Hugs

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Hugs were invented to let people know you love them without having to say anything

As we check out of the Sopwell my excitement builds again, just as I know I will see Kim again, my next hug will be for someone I met while on my OE in 1997. It has been a friendship from afar for over 16 years. Anne calls me Little Sis and I call her Big Sis. She opened her doors to me when I travelled and I often used her address as a base when I travelled back and forth from London. We only have a couple of days in London and despite having many offers of beds we know my body needs a break and Anne and Kevin, with their furry babies Molly and Terry are the perfect retreat to soak it all in. As they pull up it is just like the movies, squells of delight, true smiles from ear to ear and the long hug that says everything without uttering a single word.

The boys sit back and smile too, Anne jumps in the back and we non stop yabble yabble all the way to a country pub for lunch. I am so impressed to see salad and salmon on the menu and we sit back and catch up all afternoon in the most idylic setting – the pub is called the Cricketers and is dog friendly so we feel quite at home seeing all sorts of furry friends coming in after their walk in the common.

We are feeling nice and relaxed and my body is holding up well. Riwai decided to put a call out to everyone in the UK to meet tomorrow at a pub for a Sunday afternoon catch up. We are only in London for the weekend and we know it will be a big ask but it was the only way we could do it. We have a few yes’s so that is Sunday all planned.

As we are driving home, Kevin asks what our preference is for dinner. Riwai has been an amazing support crew not just here but over the last few years so the least I can do is let him pick dinner – knowing full well it will be his favourite and my least favourite Indian! Apparently no London trip is complete without a Curry and a Pint!

We have a great dinner and I must say the food was pretty damn good. An early night and a big sleep in the next day was just what we both needed. Ready to go again.

Another round of those perfect long hugs where you don’t have to say anything. We are so blessed to catch up with everyone, we were sad we didn’t have more time for those we missed, but all the same it is a great day.

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We are due to leave on the Eurostar tomorrow…. but Kevin and Anne think this should be our – Arrghfeckit Tour – They both have tomorrow off and have concocted a plan they think we don’t want to miss…… and before we know it we have rebooked the train for Wednesday.

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Yesterday I met the most extraordinary woman. It was our first ever meeting and as we chatted away I realised how easy the conversation came, how many things we had in common while also celebrating our uniqueness and individualism. It was an amazing conversation for me to have. We finished with a hug, that little reaffirming moment, that hugging is appropriate for because you have made such a wonderful connection with someone.

After this weeks life is a puzzle post, the meeting was like finding one of those pieces you have been stuck on for too long. That small piece in the puzzle that allows you to see an important part of your picture and the flow on of being able to link many other pieces that before made no sense at all.

It was the first time in a long time I remember being completely and 100% me on a first meeting. It was inspiring being totally comfortable with who I am am and who I have become.

Most of all I noticed our genuine laughter, smiles, love for life and hug. Thank you J – it was a life changing moment. :).

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kind·ness 1.the state or quality of being kind of a good or benevolent nature or disposition: a kind and loving person. considerate, or helpful; humane behavior:
January 2012 is a month that I will never forget for the most wonderful reasons.   I discovered my Knights of Kindness.  As the clock ticked over to Midnight to January 2012, I shared a lovely moment with my family and decided that this year would be my best ever, just like my favourite movie it would be a year of Hakuna Matata – means no worries for the rest of our days.  But sadly in just a few days I could feel my body shutting down, severe pain was creeping back, like toothache through my entire body.   Those dark memories of sleepless nights, hot sweats, lack of strength and extreme fatigue, lack of appetite were back, those signs I wish I could ignore, so I pushed through denying the inevitable until the pain became more difficult to hide.    The rollercoaster had begun, the crutches were be dusted off, my frequent flyers memebership to the Outpatients waiting room renewed and my good old orange disability pass was ready in the car window once more!  Bugger!  RA Flare up – and just when this year was looking so good.
I have met over 25 health professionals this month.   As we medically get this disease under control it has become more important for me to learn about my self and build on my positive attitude I have developed through my wellness.    When we are given news we so often forget we are in control of our own Kingdom.  We can choose how we act.   Aesops fable is that no act of kindess no matter how big or small is ever wasted.   Aristotle’s philosophy on kindness was helpfulness towards some one in need, not in return for anything, nor for the advantage of the helper himself, but for that of the person helped.   Kindess is also one of the Knightly Virtues.    So I have armed myself with smiles, manners and hugs.    In order to rule My Kingdom of Me including my mind, body and spirit I need to lead the charge and show humility, friendliness and kindness to all I come into contact with.  As I take out my finest horse (well shiny red crutches) and lead the charge I have discovered the world is full of modern day Knights who just as in the High Middle Ages display a set of virtues to get me through.  I found a calvary of Kindness and amongst them one in Shining Armour – a perfect way to start Valentines Month and my knights birthday.    Thank you Mr Grace and all my modern knights secretly disguised as as LeapStars, family, medical professionals, strangers and supporters who will help me save my Kingdom and fight my latest battle with Kindness 🙂
 

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Dawn 1. To begin to become light in the morning, 2. To begin to appear or develop; emerge, 3. To begin to be perceived or understood.

When I was little my nana said to me “Dawn is the best part of the day. She was so right! There is something quite magical about the stillness, calmness and wonderment at the beginning of a new day. As the sun peeks through the horizon it sparkles and smiles on our landscape and gives us the nod to wake up and go forward.

This week we were blessed to show some amazing friends around our city. They had not been to Christchurch since Mother Nature started her party in 2010. We shared hugs, tears, and stories of horror and survival. We drove around and stood by the iron fences and signs of Extreme Danger – Do Not Enter. We stood arm in arm in silence remembering those who had lost their lives and those that were still piecing their lives back together. In that moment it was almost unbelievable what we were going through. My friend looked at me and said “You guys are a part of world history. But it is like a War, even worse than War. You have no reliable intelligence, you can’t plan your attack. You have no idea when the next attack is coming and that must take incredible strength”. I stood there and blinked silent tears, as they fell on the pavement, it dawned on me and I remembered what Nana said! “Tomorrow is a new day so as long as the sun comes up we have hope”.

At that moment a bird flew through a glassless window. I blinked and refocused and looked up and down the street; more birds appeared, trees appeared, flowers poked through the gaps. We continued around our city of ruins but my view had changed, in that one moment it was like a daytime dawn. Through the stillness, calmness of our broken city nature had kept going. I saw a different city full of magic; there were flowers, plants, grass, trees, birds, bees and it was beautiful. It is a city full of wonderment.

Sometimes we just need to see things in a different light. Sometimes we need to have the patience to see what appears and emerges. Then there will be a time for new understanding and new perceptions.

Thank you Nana for teaching me the power of every dawn and thank you to J & S for sharing with us this week xx