We're living on the edge of the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex since end August, in a cute little cottage that dates back to the 1700s.
Weaving the threads of LOVE and HAPPINESS through the tapestry of our lives
Ramblings about life . . .
What I share about my life is simply to help reinforce the understanding that it is possible to live with love and laughter, even with tough times.
Life is what we make of it, no matter how harrowing. We accept and embody this with-in ourselves, thereby allowing the energy to manifest outwardly in our reality.
It starts with each one of us as an individual to form the collective consciousness.
Be the dream.
We honour the light and the life within you.
I upload other bloggers' posts and then delete after a month. This is my journey and others help me understand where I am, until they become irrelevant (a few posts excepted).
We're living on the edge of the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex since end August, in a cute little cottage that dates back to the 1700s.
So...
Here we are back in the UK.
We spent a wonderful 3 months in Australia with daughter (and new husband), nephew, his wife, my grand niece, friends and their children and our new in-laws. Rekindling relationships after being isolated since January 2020. Strange weather though as it rained almost non-stop. Grey skies and later towards June really cold frosty mornings.
Didn't stop us doing any bushwalks and as usual I got leeches! How, I don't know as no-one else did.
Moving from house to house spending time with all was great and so much fun. We loved every minute.
It was an odd feeling not having to wear masks, show vaccination certificates, scan into places that we visited as it was the norm in NZ. At Auckland airport we had to have a negative PCR 72 hours prior to the flight, show vaccination certificates, scan into the airport. Paper work, paper work, paper work. I thought we'd get the same treatment at Sydney airport, but no, they simply waved us through.
I had a surprise birthday party arranged by Ashlee (our daughter) on the Saturday of the weekend we arrived. I kept wondering why no-one was coming to see us or invite us over as normally there is a bombardment of invites. Turns out she had been very stern with instructions that NO-ONE must let on what she'd arranged.
Hubby mentioned on the Saturday morning (we arrived Friday) that he wanted to take a drive somewhere, can't remember where, probably a garden centre or something. He kept dilly dallying which I found somewhat strange but never questioned it.
Lol, well when we arrived (not a car in sight) but as I walked in the door "surprise!"
Tomorrow we leave New Zealand, spending 3 months in Australia before flying back to UK to live.
I approached my old sleep lab in the UK last year about a job when I knew for definite we were going back.
Keen to see and catch up with my colleagues. Some new faces as to be expected but mostly the "old guard" are still there.
Queue the new head. Quite a force to be reckoned with.
We had a chat last week. My word, the changes. The sleep lab being dragged into the future lol.
Anyways much to my surprise, after the chat about what's happened, is happening and the future plans, she asked if I would start working for them remotely as soon as possible, not only reviewing patients but also mentoring some of the junior members of staff. Eh?
I'm not unkeen (if that's a word) but it was not what I expected. And, I still have a full time job here as head of a department. So, no, it's not possible. But once I leave for Australia it is something I'd consider. I'd have to work at night as the time difference is considerable. But yeah, I'm open to it.
She said it was okay to live anywhere in the world and do this job. That statement blew my mind completely! This opens the doors to the possibility of living in two countries every year.
Amazing what's happening in the world these days. Although I shouldn't be surprised, I am.
Coming to NZ has been revelatory.
I knew I was coming back to complete a cycle but never imagined how deep I would dive. Thought it would be a bed of roses lol. It started off really well slowly descending into a very long "dark night of the soul" without me noticing. This mirrored my first physical incarnation as I acclimatised to being in a body. I initially felt the connection to Source which slowly slipped away as the denseness took over.
But this is not to say that NZ is a dark place. It isn't. It's just the place I needed to be to not only complete the cycle but also to know and experience the deep dive of lifetimes. It is time to go up and back to the space of being part of Source.
2022 feels like it will be lighter but as with 20/21 still need to be flexible as plans go awry. My human self experiences this as a disastrous situation.
Living in the NOW is a hard lesson. I didn't realise how much I plan ahead. I feel myself getting anxious and overthinking instead of allowing.
Let go, let go and allow. Harder than I ever imagined.
Nothing about this past year and the move has proved as we planned it. Everything is pretty much up in the air, except that we are to leave NZ. There is a deep pulsing to leave but where we'll be in the next year, isn't clear even though there is a plan in place.
At this stage, we are not even sure we will get to Australia for the 3 months as planned to catch up with family and friends and to attend Ashlee's wedding. Flights are booked for both Australia and UK but these have been cancelled in the past. Forcing/willing it to happen doesn't work any more.
I will probably look back at our time here with fondness but at the moment that's not a word I'd use.
Journey done on 24.8.2021
This morning I thought I was going into a journey/meditation that would
give me some profound insights into what is happening with the world/me.
