Hunter Valley – Winter Holidays 2020

I can count the number of holidays we have taken since Lamb was born on exactly two fingers. And both times we went to visit and stay with family. This is the first ‘proper’ holiday we have taken all together. I’m not a huge fan of traveling. I enjoy the comfort of the familiar. New environments send me into sensory overload and leave me feeling either exhausted or panicky. Often both. Strangely, taking photos has become part of my coping mechanism. It brings me into the here and now and helps me focus.

Having said all that I do find enjoyment in seeing new things. And Lamb often complains that ‘we never go anywhere’, not like her friends that are off jet-setting around the world whenever there is a school break. So here it is, my token effort at keeping the peace, a two day holiday to a destination barely an hours drive from home. It rained 50% of the time and Fox complained at least 70% of the time (he was eager to get home to his Xbox). But we op-shopped and went sightseeing and ate pizza and snuggled into bed at night. So all-in-all it was just about perfect. Plus, there is nothing quite like the feeling of returning home to your own bed.