A Big Thank You and Some News From Smith Towers

Hello and how are you this very fine morning?

I’m getting all emotional here as this little Sydney travel blog has had a huge month in January.

So many new readers and heaps of regular readers returning.  I am so thrilled that the handy posts on the blog have been read so much and found useful by so many people.

It’s a thrill in itself to see blog stats soar: almost double the highest previous figures!   But much more than that, it’s immensely satisfying to be useful, and to be appreciated too.

So a huge thank you from me to all the visitors, old and new.

Pop back anytime!

There will always be new places to visit, the best of Sydney for families and great ideas and inspiration for family holidays and the odd parents’ escape.

And the archives are full of excellent ideas for healthy, active, outdoors fun too… and lets not forget the yummy recipes.

And How’s The Family Going?

Well, we now have all four children settled into their three schools. My eldest, Teen16, started a new school for Year 11 nervously. But he’s settled in well and I’ll be dropping him to his first ever session at TAFE later today.

There was trauma and heartbreak from a Twin Who Shall Remain Nameless about homework yesterday arvo. Bloody homework. Here’s hoping it all goes better today.

Teen14 seems to be getting on fine – he has to, he’s the only sensible one of the four of them, our neglected middle child.

My elder-by-not-much sister Mairi had been staying with us for a few weeks and she leaves next week. It’s kind of like having our own arts and craft teacher at home: very handy.

She and I have also had a few fun expeditions, including to gorgeous Paddington Market, what a terrific spot for Aussie made clothes and craft.

Our International Man of Mystery has been home, we actually all met up in Dubai when the kids and I were on the way home from Scotland.

But he sets off back to the Middle East for his 28 days on, seven days a week, 12 hours a day, tomorrow.  Always a big adjustment for everyone (he says it’s worst for him.)

So it’s all change here.

So How Are You Coping, Seana?

Well, nice of you to ask… I’m bracing for the change of life when Mairi and Paul go… need to stay cheerful and positive and CALM to help the four offspring, some of whom are really not good with change.

Myself I love change… change and renewal, I like to think of it.

So I thought I’d have a wee change myself this year.  Over the long school holidays I had heaps of time to think, and time to to just be and not think much at all.  Study had been a very enticing thought for ages and ages.  The time seemed good.

But what to study?  Something new, something helpful… photography!

I’ve enrolled for a Cert 4 in Design, specialising in Photography, all to be studied online through TAFE.

So I’ll be blogging about that, and hopefully you’ll see my Sydney and travel photos improve.

But A Little Pause For A Week Or So Is Needed

I’m going to pause posts for a week or two, just whilst our transitions occur and we all settle down… and whilst I work out how to navigate the online portal of my course – very daunting.

My plan is to post three times a week in 2014, the usual mix of Sydney places, ideas, food, a tiny bit of techy gadgetry and lots of travel… cos that’s what makes my heart sing.

How’s the year going so far for you?

See you soon,

Take it easy meantime.