As you may remember, the app was launched at the beginning of December and I wrote a bit about it. It has sold fairly well, but is certainly not even approaching our fantasies. If anyone knows anyone who owns an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, please suggest strongly that they buy it. It is rather nerve-racking. I have started a blog about Rogo, so you can read it here.
We donated 400 books to a school to sell to raise money to send a team to the US for a “Future Problem Solvers” competition.
Rogaine
Mark and I went on the Twilight Rogaine in the Port Hills from 6:30 to 9:30pm. It was a lovely evening, with the only bad thing being the wet grass from low cloud that had been on the hills all day. As the grass was chest high in places, this meant we got quite wet, and our boots were full of water by the end of the three hours. We went up one high point that was just amazing. We would never have been there otherwise as it doesn’t have a track up, but it was breath-takingly beautiful, with views of Lyttleton harbour and the fading light over Christchurch. We paused to share a Fast Break. This is an American candy that we both love, and we had found a supply a few weeks before. The peak doesn't have a name that we can find, but it will forever be 56 to us, as that was the number of the checkpoint on it.
Looking North from hill '56'.
The Wedding
It looks as if Rosemary and all five offspring will be in Utah at the time of William’s wedding. What fun! And thanks to Laurie’s parents, we will all have somewhere to stay while there.
William
This is the last time I will write with William on his mission. He is still in Wairoa and had a lovely Christmas there – much better than in Otara in 2009. It was great to talk to him, and of course he is excited to be coming home. He is not hoping for his mission never to end, as some do.
Mark
For Mark it was very pleasant to be approaching Christmas and the summer break without being flat out at work. He was still working hard, but without the deadlines he had at Sinclairs. This experiment of having him at home has proved great for all of us.
Jonathan
We had a ward activity and I was in a Relief Society skit for which Jonathan played the piano. He did really well, until two of the skits went on FOREVER, and he started to get agitated and we took him straight home. It was nicely done, except that some of the groups did not stick to “Short!” We invited Opawa as well, as we are using their chapel. We only just had enough food. Too many people come without bringing food. Jonathan was telling Clynton all about it this morning, so I think he must have enjoyed himself.
We went ten-pin bowling one day in the break. It was Jonathan’s choice. Mark played the best he has ever done, we think, and scored 157. And Jonathan beat me by scoring over 100. It was so much fun.
Christmas
As is our custom, we made Christmas baking and treats and took them to important people in our lives. We took five one night, and five on Christmas Eve. It is probably our only family Christmas tradition. On Christmas Day we had a barbecue and invited my mother, Peter and his two older daughters, Jessica and Lucy. Jonathan played a couple of jazz pieces for them.
Boxing Day was pretty horrible here. There were several large aftershocks, including the biggest one during Sacrament Meeting, which pretty much unsettled everyone so we all went home afterward. There were several more during the day, and parts of the city lost power. It was a reminder of what it was like in early September. There was more damage in town too. It still gets my heart racing in an unpleasant way. These ones have felt like a train running through the living room.
Tennis
We got tennis racquets and balls for Christmas and have had a couple of sessions. There is a lovely little park with a tennis court not too far from our place. There are even trees that give shade. Mark is much better than I am, but I am improving fast, and if he tries to keep the ball near me we can get a decent rally.
Nicola and Jury service
I had jury service, which meant I turned up at the courthouse on Monday and Wednesday, had my name called on the roll. wasn’t balloted and went off to work. It seems a rather wasteful process. Still I have done my civic duty by being available. And I got paid about $70 for my trouble!
And that is it for December. A Happy New Year to you all and we look forward to seeing so many of you in April.
P.S. Some photos taken at night in Central Christchurch for part of a short course that Mark did in July.
No comments:
Post a Comment