Oct
23
Introduction ~ Welcome to the shitshow I call my life ☺️
October 23, 2023 | Leave a Comment
Our Carahome
My life has been quite the journey with it initially following the usual path of a kiwi woman. Met a boy, moved in together, had babies and got a mortgage.
Then one day, unexpectedly everything changed …..
My “normal”, happy and secure life got turned upside down, inside out and totally ass about face.
I am amongst the 1 in 3 kiwis who will receive a cancer diagnosis. For me my diagnosis started a life changing journey that has found me at the grand old age of 54, living alone with my cat Gus, dog Archie, dealing with cancer, rheumatoid disease and the ghosts of my past.
After finding myself in a serious condition at 52, due to complications from my cancer, and at real risk of dying, I had hour after hour to reflect on the mess that was my life. I realised that I had a head full of sad memories, cruel people, struggles and fights and more pain than I ever imagined I could handle. And all I had ever wanted was to be happy ….
The last 15 or so years haven’t been easy and the mask of strength and happiness I had strived to maintain completely disintegrated at this stage. I was physically and mentally done. I just wanted the pain to stop. This is when my guardian angel (surgeon) turned up again in my life, got me a new oncologist, who got me some, time giving pain reducing treatment.
With the help of many including family, friends, doctors, nurses, I find myself with some reprieve from my symptoms enabling me to do some living. Eternally grateful and considering this blessing I have been given, I made the decision it is my responsibility to make sure I change the narrative, that I friggen live to the best of my ability, that I chase some of my dreams, visit places I have always wanted to, that I have adventures …
That I get my real smile back again and give myself the chance to be able to reflect, when my time comes, that I didn’t waste my life, that I gave it my all and I went out smiling saying fook yeah!
With this in mind I hatched a plan. To get myself a caravan & travel to the places I have always wanted to see, to wake up to vistas of lakes & rivers, mountains & valleys, to watch the sun set over beaches I have yet to visit. With me will be my buddy Archie sharing the adventures. Gus will stay with Nana, as at 9 such an upheaval wouldn’t be fair on my thug cat.
This blog will document the renovation of my caravan from run of the mill timber laminate style, to my bespoke one of a kind home on wheels as well as share the shit I make and create and the adventures we have travelling in our home on wheels.
Time to find my peace 🕊️
View from the caravan to what will become my wee garden
The start of the “home” bbq area