Has it really been that long?

My mouth actually formed an “o” last night when I realised it’s been eight years since I left magazines.

Eight years!

Housegoeshome was launched on July 28, 2011, a month after my career at ACP Magazines concluded following a 20-year tenure.

It was such a different Household back then.

Here’s my first ever blog post:

It’s been 28 days since I stopped work. Or should I say, stopped paid work. I spent the first week sick in bed, the second week sick in Fiji (ah, well, at least it was warm), the third week nursing Sprog 1 through a vomitting bug, the fourth week … well, I was expecting I’d get a chance to stretch my legs on the whole “lady of leisure” thing, but no, I’m nursing Sprog 2 through a bout of tonsilitis.

The outside world has receded to something of myth and legend. I’m going quietly mad tidying the Tupperware cupboard and restacking baked beans in the pantry. Desperate to stay connected to humanity, I pathetically eye my gmail account at hourly intervals. I’m convinced it’s not working because I never get any mail, except from Cudo. (And that’s no fun, since I no longer earn cash to buy any of their “special offers”.)

The lack of mail is understandable, since I forgot to put a forwarding address on my work email. But it’s still a little soul destroying. At least when Sprog 1 was sick, we could lie in bed together watching Dr Who repeats on the portable DVD player (with me sneaking off occasionally for sneaky, high-rotation viewing of the David Tennant OMG clip on youtube, mmmmmm…). Sprog 2 is more the Bananas In Pyjamas type. Not quite so stirring.

I had all these lovely morning teas and lunches and playdates organised to cement my new status as a stay-at-home mum with all the other stay-at-home mums, but I’ve had to cancel them all. I also planned on being a goodie two-shoes by doing reading group and computer class stuff at the sprogs’ school. All cancelled as well.

I did help out at a “100 days of kindergarten” celebration on my one child-illness-free day this week. Unfortunately it ended with Sprog 2 clinging to me and crying hysterically because a boy said she “wasn’t right about everything” … Sprog 2 – like her mother – believes she IS right about everything, so it came as quite a blow. The doctor reckons Sprog 2’s pus-laced tonsils will be problematic for another 3 days. So I thought I might as well start a blog to keep me sane …

I almost have to pinch myself to believe the youngest was in kindy when my blogging journey began. And, hello, I’d totally forgotten she had tonsilitis.

Here we are eight years later with her laid up after having her adenoids out. (And get this – I just received the itemised bill from the ENT and it only cost $200 to remove her adenoids, but $1800 to fix her deviated septum … so I really should be saying she had a nose job.)

I’m hoping she’ll rally to join the outside world tonight for pizza with her skipping team. It’s been a looooooong time since she breathed the outside air.

However, she’s confirmed she won’t be sleeping at her father’s apartment over the weekend, so I’ll be juggling single mothering with dating.

I’ve consoled myself by scrolling back through my Instagram feed and confirming I think DD is hawt with a beard – I poke my tongue out to anyone who thinks otherwise.

I look at his hirsute photos and feel all giddy.

It’s lovely to still feel giddy after four years together.

It would also be lovely to be back on that beach in Fiji (pictured main) as the new, improved me.

Although … they reckon it might crack 20C in Sydney over the weekend … I may have to throw myself into the ocean in celebration …

Have a freaking awesome weekend.

Song of the day: Martha & the Muffins “Echo Beach”