Looking Back On 2014

Well that’s 2014 over and done with and it was quite the year. From welcoming our daughter into the world to travelling around the world we’ve been up to a fair bit. There’s been so much going on and so many little things that I’d love to go over this post could turn into just one, long wall of prose so to avoid this I’ve decided on just picking out the highlights…

Welcome to the world Chloë!

Whilst the year does indeed start in January our first true highlight of the year arrived bright and early on February 1^st. Born at 5:28am Chloë has been a constant source of happiness and smiles. While we have had occasional downs, which any new parent is bound to have, there have been far, far more ups. I think the main thing that never ceases to amaze me is the fact that no matter what a smile is never too far away from Chloë’s face. She’s also been on so many adventures despite her tender years which has included a number of trips to the coast, England and the United States! The year has been filled with watching Chloë grow and discover the world that she now occupies and watching that as an observer has been nothing short of magical and can’t wait to see this continue into 2015.

Jet lag, I laugh in the face of jet lag!

As previously alluded to there was a fair bit of International travel in 2014 for us as a family including an extra trip for myself to Paris. Our first port of call was England in June. This provided not only ourselves but friends and family to catch up with us and meet Chloë, I think we counted around 150 catchups during our time there with Chloë smiling at each and every one of them. It was great to go back home and spend some time with the people we’ve missed during our time in Australia. I’ll be fortunate enough to travel back again this year only I’ll be on my own this time around. Later in the year we travelled to the US ostensibly for a wedding but figured since we were in the neighborhood we’d catch up with other friends too. The wedding was amazing as was the places we visited and hope we’ll be able to head back there again sometime soon though air travel doesn’t seem to be getting any cheaper.

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door”

Part way through the year, due to the new Government releasing their budget, it was announced that the place where I worked would be closed and its duties taken up by the Department of Health. Unfortunately me, as I’m not a citizen yet, this meant I’d have to find a new job. Initially I decided to wait it out and stay where I was until it closed however an opportunity arose that I felt I couldn’t pass up. I started this job almost immediately after our return from the US with the first stop being training in Paris. This was very exciting and enjoyed learning about the product I was about to support as well as giving me an opportunity to visit some old haunts from when Cat lived there.

However after starting the job for real we soon discovered as a family that the altered hours and finishing at 7pm had a not so great effect on Chloë who found it difficult to settle if she didn’t know we were both home. After trying several things to try to work around this and other things this new job was affecting it was clear that I may have to move on to something different. Whilst we had no idea when this change would happen we knew it had to and it seems fortune smiled on me as just before Christmas I managed to seal new employment at a local school with hours certainly more suitable for someone with a young family. I’ll miss my current job as I really enjoy the office I’ve been working in but I’m equally excited to start this next chapter in my working life.

“Coal that bears that pressure meets a diamond.”

2014 also had some downs most notably the months after our return from the US. After I returned from Paris Cat went on a work trip to New Zealand with me to look after Chloë for just under a week. This was the first time I’d have the responsibility of her care for consecutive days on my own and, coupled with starting a new job, the pressure and stress got to me. Thankfully it was only a shallow dip in to depression and thanks to the support of many at the time and the days after I’ve managed to come out the other end very much looking forward to what 2015 has in store. I’m amazed and humbled by the supportive group of friends that we have and know that without them things will have been very different.

The coming year has so much in store for us starting with friends and family visiting early in the year, Chloë’s first birthday, a trip back to Blighty for my brother’s wedding as well as watching our daughter continue to grow. There’ll be other surprises I’m sure and with the new job starting next week there’s no hanging around. I hope everyone had fantastic New Year’s celebrations and I wish you all a happy and wonderful 2015.