Holidays

It has been a strange holiday break, these last two weeks. As always, school requirements have been on the agenda all the way through - thinking, planning, preparing. But other themes have dominated - grief from the loss of a dear friend of over thirty years. Other friendships have waxed and waned over this time, as friendships often do, but this was a special, steady one. So many, many cups of tea, glasses of wine and comfortable conversations, just the two of us in her kitchen 'putting the world to rights'. I will miss her dearly.

In younger, plumper times.

Then worry over Millie as she failed to respond to the effects of her operation and the twice daily delivery of anti-biotics into her weak and wasting body. Despite her condition, she could put up a considerable fight to avoid her medication. Thankfully we are through that at last, though I don't feel she is yet fully on the path to recovery and still not eating enough to properly sustain her.

Lovely vets. 

Whenever I hear people complaining about the eighty dollars they paid to see the after hours doctor, or bemoaning the ten dollars they were charged to collect a prescription, I know at once they are not pet owners. Those with animals understand the real cost of matters medical when the costs are not subsidised in any way. While I don't begrudge a cent of it, the unexpected costs of well over one thousand dollars for Millie's treatments have made this break a challenging one in budgeting terms, too.

Roll on pay day.

And then there was the shake. It felt big, but the media delight in reminding us it wasn't 'the big one' as such and much worse could come at any time. Friends seem disappointed it didn't generate at least a wee tsunami to prove my folly in choosing to live in Petone.

But I wouldn't swap living in Petone. As I strolled along the beach this afternoon to enjoy a movie at The Lighthouse, I mused over the events of these last two weeks. Though they haven't been the best of weeks, there have been some lovely times with special people sprinkled throughout. Today the sun was out, the water sparkled and the air was salty fresh. I can't believe how lucky I am to live in such a wonderful, uplifting place. Since I have moved here, it feels like I'm on holiday every time I reach home and see the harbour. Life is good - and in nine weeks there's another break!