About Me

I am Beth. Just Beth. Although as I have just moved to the country I am considering changing my name to Bev. Because I’ll be making jam. And stuff. But I guess that's fast forwarding a little. As Coldplay said, let's go back to the start.

Almost 10 years ago now I found myself back at my Mum's doorstep asking if I could move back in. I had just called off a wedding only weeks away, broken up with my long term partner and had taken one hell of a risk that there might be something out there better for me. That real, heart thumping love was possible for me and that I might even deserve it. Boy am I glad I did. I never expected any one of those dreams to come true for me. But they did, and sooner than I ever expected.



I met Rob only months later and we fell instantly and passionately in love. He was everything I had ever hoped for in a partner. He was creative. He was funny. He was kind, so kind. He was patient. He was sexay. He was a hunk o' spunk and did I mention funny? I (yes I have never been the shy one) proposed to him after being together after just 4 short months. We married a year later (well I had to give my family some time to calm down from the initial shock) and started our married life together in a rickety old terrace in Darlinghurst. We both worked hard, Rob especially in his own business, we partied hard, travelled parts of the world and then moved to Newtown to "settle down" and be proper grown ups and get on with it.

On Valentines Day in 2007 our first daughter Daisy was born. She is fiery. She is beautiful. She is stubborn and she is smarter than I ever could be. Which is saying something seeing as she is 4.



In October 2009 our beautiful second daughter Harper was born. Her breath smelt of peaches the first week she was alive and she has stayed as sweet ever since.


I started this blog all the way back then, because Facebook didn't even exist and I wanted to share the experience with my two sisters who were OS & interstate. Being a mother has been the hardest and most rewarding gig I have ever had. It challenges me in ways I could never have imagined, fills me with more love and joy that catches your breath unexpectedly. It is hard. It is relentless. It is the best thing I have ever done and each and every day I count my blessings that I have been given the opportunity and the honour to do so.

Not long after I went back to work from Harper's maternity leave things started to get complicated. I was only working 2 days per week but was having to take those days off work because Harper was sick. All. The. Time. While Daisy was in long daycare from 5 months old and coped, Harper did not. She kept getting sick, she had food allergies and eczema and we found ourselves in hospital a few times with infections and mystery viruses. It was stressful. At the same time we started to look around for our next house to buy in Sydney. That was just plain depressing. We tried to make do with our tiny terrace in the city but each and every time I couldn't get a spot to park the car (sometimes for up to 40 minutes) with 2 kids screaming I found myself desperately stressed. And angry.

Last July we went away with friends down to the South Coast. It was fabulous and awful. I cried a lot. I think I was pretty unhappy. And when we had to leave early to take Harper to Emergency (again) we were driving through that beautiful scenery around Gerringong when Rob turned to me and said "this can't be worth it. Maybe we should just move to the country." And even though that seemed like the craziest and furthest thing from our reality, that's just what we did. 3 months later we arrived with our two girls, our two fish and a whole weight of stress and drama off our shoulders to our beautiful new home in the most beautiful village to start our real life. The one where we actually belong. And where we are truly happy.



So here we are. That's my story. So far. But it's only really just begun.

I'm Beth, just Beth. I believe in family. Good friends. Pork. Champagne. Long lunches. Sleeping without being woken by small children. Clean sheet day. Fresh flowers in my home. Open fires and sitting by them with drink in hand. Using my passport. Love, real proper, heart thumping love with my husband. Bad reality TV. The internet. Cooking. Eating. Changing my hairstyle. Often. I believe in reading, writing, watching and sharing. And putting it ALL out there.

35 comments:

  1. Goosebumps from start to finish. I love your story. I love that new it wasn't love and that there was something else out there. I love it all. Thanks for sharing on this post, and every other post. x

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  2. I bloody love your story AND you!(There. I said it. Phew!)

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  3. FAB 'about me' page lady. Really encapsulates the journey. And loving those dreamy photos to illustrate it. Well done my friend. Well done xo

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  4. WOW! I am hooked:) What a fabulous blog Beth!

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  5. Wow! what a lovely space you have here and such a beautiful story.. so glad to have found you!
    Off to read more! xx

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  6. That's funny...I'm a just beth too. I'm constantly being asked what Beth is short for.

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  7. loved reading this! I knew you were a cool hipster and your husband was 'sexay' but i didn't know about the cool, hipster sexay buisness! impressive... and it gave me a giggle!

    xo em

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  8. Possibly the best about me I have ever read. Which is always what I do before I begin reading a blog.

    And now, I have read your blog and fallen in love with it.

    You write amazingly.

    Thankyou SO much for sharing!

