at 2,4 and 6 at the Uniting church in town. It has great accoustics but pews. Lovely facilities though such as the front lawn, the halls, the car parking.

The post is called "November stretching" because as well as stretching out after lockdown, I've stretched myself in other things. I have led homegroup again. I have organised musical items for 3 weeks at church. I even sang solo a capella in one song. 

George and Elsie made a trip up for the weekend! Of course we ate Tre Viet.

We also did a morning walk at Mt Tomaree on the super windy day. We ate at the food truck market, although it was also too windy so less options and less pleasant. But better than rainy weather as we weren't stuck inside.

I am very fit in this photo.

Dad and I have been watching Wheel of Time together as the episodes come out. 

My parents have had their ancient 3-way bathroom renovated, so we had lots of video updates!

Luke organised a combined birthday (Lucy and Matt) dinner at a Japanese restaurant at Honeysuckle. I liked it a lot, would repurchase. Lucy liked my jumpsuit pants gift so much she put it on straight away.

And then the following weekend I had another dinner in Newcastle for Kristy, and I went in early and had a nice walk along the foreshore looking at the big surf and getting rained on.

We had dinner in an Italian restuarant on Hunter Street, and then there was drinks at the Babylon (below), and while I had planned on just the dinner, I popped inside and was impressed at the old theatre converted into a bar. I think I ended up home at 10pm which is good.

It has been very busy compared to lockdown and I knew I'd have to manage my energy carefully, hence my early night. The night before, I went to Maitland rep theatre for the importance of being earnest, and I left at intermission because it was 9:45, I was tired, and I already knew how it ends. Plus I went alone so didn't annoy anyone to leave. I skipped going to an engagement party in Newcastle last weekend because tossing up the energy cost vs the seeing people, decided it was time to save some energy.

The orchid is still flowering, on its second stem. What a champion. There are zinnias starting and poppies dying. I have done a big prune and filled the green bin to start December. Need to prune more and mow again! Lucky only a small garden!

And of course, I am preparing for Carols in the Garage. This is the before photo, I've tidied up and hung fairy lights.

I started the month with a lot of ambition, to have an early alarm, do my cello practice and bible reading before work, do zoom word and prayer tuesday and thursday, work back in the office, and after work do things like workouts, home group, music practices. I couldn't sustain it, I had to give up on the early mornings. I get the odd bad nights sleep either when I'm anxious or just because I've got a pinch in my right shoulder at the moment and that doesn't help. So it's hard to do normal life. I'm not mentally struggling with it, but as I expected I can't physically do it without exhaustion.