Help me, I’m a snap addict!

I’ve recently started using Snapchat. Yes I know, a little behind the times but I feel quite proud of my ‘snapping’, as they say.

I have had Snapchat for a while now but never really used it. Until one day at my new job, the young girls (okay, they are 26 and 23, which makes them younger than me, which makes them ‘young’) were going on and on about it. I had massive FOMO! So I got on board.

This is when my obsession began.

Since this day, I am constantly on Snapchat. Waiting for snaps from friends, sending random snaps to friends (none of the naughty kind either, in case you were wondering). And the filters!! It’s like Christmas every day when the new filters appear.

Filters, so many filters

The amount of time I spend on Snapchat is possibly at embarrassment levels. Do I not have anything better to do you ask? Of course I do. I have a lot of work to do, cleaning, cooking, real human interaction, but why would I want to do any of that, when I can make myself look like a puppy dog! 

Who wouldn’t want to send a ‘snap’ of them as a puppy!

My priorities may need adjusting.

I never thought I would be someone who actually was addicted to Snapchat, but I guess it can happen to anyone. Plus if I’m honest, after turning 30 I am really trying to still be ‘cool’ and ‘hip’, which saying those two words proves I am not. 

So to you all I say ‘hi, my name’s Jane and I’m a Snap addict’. Luckily most of my friends are to, so we all snap each other while enjoying a little wine (between snap friends).

Cheers,

Jane

P.S Using the term ‘snap’ does not come naturally to me. I feel like an 80 yr old saying ‘YOLO’ but hey, I’m going with it. 

Turning 30

I turned 30 yesterday.

Just let that sink in. 30, the big 3.0. I had told myself in the lead up to this birthday that I was fine, not worried, not big deal. Yet so many times I found myself sitting on the couch (often with a glass of wine), starting to panic and eventually the tears would flow. I felt I had achieved nothing in my 30 years of living and it was now too late to do anything about it.

Then, the day before my 30^th birthday, my cousin died of cancer. He was 30 years old.

Suddenly, me thinking I had achieved ‘nothing’ with my life was not only irrelevant but it was the complete and utter crap (to be frank). The death of my amazing, kind, funny cousin made me realise that life isn’t about having done stuff by a certain age. It isn’t about doing what society says you should do by a certain age (think marriage, kids, and mortgage).

No, it’s about being happy and living in the moment. Okay, that’s not exactly a new revelation but it hit me and it hit me hard. I have achieved a great deal in a short amount of time and I need to start appreciating that. I have a great new job in the field I have strived to be in. My partner is my best friend, soul mate and love of my life. I have the most amazing friends and family and most importantly, I am HAPPY.

To me, being happy, genuinely happy, is such an achievement and one I am so proud of. I don’t need to be obsessed, worried, and paranoid about a number. My age, my weight, my salary – these numbers don’t define me. My happiness and gratitude define me.

Don’t get me wrong, I have gone out and made any huge changes with my life (it’s been a day) but I want to make changes and keep improving on this new found freedom.

So yes, another random blog post (way too many months after my last) but sometimes life smacks you in the face and the only way to deal is to write!

To finish, I hope happiness finds you all and you can all enjoy a little wine between friends.

Cheers,

Jane

I need a hobby!

I haven’t written a post for a few months now. No real reason that I can use as an good excuse, more many bad excuses – lazy, went on holiday, can’t find motivation.

That last point is what has prompted me to write this post. Lately I have been feeling very unmotivated to do anything. I don’t know if it’s post holiday blues or I just feel like me life has come to a stand still.

When I really think about it, that just seems crazy. As mentioned, I’ve just been on a 4 week holiday to the UK, I recently moved house and I bought a brand new car. For most people, this would be more than enough to shake things up. For me, it’s done nothing.

I guess the holiday was a huge event in my life as I had been dreaming of heading to the UK for years. To finally go and see it in all it’s glory was amazing.

The new car was exciting but the shine has pretty much worn off. Now I’m just left with the extra costs involved that I previously didn’t have… petrol, rego etc..

