Any midwives reading will be familiar with the transformative and often terrifying transition stage. It’s the period in labour between the first and second stage. When women can really lose control and feel scared they’re going to die. The point where a good midwife (or doctor sometimes), can make a massive difference. Using reassuring words and encouraging touch. Ensuring the room is quiet, and darkened. Watching and waiting for the baby to move further down the birth canal (pun intended), until the time’s right to emerge into the world.

For us, we’ve been feeling the anxiety of transition for a while now. During the past week most intensely. However, last weekend we began moving further forward less painfully in some ways, whilst much more intense in others.

Late on Friday evening, I had a Facebook message from a woman who initially got in touch in 2014, asking if I used to be a midwife. It turned out she was the first baby I helped to birth as a student midwife. We’ve had a few chats since then. On Saturday she was 33 years old. Her first message six years ago said “My mom is really chuffed that I have found you as I have searched for you before with no luck. She said you were a fantastic midwife and she would never of known you were a student at the time if she wasn’t told so you must’ve made a good impression. She said she remembered your name because you were so lovely.”

Messages like that remind me to never forget the difference each of us can make by being kind. We’ve experienced lots of kindness recently as we transition between the UK and NZ. I’m also reminded of the inspirational messages from Jacinda Ardern, which almost always include such a sentiment.

Farewells For Now

On Friday evening we had Lisa and the boys on board for another gorgeous night of fun love and laughter.

Lisa met us at the Foxton Locks Junction, where the boys spent many happy minutes fishing with nets. We walked to the top of the Inclined Plane and had tea at the Foxton Locks Inn. It’s such a popular and pretty place on the network. We love it so much that Barry has a Greeting Card in his range of the cottage at the bottom of the locks – Grand Union Canal – Foxton Locks.

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On Saturday we cruised the five miles to the lovely town Market Harborough, to meet my younger sister Viv and her husband Ray. They drove up from Exeter and diverted their route to Oxford, to say farewell for now.

Why People Come Into Your Life

Barry, Kim and I took the opportunity to wander around Market Harborough yesterday morning. Barry spotted some fabulous places to photograph:

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Have you heard the saying that people coming into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime? I found the book The Celestine Prophecy fascinating when I first read it on my inaugural NZ visit.

“I don’t think that anything happens by coincidence… No one is here by accident… Everyone who crosses our path has a message for us. Otherwise they would have taken another path, or left earlier or later. The fact that these people are here means that they are here for some reason”.”

~ James Redfield

On Sunday afternoon we walked to The Waterfront for a drink and something to eat, to commemorate our final outing together. On the way, we passed an apartment. The previous day, they had a framed picture of a man in a trilby facing towards the path. That evening it had changed to a bird in flight. A conversation ensued with the lady and gentleman sat on their terrace. After sharing many anecdotes and mutual connections she gave us the telephone number of a recommended taxi driver. Thank you so much, Johan and Peter. I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of Kim in the coming days, possibly weeks, and hopefully not months!

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I booked with ‘Andy’ the friendly and very reasonable taxi driver last night, and we now have:

• A pleasant place to moor Areandare while we’re away. Debdale Wharf Marina, where we booked Areandare in months ago for grit-blasting, zinc coating and double epoxy of her hull
• A taxi to collect us from there on Wednesday afternoon and transport us directly to Heathrow
• A hotel to stay in on Wednesday night, so we get a good sleep before the mammoth journey
• Confirmed flights from Heathrow to Gisborne, albeit with a two-week interval for managed isolation!

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Just three sleeps to go now …