Hi all,
Well, we
are getting ready to sign our contract with our builder - Glenn Grant - so we
will be all underway in a couple of weeks. He is a local, a younger guy who is
establishing his team, seems very energetic and determined to come in on price
and on time. We'll see whether we manage to get both of those right! We have
talked to some previous client of our builder's and they are completely
satisfied with his work; so much so that they are about to sign him up for
their next job (always a good sign).
I have
had a bit of a health scare - I ended up in hospital overnight a couple of
weeks ago, have had at CT scan & an MRI - but we still don't have a
diagnosis of what actually happened. It started off like the precursors to a
migraine, but didn't develop into the classic aura nor did I get a headache; my
speech, sight and co-ordination got very dodgy so Jan took me up to the
hospital. Initially when I had the attack, I pretty much couldn't talk - I
couldn't think of the words - & had chunks of my sight missing. It was all
a bit frightening. When they stood me up I fell over backwards which was a bit
trippy. I suspect it was a minor stroke, but I can't get into see a neurologist
until after I see the emergency doctor who admitted me to hospital - and I
can't see him until the 28th of September - not to mention the fact that he is
an oncologist and will then have to refer me on to the neurologist; and
goodness only knows how long that will take. The neurologist in Nelson does not
take private patients, so, in order to see someone faster than being referred
by my 'admitting' doctor, I will have to find someone to see me privately in
one of the main centres. And I have no idea of who has expertise in this
area... it is amazing how much at the mercy of the medical profession we can
be. My speech came back to 99% quite quickly; I was reasonably intelligible
within an hour or so, but I am still saying the wrong words from time to time
two weeks later. My sight seemed almost completely recovered by the following
Monday, and now it is fine. I was still missing some patches after a week, but
after 10 days it was normal.
I have
finished CAT 15 bar one teaching observation by the course supervisor, and have
my RPL almost ready to be submitted (I am just waiting for a couple of
attestation letters to be able to submit that). I have got a lot of quiet study
done over the past week, as the building project is starting a few weeks later
than we thought.
Jan too
has filled up his time with some busy-ness. He was asked last weekend if he
would play for the Nelson Symphony Orchestra, as they were a viola short for
the Young Soloists' concert they were giving this past Saturday night. So with
only a week to prepare for nine pieces, he has done an awful lot of practice
and been quite short of sleep! He took Friday off work to practice, which left
him feeling much happier. They had four three hour rehearsals, so he had lots
of time to get used to the viola section, and some of the orchestra members are
common between the Greenhill and the Nelson Symphony.
I went to
watch the concert on Saturday night, and it was really good; the young
musicians who played were from around New Zealand and Australia, and the
standard was quite high. There was one violinist who got a partial ovation; he
was an exceptionally good musician - full of passion and skill.
Interestingly,
the last time we went to see the Symphony play they were supporting Deidre
Irons and were pretty dire. Lots of squeaky violins and sour notes. But we
hadn't seen them for maybe five years and since then they have had a new
conductor and now have a new first violin, who also plays with the Greenhill.
The Symphony's standard is much improved on five years ago. Jan has been asked
informally if he would like to join them (I hope he decides to - I think the
higher standard of play would be really good for him).
It was
Jan's birthday on Sunday and we celebrated on Saturday night after he got home
from the concert with a glass of Aria Riesling, some Ritter Sport and a mystery
movie (as we had forgone dinner out so he could play). I gave Jan his birthday
present; an electronic picture frame with 8 gigabytes image capacity; I had
spent a fair few hours scanning ten photo albums worth of images into memory
for him to enjoy his photos on his desk at work (as he had been bewailing the
fact that we don't make or look at photo albums any more). A neat solution
having an electronic version that he can enjoy 'flicking through' any time he
wants to, and add to at any time with ease.
On Sunday
morning we headed out to the land to check on the power installation; we now
have a meter box and plugs all ready to go. We just await a contract so the
builder can plug in his gear. I spent some time burning some old client papers
(a partial purge before we move) and Jan dug out a small slip on the road... we
cruised on home, went for afternoon tea at Lambretta's with Max & Karen,
Sandra & Kevin, Murray & Julie, Dawn & Martin, Mike, Mother &
Father, & Uncle Norman; then we went to a Greenhill Orchestra BBQ out in
Hope.
This week
coming we have something on every night again, and are really looking forward
to coming away to Christchurch for a rest on 11-13 for Warren's 40th and to
make some electrical purchases for the new house.
Then we
start building a house on the 21st. Then we are up in Wllg for the 25-28
(Otto's birthday).
Take care
& alles liebe!
Sam & Jan
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