I'm back- again...

 And this time, it has been years and years.  I'm currently on a 2 week break between jobs.  Phil & I just got back from a 4 day, 3 night walk- being the Great Walk of Abel Tasman.  Last Thursday we water taxi'd to Totaranui.   And then walked across to Awaroa.  That was my first time carrying a 10kg plus pack on a tramp.  It was my first time sleeping communally in a hut bunk room- I think that hut had row of 6 or 7 mattresses together on the bottom, and again on the top.  We met lovely people, kiwis all.  We had a wander to the Lodge for ice cream and coke.  I had a nap. Phil had a fish.  We watched the sun go down and chatted with a bunch of lovely people.  The next day we were up at light, and set off for Bark Bay Hut.  I sure felt the uphill on day #2.  But what a stunner of a location when we finally arrived.  We settled into the wee bunk room which had single bunks- the privilege of being one of the first few there.  We had a swim.  I read my book.  It was a lovely evening.  Day #3 took us to Anchorage.  We got a bit wet on the walk.  Again the hills felt hard.  The skies were emotive.  It was showering on and off, so didn't spend much time outside the glamorous big hut which had so many bunks and a wonderful view.  And then up early on day 4 trying to beat the rain- but failing in our walk back to Marahau.  And Phil giving our hiking mates from Auckland who were on the same agenda as us- a boost as their van wouldn't start.  It was lovely to go on a great big walk.  It was lovely to have nothing to do- for all trampers to go to bed at dark and get up at light.  For those 12 hour sleeps- and even minimal snoring!  Food never tasted so good.  It is time to spend more time in the great outdoors. It does restore my soul.

I'm back...

I've been away for a good long while.  Sometimes silence is golden, and then other times you feel like shouting out to the universe - even if no one is reading. :)

3 weeks ago I took my first riding lesson at the Giggling Pony.  

When I was a little girl, I dreamed of horses.  Every single birthday candle, wishing star, and wish chip was for a horse.  When the winter came that Lady came to board at the farm, I learned a whole lot and more with others as time went on.    But now, I feel like an extension of that little girls dream is finally coming true, if a somewhat greater and bigger dream, 25 years later.  I do feel like shouting out to the whole world how excited I am.

A couple of years ago, I just wanted to go riding.  But that all changed in December when I met a part Arabian mare called Cassie.  The lady who was selling her me introduced me to "horsemanship" and this awakened in me a great passion to know and learn more.   I did not buy Cassie.  But she has began my new journey of discovery.  I've been reading about horsemanship by reading, some Parelli, Monty Roberts also on the way.

So when I started my first lesson, I was so excited that it started out with "horsemanship" stuff.  I've always loved horses, but never had I thought about the subtle cues I was sending them by moving my body in a certain way.  Last lesson was on a dressage horse, and I have lots and lots to learn and lots of things I'm not learning very quickly.  The journey of a lifetime, I think....  And it has begun.

I'm still here...

 I guess it has been quite some time since I have posted!  I am still here, just a bit devoid of thoughts to share at the moment. :)

Just weeks away...

I've been a bit rather silent of late.

Things have been trucking along in my little world and now it's only weeks away from my big day.  They say every little girl dreams of her wedding; but I was a bit more of a practical bent. I can honestly say I never imagined the specifics of my wedding as a girl; never thought about a dress or any of the finer details. I just had this big picture dream of a Rockies honeymoon, but not much beyond that.    I am just over a month away from my Rockies wedding so that dream living in the piece of my heart will be coming true.  Further, it will be a day with a small group of people.  This is quintessentially me; for I am not one for loud crowds or being the centre of attention.

Standing a few weeks out: what do I think I'm going towards?  Well, I have to say- I am not expecting to walk into a fairy tale.  "They lived happily ever after"?  Really?  Isn't it interesting that every story or movie we read or watch has plot, and characters develop and we stay interested because of conflict and character development?  I expect it to be the same for us in life.  The movie "Ever After", a spinoff of the classic cinderalla story stands out in my mind so strongly because they didn't say "they lived happily ever after", but something instead like "they lived."  And that is the point, living live together and making life better together. Walking into marriage, I expect to face good times and bad times.  Times of peace and times of challenge.  But times that can be faced and decisions that can be made together.

