Life Updates
This is a space where I talk about what’s going on in my personal life, which is often outside of my career.
Week 20, 2025
18.05.2025
This past week was a big one on the home front! I finally started – and completed – the front yard landscaping project! It was a massive undertaking. I dug out a bunch of new garden beds, planted a beautiful cherry blossom tree, created a dedicated bed for native plants (hoping to attract even more native birds/bees), placed over 1,000kg of stone blocks for edging, and even laid down a new pathway leading up to the front steps.
I have a whole new respect for people who work in landscaping. Seriously, digging up grass is no joke! It's incredibly hard work. But, I'm genuinely so happy with how it all turned out. The front of the house looks completely transformed.
Unfortunately, I think I might have pushed myself a little too hard, as the week wrapped up with me feeling unwell. Hopefully, I can kick whatever this is soon so I can get back into the swing of things!
Week 19, 2025
11.05.2025
This week has a bit of a shorter update, but a lovely one nonetheless! It was a week filled with social catch-ups, which has been fantastic now that things have started to settle into a rhythm with our newborn. It's great to reconnect with friends and finally get out and about a bit more.
The absolute highlight, though, was celebrating Mother's Day at the Growling Frog golf course. The views were absolutely stunning, and it was such a special and beautiful way to celebrate my wife's very first Mother's Day. It's been an incredible journey so far, and I'm so proud of her.
Week 18, 2025
04.05.2025
Slowly but surely, we're getting back into a routine around here – and that includes keeping this blog up-to-date! This week felt like a real step forward in that department.
One of the highlights was attending an AIPM networking event. It was incredibly cool to meet people already working in project management, especially some who are very far down their career paths. I even had the humbling experience of meeting the person responsible for project recovery for NBN, a multi-billion dollar project! Chatting with them offered some truly great advice for my own burgeoning career.
On the entertainment front, I managed to snag tickets to see Sabaton in September – very excited about that!
Most importantly, our little family is doing incredibly well, and we're just soaking up all this precious time together. It's been a truly rewarding experience.
Week 17, 2025
27.04.2025
It feels like a lifetime since I last posted, and for the best reason imaginable: we welcomed our baby girl into the world!
She is healthy, happy, and doing absolutely fantastic. I'm slowly but surely adjusting to life as a dad. It's incredibly humbling to be responsible for another little human being, but the rewards are beyond anything I could have imagined.
Life has been completely consumed by all things baby for the past few weeks, which is why I've been a bit quiet on here. But I'm starting to feel like I can slowly dip my toes back into other aspects of life.
I actually have a project management networking event coming up soon that I'm really looking forward to. It will be great to connect with people in the field.
I'm just feeling incredibly grateful right now. Everything is good, and our little family is thriving. It's a wonderful place to be.
Week 9, 2025
02.03.2025
This has been a week of major home improvements, epic adventures, and baby anticipation! We finally got our solar panels installed! It's incredibly exciting to be taking a step towards greater sustainability. We took full advantage of the state and federal rebates, which covered almost half the system's cost – it was a no-brainer!
We also wrapped up our Dungeons & Dragons campaign; a friend was running Tomb of Annihilation for us, and I got to experience it as a player, which is rare for me. Usually I’m behind the dungeon master screen! It was a fantastic adventure, incredibly challenging, and definitely a different experience from our previous campaigns.
Then, I headed to Knotfest, a metal music festival headlined by Slipknot. It was an intense and awesome experience, and it was great to go with some of my friends who share my love for music. My favourite act of the day was Babymetal; their energy was absolutely infectious, and I’d never seen them before! Slipknot played Gematria for the first time ever, and it was so cool to see it live.
And, of course, the biggest news of all: we're now at 38 weeks with the baby! We're expecting things to happen any day now. The excitement (and a little bit of nervous anticipation!) is definitely building.
Week 8, 2025
23.02.2025
While not as glamorous as some of the last few weeks, this week has been an important life administration and health check-up week. Saw the dentist, and had my yearly blood test, glad to know everything came back perfectly healthy! I'm really grateful for the effort I've put into my health over the past few years, to know I'm in good shape before the baby arrives. I encourage everyone to get routine blood testing done; it’s important to know how our health is tracking!
We bought and assembled the baby's cot this week, which was a really fun and exciting experience. I believe it’s the final piece we need for the moment, before the baby arrives. At 37-weeks now, everything is starting to feel very real, just waiting for things to happen!
And for something completely different, I dusted off my Akubra and we attended the Whittlesea Rodeo with some friends! It was, in fact, my first rodeo, and it was really cool! It was interesting to see the skill of the riders, though I’m not sure I’d be rushing to put myself in the ring like that! It was great fun to connect with the local community and experience something new.
