The Main Attraction

The curtain has gone up on the Main Attraction. Since the last time we were in New Zealand, two years ago, we have talked about how we would spend 3 months here in the first year we were retired. Well, it’s November and we are here. Better late than never!

I wrote on Facebook the other night that this trip was the central plan in our first year of freedom, and that everything else we’ve done has been a dress rehearsal for this moment. And now it’s here. We had to change plans a few times and dates changed even after we’d booked when we realised that Ricky was imminent, but it’s always been there – a great adventure.

The week before we left was busy – trying to get everything finished – my UKZN marks, a Reading to Learn Strategic Planning day the day before we left, Pete’s Planned Giving envelopes for Church, buying cat food, baking for Sarah and Sihle, having our family round for brunch, preparing for a farewell dinner with our House Group, taking Lindt to the vet, making sure clothes were ready to pack and picking up all the things people wanted to send to friends and relations – and the new baby-to-be! So there wasn’t really time to think – but the day before we left on our 10.00pm flight was loooong. And so was the flight – better than Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong last time, but still long.

We got into Auckland at 5 in the morning, got through customs without a murmur – no one wanted to even look in our bags – unlike OR Tambo where they searched our hand baggage and Australia where we were “quarantined” while we were in transit – I felt as though I was in Border Patrol. Then we walked out of the arrivals hall and there were Nic and Ray. I’ve known she was pregnant – I’ve seen her tummy growing on Facebook and even had a close up look on Skype, and seen the scans and videos – but nothing prepared me for the rush of emotion as I saw my little girl with her big(ish) tummy and knew that her little girl, Ricky, is growing and developing and being loved as she makes her way out into the big world. I felt so protective – of Nic and Ric (do you think the name will stick?) and incredibly happy to be with this special little family.

But as for adventure? We love Nic and Ray’s new home and all they have done in the house and garden, we love Mo, their cat who has so much character, and it was great to see Rita and Graham last night for dinner, but it doesn’t feel like an adventure. It feels like home. Driving into town and walking up to Greerton village we felt as though we were on very familiar turf and as though we belong.

I suppose what I’m saying is - Home is where the heart is – and my heart has pieces of it all over the place – Pietermaritzburg, Pretoria, Tauranga – where my precious kids are. And so we are at home here with Nic, Ray, Mo and Ricky, just as we are with Sarah, Riaan, Kev and Harriet, and with Sihle, Lindt, Jingle and Bell. Lucky parents to have such an amazing family.

So the main attraction may end up being a very familiar reality show and not a great adventure. It may not be “Grand ….” or “Extreme …..” or “Desperate ….” But that doesn’t matter – because it will be filled with all the love we have.