Our Cruise to New Zealand

Mum and I have visited New Zealand on a few different occasions, but always using air flights and hire cars. Two places we never managed to actually get to. We visited Pahaia in the Bay of Islands (North Island), but were unable to actually go for a tour of the bay and the famous "Hole in the Rock" because of some shocking weather. We also attempted to visit Milford Sound (South Island), but it was too far for a day trip. Our cruise would be visiting both these places.

We boarded our ship, "Sun Princess" on 4^th December, spending that afternoon and the following two days at sea, before arriving in the Bay of Islands. The catamaran picked us up from the ship, and we were fortunate enough to see a pod of dolphins on our way to the Hole in the Rock. With the seas being quite calm our catamaran was able to traverse through the Hole twice. The tour included a lovely trip around the bay, while our guide gave a most informative talk on the visit by Captain Cook, and his encounter with the native Maori people.

The next day we visited Auckland, where we boarded a Discovery bus for an hour tour of the town. At dinner we had eight other people sharing our table, who proved to be most enjoyable companions. It was most interesting to hear what each pair had been doing during the day, and to listen to their adventures on their selected tours. They were:- Terry and Lesley from Sydney; Steve and Pam from the Central Coast; Bill and Shirley from USA; and our younger couple, Terry and Julie.

Our third stop was Mt Manganui. One of the main tours from the ship was to Rotorua to see the hot springs and mud pools. We had already visited there previously, so skipped that, and Mum and I visited the town of Tauranga and had a walk around looking at the shops.

Fourth port was the capital of New Zealand, Wellington. We had briefly passed through some years ago and were eager to see more of the town. Our tour took us to the Cable Car, then to the Botanical Gardens where we had time enjoying the Lady Norwood Rose Gardens (magnificent), before reboarding the bus for a trip to the lookout at Mt Victoria, with lovely panoramic views.

Next the ship moved on to the South Island where we visited Christchurch, where the recent earthquakes were. Such a pretty town, and such a shame to see the damage they are working so hard to repair. We took a trip on the Vintage Tram, taking in the lovely old buildings, and with an interesting commentary from our Tram driver.

Last port was Dunedin, where we once again took a bus tour, travelling into Dunedin from the port alongside the water. We visited the train station, which was of historical importance, then a visit to the Cadbury Chocolate Factory where we received free samples. Lastly our driver took us past some of the renowned buildings in the area before returning to the ship.

Our last day in New Zealand was the highlight of the trip, Fiordland. We passed through Doubtful Sound, then through Thompson Sound, before entering Milford Sound. What a magnificent sight! It was worth the wait just to stand at the rails and appreciate what a beautiful job Mother Nature had done!

Things start happening.

All of a sudden things have started to fall into place. The carpenter has concluded his work. The painting still has to be done, but I do have the paint and equipment to do the job when I return from my holiday. My brother-in-law has been coming up each fortnight and helping us to achieve our gardening goals. So far I have been picking silverbeet, tomatoes, a couple of stray beans (lol), strawberries, one lone blueberry, and some beetroot. My son and my brother-in-law have completed the installation of weed mat covered with river pebbles all down the sides of the driveway. Yesterday my son-in-law helped my son to put down carpet in my new sewing room, and to move in the furniture.

My daughter and I have been cooking together. Making slices and fudge for Christmas gifts. All but one of my Christmas knitting projects are finalised. I have started to wrap my presents ready for giving, taking the time to make them as pretty as I can. My new clothes have arrived, and I am packing my bag ready for our cruise to New Zealand, which leaves from Sydney on next Saturday, 4^th December, 2010. Exciting times!

A Healthy Life Option

I am a diabetic. When I was first diagnosed back in 1997, it was controlled by diet only. After some years it was necessary to supplement with tablets, until in 2007 I was on the highest dosage I could be given. That was when I found my local G.P., a most charming and helpful man. Gradually he managed to bring my sugar down from the 15’s to 8 units. We were both pretty happy about that. Then in early 2008 we found that I had a very aggressive form of breast cancer. The specialists at the hospital put me on insulin because they told me that the chemotherapy would put my levels up.

