The Beginning

To Start a blog? Where do you begin?? At what point is the start? How far do I go back?

Do I talk about my childhood? Do I need to go THAT far back? What will they want to know, will it be boring? What will people find interesting? Maybe none of it??

I guess the best thing to do is START and the best PLACE to start is when I decided to learn to ride a motorcycle – coming from a family of motorcycle riders ALL my brothers rode bikes, I married into a family of motorcycle riders so really..... it was only a matter of time. 

I found myself at a point in life where I was able to start doing things that I wanted to do and a little less of what everyone else wanted me to do, or perhaps my perception of what I thought they expected of me.

I was in a space of trying to find “Rach” again. Having been in long term relationships and being a Mum to three children, you find yourself easily going through the motions in life, being someone’s wife/partner, mother, employee, cook, cleaner, taxi driver, nurse, peace keeper, fixer of all things, you know how it goes! There isn’t a lot of time left for YOU and ‘YOU' gets lost along the way along with your dreams of things you “Really want to do”

It was 2012, I was 41 years old, my children were 12,13 and 19, and becoming a little more self-sufficient. They could get themselves to and from school, and do a few of the basics, so I was not having to be so much at the “ready” EVERY spare minute of the day, just MOST of them 😊

I started getting a little “time out” by walking. This was my CRAZY space. Walking, I could have EVERY argument with whoever I wanted, I could say WHATEVER I wanted, ALL the things that would just go round and round in my head, I could get it all out on my walks.  Seriously, I’d have full on conversations with people that were either really pissing me off, or people that I just really didn’t want in my life anymore. I’m sure if people saw me walking, they would think, there goes that CRAZY woman, she’s always talking to herself, throwing her arms in the air. 

I found I was becoming quite resentful with myself more than anything, of where I was in life. I was two years separated, and even with not having a partner, I still didn't have the freedom to do what I wanted when I wanted. My life seemed to be racing straight past me at great speed, I had done NOTHING, achieved NOTHING, I felt like I was just going through the motions in life, all the things I wanted to do? well they just had to wait, wait until the kids were old enough at least. Now, this is the part I’m supposed to say that “my kids are the BEST thing that has happened to me” and I have such a fulfilled life, what more could I really want? I have a nice home, a good job, pretty good kids on the whole?? we don't want for much………. And yes, my kids are great humans. BUT what happens when you feel like you have done your best by your children, you do your best within your work environment, but your best just doesn’t feel good enough, there's SOMETHING missing……………WHO am I? and how did I get to be THIS age and have not really done ANY of the things I was going to do??

I had spent a solid year getting back into walking. I'd walk about 10 km a day, and hike up a flight of 300 odd steps that went STRAIGHT up. Anyone who lives in Stokes Valley, Wellington will know what I’m talking about. I loved it, I could clear my head, get a massive dose of fresh air and was getting fit again in the process. I felt so strong in myself physically, and It was on one of my walks, that I decided “I’m going to do It”!  I’m not going to wish it anymore. "Do it" meant "Im going to learn to ride a motorcycle and own my own bike".

I talked with my children about it, they said “do it Mum” and that was all I really needed.

I booked myself on a basic skills and handling course, which you have to complete and pass to be able to sit your motorcycle learner licence. It was a wet Saturday, and I really didn’t have a great range in the motorcycle gear wardrobe, let alone good wet weather gear.

I got SOAKED but had the BEST day ever. I was like a duck to water. There were several skills you had to complete, riding in a straight line at a particular speed, curve in and out of cones without knocking any of them over, left turns right turns, give way moves, emergency breaking etc, I won’t bore you too much with all the ins and outs of that. Needless to say, I passed, I got my certificate – And my instructor said Rach, go and get yourself a bike and get out there. I felt like a kid in a lolly shop.

Next step, book the motorcycle learners theory test. I'm actually doing this!!