Barry's images - take two

The money's been transferred today for AREandARE, so it's all on for taking over ownership from Thursday.  We're still obtaining insurance quotes, and importantly reading their small print!  It's amazing how much is in there, and the differences in approach to contents covered.

We're hiring a car for a couple of days from Wednesday, to take our belongings from my parents house to the boat, and then check what's on board and what we may need to purchase in order to live before our boxes arrive - in about ten weeks time.

Here's the next ten of Barry's images ...

The first six are around Ambleside Wharf ...

Walking around Lake Windermere and to Windermere ...

Ray, Sandra, Viv, Dave and Pete - all togged up against the cold

Many babbling brooks along the route

More to come over the next day or two ...

Barry's photography is back - the first ten ...

Well it's taken a while, we've not posted any of Barry's images of UK for almost twelve months, you've just had to read my ramblings instead!

With time to spare, living currently with my elderly parents, he's just sent me thirty amazing shots of our time here so far, so I thought I'd post ten a day rather than overwhelm you all at once ...

Paddington Basin, Barry's walkabout while we waited for the train to Worcester on our first day back

Little Venice - the delightful boat cafe 

Little Venice - incredible reflections on a crisp spring day

Barry gets his wish for snow, in Lichfield

Sandra, Kath (Sandra's sister), and Pete (Kath's partner), at The Bull in Shenstone

Bowness-on-Windermere, in Worsworth's Lake District - the view from the window of the house we rented for the week - picture perfect

One of the public Lake Windermere cruisers

Ray (my sister Viv's fiancé), and David (my sister Linda's husband), all wrapped up on top of the boat!

Hire boats looking magnificent

Ambleside wharf - looking remarkably similar to Queenstown in New Zealand!

It's wonderful to be able to post Barry's work again - hope you enjoy them and look forward to many more over the coming days, weeks, months and hopefully years!

Any suggestions - which narrowboat insurance?

The contracts arrived in the post today for AREandARE, along with the offer of one year's IWA membership (free) and either two months free RCR (river canal rescue) or three months if we purchase twelve months cover.  ABNB have been an excellent brokerage to work with, and Barry (from ABNB!) collected Barry from the train station the first time he went to see the boat, and then us both the second time - great service!

We have two small challenges now.  One is transferring the money from my Barclays Bank account in time to clear two days before Thursday - I have a limit of £10,000 per day!  I'll give my branch a call on Monday, there's bound to be a way around this ...

The other challenge is narrowboat insurance.  ABNB recommended GJW - but having just looked at their  policy wording, they insist on there always being two 'competent' crew members on board when the vessel is moving if it is over 24 feet in length.  This would mean Barry or I could never move the boat without us both on board?!

We were insured with Haven Knox-Johnston when we owned Northern Pride, but recall having to state a mooring initially (we used the marina where we bought her), and trying to get an on-line quote from them today they're again asking for one.  As we intend to be 'continuous cruisers' (apart from possibly staying in a marina over the winter months), we obviously can't state a permanent mooring.

We'd be very grateful for any suggestions of ways around this, or which insurance company people would recommend ...

Boat bought at last!

Things are beginning to fall into place now after two weeks and two days in the UK.  It was a bit of a mad rush arriving on the Wednesday then going away for a week on the Saturday.  Needless to say we didn't manage to get a lot sorted out until this week.

We did, however, have an amazing and magical time with my three sisters, their respective partners, and my parents (who celebrated 80 and 93 years of age that week), in the awe inspiring Lake District. Many people in the party were concerned about travelling in the wintry conditions, but all was well with clear roads all the way - and the scenery was spectacularly beautiful.  Barry was well pleased - he'd been asking for snow!  It's been mostly sunny, and we've not had a drop of rain since we arrived, though admittedly it's cold outside - especially compared to the temperatures we'd been used to in Gisborne over the past six months!  However, they're now coming into autumn, as we approach spring (I know, I know, it should be here already - but the daffodils and crocuses are beginning to bloom) ...