I have come across a few marriage related quotes that I very strongly identify with:

Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of eternal passion. That is just being “in love” which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Those that truly love, have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.   - Louis de Bernières, from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin

And another:

But ultimately there comes a moment when a decision must be made. Ultimately two people who love each other must ask themselves how much they hope for as their love grows and deepens, and how much risk they are willing to take. It is indeed a fearful gamble. Because it is the nature of love to create, a marriage itself is something which has to be created, so that, together we become a new creature.

To marry is the biggest risk in human relations that a person can take.If we commit ourselves to one person for life this is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom; rather it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom, and the risk of love which is permanent; into that love which is not possession, but participation. It takes a lifetime to learn another person. When love is not possession, but participation, then it is part of that co-creation which is our human calling, and which implies such risk that it is often rejected.

- Madeleine L’Engle, from The Irrational Season



 

Of joy & sorrow

I happened to pick up Kahlil Gibran's the Prophet at the library the other week.  One of bits was really interesting.

"Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears...
When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight."

When young Jasper went missing I was full of sorrow, but that is only because he has been and thankfully continues to be a delight.  I feel a bit grateful thinking along this line when I think about sorrow; for it in turn means one has opened ones heart to things that matter.

And relief comes, not in the morning- but at about 4pm

I did my calling out the back yard, as I have been doing for the boy for the last 2 1/2 days.  5 or 10 minutes later I open the front door and see a cat there.  Originally thinking it was one of the girls, I was instead delighted to see the grey face of young Jasper.  He was dry, despite the rain and very hungry!  It didn't take long for his grumpy ways to reappear, meowing as I picked him up.  With a full belly he is now reclining on the car and safe, until at least his next adventure.  Being Jasper- I am sure there will be one...

Now to investigate whether they make tracking collars!

How long do you wait?

Is it 24 hours?  36?  48 hours?  A week?  How long is it that you wait before you draw that line in the sand and allow yourself to grieve and put to bed any last hope that might be in your heart.  What is the right amount of time?

48 hours ago I got up bright and early Saturday morning when the cats demanded to be fed at weekday feeding time, rather than delaying on the weekend.  Little did I realize when I got up to feed Jasper that would likely be the last time I'd ever see my boy.  I sure didn't treat it as if it was; I was happy to get back to bed after he started eating.  And now I wonder - if I had stayed up and occupied him would he not have gone on the wander or whatever it was that has caused him to go missing. 

48 hours.  It feels like an eternity already.  I so wish I could hear his regular meow at 4am saying he wanted out.  It wasn't unusual for Jasper to wander off for a whole day snoozing under a tree or something behind the neighbours in the spare section.  I called him for dinner multiple times, he didn't return. He didn't return over night.  I wandered the neighbourhood yesterday calling and looking and listening.  I called, I called, I called.  I have dropped flyers.  I have not found him.  The good news is I haven't found him on a road.  He may be alive, even if he has moved beyond my life.

I didn't know when I went through this process when Allie died last year that I would be going through it again less than a year later.  Bad luck everyone said when she died.  Bad luck x 2.  He hasn't been the same boy since she died.   He used to love food; that changed.  He definitely deprioritized it. He had almost become the neighbourhood bully of late, which is unusual for a ragdoll.  Back in the day other cats would come in through the cat door and he wouldn't defend or chase them out.  Lately you had hardly seen other cats since Jasper had set the boundaries. 

I'll miss my boy so much; my heart does break yet again.  I got him weeks after Allie and he didn't instantly win my affections like she did.  She was the perfect little girl from day one; figuring out her litter box and pretty much doing what she was told.  He was his own cat from day one; figuring things out slowly and on his own and pressing the boundaries.  It was Jasper that was 7 months old still peeing on the bed not quite having the litter box thing sorted. It was Jasper who did eventually learn to go to the bathroom outside - first in square shape planters that looked a bit like a litterbox.    It was Jasper that first pushed open the cracked window and was found outside patrolling.  It was Jasper who learned to climb the "safe" fortress of my last rental property to escape and check out the neighbours.  It was Jasper you'd see on the neighbours roof there.  It was Jasper who has LOVED chasing possums in the sounds.  It was Jasper who loved sleeping in the roof.  It was Jasper that loved being carried high in the air on a chair going for his "elevator rides".   Jasper has always walked outside of the lines, and again he does as wherever his footsteps have taken him; they have taken him away from home.   At one point in his kittenhood I was contemplating giving him up due to the cost of his peeing actions.  What I wouldn't give now in money to have him back. He has always been a character; charming at moments and infuriating at others.    All of those things wormed their way into my heart.  I grieve the loss of my grumpy young man.  I don't think he is coming home and the days of my 2 first cats in adult life have both come to a close only a few years in....   When you love, show it every day- you have no idea when that normal morning will turn into a heartbreaker.



