I started this post about 2 months ago, just before I turned 40, but I was overwhelmed by how much there was to update that I gave up. So let me try again, this time for my 7 year lungaversary, WHICH IS TOMORROW!
Arno flew over to the Isle of Man on the 27th of July, and I followed on the 12th of Aug. It was a long journey, with 4 overweight bags, and very heavy/bulky hand luggage! Saying goodbye was obviously hard, but the new adventure awaiting was exciting. Especially after all the months of (what felt like) blood, sweat and tears to get the visas.
We are renting a cute cottage in Ballabeg (although the car has already changed from that pic!), in the south of the island. I managed to get a job 7 minutes away from home, which is a massive change from my Pretoria-JHB commute. I started working on 1 Oct, it's been a month full of learning and getting back into a routine. Getting a job was stressful, as I applied for various positions at the same time, and you end up juggling interviews and try to hold off on making decisions while waiting for other companies to respond etc. But all in all I'm fortunate to only have been unemployed for 2 months in total, which was perfect for saying good byes on the SA side and settling in on IOM. I spent a week with my parents at their holiday flat in De Kelders, which was very special - apart from the fact that I had a cold.
We are STILL waiting for our cube with some furniture, clothes, crockery, books etc to arrive... it was delayed at the port in Durban, and now it's sitting in Liverpool, waiting to be brought over by a local removals company.
The kitties arrived 2 days after me, they travelled for like 5 days. First 2 days in Joburg for private and state vet checks, then Frankfurt, Londen, Liverpool, IOM. My baby, Tay, has not totally adapted, he tends to stay upstairs, he is scared of going downstairs (we think it's the sound of cars driving past - we're on a main road). He is also scared of the wind when it blows. I'm hoping he gets a bit better, and hopefully the next place we live in is not as close to a relatively busy road.
The biggest challenge so far for me has been getting all my medical stuff sorted. I have an appointment with the Liverpool CF Team on 6 Nov, and waiting to get an exact date from Wythenshawe Lung Transplant unit in Manchester, but I'm "pencilled in" on the 8th. It seems like I'm the only lung transplant recipient on the island so it's been a bit of a back and forth to get me referred to the right centres. Manx Care (the local version/branch of the NHS) pays for the transport to these appointments, which is pretty awesome. I received airplane tickets in the post for the Liverpool appointment, and expecting the same soon for Manchester.
We celebrated my 40th with a boat trip to the Calf, a little island below the mainland (the mainland is the Isle of Man, NOT the UK. The UK is "across"). It was lovely! Can't even believe Im 40, that's a whole different mind boggle!
We've also had our first visitor, Carli! One of my oldest friends (not in age - we differ exactly 2 weeks!), who lives in London. It was great showing our home to someone special to us. Next up is Annelie and Bernie for Christmas! Will be nice to share Christmas with family.
Ending off with my LUNGAVERSARY tomorrow! It feels like so much longer than 7 years, considering everything that has happened in those 7 years. Travels to New York, Mauritius twice, UK twice, Norway & Sweden, got divorced, lived on my own, lived in a garden cottage by my sister, dated, moved in with Arno, got a proper job again after being disabled as a result of the rejection I had, became an aunt again, survived a pandemic... just so much LIFE in these 7 years! Tonight 7 years ago a family lost their wife/mother/daughter :-( Words are not enough to say how grateful I am, it just seems lame. But I hope she looks down on me and smiles. Alongside donor nr 1.
