The first quarter of 2026 in review

I seem to be habitually later than intended with these quarter-wrap posts, but here, as April has drawn to a close and May is already underway, is my overview of the first quarter of this year (which I've designated as 27 Jan - 29 April, given that January was summer break and thus captured in the quarter 4 wrap). I'm going to go ahead and call quarter 2 the period from 30 April - 17 July, because that's a neat division given my life events.

This has been an incredibly busy and momentous quarter for my whole family. My two elder daughters both moved out of home, within a fortnight of each other, in late Feb / early March. My eldest daughter graduated with her Honours degree, and is well into her PhD program now. My youngest finished the first term and first round of assessments for year 12, while my middle started and is thriving in her fulltime graduate role.

For both my husband and me, it was a hectic quarter in terms of work. We have each had demanding projects afoot, and have both needed to travel to Brisbane for work (twice in his case), albeit not at the same time! Work remains extremely over-busy and will probably do so until at least early November, possibly longer. I guess it's better to be busy than bored!

It was a reasonable quarter health-wise, free of viral impediments and injuries, and with ongoing autoimmune conditions all well managed. I'm settling in to my perimenopause journey and all it entails, and discovering the saving grace that is progesterone supplementation. Other than a bit of fatigue (probably stress and lifestyle driven), I don't have too much to complain about on the health front. I do, unfortunately, need to have a repeat sinus surgery (in late July), but otherwise all is well.

It was a low reading quarter for me, with only 19 new to me books read between the start of February and the end of April. I did log some Agatha Christie re-reads, of course, but my overall book consumption has been down, certainly caused by my level of both work and social busyness.

Because, socially and culturally, it has also been an incredibly full quarter. I've been to the theatre, the movies, dinners, drinks, book club, lunches, brunches, afternoon teas. I've been away for weekends. The highlights are listed below, but in summary, it has been a massive quarter.

Highlights of the quarter were:

- Balloon Story exhibition with my husband and middle daughter in early February
- Westwood Kawabuko exhibition and dinner with friends in February
- Cluedo play with my friend in February
- My youngest's 17th birthday and party in late February
- Terminator 2 with live music with my husband at the end of February
- A perfect day with old friends and their kids at the end of February
- My husband and my anniversary trip to Port Fairy in mid-March
- The first play in our annual MTC subscription, Westgate, with our friends in March (amazing production)
- Dinner and a comedy festival show with my middle daughter in March
- Easter Sunday extended family lunch
- Diva exhibition with friends in April
- Trip to Brisbane in April, which included a wonderful evening with two dear friends seeing the Emergence exhibition at GOMA, having dinner, and going to Sting's musical show The Last Ship
- Girls weekend away in the King Valley with a longtime friend group in late April
- Book club each month
- Way more movies trips than I normally do, partly in a quest to see all the Oscar nominated films and partly just because (I saw Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Project Hail Mary, and Bugonia at the cinema with various people)
- My eldest's graduation and family dinner at the end of April (so proud!)

In the quarter to come (May - end July), I have two more work trips - one to New Zealand, one to Sydney - and a quantity of work to get through that is truly intimidating. We have an extended family long weekend trip. My middle daughter turns 21. I have much theatre and other events to attend, and in late July, my repeat sinus surgery to undertake. Book club will continue to be a monthly treat.

Overall, I'm hoping I weather quarter 2 as well as I did quarter 1, tired eyes notwithstanding! Life's for the living, after all. I just wistfully hope for a trifle more time to read mixed in with it all.

Here's a few snapshots of the quarter that was.

Westwood exhibition

Stage for Cluedo


Balloon Story! A lot of fun


The beautiful Port Fairy

The Twelve Apostles

17th Birthday Cake, made with laughter and love


Stage for The Last Ship

The beautiful Emergence exhibition

Loch Ard Gorge


Graduation!


The view from the magnificent Chrismont Winery and Restaurant in the King Valley

Beechworth Honey

Diva exhibition


The interestingly decorated performance space at the Arts Centre, where we saw Gillian Cosgriff's Comedy Festival show Life Oh Life

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