 

Calf Muscles & Double Entries

The Auckland half is getting closer and closer and I had just started to feel I was turning the corner.  I was up to 25km weeks, the runs were getting easier, and I ran my first ever 5kms that took less than 30 minutes; and wouldn't you know it; my right calf has started playing up.  After the first pain I went out again a few days later for 8kms.  It was then quite sore and I took a whole week off.  5kms yesterday has left it a little sore.  I hope it doesn't get any worse; time is short...  It will be tricky to continue training over the next 2 weeks as will be in Canada.

In other things, did you ever start to wonder about the origins of something you're in the middle of every day?   So was the case today for me when someone asked who invented Double entry accounting.  I had no idea.   Wikipedia doesn't have a clear answer either but it appears to date back to approximately the 13th century in Florence/Italy.  Big names angle in the write up including the Medicis.  And certainly Leonardo da Vincis mate Pacioli put it into a math book by the late 1400s.  I can't imagine being an accountant pre-calculator or pre-computer. It would have been a bit tedious for me, I think.  I think my career would have led me somewhere else... 



 

Training for Auckland Half

A few months back a friend and I snuck under the wire, registering for the Auckland Half Marathon on the weekend, and finding out just a day later that  it was full.   I was really keen to do a longer race; my first and only half marathon was in early 2007 during my first year in NZ.  I thought the October date would be good as it would help me keep up my jogging during the dark winter months; however that idea failed.  As soon as May rolled around I pretty much stopped.  I have only started going out 4 weeks ago a couple of times a week after work for the 5km return jog along Rocks Road.   This is one of the few region locales I don't mind running in the dark.  Only this past weekend have I increased my distance doing a trial jog of 10kms.  I've now got 3 months to go and 2 weeks of that I will be in Canada. 

I've got a few things to battle this time around:  I got the dreaded black runners toenail when i swapped running shoes last year.  I did another switch on the weekend having visted the Shoe Clinic and ran on the treadmill for the assessment of the new shoes I am trialling.  They couldn't figure out what is causing it however I'm hoping my new Brooks pair of runners will be kinder to my feet that Mizuno or Adidas have been.  Mizuno felt great when I bought them, but I have been getting blisters on the same foot as the black toenail.    Adidas felt big and clunky.   I've been out for 16 kms so far in the new shoes.   They have a 30 day return policy so I have a bit more time to figure it out...  Wish me luck.

Of cats, jogs and dresses....

And already the shortest day has gone flying on by. 

Since I last posted my household has expanded by 2. 
First with Lulu the seal bicolour ragdoll kitten.  She came the North Island and was born in January.
Second was Tinkerbell, the blue bicolour ragdoll kitten. She is another North Islander and she was born in October.

How this all happened is that Jasper was lonely and upset after losing his sister so it was time to get him some company.  The decision was between 2 kittens.  One was younger and I decided to go with her since I thought she would be more trainable.  This was Lulu.  What I didn't anticipate was her energy level.  Jasper was not impressed with her... so along came # 2 who was still available about a month after Lu arrived.  The idea was that since she was quieter she would likely take the pressure off Jasper.  It pretty much worked- Tinkerbell is now often playing with Lulu- although I think sometimes that even as another kitten, Lulu has too much energy for her.

Lu is a lapcat - she is the most burmese like ragdoll cat that I've met to date and can sometimes be found sleeping under the covers. In additional to her cuddly/friendly personality she has 2 other personalities:  hyper/playful, and HUNGRY. 

This is Lulu

This is Tinkerbell

Tinkerbell's personality type is TIMID with a capital T.  She is also affectionate, but mostly in the middle of the night when you are not threatening.  She does however have hunting instincts and LOVES to chase the feather mouse.  It took her nearly a week to come out from under the bed after she first arrived at her new home.   She has settled down  a lot and does love to be petted, but she is definitely not a lapcat.
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In other than cat news, I have made an exciting discovery.  I have a new almost favourite vegetable. I can't decide whether it trumps the tomato (which I still consider in the veg category), but if not it is a close second.  Bok choy is SO yummy.  Yum yum yum.

