We've done an excellent job in the past week of resting and recharging – just holing up and quietly enjoying each other's company and doing whatever we feel like. Sudden chickenpox onset thwarted certain plans (Grampa visit, circus, theatre), which is a bit rubbish, but the invalid seems to be feeling completely fine (though itchy)… Continue reading The obligatory 2018 round-up: 31.12.18

Happy Christmas! It is, actually. Even with a very small family celebration, it always feels like a crapshoot; you can do the same things in the same way and still somehow the mood is just a bit crap. But when it's good, our quiet little cozy day, it's lovely. And this year is lovely. Santa… Continue reading Gud yul: 5 things that went right, 25.12.18

I've been feeling stressed lately (in case you hadn't noticed), but the thing is, it's pretty much all self-inflicted. So there's been a tough project at work, with a few late nights and a lot of compromises. So what. I can do the late nights from the comfort of my own home, and nobody but… Continue reading Still learning: 5 things 14.12.18

Thanksgiving isn't part of any culture I've lived in and it's the wrong week anyway, but I'm feeling very grateful, randomly, for a bunch of stuff in my life. Big things, like my family and where we live. And the awesome schools my kids are going to, and the great partnership we have with their… Continue reading Thankful: 5 things 10.12.18

Ah, December. That month that is dark and cold and energy draining,* and ram packed with social activities (especially for the kids) because Advent, and Armin is working most weekends because Jahresrückblick, and apparently now it's a high-pressure time at work for me as well because Annual report. This is fine. At least I get… Continue reading Tis the dreaded season: 3.12.18

UGH MONDAY amirite? I keep thinking as soon as I'm done with [THING], I'll find my balance. But of course there's always another thing. So the challenge is to find my balance even as life keeps swinging wildly around, and work out how to keep organised and calm anyway. Hooray for meditation, I guess. (Did… Continue reading The new normal: 5 things 26.11.18

Well THAT was a week. That was... a LOT. Started with being completely unable to work on my first working Monday, because of tech issues. Continued with increasing pressure from boss to resolve other, longstanding tech issues ahead of the Big Project – bringing me close to tears more than once, because I'd been banging… Continue reading Up, down, up, down:* 5 things 16.11.18