Hi all,
Well, it
really is spring! We have had some squally spring rain, some late dumps of snow
in the mountains, some boiling hot days, and some gently sunny balmy days. Hard
to know what to wear, really.
Jan's
team went really well at the UWH competition in Christchurch; their team won
gold in their grade, so they all came home pretty happy. However, three of them
came home with some sort of bug that gives you a very sore throat & a
persistent dry cough. Since they have been back, they have all got it now &
are lovingly passing it onto their families!
Jan has
been quite sick - he came down with the bug a couple of days after the weekend
away. He has had four days in bed, and it is taking him a long time to shake
it. Now, after avoiding it for a fortnight, I have just caught it as well and
it really makes you feel rotten. We were heading to the land this past weekend,
but have had to cancel because all I wanted to do was rest. And, like Jan, I
had four days in bed. However, I think I will be back on my feet tomorrow.
Luckily
it is the study break at NMIT, and I had managed to align most of my client
work so that I could have a bit of a quiet time as well. I have been doing
quiet things such as writing exams, preparing marking schedules and so forth,
so at least I have time to be sick!
Jan has
done his HBDI (Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument) questionnaire but is
waiting for his debrief. He has also found the process interesting, and it will
be really good to see where we differ once he has had his interview with Kathy.
Jan has
finally got his new bike ready for the road - pending new registration &
warrant of fitness. John Fitzwater (owner of Bonnie and a specialist motorbike
dealership called Thunderbike) came around on Saturday & helped Jan get all
the bike farings & what-have-you aligned properly. What with John's Triumph
& sidecar (Bonnie rides in that!), Jan's old GN250, his new V-Strom and the
cars in the driveway, we would have looked very bogan to the rest of the
street!
Jeremy,
Tina & Otto are coming down to spend some time with us in December &
January; it will be great to see them. Jan & I are planning all sorts of
things for them to do while they are here. I have picked up a load of brochures
for them to look at so they can decide what thrills them when they get here.
We had
our first site meeting with our architectural draughtsman - Leigh Briars - a
couple of weeks ago out at Roses Road and are now waiting for concept plans;
which will realistically be a month or so off yet. Leigh has our creative
brief, photos of things we like etc, so is well aware of what we are trying to
achieve, and now knows the site too. Then we will get really busy - and poor!
Jan has
been accepted for the strings master class next February at the Adam Chamber
Music Festival, which culminates in the attendees taking part in a performance.
He has even gone so far as to buy a new handle for the viola case, and had been
doing some practice. So all good.
In the
next few weeks we have quite a bit on - a joint 50th & 60th birthday, a few
performances for the Arts Festival ('Carmina Burana' and 'The Butler'), Tessa
is coming up from Christchurch with her new girlfriend, Helen, and we say
farewell to Gary & Sandra as they are heading off to Perth. Our next trip
away is to the Golden Bay for our wedding anniversary in late November.
That's
all I can think of for now. Take care & alles liebe!
Sam & Jan
