Tadaa! There we are again...Philosophical

Hello long lost friends and their dogs and cats. Welcome back to blog number next. 

Along our time line we are a few steps further and only a few roads South of our Destination. Ingrid and I are both hiccupping along toward the next phase in our eventful lives. We are both at a stage where we are wondering what the next steps should be and questioning if we are happy with where we are and if we should or should not. I guess for the umpeenth time in our lives we are at a crossroads. It seems to be time to choose a direction and sail into that sunset.

On the work front I have been bogged down with a real job! i am truely fortunate to be able to provide a decent living for myself and my family doing what I so enjoy. Perhaps enjoyment is not the proper word, some would say it is my calling, perhaps I would just say I am doing what I am meant to do. Many years ago I was under the impression that being successful in my job meant a healthy bank balance. I was young and wet behind the ears then. Today I would offer that helping alter the course of peoples lives (oftentimes mentally as well as physically), we are able to guide them to a more fulfilling future for themselves and their family, that ripple effect! That is the Magic! Over and over again.

Suffice it to say we want to thank our old colleague, Rhys, for his presence and care toward our patients and indirectly our business! Thank you Rhys! Rhys left to follow his dreams (Good on you mate! - Rhys is currently a man in a van coursing through New Zealand and Australia with his girlfriend - enjoying his best life). This left a hole in the schedule and I ended up filling that hole by going back to work full time while we waited for our new colleagues to arrive. 

In Holland we end up being not much better than other lands in that age old sport - Bureaucracy! Become a member of this, Fill in that form, Wait this amount of time, then be told that you are missing form B which was not in the original option when filling in form A. Wait another few weeks for form B to be approved and then find out that form C is also required. Long story short Riley S could start working in December and it ended up being April before he finally was able to work. I am not going to lie, but those were a long few months for me. Others may say, MAN UP, which is what I did, but when you have expectations and bureaucrasy keeps extending the deadling, one gets a little tired. 

Roll on April 2026 and Riley S and his girlfriend Molly S are up and running. That has allowed me to go back to my comfort zone that this stage is Part timer. What a stress this has been and to make a long story even shorter I have been awake night after night hoping that Riley S and Molly S would live up to the expecation that one has when taking on new colleagues. In our business one has the degree on the wall, but the practical hands on is what either make or breaks the employee. Little do they know, but my little trick to whether I take on a new employee is to let them treat me and feel " their hands". One can feel the skill level of the Chiropractor in the way that they lay their hands on your and do what they do. 

Unfortunately Riley S and Molly S (from now on referred to as, The Kids) lived in the USA and a hands on was not an option. We are obliged by the Dutch government (Overheid, now referred to as the Roverheid - for another time, but basically they are the biggest Thieves we know - Rovers = Thieves) to stand surety for our employees, ( I am guessing similar to Sponsoring in Australia). All these thing we have to do before Party A or B enters the country. So basically I am signing up to Sponsor these candidates so that the Roverheid can say, if it goes wrong, you are the one to get screwed (directly translated from google - Pineut). I suppose that is the risk that any entrepreneur has in order to remain current.  Once again a long story short, the Roverhied washes its hands of any responsibilities and Business X has to accept that or Visas get denied. Between a Rock and a Hard Place...... talk about sleepless nights hoping that the Kids live up to expectations. Working full time and lying awake every night has taken a huge toll on my physical and emotional health.

I was calling on the Universe to make it all work out. Funilly enough I have mastered a technique called KST (Koren Specific Technique) and that has always shown me that it will work out with the Kids, but as much as I believe in KST I was still awake at nights!  Puntje bij Paaltje (at the end of the day) and for this I thank the Universe, the Kids have worked our fabulously! Thank you Riley S and Molley S!!! 

We are almost a month into our " trial" with the Kids and I can safely post my status as Semi-Retired (funny that the word Tired is part of SemiRetired), but we are back to the origin. I am Semi-retired. The Kids are working out great and to touch on another point, my own children are both working in the Business. Win, Win, Win!!!