SYLVIA PARK

 

Yesterday Stew and I went on the hunt for a new suit jacket for Stew.  We looked in all the men's wear shops here in Hamilton (The Base, Chartwell and Centre Place), to no avail.

So today we are heading up to Sylvia Park in Auckland,  to see what we can find there.

It will be a nice outing, I love going up to Auckland.  This will not be a fabric shopping trip though!

I am waiting until we have moved, and sorted everything out in the new home before I go on an extended fabric shopping trip!

Stew has promised me a sizeable budget to go shopping with.  I SERIOUSLY cannot wait.   I think it will turn out to be a 2-3 day 'event'.  😊

Right, I'm outta here.  Catch ya later.

When you feel attacked, maligned, over and over again by numerous people in your life...

I'M DONE EXPLAINING MYSELF.

It took me too long to understand that no matter how much I explain my side, some people will twist it to fit their narrative. I used to pour my heart out, desperately hoping they’d see the truth, but I’ve learned the hard way—if someone truly wanted to understand, they wouldn’t make me beg for it.

If you’ve already decided I’m the villain in your story, fine. I’m not going to keep bending over backwards trying to prove I’m good enough, worthy enough, or innocent enough. The truth is, the more I explain, the more power I give to someone who doesn’t want to hear it.

Let them believe what they want.

Let them say it was all my fault.

Let them stay stuck in their version of events.

LET. THEM.

I won’t defend myself anymore. Because I’ve realized something crucial—explaining myself over and over doesn’t bring peace. It only exhausts me. It only reinforces their narrative, because if they really cared to understand, they would’ve listened the first time.

I’m reclaiming my energy. I’m walking away from the endless loop of justification and debate. I deserve connections where I don’t have to fight for my truth to be seen.

If my silence makes you uncomfortable, then be uncomfortable.

If my choice not to explain feels like defeat to you, that’s on you.

I’m no longer concerned with trying to win a battle I never agreed to fight.

I’m done begging to be understood.

I’m done begging for kindness, respect, and empathy that should’ve been given freely.

I’m done putting myself on trial in a court that was never fair to begin with.

I'M. DONE.

The only explanation I owe is to myself: I choose peace.

I choose to move on without the weight of constantly trying to be heard by people who are committed to maligning me.

Let them think what they want.

I will not explain myself again.

Because, honestly, I don’t need to.

Choose to be kind. It actually won't hurt you.

ABOVE: Well after visiting around ten menswear shops... we have found a nice jacket at last. Now to get some matching trousers.

ABOVE: Finding trousers was much easier, thank goodness.

We just had an early lunch, and now we are off for a drive along the east coast road.

ABOVE: Three differing views of Maraetai Beach. It was just gorgeous there, and so few people taking advantage of such a lovely day. We only saw a handful of people swimming.

ABOVE: Two photos taken somewhere along the East Coast Road! Looking out at the Firth of Thames.

ABOVE: I have no idea where this was, somewhere out in the wop wops! Lovely views of the Hauraki Plains though.

We stopped here for our afternoon tea of donuts, that we had bought at Sylvia Park.

OMG, they were AMAZING! Easily the BEST donuts we have ever had.

ABOVE: We asked the man for half a dozen donuts. He was like "How many is that?" He didn't know how many half a dozen was!!! So we informed him and we got 6 mixed donuts.

When he was selecting them for us, he asked us if they were just for us, not kids? We were like, no, not for kids. He said good, as the White Chocolate one had alcohol in it, and he couldn't sell them to kids. Wow.

The best one so far that we have tasted is the Lemon Curd. It was SO LEMONY, not sweet at all. Made me go wow, so sour!

It's now 4.26 pm, and the kids have just arrived to visit, so I'll bugger off for now.

Over three hours later, we have all had dinner, enjoyed each others company and now, the kids have gone home.

Time to relax for the rest of the evening.

Catch ya tomorrow.