Dizz Down Under

Hampton Jones, Rowan and the Beeb

Just after James left the house today the phone rang, as I picked it up I realised it was going to be him ringing me because the World Service had just run an advert for Hampton Jones!!  Not quite international fame, as it is the World Service in NZ, but still very exciting.  Hampton Jones are also now a World Service sponsor, so occasionally at the start of the hour there will be the follpwing announcement:

"The next hour of programmes is brought to you by Hampton Jones"

Great work boys!!

A little later on my way to work one of my favourite World Service programmes "One Planet" aired another interview with Rowan.  He is clearly a popular person for them to interview at the moment.  The angle was around how well or not we are looking after God's creation.  I don't think the answer to that question will come as a surprise to anyone and he did talk about what the Anglican church is trying to do around reducing it's carbon foot print on a parish level - I have to say it was news to me that there is some form of plan around this, but it was good to know.

I was more intrigued and personally encouraged about his comments surrounding population growth and control, given the predictions that the global population will be unsustainable by 2050.  He spoke well about the controversy around population control in relation to the Chinese approach and inappropriate criticism of the 3rd world comments on birth control.  Then he spoke a little about needing to find different ways to encourage population control.  This is one of the areas on a personal level which I find the church doesn't always handle well, I have been criticised in the past for expressing that I may not want kids, because it is "part of being a Christian".  However, one of my responses genuinely is "why would I bring another life into the world when right now the signs are that within my lifetime the world won't be able to sustain itself?".  It's a tough thought, this issue is in the mix for me when I consider kids, it would seem selfish to me.

The only point where I didn't think Rowan came off well was around the Anglican investment mix, whether it is ethical and environmentally friendly.  Given the wealth of the Anglican church the figures quoted were to be expected, and Rowan did talk about the fact that changing the investment mix can't happen overnight, and isn't always made the priority it should be by the church.  So come on, make the change, get on with it - this is an area where the church can make a difference.

Ok, time for a weekend, including a wedding.  My work is more than a little rocky right now and next week could be a tough one.  So any passing prayers would be appreciated - otherwise I might have consider ordination ... totally joking!!

Off to Hobbiton

This weekend sees our annual trip to Hobbiton (Matamata to Kiwi's) and I am excited.  On the way down we will have our annual catch up with the Montys in Hamilton, so it is time for dinner at Palate - yum!  It is always a scary meal in many ways as we consider the previous 12 months and the events which have made a mark on our lives.  It is the beginning of a time of reflection.

This year St Paul's camp has Mike Pilavachi as the speaker so I am hoping for some challenging teaching, as well as some time as church to relax and play. 

James and I plan to spend Saturday afternoon in the hot pools we discovered last year, I hope the recent rain hasn't made them too cool.  We will also make a trip to the Kaimai Cheese chop - yum! 

The next few months look busy and I feel we are in the run up to Christmas already.  I guess spring is back and the time for activity has arrived.  I am not sure I have got the right balance of rest incorporated in the plan - so I am looking for time for this too.

Anyway, back soon!

Tsunami Warning

Well, I guess NZ Civil Defense should give themselves a pat on the back.  After significant abuse last year for a Tsunami Warning they did nothing about - they didn't need to but lots of N Hemisphere relatives call Kiwi's to warn them of the warning in the middle of the night here - CD realised we are now truly a Global population.  Today they have demonstrated that they are good at managing the Tsunami risk following the quake in Samoa.

I still find it strange that I live somewhere where we need a very active Civil Defence organisation and that the threat of a natural disaster seems much more real.  I was in a meeting this morning with the wife of a Samoan chief whose village was closest to the quake and was probably struck by the Tsunami - up close and personal and strange. 

Go Civil Defence NZ, and my prayers are with the people of the Pacific who have been affected.