My mum's 80th birthday celebration - left to right Kath, Sandra, Don, Irene, Linda and Viv

At the top of 'Brantfell', overlooking Lake Windermere - with the scenery looking remarkably similar to Queenstown in the South Island of New Zealand

This week we've managed to get UK phones and internet access sorted out, and with our two mobile phones and a dongle, we now have coverage for Three, T-Mobile (which we're told includes Vodafone), and TalkTalk (which we're told includes Orange).  So hopefully we'll have some sort of signal for most of the waterways network!  It's amazing how cut off we felt for just under two weeks without good internet access - whatever was life like without it?  For us both though, it's crucial to how we earn a living now, so it's imperative to have.

On Wednesday we went to have a trial run of 'AREandARE'.  The 'in-water' survey had been carried out while we were away, and the surveyor had highlighted to us a possible challenge with the current engine configuration.  I'm not going to bore you with the details, mainly because I don't really understand them (it's a blue job as my dear friend Rivka would say!), but Barry wanted to see how she performed.  After much deliberation, and advice from many engine 'experts', and fellow bloggers (many thanks for your input Tom and Doug & James), we've negotiated a slight price reduction which will enable us to get the engine configured differently.  We do realise there are hundreds of boats 'out there' for sale, but this boat is the only one Barry's found which ticks the majority of the specific boxes of our requirements.

So today, we've agreed the purchase, with a take over date of Thursday 11th April.  We'll probably then be travelling up the Grand Union to Loughborough, take a left turn onto the Trent and Mersey, moving towards Fradley Junction in time for our boxes to arrive from NZ at my sister's house in Lichfield.  Well that's the tentative plan so far ...

Barry back on the waterways and in his element!

Barry and 'AREandARE"

Thank you to Tom, John and Sue for your comments on our recent post regarding suggestions for the blog.  We've yet to decide what we'll do, but your thoughts and advice have been most helpful.

So not long now and we'll be back 'on the cut'!  How exciting is that?!

Almost back on the waterways ...

We arrived safely back in UK on Wednesday morning after a very emotional farewell for now at Gisborne airport where many people came to wish us well.  The gorgeous Jade sang a waiata (Maori song) and Haka to us at the airport, and had everyone in tears - we were so honoured, what a brave young woman.

The farewell committee at Gisborne airport - Jade is next to Barry

There are so many things I'll miss about living in New Zealand (Gisborne especially), and I intend to write something around that in the near future ...

Yesterday Barry got the train to Rugby where the lovely Barry from the boatyard collected him and took him to see 'AREandARE' - he's been a little anxious about sighting the engine and just wanted to be sure that it's the boat we want - and luckily he loved it!  So subject to a satisfactory in-water survey on Monday, we'll go ahead with the purchase and be narrowboat owners again - hurrah!  We're not sure as yet when we'll actually take possession or be on board, but it's likely to be in the next couple of weeks I would imagine.  Barry didn't take any photos of the boat surprisingly, he said he wanted to savour the time talking to her current owner and looking around - there's enough lovely pictures on the ABNB website.

Waiting for the train, all wrapped up against the cold ...

Will the blog name change people have asked?  I hope so, we just have to work out how that happens and if we can keep the blogs we've written to date as nbnorthernpride, and just re-direct people - does anyone know how we do that?  Any information gratefully received.

The temperature change from Monday last week of around 29 degrees C, to today of around 0 degrees C has its challenges, but nothing we weren't expecting, and Barry is loving seeing the snow!  We're off to the Lake District today with my three sisters and their partners, and my parents for my mum's 80th birthday tomorrow and my dad's 93rd on 30th March. 

From this ...

... to this 

It's all coming together, saving the best till last ...

"I think there is something more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers. There aren’t enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision." 

W. Clement Stone

Well we're definitely taking concrete steps and our vision is becoming a reality!  The elephant that has been seeming so large over the past few months, weeks and days, now appears to be shrinking - we've been eating it piece by piece.

