Signage is everything

My new signs were delivered this weekend. Brian was very busy and very productive building and painting all weekend. He built sign posts for my signs to hang off - and painted them. It all feels real and professional now.

Brian's cousin Jody stopped by with her boyfriend Darren and she helped me choose paint colours for the clinic (she is more artistic and visual than I am) . I'm happy with what we came up with. The waiting area is going to be painted a greeny colour called Avocado something... and I'm painting a portion of a feature wall in a soft red. I have a beautiful microsuede chair in the same colour. It will look very classy. The massage room will be a coffee colour and the trim and ceiling throughout will be a cream colour.

I bought a Japanese screen door off trade me for $50 to separate the two rooms. I felt it was nicer than just having an ordinary door. The screen keeps it "open" and bright yet provides adequate privacy. It will be lovely. I just can't wait to get it done!


We also bought a water feature for the garden from a local artist. He makes the most wonderful features out of concrete and shells.

We've had our eye on this one for months and finally decided it was time to get it. It's made out of Paua and Mother of Pearl shells and the water cascades down ... really lovely and just perfect for the space. The garden needed the sound of water - and this feature recycles it's own water so it doesn't need to be hooked up to a water system to run. Now the cats have a fresh water bowl in the garden! They'll love that.

The renovations should be close to complete next weekend when Brian comes home to finish them. The wiring and electrical is getting done during the week while he's away and when he comes home he will just need to insulate, whack the walls up and frame the door. I'll do the painting and get the carpet installed... and it will be all ready to go!

The sign on the street certainly created a buzz. People walked by and looked at it, commenting on how nice it was. I was watching from my lounge and felt a bit embarrassed by the publicity! I suppose I'd better get used to it! Soon I hope they'll be booking in for treatment.

All is well with Mrs. P and Me!

People have been asking about Mrs. P and how she is getting on now that I have moved away. It's very sweet of you all to ask and I wanted to let you know that she is doing quite well! She misses having us here and I know she especially misses the the girls (and the cat). Mrs P has been promising me a nice sunset ever since we first moved here in December 2005. This was the one... we got to see it just before we moved away. It was stunning. Below with the tail of the cruise ship heading off...

I am still working with Mrs. P from 8:30am - 1:30pm every day except Tuesdays. I have weekends off to spend with the girls. Brian is now working away in Tokoroa on a contract that could last up to 12 months so he stays there in a motel Mon-Sat. He comes home Saturday evenings and leaves again Monday mornings. We don't get to see much of him, but it's a sacrifice we all need to make since I'm not making much of an income at the moment. This past week he was home a few nights because he was needed up at the farm to do some work there - so he's not a complete stranger!

Mrs. P has 5 other carers besides myself, three of us come each day. I'm here in the mornings, another carer comes from 3 - 8pm, and another one comes at 8pm - 8am to stay the night. Everyone seems very nice and Mrs. P hasn't complained much about any of them. I think she is getting more attention and conversation which is good. We just need to work on some more consistency and everything will be perfect!

I have finally bitten the bullet and joined the gym! It's been 3 years since I've had proper exercise and enough was enough. I got a great deal on a gym membership and I can take the girls with me - and they can do all of the classes for free! That was the clincher. They will keep me motivated, and it will give us something to do. I'm already feeling the difference and it's only been a week.

The weather has changed overnight - just like in Canada when September arrives. We seem to be in our Autumn season now. The nights have cooled off (last night we lit our first fire in our potbelly stove!), the mornings are crisp and you don't want to get out of bed, and you don't know what on earth to wear in the morning! The rain has come and it's been raining on and off all week. I couldn't get my washing in off the line for days!

I love this time of year. It feels like a time for new beginnings. I love the crisp clean air and although we won't have a true "fall" here with maple leaves crunching under our feet - I still enjoy the knowledge that it's time to slow down and hibernate a little.

Last weekend Brian and I had a massive clean up in the garden. We pruned and divided plants, replanted and tore out heaps! We had a heaping trailer full to take to the dump. It was a big, dirty job but felt very rewarding afterwards. Things look much tidier now and it helps to get that job done so that I can start focusing on the clinic. I have ordered my signs - they are done on huge slabs of Macrocarpa wood (a type of wood down under which is beautiful). I will hang out out at the front of the house which will be seen from the street (I'll take photos when they arrive). It will say "Magic Hands Massage Clinic" with a set of Natalya's hands (I'm stealing that idea from Michelle but don't tell her!) and my name. It will look great. I will have two other signs done which will help guide people to the back where the clinic is located.

Brian prepared the garage yesterday so that he can start the framing for the new waiting area. I'm looking forward to getting that done. I can't wait to start advertising. I've already got a list of people waiting to get in - but I don't want to start until things are done properly and professionally. I'm worried that it's going to take off like wild fire and I won't know what hit me. I'm lucky that Brian is working away so that I can focus all of my free time (what I have of it anyway) on work in the evenings and on Saturdays.

