Tuesday, March 29, 2011

In the news

I subscribe to the local paper the Nelson Mail: A couple of the newstories today: 1) "Quake recovery agency settled"- the earthquake support subsidies go until April 18th and then stop- for employers the $500 a week payment for each full time employee goes down to $375 a week, then $250 a week. For employees the job loss cover payment would be replaced with a top up payment for those still out of work ($50 /week for a single person to $110 per week for a couple with kids) 2) 6 in 10 kiwis hate their jobs- or can't be bothered with them according to a Leadership Management Australasia survey. Apparently almost one in five of these are at the business leader or senior manager level, and 20% of the work force is actively looking for a different role. My comments- the Christchurch earthquake is not in the news much anymore, but its impacts are far from over. We'll hear more in the May budget about government reactions. Its tentacles will go far from insurance changes to rebuilding efforts to the already introduced interest rate cuts. It probably also helped more of us get our emergency kits together. Re: the job survey, I'm not surprised about the result. A lot of people are working to live, not living to work. But it's a shame to have to dislike something where you spend so large a portion of your time. Outside the news, it's starting to feel like winter is approaching with some much cooler mornings of late. Our clocks change this coming weekend. I'm not looking forward to winter... It will start to make horseback riding after work a challenge- and things won't get better for another 6 months. Percy B. Shelley penned "O wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind". I think its easier to find encouragement in that pearl of wisdom a few months from now heading out of winter, instead of into it.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Time marches on...

Wow, only a couple of weeks away until the time changes. Already the days seem to be getting so short!

Prince William is in NZ today. He visited Christchurch and then flew to the Coast to meet with the families of the Pike River miners. I SO would not want to be in his shoes with all the duty in the world. Not to mention the horrible challenge of growing up under the spotlight with cameras always on him. The news reported that his visit was very much appreciated by all, and that having had tragedy in his own life, he was able to show much empathy. Well done to him for encouraging people who truly need it.

Much has been said about "Rocky" the rock. Rocky crashed through a home in Christchurch and was purchased for the sum of $50,000 with proceeds to Earthquake Relief. People at work were commenting how impressed they were by the owner of the rock- his home smashed- but he managed to create a lot of fun & good for others in the situation. Applause to him, cheering people in a difficult time.
Read about the Rocky auction here: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Outdoor-garden-conservatory/Landscaping-materials/Stones-rocks/auction-357989041.htm
I'm pretty sure it will make Trademe's next book of "most popular" auctions.

I continue to enjoy Oscar the horse. I've resorted back mostly to western riding. He just seems to prefer it. I also managed to introduce another option into our outings. I found a "Best friend" bareback pad for a great price on trademe and tried that out with him last week. It was easy and light. Plus it's aways good fun trotting along to a bouncy standardbred trot almost bareback. :) I think I am truly geared up now on the horse front without much further capital expenditure required. Whew! Not a cheap activity to take up, once you factor in the costs of feed, shoes, etc.

The cat across the road keeps causing me sleep issues. The other night it was him climbing over the fence into my yard with some other cat to have a cat fight at 4am. I know it was him as when I opened the window to yell at them, I heard his distinctively loud collar bell jingle jangle! This follows a day or two before that when I didn't notice him sneak into my house- and I shut the door locking him in my house for some time. He was freaked out when I finally noticed him and let him out, but it didn't prevent him from sneaking back in this morning to steal food from my cats dishes. How to stop a burmese cat from being a bold fellow, I wonder.