The moving part was more a hassle than an exciting. My partner and I rent our home (for now) and were told by our agent that the owners wanted to move back in. We could have been real jerks and told them we weren’t moving until our lease was up in December but we aren’t like that. So we found a new rental and moved a couple of weeks ago. It has kind of stuffed up our plans to be honest. We had planned to buy our own home at the end of next year, when our lease was up for the second year. Now we will be faced with the decision to buy or rent again in the middle of next year. On top of that, moving into another rental, paying someone else’s mortgage is starting to play on my nervous. I’m at a point in my life where I want to own my own home. I want to be able to paint walls if I think they need it. I don’t want to have to panic every time we put a tiny little mark on a wall. I guess it’s every ones dream to own their own home, so I know I’m not alone. It just can get you down at times.

So basically, even with all these things happening, I still can’t find the motivation to enjoy it all. I just feel something is lacking and I have no idea what. So I’m thinking of starting a hobby. A real, time consuming hobby. Don’t get me wrong, I find plenty to do (go out for dinner, enjoy a little wine between friends) but I want something that is consistent and fulfilling. I have no idea what said hobby will be yet, that part I’m still investigating. In fact, it could very well be writing this blog a lot more often (here’s hoping!). But even if I do start writing more, I think I want something else to occupy my mind. It might be volunteering or something crafty. Time will tell and I will be sure to keep you updated!

I do just want to say that whilst this post sounds a little negative, it’s not all doom and gloom. I really do love my life and am blessed with some amazing people! Sometimes it’s just good to get the negativity out!

Cheers,

Jane

Lest We Forget

You may have noticed I haven’t written for a while. I guess between Easter, work and life I’ve just been preoccupied. But today is a day that deserves a post.

Anzac Day, 25 April. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. It’s commemorated every year by thousands of people all over the world. Anzac Day is recognised in two different ways. Commemorative services are held at dawn, the time of the original landing at Gallipoli. Later in the day, ex-servicemen and women will take part in marches through most major cities.

For me Anzac Day is a day to reflect and remember all those men and women who have fought and are still fighting so we can live in this beautiful county. My dear Aunty was a civilian nurse in the Vietnam War. Every year she heads to Melbourne and marches with pride. I’ve been to watch and it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. The service men and women who march are just beaming with pride. Their families walking along the path with them, strangers clapping and cheering as they march past. This is the exact respect our service men and women deserve.

Each year when I go to the dawn service, I look around at the crowd and can’t help but smile. The diversity of the people who attend the service is amazing. Older men in their suits, with their medals hanging proudly from their chest. Young men and women who have managed to get themselves out of bed before 11 to pay their respects and the young kids, sitting on their dads shoulders so they can see. It’s a day that brings people together to remember those who have fallen. The service it’s self can be very eerie. The hymns that are sung, the placing of the wreaths and of course the Last Post. I find I get a bit overwhelmed and overcome with emotion at times during the service. You can’t help but think of the fallen soldiers and their families. Not just from the past, but for the present as well. Of course you then have the great tradition once the service has ended of having a cup of coffee with a little ‘nip’ in it (alcohol). Having a cheeky drink with the service men and women afterwards is a huge privilege. Hearing the stories about their time in the service is lovely. I can’t imagine what some of these men and women went through and it’s a real eye opener into the strength some people have.

So today, I pay my respect to all the service men and women in Australia and New Zealand. We owe our lives to so many and we should all be thankful for them everyday. Enjoy the day, have a little wine between friends and Lest We Forget.

Cheers,

Jane

Promotion? …Okay!

When I started this new job, I had a goal of being promoted within 12 months, I did it in 6! I got the news yesterday when my boss asked to see me for a minute. Of course my first instinct was to panic but I was soon very relaxed once the conversation started.

For me, this promotion was so important. I used to work in media sales until I left the city to move to the country. Before I moved I loved my job, I mean LOVED it! It was a tough decision to leave, but the right one at the time. Given there isn’t much opportunity to do media sales in the country, I was out of the media industry for 2 years. When I moved back to the city I temped for a while (was the longest time in my career ever!) then I was fortunate enough to be told about this job. I applied and got it!

