Back in the City

I can't believe it is now four weeks since I arrived back to my city life.

For some reason I have found it a hard slog to get back into my blog. I try to think of something to write about and I come up with a blank.  Writer's block??

 I have been feeling that my farmlife had much more fodder for posting than my citylife.

Everyday on the farm there is something uniquely rural related that emerges and provides an image and the potential to wax lyrical.    

I also have more time. Time, to ponder the meaning of life and my place in it.

Back in Sydney I am more preoccupied with work naturally,  but I also find my days have more routine and less opportunity for the type of blog material I hope is interesting for you.

I thought it might help stimulate my creative juices if I look back at some of what I have done in the last four weeks.

I celebrated my birthday long distance with beautiful flowers from Mark 

and with good friends that night at the Rocks Vintage Dinner.

This is a great night of food and wine under the lampshade and stars in the historic Rocks area of Sydney. Very special.

Have been eating plenty of spring vegetables including these fresh peas and broad beans I made into a puree to go with lamb cutlets for dinner with my sister A and nephew L. We had a good night! And another the next with some more of the family.

Have been making some of my farmlife no knead bread at least once a week. Also tested a part wholemeal version which was delicious

Ate at Balla at The Star. The new Steve Manfredi restaurant.

 The Crave Sydney International Food Festival is on in October and the program of events includes "Lets do Lunch" at restaurants all over Sydney.

Their offer was two courses and a glass of wine for $38

Fish and a rich tomato, olive and caper sauce

Chocolate Crunch

I hadn't been to the Star Casino since its renovation and reopening and it is an absolute improvement on the old one. Not that I am a fan of Casinos - but the hotel, retail and dining looks very Sydney 5 star.

A special Sunday lunch in Bowral with W and P.

W's excellent pea tart went well with my zucchini ribbon salad, with mint and feta.

It was also tulip time in the Southern Highlands and it was blooming.

Set up my office at home. Adjusting to that - and really enjoying it.

Started a new project and also ramped up planning for the Australian Tourism Awards.

Lots of walking, reading, and catching up with friends for coffee, breakfast and dinner.

Not a bad life.  Is it worth reading about I wonder?

Working away

I am often asked how I manage to be able to spend time on the farm and still work in Australia.

Although I am my own "boss" and have always been self-motivated I still have clients and ongoing projects that I manage and am responsible for while I am away.
I try to choose my time away when I am in a planned downtime and mix it in with vacation time.

I have been doing this for over ten years and it has certainly become much easier with the growing trend for people to work offsite,  email being a major medium for business communication, skype and cheap international phone calls.

My outdoor farm office

Adapting to the different time zones is easy.
 I check emails and work in the morning here when Australia is asleep.
 I send my replies and do teleconferences in the evening here, when my clients and colleagues are arriving at the office.

Many times people don't even know I am overseas unless I tell them.

Recently a colleague and I were able to complete a project that had a quick turnaround by working on it  in our own times zones - giving our client 24/7 service!

It can sometimes be hard to keep motivated when looking out over our farmland and I am not in my regular full time work routine - but it beats this city grind on a daily basis.

Sydney CBD in peak hour

Another scorcher

Temperatures were heading upwards rapidly as I took myself  off early to do a 5k walk on the Carlyle Dam before a 1k swim this morning. 

Are you impressed?

One of my goals while I am here and have more free time is to up my daily exercise.  

This is proving harder than I thought due to the heat wave.

It is too bloody hot to get out and exercise at any other time of the day for very long- so I am trying to pack it into the early part of the day.

As hot as it is, I keep expecting to see more people swimming at the pool 

during the lap hours from 8-9am.

Not so - this is the pool this morning.

The water is a tad warmer than I generally like - but it still feels great.

Also entertaining - as country music is played loudly throughout my laps.

Back home by 9.30am I have the day ahead of me - these days mostly spent inside in the air conditioning.

I have to say the heat has been very conducive to keeping me focussed on some work projects I  continue to do while I am here. I have had a very productive day.