Dear Reader

A Long Anticipated Move

For the past two years Neil and I have contemplated what our next home move will be, what parameters will be in play when it happens, and where we will go.

One of the things we agreed on is that we love our current home. There is little about the location we don't like. And definitely nothing about our neighbours we don't love either. In fact, both these elements have been at the heart of why it's been so difficult to make the move.

We knew our next move would be downsizing and in our neighbourhood there are seven lifestyle or retirement village where the age of entry is around 70 years old. And so the comparisons and the list of much haves started.

We agreed what was most important to us. We both wanted to feel that community cohesiveness existing in our current home locality - great neighbours and easy access to cafes and other facilities.

As we get older, it's become more important to be within walking distance of most facilities and, although we haven't used the bus service a lot, to be on the bus route is important.

There are some "nice-to-have" things: reasonably flat terrain, north facing home with light and airy living areas, and a compact and roomy feel about the home.

I'm not going to bore you about my declining health. It's normal as I approach my 80s that I'd be slower, and I accept that. What I found it harder to accept was the mental space taken up by how long those things I could do in half a day were currently taking me. Although I loved it that I could still look after the home, I could only do 10-15 minute segments of house work. I started to hate that I was always thinking of the next thing that needed doing.

We had already decided that when the housework got too much we would get a cleaner to come in. What I didn't realise was how hard it is to realise when that point arrived. It wasn't the housework that was too much. It was that it was occupying too much of my thinking that made it too much.

Finally we saw an open day at the Summerset Rototuna village advertissed and decided to have a look.

We loved the location - set opposite the high school and close to two primary schools meant we'd hear the sounds of younger voices. Easy walking distance to the Library, supermarket and shops. A future medical centre is in the planning stages. Most of all we loved the family focus of the parks and common areas.

The open day at the village sold us on the concept. The on-site cafe was buzzing. A lovely resident ambassador showed us around the village and the current homes for sale. She talked about the activities too and we realised there was plenty for us both to become involved with. The sales manager is a warm, caring person who listened to what we were looking for and answered our questions thoughtfully.

We went away and thought about whether we wanted to take the next step to move here.

I've always been amazed, and grateful, that when the decision is made, everything falls into place to bring the outcome to fruition.

Yet the speed of our move still leaves me spinning.

That's why there's been no recent newsletter!

We looked at the Village on September 13th, my oldest grandson's birthday.

We decided to go ahead with buying a villa within two or three days.

We signed an agreement with the agent to sell our home on the 16th, my second oldest daughter's birthday.

We paid our deposit to the village on the 17th.

The agent brought us a prospective purchaser on the 19th.

We signed unconditional contracts on the 22nd.

We moved in on October 12th.

And the whirlwind is just settling down now.

The whirlwind is just settling down now

I'm sorry I didn't get to my computer until the last few days.

After adjusting to the move and being sure we know where everything belongs, I'll be back to the two-weekly schedule from now on.

Thank you to all those who have checked in to see if we are ok. As you see, we are more than ok. Happily adjusting to life in our cosy home.

With love, always,
Stephanie

Ages of Pages Book Fair - Hamilton, NZ May 1st 2027

I'm getting in early to invite you to the Ages of Pages Book Fair 2027! If things go haywire for me, at least you'll have this invite to refer to earlier to the time. I'll be there and so will my daughter Phoebe. Along with over 140 other authors and book vendors.

Once the website for 2027 is up I'll share the link here. In the meantime, I'm keeping this invite up on the newsletter.

Why I Write - for you and for me too.

Some stories come from lived experience, like navigating my son’s addiction and the long road of recovery. Others are shaped by imagination, like the cozy mystery I’m writing, set in a small café where trust is both tested and rebuilt. Some of my life stories still bring tears. Others make me smile. And many are filled with memories that warm my heart.

I write for anyone who’s ever carried a burden across generations, and for anyone who longs to heal forward.

I write to bring a little encouragement, comfort and joy into my life and yours.

With love,
Stephanie

My thoughts for Living Life in 2026 and beyond:

"My religion is kindness"

Dalai Lama

“Cast your bread upon the waters and it will
come back - buttered”

Doris May Payne - my mother

"Life is a Daring Adventure or Nothing"

Helen Keller

“Write it on my heart that every day is
the best day of the year”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Remember that sometimes not getting
what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck"
​​
Dalai Lama

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave [person] is not [the one] who does not feel afraid, but [the one] who conquers that fear.”

Nelson Mandela

Read past Newsletters and, if you enjoy them,
please share with your friends and encourage them to subscribe
through my website:

www.StephanieHammondAuthor.com