One of the things I’ve spent some time doing this Summer past has been re-assessing my priorities.  It had become clear to me that over the years I had lost sight of the things that really mattered and started to live by a set of values that weren’t really mine.  Worse, whilst I still judged other people by a set of values I’m very happy with (integrity, honesty, decency) I had started to judge myself by standards I might expect others, who did not share those values, to judge me by.  I had placed too much emphasis on material wealth, status in society and intellect.

As I have re-assessed those values, I have also been struck by how those around me have reacted to my circumstances.  As I mentioned in the introductory post to this blog, some friends have been fantastic, offering genuine support and concern, making real efforts to stay in touch and check how I was.  Others have disappeared without trace.  Most strikingly of all has been the support I have received from my family.  Despite this being a stressful time for all of us, they have been supportive and caring and the boys have demonstrated a level of maturity that isn’t always apparent.  I have been extremely proud to be a husband and father to my wife and sons.

Yesterday at Manly was a really lovely day.  The weather was perfect, the scenery astonishing, the town itself a revelation.  I have long been able to really enjoy exploring foreign places alone and really enjoy the experience and I’m loving being here.  Being alone gives you the opportunity to explore in a different way and the need for a firm plan just disappears.  It’s easier, too, to make conversation and enjoy the company of strangers when travelling on your own.  That said, as I stood at Fairfax Outlooks and marvelled at the views of the harbour and city in the distance it occurred to me that the only way the experience could be improved upon would be to share it with my wife.  It also occurred that, as the boys set off to university and leave home over the next few years, we will have more time to enjoy adventures like yesterday together.  The knowledge that that is something we can look forward to makes me very happy.

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