A Whirlwind Month and Waiting for Rain...
May 12 2025
Hello Dear Friend,
It feels like it’s been an age! How are you?
Please tell me everything.
It’s been a big month here—one thing after another. Illness upon illness, a whirlwind family reunion over Easter, and the steady flow of mumming and adulting that’s left me feeling... well, very busy. And honestly? I thought I was trying to create a slow, un-busy life.
sighhhhh
Right now, I’m snuggled between my two little loves, caught between choosing an early night or sparking a little creativity by writing this letter. Usually sleep wins (or cough a scroll that turns into a rabbit hole)—but that hasn't exactly been energising. So tonight, I’m mixing it up.
There’s so much swirling in my head, and it feels so good to be putting pen to paper.
There’s so much I’ve been wanting to tell you—about life lately, the family tree adventures, and a few little things I’m loving.
Great-Grandparent sleep over adventures
Life lately…
Winter is coming... The evenings are cooling, and the mornings have that fresh bite in the air. It might almost be fire season soon. In his not so quiet excitement, my husband has had the fireplace prepped for weeks—only to be met with unseasonably warm days.
Despite the mention of rain in my last two letters—which, in hindsight, was too hasty—it’s still so dry. Worryingly so, many of the dams we pass are empty, just cracked mud where water should be. So many people we know are needing to have their tanks refilled, and many of our plants didn’t survive the summer, although if I’m honest I’m not sure the weather can be blamed entirely for that.
So, if you have a spare prayer tonight, please send a little rain our way here in South Australia. Waiting for rain can feel heavy— and in turn I find myself worrying about the future for our little ones. That creeping sense of dread is hard to shake some days.
If I’m being honest, sometimes I spiral into a full existential crisis, wondering if anyone even cares. And other times, I feel quietly confident that—slowly—we are getting our shit together. That we’re waking up to how precious our Earth is, and we’re passing that love and reverence on to our children.
This month has had me swimming in memories. It started with a sleepover at my maternal grandmother’s house with my kids—let me tell you, if you’re after an experience that tugs at every corner of your inner child, this is it.
Sleeping in the same house—barely changed since I was small—watching my girls run through the rooms I used to play in, even playing with most of the toys we played with… it’s the strangest, sweetest feeling. Same, same but also very different. I’m fairly certain I was never allowed that much chocolate, and I definitely don’t remember fish and chips or takeaway being an option for dinner. But really, isn’t that the point of being a great-grandparent?
In the spirit of full disclosure, I’m endlessly grateful that my girls get to experience life with a great-grandmother (two, in fact!). But I’d be lying if I said I slept well. And there’s a certain kind of stress that comes with watching toddlers run gleefully in a house where everything has its place. Maybe that’s just what balance looks like now—and honestly? I think I’m mostly here for it.
Have you ever taken your kids somewhere that made your own childhood come flooding back? It’s such a surreal, layered kind of magic.
This adventure was followed by a whirlwind family reunion over Easter!
Every three years, my paternal side of the family gathers from all over, and we come together to celebrate, share food, and check in on how everyone’s doing. It’s the real deal—kids, cousins, second cousins, third cousins, once removed, twice removed, people I only vaguely remember (sorry!!).
I have so many joyful memories from past reunions, but one of my favourites was when we stayed at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat. We actually stayed in the old-style accommodation—honestly, it was so fun.
This year felt especially wild. There were tiny people running around, teenagers and young adults who I swear were babies just three years ago, and the oldest generation, just enjoying watching the chaos unfold. It's such a mix of feelings—heartbreaking to see the passage of time so clearly, and at the same time, so nice to be able to share our children with everyone.
I truly hope we can keep this tradition alive as we all grow older. What a legacy that would be—for our kids to know where they come from, and to feel the strength of family.
Does your family have any traditions like this—ones that make you feel part of something bigger, older, and deeply good?
Building the family tree…
Needless to say, I’ve been feeling inspired this month to finally start creating our family tree—and capturing the stories that come with it. Right now, I’m diving in with the wild abandon of someone who only has a vague idea of what’s about to hit her.
I’m calling this first stage: fact-gathering. My goal is to collect as much information as I can and get a sense of what’s already out there—which, thankfully, is quite a lot! I reached out to my husband’s family, chatted with my paternal grandma, and started gently peeking into my maternal grandmother’s memory vault. (I did have to set some very clear boundaries with her—facts and dates only for now. As much as I want to hear her stories, she’s an enthusiastic, wandering storyteller, and I know how easily we’ll get sidetracked. One step at a time!)
Honestly, writing out the names and birthdays of family members was more exciting than I expected. It felt like piecing together a big beautiful puzzle, and to think of the connection between me and someone born in 1917 boggles my mind on the daily!
Clearly, there’s a chance I’m casting the net a little too wide to begin with—but I really want to understand the scope of what I’m working with before narrowing my focus. In all likelihood, I’ll begin with my maternal line. It’s the side that intrigues me most, and with my grandma growing older, it feels important to collect as much first-hand knowledge as I can, while I can. Right now I’m using a mix of voice recordings and old-fashioned pen and paper. It’s messy. It’s exciting. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.
Have you ever tried tracing your own family history?
It’s like falling down the most interesting rabbit hole—equal parts mystery and memory. And honestly it adds a whole other dimension to how I see those around me, an added layer of compassion and understanding, which I don't think can ever be a bad thing.
My eyes are starting to feel very heavy, so in an effort not to go to bed too late (how does it always happen!?), I’m going to wish you such a beautiful week and leave you with something I’ve been loving lately: Depop.
Firstly, I am always late to things—if I even get involved at all—but how did I not know this existed until recently?! I do now, and I’m quietly confident I may be able to buy everything (except underwear and bras) second hand for a very long time, perhaps ever.
This discovery came at just the right time. After having two babes (and going through a lot of internal growth and change), I was starting to feel like nothing in my wardrobe felt like “me” anymore. I have found some of my favourite pieces of clothing ever on Depop and played with brands I’d never buy new —and it’s honestly been so fun and affirming to wear things that feel like me again.
And because I didn’t want to go wild with spending without a little guidance I may also have dipped my toe into the rabbit hole of colour analysis... Apparently I’m a bright/clear Spring?! Totally unexpected, since I’ve been gravitating toward soft pastels—but apparently I should be leaning into bold colours. I’m still not sure how I feel about yellow (thoughts on yellow?), but I might try sneaking in some bright green or cobalt blue.
I’m still trying to stay mindful of consumption, but this whole process has felt surprisingly liberating. I still adore our local op shop too—but let’s be real, it’s not exactly relaxing with toddlers and the lure of the toy section. I refuse to admit that 90% of the time the girls find something to take home and love.
Do you have any secondhand secrets? Favourite thrift finds? Hidden apps? Please share—I’m all ears.
With love Bessie
P.s just a reminder that even if everything in your life was something you wished for and celebrated, it’s okay to change your mind if the vision no longer feels like it fits.