Each year around this time I enjoy sitting down to review the calendar and remember the details of things that have happened during the year. The Christmas letters are a summary for us as well as information for the recipients. Every diary entry since August this year though has seemed like yesterday, not months ago, which makes me conclude time is speeding up – is that something people say as they age? Probably fitting then! My big life event this year was turning 50 – which was exciting because it is a milestone I have always aimed for since I lost Mum at that age, but not so exciting to accept my middle-aged-ness!
My new year resolutions this year included seeing a performance of some kind every month and reading a book every month….I am about to go on an overseas trip, so will need to pack half a dozen books to achieve that goal, but by the time I see a musical on the West End in late December, I will have achieved the other goal! (Ross believes I should be embarrassed to admit this)….I didn’t have much time to read because I worked far more hours each week this year than I have become used to, especially once Ross couldn’t work. He was slowed down by ankle surgery during the year which meant a few months off work. What initially was thought to be career-ending surgery turned into temporary-fix surgery so he can put off the more serious operation for closer to retirement. Given we have been planning a European Christmas for the last few years, Ross was just thankful the repair was done in time for him to recover before we leave. He has enjoyed being back at work with his crew but is also looking forward to the trip he has been planning for so long that is finally a reality!
In pre-pandemic days we formulated a plan to celebrate Sam’s 18 th post-HSC in the Samuel Jones pub in Exeter, UK. We have talked about it for so long and with such keenness that others have asked to tag along, and it has extended out to be a six-week European trip for 14 people (Luke’s family and Abi’s boyfriend Tom joining our party of 8) through 9 countries over December and January.
Sam has just unpacked his bag from a week in Fiji (for “schoolies”) and will repack to go to Europe next Friday. He has had a massive year of many high highs and low lows and learnt a lot about good relationships, good organisational skills, and hopefully learnt a lot about himself as well. His role as School Captain kept him very busy, as did the role of Prince Eric in the school musical “The Little Mermaid” in June. I was invited to speak at his Graduation Ceremony as the parent representative, so we both had to prepare speeches for that occasion in September.
He achieved his P’s in January, so having another driver has been helpful, although there is not often a car available for him – everyone’s schedules have meant there have been regular times this year where Sam is at home with just his parents, but he does not like being an only child! His school commitments didn’t leave a lot of time for study (or maybe that was the lack of organisational skills….) but he did get early entry into a course at the University of Wollongong he is interested in: Exercise Science and Rehabilitation. He will turn 18 on Friday as the plane takes the boys to Prague and is looking forward to the family time ahead.
After (most of) the boys leave for Prague, Abi, Belle and I leave a few days later for a stopover in Hong Kong before we meet the boys in the UK. Belle has been planning a day at Hong Kong Disneyland for the three of us and has used it as her motivation to work hard and achieve goals this year. Well, that worked! She received ten individual awards at her Presentation Day, which made me feel some motherguilt about how I worried about her academic progress in the early primary years!
Belle continued to represent the school in soccer and cricket, finished her Bronze Duke of Ed award, and was voted as House Captain. She didn’t have time to find a part-time job between school, church and sporting commitments as she also had minor roles in the school musical, got her L’s when she turned 16 in September, and joined the worship band at church this year, even leading worship on some occasions.
Isaac joined the worship band playing guitar at the same time as Belle. He misses seeing his school friends every day but has enjoyed uni life and the chance to earn money. He does not however like spending money! We found some answers to the bouts of stomach pains he had had during the last two years of schooling when he had a gastroscopy in October. We don’t see a lot of him as he now works three jobs and tries to fit in time for his girlfriend, uni subjects, school and uni friends and then us around that.
As well as continuing to work at the local café, Isaac answered an ad to work as a server/bartender for a new restaurant that opened in Cronulla mid-year and fits the early morning café or night restaurant shifts around four days at McGrath working in real estate. That involves some travel as he works out of the Coogee and Manly offices, all of which we will reassess after our Europe trip and as the second year uni timetable comes out. Zac ended the year with a Distinction and 3 credits in his four Semester 2 subjects though, so for now I can’t insist on much change!
Because of his work commitments, Isaac is joining us in Europe for only three of the six weeks, the same length of time that Tim is joining us. Tim’s time is limited because he has a wedding to prepare for! Tim and Rachel became engaged in April and will be getting married in March 2025, which we are all very excited about. Rachel has decided to stay home with her family for Christmas, and Tim has decided he wants to travel with us but not for too long!
Tim’s graduation ceremony for his Masters in Human Resource Management was in May but he has continued working at Rebel Miranda rather than search too extensively for a new job – after being baptised in June, preparing and presenting his first sermon at church in July, and some short trips near and far, he thought he would look for work in the HR area next year after other big life events are accomplished.
Abi has achieved a big life event recently – she handed in her last uni assignment in November, finished her last prac (which ran for all of term 3), and was offered a full-time job at that school. She wasn’t sure what to respond immediately to that offer, especially given teachers in training are told to expect to have to work casually until a position becomes available down the track, but quickly realised what a wonderful opportunity she was being offered. She is now finished with the Conservatorium of Music and starts at St Pat’s Sutherland as a full-time high school music teacher in 2025. Abi hasn’t had much free time this year between her three part-time jobs (tutoring privately, tutoring at the after- school study program, and working at Harry Hartog), leading a bible study at the Conservatorium, and getting great uni results, but she did finish up all part-time jobs in time to have some downtime here before we head overseas and then return in time for her new job.
Jarrod continued working as the Data Scientist at The Kings School this year and continued tutoring uni subjects at Sydney Uni in their Master of Data Science program until May. The job which gave him the opportunity to present at conferences meant he was noticed and head-hunted! After much deliberation and discussion, Jarrod left The Kings School on a Friday afternoon in May and started at The Anglican Schools Corporation the following Monday morning. With 18 schools in the organisation, Jarrod felt he could continue to use his skill set for a larger number of schools at once than just one. This was the first year Jarrod hasn’t spent a number of weeks in Europe with friends in a while, so between local shorter trips with friends we have been relying on his experience to plan our family holiday…..We will head off next week with a Google Drive folder full of tabs like our itinerary with embedded links to our accommodation, an expenses spreadsheet, statistics and expenses breakups by family units and individuals.
We are really looking forward to what will probably be our last overseas trip all together. (I promise not to be too insufferable about us celebrating Christmas in Bordeaux and New Year in Salzburg 😉.) While we go for an extended period with our parents’ blessing, we do have mixed emotions about going – Ross’ parents wanted to join us on our trip, but Polly still has two rounds of chemo to get through after a secondary cancer diagnosis a few months ago, and I am relying on Uncle Terry and Aunty Cheryl to look after my dad while we are away. It is so rare though that all the children can join us on a holiday – there aren’t many nights in an average week at home where we are all home together anymore, so we are determined to make the most of it! We hope you too enjoy this season and wish you a beautiful Christmas.
