life holiday

I know I said I was going to focus on designy stuff on here now, but after the last month, I had to add this wandering ramble about life - sorry in advance.

Recently I had an opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream. Yeah, it was a big deal and although it meant using savings put aside for other things, being away from my family, missing my kids like crazy and poor hubs and my folks having them to themselves for 3 weeks, there was no way I could turn down an opportunity like this. Lifelong dream people! Had to be done!

Said dream was to see the Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights. My sis in London mentioned she wanted to go to Sweden on the way to Berlin to celebrate her birthday in February this year, and after telling her of said dream, she simply said "You should come."

Such simple words, so hard to see how this could happen with 2 kids and no jobs after just arriving in Sydney 3 weeks prior. But stars came into alignment, things fell into place, the universe made it happen and I ended up having a mini winter Euro tour with my sister, who I haven't seen for 2 years.

Needless to say, the trip was amazing. I am so very lucky to be blessed with a family who were OK for me to do this, and to spend such a big chunk of time with my sister.

Me and my sis in the arctic circle!

But what I gleaned the most from this 'time out' from life, was how I was able to really see my life for what it was, to put everything into perspective and understand what matters most, and what needs to be let go of. I came back with a vitality I had not seen in ages, and so much love to give back to the people who had let me go.

I know many people would never do this. Either can't afford it, won't be away from family, think it's too selfish to go on your own. I have to say I did feel guilty being away on my own, but no, life is about yourself and your family. You are a part of your family, and every individual has needs that should be fulfilled. If they aren't, then I think you are only being half the person you could be, so not only do you miss out, but your family does not see the best person you could be as well.

So do it for them! A life holiday is the best thing I've done in a long time. What have you done for yourself today?

the fate of the fete

We had the annual fundraising fete for our co-op childcare centres last week. And contrary to popular belief, I found that fetes can be fun!

I joined the co-op fundraising committee this year as a way to volunteer for something that would also benefit my kids as well as our community. Look I don't really know why, it's not like I have heaps of time and energy to spare, but you know the feeling you get when you realise that all you're doing is take take taking? So I had that feeling and on a whim joined the committee (it may also have had something to do with the polite letter the committee sent to the parents calling us all slackarses cause no one would volunteer - in the nicest possible way of course).

I have to say it has been really enjoyable. I get the warm mushy feeling that I am giving something back, I have plenty of skills to contribute and the result of the fete (our major fundraising activity for the year) was that it was a resounding success so I even get to feel good that I was a part of it all. I contributed my graphic design skills by designing the poster and had a hand in one of the stalls this year which made quite a bit of dough. Hubs even had a stall drawing caricatures which the kids loved so even he came away with warm fuzzies.

The long-winded point I am trying to get to though is that our fete was not only a success, it was actually fun. Most fetes seem to have the usual stalls and once you have done a round you're out of there. Ours had a bar (a major part of the success methinks), live music and we hold it in a park so the kids have the choice of free play equipment or the animal nursery/jumping castle/train ride option as well.

It was good to see friends of ours turn up at the start and stay til after it ended, great to see you there guys! Surely a sign of non-lameness that makes me feel I've been part of something good! And I guess fetes are for kids but I think I'd have enjoyed ours without the kiddies too - I may even have been able to sit and drink the one glass of vino I had in one sitting rather than in 4 separate sessions between running after the overstimulated 3 year old.

Fetes don't have to be lame people! They can be fun, they might even be cool... It is possible to raise money and have a good time doing it...who'd have thought?