I’m sure it exists. It’s the downer a person has after a move or a major change in life. It happens at the end of a major project, when you finish your last assignment for your study, and lots of other times in life.

 Our office has just moved into it’s new building. This has been on the cards now for over 12 months. And that doesn’t include the planning stage, getting the funding, waiting to see if we got it or not. This is just the building being built. Is it ready yet?  Will it be this week? All the planning. For the last 3 months we have been packing, throwing out, sorting and organising a building that has been our for the last 9 years or so. We are a very small team, so there was plenty of work.

 For a month, every week, we were going to move next week. Each time, something wasn’t quite finished. Finally, the move happened. It was funny really. After all the planning, thinking, worrying, dreaming, it was over. We are in our new building. It is great. Lots of little things need fixing. Lots of little things that can drive you nutz. Lots of complaints from clients. Gee it’s awful clinical. There shouldn’t be so much white here. What about parking? But we are moved in and everyone is getting used to the new situation.

 Suddenly everyone is cranky and tired. We’ve had so much adrenalin for so long. Now the adrenalin is gone. We are settling into the new routine. The excitement, the adrenalin is gone. Now comes the downer. Nothing to look forward to. The happening has happened and we are pleased with the change. But the world feels totally different. The only way I can explain it is that I constantly feel a little off balance. Nothing is where I expect it to be. Instead of immediately going to a cupboard for some paper, I have to think about where it is.

 Same thing happens in everyone’s lives. We plan. We organise. We worry. Will it go okay? What have I forgotten? What do I need to do next? Have I made the right decision? What will the future be for me now? What will it look like? Then the happening happens. We are pleased with our decision. But………………. Suddenly I’m very tired. I love our new building. I love all our new gadgets. I love our new staff room, the fact that we  have more than one toilet, the space, the brightness, the colours. But………… suddenly I am very tired.

 Why is this?

 Human beings like regularity. They like routine. Look at your daily life. From the time we get up in the morning we all have little routines that make our lives simpler. They are so second nature we are not even aware we are in a routine. We drive to work the same way every day. Even simple things like going to the toilet, we fold our loo paper in a certain way.

 So when that routine is changed, it takes the human time to make new routines. New ways to fold our loo paper.

 Change is scary for many people. It may only be a little bit scary, but change means new routines.

 Change means excitement, worry and many other emotions. When the change happens, the excitement, worry and other emotions last for a short time afterwards. Then the downer hits. Tired. Maybe a bid depressed. It’s an interesting mix of emotions.

 Soon, the change becomes the norm and the new routine is built. This takes time. And building new routines can be tiring in itself. But after 60 years of life, one thing I have learned. Nothing lasts forever. Soon, maybe sooner than I think, my new routine will become my comfortable, familiar routine. I look forward to that time.

 Madeleine

Thursday, 26 October 2006

 Apparently when Aussies come to the USA now their luggage is being searched for a new contraband that is a staple in the Australian diet.

 Today the Americans have banned Vegemite. Shock!! Horror!!  Apparently it has folate in it and that’s a no no as far as American customs is concerned. All good Australians are up in arms. Vegemite is something that Australian children are raised on and is a national treasure. Australians take it with them when they travel. They import it when they are overseas. And these Americans have suddenly decided that Vegemite is a health hazard.

 I can just imagine the scenario.

 I arrive at the airport in New York, San Francisco, wherever. The customs guys find a couple of jars of vegemite in my luggage. My jars of vegemite are seized. I am taken to court with the judge looking down her/his nose at this smuggler from Australia. I wonder how many years I would spend in an American jail for this crime. Can you imagine telling people: “I have been banned from going to America cause I smuggled vegemite into the country”.

 We have a saying here in Australia: We call someone a “Happy little vegemite”. This has a whole new meaning, maybe they are happy because vegemite is like a drug and makes you happy.

 I’ve got a very bad case of the sillies today and this one just really tickled my fancy. I wonder just how dangerous vegemite can be. Obviously Australians must all have too much folate in their tummies. I wonder what this dreaded folate does to our bodies. Must be a dangerous chemical to be banned by a whole country.

 Obviously all Australians must be sick or something cause almost every Australian loves their vegemite. I’m not quite sure what it will do to you, but I guess whatever it is, Aussies have got it. Maybe Vegemite should be banned in Australia. Damn. I can see where my brain is going now.

 I love listening to the news. You never know what people will come up with next.

 Madeleine

Sunday, 22 October 2006

 I joined for two reasons. Not because they give a lot of services for those seniors who are still working, but for a parking space. Our new building is across the road from the senior citizen’s centre. They have a lot of parking spots reserved for them. Everyone else at work has to park away from the building. I get to park right near by. Worth it I reckon.

 However, I also took advantage of one of the benefits of this membership. That was cheap podiatry. Yes, folks, I went and paid a very good looking young man to cut my toenails, to sand off some of the hard bits on my feet, and to give me a bit of a foot massage when he was finished. Well worth the money. Enjoyable.

 This, I find, is one of the problems of ageing. I don’t bend the way I used to. So bending to cut my toe nails has been a problem for some time. This is not something that people talk about. Is this a BIG sign of ageing? Is there a social stigma about not being able to cut your toenails?

 I used to be able to put my palms flat on the floor without bending my knees. Now I can’t move my foot enough to cut my toe nails properly. This is not something people talk about.

 I have always fallen down. Trip over things. I don’t bounce any more. When I go down. I go down like a ton of bricks. And I don’t get up. I need time to work out how to get up. Not something people talk about either.

 I don’t open bottles the way I used to. I now have aids to help. A friend knows I have arthritis and keeps his eyes out for any little gadget he finds to help. He’s got me some very useful little toys. I used to be able to open anything. People would bring me things to open that others couldn’t. Now I use aids to help me open the tin of dog food.

 So although emotionally I’m only about 30. My body says that I am really 60.

 Funny that.

 Madeleine

Thursday, 12 October 2006

 Into the bathroom cupboard for my nail polish remover - bought to remove registration stickers from my car.  Didn’t work. By this time, my fingers were really stiff with glue. Not stuck together. I had managed to keep them apart. But if you have ever had superglue on your fingers, you will understand what it might feel like to have it all down between your fingers.

 Thinking, thinking. Check out the net. Why doesn’t the nail polish remover work? I’m sure that was the solution I read somewhere. Yes, it was. Only one problem – mine is “non-acetone” nail polish remover.

 To remove superglue from your fingers, assuming you have not stuck them all together you need acetone in some form. If you are going to use nail polish remover, make sure it is not acetone free. I bought some acetone from Bunnings for something else. It worked. My fingers are now superglue free. I’ve forgotten how much I paid for the acetone, but it was worth it tonight.

 I don’t know if all nail polish remover is acetone free nowadays, but do check the bottle before you buy it if you are planning on using it to remove superglue.

 Word of advice:

• Be careful when you use superglue !!

• Do make sure you have plenty of ventilation when you use acetone. It stinks!!

 Madeleine

Saturday, 7 October 2006