Turning 40, moving Isle of Man and 7 Year Lungaversary of the 2nd set of lungs

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.

Oh and by the way, I saw Aurora!!!! 

6 Years and going strong!!!!

I've been meaning to do a post again, but keep forgetting! Then yesterday anon's comment reminded me that a post is LONG overdue! I cannot believe my last post was 1 May... shocking!

So the biggest milestone was my 6 year Lungaversary almost 2 weeks ago on 31 Oct! It's a biggish one for me, because when my previous lungs got to 6 years I had been diagnosed with chronic rejection. However this time around all is still well! Thank goodness! I didn't celebrate as much as I would have liked to, due to studying! (more about that later). But I will make up for the lack of celebration in December! (more about that later too). I had a medical check up just before the lungaversary, and it went GREAT. My kidneys took a bit of a mystery dip in June, but they have recovered luckily. Lung function great, all other bloods fine, next app next year! I actually don't have any other medical check ups this year, but I think I'll have to see a dentist somewhere this month for a tooth that might need a crown.

Studies: So at end of Aug and beginning of Sept I wrote my last two outstanding subjects for my Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning. Unfortunately I didn;t get the required 60% for the Case Study subject, so I had to re-write that one this past Monday. It's an 8 hour exam, super exhausting, but this second time went a million times better. It helps to know what to expect! Thank goodness the exams are over now! Now I can breathe a bit (no pun intended) and prepare for the end of the year's trip!

So in 1 month and 1 day's time, Arno and I leave for our xmas holiday in the UK! We booked tickets in June already, so it's been a wait, but very excited! We'll be staying in a friend Carli's flat in London for a week and a bit, then off to my aunt in Yorkshire for a few days over Christmas, and then down to Bristol to visit another friend Bonnie. Flying back on 31 Dec, entering the New Year on a high note! Can't wait, this will be my 5th time in the UK, but Arno's first time, so will be so nice to experience it through his eyes again! Also super keen for the proper Xmas vibes, it's not quite the same here where Christmas equals heat and summer! The odds of a white Christmas is probably not high unfortunately, but we can hope!

In June we had a short break to Stilbaai (directly translated means Quiet Bay), for a mini university reunion! It's been 20 years of friendship with a core group of friends from varsity, and we finally got to all meet up at the same time (partners and kids included where applicable), at the amazing holiday house of Terrance's family. Even though it was winter, the sun was shining, the air fresh, and the company AMAZING, so good for the soul!

We also had a great family long-weekend at the end of Sept on a Game Farm. The photo's speak for themselves!

The year hasn't been all holidays and fun though. Arno and I really tried to move to Joburg, so that I can be closer to work, my doctors and family (we stay in Pretoria, the city next to Johannesburg, so I drive 50km between work and home, so 100km per day going to work in terrible traffic.) We put in an offer on a townhouse that we loved in the same suburb as my parents, the offer was accepted, but then the body corporate would only allow one cat, and we have three... When when found a house we loved, put in an offer along with like 4 other people, and our was accepted. Arno's place was "sold", but then his sale fell through... and we couldn't find other buyers, so we lost the house. Was such a bummer. At least now I work from home 2 days a week, so that helps a LOT. Then interest rates rose etc etc so we didn't even try to sell his place again. For now we're just staying put and seeing what happens. Hopefully next year will be more exciting on that front. Fingers crossed. 

That's everything in a nutshell! I promise I will report back on our Dec adventure in Jan before work starts again on 3 Jan!