The trip of a lifetime...

For the longest time I have dreamed of visiting Poland. It has always felt like a pull, like something I 'have to do'.

Last year my nephew Todd visited Poland and I thought I could live it vicariously through his travels, even sharing history, and place names and suggestions for him of visits. I loved seeing the photos and feeling his love of being there. I thought that was enough... but no. 

What an incredible gift I received for Christmas, a ticket to Poland. Initially Katie believed she could visit with me, but that simply wouldn't be possible, to travel so far away from E and L when they are so young. 

A miracle happened when I received a message from Alison on 16 January 2025:

"Hey, have you got any overseas trips planned for this year? If not, I have an idea."

I messaged back "Poland", and so the dream began to unfold. Alison mentioned she was going to Finland in the September School Holidays with Tours for Teachers. 

We chatted back and forth and dreamed as Finland and Poland are so close comparatively and my heart felt pulled to leap at this opportunity. 

On 26 January 2025 I researched an opportunity for us to travel on a river cruise from Basel, Switzerland, up to Amsterdam, then for Alison to go to Finland and me to travel to Poland. Jenny has been amazing every step of the way. 

By 29 January we were underway with our bookings, and the dream starting to unfold and the countdown began. 

Now here we are just a few weeks out from travel and I am so grateful for everything that has happened this year, in so many ways to get me to the place and state of 'wellbeing' that is making this possible. 

On 30 January I messaged Alison with an idea of a Viking River cruise before Poland and Finland, and emailed Jenny and the planning began. I spent the weekend in Naseby reading the book by Paul Klemick Poles down South, and the excitement grew. 

By 31 January our Viking River Cruise was booked. By 4 February we had booked and paid for Cruise, flights and insurance. 

On the fifth of February I went to a Polish Heritage evening at the Dunedin library and listened to Paul Klemick. I really can hardly believe I will walk on Polish soil.... it's been a dream for so so long. 

On the 6th of February I set up a countdown on the timer app and it was 223 days til we travel. I contacted Todd and unbelievably he is coming to meet me in Poland!

On 18 February I set up a Google My Map and the serious planning began. What a wonderful time Alison and I have had working out where we will go and stay and what we will see. 

Since the start of the year Alison has had shoulder surgery, and I have recouperated from a a major back injury, with endless osteo, accupunture, and finally got to join Mind Muscle gym to rehab around the injury. 

All along the journey, over the last 219 days I have been sharing the countdown...

Now with three days to go... I am even more excited...

Let this adventure begin...

Story Hui - crossing the great divide

 Today I had a wonderful find in google photos from 2017. I so clearly remember when Liz cut this out for me. These three images are so precious to me. They show ME in current state, then facing up to an adversity, laying down the plank and crossing the great divide.

Story Hui really is the most amazing tool for capturing the Story of what skills, attributes or strengths you have called on to move into a new space, forever changed. 

It has been an incredible privilege to have worked with Liz so closely over so many years. #grateful indeed!