My cancer treatment has been a success so far, but there is no guarantee. I am currently a 2 ½ years survivor. My diabetes was another matter however. Unfortunately, I am not your typical diabetic. My sugar testing kept going up until it reached danger levels, the specialists kept increasing the insulin, which culminated in my passing out whilst getting my husband’s wheelchair down 3 steps. That was when I decided that the experts weren’t so expert! My G.P. now is handling my diabetes again. It is still too high, though slowly decreasing.

Until now, it was not feasible for me to do much exercise. Now that the sugar level is lower I have found a walking group run by the Heart Foundation. I intend to join once I return from my holiday. My daughter is also investigating when the local swimming centre hold water aerobic classes. I bought myself a hula hoop….lol. I could never manage to use one even when young, but I can use it to do home exercises. A Pilates video and book was also purchased with the idea that it might be a gentle exercise I could do myself.

I have been quietly losing some weight for the last few years, at the time my husband passed away I had lost a total of 17 ½ kilos. Since then I have managed to divest myself of a further 15 kilos.

Going Crafty

In recent years I haven’t had the time to do any of my crafts. Not that I am great at it. I’m not. It took me years to learn to knit. My mother tried, but we finally worked out that because I am basically left handed, and she and the patterns are right handed, that it was going to be a major task. I did finally manage to learn to knit (from a book) but I never did master the art of picking up a dropped stitch! However, persistence is a virtue, I finally managed to complete several items, even managing to knit a vest for my husband with a pattern and cable incorporated. Other items followed, but it HAS been several years since I attempted anything.

Patons held crochet classes which I had attended, and I did learn to crochet and follow a pattern. Over the years I have done crocheted washers, kitchen hand towels, and doily edges. My sewing also lapsed after the kids grew up. The last item I sewed (other than mending) was some shirts for my husband because they needed adjusting for his shoulders and arms. My painting was dropped when my husband became ill.

Now was the time! I decided to start with knitted Christmas presents. Five items were chosen and I began. So far I have completed, but not sewn up yet, three of the five items. I am almost half-way through knitting the fourth item. I plan on having at least four of these completely finished by the end of the month as three of them need to be posted to the country. Next year I have decided to continue making things to go to Samaritan’s Purse.

After my knitting for Christmas is all done I plan to make myself some crocheted kitchen hand towels. I have already gotten some sewing patterns, and plan to start making myself some clothes after the utility room is set up as my new sewing room. Once I have taken my lovely cruises I intend to look into taking painting classes again.

Giving More to Others

Even when our children were small and we had little money, we did our best to try and help others. Our local shopping centre had a ‘wishing tree’ each Christmas. We would take a tag off the tree, find a gift for the person on the tag, wrap it and place it with much ceremony back under the tree. Our local centre also had a Carols by Candlelight and we would purchase the 20c candles with the money going to charity. The local supermarket used to have a basket where you could place donations for the animal welfare. It might have only been a contribution of a generic tin of dog or cat food, but it was our way of giving. For many years we would wish that we could afford to sponsor a child through World Vision, but that was not a financial option.

I would still need to be careful with what income I had, but now was the time when I could afford to help a bit more. Firstly, my simple savings group introduced me to Kiva. They are a group which provides loans to people in need of assistance in many different countries. Each lender gives $25, and the money from many lenders is combined to fund the loan to these people, who wish only to help themselves. When the loan is finished you can then lend to another person if you wish.

Secondly, I was also informed of a group called Samaritan’s Purse. They ask for a shoe box to be filled with six items – something to wear, something for school, something for hygiene, something to play with, something to love, and something special. You wrap the box in bright paper, wrapping the lid separately. The boxes are given out all over the world to children in need, being sent out in large shipping containers. The boxes are for three different age groups and for both sexes.

Thirdly, an email friend told me of a pastor and his wife, who were collecting pyjamas and soft toys for an orphanage in Vietnam. This was to be an ongoing project. Coincidentally, the orphanage was in a town that I had briefly visited some years ago.

Travelling Days

My mother and I both became widows within a few months of each other. My father after an operation at almost 92 years of age, and my husband from a combination of complications from two rare diseases.