I found myself in the usual cave like place (I've not been there for
years). I saw the tube-like structure that I've spent time in.
I was told to climb inside. It was amethyst with silver shot through. I
felt 9D Athena with me, the one whose eyes are purple and silver.
The lid closed. I found myself in two places at once, inside the tube and
also sitting outside on a chair.
Leonine people appeared. A striped male stepped forward indicating he
wished to speak. Me being me thought wow what revelations will I hear.
At this point my other cat, Oddbod jumped up next to me meowing really
loudly several times, which is unusual for her. It brought me out of myself to
check what the issue was. She simply sat with her back to me, waiting. I wasn’t
sure what for.
Going back in, the leonine dropped a bombshell. It was time for my lovely
familiar, Mini Me to return home. It was a huge shock. Mins has been with us
for 17 years. He's been part of my journeying and meditation since he arrived
at our home. I cannot imagine working without him.
Vaguely I've been aware that his time is drawing close, but to be honest, I
pushed it aside. He has been getting frailer but he is still the big gentle
loving kitty that he's always been. I'd taken him to the vet to discover that
he has hyperthyroidism, kidney disease and a heart murmur. We'd work through
this and get him back to health so he can live another 17 years.
How wrong was I?
He's tired, very tired. It's time to leave.
The grief that hit me was unbearable. I'm crying as I write this.
Mins jumped onto my lap and sat there patiently waiting, loving trust
pouring out from his beautiful ailing heart.
Let him go.
I can't. The human side of me won't. But here he is, trusting me to do the
right thing.
I have so much grief to work through.
The thought of not seeing him greet us daily when we arrive home from work,
jumping up to sit on my lap, kneeding my belly, rubbing his head against me,
pestering me for food when he is hungry, his weird little antics that make us
laugh, his gentle loving nature, his beautiful silken fur, his complete trust.
The list goes on.
Then I thought about the devastation the rest of the family would feel.
I cried that I would spend as much as it takes to help him out. The gentle
answer was: it's time.
No, I can't bear it. My life would be so empty. My journeys will not be the
same.
After some time I asked whether we would be here when he transitions. The
answer was no. That made it worse. I want him to feel loved as he transitions,
rather than dying alone when we're not here.
It is my job to cut his ties with the family.
I cannot do this. The grief is too much.
Mins sits there observing, purring and loving me without judgement. He's
not forcing anything. He will wait patiently, trusting me to do the "right"
thing.
Eventually I came out of the meditation, but before I left, I looked inside
the tube. That part of me is to remain there. I heard the words "emerald
tunnel". On querying I found out that the tube changes according to the
needs of the person. Emerald gives emotional and mental support as I work with
my heart.
This is going to be the most difficult thing I've ever done.
*********
Fast forward to 27 November 2021
Part of me, has since this date denied this passing.
Mini Me's heart condition has progressed rapidly. An echocardiogram done on Tuesday shows he has restrictive cardiomyopathy. The prognosis is not good. He will not be cleared to travel back to the UK with us. His hyperthyroidism is under control with medication, but now his kidney disease has pushed itself to the forefront.
The vet does not believe he will live until March next year when we are leaving. Until then we can only make him comfortable. He still has a good appetite, curious, loving and follows us around the house and garden. I have been given (by the vet) the signs and symptoms to look for when the end is nearing.
We want to make sure he is able to go when he is ready and we don't influence this in any way.
The whole family is devastated by this news. I find myself tearful at the most unexpected times.
Neither Ashlee or Traevis are able to make their goodbyes in person as New Zealand's borders are shut tight to all except ex-pats.
I created this draft in April. Kept coming back to it on a few occasions, but had no ideas, lacked the energy, felt no urge to put pen to paper and yet there was something pulling me back to this draft again and again.
I was going through a process so profound I was unable to organise my thoughts. And so I just let it be, experienced it, learned the new me, railed against the injustices, hit the doldrums, bounced up again briefly, only to shut down once more.
Leadership has taught me so much about myself. I've gone through a huge growth similar to that which I experienced being a young mum.
A few months ago I came to the understanding that this was my 40 days in the desert. Similar to a dark night of the soul.
Running alongside exploring my leadership qualities, I've surrendered to those aspects of myself both not so pleasant and truly amazing.
I've loved being a leader but I'm ready to let go.
I attempted to step down in April but the timing was not right. I had a little more to go through - we both did - before we came to the realisation that it is time to leave New Zealand and return to the UK.
Many factors have come into play to create this, but what keeps coming back to me is that I knew it would be a brief visit to NZ, completing the cycles of many lifetimes. I was in denial for years.
We both went through the emotions that come with a relationship break up (with NZ) until finally in August, I was able to discuss it with the amazing family that are my work colleagues. They nodded in understanding but I could see the shock which really broke my heart - I was dreading this. I get asked if I'll change my mind. One colleague often says a she passes me in the corridor or when I walk into her office "KC please don't go". Even the doctors express their regret.
