Cotton balled clouds mixed with dusty pink skies reminds us it's time to prepare for sunset.

Glistening between short grass stems, flashes of brown slithering in search of a new home.

Snakes are common this time of year. More so since we've been in drought.

It forms a perfect zig zag shape, preparing for attack from birds following it's path across the lawn.

Deafening sounds from squawking birds, diving to alert it's presence and horses rearing up that come crashing down, thumping the ground in protest.

Another day of exhaustion from being awake past three am.

Water pipes hissed due to dad leaving the sprinkler system on over night. Illegal in a drought, yet he doesn't care, he wants the best flowers in their neighbourhood.

He's always been selfish, abusive and violent which has only increased with ageing.

A decision to mention his mistake, left unsaid as the repercussions of abuse wasn't worth it so I walked the yard at three am to find the switch and turn off the tap.

Today I dream for a day off. I've packed my laptop, swimmers and thongs to head up the coast, a secluded beach with no mobile reception, on an unusual warm winters day.

Just one day, some sunshine, a drive through coffee and the sounds of waves crashing as they hit the white sandy beaches is all I'll need to recuperate.

Just one day.

"Where are you going today? Why don't you have a job? You really need to get a job and pay for things around here. We can't keep paying for everything you know."

"Mum, I pay for food, your shopping, most of your doctors bills and petrol so what else's would you like me to pay for? It's hard to work full time in the city and look after you, so as suggested when I moved back home, we can fill in the paperwork to get a qualified carer in? I'd be happy to go back to full time work and just come visit every second weekend?"

"No you need to get a job to pay for everything and you can live around the corner. I've found you a granny flat."

"Mum if I get a job, I'll be flying for work so I can't live two hours drive from the airport."

"But we need you to live near us so you can look after us."

"That's why I'm living here mum, to look after you but if you prefer I'll move out and get a carer in, that's fine with me, you'll have to pay for their care though."

"That's not going to work. Your fathers taken all of our money. There's nothing left."

"Yes mum, he did, but I made him put it back and now you both have to sign for it. It's in a term deposit earning higher interest and it's locked in the account until Christmas."

Another family crisis I had to resolve when I moved back home to care for them.

After my dad assaulted my mum he withdrew all their money in fear, fear of being reported for domestic violence and he would be left with nothing. Or, fear of her ongoing health costs, a lifetime burden he was tired of paying for.

In the morning she was lucid and happy to go to the bank. On arrival at the bank she had reverted to her childlike world and now can't remember the event.

Money was moved. Signature signed and crisis avoided for another three months.

What would I do if he took all of their money?

Would I stay to care for her or leave like my sisters?

Suddenly burdened with ill parents and now being forced to pick sides and mediate their marriage was not part of my initial plan.

Why is money more important than health and wellbeing?

I've never been one to focus on money yet now this is the only war my family are willing to fight for.

Money v.s. Life.

Which side should I take?

Who would win this battle?

I chose life. Always life and it may bankrupt me in the process.

I'll stay for another month to see if they cope.

I'll stay for the rest of the year to learn how not to love.

I'll learn that my strength and resilience is stronger than money and definitely stronger than my family.

(Again, thank you for reading. Please comment and vote. More coming soon)