Notes from the road (1) - Saturday 8th April (Fiji)

I'm thinking about starting the blog up again but don't have access to or want to be in front of a computer screen at the moment while I'm here in Fiji. So, I'm lying at the pool and feel it's time to jot down some thoughts and memories. Here goes:

So we ended up in Taranaki for five years. I don't think either of us ever thought we'd be there that long and certainly by three years in, we were getting itchy feet and after a new challenge. The thought of jacking in life in New Plymouth and moving back to Scotland, unemployed, also felt like we were saying our time in NZ was worthless if it wasn't going to get us a job in another country so we waited it out. As time ticked on, we felt more and more unsettled so it was meant to be when Simon Porter call Iain in November to float the possibility of a move to a French club, Section Paloise, in Pau. The next four months were an international tug-of-war, trying to agree on a contract and confirmed start date. Even as I write this, and we've left NZ, Iain still doesn't actually know when he officially starts.

But we are going. The contract came through at the end of January and since then (yip, two months), I feel like I've been in complete jobs mode, trying to sell our belongings, ship other things, organise leaving our house, sort travelling back to Europe with William, and begin planning for a new life in France. As you'd imaging, there's been quite a lot of tears along the way but I have no doubt that we're doing the right thing. I think it's probably only now, that since we've packed up our life in NZ that I have actually had time or mind-space to recognise the wonderful opportunity that lies ahead.

NZ will always have a special place in our hearts. Thank God we got our Permanent Resident visas and I'm so proud that William is a kiwi but the role, sorry the roles that Iain found himself in were wonderful opportunities but ones which he had outgrown. Financially, we couldn't have continued in NZ the way we were living with me not working, and the pressure of Iain doing such massive trips with the U20s. Especially if we do decide - and be lucky enough - to have another kid.

So, choices have been made. We might be almost 40 (certainly on the wrong side of 35!) and we might be parents, but that doesn't mean the travelling adventure needs to stop. We won't let it. France, here we come! (With stop-overs in Fiji, San Diego and Glasgow.) Will keep you posted.

Chur. Lorna.