____________

In the past week or two, I've been reminded how very much I love living skies.  So many beautiful and changing views out the back yard over the neighbours roof, day or night.  I feel lucky... even though I'm not in Sk with its living skies.

_______________________________________________________________________________

I started jogging again last week.  Oh how very hard it is... I've been out 4 times for 5kms along Rocks Road after work.  This is a decent place to run in the dark after work as the sun goes down.   I feel so very our of shape even though it was only 2 months since I was more or less regular on the roads.  I must really start to kick into shape as I'm registered in the Auckland Half Marathon in less than 4 months!

_____________
I've started wedding dress shopping.  I guess this is a very big and important decision given I've already had a dream or two about it.  In one I was wearing a knee length blue and red one.  Haa haa. I'm curious to see what I finally decide to go with.  I have a while to make a decision yet with a wedding date of next year.

2 weeks later

Two weeks ago darling Allie didn't come home at night and there was a night of anguished worry. And yet two weeks on, time has marched on, just as it always does. I can't help but be thankful that the flyer drop at least brought with it finality- even though the news was bad. I was fully ready to get up the next day and continue the search, and even though hope would have faded over time if the hunt was not successful, I would have kept looking and looking for my girl. More than I can say I feel for those families of the "presumed dead" with a feeling of dread- and yet still a glimmer of hope.

But in the aftermath of tragedy there are always things that stick out... When I was looking for Ms. Allie I dropped about 20 flyers off at targeted houses in the neighbourhood. I got an amazing response rate. In addition to the one person who had seen her the day she disappeared, and then the one who found her, I had two futher phone calls from people who had seen white cats. I also had one from a near neighbour who said she often saw Allie in the afternoon in her yard and told me she'd keep an eye out. It was so encouraging to find out there are so many thoughtful neighbours in the neighbourhood, regardless of the sad outcome.

Also- I have a calendar on my desk at work. The day I found out about Allie the quote on the day's calendar was from Pericles. "What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others." What stuck out in my mind is that if one little cat can have such an influence on one person, think about the influence each of us as individuals can have...

And suddenly, all of those little annoyances about her becoming charming in my memory. Cleaning the closet tonight I found a roll of tin foil. I left it there to perpetually keep covering the bottom of the bed to deter her from scratching it. It's a good reminder to think of those close in our lives with the perspective that those little things are the things that make them "them", and special, and to not sweat the small stuff.

Jasper has been rather lost since Allie went missing. Always a foodie, he has not seemed overly hungry. In fact today was the first day he had a full breakfast and dinner. He has been meowing a lot and searching, still. I don't want him to spend his days lonely so the plan is to get another kitten. She will be another ragdoll, completely different in colouring to Allie, but I hope she will come with the laid back ragdoll personality that I have come to love. I expect it will be a difficult introduction and transition between her and Jasper. But this time I do hope my two kitties will be able to spend years together. More than 2 1/2 years, I hope...

A very sad day- RIP Allie

Allie (Sept 3,2009-Mar 29,2012)

It's been a long while since I posted. But today I have a heavy heart, and need to express it- so here goes.

I grew up on a farm and have always been an animal lover. On the farm I had cats like Tigger and Puff to dogs like Lassie and Lady, to cows like Dusty and Columbi, to rabbits like Easter and Brownie, and horses like Apache and Star to express that interest and passion upon. When I was 17 and trying to decide the direction of my life I agonised over the decision of whether or not to go be a vet. Until then, this had been my long time expectation. Ultimately, in what was for me a moment of unusual clarity, I decided it was wrong for me for a number of reasons, but promised myself I would own animals instead.

When I moved to Regina for University for so long I lived without animals until finally I moved into a flat with people that had a cat. I was in Regina for 10 years, but never long enough to make the commitment that owning a pet myself entails. When it came time for me to move on from KPMG and learn more about the world, I chose NZ due to it's "not too hot, not too cold" climate, and because I understood it was a pretty laid back place to be. But 10 years on, I still hadn't kept my promise to myself.