Week 7, 2025
16.02.2025
First off, huge win by the Eagles in the Superbowl! Go Birds!
I'm finally starting to feel much better after my bout of bronchitis. That was definitely not a fun experience. It feels so good to return to gym after almost a week off though. Hit a new PB on bench press of 4 sets of 12 reps, for 115kg. I’d love to see what my one-rep-max is now, but I’m too worried about doing it by myself with my home gym.
On the baby front, we had our 36-week ultrasound and size-scan, and everything is perfect! The baby is measuring right in the 50th percentile – perfectly in the middle! We're extremely happy with that.
We also installed the baby seat in the car. I thought it was interesting that it requires professional installation these days, but it was helpful to watch them do it.
We're making some big strides towards sustainability too! We're getting solar panels installed thanks to the Victorian and Federal rebates that we’re eligible for here in Whittlesea. We're both really excited about it and looking forward to being more self-sufficient and reducing our environmental impact. The significant reduction (possibly elimination?) of our power bills is a nice bonus as well. We worked out that it should pay for itself in just a few years, which is great! Fingers crossed we can get the installation finished before the baby arrives!
Finally, I put another 500 litres of manure and compost into the back garden. The south side hasn't been thriving as much as the rest, so I'm hoping this will give it the boost it needs. The fruit trees are growing like crazy though! I am very happy with the garden space currently, and often find myself there just enjoying being immersed in nature, watching the native birds and bees use the space.
The cat likes watching them too, but maybe for a different reason!
Week 6, 2025
09.02.2025
This week has been a bit of a mixed bag! On the one hand, I got to see Windwaker play live again, and it was fantastic to see how much they've grown as a band. Having seen them a few times before, I could really appreciate the energy and crowd-involvement they brought to this performance. They've definitely come a long way! It also feels great to continue to support a local band as they grow bigger.
I also painted the nursery wall, and my father-in-law came over to lend a hand with assembling the rest of the nursery furniture. With his help, we've finally got everything pretty much ready for the baby's arrival! Filling the change table with nappies is a strangely mundane experience compared to the busy-ness of usual life.
Civilization 7 was also released this week, and I've been… well, let's just say I've been enjoying it. Despite some of the initial release issues, particularly with the UI, I've been having a lot of fun. It might sound a little suspicious, given what else has happened this week, but…
Unfortunately, I've come down with a pretty nasty bout of bronchitis. It's definitely not fun, especially as an asthmatic. So, while I might have been enjoying Civ 7, I have genuinely been sick! Hopefully, I'll be better soon. I feel strange having paused gym, but I am reminding myself working out while struggling to breathe in 38 degree heat is not a wise decision.
Week 5, 2025
02.02.2025
This week marked my return to work, and it was a surprisingly smooth transition! I was really pleased to see that many of the systems I'd put in place for clients before the break had been successful in mitigating their issues while we weren't in contact. It's always satisfying when a plan comes together! (and when people follow it!)
On the music front, I had a fantastic week! I saw Holding Absence and You Me At Six at the Forum., which was a great show! I'd seen Holding Absence before, and it was awesome to see how much their stage confidence has improved. It was also You Me At Six's final tour – they're hanging it up soon – so I was really glad I got to see them one last time.
We had another pregnancy appointment this week – 34 weeks now! Everything is looking perfect, and there are no concerns at all. The baby has a strong heartbeat, which is always reassuring to hear, and is very active, much to my wife’s discomfort.
We also attended a labour information workshop, which was incredibly informative. It covered everything from when to arrive at the hospital and how long the different stages of labour typically last, to detailed information about the birthing process itself. It definitely made me feel a lot more prepared for what's to come.
The big challenge at the moment is deciding on baby names! We seem to like a lot of the same names, which is great, but it also makes it really hard to choose between them! I am grateful that the hardest part of this process so far has been deciding between names we both like. My wife is doing a wonderful job with the pregnancy, and it is lovely to see her transition into becoming a mother.
Week 4, 2025
26.01.2025
I finally got to see Bad Omens live properly! They were absolutely incredible – an amazing show that literally blew the roof off Festival Hall. I hope that person is okay! It was so great to finally see them after they had to cancel their last tour due to the singer being sick. Definitely worth the wait!
I also had a very helpful meeting with the career advisor this week. We talked about my career transition from psychology into project management, and they gave me some great advice. Top of the list: updating my LinkedIn profile, website, and business cards, and really thinking about how to market myself in this new field. It was really encouraging to develop a strategy and get some concrete steps to take.
