I’m writing this while sitting at the lake. The water’s a little green, and the trees are starting to shed their summer leaves, but it’s still my favourite place in Orange.

I’ve got so much to tell you. First of all, Miss 10 lost her jumper on the second day of school this year, so I told her this might just be a new record. She’s very excited and proud about that, but is somewhat cold. She also got a principal’s award for “attentive listening” at assembly last week, where I audibly said “wtf” as the better mum in front of me swivelled to glare at me. I have to assume it’s either a case of mistaken identity, or a tired teacher who’s dealing with burnout by taking the p***. Good to know her teacher has a sense of humorous irony.

Miss 16 is learning to drive, and luckily, she already knows everything so teaching her is extremely easy. These 120 hours are just going to fly, I think. Literally, because she won’t slow down for roundabouts so we do actually get a little airborne. She then tells me to “chill”.

I don’t yet know what I’ll do for a career post-journalism, but we can rule out driving instructor.

Last week I was in a hit and run, and rather than doing the sensible thing and calling the police, I found out who had hit me, where they lived and waited for them to come home so I could confront them. I am absolutely not recommending this course of action, and I’m lucky it was a panicked older lady and not someone high and armed.

And so, I’m sitting at the lake attempting to meditate, as my counsellor feels this is a better way of dealing with my anger at the world than trying to get into knife fights on the streets of O-town. Because I am unwell, and it’s a bit worse than anyone had originally thought. I have an incredibly curable form of cancer, but by the time they removed it the tumour was large and had spread. So there’s more treatment ahead and it’s a bit hard, but I’m still 100 per cent sure I will die from tripping over Miss 10’s shoes that she leaves in the doorway at the top of the stairs rather than from this.

My beautiful friends stepped up in the most wonderful way while I was recovering from surgery, and organised meals for us for five full weeks. Other friends took Miss 10 for playdates, sent care packages from afar, visited when I most needed it and baked much appreciated school snacks for my girls. I popped the very last date muffin into a lunch box this morning and I’m so grateful for everyone who stepped up to help. I also can’t thank work enough, both Orange City Life and the Sydney paper I write for, for allowing me to work as much or as little as I needed to. Lastly, thank you to my beautiful husband, with whom I’m about to celebrate 19 years of marriage. He has taken care of me and us and I couldn’t do any of this without his help.

And so, as I sit in the sunshine and watch the ducks swim, I think I’m just about ready to re-enter the world. Thanks for waiting for me, and be careful on roundabouts near L-plated drivers.