Just writing this makes me tearful.
I gave the hospital management my notice of 6 months. I will be leaving in March 2022.
They asked me to decide on my replacement by shortlisting and interviewing the candidates who applied. Last week we interviewed both local and international candidates.
I'm not sure that we've found anyone suitable, but that may just be me not wanting to hand my baby over to someone else to look after.
It has been an eventful journey. One neither of us regret.
NZ has been the safe haven for us to explore in isolation those aspects of ourselves that were hidden, both the dark and the light.
Well, well so much for me thinking it was a dead duck...
The change proposal is moving forward at a rapid rate. My line managers are without a job from 25 February.
Lovely, but what this means for those of us in charge of departments is a whole load more admin/managerial work and far less clinical work. We're struggling with the overflow of referrals as it is. Our waitlist is currently standing at just under 400. We accept 150 referrals per month (just as many declined) reaching a staggering 1,800 studies per year that need to be done. As fast as we are studying patients and getting them off the waitlist, more are being added from the newly accepted referrals.
We can study every single one of them within a couple of months, but the problem is the bottle neck with follow up.
70% of them will need treatment. As our patients remain with us indefinitely once on treatment, this is unsustainable for such a small department (2 part time receptionists, 1 health assistant, 5 physiologists and me).
It's been a long time in the making, from the first idea that popped into my head 3 years ago, discussions and decisions, then the two year process of action, putting out a tender, evaluations and meetings (Covid stunting the process somewhat), we have finally signed the contract and appointed a private supplier of consumables for our patients. The DHB funds any replacement parts that patients need but instead of us dealing with this, the supplier will.
This will take a huge weight off our shoulders so we can concentrate on those new patients needing help.
But bloody hell has there been some teething problems! Yikes!
Deep breaths several million times a day since 1 December.
Every blimming patient handed over so far (a small handful of 5,000 - we planned on starting with a small amount first) has either been phoning us or the supplier overwhelming our systems beyond anything we ever thought possible. The supplier has employed some temporary staff to help cope, but the Sleep Clinic doesn't have that luxury. So not only do we have to cope with all the studies, treating new people, troubleshooting and following them up, we also have the added "luxury" of 5,000 anxious patients demanding to be seen who all appear to be suffering from separation anxiety! I've spent most of the last three weeks sifting out those that have genuine issues and need appointments from those freaking out about nothing.
The demand is so unexpected that the supplier ran out of stock in the first week!
To top it all the supplier employed some newbies who know nothing about sleep or its equipment. Not only are these newbies learning about this and the supplier's system (something new they had to create especially for us and our patients). So we are mentoring them too.
We have weekly zoom meetings to iron out the difficulties. During several of them the newly employed customer service person often had to leave the meeting as patients were banging on the doors demanding attention. That sounds like our patients!
I don't think patients realise how very lucky they are to receive the free replacements that they do. They take it for granted and expect 7 star service all the time. I keep telling my staff that we are not an acute service. A couple of nights without their mask or machine will not jeopardise their health.
And yet many of our patients expect to be able to contact one of us 24/7 and be able to collect replacements at any time day or night. This despite many years of trying to educate them. They quote "it's my right" to us because in their head they pay taxes (even those on benefits) and therefore it is their right. A sense of entitlement. I have to say that it's not all patients but a large number who make it very difficult. Same as anywhere I suppose. Customer service is not for the faint of heart.
I read an interesting article in the news about soldiers guarding isolation hotels needing psyche help after all the abuse they received. HAHA - what really? Try working in healthcare mate, then you'll know about abuse! I thought the UK was bad but healthcare in NZ...takes the cake with the cherry on top, champagne and sprinkles.
This year has been exhausting any way and the current overload now Christmas time when many of us have holidays booked, is just crazy.
I have to give a big shout out to all the staff. They have been amazing.
I dread the handing over the next lot. We're gonna give it a few months to calm down and the handover will be less patients so hopefully more manageable for all.
We'll get there eventually - I keep the vision in my head.
Athena and Aeolus...
I've not written about them for many years. It's not that they aren't part of our lives, they've taken a back seat so that Greg and I can get on with our human lives. No interference, no unwarranted messages, ideas or feelings. An acceptance by all that it's a process that we need to go through. I've not once felt the urge to ask, instead allowed the path to unfold as it needs to.
Wow, what a journey it's been.
Today I felt the urge to connect with Athena once again.
One thought immediately popped into my mind unbidden is my time now to do what I should be doing?
Eh? where the heck did that come from?
Her answer it's always been your time.
No explanation just an insightful understanding. Every minute of our lives, it's our time. What we do with that specific moment in time will create. Waiting for the moment when it's our time simply keeps us looking to the future instead of living in the moment and understanding the potential in every space in time.
