A very good friend of mine plays this game when talking to people about recent happenings, such as holidays, events etc. It is a fantastic way to sum up your recent news without going off on a tangent and more importantly without wearing out the patience of those who only politely asked you ‘what’s been happening?’ expecting you to say ‘not much, just work, the usual’ but who have now got much more than they bargained for as you launch into a minute by minute recap of your weekend, or in my case my extra long weekend!

So, as I prefer to dish out the advice than strictly adhere to it myself, I’ve chosen to summarise my Vic visit in the spirit of ‘highlight lowlight’ BUT I’ve broken up the week into little snippets to give me a few extra words…a technicality I know but I’m taking it.

Melbourne City

Highlight was definitely catching up with the old work mates! I use ‘definitely’ here to emphasise how much I appreciate and value these friendships, but of course coming in a very close second was some Bambi snuggles.

Lowlight was the long commutes to work! Eight years ago when I moved to Melbourne I thought the tram was romantic, hip, city chic…but to be honest it is a nightmare! I also don’t miss the office politics and going to endless meaningless meetings! I am glad to be back in WA with Olive as my assistant.

But visiting the office every now and then does help to stay connected to the agency and refuel a sense of purpose in the work I’m doing. So in that respect, not a low light really.

Long weekend in Queenscliff

Highlight is impossible to narrow down so maybe if I put them all in the same sentence does that still count as one? Highlight was walking on the beach, making pizzas, drinking champagne, patting dogs, building Duplo castles, picnicking in the park and spending such a special time with best friends…of all generations! It was so great to reminisce about the past but just as fun to look ahead to the future. How lucky I am to have friendships that have spanned decades and now with two little girls in tow the friendship will continue for much longer to come. #girlstrip

Lowlight was saying goodbye, but that’s a bit obvious. So maybe, the lowlight was realising that time moves on and that some friendships are now longer simply about having fun and over indulging (although that it still possible!) but there are now responsibilities like kids to bathe, kids to feed, kids that need a nap, kids that cry and not to mention the teddies that need to be played with, the dolls that need to be dressed and the stories that need to be read.  Sometimes it can feel like the old times are gone but that’s what makes real friendships. When you can still enjoy yourselves, maybe even more so than you did before, even as life changes. So again, scratch that, no lowlight.

Last day at home

Lowlight was being woken up by a text to say my flight had been cancelled and spending the next hour and a bit sorting out new arrangements. A later flight meant a later arrival to Perth and started to put a dampener on the day before it had really begun.

But really this wasn’t a lowlight either…in fact it turned out to be a highlight! A later flight meant time for a run, before a lunch date, a very special film (The Biggest Little Farm – thoroughly recommend for the story, the cinematography, the hope for restoring the environment and the adorable piglets!) and a visit to the Geelong Cats store with two Cats sightings!

Plus, it doesn’t matter how late I arrive back in Perth, this one was still waiting up for me…sort of.