In the 'hood

A new cafe called Boho Cafe has opened in Awapuni.  We are so excited.  We had breakfast there last weekend, and while I wouldn't call it a relaxing meal given that we were wrangling a two-year-old and seven-year-old, the coffee was delicious and the eggs were perfectly done.

Today I escaped there for a while with the paper and had a coffee and bacon and egg focacia.  Yummy, generous portions, friendly staff and a cosy little corner to sit in.













There are still quite a few empty shops which is discouraging but with the new cafe, the sushi shop and the hospice op shop in the neighbourhood as well as the longstanding presence of the library and chemist it's shaping up to be a great little place to be.

Inspiration in dealing with my shadow side

I still love the job but life is definitely busy and relentless.

My darling girl turned two yesterday.  I feel so blessed to have her and her brother in my life and to be raising them with my wonderfully funny and creative wife.  I also feel tired and crabby and resentful at all the things I have to do rather than watch a movie or read a book or just vege.

We had a low-key birthday party for Rangimarie this morning and then in the afternoon we went to a friend's place who happened to have a birthday today to celebrate with more cake.  I was sitting on the couch holding a hot cup of green tea and Manaaki was sitting next to me.  Several times I reminded him that I was holding a hot drink and to please be careful not to bump me.  However he took no notice and finally knocked into me so hard that the hot tea spilled all over my hands and the floor.  I yelled "Manaaki!" and suddenly the room was silent and awkward because I'd lost my cool.  I felt like such a dork. Coming home I was so angry with myself and just frustrated that I get very little break and just about no couple time.  I love that I am still breastfeeding Rangimarie but the day-in-day-out reality of it seldom having uninterrupted time, even in the evenings, is frustrating.

Luckily my wife was sympathetic and gave me an hour or so to mooch around the sleepout and poke through old boxes of journals and cards and photos.  It was very restorative.  When I came back inside she had cleaned the kitchen and made a soup for dinner.

Inspired by our friend, Helen Lehndorf, who has recently written a book 'Write to the Centre' I got out my scissors and some old cards and got creative.  Writing it out really does help.