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 

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)!

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 ...

What is this life, if, full of care ...

Apologies everyone, since we've returned from our break in UK our lives have been crazily busy and I haven't managed to make time to post a blog.  Barry's still working hard at 'ezimade' six days a week, and although he's dabbled in editing his photos from England he's not yet quite managed to post any - I'm sure he will one day ...

In the meantime, I was offered the opportunity of leading a local maternity project to coordinate locally the national 'Maternity Quality and Safety Programme'.  Having voluntarily relinquished my previous senior post and decided I didn't want to take on such a responsibility again I was a little taken aback as our plans for returning to UK in March 2013 certainly didn't include such a big challenge - but when opportunities come our way I've learnt that it's best not to turn them down.  Anyway, long story short, I started as Project Coordinator on 1 May - so now I have that job (on a contractual basis as it's the only way I can 'fit it in', I just have to get my head around being 'self employed'!), a twelve month locum contract at a small birthing unit over an hour 'up the coast', a casual pool contract as a midwife in the unit, my TENS unit hire business, occasional cover for local self employed midwives and continue with my 'Diploma in Holistic Life Coaching' with LCA Auckland.  It is certainly testing my ability to maintain a work/life balance!

I spent the last two weeks of April at Ngati Porou Hauora - Te Puia Springs Hospital, giving the midwife who usually works up there a break.  Although it's not busy, there needs to be a midwife available 24/7 for births and providing antenatal and postnatal care to women.  It's a very sparsely populated area so  it can take over an hour just to drive to see a woman - but it's the most incredible place to live, with lovely people and truly magical without all the pressures of 'normal' life, where you really do have time to smell the roses and 'stand and stare'.  I took the time to chill walking along the beach at Tokomaru Bay and enjoy the occasional coffee ...

... and driving was never a hardship - it's not like the stress of driving somewhere busy, at every turn there is a scene to take your breath away, and Mount Hikurangi was definitely one of the highlights - the first land to see the sun shine each day ...

"Hikurangi is the sacred mountain of Ngāti Porou, and was said to be the first piece of land to emerge when Māui fished up the North Island. According to tradition, Māui’s canoe, Nukutaimemeha, remains stranded on the mountain peak."  

(The encyclopaedia of New Zealand)

Returning to Gisborne on 30 April, I had to 'hit the ground running' in my new role for the past three weeks, and I'm very aware that it's going to be a challenge to get everything sorted with the house to get it ready to sell in just four months time - we're half way through upgrading the bathroom, but with Barry only having one day off a week it's taking a lot longer than we anticipated!  And of course he needs to start applying for his visa in the near future - it's going to be an interesting few months, but we have a dream and we WILL be returning to UK to live it ...