Hi all,
We are
very lucky - we have had wonderful weather and have been taking the dogs out
for a huge run every night; in fact, we haven't been home that much!
Last
night we went for a run at Tahunanui beach with a friend of Ana Silvia's, Alex,
and her dog Chester. Coco and Chester played flat out for over an hour. It was
exhausting watching them!
We had a
great Christmas - we caught up with so many people; Sam & Moose, Mike &
Birthe, Jeremy & Tina, Hui-Ping, Jenny L, Bertie, KT and - briefly - Max
& Karen. Doug & Morv are coming down in a few days to stay (it will be
great to see them) and we will catch up with Warren & Tracy when they are
up our way too.
Last
weekend we went over to the land and did some spraying, and grubbing. The gorse
is growing flat out at the moment. We are currently waiting to hear from the
builder (to close in the end bay of the shed so we can move over there this
December during the building process - we will rent out Montrose Dr) and the
digger man (to start excavating for the garage). Working drawings are currently
underway. We are waiting to hear back from the solar panel man & awaiting a
quote for plumbing. We have a job to do this weekend in sorting out some more
info on the fireplace for the draughtsman (details about the hearth etc).
Jan has
been back at work now for three weeks, and the installation of the new
"c" saw is currently keeping him late at work. That's all the
machinery that he went to Germany to organise last year. There are currently a
few commissioning engineers here, getting it all up and running.
I have
nearly finished marking the last assessment for this online course. I didn't
enjoy the online facilitation at all; I like talking to flesh & blood
people, so I won't do another one of those. For my semester one courses, I have
one lecture to finish writing for Applied Management, and then that paper is
all ready to go; and I am waiting for some materials from AUT to finalise the
Sports Leadership paper. I am also thinking of doing a Diploma in Career
Practice to formalise that aspect of my work... will think about it for a bit
(it doesn't kick off until May, so there is time yet & is a very reasonable
cost through NMIT staff rates).
My other
work is ticking on as well; and I am stepping down from two of the boards I am
on this March, which is quite exciting. I also have some other work lined up
with two other consultants, which is also exciting, but on the QT for now!
This
weekend marks the beginning of the Adam Chamber Music Festival; we have tickets
for the Gala Opening on Friday night, so that should be good fun, and on
Saturday night is the Sealord Opera in the Park which will be fabulous. Fingers
Xed that the weather continues as wonderfully as it has been!
Jan has
been considering going to Europe for Oma Friedel's 95th birthday in February. However,
I can't go as it is my parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary on February 13th and I
am organising the party at the Boathouse (!). Also, we will be part way through
the build - almost at lock-up stage - in February, and that is not a time to be
away from a build. That is when all sorts of things get done incorrectly that
either cost you a fortune to put right, or cannot be put right! We talked about
going for Oma Lieselotte's 95th birthday this coming September, but that is
when we are due to start the foundations (another awful time to be away). Also
teaching holidays aren't until 25th Sept through to Oct 12th. If Jan doesn't go
to Oma Friedel's birthday on his own in February, I suspect that we will do a
trip to Germany later in 2010, after we have finished building. The rest of the
family will represent us :-)
We are
also on a bit of an economy drive at present, being faced with build costs. So
we will be cutting down on unnecessary expenditure for the next 18 months or so
- fewer trips away etc. And we've stopped the cleaners coming :-(
There is
currently talk of get-togethers for the 20 year anniversary of Uni & a
flock of 40th birthdays; again - keep us in the loop about plans, and try to
aim for the school holidays if that is at all possible! Oh, and low cost if
that is a factor for any of you Hutties who are in the build process too?!
Right,
that's it for now. Take care & alles liebe!
Sam & Jan
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