Our Home Office is Moving!

Two weeks ago, we spent a nice afternoon in a friend's house with two big inflatable pools in the garden. Our friend, Viki, was so kind to invite us over for a fun play for the kids and some curry chicken dinner. She just moved to her new home and each time I visited her, I would rave about her cosy home office upstairs.

When you have worked long enough in a home office, it's hard to change this lifestyle. At least this is what DH and myself have decided. We are planning to work from home in Brisbane and DH has been busy with setting up the new website for the business. While he handles the business bit, I'm contacting mover and planning for the move. It's certainly a big task but it will all work out well. I was telling DH that I plan to start a new blog documenting our move to Brisbane. That will serve as a resource stop for anyone moving down under.

A friend commented that I never seemed to put on any weight during our dinner gathering. He was telling me about the many fat burners for women in the marketplace and that I would never need them. Well, I suppose the constant balancing of work and parenting has kept my weight in check and that isn't a bad thing at all.

With the move in place, we'll be shopping for some new furniture in the next few months since everyone is advising us about the huge savings. It is exciting to go shopping for furnitures and the last time we did that was ten years ago! We may see if we can find some good home office furniture here since the prices in Oz can be steep due to currency conversion. Hopefully, the ringgit will strengthen in the next few months so that we can see more in our exchange!

So Much to Do in the Home Office

Parenting and work at home can become more challenging when your child is ill. Infact, it affects me emotionally, physically, causes some havoc to my worklife and mental state of mind. I'm so glad Clayton has recovered and he's back to his normal self.

This week, I'll need to get a mover for a quotation for our move. I was hoping that we could buy our one way air tickets during the Malaysia Travel Fair but due to some logistic issues, I have to delay the booking. But I'm certainly happy that I manage to secure good rates for our Hong Kong air ticket and I can't wait for April to come!

I've been advised to buy our furniture here and have them shipped to Brissie but it's hard to decide when we haven't even bought a place. A friend of ours is planning to buy furniture and lighting fixture during warehouse sales in order to accumulate some savings. For us, we treat it as a one-time investment as part of the migration costs.

Just when we get into the routine in the home office, it's school holidays next week and there'll be another one week break. I'm a little tired to travel to Singapore but it'll be a long time away before the next trip back. Moreover, it's just hard to get things going in the home office when Clayton is around.

There are a few things happening in the next couple of months: creating a website for our new business in Brisbane, training the new partner in the seminar, and working out the moving details. With so much to do in the home office, there's no time for slack in the coming months. The move is really ON!

Back To The Home Office After Vacation

After two weeks of being away from my home office, I'm back again. For me, it is a good time cos I can get away from the normal routine, even though I fell ill during the trip.

Not too sure why but I'm feeling a need to take a break from things. I want to get out of this country and I'm tired of many things. Slow internet connection, inefficiency, polluted air, to name a few. I feel mentally relieved each time I'm back in my mom's home though I need to bear with her nags and set ways.

This trip, it's not so much of a 'vacation' of shopping and eating but slowing down, taking time to feel comfortable of the place, the lifestyle in down under and my personal sentiments. Clayton was very happy in the bush, roaming about with his butterfly net and chasing Scud among the trees. He misses his cousins in Toowoomba and had a great time with them even though they are a little younger than him.

Some people prefer to go far for vacations, hopping from costa rica to the exclusive islands. But for me, it can be just some peace and quietness in a house tucked in the bush, with only voices of kookaburras. If only there's some rain, the wallabies will be dancing in the bush. But I'm sure I'll see them someday when I revisit the bush again.

So it's now back to the mundane of work, parenting and the regular work flow in the home office. And yes, it's the weekends, time to unpack everything before another packing for our Taiwan trip.

Back to Home Office Next Week

It's quite hard to believe but in a twinkle of an eye, my vacation is coming to an end and it's back to the home office in few days' time.

My trip to Brisbane and the Gold Coast has been a great one. Despite some little hiccups on my health, God has been good and the trip has been wonderful. I'm thankful for the good people that God has brought along my way - hubby's cousin, my cousins in toowoomba and my dear friends in Loganholme. They have been great in showing their kindness, thoughtfulness, hospitality and care.

Clayton had a ball of a time in the bush and playing with his cousins in toowoomba. He enjoyed the beach at Gold Coast though it took him a while to warm up to it. The swimming lessons he had been attending had sure granted him some water confidence!

I managed to get connected throughout the trip. The internet connection in Australia is at an amazing speed of 54 Mb! No worries on downloading and uploading at all. I only wish my home office has got a speed half of this! Becos I had my netbook, I don't need to use the industrial computer or lobby computer at the hotel in broadbeach. Getting connected is affordable and easy at the Gold Coast. Only thing was, we didn't have a car so local bus was what we traveled with. They were very reliable I must say and the drivers were ever so helpful and patience with questions.

Well, they say 'all good things must come to an end'. I know the vacation is ending but I know it has done enough to get me ready for our move next year. By then, a home office will be born... somewhere in Brissy.

School Holidays Coming for Work at Home Moms and Dads

This is the last month of school term and in few weeks' time, the school holidays will begin. It is also a busy month for most work at home moms and dads as the kids get off school and that would mean less quality time can be spent in the home office.

Despite the economic downturn, I know of many friends who are taking their kids overseas. For those who can afford, the selections include orlando vacations to a Europe tour. But short trips like beach getaways and family holidays in Hong Kong, Japan and even Australia are also popular. I miss the fun and sun in Australia, really. I miss the space, the slow pace and outdoor adventures. Most of all, I need to get away from the routine and hustle and bustle of urban life.

Some work at home moms have no plans of any vacation or travel. That would mean planning activities for the children so that they are occupied and not become bored with nothing to do. I know that some of my friends are already registering their kids for holiday camps and such during the year end school holidays.

Perhaps, this is also a good time to wind down for all work at home moms and dads as the year comes to a close. It's a time to reflect, recollect and refresh as you make plans for the home business for the new year ahead.