Friday, December 20, 2013

EOS (end of school)

This week one year ago I was fully immersed in my book writing bubble. There was all this end of year stuff going on around me, but I was on a deadline. I had word counts and edits and chapters to write. I was locked in my office for hours at a time surrounded by scraps of paper and scribbled notes and photos and map books and print outs. My life was tap, tap, tapping away on the computer. It was such a crazy and intense time.

At one stage, quite possibly on the day my girls finished school, I remember my editor writing me an email all about how wonderful this week was going to be in 2013. How in 2013 my book would be written and out there in the big wide world. How I would have such a great present to give our teachers and friends and family. And how I would have more time. So much more time.

I remember clinging on to those words. At that time I could barely imagine finishing the next section, let alone the whole book.

And yet here we are an entire year later. It happened.

Last night we had a little family ceremony to celebrate and mark the passing of another school year.

Each one of us took our turn to strike a match, to light a candle, to make a little speech about the school year that was and to burn some school work.

It's been an enormous year in the history of our family. Miss Indi started high school and dealt with that roller coaster of highs and lows. Miss Jazzy swapped over to another school and blossomed. And Miss Pepper did her year of prep and loved it.

We learnt languages and techniques and reasons and stories.

We learnt lots about other families and other kids and social networks.

At home we did projects and spelling words and readers and maths. We woke to alarm clocks, we washed uniforms, made lunches and braided hair. We dropped off and we picked up.

We clocked up the absences by taking time off to travel to Israel, to Queensland, to farm, to publicize my book and to hang out.

And we did OK, and we could have done better and we did great .

And as it happens Jacqueline my editor was right, my book came out and this summer I have so much more time and so much more space. And because of last year I know how precious that is. And I am ridiculously grateful. And I intend to make the most of these weeks of school free days with my girls. I intend to make and bake and farm and grow and swim and relax with them, with no time tables or deadlines or due dates at all.

Thank goodness for the summer holidays!

Can you believe there are only two weeks left of this year?

Big love to you wherever you are. I hope you have time, I hope your deadlines are manageable and I hope you have yummy things to eat.

xx

21 comments:

  1. Such a magnificent year for you! And what a brilliant end. Good food, happy babies and something delicious on the hook or needles no doubt ;) wishing you a revitalising chrissie and a new year of adventure and love. Thank you for your beautiful inspiration...as a mumma, as a creator, as a woman xxx

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  2. I remember that time last year where you were still cooking your baby and I adjust birthed mine and the end of the year was crazy, etsy for me you for writing and I remember also thinking will it be easier next year. I don't know if it has been, she shop has been busier and the tiny baby is now running around trashing the place, but I like the holidays not having to rush in the morning, we will be having lots of pyjama days. Xxx

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  3. Happy holidays to you and your family Kate. I have absolutely loved following your blog this year xx

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  4. Big happy relaxing loving times to you & your family Kate. xxx

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  5. Eos is the Welsh word for nightingale - seems appropriate. Enjoy the break with your family and have a lovely summery Christmas. Bernice x

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  6. Thanks for sharing your life with us again Kate. You reflect on your life so honestly and beautifully and somehow reflect mine too.

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  7. I can feel the collective breath of relief around the country today. Enjoy your break!

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  8. How great are holidays? One of my boys said he was worried that he wouldn't learn anything now he's out of school for summer and little does he realise he will learn a whole lot more! Such a great time to connect as a family and drop out of the rushing and running around! Enjoy your summer!

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  9. Thank goodness for Summer holidays-yes, yes and yes. It feels like finally taking a big deep breath and giving a long, long satisfying sigh. Ahhh, that's better :) Have a wonderful Christmas Kate and thanks for sharing some of your life with us.

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  10. What a cool way to mark the end of the school year. xK

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  11. So glad that life is good for you now. I love the burning of school papers idea - my husband the pack rat probably still has some floating around that we could burn now! Enjoy your lazy days of summer.

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  12. All the best to you and your family for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 2013 was the year I found you on Instagram, then I started following your blog. I was inspired to pick up needles again (and learn to crochet), and the pace of life slowed in a most satisfactory manner. Thank you! By the way I am loving my first caravan road trip, from the Sunshine Coast to Adelaide. Currently on the Murray River, pure magic. ❤️

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  13. No timetables or due dates sounds delectable for you and the girls. May all your Non-plans come true. Best to you as summer unfolds.

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  14. Glorious! It is special and magical to just "be". Enjoy with your wonderful family and all the deliciousness that you all are and grow x

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  15. fabulous post to end off the school year! I breathed a sigh of relief and having my two home with no deadlines or lunch to make or uniforms to wash is just bliss! Enjoy your summer, enjoy your family! And have a wonderful Merry Christmas Kate! Congrats on the success of your book…such an achievement xx

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  16. Always so strange to hear of your early summer adventures when we are in the depths of winter (-15C some nights) here in BG! Glad that life is simpler and you have time to enjoy it with your girls and your lovely man!

    Due to real problems with my Google account, I never got a chance to say how much I enjoyed your road trip and Israel adventures, but they all sounded fab!

    Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!

    Jak x

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  17. Another lovely post. Thank you so much for your blog - it's such a joy to read and look at. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas and a fabulous, relaxing, rewarding Summer. x

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  18. Love the end of school ritual!

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  19. sincerest love and Christmas blessings to you and your family, Kate.
    You squeeze every last drop out of these summer holidays.
    As always, such an inspiration xx

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  20. Yep the end of the year and summer holidays are always a lovely time to let go of your worries, to look forward to a new year and new beginnings and most of all look forward to fun filled days as a family.

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  21. Its been a massive year for you Kate..Hooray! and well done to you all!! I hope your holidays are fabulously relaxed and fun and peaceful too..'cheers' to being timetable and deadline free xx

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Thanks so much for stopping by...

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Kate XX

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