2016 was quite a roller-coaster ride for Danita and me.
After five and a half years of house-sitting we’d had enough, packed up everything and moved to Tasmania.
While the move went reasonably smoothly it did take us a lot longer to find somewhere to live than we’d expected and we had a fair bit of to-ing and fro-ing as well as more house moving before we were settled.
Mixed in with that were two trips to Perth via Melbourne for family events.
At last the end of the year arrived and we decided to take the Christmas/New Year period as a proper break.
That meant no major household activities like putting in the vege patch which we’ve been promising ourselves or other things we have on household to-do list.
We committed to a week off.
That’s easy to say but quite hard to achieve.
Firstly, we didn’t realise just how exhausted we really were.
Most of the week involved a lot of sleep.
However, when not sleeping reading and sitting watching the weather change (we’re in a perfect location for that) were the top priorities.
A few days of Terry Pratchett, Kathy Reichs and Dan Brown have been highly beneficial.
What I have always had trouble understanding is people who go away to wonderful locations and spend time sitting by the pool and reading.
It seems odd that you’d spend a lot of money to not do anything.
For me, if I’m in a new environment I like to explore and do things I can’t do at home.
This week I got some understanding of that mindset.
While at home, it took a great deal of discipline NOT to be busy.
After all, there’s always stuff that needs doing.
Don’t get the wrong idea, we kept the beds made and cooked and did what we needed to do so we weren’t total sloths.
But those things which could be put off to another time, were.
And today we did go on a big adventure.
At the bottom of the hill where we live is the Don Railway.
It’s a railway museum which has old trains running on the weekends.
Since moving here we’ve been promising ourselves that we would go for a ride sometime soon.
And today we did.
Sadly, it wasn’t one of the steam trains (they require specialised staff to run those and no-one was available this weekend) but it was a fun trip and the museum is fascinating.
They even have the royal carriage from a visit by the Duke (later to be King George VI) and Duchess of York in 1927.
You’re able to climb into the carriages and onto the locomotives – it’s amazing how big they are when you’re in the driver’s cabin.
The difference between the First Class and Second Class compartments was quite striking – First Class had beautifully padded seats while Second Class was bare timber seats (decidedly uncomfortable on a long trip).
So we’ve maintained my commitment to visit a new place every Sunday (even if it is close by).
And now it’s time to start getting back into a work mode.
I think tomorrow will be a mowing day, provided the weather holds out, and reacquainting myself with email (now that’s a scary thought).
In the meantime we are determined to maintain our relaxed status – just as well I have a lot of self discipline.