Self Care Saturday 4: The Australia Day Edition

First page of my first Aussie photo album

Mates, Aussies, Countrymen, put down your beers.

Lets us concentrate for a moment on thinking how the week has been and how we have taken care of ourselves.

Frankly, it’s been an up and down week here at Casa Catastrophe for myself, the four boisterous bairns and our long suffering au pair, Bethany.

There’s been lovely times, and horrible kid-bickering times.

And I’ve lost the rag, jumped up and down and foamed at the mouth a few times.

None of these parenting techniques work well.

And it’s exquisitely embarrassing to have non-family viewers of one’s furore.

Groan. Luckily I am very skilled at apologising. My experience shines though.

Have taken plenty exercise, have eaten better than last few weeks. Have NOT slept enough. That’s what I need to work on.

Australia Day will be meaningful for me. It’s just gone 25 years since I first flew into Sydney as a daft young scuba diver.

My mate Ian picked me up at the airport and we went to Cronulla for a surf that arvo.

Ian and I met on a beach at Sagres in western Portugal one drunken evening in 1983. We shared a few youthful misadventures over the years and he always told me I’d love Australia. So I came and I did.

My 24th birthday, me in stripes and blue flowery pants, Ian in blue t-shirt, we all seem to be having a jolly time.

And I particularly love the fact that Ian married one top girl, who’s more long suffering than Bethany.

Then they had kids who get on with mine, it’s heaven.

Little girl love-in

It’s so sad not to share family occasions with my own family. But I’m lucky to have these long friendships with hilarious Aussies.

They feel like family now.

Lucky, grateful… glad to have friends-like-family on Australia Day.

How are you travelling this week?

Can you do something sweet for yourself this long weekend?

 Take it easy,

Linking up joyfully to Amanda’s Australia Day Party over at A Cooker and a Looker.

And with 52 Weeks of Grateful over at Kidspot’s Village Voices.

See you there!