Twenty twenty three is hurtling to its inevitable conclusion so a summary of sorts is required.
It started, as all years do, at the beginning – January. NN and I were in Port Macquarie for a brief holiday with friends when news came through that my strata committee were going to be difficult regarding the pet by-laws and I, as I sometimes do, made a snap decision to sell and move.
I had been in my beautiful, waterfront apartment for 16 years and had convinced myself that I couldn’t live without the view (or perhaps the perceived prestige of having that view, though I do not consider myself a wanker of that magnitude). Anyhow, I made that decision instantly and the wheels were set in motion.
The next five months were spent preparing the old apartment for sale and that involved sorting, throwing, giving away and selling a mountain of stuff. Stuff that represented my children’s childhoods and the various stages of my life during the many years we had lived there.
It was then spent selling the place and looking for a new apartment. I had decided to stay in the area and downsize to something smaller… which sounds simple but really isn’t. Every Saturday and some weeknight evenings were spent looking. There were many two bedroom apartments to view but very few that suited me or inspired my imagination.
Finally my place sold and I found an apartment I loved. I wrangled the logistics of a simultaneous move which is harder than it may appear.
Oh hang on… somewhere during this process my relationship fades to grey right in front of me. Over a period of time I realized NN was basically there in body only. He barely spoke to me and was completely uninterested in the moving process. One day I asked him if everything was ok and in brief, because it was exactly this brief, he said “I just don’t feel it anymore”… and a few days later he was gone. There was no conversation, no discussion, just gone. I often wonder how long this nonsense would have gone on if I hadn’t asked the simple question.
It was an enormous relief. Living with someone who doesn’t want to be there is a horrible psychological strain. It’s confusing and it’s a total mental and emotional fuck. I felt light as a bird when he left.
I moved in mid June and my new life began. A life without a mortgage and, for once, money in the bank. I had a job within an easy walk from home. I was free and happy.
Free to plan the second half of the year and that, unexpectedly, meant going to LA for Frank Turner’s sold out Lost Evenings. It had sold out in days at the beginning of the year and I had thought it wasn’t a possibility. But a ticket came across my path and suddenly the much longed for Lost Evenings was on the agenda.
The US trip came together for September. A visit to Martha’s Vineyard to see my sister, my BIL and her relatively new home. Five nights in NYC, but not just in NYC… at the fucking Chelsea Hotel, a place I had always reverently visited on each trip to New York. I can’t admit out loud how much that cost but it was worth every cent. It was magical walking through those doors and down the corridors as a guest.
MV was gorgeous and we had a wonderful, relaxing time. Hanging out, eating amazing meals and drinking Dirty Bananas at Nancy’s. Then Jules flew to New York with me and we met up with my friend Rebecca from Oregon for a week of walking, sightseeing, eating and shows. We were even joined by my dear (almost) lifelong friend Fiona who flew in from Chicago for a few days. Sleep No More was an absolute highlight. As was a night of comedy next door to our hotel at Gotham Comedy Club.
Then onto LA and the mythical Lost Evenings VI.. My friends are already sick to death of my constant Frank Turner references #notacult so I’ll keep this brief. It was four days of utterly brilliant goodness. Frank Turner fans (generally speaking) are the best people and I made many instant friends. We were immersed in ideas, talk, music, laughs and love. What a fucking high.
While I was bereft when it ended I had a carrot to move towards… Frank’s upcoming Australian tour. Which involved my bff Sandy coming to Sydney and me going to Melbourne to see his shows together. There’s nothing like a Frank Turner show for me. That feeling of being on the rail, up close, feeling the camaraderie of the crowd, singing along to every word, feeling that energy through your body… it’s magical.
Anyway… there were other highlights and lowlights to finish the year. Doomed mirage love affairs (well, one). Lots of other music and theatre. Great times with great friends.
The now grown up kidlets are making their way in the world… and require much less input from me. The pets seem to require more and more input from me…dear god, the never ending kitty litter…
I’m sure I’ve omitted or skipped over lots of things but this is the year that was in broad strokes.
I go into 2024 with an amazing Japan to Alaska cruise and another Lost Evenings, this time in Toronto, to look forward to. Family, friends and resilience is everything and (to paraphrase Frank) I plan to get better, because I’m not dead yet.