I'm almost finished packing up the boxes that we'll be shipping - how on earth we still have so much stuff after we've let go and sold so much is beyond me!  It's taking a lot of willpower to keep reducing our belongings down to the absolute (honest Barry!) essentials.  The remainder of our furniture will be taken this week - so by Friday we'll have very little left, apart from items the new owners have bought.  We're so lucky to have lovely people coming to live in our house and Suki, our cat, is staying too.

We had an awesome leaving party at the Hospital Social Club last Friday night arranged by some friends ...

The hall was decked out in red, white and blue with a few All Blacks flags too - what amazing friends we have, we're very lucky.

Next weekend I am flying to Auckland for my Diploma in Holistic Life Coaching Graduation which is awesome - it's been a long journey to achieve this, in time, money and commitment, but it's been so worthwhile.  I have two more clients to get to complete my 100 hours of case studies, but I'm waiting until we get to UK for that or it will be too disjointed.

And the very best news is WE'VE BOUGHT A BOAT!  Well, we've put a deposit down subject to survey.  Barry came home last Friday with the details and said it's the closet he's seen to the boat we've been searching for - and after some deliberation and the fantastic Captain Ahab taking the time to visit her in person and report back to us, we decided to go for it!  

She's called 'AREandARE', which we pronounced in a variety of ways, until we discovered it actually says R and R!  So apt, we're very pleased.

We'll be seeing many of you in the very near future ...

So close, yet so far away ...

“The Unknown is scary, the Unknown can also be exciting. Your life could change in an instant anytime. But sometimes, that change is the best thing that will ever happen to you. Maybe I don’t have to know what my fate is to know that everything will be okay. Maybe the not knowing is how we move forward. Wherever I’m headed, I know it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be.” ~ Susane Colasanti

Well it's less than three weeks to go now before we fly to England for the next exciting chapter in our lives!  Lots of things are moving, one is stubbornly staying the same ...

Selling ezimade seemed like it was going to be easy from the moment Barry opened the shop. He had a list of people who came in saying how amazing it was and how much they'd considered doing just what he had but not quite had the courage/got round to it, and would be interested in buying the business once he was ready to sell.

A few of these people have been in and talked about buying, but to date no-one has made an offer or made any sort of commitment. Why not?  It's such a great business, and is growing daily, I can't figure out where the blockage is. Barry has now listed it on Trade Me - so check it out and if you know anyone interested get them to call him asap! He did call a Real Estate Agent last week and met up with him - but was unconvinced that they would be committed enough or work hard enough to earn the ridiculous sum of money in commission they charge for selling a business.

It's OK, we have someone who will manage the shop once we leave if it's not sold, so we're not panicking, but it would be so much better to be able to let it go and move forward. However, Barry has to return to NZ in August anyway to apply for his visa, so maybe he's meant to come back and sell it then?

In the meantime, we've had another garage/yard sale:

So much 'stuff'!

This one wasn't quite as successful as the first one, but a lot of the same people came. Additionally, during the afternoon I discovered that someone had 'walked away' with a set of golf clubs that had been at the back of the house - Barry's mum's. I was initially angry that someone would do such a thing, then realised that it wouldn't help anything by giving my energy to that, and turning it around saw that whoever took them must be pretty desperate to have to steal from someone else, so it actually made me feel very lucky - so thank you thief!

The weekend before this, we had the auction for Barry's photography. It was such a fun afternoon, and all but I think two of his pictures sold to the people that came, and a few telephone bidders. Since then so many people who didn't manage to come for a variety of reasons have said how much they wish they had, and those who bought his pictures keep saying how much they love them. So it's all good, Barry will be remembered in Gisborne for a long time to come - and he saw how much people value his work as it was converted into cash.

Lee and Alice get Barry's most prized and treasured shot - a country lane near to West Felton, UK, taken in 2007

Sally buys so many photos - and adores them!

Gavin the amazingly audacious auctioneer - what a star!

Jeremy, Jim and Kerri - some of the beautiful people who bidded (I know, it's not a proper word!) and bought!