After 2 1/2 years in NZ, I had managed to shut off a part of my practical nature that tends to make most of my decisions and allow a bit of my heart to decide. I finally decided I was settled enough to remember my promise to myself and get myself some animals. My heart settled on the ragdoll cat- which I had seen at a recent catshow I visited in Wellington. That was the one and only time I'd seen them, but they were just what I wanted. After research and much waiting, my beautiful little girl Allie arrived via an Air New Zealand flight and my darling boy Jasper arrived about 6 weeks later.

Life changed for the better in those moments. There were many annoyingly challenging kitten moments such as Jasper's SLOWNESS to learn the litter box and their affinity for playing with the venetian blinds in my first house. But there were so many good moments to make up for it. There was little Allie jumping off the bed to use the litter box in the wee hours of the morning the first night I had her and then wanting back up but being unable to get up herself. I remember as kittens how they used to watch me in the flowerbed out the window and meow at me, and how scared of the pumpkin plant I was growing that they wouldn't cross it. There were many moments of playing with Allie after we discovered her favourite toy was a simple string. I loved how she would drop her toys (e.g. octopus and mouse, and later string) in or near her food bowl and pretend she was eating them. This summer, as a 2 year old her focus changed and she really wanted to be a big hunter. She caught and released her first 2 birds this summer. I was so proud of her... Particularly the one not long ago where I was home sick from work and the bird flew right into the house and she was on it. Despite her timid nature- she would occasionally show that she had the heart of wild creature.

Then the night before last she wasn't home when I got home from work. A flyer drop yesterday brought initial hope, as someone had spotted her, but the second phone call was the heart breaking one. She had been hit by a car. She was found by an animal lover a block over from me- and he buried her next to his dog who only died last week as well.

I can ask the why questions... Why: how? She was a timid cat. Not one to venture far from me if I was around. Not one to venture far from the back yard- and certainly not on her own without her braver brother or people around. If you would take her out for a walk she wouldn't go far from you, would always keep you within about 5 m of you. What could have caused her to go so far away and on her own? This behaviour was so completely unlike her. I can only imagine that perhaps she saw a bird, and she let the wild creature in her take over and follow it further from home than normal, until she got lost. I could have never anticipated that she would get so far away from her quiet street so far from busy roads and find the danger that she found. The world is not a safe place and every living moment bears a risk.

I can't begin to express my grief in this moment. She was not only a pet; she was a part of my family. Since I got her there wasn't a night where she didn't sleep with me on my bed if I was home. I'll miss her snuggles, her constant demand for grooming and string playing, and how she would kick kick kick with her back legs when she was playing as we did every morning before I left for work. Animals are loyal. I only hope that I can be as loyal to those important in my life as she was to me.

I wish I could explain to her brother Jasper that she is gone and won't be coming back. He will have the real adjustment and he just doesn't understand.

I will always be an animal lover and will never regret letting these wonderful creatures into my life.

Irving Townsend said :

“We who choose to surround ourselves
with lives even more temporary than our
own, live within a fragile circle;
easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps,
we would still live no other way."

And CS Lewis said

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket--safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable."

My animals certainly have had my heart and will continue to do so. There are many more who do not have people to love them and to love. If you've read this and related and it has touched your heart, in memory of Allie make a donation to your local animal shelter. And for those of you with pets (or any of your loved ones for that matter), live each day as if it was their last. Thursday was just another day when I went to work, but when I returned, things were different.

My final plea in memory of Allie is to let those desires of your heart be expressed: be the real you. Follow through with those promises you have made to yourself. Allie had a short life, but she enrichened my life. RIP Allie girl. You are already so missed.

MMP Results

On the 25th November NZ election there was also a referendum on NZ's version of proportional representation. The results were released yesterday- with people in favour of keeping MMP. I am SO puzzled why people would have voted that way. ... Only yesterday did John Key advise the Governer General of the intention to form a government. So after the election, weeks of nothing, I would suppose as he works out his coalition agreements. I don't like MMP because it results in perpetual coalition governments. Small parties or influential one person shows ally with the biggest party and get given too much influence for their portion of support. Voters don't know what they'll get.

In my view good governments do more than just troll through their term bouncing about but instead made decisions and often bold moves. New Zealand's short 3 year election term coupled with the MMP induced lack of a decisive and clear government mandate, in my view weakens the ability of the NZ government to act boldly and decisively for the people of NZ.

