Rain rain go away

I'm sure before we moved to Sydney I had heard people rave about the climate. Winters are crystal clear and perfect, summers are warm and sunny. So far though my experience has been that it rains. And rains. And rains.

Every. Single. Week. Since. We. Moved.

Not just the odd afternoon thunderstorm after a hot and balmy day, but steady, soaking rain at least twice a week for the past four months. It's starting to get a bit boring. I'm tired of pant legs getting soaked on the walk to work, I'm tired of raging about people's lack of umbrella etiquette and I am tired of, well, rain.

The odd rainy day is cathartic and restful. Summer storms are spectacular. Constant rain and drizzle is depressing. Frankly, I don't wonder why the Brits are a teensy bit unhinged. If this keeps up I will be too!

Perspective

Isn't it funny the difference a little perspective makes? I can't remember whether it was Mr Puddleduck or I who took this photo - oh no hang on, it was Mr Puddleduck, my iphone was the first victim of the evening - but at the time it symbolised the frustration of trying to dine out with a single-minded toddler who refuses to sit still unless it suits her purposes. We were trying to have dinner with old friends who were visiting from North Queensland and Puddleduck wasn't having a bar of it.

Despite having her own big girl seat and a ready-made audience she was determined to explore. I can't count the number of times the three of us climbed those stairs as Mr Puddleduck and I operated in shifts - one of us following the toddler and trying in vain to convince her to sit at the table for more than 30 seconds at a time, and the other catching up with our friends and trying not to make them regret their decision to start a family of their own.

What could have been a lovely, relaxing evening was tiring and frustrating. Neither of us felt we got to enjoy our time with friends and our thighs turned to jelly after the zillionth trip up the stairs. Throw in wait staff who seemed hell-bent on promoting a new millenium temperance society and we vowed never to try and socialise again with Puddleduck until she was at least 35.

However, after a few weeks we chalked it up to experience. Puddleduck turned out to be coming down with a nasty infection so that partly explained her contrariness (although not her boundless energy) and we realised we were expecting a little bit much of a two year old. So when I was flicking through photos tonight I saw this shot through new eyes - not the tired, grumpy eyes of a Mummy who had spent too much time following a toddler around Circular Quay, but through the eyes of someone who saw her strong, sturdy little miss taking on these step old stairs with the confidence of someone 10 times her age.

I remember her first encounters with steps as she scrambled up our steps on her hands and knees while we hovered nervously. Fearless as always, she soon mastered them and was looking for another challenge. Amazing the difference a change in perspective makes.

Restorative weekend

This weekend was exactly what the doctor ordered. After a few weeks absolutely full to the brim of travel, work and a sick toddler, Mr Puddleduck and I were about at breaking point. Mr Puddleduck was sick and exhausted after holding the fort at home with a sick, whingy and clingy toddler. I was run down and exhausted after too much travel in too short a period of time. Throw in an emergency hospital dash after stepping off a plane at 9am one Sunday morning and it was all a bit too chaotic for words.

I'm not entirely sure what it was about this weekend but it seemed blissful. Everyone was in a good mood (thank heavens for the return of our sweet-tempered little girl), everyone was happy to potter and everyone was simply delighted to be in each other's company. We played all the way upstairs - Puddleduck's favourite spot - we played downstairs and we played outside. We went for walks, we went shopping and we gardened. Even a rainy Sunday couldn't break the spell. In fact, I think the steady drizzle enhanced our ability to relax.

Even the inevitable weekend cleaning tasks didn't raise the usual resentment. All three of us simply pottered around over the course of the weekend. Puddleduck dusted and wiped, Mr Puddleduck vacuumed and tidied and I mopped and filled the house with as many flowers as I could lay my hands on.

We all woke up this morning still feeling refreshed and restored and ready to tackle the new week of work and school. Here's hoping the feeling lasts - or that next weekend is as magical as this one was.