Of course this is not new knowledge. Today it seemed to take on a greater meaning but for the life of me I'm not sure how or am able to explain in a deep and meaningful way.
The connection with her is so familiar, joyful and comforting, I wonder how I didn't miss it?
Many many years ago while still living in the UK, I think it must have been around 2008 or so, I started on creating a portal to the new world. It took months and months of working on this portal and once the portal was created, I was able to pass through into a blank canvas of the new world that was to be created.
I remember entering this blank space and wondering where to start. It made me sit down and think about what I wanted in this world. It was difficult as I only had a human 3D dense perspective from which to take ideas. I'd meditate for hours on this and slowly the world came into view. Admittedly there was a LOT of tweaking.
The end result had me in a state of joyful happy tears and the wish to stay there forever. I came to the realisation at one stage that I was not able to be present in my current life and do what was necessary.
With a sigh of regret I closed the door to this world, knowing that when I and the world was ready, I could open the door once again.
Greg and I have been isolated from our family, so very much more tangibly felt this year.
Our lives were too full.
That's it in a nutshell. We were always out and about, socialising, travelling and basically living life as much as we could, anchoring energy wherever we went. That was meant to be.
As usual things move on into the next phase.
We were given the opportunity to be in a safe space where we'd have so much time on our hands we'd get bored. This has given us a chance as individuals, not only as a couple, to really get to grips without our inner world and to grow in ways we never thought possible.
It's been quite a process.
My foray into leadership these last 3 years has given me insight into how to create a world within which others can blossom to their full potential. And yes, it's taken much tweaking that is ongoing and constant. Just when I think I can relax, it's time for change again. Nothing is static, our world is always in the flow of change.
I've had a knowing that this year would see the fruition and completion of my long term many layered plan at work which has been 3 years in the making. It's been an on off process that often had me wonder if I was on the right path. It's easy to get disillusioned. Slowly the objects in the way either dissolved or a different path was revealed.
The process will be completed on 1 December.
Where to next?
I wrote this in August
So, a new broom sweeps clean.
Waikato District Health Board is once again going through massive changes.
Our new COO was given the task a few years ago to draw up a report about the ailing DHB which was quite damning. She was then employed end last year to make the changes she'd recommended.
About two weeks ago the Change Proposal was released. I read through it kinda wondering what difference it would make as I've seen so many change proposals which never really "change" much.
I attended one of the talks she gave and was quite impressed with her.
She has given staff the opportunity to have their say in consultation in a one-on-one, which has been snapped up by so many she's had to extend the time.
I think the bulk of the issues really came to light during the first COVID lockdown. Lack of transparency. I get so frustrated and spend hours trying to find out who does what (all our managers had disappeared to work from home). She mentioned that this lack of transparency is appalling. It's kind of like everyone has their own little kingdom and try to give out as little as possible about what they do, so no-one knows how little they actually do.
I, for example, have no idea what my business managers and service manager actually do cos it's certainly not what I'd think they should be doing. Most of the items that need attending to filter their way down through the line until they land on my desk. As a result I am not just leading the team, I am managing like a business/service manager. I challenge but as I have no idea what their job description is it's difficult. I often get told that managers delegate. That I understand, but there is delegation and then there's avoiding work!
What I experienced in the UK is totally different - all service managers and business managers are hands on and always visible. This lot of managers here at the DHB seldom if ever visit us, have no inclination to find out what we do and make it clear that they don't want to know when I talk about our work. The service manager doesn't know who I am outside of meetings. If he sees me, looks right through me as though I don't exist.
Anyways, the change maker got around this by making every department head report to her monthly for 6 months with reams of paperwork. She was astounded how many didn't know what the departments under their remit did and when asked about something they would hide away under some pretense or another. It seems as though she's seen through all this nonsense and weeded out those that don't deserve their positions.
Well, the upshot is that there are 60 positions being disestablished and 20 new ones created. A complete restructure that has rattled so many cages, there are huddles of people around the hospital discussing things in whispers. We can only assume that these are the ones that are in the firing line.
Clinical Operations, Service Manager and 2 x Business Managers under which Respiratory/Sleep falls are all being disestablished.
I cannot tell you how relieved I am. But I do have misgivings about who will take the new position of Operations Manager. But I suppose I have to think that it cannot be any worse than what we've had!
I feel so old and jaded lol.
Seen and experienced too much to be more than skeptical.
That was then...
******
Now
There has been so much bad publicity for this DHB that they are now paralysed by indecision.
The change maker has been accused of bullying and is on stress leave.
So once again we are stuck without any resolution and continue to be run with inefficiency, managers indifferent to the struggle of those on the ground.
I keep hearing this song by Aerosmith Dream On