Since our marriage, my husband became not a son-in-law to my father, but a brother. They enjoyed doing the same sort of things, liked the same activities, loved travel. My mother was my best friend after my husband. Our holidays we spent together most of the time. We had many trips together. Twice to New Zealand, a cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore, a cruise to the Whitsundays, many trips interstate and intrastate to timeshare destinations. When my parents went on an around Australia trip, my husband and I flew to Perth to spend a week with them. When my husband and I travelled around Australia, they came to Caloundra to meet us, and then on to Surfers Paradise with us.

Now there are just the two of us, but we still enjoy going away together. So, we booked a cruise to New Zealand. Shortly thereafter, I received an offer of a trip to Asia – the trip of a lifetime. We decided to go on that too!

Meanwhile, we took my daughter away for a week to a timeshare when she was due to have an operation on her hand. Beautiful Port Macquarie on the north coast. We even indulged ourselves in an ice cream each day…yummy!

Recently we took a trip to the theatre, taking my daughter with us (she loves musicals), and saw the production of "Wicked". I hear it is scheduled to be made into a movie. More recently, Mum and I went to a production of Cirque Mother Africa. Brilliant! Only show of it’s type that I have ever seen get a standing ovation.

Becoming More Self-Fulfilling

I asked myself what would make me happy. All the usual things spring to mind immediately – having my children succeed, more money…lol. So I decided to make a list of the things I really enjoyed, both big and little.

1. The little things like being able to take a bath (I only had a shower), lavender to burn when I have a headache, making things – crochet, knitting, sewing. A nice dinner set for company, nice cups and saucers instead of mugs, good sheets on the bed, being able to spend time just wandering and looking in the shops, going for a walk and looking at the world around me. Having flowers in my garden with perfumes. The occasional meal out, taken without rushing.
2. The bigger things like travel. Being able to afford to go to the theatre if I felt like it. Going out for the day for a picnic.

My bathroom had already been renovated twice in line with my husband’s medical needs. The second time to a big shower room. Renovating it again would be an expensive option. Then one day I was driving past a plumbing shop and saw a stand-alone bath. That was certainly achievable. When the bathroom was last renovated I retained the taps from the previous bath. The shower head was on a flexible tube and could be brought down to a bath. With a stand-alone bath I would not need to change the floor drain. My bath had to be ordered and then installed by a plumber, but at last I could have my soak!

Next I found a very pretty two-tone grey dinnerset that I loved. My niece had recently moved to the country as was unable to transport her beautiful sideboard/cabinet with her. I purchased that off her and had the ideal place for my dinnerset, and for my ‘crazy teaset’ of mismatched cups and saucers, to go on display.

Changing Journey Habits

Whilst my husband was alive one of his few joys was to be taken for a drive. This was fine, but it did use a lot of petrol. We also got into the habit of ducking out to the shops for things we had forgotten. Our petrol was costing us as much as $80 per week, even though I used shopping vouchers, and bought petrol on the cheaper days.

Our shopping had already been cut back with us using up stocked items which literally took over several cupboards and two freezers – I was brought up when we had to count every penny and had gotten into the habit of making sure I had plenty of food! Ducking out to the shops was costing us petrol money that we did NOT need to use.

We now make a list and if it is not on the list, tough luck, we substitute. Separate trips are no longer on our list either. We plan our trips so as to do as many things in the one trip as possible – e.g. today we went over to my daughter’s house to help my son-in-law move their clothes dryer. On the way back we called to pick up a book on order at the library, and picked up some dinner which my son paid for, as we had stormy weather and were expecting that we might have a blackout. We still take an occasional recreational drive, but now our petrol is lasting for two weeks instead of one!

Decreasing Household Expenditure

For our lives to be more self-sustaining we needed to look at ways of decreasing our expenditure. With utility prices rising, this was a primary goal. Most of our lighting had already been converted to either fluorescent tubes, energy efficient bulbs, or down lights. Our first task was to get into the habit of turning off the lights unless someone was in the room. We used a floor lamp in the lounge room when possible and turned off the light when watching TV. Our computers (2 of them) were moved into the one room so that shared lighting and heating was utilised. Electrical utensils were turned off at the power point when not in use e.g. kettle, toaster.  We use a jug to fill the kettle with only the amount needed to be heated.

