If you’re reading this, you may already be familiar with this image. It used to be the first thing you’d see when landing on the homepage of this site.

This is Murphy, and this journal entry is the story of manifesting Murphy.

Now, I feel to give this journal entry some context, I need to describe myself a little bit.
From a young age, I was described as a “tomboy”.
When I was 9-10 years old, I was skateboarding with the local boy. Making go-carts out of hard rubbish and hooning down hills.
I’ve always loved things on wheels it seems.

Around 12 years old, my old man came over with an old Haro BMX bike. We bonded over giving it a restoration. We painted it metallic mint green and royal blue. 12 year old me didn’t really think that colour combo through but, it was sweet nonetheless.

At this point, it’s easy to assume that my father and I must’ve been close, done these sorts of things together all the time but that was not the case. Maybe a little too much detail, but I want to paint the picture of my life thus far, semi-clearly.

The next time I saw him I was 16. And he had a car for me. Here is where the classic enter the picture.

My father told me he’d been holding onto this car for me. The one he would drive me around in when I was 12.
I loved it back then, it reminded me of a classic Mini.
This car had basically gone through the whole family before he retired it in the driveway and waited to hand it down to me.

I went to his place to see it. I pulled the cover off and revealed a total rust bucket.
A 1975 Honda Civic, rust bucket.

The person I was with at the time immediately said “This is it..?” Hahahaha. It would’ve been great to find some photos of what it looked like before we started. Well.. I saw the potential.
I was 16 at this point, I had my learners license and I was absolutely killing to get the thing on the road. I had the vision.

It took us about 6 months to get it in tip top shape (sort of). It was the most time I’d ever spent with my dad in my life. Things were pretty fun back then. I rode this thing around with a subwoofer in the back, felt like the badddessst bad ass in all of Auckland, ha.
Those were the days. I started my first business in this car. Selling secondhand/vintage clothes at markets with my bestie.

We’d park this car in the stall and have our music going, it was quite the vibe at the time.

I loved this car, one of my great regrets was selling it. I wish I had some better photos of it, some of me with it.
I still remember all the details.
Now, you see where the flare for classics comes from.

After I sold that car, my dad disappeared again.
Fast forward 4 years, I was turning 21. I had saved a few thousand and my goal was to pickup another rust bucket and restore it mostly myself. Around the time I was looking, I happened to go on a date with a dude. We were chatting and I mentioned I was on the lookout for something classic.
One thing led to another, and he convinced me to come see his parents place that night, to look at a car they owned.
I had no idea what was about to happen but, I was definitely into looking at some cars.

We went for a short drive, as we started entering a super wealthy suburb in Auckland, I started to get a little confused..
Where the hell were we going?
We pulled up to a securely gated property, he entered the passcode and we drove up the driveway and landed in front of a property, I could only describe as a MODERN MANSION….?????

I was totally blown away, who the fuck is this guy?
There were two garage doors to the right of the house, he pressed a button and they opened. Me thinking, there’s going to be a classic car in there..
Nope, two Ferrari’s.
Not one Ferrari, TWO.
A red on and a white one, his and hers, Dad and step Ma. Bloody hell.
At this point, I had no idea what was reality and what wasn’t. I didn’t even know people in New Zealand had money like this?

Anyway, I’m playing it cool.. We had a seat in the Ferrari, I was mind blown and then he said “Lets go look at the other car”.
I’m just floating at this point, on auto pilot.

We walk through the house, I’m confused about life and then he tells me to close my eyes - I do, hesitantly (I’m low key freaking out).
We walk into another room, he flicks on the light and we’re in another garage, hidden on the other side of the house.
I’m staring at one of the most beautiful cars I’ve ever seen.

Obviously, I immediately knew it was a Mercedes, the lines placed it in the 1960’s and realised I was standing in front of a classic car worth upwards of $200,000.
Holy fuck.

NOBODY OWNS THESE?
WHERE AM I?
WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON.

We took the top down and jumped in. I sat in that thing for at least half an hour, taking in every detail.
I visualised myself flying down old country roads, scarf over my head, top down, glasses on. Living my truest 60’s fantasy.

We had a few glasses of wine (from the wine cellar, that had its own ELEVATOR? WHAT???) and then I jumped in an Uber and floated back to my flat.
My lovely, old, falling to pieces, comfy, relaxing flat. Everyone was asleep, I had to wait until the morning to relay my insane story.
No one believed me to start with, haha.

To wrap this up, I viciously ghosted the dude when he tried to organise another date (terrible way to deal with that situation, I know).
I was way too overwhelmed with the lifestyle. I just couldn’t pretend to fit in with it or enjoy it.
I met his dad that night, and his wife. It was too much for a first date, although I loved the car and had a great time but, holy fuck it was a lot to take in.

