Picking Up Again

Dear Internet

Well, I'm back online. But I think that in years to come, I'm going to formally sign off in the latter half of December, and simply warn everybody that I'm unlikely to be on the 'Net until late January. There's just too much going on.

Birthdays -- three for the family, several more for close friends. A folk festival. A celtic music school. A string music camp. Christmas. New Year. There's a bunch of other stuff too: all the slashing of the property, the preparation for bushfire season and so forth. But the biggest is that my three kids are home all day every day, and they need a parent. Natalie can't always do that, because she's working. Therefore I do it.

This year there was even more. Terrible back problems for Natalie. Problems with the water supply system. A new house/office in Launceston to set up and kit out. The change-over of schools for all three kids, who are now attending a private school in Launceston.

Very simply:  I don't have time to be a good net-citizen in January. Not if I'm going to be parent, carer, groundskeeper, cook, housekeeper and everything else required.

I screwed up this year. I should have made sure everybody knew. But I thought I could keep up.

Well, I was wrong.

I'm back now. Next time, I'll give proper notice.