Jogging

I arrived in NZ in 2006 and completed my first and only half marathon in early 2007.
A few years ago I competed in a 1/4 marathon. I haven't done much since until I ran the 5km in the South island masters games a month or two back. I've been jogging regularly for the past month or so and recently purchased a Garmin GPS watch. I love it! Now I can check my pace, and all sorts of data and then when I get back analyze how it went. I hope it will get easier over time and I'll be able to build up distance at my current pace.

An auckland trip

My boss & I were flying to Auckland Thursday night. As were were about to Board, there was an annoucment that due to operational requirements we would be flying via New Plymouth. It was later annouced that we'd be picking extra passengers up. I was mighty surprised to see that one of the passengers was none other than a smiling Prime Minister John Key. The fellow in the row in front of me who was from overseas mentioned how good he thought it was, than their key leaders wouldn't fly commercial. I don't think many on the plane minded- we had a good tail wind so ended up only around half an hour delayed. A few people went up and said hello to Mr. Key.
We were staying in Parnell & we stopped at one of the first restaurants we came across- which was Siam I am. I had the best thai chicken dish I've ever eaten. Friday we attended an NZICA course on doing business in Australia which was really good. Then I had a good catch up and visit Friday night through mid day Saturday with one of my former flatmates and we found a tasty mexican restaurant for lunch . I was reminded during the visit how lovely the Auckland waterfront is. The tram that was going through the new Wynyard area didn't have many passengers, but I'd like to do it one day.

Now back in Nelson I've cast my votes in the election today. There were 2 ballots- one to cast the party vote and candidate vote, and the other to cast about whether to keep MMP or not, and what option to go to if it was to be replaced. Interestingly, you mark check marks in NZ, not Xs. Election results should be out tonight. The election campaign is very low key compared to a Canadian campaign- I can't really say I saw anything in the form of attack ads.

A few things

Once again it has been a great while. Things have been busy with me moving in to a new job.

I recently entered the South Island Masters Games in 3 different events and came away with 3 medals. I entered the 3km race walk which I underestimated the pain of. Wow- I could barely walk for several days after from my soreness after having had to land with a straight knee. I threw a discus for the first time in about 15 years and I seem to think I came about 10 m less than I used to. And finally I did a 5km road race and came up with a really good time for me and a bronze medal. A friend and I also attended one of the events: the Harbour cruise. Too bad it was rainy and overcast that day- I'd loved to have seen the view of the Nelson from the Harbour. It was a great event- a 97 year old man competed in the 5km road walk and won a gold medal. I think he really showed a lot about the benefits of staying active.

It's into garden and flower planting season here and I've been going a little crazy. Many different plants planted... Stay tuned for how they turn out and grow.

I really enjoyed watching the Amazing Race Australia which just finished. It was the first season and the Aussies were racing for $250K. My favourite- the cowboys only made it to the final 4 where they were eliminated after a challenging sewing task. I think they picked the Aussie host based on how much he looked like Phil K from the normal American Race. I wish they'd do an Amazing Race NZ! :)

to Canada and back again

I've been rather silent. I was in Canada mid July through mid August.
My flight Auckland to Vancouver was delayed. I arrived at Vancouver airport about an hour and a quarter before my connecting flight. After clearing customs I RAN through to the domestic transfer desk, got my boarding pass, went through security and then RAN to my gate where my aircraft was boarding. I am thankful the security person didn't select me- from the time he was spending on the person a number in front of me, I think I would have missed my flight. I arrived in sunny and HOT Regina later that evening and had a few days in the Regina area catching up with friends. I then took STC bus up to Glaslyn where I was picked up by mom and dad. I had nearly a week with them. Next on the holiday trail was some time camping in the Meadow Lake Provincial Park. In small Saskatchewan fashion, after selecting Mistohay Lake to camp at, we met our neighbour who turned out to be related to my uncle and aunt. We also spotted a bear at the neighbouring camp site just across the road. Thankfully the neighbours boxer dog scared him away later that night for the duration of our trip. We had quite a wild thunderstorm during the first night there- it was amazing how the tent lit up, lightning flash after lightning flash. Thankfully we didn't get the big hail some of the other campsites just up the road did. Next on the holiday trail came a half day shopping at West Edmonton Mall. This was done en route to Kelowna where we had a few days visiting with mom/ dad/ my brother and sis in law/ my first niece and my other brother and his girlfriend. That was all good family time. And then we flew to Vancouver Island and had 4 1/2 days there, before we had to transit back to Vancouver and return home. I could never live in Tofino with its summer cloud and fog cover, but it was a beautiful place to visit. We had an amazing encouter with 2 humpback whales when we went on the hot spring boat tour. I don't think I've ever been so amazed and so afraid all at once. It was sad to see the end of holidays, but it was definitely a good break. We returned to quite the cold snap with many flights cancelled the day we arrived. Thankfully, ours was only bumped back a couple of hours. Welcome back to winter- which in Nelson thankfully consists of a lot of sun.

