Our Mini-Getaway To Tasmania

Thanks to a long weekend and to an airfare sale, we recently found ourselves in Launceston, Tasmania.  It was a whirlwind trip consisting of 3 days and 2 nights, but nevertheless a nice break from the day to day of work, school and home life.  And the best part of the trip, according to the girls, will likely make you laugh.  But more on that later.

One Year Home

Hard to believe that just over 2yrs ago, we were at the beginning of our year-long backpacking trip with our kids.  In some ways, it seems that it was a lifetime ago.  And now, it’s been over a year since we’ve been back to ‘normal life’.  While the past 13 months have been a bit of a blur, full of highs and lows, here's an update of where we're at:

Insurance: Necessary Evil or a Waste of Money?

Insurance—what are your feelings about it?  Necessary evil or a waste of money?  Do you have home or tenants insurance in case of fire or burglary?  And insurance on your car should it be in an accident or be stolen?  Do you purchase travel insurance, even for the ‘short’ trips? Will your family be taken care of financially in the event of your death? Will you be taken care of should you be diagnosed with a serious illness?  Apologies in advance for the topic of this post, but if you’ve been following our blog, you will know that it has not been an easy time for our family lately.  Far from being behind us, it has made us look at ourselves a bit closer and realise that shit happens.  The question is then how can we be best prepared to deal with it when it does?

Bad Things Can Happen To You On Home Turf Too

When we first told family and friends about our intentions to take our family on a 1yr backpacking trip across South East Asia, we were surprised by the negativity we received.  Some people even went so far as to say that we ‘were going to get the children killed’, especially by going to some of the developing countries on our itinerary.

In our day and age, on one hand the world is a ‘smaller place’ due to ease and accessibility of travel.  Yet on the other, the threat of terrorism and general fear of the unknown while traveling, particularly with a family, keep most people from chasing their dreams.  Other excuses such as waiting until the children get older or for more financial security also crop up.

But this past weekend, a day after returning home from our wonderful family holiday in Bali, we got some life-changing news:  my only sister was killed in a freak accident.  It happened in Canada, a ‘safe’ country, while going for a leisurely drive in the country with her family.

At 36 years of age, she has been taken from this world much too soon. 

But it gives me some peace to know she led a fulfilling life, full of zest and a sense of adventure --a life with no regrets, especially after the long awaited birth of her 2 boys.  She had a great education that led to a successful career, through which she met her future husband. They both loved to travel and even took a year off to visit places of their dreams such as Africa, South America, Europe, Egypt, India, SE Asia, China, and Australia.  Even after their first child was born, she and her husband made the 20ish hour journey to visit us in Australia, with child in tow. And after the recent birth of their second child, they travelled by air to San Diego for a holiday.  They were even on a short-getaway at the time of her death.  She didn’t do things by half-measures, and always did her best by all the people she knew and loved.  Above all, she loved her husband and children the most.

With Auntie in Melbourne, December 2010 just before we left on our trip.

All the cliché’s in life are true:  ‘Life is too short’; ‘Only the good die young’;  ‘Live life to the fullest’;  ‘You only live once’;  ‘The only thing to fear is fear itself’.

Try to not put off chasing your dreams, especially if it is to travel the world.  But most importantly make time for the people and the things that you love.  Don’t let fear of the unknown stop you-- bad things can happen to you anywhere, anytime.  As the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) put it, her accident was ‘an act of God’.  I know He will take care of her now; may she rest in peace.

With her precious family just a month prior to her death.

Meet Our Newest Family Member

We’ve been back 7 months now, and have just added to  our family of four. Daisy was born 9 March 2012 and has beautiful soft golden curls, black-brown eyes and is gentle yet playful.  At present, she weighs about 4.6kg (10lbs) and is of average height--she's not going to be a 'big' girl. Our girls are over-the-moon with Daisy, and the I think the feeling is mutual.

What's A Birthday Without A Party?!

People that know us would probably agree that we don’t spoil our kids—at least not with material possessions anyway.  But we do love to indulge them with typical childhood experiences and this includes annual birthday parties.  In fact, our youngest daughter's been looking forward to it since we’ve returned home.

Much Needed Family Fun

Now that we are back to our day to day lives, we’re finding it a bit of a struggle to not get sucked back into a society that is all rush rush rush.  Ideas for affordable family fun at home becomes a bit more of a conscious effort.