Being a Carer - hmmm

So this week with work, now that I work in Health, I was shouted a ticket to a Carers conference.  So I managed to miss the stuff on colostomy but I was there to listen to stuff on employing carers, i.e. how can employers maximise the talents these people have.  I was suitably challenged.  From a professional point of view there is probably so much more most organisations could be doing to assist in this area - and BT's HR GM spoke well on this.  There is a small part of me that does want to say though that in my mind these changes shouldn't be at the expense of the non-carers, and I think that BT would achieve this.  Personally I also found it challenging, partly because of my approach to non-carers not being impacted.  I am a non-carer in the technical definition of the term.  To some extent this is my choice, and I believe enough of my taxes assist others in this area - some of whom I personally believe should have chosen otherwise anyway.  However, in this seminar there were situations where I sat that there thinking that is not my responsibility, but should it be.  I am still pondering that one.

The weekend has been lovely, James surprised me with a new destination for date night on Friday night - Mollies in Herne Bay was lovely, great atmosphere, great food, great night.  Saturday saw yoga, introvert time, wine tasting new releases (Matua and West Brooke) and then fish & chips with a DVD.  Today we hosted Sunday Roast - and we had our first BBQ Coq au Can, and we ate on the deck - summer is back!!!  

This week James is away on work quite bit - grumph, but work should be a little calmer.  Fingers crossed.

Something Understood

I sit with an uneasy tension being "Anglican", I am in the sense that this was my upbringing, and I am not in the sense that my faith is much bigger than the denomination and I associate more closely with the Vineyard.  I am in that I currently attend an Anglican church, and I am not in that there are many parts of the "Anglican Church" that I can not and do not agree with.  On the other hand James and I know that this is where many of our friends sit, and also that many at our church are not aware that a) it is Anglican or b) what that means anyway.  So essentially on the whole it is ok, and sometimes it is amusing.  Recently I felt like I kinda understood that my journey had to be as it has been for me to be at this church and be involved in it fully.  So that has given me some peace.

One of the things I struggle with is "Rowan" and I also know that I am not alone here.  On my journey to work this morning the BBC World Service (my refuge) had "Something Understood" and an interview with "Rowan", I groaned silently, but given that the subject was prayer I figured this wasn't controversial and to continue to listen.  A couple of things I gleaned were that the title of this programme comes from a George Herbert poem on prayer - a particular favourite of Rowans - which explained quite alot to me and made me think.  Secondly, he talked about making space at the start of the day to ground the day in prayer - and to begin with breathing deeply from the pit of your stomach.  I particularly liked this as this is how I approach the breathing exercises at yoga - I started yoga just over 12 months ago, petrified that it was "dodgy" and "unholy" and yet it is where I meet God frequently.  I guess that thankfully my class doesn't have a "spiritual" content, so I can use it for this.  Finally, Rowan talked about how people often talk about the absence of God in prayer, and how he then suggests that it is actually the absence of them in prayer ... something here resonated.  I will keep holding that up, I think that there is more to glean here. 

Maybe I should be more graceful with Rowan too, he is clearly a holy man.

We spent the weekend in the Far North, a lovely retreat, with time to breath and relax, time on the harbour, and time by the fire (I suspect the last one for the year, as it really is too warm now).

On to the week ahead.

Dela Soul

Back to life, back to reality .... it's been a while I know!  But I am back and on form .... well getting there.  The Ocean Swim Season starts in less than 2 months and I feel like I am permanently aching as I ramp up the exercise in preparation for new challenges.  This year I am signed up for some running events as well as swims, including the Stroke and Stride Duathlon Series ... yes I am mad and no I will not be a serious competitor in the field.  So my week seems to revolve around work, exercise, sleep, and somewhere at the end of this keeping on top of life and seeing friends.  LOVING IT! 

We have been spending a lot of time in the Far North which has been just wonderful, and we are even getting the garden - which we know nothing about - under control. 

Some highlights in the last few weeks have included:

Dinner at OTG

Dinner at Empress Gardens with Martin

Getting the 9km run from our house more and more under control

Taking the cats to the Far North

Taking a 4.5 month booking on the Oratia Cottage - from a lovely young couple

Beautiful clear spring days in Auckland

Cluster Time in the Park

Meals in the Waterline Cafe

I could go on, but should get back to work .... then swim ... then sleep ... then do it all again!!!

The Return of Empress Gardens

Last week James discovered that after a year of closure the BEST chinese in Auckland - and the only one that knows how to Peking Duck had re-opened.  Nervously we placed an order, worried that in some way it might have changed and may disappoint.  GREAT NEWS THE DUCK IS BACK!!!!  Right now I could go there every day.

