Highs and LOWS

Its time. Time for the best and worst things to happen.
I will start with the worst as this is all I can think about at the moment. Such a small thing really but a massive part of mine and Christine's lives. We have been thinking about this time for as long as we have been thinking about the trip. When we started to discuss the trip, this was the first thing I thought about at the time and we have had many many talks about this and its still something we really don't want to think about, but the time has come. 
When we travel off to start the trip, we will be leaving behind 2 members of our wee family. Sina and Jay, our pet cats.
We have found homes for them both, this was no problem as everyone loves a cat that will love you! I should say at this stage, we want them back so they are being looked after while we are away.
But, this is the hard bit though. We know we will be saying good buy for ever to one of them, Sina.
Now, let me tell you a little bit about Sina the cat.
Christine has had Sina for longer than she has had me, around 18 years! I can remember when she arrived at the flat we were sharing. It was a big house, we had 8 other housemates and I already had 3 cats (yes, 3...long story I may tell later) and Sina was Christine's second and these were not the only cats in the house, so... it was a busy place for us all.
My big boy cat Luce was very (VERY) interested in Sina and appeared to be grooming her for something and they spent a lot of time together. Well, needless to say the attraction was not just between Luce and Sina and before too long, we were all one big happy family of 5 cats and 2 people. Sadly we went to 4 after Zinzan lost all 9 lives on the driveway...
Thus started a very long list of places that Sina has lived in. I think maybe 4 small units, at least one dozen houses, some big some small in 4 cities and 2 countries. Yes, Sina moved from Auckland to Christchurch, Melbourne and Perth and and finally back to Auckland. More moves and more cities and countries than a lot of people will ever hope to make in a long life lived! But, here's the big one, Sina is sick. Very sick. She has acute sinusitis that we have been treating for a few years now. Left untreated, it would have been the end of her. In the last few months she has also developed a 'lump' under her chin. She is too old and sick for an operation. We are quite realistic and if she was not happy, we would have ended it all for her. But she is still a happy cat loving life, so we can not decide to end her life just to make this easy for us.  Its sad to think we can not be with her at 'the end' after such a long and happy life together with her, but we will let her live until she has had enough. She will be looked after very well by Christine's Uncle Reg until then.
Jay on the other hand will not be so sad, she will be heading to a nice country property in Havelock North, nearby to where she grew up. She will be looked after by Chris who worked with Christine at ANZ. He since moved to the Hawkes Bay and is really looking forward to having Jay for a few years. We have had to make it very conditional that we are having her back! She might even get the occasional visit from her long lost first keepers, my Mum and Dad!
So, this all brings us crashing back to reality after having our heads in our travel cloud for the last few months. We hope this will be the worst we have to deal with on this trip.

So, to the best? Well, the best part of this has been catching up with all our friends and family as we get ready to leave New Zealand. Both Christine and I have had some great times catching up with our work friends. Thanks to ANGELO for sorting out a dinner with my Direct BB family. 12 months of working with the best team ever has left its mark. Its really great to hear how we have all done so well, and it keeps going. Lets catch up when I get back!
For Christine, it's the realisation that it's been more than 6 years with the team and the great friends you make over the time make the years pass so easily. The lunch catch ups have been great!

We will leave with many good memories old and new. It's been great making them. We are looking forward to making some great new memories in the next 2 plus years.