Moving On - Time for change

It always amazes me how quickly things can change and how wonderful and unexpected change really can be! Last week I had a meeting with Mrs. P and her son Phil and together we decided that it may be time for Brian and I to look for a place of our own. My life is getting busier having to run around after the girls and I will need to be home more for them - especially after school and on weekends - because Brian's job is taking him to Tokoroa through the week. He'll be living in a house provided by his job - because Tokoroa is an hour and a half away. So he won't be home much over the next year.

The idea of moving into our own place is very exciting. Brian immediately got on the internet to look for rentals. We saw a place that was IDEAL! Ultimately I want to start getting into doing my Massage Therapy again so we wanted to find a place that had at least 4 bedrooms - with a separate entrance to one of the rooms. It wasn't going to be easy to find - if at all - so we were just going to look until the right place came along. There was no hurry to leave Mrs. P's at all. But the place we saw on the internet was PERFECT! The only trouble was that it was the long weekend so we couldn't contact the realtor. I prayed and prayed all weekend - and had all of my friends praying too. We had an idea that it would be gone so we really didn't get our hopes up. Sure enough, when I finally reached the realtor - it had been rented. Bummer.

But the next day I found another house that was really nice. It was smaller than we hoped but it had a really nice garden with a pond and the house itself was warm and sunny and had a "good feel" about it. Another bonus was that the landlords were really lovely people and Brian and I liked them. The house was close to the school so that the girls could easily walk or ride their bikes. It only had three bedrooms but if the girls shared a room, I could use one of the rooms for an office. It didn't have a separate entrance but it was located in a fairly convenient place in the house that it would be "okay". Brian and I couldn't sleep that night. We were SO excited!!!

The following morning I went to the Real Estate Office to sign the rental agreement and write a cheque for the bond, two weeks rent and letting fees (it's expensive to rent in New Zealand man!). As I was waiting for the realtor to get some paperwork I had a browse in the daily rental listings. Low and behold the house Brian and I spotted on the internet 4 days earlier was in it! I was confused... I thought it was gone? I asked my agent about it but it wasn't her property so she didn't know anything and seemed annoyed that I was even enquiring (she just wanted her commission). I told her that I had to find out - because it was the house we originally wanted. She was incredibly annoyed and I felt bad... but it was pretty important. I called Brian to tell him and ask him what I should do. He gave me the okay to have a look at it and if it was suitable, take it.

Sure enough the house was available! The previous deal fell through so it was back on the market! What luck!!! My prayers were answered. I went to have a look and it was even better than I expected! The inside is HUGE (we are going to need to garage sale hunt). I told the agent I was VERY interested and I had already filled in an application form. The only thing that troubled me was the fact that it was too far for the girls to walk or ride their bikes to school. But a bonus was the fact that it is on a street that has a lot of businesses that will help promote my Massage Practice - Doctor's Offices, Medlab, Counsellors, Family Clinics, and the Rugby Club plus the Gym!

I felt sick for the rest of the afternoon. I was so anxious and plus I felt so bad that I backed out of the other property. I didn't have the house yet but the agent hinted that we'd probably get it since the other people were all single (such a bonus having children!). I got the call later that afternoon confirming it - we got the house!!!!!

As a family we went to see the house in the evening when Brian got home from work. The owner met us there and we all got a chance to meet her. She was WONDERFUL! She only recently bought the house as an investment and she seemed delighted with us living there. The girls chose their rooms (they'll each have their own room) and we had a good look around. The garden has citrus trees, a tamarillo tree, passionfruit, and other great things. There's a woodshed stocked with wood for the potbelly stove in our family room (it'll be cheap on power - and the stove heats the water). It has a brick fireplace in the garden for BBQ's and lots and lots of matured succulents and shrubs. Mac the cat is going to love it. Since it doesn't snow here, the garden will look like this year round. There isn't a bath in the house, just a shower and I jokingly mentioned that we'd just have to get a spa for the deck - and the owner thought it was a great idea!!! Then when we were out checking out the sleepout (in the photo just to the right) she said that she'd get it insulated if I was going to use it for an office. She also said that we could renovate and add on another room for a waiting area if we'd like. Can you believe it? Unreal. She's the landlady from heaven!

