The Lady in the Back Row

Yesterday was my granddaughter’s sweet 16. She is so beautiful. The day carried an extra layer of excitement, she had recently passed her online learner exam, and yesterday she drove for the very first time.

It was such a special milestone. Sixteen is a turning point, a quiet step toward independence.

I found myself thinking about my own 16th birthday. Of all the birthdays I’ve had, that one has stayed with me. Pink jeans, a top, and my first makeup bag. She was shocked I could remember mine — so many decades ago, lol. I’m not sure why that day has stayed so clearly in my memory, but it has.

I told her she will remember hers too…… not just for the celebration, but because it was the day she first got behind the wheel.

Time has a way of slipping past us. Moments like this ask us to slow down and take them in.✨🥳🎂🛻

Getting back into routine feels steadying, like slipping back into a rhythm that was always there, just paused for a while.

This break felt different. For the first time in a long time, it actually felt like rest. No constant pressure to be productive, no background noise of unfinished tasks. Just space.

Rest changes the way routine lands. Coming back feels less like obligation and more like alignment.

Looking forward……..

Tomorrow the work year starts.

Not with big promises, just readiness.

A clear desk. Light through the window.

Everything set up to begin without friction.

Positivity doesn’t need noise.

Sometimes it’s simply being prepared and moving forward.

Two days left and work begins for the year.

Yesterday the beach showed us two very different experiences.

One calm day, easy, open, inviting. And then a wild one: wind up, waves crashing, endless blue, a strong current, and purple jellyfish drifting through the water.

My granddaughter was disappointed. She wanted to swim without the worry, not watching the water for jellyfish.

On days like that, the wildness shifts from beautiful to something real and dangerous. ( I like the wild.)

Still, standing there together, looking out into that blue, heat in the air, wind on skin, waves moving fast, it’s impossible not to feel the beauty of life in it all.

Sometimes the most self-respecting choice is listening to evidence instead of the internet noise.

The world carries a heavy weight.

I feel grateful for the life we have here in Australia, even as ordinary routines continue — school, work, preparation — alongside the reality of a very sick daughter.

Today is about holding gratitude gently, without pretending things are easy.

A few quiet moments to rest, breathe, and simply be..

Greatful for the calm, ready to move into the year with intention.

I see all my grandchildren, but never together.

My heart holds them all, and that’s the way it is.

Some things are beyond control, but these moments are mine. 🥰

Fireworks.

Dog damage.

Reset.

Old cleared. New begins.

Onwards.

✨❤️✨❤️✨❤️✨❤️✨❤️✨❤️✨❤️

Last day of ’25 tomorrow.

Closing the year with Gratitude and Hope. x x

Swim again.

Slow down.

Think about intentions for the year ahead.

First summer swim in the ocean, wonderfully wonderful. 🌊✨🏊‍♀️

Looked at the fence.

Googled too much.

Decided this one needs a professional.

Can I do it alone?

I think so……… let’s have a go. 🤔🫣💪🪏🪚

Today is for light, joy, and simply being with those we love.

Because the most precious gift isn’t what we unwrap,
it’s the presence we share.

Presence, not presents. ✨

and to all religions and cultures around the world, may there be peace, love, kindness, and happiness. May the lights be extra sparkly this year, the kids extra giggly, and the Santa photos perfectly imperfect.