The Television is on and wine in hand. A normal beginning to the weekend. So, you say? Ah, but this is not a normal Friday night for me. I am on leave!!! Taking leave from work and having a holiday is a chance to take a break from work, see the world and enjoy time with our family & friends and everyone needs a break once in a while as it helps to relax, refresh and recharge you.
I work in a medical environment where life has been extremely hard, busy, and demanding. I definitely need all of the above.
Commencing today I have one week off.
I am oh so looking forward to the next 5 days.
My 60th birthday celebration followed by a week away at Dinner Plains /Mt Hotham in Victoria was the plan! To go to the snow, to feel the cold, to rug up in warm clothes…. Absolutely scrumptious! I really love the snow. I do not ski but I love the cold, the whiteness of the feathery quilt on the ground, the crispness of the air, the beautiful scenery as it drapes it white gloved hands on everything it touches. One week of frollicking in the snow, of sliding down hills on a toboggan, of morning walks in the village, of wearing three or more layers of clothing to keep the freezing temperatures away from my skin. Of reading and sitting enveloped in a nice cosy chair followed by nights of warm fireplaces and drinking hot chocolate as I lay snuggled up in my husband’s arms. Ah Bliss.
But Covid-19 this year has changed the plans I had made. It changed my dreams and images of what my vacation should be like, of what I really should be doing, of the one thing I really wanted to do.
There has been considerable discussion in the media about the impact the virus is having on our mental health. For some Australians, the restrictions governments have rightly put in place to combat COVID-19 have been a catalyst for relationships to be strengthened and reaffirmed, including developing new ways to work together. We have seen the renewal and importance of reaching out and being socially connected even while physically separated. However, for many, while physical distancing helped to prevent people from contracting the virus, it also created other problems, including isolation, loneliness and anxiety. It changed the way we attended important events such as weddings and funerals and seeing /visiting our loved ones.
It definitely changed what I wanted to do for this special occasion.
Covid-19 has changed so many plans of everybody and I personally thought it would miss its mark.
But no, it hit me too.
A simple holiday of months pre planning was now altered only three weeks prior to the big day and yes, it quite threw me out of balance!
Plane flights cancelled, indecision and uncertainties, followed by border closures, affected any ability , any chance for us to head away to celebrate my birthday in the only way I wished.
Yes, tears fell, feet stamped, petulant attitude expressed, but finally growing up again, a slow resignation to the fact that it was not going to happen!
Plans changed!
And the celebrations began.
Individual coffee dates, small friends get togethers, work luncheon celebration and lastly my beautiful family get together after a fun time of 60th birthday portraits! It was an ongoing celebration of many friends and families over a few weeks. Most enjoyable!
And this week begins my leave. No snow but I am happy.
Instead of snow, it will be sunshine.
Instead of morning walks it will be pushbike riding.
Instead of layers of clothing, it will be singular.
Instead of warm fireplaces, reading and drinking hot chocolate and snuggling…it will be…..oh wait, there will still be all of that……but we won’t go there right now.
No Work.
No stress.
No commitments
No time clock.
No alarm.
One weeks leave
And even with Covid-19…..here I come.
I’ll let you know how it goes!
But then again .. maybe I won’t.