Friday night saw a Sky Tower, Orbit Restaurant meal - thanks to Tracey, Dino and Lucy for a great meal - we know you loved it too. 

Sadly on Saturday we said goodbye to our visitors and then I had some true ISTJ time regaining control of life. 

The Kiwiana Party at the Clarkes on Saturday to farwell Bruce to Melbourne was a lot of fun - esp the slightly drunk version of Liz, who couldn't direct us home!!!

Sunday involved church, Sunday Roast with the team and washing!

We are in need of a holiday with less than 3 weeks to go I can't wait.

Between now and then we have the NZ Film Festival which starts for us this evening with the Bader Meinhoff Complex followed by Mexican - I think this might be our first date night for some time.

This weekend aims to be quiet and the exercise regime is being implemented.

Another fun packed weekend

I am struggling to remember when our life has been so fun packed, loving it, but permanently tired.  On Thursday night I managed another 100 Individual Medley - after requesting it.  I'll be back in the pool tonight, hoping for more and a quiet pool - it being school holidays.

Friday flew past and we spent the evening with Dino and Lucy - Dino cooked stunning T-Bone steak, another lovely evening putting the world to rights.  It has been very special having sociable people in the little house, it has felt like living community more intensely and we shall miss them when they move on this weekend.

We headed to Rotorua on Sat am.  The weather had been packing up, but RotoVegas is always fun in any weather. We met Tracy, Bruce and Denise in Fat Dog and then headed out to a thermal park, back into Vegas for coffee with the Cruickshanks before relaxing at the Polynesian Spa for a couple of hours.  Dinner was courtesy of Bistro 1284 - a favourite which included beautiful wine from Church Road, Roaring Meg and Craggy Range. 

The accommodation wasn't great so we'll move on from that.

The weather on Sunday forced us to look at inside options and we found ourselves at the Agrodome learning about sheep - 19 breeds!  It was top!  I have also spotted a new attraction called the Shweeb, and James and I are challengine Claire and Ben to a race in February.

Our weekend concluded at the Kaimai Cheesery - wonderful!

Will next weekend be quieter?  Probably not - off up the Sky Tower for dinner on Friday night and a leaving party for Bruce on Saturday .. maybe the next weekend or maybe not ....

Michael Phelps Move Over I have mastered FLY!

So a few weeks ago my swim teacher wrote 25 metres Fly on the board and the whole class laughed!  From the moment I pushed off that week to attempt this ridiculous stroke I got crushing pain in my calfs - the most horrendous cramp!

So imagine my absolute amazement when I achieved 100 meters of Fly in 400 meters on individual medley last night.  To top it off I think I enjoyed it!  Last Thursday I achieved my first full 25 metres, which I think has made me chill our about the stroke a little and relax into it.

Now, I am not achieving something which looks graceful or anything like Michael, but woohoo I made it and I enjoyed - achievement.

The pool is my refuge - the perfect introvert sport!

Lightning and Electric Currents

Last night Auckland had a spectacular Tropical Storm blow in with amazing fork and sheet lightening moving across the city.  The storm lasted a few hours.  It was a great night to be reading Harry Potter in bed.  Eventually I turned my light out and watched the storm through the curtains until my eyes couldn't stay open any longer.  Just as I was drifting off James started talking what I thought at the time was sleep talk, it sounded something like this:

"Judididisjusdididisjudidididis"

I rolled over to ask him if he was ok, by which time he had regained the ability to speak and explained that he could feel an electric current coursing though his body.  I offered to hold his hand and sure enough I could feel it too, although by then I am guessing the power of it had reduced.

I thought no more of it until this morning when James explained that he felt like his back was in spasm,  although I felt no movement in the bed at all.  He also said that the stuff that I thought was sleep talk was him trying to say my name and ask for help.

Scary stuff!  If I'd known at the time I'm not sure I wouldv'e held his hand.  We guess it must've been related to the storm, but it was very very odd!

James is fine today, phew!  He is the most wonderful husband I could hope for.