Our furniture is slowly moving out of the house, bit by bit, and with the photos gone too it's starting to look empty and we are 'letting go' of it, feeling grateful we've lived somewhere so amazing even for a short time, and looking forward so much to travelling to UK and buying another narrowboat. That's what keeps us going, knowing that we WILL get where we want to be, despite the challenges, and then there will be other lovely journeys to plan and look forward to.

Barry has taken some things to his daughter Jamie in Hamilton and will take some to Tom in Wellington in a couple of weeks. He isn't saying goodbye for ages to them yet, because he knows he'll be back in August and be here until he gets his UK visa. Leaving his mum will be something else to challenge us both though - but we can call her and hopefully Skype her with the help of Barry's brother Ray ...

Of course it's through our struggles that we most grow - if life was simple and easy all the time it would be boring don't you think?

Five weeks and counting ...

'Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.' ~ Andre Gide

Well courage is definitely something Barry and I are needing in abundance at the moment as we navigate the massive changes we're sailing through to de-clutter and let go of people, places and things.  I've been through this process previously when I immigrated to New Zealand in early 2005, but it's still challenging.

It is however, also very cathartic.  The amount of 'stuff' we 've collected between us is staggering - much of it was stored under the house.  We managed to sell almost all our furniture within four days in January - though a lot of it is still with us until a week or so before we leave.  One or two things that are precious will be stored here by people - personal photographs and memories of Barry's for instance, and a recycled Rimu coffee table that I made at woodwork classes here before I met Barry - priceless but far too big and heavy to ship back to UK.  Some friends who have just built an eco friendly home will care for it lovingly, and even though I may never have it with me again, I'll always know it's 'mine'.

The garage sale was a huge success and we made around $500 - there's still a heap of 'stuff' left, and discovered following the sale after further sorting, so we're having another one on 23rd February.  Following that it'll be Trade-Me (New Zealand's answer to Ebay), the local buy and sell publication 'The Trader', charity 'Op' shops, Second Hand Sunday on 3rd March, or the council dump/tip!

One of our cars has been sold and taken, and a couple of people are interested in the other one.  The bike is sold - but we need to hold onto that until just before we go so we each have a mode of transport apart from walking.

This Sunday, 17th February, we're having an auction of Barry's superb photography collection.  Lots of people had been asking me if they could buy one of his pieces before we left, so to make it fair we decided we'd ask a friend who's a trained auctioneer, if he'd help us out.  It promises to be a fun afternoon and hopefully we'll make some more funds towards our future water gypsy lifestyle!  If anyone wants a catalogue of what's available, email Sandra or Barry.  We can ship overseas, but obviously you'd need to pay the postage.

A leaving party has been arranged by some friends for us, to be held on Friday 8th March.  It'll be fabulous to have around 100 people to come and say a fond fare-thee-well-for-now, though I know it'll be tinged with sadness too, especially for me, as I don't know if or when I'll return to Gisborne or New Zealand.  Barry will be back in August to apply for his UK visa.

Barry's business 'ezimade' hasn't sold as yet, but there's a few people who've expressed an interest.  We have a contingency plan if it doesn't sell before we go - which will stop people who may be waiting until they think we're 'desperate' and then putting in a silly offer!  It's such a great little business that Barry has put his heart and soul into, and has a large, dedicated, enthusiastic and growing customer database - once someone buys a still or a beer making kit, there's a high chance they'll be back for more supplies!  Everyone who comes into the shop says how amazing it is - especially people from out of town who don't have anything with so much variety.  We're just waiting for the right person to come and make us an acceptable offer - any day now ...

The information needed for Barry's visa is being collated, and the required money is in the bank in UK - so six months from 5th February will be D-Day, depending on when Barry re-enters New Zealand.  We've put together lots of evidence of our relationship and marriage that will need to be sent off - though I think all they really need to do would be to read this blog?!  What more proof would you need of our commitment to each other and returning to UK to live on the waterways?

Last Sunday at a friend's beach wedding 

Feeling the pressure of moving hemispheres ...

