Knowing that the children were going to be at the house for the weekend motivated us to take a few days away. Banks Penninsula is just a few hours from Christchurch and although we had been there briefly before when first arriving in the area, the weather had been colder and the village of Akaroa fairly deserted. We also knew there were a few pretty bays around the penninsula which were worth visiting so we set off on the Saturday morning.
Enroute we stopped at the supermarket to pick up a couple of things which happened to include a pregnancy test, because Paul had be hassling me to do one "just to make sure" even though I was telling him I couldn't be pregnant because as a woman in touch with my body I would surely "just know" if I was…
The drive to Akaroa the weather was promising and we took a quick stop at a café on a beautiful spot on the hill overlooking Akaroa and the sea. While we were there I decided to get the test done and out of the way. Even with hindsight I can honestly say I was NOT expecting the result I got. Walking back out to Paul by the van I think he must have seen the look on my face because he was already looking a little 'rabbit caught in headlights'. We both looked at the little stick and agreed that yes, there was a second pink line albeit a faint one. It was at this point that I was turning on my super-calm crisis mode that Paul turned on his crisis mode, and it wasn't calm…try complete breakdown. He paced, walked away, came back apologising, and eventually managed to get it together enough to decide to drive to the nearest supermarket to get another test "just in case". We drove down the hill in to the village and abruptly pulled over as Paul developed an actual panic attack, being unable to feel his legs and having to have a little lay down in the back. It was at this point that I realised the comedy of the situation and it was soon me that was apologising for giggling at his obvious distress.
The second test confirmed what we already knew and by this time we were a bit more together about the whole thing. A light lunch in the village and we drove out to camp the night in one of the small bays. Taking a stroll and chatting along the beach the mental adjustment continued and we agreed that our lives were not over, just changed and that we would manage. Maybe some day even come to like it….