I got my ticket for the long way round, two bottle o whiskey for the way, and I sure would like some sweet company, I'm leaving tomorrow whaddaya say....
When I'm gone, when I'm gone, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone, you're gonna miss me by my hair, you're gonna miss me everywhere, you're sure gonna miss me when I'm gone.
More Cups...
I got my ticket for the long way round, the one with the prettiest of views, it's got mountains it's got rivers, it's got sights to make you shiver, but it sure would be prettier with you.
When I'm gone, when I'm gone, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone, you're gonna miss me by my walk, you're gonna miss me by my talk Oh, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone.
Finale Cups...
How it all started, over a bottle of wine and a longing for another adventure away together...
*For those of you who already know our story and don't wish to read about it again, feel free to skip on over to Nov 7th! :) *
I had always wanted to go to Australia, both for myself and for my mom who had expressed her interest many times before her passing. She was afraid to fly and had never flown. But luckily she mustered up enough courage to fly out with my brother to visit me in Vancouver about 8 months after I moved there from small town Stoney Creek, Ontario. Of course, of all the flights to be on, hers had quite a bit of turbulence to the point that their plane dropped in altitude so quickly prompting the oxygen masks to fall from above their heads. According to my brother, she was a little bit in hysterics. Oh dear, my poor mother.
Obviously they made it safely, and had a great trip, but sadly lung cancer took her about 4 months later. (May she rest in peace, or maybe she is reading my blog, it could happen...) So on that super side tracked note, my wish to make it to Australia is a shared one with a bit of meaning behind it. To be completely honest, the only reason I remember my mother saying why she wanted to visit Australia was, "I just think it would be really neat!" I agree!
However, Ryan had already used a working holiday visa in Australia so that wasn't an option because we'd need to work to fuel this adventure. With him being so into downhill mountain biking, the next natural destination was New Zealand, with the intention on venturing over to Australia at some point.
T'was the evening of Monday November 12th, 2012, that over a bottle of Pinot Noir (or maybe it was a Malbec, I think we were attempting to try new wines that month) and probably some carboliciousness, we decided that a change of scenery and a new exciting adventure was next on our agenda together. Thus we applied for the New Zealand Holiday Working Visa. Not cheap, ($165) I guess they want to make sure you're serious, which we weren't entirely at the time... How could we be? I mean we were kind of inebriated and shouldn't really have been making life changing decisions in that very moment. So it was more of a "let's just see if we get approved first and then we'll really think about it" sort of commitment.
We waited with anticipation, checking our emails every day in the hopes of seeing that NZ Immigration Approval in our inbox until 1 week later when it arrived on Monday November 19th, 2012. Ryan got his first and texted me at work, mine came in shortly after! How exciting!!! It could actually happen. The choice was ours, all we had to do was put the plan in motion!
Well "the plan" was put aside for a few months as it was mid November with Christmas parties and friend get-togethers, spreading holiday cheer, then New Years. We're quite popular you see. (Not actually that popular, we're just lucky enough to have been included in the sweetest groups of friends ever... who are too nice to kick us to the curb.) It wasn't until early January that we talked about it after work one day and said to each other "Should we do it? Yeah I think we should do it!" (Ok, there was a little more discussion and consideration than that but I won't bore you with the details.) And so "the plan" was put into motion for realz!
Me and my listyness started going crazy with all the to-do's.
- Tell family and friends of our news, which surprisingly enough came as a shock to most that our news was neither that we were getting married nor that I was pregnant!
- Notify work.
- Sell one of the cars.
- Fix & sell the condo: New kitchen counters and sink, new bathroom floors and toilet, paint, get carpets cleaned, clean patio and de-clutter like we've never de-cluttered before which meant purging and putting most of our belongings into storage to ensure our home looked nothing like a lived in home in order to sell it. "Because people absolutely CANNOT picture themselves living in someone else's space." It finally sold after what felt like 6 months but was really only about 6 weeks, to a single white female who's Aunt lives up the street. We then had to quickly find a new temporary home for 6 months and lucked out when we came across a lovely little (600 sf) ground level, newly renovated basement suite in beautifully green, vibrant, "home of Honey's Donuts", Deep Cove!