So it's just seven weeks and five days before we fly away from Gisborne to the sunny (!) northern hemisphere - Barry always brings the sun with him so you can count on there being some gorgeous weather in UK from 21st March.

We always knew that sorting the vast amount of 'stuff' we have would be a challenge, and we aren't disappointed so far - in fact there's more than we ever imagined.  That's the drawback of having a decent sized house with a humongous amount of storage space underneath it.  

I sent round an initial list of belongings to a long email list of contacts, and so far we've sold one of our cars, our bike, and tons of other stuff, so it bodes well for keeping on top of it.

On Saturday we've arranged a 'garage/garden/yard' sale at our house - here's a photo of some of the stuff in our spare bedroom ready for this ...

I've already taken three large bags of clothes to the Salvation Army, and two visits to the rubbish dump with unwanted paperwork.

One of the other things we'll be doing is cataloguing and selling some of Barry's photographs - they are, as you all know, incredible works of art and deserve to have homes where people appreciate their beauty.

Coming back from a five night midwifery locum stint at Te Puia on Tuesday, Barry and I suddenly became overwhelmed at the enormity of what we're undertaking and started to panic a little.  Too late to turn back now of course - the house is sold with the settlement date of 31st January.  Those blog readers who have undertaken similar journeys to us, will recognise I'm sure, the pressure that such a big change puts on you, even when it's something you have been dreaming of for a long period of time.

This evening I came across an inspiring video which 'spoke to me', and reminded me to let go and just allow ourselves to freak out from time-to-time about the move.  We've been planning it for over two years now, and we're both sure it's what we want, but the change in the UK visa requirements have meant we must commit to five and a half years to get Barry's 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' in UK, with only limited time back in NZ to see family and friends, if we can afford to return for visits.  'The Power of Vulnerability' is a TED talk by Brene Brown - if you have about 20 minutes to spare, and want to feel more 'wholehearted', I would totally recommend you watch and absorb the wisdom she's gained through many years of research.

Once we've received the house sale money next week, we'll put the necessary funds into an account, and they have to stay there for six months before Barry can even apply for his UK visa.  Then it must be there again two and half years after when he updates/reapplies.  We've now engaged the lovely Colin at 'ivisas' to navigate us through the process, and feel confident all will happen - so long as we gather all the documentation.

Our biggest mission now is to sell Barry's business - he has a few people interested, so by the power of the law of attraction, I'm putting it out there we WILL sell it in the next couple of weeks.

Watch this space - and I'm sending it out too that one day soon we WILL be announcing we've bought a narrowboat ...

We'll be in UK in nine weeks - Happy 2013 everyone!

In exactly nine weeks (0525hrs on 20th March), we'll arrive at London Heathrow.  We've been planning this journey for so long now, the inception was sometime in 2010, and it's amazing it's coming to fruition.  There's still so much to do, and of course you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men ...

I returned to NZ on 10th January after an amazing three-weeks in Indonesia with my beautiful daughter Kimberley.  How special to have that time, just the two of us - and while we were having quality time together and with many exciting (and some not so thrilling!) adventures, Barry had his children Jamie and Tom at home for the festive season.  So we were both blessed with family memories to treasure.

Kim and I ready for a cocktail or two

Kim's 30th birthday surprise

Now I'm back and it's time to get all of our belongings sorted to either sell, give away, store, package to send or pack.  I always find it incredible how much 'stuff' we can accumulate, and when you look at it you wonder why on earth you have it and how you can so easily live without it!  We totally understand how challenging space is on a narrowboat, and are both looking forward to downsizing and getting rid of so much clutter - it's going to feel so liberating.

On Saturday we joined our friends to camp at the beach for the night - I think it may've been hotter in Gisborne than it was in Bali and Lombok.  A sweltering 39 degrees I believe was recorded ...

Barry cooks the barbecue breakfast for the masses

Walking on the beach with Barry, we came across a penguin - so cute!