I am so grateful for that experience, those moments of absolute bliss, sitting in that car. It was the first time I had genuinely “visualised” myself living my dream life.

Now, back to my hunt.
I spent the next two months searching for a car to restore. I didn’t have a particular year or model I wanted. Anything from the 60’s or 70’s would do. Preferably with minimal rust.
I looked at Triumph’s, Ford’s, Vauxhall’s, whatever was on offer up to $3,000.

Some opportunities came up, I viewed a few. Thought I had “THE car” about three times but, each fell through.
I was looking online every. single. day.

Eventually, I was preparing to leave for work one morning (I was working in Bridal at the time), it was about 8:30am and I felt an “urge” to jump on Trademe - the main auction site in NZ - even though I had already checked the night before and I was running late for work.

I threw in my search details in, and this was the first car I saw..

$500
The listing had been up for 8 minutes.

(A later model, registered and on the road, was on the same site for $12,000 at the same time).
Even if you’re not a car person, you can see what an insane deal this was.

I took a deep breath, very confused, and scrolled through the listing.

Right at that moment, I watched as a response to a question came through,
the sellers phone number.

This was it, I grabbed my phone and called immediately.

I spoke to an older man. He heard my voice and chuckled.
He told me “Oh love, this is an old car. It needs a lot of work, might be a bit too much for you”.
HA. Well, of course I proceeded to let him know “This isn’t my first classic car restoration”. 😏
He responded ”Well, I’ve let everyone know it’s first in, first served. The first person on my doorstep with $500 takes it”.

Well, fuck. I’m gonna be late for work, aren’t I.

After getting off the phone, I realised the car was 2.5 hours away, it wasn’t realistic for me to speed up there.
I knew my grandparents had friends in that area, although they were definitely not impressed that I wanted to spend my hard earned savings on a “money pit”.

But, what did I have to loose? Literally nothing, so I called them up, explained to my grandad what the deal was and he didn’t believe me.
I sent him the link to look for himself, he was still confused. It was too good to be true.

He told me “Mmm, I’ll look into it”.
I lost hope, went to work. Nothing else I could do.

I got a call an hour later, my grandad had made contact with a friend and they had organised a meeting with the seller, 4pm the next day, if it hadn’t sold by then.
What? Wow, okay? That was very unexpectedly great news...

I waited, I knew it would sell well before we got to the viewing. Regardless, I was just so happy they had looked into it on my behalf.
I checked the listing, people were offering $3-4,000 in the comments. There was no possible way it would be mine. I accepted that.

I had anxiety the entire next day until 4:10pm on the dot, I received a call.

“She’s yours”.

…………………….WHAT? HOW? WHY?

The beautiful red convertible of my dreams was suddenly my reality (with a bit of work).
From “one day” to, “today”.

When she was dropped off, not only was she in beautiful condition with ZERO rust, ZERO body damage, AND she came with almost an ENTIRE CAR worth of spare parts..
An absolute dream, for a classic car restoration.
All for $500 NZD.

This story still blows my mind. I almost can’t believe it happened to me.

The moment I saw her in person, I felt “Murphy”. I knew straight away, that was her name.

It wasn’t until I was sitting behind the wheel, that I remembered my crazy date a few months earlier.
Sitting in that beautiful red, classic convertible, visualising myself owning one,
I realised, I had just manifested Murphy.

Okay, okay, okay. You either believe it, or you don’t. I don’t care either way THIS WAS MY REALITY!
My beautiful, magical, dream-come-true, reality.
I was just trying to figure out how and why it happened.

The photo above was the inspiration of what Murphy would’ve looked once restored.

All we needed were:
Seat belts
New Brakes
Fresh paint
Replacement front bumper
Boot racks
Side mirrors
100 spoke rims

Not a whole lot..

The photos above are from the first time I was able to rev her engine, and the last time I saw Murphy.

I had to keep my glasses on, so no one could see me crying.
Plans were made, I was heading to Melbourne to start the next chapter.
I tried for so long to find a home for her to live, while I continued to have her restored and ready for my visits home but, I couldn’t find a secure location that didn’t involve wrapping her up in a tarp and leaving her out in the elements.

I couldn’t do that to this rust free beauty. I had to sell her. My girl.

Another great regret.
I say that but, I know thats how it was meant to happen. She gave me the opportunity to come to Melbourne and set myself up.
One day, I’ll find her again and live out that fantasy properly.

Until then, I have this story, these photos and my ability to manifest my hearts desires.

This is, Murphy.

This is: Jayden (& Luna)