Although it was an entry level role and compared to what I had been doing in my previous media role, it was a huge step down but I knew I wanted it. I had missed the industry terribly and knew it was where I was meant to be. I tried the wine industry but it just didn’t feel right and given how much I love wine, that was a huge shock to the system!

So when I took this job with lower pay and lower responsibilities, I set a goal that I would be doing more and getting paid more within the year. The thought never really crossed my mind that I would be given the opportunity within 6 months. It’s the best feeling to have your boss tell you that you are doing such a great job and they want to reward you for it. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I know this is what I want to do and yesterday was just the final stamp of approval. Again, I can say that I LOVE my job and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me.

I can’t wait to celebrate this milestone with a little wine between friends and family.

Cheers,

Jane

How my saving is going

I wrote a post a few weeks ago about how I am going to try and save for my O/S holiday. Well, I’m not doing that great. I had a bit of a bad week just gone as my sister was here and I kind of went a bit overboard with the spending. Not ideal, given I have less than 2 months until we leave. But I honestly feel it was worth it. I’ve said before that I don’t get to see my sisters all that often, so when one comes to visit, I don’t want to waste that time doing nothing. We didn’t do anything crazy extravagant, but we did go out Friday night then went to a Aussie rules game on Saturday. It was a great weekend and worth every penny.

But from now on, I really need to avoid any weekend like that again. It’s so hard though, this Saturday I’ve got plans to have a little wine between friends at a local pub. I know I will want to spend money on wine but I’m just going to have to be sensible and stick to a budget. I can still go out and enjoy a glass or two, but that will have to be it. I just need to keep thinking about the AMAZING shopping I will do when away!
Cheers,
Jane

I’m 28 and NOT having a baby

I went to the doctor today, not for any thing serious, mostly just for a general check up. I had to go during work hours because my doctor works short hours, so of course my colleagues knew I was going to see the doctor. That didn’t bother me, I had nothing to hide. What bothered me was the instant conclusion that they all seemed to jump to. “Oh, went to see the Dr hey, not pregnant are you?!” Whilst it was mostly said in fun (my work place like to have inappropriate banter often), it still p!ssed me off. If I was a 28 year old male, this wouldn’t even have been a thought (obvsiously). But because I’m a 28 year old female, in a long term relationship, it’s an instant go to. Whenever I may be feeling a little off, or I innocently say ‘I’m craving chocolate’, everyone has the same thought. Most the time I’m sure it’s kept to just that, a thought, but sometimes you get that idiot who says it out loud. 

Now I will admit that I will do this to my friends as well. But mostly I do it to people who I know want children or are at that stage where it is actually very possible they could be with child any day now. Most people who know me, know that I’m not even close to that stage in my life. I love my partner and know it’s real, but I am not yet ready to entertain the idea of bringing another life into this world. So when people know this is how I feel, I find it rude and annoying that they think it’s okay to automatically assume that my slight tiredness is the result of a baby growing in my belly. I feel I’m constantly having to defend my annoyance when people bring it up. I’m clearly at that age where having a baby is the only thing I should be thinking about.. well guess what, it’s not. I love my life, I love my job, I love a little wine between friends. I’m not yet ready to swap all of that for nappies, dummies and 2am feeds.

This may be tabu, but i’m going to say it anyway… I’m too selfish to have a child right now. I don’t think that makes me a bad person, infact I think it makes me a better ‘one day parent’. I have seen what happens when people have children too young or when they aren’t ready and the effect it has on said child. Seeing a parent resent their choice to have children or watching parents constently palm their kids off to the grand parents because they want to keep living like they were childless is awful. I don’t want to do that to my child. I want to give my all when the time comes. I want to want to stop working and stop having nights out because I know I have the most amazing thing that ever happened to me at home. I just don’t feel like I’m there yet but I feel like socitey sees this as a bad thing. The pressure that is placed on females in their 20’s, early 30’s is unbelievable. We don’t live in the 50s anymore where women were born to marry and have babies and that is it. Some women want a career and to travel and to go out in to dinner with just their partner. This doesn’t make them awful people. Neither does wanting children and I am not saying that. Some people are born to be parents and that is what the world needs. And I am also very aware that having children doesn’t make your life stop. I know you can go out and still do things, include travel but you have to admit, you are more limited with your options. I just don’t think it’s fair to judge and question my thoughts on having children just because ‘it’s my god given right’.  