We're just waiting to hear from our agent about the paperwork we'll need to collate ready for Barry's visa, and he's checking out flights for early to mid August when he'll be returning to NZ to apply.  Our house settlement date is 31st January, so as soon as we can transfer sufficient funds to my UK bank account, we can commence the six-month countdown.

Finances will be very tight, so we'll be budgeting strictly - I suspect visitors will be requested to provide their own provisions!  It'll be a great lesson for Barry and I, and of course means the required amount of cash must be available for five years in order to get 'indefinite leave to remain'.

Do check out my Holistic Life Coaching Facebook page and website/blog, and tell all your friends!  Barry won't be able to work until he has his UK visa, so Life Coaching is likely to be be our only source of income.  I have no intention of working as a midwife after Tuesday 5th March 2013, almost 26 years after commencing my training on 2nd May 1987.  I'm extremely proud of the difference I've made during that time - improve the birthing experience of women and their families, the quality of maternity services and provide guidance and inspiration to colleagues and students.  

It's now time to use my skills to support people to live their lives more fully and move towards a limit-less life ...

We're so looking forward to being back with my family and reconnecting with our friends in UK and on the waterways - as well as meeting new people (thank you to everyone who emails, it's always lovely to hear from you)!

Happy Festive Season from Indonesia!

Surprisingly we have free wifi on the island of Nusa Lembogan, so I thought I'd write a quick post and show you how they celebrate here ...

Barry and I wish all our readers a very Merry Xmas - have lots of fun, love and laughter over the festive season.

Latest news on Barry's visa ...

As Audrey Hepburn says, "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!"

When I immigrated to New Zealand in January 2005, the rules had just changed for gaining citizenship from three to five years. Now we're planning on returning to UK for the foreseeable future, the rules for 'indefinite leave to remain'  significantly altered to become far more challenging in July 2012! However we shall not be beaten, we'll just need to re-think our original plans, knowing that things happen for a reason ...

We've now spoken to Colin at ivisas and have a plan!  The rules are very stringent, and although I've never been very good at following such autocratic things, there are times when it's imperative and this is one of them!  So, the settlement date for our house sale is 31st January 2013, at which time we'll have sufficient 'cash' to both meet the visa requirements and buy a narrowboat to live aboard.  The catch is that we have to have that money in an account for a minimum of six months before we can apply for Barry's visa, and then hold it for the following five years - or else have 'proper' jobs that earn a minimum of 18,600GBP per annum.

That's OK, we can work around that - we'll still be flying to UK on 19th March 2013, it just means Barry will have a return flight to NZ sometime in August/September and will then apply for his settlement visa.  In the meantime we'll be gathering the required evidence to support his application so that, fingers crossed, it'll be plain sailing from then on.

On a different note, at 0600hrs Wednesday 19th December, I'll be flying from Auckland to Bali to meet my daughter to celebrate her 30th birthday on 4th January. When I tell people I'm going away without Barry for xmas and New Year, they frequently inform me the world may end on 21st December - let's hope not, we've got so much living left to do ...

If I don't get a chance to post another blog before I return to NZ on 10th January (and the chances are I won't), I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, filled with love and laughter, and a very Happy New Year.

Happy Christmas from us!

A wonderful time with my sisters - and a slight hiccup in our plans to return to UK ...

It's been many a week since my last posting - apologies everyone!  Two of my three beautiful sisters have been in New Zealand on holiday - we've had such an amazing time which didn't include a space for blogging!

Linda, Viv and Sandra on White Island - an active volcano off the North Island of NZ

Linda, Sandra, Barry and Viv at Gisborne Airport Saturday 8th December 2012

It was Barry's birthday on Thursday, so my poor sisters will have been extremely tired on their flight back as we had a party on Friday night which went on until the small hours.  

Our hiccup is with the requirements for Barry's UK visa - these all changed in July 2012, and it seems an even more complex process than before, so we've been going round and round in circles.  There's financial requirements we have to meet (understandable), that don't seem to take into consideration self-employment or the possibility of living on a narrowboat!  So today we've contacted an agency in the hope of acquiring expert assistance.  Otherwise, if there's the slightest problem with any part of the application form or supporting documentation, they reject it and charge us $1,700 a time.

