The decorations are gone, the kiddy paraphernalia is back in the loft, the house is tidy and everything is very quiet. It’s all over for another 2 years and all the planning, shopping and cooking was worth it for a couple of weeks of crazy togetherness. Thank goodness the weather came good and we could all use the pool and hang outside or at the beach, a must with toddlers in the house and for the sanity of the adults! I must say – considering they were uprooted from their regular routines and shared bedrooms for the very first time they were all pretty good and as long as we hit the sack at a reasonable hour we all got enough sleep to cope the next day – many hands make light work and all that jazz! We actually managed our one formal meal on Xmas Eve in our dining room and some lovely dinners on the veranda once they were asleep which was a miracle with four kids under 3 in the house. I miss their little chubby hands in mine as we go to see the chickens for the 100th time or hearing their shrieks of joy as they jump into the pool for the 200th time and their warm little bodies cuddling me after they wake from their afternoon nap and I am very grateful that we all managed to get together considering the never ending pain in the bum that is Covid. We literally just squished Christmas in before Omicron swept through Sydney spoiling all sorts of plans and shutting shops, restaurants, cafes and decimating weddings (sometimes for the 3rd attempt at getting hitched). We are all a lot more resigned to it, more accepting of it even as we have huge case numbers and a lack of supplies in the supermarkets. Most people are expecting to get it and now it is more about getting it at the least inconvenient time rather than a fear of severe illness. Boosters are being rolled out and that combined with a level of personal responsibility and self care is all we can do at this time. Another year beginning with no guarantee of anything changing. Trips still on hold and plans with a mere 20% chance of fruition!

Luckily the beautiful South Coast provided us with many escapes and as there was always someone who could stay at home and babysit sleeping babies they could all variously take off for an hour or two with the older kids, almost a holiday in itself! Once they were tucked up in bed we could enjoy some nice meals on the veranda and relax.

On 27th December just 3 days after his 95th birthday the Cameron Family patriarch left us. Col was a much loved Dad, Grandad and Great Grandad as well as a lovely Father in Law to Heather and myself. He had been steadily declining this year and we knew things were looking a bit grim so thankfully Covid let up just long enough for everyone to visit him in November and December and say their goodbyes. I am so grateful that he managed to come to Lauren’s wedding here a few years ago and spent a Xmas in The Meadow our first year here leaving us with some lovely memories. You started quite a dynasty Pop and our kids have been very lucky to have three of their four grandparents here for so long. You will be missed and fondly spoken about for years to come. So glad we have a couple of pics of him with his various offspring!

I feel totally blessed that after a 12 month hiatus I got to visit him at the end of November with the MOTH and even happier that he was having a good day. I was prepared for him to not recognise me but after about 5 seconds his face lit up and we spent about 40 minutes together chatting about old times (he claimed he couldn’t remember a lot of it but he definitely did have flashes of memory) while he held my hand and kept stroking it. The very best visit we could have hoped for and as it turned out it was our very last. Farewell Col, we love you and hope you knew that right up until the end. We will continue to keep your stories close to our heart and chatted about around the firepit with the little ones as they get older, thanks for everything – we will cook your chicken Maryland recipe in your memory xxx

So a new year begins, maybe not the one we had envisaged but a year to look forward to and make the most of nonetheless as who knows when it’s our last? This whole epidemic has made us realise we have to enjoy every day, appreciate what we have, make an effort to change the things we dislike, have a go at something new while we can, keep growing, cherish our friends and our loved ones and let them know what they mean to us, be kind and considerate and immerse yourself in nature as much as you can. Simple things that nurture you are the way to go – want to make your own pasta/grow your own tomatoes/learn to play the piano or to speak French/buy a puppy – whatever it is just do it!! Life is what you make it after all. Love to you all and let’s make 2022 count for all the right reasons…..