The Wood Between the Worlds

It feels like I'm in the Wood between the Worlds -- like in C.S. Lewis's Magician's Nephew. It is a place where nothing happens. The trees are so thick you can't see the sky, and you are overcome with lassitude (now there's a word that isn't used nearly enough in this period of lockdowns). The Wood between the Worlds, despite its lack of activity is magical. It is a place of potential, a place that if you can overcome the lassitude offers enormous connection -- the pools that lie beneath the thick canopy of leaves literally connect worlds -- some ancient, some yet to be born, some in the thick of life. 

So here I am, having come from one world -- Australia Post; while awaiting, anticipating a new and exiting world (which for me is yet to be born) at Coles. And yet this place in between is all the more stranger because nothing is happening, in fact nothing can happen. I can't travel more than 5km, I can't leave the house between 9pm and 5am... you all know the lockdown experience. Everyone else in my house is getting on with their lives, study, work -- even the dogs and the chickens are in the fullness of life.

The garden is done. The list of house repairs is complete (so many lockdown weekends have crossed everything off). I've even finally finished reading the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (a bucket list book)... So I'm in this state of anxiety of wanting to do something, while being forced to do nothing.

So in this time of reflection, I wanted to acknowledge all the amazing people I worked with at Australia Post. Five years of friendship and work to continue the transformation of Australia's oldest business. It was a tough place to be over the last 18 months, but one where I can say I was proud to have been, with so many hard working people delivering for Australians. The list is so long I won't do the @everyone-I-know-and-want-to-thank inventory. But you know who you are. So thank you for a wonderful half-decade.

At the same time I'm really excited to be jumping into a new pool and seeing where it leads. In part the fun of the Wood Between the Worlds analogy is I'm old enough to remember when Coles was Coles New World. And for those of you who've read the Magician's Nephew, I'm sure you'll remember the birth of Narnia. 

Keep Safe

John