We can't apply until three months prior to our departure on 19th March - and on 19th December I'm flying to Bali to meet my youngest daughter for her 30th birthday and won't be back in Gisborne until 10th January.  Barry's children Jamie and Tom will be keeping him company for xmas and New Year, which, we hope, will be his last ones for a considerable time - if all goes to plan!

We're keeping positive and are very hopeful we have evidence of suffcient funds to support us, and of our relationship of seven years and marriage of three, so that we'll be 'let in' to UK in March - otherwise we'll be homeless in Gisborne as our house is sold which could prove interesting ...

Slight revisions and additions to the boat spec ...

Thank you to Elly and Mick and Andy for your comments and emails about our 'dream boat'.  We do realise that we may (!) not get exactly what we want - but you never know ...  It's definitely worth putting it out there and seeing what eventuates.

So here's a few revisions/additions:

• I forgot to say we really want a boat with two bedrooms - at least with a single bunk at the back of the boat for our grandson to have his own 'space'.  So we'd want a fixed double or pull out bed (I've forgotten what they're called), as well as the dinette conversion to a double and the single - five berth
• A 'good' inverter (Barry says around 2 to 3,000 watts)
• A macerator pump out loo or vacuum flush 

Keep your eyes out and ears peeled everyone - we believe it's out there somewhere, just waiting for us to come and buy it.

Be careful what you wish for ...

That's how the saying goes.  So we're wishing for our 'perfect' boat, and choosing thoughtfully what's on our list! It's all about what you give your energy to, as we're constantly discovering as our  'to do' list shrinks each time we focus on one aspect of it during our return journey to the waterways, so now we're testing it out on the blog.

Having worked as a recruitment and retention specialist during 2002 to 2005, I believe finding the best person for a job involves knowing who you are looking for - otherwise how will you know when you find them?   It's always worth investing time putting together a 'person specification'.

So here's our 'boat specification' - a list of essentials and desirables for our 'dream boat':

Essential:

• Up to 65' long - preferably 60' to 62' so we can travel the whole system
• Traditional - but we'd accept semi-traditional if it had other essential features
• A pump out toilet - absolutely NON-negotiable!
• Mostly or all windows - we'd accept a few portholes at the rear, but much prefer windows
• Spray foam insulation
• Stainless steel water tank
• Solid fuel stove and radiators
• Engine NOT in an engine room on the boat

Desirable: 

• Side hatch/es
• Inverter
• L-shaped seating rather than single chairs
• Lots of storage space
• Less than 10 years old
• A washing machine (this is actually essential, but we're aware we could put one in, so there must be room available)
• Prefer not to have a walk through bathroom
• A boat name we can live with - some of them are just so off-putting! (By the way, can anyone tell me why it's 'bad luck' to re-name a boat?)

There's no rush at this stage.  We have money in UK to put a cash deposit down and our house sale settlement date is the end of January 2013, so we're cash buyers which should prove an advantage. We very much feel we'll know when we find the right boat, and hope to be ready to jump in - but we do need willing and able volunteers in UK to check out any boats for us if possible?  We'd much prefer to have bought before we arrive.

So there it is, down on paper so to speak - we'll be visualising living aboard and focussing on finding her in the next few months ...

The cat and the house ...

The sale and purchase agreement has safely arrived at our lawyers, so it's just a case of getting there next week to check and sign.

One of the many great things about the smooth and simple sale of our house, is that the future owners want to keep our beautiful cat Suki-Lou - how wonderful!  They even tried to list her as a 'chattel', but their lawyer said it wasn't possible, just in case anything happens to her between signing the agreement and taking possession, hilarious!

She adores where she lives and it'll be fantastic to be able to just leave her there, knowing she's going to be extremely well cared for.  She may get a few shocks though, as she's not really used to dealing with young children, but she's the softest and gentlest cat I've ever known and has never, ever, bitten or scratched anyone in anger.  She may love people too much, but that's her only problem - oh yes! and she's rather overweight and on a diet!  But apart from that ...

