{"id":10843,"date":"2016-02-01T10:54:15","date_gmt":"2016-02-01T00:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/?p=10843"},"modified":"2016-02-01T10:54:15","modified_gmt":"2016-02-01T00:54:15","slug":"an-absent-family-brings-out-the-tina-turner-in-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/an-absent-family-brings-out-the-tina-turner-in-me\/","title":{"rendered":"An Absent Family Brings Out the Tina Turner in Me!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Zena<\/a>

Working & Writing All The Hours<\/p><\/div>\n

So, the long summer holidays have finally ended here in Sydney and the kids have gone back to school. A few years ago, I used to dread school holidays and the interruption they brought to my work schedule, given I work from home. I love my work!<\/p>\n

These days, the kids are more independent and I can get at least an hour of work or writing done a day, so it doesn\u2019t worry me as much anymore. That\u2019s of course not enough to progress with projects, just enough to keep them ticking over. And the kids are at such a fun age (8 and 10), the school holidays are now a delight!<\/p>\n

Still, when Hubbie offered to take the kids camping, twice, I jumped at the chance. A few days to focus \u2013 what bliss! I\u2019ve always loved silence and that love has quadrupled since having children. For me silence means freedom \u2013 freedom to concentrate and<\/em> let my mind drift. I don\u2019t have to fight to hear my own thoughts, my characters\u2019 voices or the rhythm of my words. When the children are home and otherwise occupied, I use headphones to drown out their playful noise, listening instead to ‘rain music’ like this:<\/p>\n