We also attended a class through the hospital on post-natal care. It was incredibly informative and, more importantly, really reassuring. It gave me a much better understanding of how I can best support my wife after the baby arrives. I have been feeling a little bit useless while she is pregnant and I’m… not! I am reminding myself that I am doing everything else around the house as best I can.
And just like that, the holidays are over! I binge re-played the original Dark Souls with my final few days off before I head back to work next week. Two out of three of those games I said I’d play are done so far!
Week 3, 2025
19.01.2025
While this week started out rocky, as it progressed it got much better. I got my whooping cough vaccine this week, which was not a fun experience! Not only am I a notorious fainter, but I was out of action after for a good 48 hours afterwards. Good excuse to sit on the couch and work on one of those video games I said I’d finish. I’ve been playing through a new save file of Animal Crossing New Horizons, which I’ve really enjoyed.
On a more positive health note, I went to renew my mental health care plan for 2025, only to discover that it automatically renews after 12 months. Was good to update my doctor and see my progress since 12 months ago though. I’m looking forward to continuing seeing my psychologist for support in becoming a dad, as well as changing careers.
I also finally got around to setting up a password manager. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for ages, and it’s surprisingly satisfying! It’s definitely scratched that “management itch” I’ve had since being off work for the summer holidays. I’m using NordPass, and it was super easy to set up, and I already feel so much more secure online. Highly recommend it! It was boggling just how poor the account security was for many platforms though…
The highlight of the week was definitely the baby shower! It was amazing to see my wife surrounded by so much love and support from her friends and family. It was probably our last hosted event before the baby arrives, which feels a little bittersweet. I really enjoy hosting, so it'll be strange not to have people over for a while.
Looking ahead, I’ve booked an appointment with a career advisor for next week. I’m really excited to chat with someone about my career transition now that I’ve finally finished my degree. It feels like a big step towards figuring out what I want to do next!
Week 2, 2025
12.01.2025
Week two of 2025 has been a mix of excitement, minor mishaps, and some much-needed relaxation. The highlight, of course, was my wife's 31-week pregnancy appointment. Everything is looking fantastic! The baby is measuring perfectly – not too big, not too small – which I’m thrilled to hear. We made a trip to Baby Bunting and picked out a pram and a car seat. Seeing those in the house (in boxes still!) definitely makes everything feel a lot more real now.
On the slightly less glamorous side, I had my first-ever flat tyre this week. Let me say, changing a tyre without experience is a humbling adventure. But, I did it, and now feel like I fit in a little bit more into our semi-rural neighbourhood. Considering it a life skill ticked off the list.
To recover from the tyre drama, we spent a wonderful weekend down on the Bellarine Peninsula. The weather was perfect – warm but not too hot. We even got out on the water for some paddleboarding. I may have gotten a little bit sunburnt, but it was totally worth it. All in all, a good week!
Happy New Year 2025!
Week 1, 2025
05.02.2025
Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic holiday season. I certainly did! It was wonderful hosting both Christmas and Friendsmas this- er, last! year. Having people over was a great motivator to finally get our entertainment space exactly how we wanted it. Nothing like a deadline to get things done, right?
2024 was a huge year for me. Looking back, it is deeply satisfying to see how much I accomplished. My wife and I bought and moved into our new house (a massive undertaking in itself!), my wife is pregnant (due March 10th!), and I finished my Project Management post-graduate degree. Not to mention taking on home-improvement tasks I had no experience with, such as sanding back our floors and starting an in-ground garden from scratch. I got my first tattoo done which was really exciting, especially after sitting on the idea for almost 5 years! We concluded the DnD campaign that I was running, and I can barely believe that I’m now playing in one as a player for the first time in years.
Now, 2025 is all about wrapping things up and getting ready for the baby’s arrival. Q1 is going to be busy! On my to-do list: I'm aiming to lose the last 3kg I had hoped for this cut (home gym is so much easier!), paint the feature walls in the bedrooms but especially in the nursery, attend the pregnancy and childbirth classes offered through the hospital, have a chat with the career advisor about my job search, and, perhaps most importantly, complete three video games. My psychologist actually recommended scheduling dedicated "me time" and I am hoping dedicating that as a goal will help me to switch off and relax.
On a related note, I recently learned to play Nemesis, the board game. It’s awesome fun and surprisingly strategic, and as a fan of the Alien franchise, I’ve really enjoyed it and am looking forward to playing again soon!
I’m really looking forward to what 2025 brings. I'm aiming to be consistent with my posting this year, so stay tuned for more updates!