Here she is chilling in the lounge recently on a sunny day ...

What a lucky cat she is.

Contract signed ...

Our Hillview Terrace buyers have signed the sale and purchase agreement and will be putting their 10% deposit down on our house as soon as we get to see it and sign too - how exciting!  I'll be back in Gisborne on Monday 5th November, so we'll get it sorted and confirmed as soon as possible after that.

Barry came up to visit me on Sunday which was lovely - it gets a little bit lonely up here being on call 24/7.  However it's really not too difficult to stay and work here for a couple of weeks due to its stunning beauty - below are a couple of photos of Tokomaru Bay, taken from the road as I travelled back to Te Puia Springs from an antenatal visit this morning ...

You can see why they call NZ 'Aotearoa - Land of the Long White Cloud'

I've had a few people expressing an interest in being supported on a journey through Holistic Life Coaching with me, so I'm very hopeful I'll get my final three clients signed up in the next week or two for my Diploma case study hours.  I'll still take clients after those places are filled - they'll just not be at a reduced rate.

We're seriously looking at narrowboats now, and have had some communication with a couple selling their boat.  We're not sure it's quite what we're looking for, but it's certainly a lovely boat that we'll bear in mind in the coming weeks ...

Want to change your life or make it even better?

Fantastic that we've sold my TENS business, and now sold our house - the plans we've been working on for the past two plus years are all coming together.

Before Barry and I return to the waterways of UK on 19th March 2013, there's three more important things to do.

1. Barry has to obtain his UK residency visa.  We can't apply until three months before, so that'll be sent off in December 
2. Barry has to sell his shop 'ezimade' - he has an every increasing queue of people interested in buying it, such a cool way to work, so we don't envisage any challenges with that
3. Completing my 'Diploma in Holistic Life Coaching'

On 16th March 2013, I'll be attending a graduation ceremony with  'Life Coach Associates Auckland'. However, I may not be able to actually take my Diploma certificate itself to the UK, as I need to have completed my 100 hours of client case study hours.

All I need is 3 more clients, each signing up to 8 one-hour sessions which can be weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or whatever suits the client and my availability. Face-to-face in Gisborne, or from anywhere in the world via Skype - so don't let distance put you off! I don't have to have completed all the hours before we leave, but it would be fantastic if I had all the clients signed up and being supported to live extraordinary lives while I'm living mine!

What is Holistic Life Coaching you may ask?

Well, the best sportsmen in the world would always have a great coach, supermodels would have their personal trainers, etc. For people who want to get the best of THEIR life, working with a Life Coach is a way of discovering what's stopping you and what you can change or put in place so you can - every day.

People who choose to see a life coach are not strange, they're everyday folk, just like you and I. They may:

• be at a crossroads in their life and need some direction
• find that they're repeating the same/similar patterns and going round in circles in their relationships or career 
• be hitting a milestone age and feel that they haven't 'achieved' or 'done' what they thought they would have by then
• have so many options open to them they don't know which one to choose
• be so stuck with limiting beliefs from their past that they're too afraid to take risks or move forward/change
• be so busy they don't have time to even think about what they want anymore
• feel they're always caring for everyone else and rarely meeting their own needs, feeling guilty if they say 'no' to anyone

As we get older, we realise more and more how precious life is and that it's up to us to make the most of all there is to offer. It's not about working as hard as you can, for as long as you can, so that when (if) you get to the grand old age of 65 (or older), you may just have enough money not to starve. In the meantime you work long hours to pay for all the 'stuff' that if you really thought about it, you don't really 'need'.

I believe that the time to live is NOW, not waiting until we're old - though I certainly plan to be living a great life then as well!

So if you know of anyone who would grasp the opportunity of working with me as their Life Coach, or maybe you see the possibilities for yourself, please get in touch and I'll give you more information (see how to contact Sandra and Barry for my email address).

Awaken your life