We have two bathrooms, so when visitors were not here we flushed only on each fourth use, using half flush – a saving of 9 litres each time. For brown waste we flushed on half flush rather than full flush and only re-flushed on half if necessary. A further saving of 3 litres each time. The savings on water meant that I could use my bath, which I restricted to once a week. The dishwasher was used only when it had a full load, and the sink was only partly filled then more hot water added as needed, rather than being full and having to let water out to get more hot water (or do another wash). Washing clothes is now done at night during off peak hours.

I decided to purchase solar energy. At the present there are government incentives to make this easier. We now have 8 solar panels and are just waiting for the job number for the electrician to connect us to the grid. We received a rebate for purchasing before a certain date, and a government guarantee to purchase the energy generated for a seven year period. This will effectively pay for the installation, over that period.

Providing for Ourselves.

Whilst the renovations were ongoing, we started to transform our garden. Because both my son and I have back problems, we decided to start making our vegetable garden into raised sections where possible, with the view to growing as much of our own fruit and vegetables as possible. From the hardware store I bought two kits to make raised gardens 90 cm x 90 cm (3 foot x 3 foot). My mother had an old plastic corrugated compost bin which we cut in half horizontally, screwed together, and made into two other small raised gardens. A selection of plants were planted in pots. Our old laundry tub also became a raised garden!

We already had lemon, lime, and grapefruit trees. New trees were planted – grafted apples (more than one together on the one base), and a dwarf washington orange tree. A new bed was set up which had an arch with two passionfruit vines, and hanging from the arch 4 pots holding strawberries. Underneath we planted asparagus and mini-cauliflowers. Also set up were 4 hessian bags holding potatoes. We look forward to harvesting these just before Christmas.

Before his death, my father had purchased two water tanks (900 litres each). We set these up, one at the side of the house, and the other at the rear of our garage, and had the plumber connect these for us. Our original vegetable patch is to be raised once the current crop is harvested.

Changing my life.

I decided to start by looking at the things around me. Even though my health was on the precarious side, an inordinate amount of time was spent trying to just keep up the household. If I wanted to have more time to do the things I truly wished to do, then that had to change.

Some time ago I joined a website called Simple Savings (http://www.simplesavings.com.au)
and the members had some great ideas. One of these was decluttering. A simple concept that fit right in with my needs. I began by starting on one room and getting rid of all non-essential items. Now I have several rooms done, although much more needs to be done – however – now when I tidy, it is only a minor task, not a major one!

Next I hired a family friend who is a carpenter. He has investment property of his own, so is more or less a complete handyman. My house is over 40 years old, and it was showing it’s age…lol. We began by doing minor repairs around the house. Second task was the replacement of all the old shabby faux wood doors with new panel doors. Because he could only come on weekends, outside of his normal job, this is a lengthy process. Particularly as the old doors did not match the size of the new doors, meaning that each had to be individually planed to fit the doorways.

He also arranged for a plasterer to come in and mend all cracks which had appeared in the ceilings and walls. Then sealed them ready for my son and I to paint.

"Today is the beginning of the rest of my life".

Always loved that quote.  It seems so applicable to me.  For years I looked after my two disabled children, then when they were finally grown, my husband got sick.  Not that I resented any of this, but it did place limitations on my life.  Now, my husband is gone and I am at home with my son for company.  I am so blessed to have two children who have turned into well-rounded individuals.

When I received my husband's insurance I did some hard thinking.  What did I want to do with the rest of my life, and how could I achieve this.  Firstly I made a budget to see what was achieveable with my current income.  Then I looked at what money I had and made some decisions.

Did I wish to continue the way I had been living my life.  No.
Did I wish to make my life more self-sustaining.  Yes.
Did I wish to make my life more self-fulfilling.  Yes.
Did I wish to give more to others.  Yes.

The question was - how to achieve this?

Well today is my first day on this site, so please bear with me.
I am female, 62 years old, and a widow as of last May.
I have two grown-up children, a married daughter, and a son, 37 years who lives at home.