We move in on the 15th of February. I've already contacted Telecom to connect the phone and I got a phone number similar to our current phone number - just one digit different. I hate moving but this move should be fairly stress free. We don't have an eviction date so we can take our time.

Change is good. It can be scary, but it is also so exciting! I was quite comfortable here with Mrs. P - but truth be told, I miss doing what I do best - working with my hands to fix people's bodies. It's my gift, my talent, and my identity. It will be so good getting back into it. So for all of you who miss my Massages - I'm back!!! The commute to New Zealand is a bit far - but you know it's worth it!

Family Matters

This is my family... minus Mac the cat... but you met him in the previous entry. We had our family portrait taken professionally just before Christmas. Other than the fact that I've put on a few extra kilos (which makes me look like a real matronly mother)... I think the portrait has turned out great.

I haven't shared this with many people because I didn't want to cause any worry... but I had a scare just before Christmas. They've found a dermoid tumour on my left ovary (the only one I've got left) and until just a few weeks ago, they didn't know if it was cancerous or not. The blood tests reveal that it's not. But it appears to be the same type of tumour that I had as a child... which means that there is a certain amount of urgency to have it removed before it becomes malignant or ruptures. Dermoid tumours contain hair and teeth and other bizarre things.

I have had a lot of time to wrap my head around it now and I have come to a pretty big decision. After much reflection and research and speaking to my doctors here and in Toronto - I have concluded that it is in my best interest to have a complete hysterectomy. It wasn't an easy decision but you know what? Having the girls in my life has really "completed me". I don't feel that losing my chances of having children naturally is the worst possible thing. I have my family now. I don't want a baby at this stage in my life. I have two beautiful girls and I don't want anything else. Thank God for them - as they have come to me at such a critical stage in my life. The decision would be gut wrenching if I was childless.

So on the 15th of February I will meet with my specialist here to hopefully get a surgical date. The healthcare system in New Zealand is similar to our healthcare in Canada. It can be very slow - unless you pay privately.

Big Mac the Black Cat

There's a new member to the Pepper-Nicoll household. He's another big black cat who we've named Mac. He is a spitting image of our dear departed Bubba.

We got Mac unexpectedly. I was buying fish at our favourite fish shop and chatting with Nicki the shop owner. I told her about Bubba and she asked me if I wanted another cat. I said no... but she insisted that this was a VERY special cat. He belonged to her parents but they've recently moved into an apartment that doesn't allow pets - so the cat had to live at the fish market. I thought it sounded like a good life for a cat... but she insisted that he was a people cat and didn't get enough attention at the fish market. They were looking for a good home for him. When she told me he was an all black cat, I was intrigued.

I was still grieving when I spoke to her, so two weeks later I sent her a text to see if the cat still needed a home - he did - so we arranged to meet the cat. The moment I saw Mac I started to cry - and laugh - I was amazed. He looked so much like Bubba! They both have bright eyes!! The only difference between them is that Mac has a shorter tail and a slightly squarer jaw. Personality wise, they are very similar - very friendly, playful, talkative and cuddly. Mac is 4 years old so of course he is much more active than old Bubs. Brian was also amazed. We knew that this cat belonged with us.

We brought Mac home but for the first two weeks we didn't know what to call him. You see - his previous owners named him Niggles. The name just didn't really fit us - and we were debating whether we should call him Bubba 2 or Buddha or Buddy. Whenever we called him Niggles, we would end up shortening it and calling him Niggy or Nigs or accidentally Nigger. It was a very politically incorrect name so it had to go. The decision to call him Mac came from the cat himself actually. He has this funny little meow which at times sounds like he's saying "Mac Mac". One day I asked him what his name was and he said "Mac"... the girls roared with laughter... so it stuck. He is our Big Mac. When we play with him, we've had a "Mac Attack". It's perfect. He comes when we call him so he already knows his new name.

Mac has fit in perfectly. We absolutely adore him. He couldn't possibly replace Bubba but he has certainly filled the void that Bubba left when he died. Bubba was MY cat. Mac is the family cat. Everyone is amazed that we found a cat so much like Bubba. Miracles happen - even in the form of a cute black cat that has filled the saddened hearts of a family who lost a special old black cat. We are thrilled to have found our black cat named Mac.