I have never gone so long without writing the blog! It's been over a month! Let's go back to September...
I took the kids on vacation for 10 days, down in Milton/Ulladulla. My amazing parents drove down with all of our holiday gear (including Arley's computer!), and the kids and I flew down to Sydney with only our backpacks. We then caught the train to Nowra where Lolo & Dida picked us up and drove us to Milton to my buddy Mark's house where we were all staying together. I had the use of Mark's car too, so that made things easier. Our vacation was a great success I think. We spent quality time with Mum & Geoff, I caught up with old friends (so much has changed but also nothing at all!), the kids reconnected with their friends Delphi and Jasper, my sister and nephew came for a night, my cousin Tess and her son came for a night. I was so busy - it wasn't what you'd call a relaxing vacation by any means, but it was still a good break. I went to all our old stomping grounds, all the beaches that I wanted to see, out to old restaurants and new...it was really lovely to be back. The kids went horse riding at Milea's, we spent a morning hanging out with Wes, the kids' old carer (they miss him so much!), and Carmie and I went fossicking like we used to. I am happy to not be living down there anymore, but it is so nice to go back and visit. And yes, I miss those south coast beaches very much!
Jeffrey stayed home in QLD, keeping his business going. We had planned to move Jeff's guitar school into the new location before I left, but we ran out of time. The kids and I got back on Tuesday 8th October, and Jeff had scheduled his first Sunday morning jam session for that coming weekend. We spent all of Friday and Saturday down in the new space, putting together all the decor. The place looks great! We also had a great turnout for the jam session, and the students love their new space. The real bugger was that on Friday morning, Carmie woke up really sick. She had a terrible headache and sore throat, and I couldn't stay home to look after her. I feel terribly guilty about it now - I didn't know how bad the illness was!
By Monday morning, Arley was sick too. By Tuesday morning both kids were vomiting, and had headaches and sore throats etc. I was in bed by lunch on Tuesday and I spent the next 8 days (!) battling the worse illness I have ever had. We had tested Carmie twice for COVID, both tests being negative, so I have deduced that we had severe cases of Influenza A. It was SO bad. Jeff had to continue working (luckily out of the house!), so there was no one to take care of the three of us. By Thursday afternoon I had run out of medicine and was so desperate that I posted in our community noticeboard on FB that I was very sick and needed medicine. Some lovely neighbours I don't even know stopped by with medicine, and I am so thankful! I was still in bed on the weekend, but things finally started to turn for me on the Monday. I am still weak and coughing now, and keeping Jeff and I up at night time, but I am up and about again. The kids are doing great and got back to their social groups yesterday. And Jeff has been immune, as usual! Worst experience ever!!
I had big plans to cut down on the kids' screen time when we returned, and to get the token system in place again, but of course all that went out the window. I have to say, going away was good for the kids in that their routine was shaken up, and it has made it a little easier to get Arley away from his computer. I also think he has been so bored all of this week while I was sick, he is thankful to sometimes do something different. I even managed to convince him to get a haircut this morning. I thought it might never happen!
I'm sure there is so much I have missed out on, but everything is a bit of a blur! It's good to be thinking clearly again, but I feel like the past month has literally disappeared!
