It is 9:35am on a Monday. I am still in my dressing gown and the older children have all gone to school while the baby is with my dad at mainly music in the village.

Feeling absolutely exhausted. Also, undeniably full of joy and gratitude, and this, along with the support and kindness our family and friendships are the fuel that will keep me afloat for the next few months.

This weekend flew by in a blur of fast charging stations, children, costumes, candy, camaraderie, and climbing through the Waitakere ranges. Sunday was also awash with news of the All Black’s defeat of the Wallabies in the RWC in London.

I have been neglecting my blog, which is a shame as it is a touchstone for family, friends, supporters and even those who look on with crinkled noses muttering under their breath and rolling their eyes disapprovingly.

This will be a short post, just to share with you the highs and lows of the last few weeks.

Many of you have had, or currently have your own start-ups or are familiar with the strange exhilaration that comes from starting something new or making big life decisions. You know about the grueling hours and the thankless work that needs doing when you are setting up any new entity, or embarking on any big change. Many more of you have children, so you know about the highs and the lows and the constant feeling of shame and disappointment that comes from juggling everyone’s individual needs and wants. And all of you are human, so you know that some days are amazing, and other days you wish you could just crawl back under the covers and stay there until all the trials and challenges sort themselves out.

Friday was my Kiwi sister Sarah-Kate’s birthday and I missed wishing her well online and IRL. Saturday my other Kiwi sister from a different mister (Leedles) had her birthday and I did manage to speed over and pick her up for a delicious Pho lunch. Both of these beautiful women are new mums, work fulltime and juggle trials and triumphs that bring me to tears regularly. I am so proud of both of them. And so thankful that they allow me to remain in their hearts and a part of their lives.

Thanks for flicking through some pictures of what we were up to from Friday to Sunday. And a warm and heartfelt thank you to everyone who continues to put up with me, support me, tolerate me, and most importantly Love me just as I am. I am not blind to the kindness, and I do hope that in time I can make it up to everyone for standing up for and beside us as we soldier on with this sustainability stuff.

Have a great week everyone.

Thanks for reading.

Dee