Christchurch Pettys in March 2012

Rogaine

Mark and I did a rogaine based at Little River. We covered about 20km and 900m of altitude in six hours and forty minutes. (The final forty minutes cost us all our points.) Mark really enjoyed it, and I enjoyed it in retrospect. On the tops it was so cold the rain was like hail. Maybe it was hail. And the wind was REALLY strong, so that we could barely stand. Our gear stood up well to it, and I was really pleased not to get blisters despite walking five hours in wet boots. My body took a few days to recover.

Mark and I have been asked to help get the Heights of Winter rogaine together. It means we can’t participate on the day, but we aren’t exactly competitive anyway. We do get to go out on the farms, though and look for places for checkpoints, without the time pressure.

Bonsai at the Ellerslie Flower Show

TV we enjoy

Mark and I like to watch Harry’s Law and Miranda. Jonathan still loves “Deal or No Deal”.

Nicola’s Blogs

I now have two other blogs that I write. One is Learn and Teach Statistics, which is more accessible than you might think. I get about 50 hits a day on that one. The other is “Never Ordinary”, which is about Jonathan and us. I am only just starting that one. I’m hoping to have it in shape by the time of the Autism Conference in August in Melbourne.

The Browns

Jessica’s sister, Rachael and her husband Enoch and four little children have been planning on immigrating to New Zealand for some time now, from Utah, Finally we got word that Enoch had a job in Christchurch, and then their visas came through and they are arriving in early April. It is very exciting for all of us. Things have been challenging for them, so they are very excited that it is all coming together. As I write this (6 April) we have found them a house, and they arrive on the 8^th. It is a very brave move, and we pray that it will go well for them.

Weightwatchers

I gave myself a deadline to lose one kg by, and it didn’t happen, so I am back at Weightwatchers. The new programme is wonderful, and you don’t feel deprived at all. It should take me about 10 months to get back to where I was five years ago when I got life membership in WW. I have a friend doing it too, which helps.

AtMyPace: Statistics

Shane has managed to convert the iPad app to iPhone, and I did the buttons and icons. It is now available on the app store, and selling a steady trickle. We have plans to market it now. I finished another video on different types of sampling.

Balance

I got my balance problem fixed. It was BPPV, and the ENT specialist fixed it on the spot, by making me turn my head a certain way, then hold it, then turn then hold – rather like a maze you can’t see. A loose crystal in your inner ear causes it, and you need to get the crystal back where it belongs.

William and Jessica

William’s course has moved back into the city – in fact, just next door to his old High School. It had been out in Lincoln after the building was broken in the February earthquake last year. They are enjoying the time and money it saves.

Tree removal

We got some of the bigger weed trees removed off the section, which makes it lighter and less damp.

Primary

I finally have all the teachers and officers I need in our Primary. (sixteen in total). It is running well now, though there is always more that could be done. I had a dessert night for the teachers, and all but two of them turned up. The children and the teachers are all lovely.

Nicola’s future

The time for me to leave University is slowly approaching. I’m counting down the weeks, but not the days. It will be sad to lose the income, but it’s difficult to feel sad about the job just now. I went to a meeting on a Thursday night about “Women in Business”, and met some impressive women, and felt inspired, but scared, about being in business. I’m going to a full day networking and inspirational event for business women in May. The following evening I went to a meeting of Maths teachers. It was very interesting to me how much I felt at home among them, particularly in comparison with the business people. I found out that there is a shortage of Maths teachers in Christchurch, so it sounds as if I would have little trouble getting work as a reliever. That is reassuring.

I have many ideas of things I can and would like to do. It is a matter of working out what is the best thing to do, at least to start with. Watch this space, as I begin a more varied career.

Wedding Anniversary

It was Mark’s and my 26^th wedding anniversary, so we had a Family Home Evening about our marriage. It was nice. Jonathan is very sweet.

Jonathan at CPIT

Jonathan has finished his first term, doing a “Preparation for academic study” course. Jessica has been with him most of the time, and we pay her for that. We are hoping he can be more independent in the second term.

Mark

Mark is working on his calling. Next month will be interesting as he has a week-long job to do in Tekapo.