This isn’t to say that I don’t LOVE children. I have a newish (4 months old) nephew who I love with all my heart. I genuinely miss him when we don’t see him. I have another friend who is close to making this amazing life decision to have a baby and I couldn’t be happier for her – she is definitely one of my friends who I ‘pester’ about being pregnant often! These people have made that choice and are ready and I take my hat off to them. Because they have a baby (or will soon) doesn’t mean I won’t love them any less or want them in my life any less. It just means our friendship will change and grow. I also feel a huge amount of empathy for people who struggle with having a baby. Wanting something so badly and it not being possible is unimaginable for me. It breaks my heart when I hear these stories. I almost feel guilty because I make the choice (at the moment) not to have a baby, yet they spend every waking hour thinking and wishing for one.

I know having babies is a part of life, just like marriage and bad hair days. I just don’t need every Tom, Dick and Harry assuming that because I’m 28 and female, I should be pushing out babies left, right and centre.

Cheers,

Jane 

What I’ve leant this week

Well, firstly I’ve learnt that the weeks seem to be flying by! It feels like only yesterday I wrote last weeks post. Maybe I’m just getting old but the time is going so much faster than it used to. Every year I feel time is speeding up. I can’t believe we are in mid April!

I also leant I love zucchini flowers! Small lesson I know, but still worth a mention. This all came about when we had a long lunch with some media reps at a beautiful restaurant. One that has a menu that most people can’t understand. A note to mention, I love my food! But I like good, simple food most the time. I grew up in the country, so meat and 3 veg was on the menu most nights. as I’ve gotten older I’ve really started to open my mind and taste buds and started trying new foods. I’m still learning to do this, so when we go to these kind of restaurants, I feel a little bit over whelmed. I thought the zucchini flower would be something new and I’m so glad I got it. It was amazing! It was served with ricotta and it was just mouth watering. A new food to add to my list!

I also leant that I might be getting a little too old to enjoy a little wine between friends on a ‘school night’. Having a hazy head at work really isn’t as easy as it used to be!

Cheers,

Jane

Weekend

I had great news today. Turns out my boring, nothing planned weekend has turned into a jam packed weekend with my sister, and I couldn’t be happier! My sisters live in another state, so I don’t see them very often. So when my eldest emailed me saying she was coming over last minute, I was beyond excited!

Without getting too sappy, I really miss my sisters. We used to live together, now we live so far apart. It’s nice to call, email etc but there is nothing like sitting around enjoying a little wine between friends (my sisters are my best!) when ever we feel like it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so happy and proud of the lives they have created over in their city but the selfish side of me wishes they were back here. But we are lucky that we are only an hours flight away and often can get cheap flights! So bring on the weekend!

Cheers,

Jane

I have a confession to make, I’m a little hung over today. Not to the point that I can’t function, but I’m a little hazy and craving chips and gravy! I don’t make a habit of being hung over at work, but yesterday we were taken  out on a loooong lunch which included a little lot wine between friends (well more work colleagues but hey, they are friends!). Then last night I went to watch my partner play darts (this requires a whole other post to explain this) and proceeded to have a few more glasses of wine. I was by no means ‘can’t handle myself drunk’ but I was pretty happy. So whilst I was on the train into work, feeling a little less ordinary, I was sitting near a group of school kids who were laughing and having a great time. It got me thinking, they have never experienced a hang over (at least I hope they haven’t, they could have not been more than 12 years old!!). I felt almost envious of them that they have never experienced that pain in their heads or that sickening feeling from drinking too much. Oh to be young and innocent again!

Cheers,

Jane