I love my job. It's the most peaceful thing you can do - giving a massage is just as relaxing as getting one - when I am in the right frame of mind. I have my music going, the room is tranquil, the energy is good and my hands start moving like a dance. I forgot how much I loved it.

Once I get 20 regular patients I am going to install a hot tub. My patients can have a soak before and after their massage and they won't be given a time limit like most commercial clinics. I'm going to have Brian install an outdoor shower so that they can rinse off. It's going to be a huge draw. That's something I couldn't imagine having back home in Canada - but it's a real possibility here.

And here are some more recent visitors to our garden. They "appeared" last week. Sadly I had to save a few from the cats - and who will never get a chance to fly - but I hope they are happy enough living in our bushes. Poor things. What do you suppose the most humane thing to do would be???

A day with Hamish Carter

Today was a very special day indeed. Chantelle was surprised infront of her entire school by a very special guest - Hamish Carter.

You see, last week I was contacted by a rep from Sanitarium foods (the Kiwi Kellogg's) asking how Chantelle was doing after her accident at the Tryathlon. Hayley was very kind to all of us when Channy had her crash - and she told me that she was going to get a signed t-shirt for Chantelle. I wrote back to her and told her that Chantelle was fine and how brave she was - how she didn't cry at all!

Hayley forwarded the email on to Hamish Carter - who asked if he could come to see Chantelle. She was a role model for other kids - she was brave and she didn't let her accident scare her enough to give up.

So today was the day... Hamish flew up from Christchurch just to come to Mount Primary School to surprise Chantelle! (the photo to the right includes my friend Sharyn who came out with me to support Channy) I had been thinking about what I could give Hamish to thank him for taking the time to change the life of a little girl. There were some nice little trinkets... but really, does Hamish need another trinket? Then it occurred to me that the best gift I could give him would be a massage.

I wrote to Hayley with the offer. After I sent the email I realized that they might all think I'm a complete Nutter - a Stalker or something. So I sent an emergency email to my friend back home - Monica's husband Tim. Tim was a regular patient of mine and he is also a Triathlete - he participated in the Worlds in Spain a few years ago. I told Tim of my intentions - and asked him to write a reference letter to Hamish so that he knew I was legitimate.That's Tim with Phil the dog, enjoying the tranquility while on a camping trip in Ontario's Algonquin Park. Tim and Hamish are strikingly similar in both personality AND looks.

Hayley got back to me to say that Hamish had to be in Auckland shortly after the school visit, so there wouldn't be any time for a massage.

While Hamish and I were chatting in the Principal's office before the assembly today I mentioned the whole massage thing - and how I realized that it could have been misunderstood. I mentioned Tim's email and Hamish asked what Tim's last name is... well it just so happens that Hamish remembers Tim very well from the Worlds (you see, they are very similar characters so it's not at all surprising that they became good friends). What a small world! The principal and Chantelle's teacher were floored - who IS this Canadian girl - she knows EVERYONE! (that's Tim and Monica - with the beautiful voice - and their daughter Maia! I hope you don't mind that I'm including you in my blog guys!!! It's such a gorgeous family photo I couldn't resist).



The school assembled outside and I snuck in around the back so that Chantelle and Natalya wouldn't see me. Hamish made his appearance and made a simple speech about doing their best and trying hard... he was so "normal". Just an average guy who just so happens to be an Olympic World Athlete. And then he started to talk about his reason for being there - a very special little girl... and he called Chantelle up to stand beside him.

She was horrified - and in a state of shock and disbelief. She hardly smiled and I could tell by her face that she wished she could just disappear! Chantelle HATES being the centre of attention. But what Hamish did for her will forever change the way she sees herself. He praised her in front of the entire school. Then he called Natalya up too. He had presents for both of them! They each got Weetbix bags full of promotional stuff - wallets, hats, towels, t-shirts (signed by Hamish and the NZ female Triathlete Debbie Tanner). He also gave Chantelle three pairs of Nike running shoes and a brand new bike! It was too much!!

I told Hamish earlier that Channy wouldn't care about the stuff - she doesn't value "things". The greatest gift he would give her would be the gift of confidence and pride in herself. She will never forget this day. He's an amazing person - not because he is an Olympic Athlete - but because he has taken his star and is using it to brighten the paths of children who can't see the light.

THAT is a hero. The world needs more Hamish Carters. Why can't more people see that success is a gift that is meant to be shared?

So the rest of the day went by in a blur for the girls. Kids came up to them and kept telling them how lucky they were... but there were also kids who told Channy that she wasn't THAT special and she was a show off! Kids can be SO nasty when one stands out from the rest.

I told Chantelle that now if any kids are mean to her or try to pick on her she can say, "I don't care what you say because Hamish Carter thinks I'm amazing."

What a blessing.

Come on... tell me this kid isn't a natural star herself? Here we are putting pink highlights through her hair! They suited her beautifully.

**btw, the bike is WAY too big for Chantelle so she is letting me ride it. Everyone in the family got new bikes last year - except for ME! I've been riding a piece of crap so maybe now I'll lose a little weight with the incentive of a nice smooth ride.