It's been a long time. A long, drawn-out, draining time. And honestly, it feels like I’ve been parched, not just for a cold drink on a hot day, but for a moment of genuine peace and a breath of fresh, unpolluted air. This blog, as you know, is supposed to be a celebration of outdoor adventures with my kids, a chronicle of muddy knees and the simple joy of nature. But for the past twelve-plus months, those adventures have been few and far between.

Instead, my days have been consumed by a toxic work environment, a place where the air was thick with stress and the constant hum of negativity. It was a place where "work-life balance" was a cruel joke, and where every task felt like climbing a mountain with lead weights strapped to my ankles. The joy of planning a weekend hike, or even a simple trip to the park, was replaced with the dread of Monday morning and the relentless cycle of emails, meetings and micro-management.

Those precious moments, the ones where I should have been building sandcastles with my kids or taking them bike riding, were stolen by the constant pressure to perform in a space that was slowly eroding my spirit. The guilt was a heavy burden, a constant whisper in the back of my mind reminding me of the missed opportunities to make the most of my time with my kids.

Ironically, the catalyst for change came in early December, when I learned my role was being made redundant. The news, initially shocking, quickly morphed into a strange sense of relief. It was like a weight had been lifted, a permission slip to finally exhale. Suddenly, the prospect of unemployment seemed less daunting than another day in that toxic atmosphere.

And then, something wonderful began to happen. The fog started to lift. The weekends, once dreaded, became opportunities to rediscover the joy of being present. With the Christmas holiday period fast approaching, we started getting outdoors again. We returned to familiar places and enjoyed what Victoria has to offer.

It's still a work in progress. I'm navigating the uncertainty of building a business over job searching, but I’m doing it with a newfound sense of clarity and a determination to prioritise what truly matters: my family and my well-being.

This period has been a stark reminder that life is too short to be spent in a place that drains your energy and steals your joy.

So, here's to a long time between drinks, and to finally quenching that thirst for a life filled with sunshine, laughter, and the boundless beauty of the outdoors. The journey to a healthier, happier life for myself and my kids has just begun, and with all that pre-amble out of the way - here's what we've been up to.

A Bright outlook

As I stated, this re-discovery of being outdoors follows a theme of returning to familiar places, and the first was to get out to Bright. We found ourselves in Bright during the second week of December. While the weather was a massive challenge during this time-frame (hot hot hot!) this holiday was a form of recovery. Recovery from the news of an incoming redundancy, recovery from an extended period where my family and I was struggling to find an opportunity for a break and recovery fromthe very real trauma that comes with working in a toxic environment. Pure relaxing scenery with some friendly ducklings to keep us company. Bright was the first time I felt I had license to relax since 2023's trip to Nelson.

Outdoors at home

Creating a relaxing outdoor space at home was also a key focus. If you can't get away, what about a stay-cation? We cleaned up and prepared the concrete in our front yard to be a place where we can sit down for a relaxing fire. What helped here was getting a Solo Stove fire-pit. With their base-ring installed it manages not to scorch the ground it's sitting on, so we can enjoy an evening fire (weather permitting) without cracking the concrete.

After the fire

Yep, I'm proud of that segue. The fire's I'm referring to of course aren't the ones in my front yard fire pit, but rather the fires that raged through the Grampians in January 2025. Much like Bright, the Grampians is one of our favorite places to visit. We had an early March booking to just go up for the long weekend and were extra keen to put some money back in the local economy especially after the fires.

With the car fully loaded up it was time to go. My first error was packing a car filled with 4x4 equipment with all the tracks closed - oops. But the local drives, the hikes and the obligatory trip to the Halls Gap Zoo it was a fantastic break even if plans had to change.

With the right vantage points, and the burnt out trees visible on drives, it was also sobering to see just how much of the area had been scorched.

None the less, my kids found plenty of opportunities to relax and ultimately after a difficult year that's what it's all about.