Well I never!!! (Not sure if that statement fits here but I always wanted to say it. )
June 1st 2013 - No longer a home owner!
Going home to Deep Cove every day was like driving to a vacation home. A little off the beaten path, so lush and green, no more than a 10 minute walk away from water. Every morning walking out to my car at 5:30am smelled like I had just unzipped my tent from camping overnight. On the rainy mornings, that fragrant smell was enhanced 10 fold causing me to pause for a deep inhale breath, taking it all in. I also had to pause before jolting to my car in case the resident bear was loitering. It did that on occasion, along with the raccoons and deer. What a treat to live so near nature! So near that in our last 12 hours in Deep Cove, we saw the bear (in our driveway) that had repeatedly knocked over and made a mess of our green bin to get to the chicken carcass, and a deer that came from our forested back yard, sauntering slowly by, within 4 feet of us to get to the road.
Giving notice at work was different for us. Ryan was happy to be moving on and gave 3 weeks. It was bitter sweet for me, and I hoped to have the option for employment again upon my return and gave 3 months notice. Seems like it could work out that way but anything can happen in a year so I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
Friday October 18th, 2013 - Ryan's last day of work!
Friday October 25th, 2013 - Michelle's last day of work!
Saturday October 19th, 2013 - Ryan sells his car!
Wednesday October 30th, 2013 - Moving day, which means that not only are we jobless, but now we're also homeless with only 1 car....by choice of course. (First world problems...)
Thanks to the help of Shirley and Care for helping us play a live 5 hour game of doubles Tetris, getting all our stuff into a 10x10 storage unit! I think we won!
And thank you to Emi, Kevin and Abby for sharing your home with a couple of sickly bums for 4 days! Not only were you welcoming but you also allowed us to keep our awesome but high maintenance king bed at your house during our time away! Very much appreciated!
Nov 2nd to 5th was spent in Nanaimo with Ryan's mom Fern and sister Andy. Unfortunately Ryan's dad Rick couldn't be there as he was spending time with is his own dad, Ryan's Grandpa, in Ontario as he had fallen ill. He was definitely missed here but I'm sure he was appreciated out there.
We had some good laughs, great conversation and awesome food! Ryan's mom was trying her hardest to be sure we had a reason to come home with all these wonderful meals she made for us. Most, if not all were Ryan's favorites! Roach Beef with Yorkshires, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli salad and Cherry Pie! p.s. she makes all this seem so effortless while she also ironed all hers and Rick's clothes; made her own summer beach outfit for Mexico by hand sewing, and she even had time for a pedicure at the spa, which I gladly tagged along for. But what Fern might not realize is that as much as we love the home cooked meals, and I kid you not, they are worth traveling 29 hours for, they are nothing without her love and support! Family is key in the Roach household and I feel lucky to have landed myself there as part of it with Ryan. :)
Nov 5th to 7th we headed back to Vancouver for a few nights to stay at Andy's downtown while she was away in Mexico (and various other places). The 5th was reserved for Ryan's side of our friends and we were so happy everyone could make it out to Cactus Club for one last hurrah and farewell. Not only were all his friends able make it, but we also got to see his mom and dad for a couple hours as they too were flying out the next day!
The 6th was reserved for my side of our friends. We borrowed Andy's car to spend the evening at G's house (aka Chez Primeau) where we were presented with not only my fantastic friends but a lovely assortment of hot pot dishes, dumplings home-made by Shirley and mochi ice creams. Again, we were lucky that almost everyone was able to make it out that night as well. A great way to spend the last 2 evenings in Vancouver.
We do have the best friends in the world!!!!
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