I have one sister. She is younger than me and much, much smarter. She also is able to wear yellow shoes and look elegant and stylish – something that I am yet to manage without looking like Donald Duck.

Actually, her style is something that is enviable. Earlier this year, she moved back into her newly renovated home. This may sound unremarkable, but the way she managed to pull together everything in a timely and on budget way is testament to her super organisation skills. Now, she has a home that is perfect for her in every way because she’s considered how all aspects of its design need to work with her. It’s light, bright and airy and a perfect showcase for the beautiful things she’s collected in her travel to over 48 countries. Everything has a place and every bit of space has been used perfectly.

I guess that now she’s moved in she’ll never be leaving!

That’s part of the appeal of doing something exactly the way you want. She designed the extension and renovation to work with her life. Her house and garden are low maintenance and easy to live in. There are open spaces and a kitchen with wide benches for the meals she makes for friends and families (and birthday cakes she makes for her ridiculously fortunate niece!). Everything works because she was able to plan it from the beginning, keep an eye on it throughout the build and then put the finishing touches on it herself once she moved in. When things didn’t go to plan or there was a problem, she worked through it with her builder and changed the plans to suit. But she never lost sight of what it was that she wanted and what she needed. It has her name stamped all over it!

I’m really trying that philosophy with my diabetes at the moment. I’ve set some goals that are right for me and, I believe, achievable. I’m keeping an eye on things and using the results I’m getting to make plans and make changes. When I’m thrown a curve ball (AKA three overnight hypos in a row) I make changes – but I keep the goals I’m working towards at the back of my mind. I’m doing things the way that work for me, fit in with my at-the-moment-crazy life and don’t get stressed if I need to make a slight change to things.

So far, things are working okay (albeit the three nights in a row hypos). I’m relaxed because I’m looking big picture, not at tiny results. A lousy day of numbers is but a lousy day – not a long term indication. Stopping, regrouping and taking stock regularly help.

So while the end game for me is not a beautiful house it is diabetes managed in a way that makes it easy for me to breathe. And that’s a good thing.

Renza&Toots

Sisters