As it has done for the last four summers the new year started with a party at our place.
Glow sticks on the children before they walk down to watch the 9pm fireworks on New Year's Eve
Mid-January: Orchard Road, Singapore. I was here for three days for work. Loved that I could sneak out at lunch time to check out the sales. Loved that the shops were open until 10pm.
A day after I returned from Singapore: Port Stephens for a management meeting. You're feeling sorry for me now - right? For three days I sat in a conference room looking out at boats clinking together in the marina.
26 January: Australia Day BBQ by a friend's pool. Kids splashed all afternoon while the adults sipped cool beverages and indulged in lamb, macadamias and pavlova topped with whipped cream, strawberries and blueberries.
I took no annual leave but Firegazer took the kids to WA to visit the relatives while I was travelling so I didn't have the dramas of worrying about delayed or cancelled flights.
The kids are now back at school and a new reality has hit - the work, home and after-school activity juggle.