Of referendums and Political Party ads

Received in the post this week: my address check and information for the upcoming election and referendum on 26th November. The questions on the voting system are as follows:

1) The first is whether you think New Zealand should keep MMP (the current system) or change to another voting system.

2) The second question asks which of the 4 other voting systems you would choose if New Zealand decides to change from MMP: first past the post, preferential voting, single transferable vote, or supplementary member. You can read more about them at www.elections.co.nz

My answer on the first question will be simple. I've not been overjoyed to see how the NZ MMP system has worked to date. (A brief precis- there are currently 120 members- 70 come from electorate districts and 50 from the list. We all get 2 votes- one for a local candidate and also a party vote. The party vote is used to determine the total portion of members a party will get in the house- more or less. To get a member either an electorate must be won, or a minimum of 5% support must be obtained.) This pretty much guarantees coalition governments are the norm. Voters are not quite sure who will coalesce with who- and what the government will look like. I support a system which allows the voters to know what they will get should the party they vote for come into power- and also which will allow the government the mandate to govern and take decisive action in the manner that was supported by many voters.

The answer to the second is more difficult- I'll need to do more homework.


This week I also received a brochure from the Labour party in the post box. The front shows a basket of groceries and says "Prices are rising faster than wages, a 20% increase in just 8 months". On the back it has Labour's plan- which is to take GST off fresh fruit and veges, to make the first $100 of income tax free, to have a tax system where everyone pays their fair share of tax, and to keep kiwi assets like power companies and help keep power prices under control. They've contrasted their view of National's policy- to sell assets, borrow for tax cuts, put the GST up, and cut kiwisaver.

This is one of the most interesting brochures I've seen in a very long time- certainly during in my time in NZ. Almost every single item could be discussed in great detail. Re: the GST on veg & fruits comment: the price of fruit and vege in NZ varies dramatically based on seasonality. I pay a fortune for tomatoes year round because I want to keep eating them- the grocery stores aren't afraid to shoot their prices up in winter and people like me continue to pay. We had a recent GST rise from 12.5% to 15%. I see I am purchasing my peppers for $1.99 each now. I can't recall that they were a fraction less prior to the GST rise. It appears to me the grocery store set their prices. Labour seems of the view that grocery prices are set in stone and will not be impacted by government action. They seem to believe in good faith the grocery stores will not take the 15% cut into their own pockets. I'm more skeptical. I can not support this policy to reduce government revenues without any guaranteed benefit to consumers. On the second front, New Zealand currently has a wonderfully simple GST system to administer compared to other countries like Canada and Australia as GST is applied to a broad base of transactions without the exceptions other systems use that make tax accountants lots of money but which cause the general business owner confusion . Labour clearly supports increased administration. I could not support this policy- whether it is a money maker for accountants, or not.

That's just a comment on one of their comments. I'd love to hear yours...
Let me know what you think on the MMP issue, as well.

Torrents and figures

Well- we've sure been getting rain and rain and rain and rain. This has translated into green grass for my horsey Oscar- which has translated into him being rather hyper and naughty. Now we've gotten into longer nights of darkness so I'm only riding on the weekend. He could use a lot more work.

Work has been a tad bit busy. This accountant is awfully tired of the old thing called "year end!"

I've got a holiday coming up mid July through mid August in Canada- I can't wait!

I'm pleased to hear about the Canadian majority government. We've got an election coming up later in the year. PM Key annouced it months ago - with some stability to come in advance of Rugby World Cup. I'd love to see a majority here- it's rather tricky with the proportional representation.

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.