    P.S Your Mum is amazing :)

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  9. I loved reading your story. I just moved to the country too because my dad passed away 18 months ago and we wanted to be closer to family. I also have 2 girls, one of them with allergies too! I look forward to reading more of your posts. Cheers, Marianne

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  10. I loved reading your story. I just moved to the country too because my dad passed away 18 months ago and we wanted to be closer to family. I also have 2 girls, one of them with allergies too! I look forward to reading more of your posts. Cheers, Marianne

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  11. Hey what a story - we moved to the Country just over three years ago and life has been wonderful ever since. I came to visit through Maxabella loves... hope you don't mind a new follower x

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  12. Loved reading your story Beth.
    I am a new follower now.
    We are moving to the country (central west) and I know it is going to be a huge change.

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  13. I think that is the best about page I have ever read, and I can't wait to read your blog! Found you via Maxabella loves :-)

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  14. Found you through Fat Mum Slim and now I am hooked...I long to move to the country and just "be" but unfortunately it is not to be for now. I am sure you are inspiring sea changers in bloggers everywhere! :-)

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  15. So beautifully written. Funny, I don't think I've read this before. But so great. So well worded.

    You rock Just Beth.

    xx

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  16. Hi I've just found you via Maxabella - lovely blog, story, family and life. Blimey you rock lady! I love Ozzie blogs... lou x

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  17. I'm glad i found your blog.

    I also find t a wonderful coincidence that i am also a Beth :)

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  18. Just found your blog thanks to Cherie at baby called Max and have to say how much I love your about page. I am off to have a look around and make myself at home - hope that is ok!

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  19. What a fantastic About Me page - you have inspired me to totally re-do my own!

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  20. What an awesome about me page, really feels like I know you, thanks for sharing so much x

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  21. Quite simply one of the best about pages I've ever read. Brilliant! Loved hearing about the journey you've been on and congrats on following your heart and dreams. I agree whole heartedly about what you believe in, except maybe the bit about pork. I just can't do it... other than that yep I'm so with you! xx

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  22. Hey there Beth,
    I just found you from your post on facebook ('little big company'). What a beautiful rainbow party.
    We could be living parrallel lives though. I have a Harper mac of my own,2 girls, a love for bad reality TV and I pretty much drooled over ALL the recipes in your list!... I'm patting myself on the back right now for finding your blog. whoot for me I say!

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  23. I love this story.

    And I can never find a frigging park out the front of my house (inner city, steep hill, narrow street 1 car width wide) either. Which makes me cross. Esp when I am manhandling my baby. And groceries. And the booze I've sclepped back from the bottle-O.

    Love the garden.

    Keep up the good work.

    x

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  24. Great about me , good to see someone be so true ! i am now officially following you .

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  25. Just found you (through 1000 homes of happiness), and as someone pondering whether a move is on the agenda, your "about me" has got me thinking! Eep!

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  26. Agree with the above readers! Your about me page is brilliant and really honest and thoughtful!

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  27. What a lovely story, so glad that I have come across your blog :) x

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  28. I only discovered you yesterday, and I thought I'd pop back today to discover a little more.....I loved this piece, Beth, Just Beth. You've inspired me......
    I think you'd have to make a hell of a lot of jam before you became a Bev, but man, you'd have a sticky, sweet delicious time getting there!
    Pleased to make your acquaintance. I'll be dropping by again!

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  29. Hi Beth, I read about you in the Sunday Life.... love your story. We have also made the move from inner city to the Southern Highlands, we manage 3 days a week of country life so far..loving the chooks, fresh air and room to breath. Your story reminds me of us!
    Congratulation on the great blog very inspiring. Thanks Kate x

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  30. Why have I only discovered your fantastic blog now? I love your story and your honest words. Thanks for putting it all out there.

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  31. love it and can relate..
    ps - I also have a little Harper. :)

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  32. Ooh... I just found your blog through edenland and the sunday life debacle. i'm just going to wander around it and make myself at home if you don't mind.


    [hmmm... that sounds way creepier than I meant it to] hello!

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  33. You in the Southern Highlands? My Bo was born there on Valentines day this year. We moved to a whole different kind of "country" - now in a tiny village in Indonesia... totally relate in every way - would LOVE to be making jam... but it's a bit hot here to be in front of the stove!

    inkedincolour.wordpress.com

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  34. I LOVE this! I too am a new follower. You have a great story with a happily ever after. I'd love to move to the country, and bake jam... and take photos.
    My reality is living in Brisbane but thoroughly enjoying day trips to the country or walks with my husband in a beautiful sprawling parkland nearby... with my camera, of course!! :)

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  35. 'Anything less than mad, passionate, extraordinary love is a waste of time!' I love your story and can't wait to read your blog!

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