Boohoo morphs into Wahoo

Our last two weeks in windy Welly have finally produced a feeling like it's all coming together and we're on the home straight: it's been a long time coming!  A big weight off our mind was the Motukarara driveway being completed so that our two containers of ex-Wellington gear have somewhere to go, and the kitset shed, stable and water tank can be delivered.  It's not a flash driveway but I'm ecstatic with the rustic gravel look bathed in a summery blue sky at this stage!  I'm sure our horses will be delighted with the waist high grass too.

Land as bought: pre driveway, pre everything!
 

 

Wellington has thrown some heinous weather at us this last week which is making it a lot easier to leave.  Particularly with Steve boasting of balmy BBQ weathering in Christchurch while I'm in my winter woollies with the heat pumps cranked up: again...  And finally I can genuinely say to Kasper that it won't be long now before daddy won't go away all the time.  It's been getting harder and harder to console him on Monday mornings and really, I've run out of things to say to him.  I'm over cajoling him, it feels like I'm belittling his misery.  We couldn't have justified going on like this much longer, poor little man.

So the next hurdle is getting our horses, cats and containers down there safely with the minimum of fuss.  And then there is the small matter of delivering a 43ft boat from Wellington to Waikawa in the next fine weather break.  But hopefully, in the next two weeks all that will be achieved.

In the mean time we've acquired a beauty of a potbelly on Trademe to add ambience to our future stable accommodation, and Kasper has devised an ingenious trailer system to assist in the loading of containers and transporting Queen Hanna around the property.  He manages to crank it all behind his bike in first gear.

 



Moving on out

Well, it's not long now before we move out of our beloved Horokiwi home and launch into our new life in Christchurch, the form of which is more uncertain than I am comfortable with.  It's been a lonely and isolating year, with Steve and I geographically and emotionally having to lead quite different lives out of necessity, and me effectively being imprisoned on the hill due to a 18 week saga with a broken arm and not being able to drive for a lot of that time, nor do the things I enjoy.  Steve has been commuting to Christchurch for the week days since April so it will be interesting working together as a family unit again.

 

We made the decision to uproot our life and move down south in response to the huge need for Steve's skills in Christchurch post earthquake.  As a structural engineer, you don't get more meaningful and exciting opportunities than those that follow a few monty earthquakes in a developed country with big insurance dollars coming in.  And this in a city that educated the both of us, in which I did a lot of growing up and for which I still hold a great love, despite most of my old haunts being munted.  It is still the gateway to many outdoor adventures which I hope to be sharing with my children and Christchurch will rise again, stronger, quirkier, greener...

 

But I feel a lot of grief for some wonderful friendships I'm leaving behind and the Steiner schooling and community my children will now not experience.  I have been living with this feeling that the rug has been pulled from under my feet.  One of the biggest weepy moments was packing Kasper's Class 1 crayon and library bags that now will never be used in that context.  And then there's all those traditions, festivals and class camps I was looking forward to that now are vaporising into niggling regrets for what could have been (despite there being other opportunities at the new school, I know).  It's been a year tussling with huge questions around community, friendships, conflicting loyalties, life purposes, responsibilities, being a 'grown up' and what constitutes a home town.  I don't know that I will ever have the answers!  And then there's what is best for us individually, and as a family, and then the wider family... 

Finally there is the question of how self indulgent / egotistical or how meaningful it is to keep a blog!  However, the minute I started toying with the concept I found it to be strangely therapeutic in terms of processing and engaging my Will for the tasks ahead and replacing intrepidation with a sense of adventure.  So for now, I will continue, as this is purpose enough in itself.  I will leave you with a picture of Hanna and Kasper testing the camping shower Steve has put together for our new digs.