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.

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.

Of earthquakes & stray cats...

First on the stray cat business. Probably 6 or even 8 weeks ago I spotted my cat Allie chasing another cat in my yard. I saw it jump onto the fence, and I assumed it returned to its own home. This process repeated a couple of times over another few days. Still- I assumed it was being a persistent annoying neighbour- like Charlie the Burmese cat from across the road. I have a water glass out on the deck for my cats and wondered why it was disappearing at a rapid pace. I often saw my cats peering into the bushes in the evening. Finally connecting the dots one evening- I found Straw the stray cat sleeping in the bushes in my yard. I got a wee bit of my cats food to see if she seemed hungry. She was ravenous. It seemed clear she had been sleeping in the bushes for days. I still wondered if she had an owner (although I would have been unimpressed by how little they were feeding her- she was skinny). I put a collar on her with a note looking for her owner and started feeding her regularly. Within a week she was looking much better and I had not heard from anyone. She was getting more comfortable in my yard, even sneaking in the house when the door was open. I took her to the vet about 2 or 3 weeks ago to get her checked out. It turned out she had an abscess which I had treated. Part of the treatment involved me squeezing the yucky stuff out- a painful process. She was forgiving and would return for a pet shortly after. She began to display her extreme affection for people. She would follow me out to the street or mailbox if I went there. If I sat on the couch she would try and sneak in to sit on my lap. When I let my cats out, she would sneak in to sleep on my bed. I started to really enjoy her and her personality- but as she got more comfortable my cats got more jealous. Originally they stopped chasing her in the yard, but as she invaded the house they would be very jealous. Allie would sometimes not eat and I wondered if it was related. Jasper would swat and chase her- even though the glass deck doors. I had them away for a weekend in the Marlborough Sounds and they were very happy. It became clear upon their return and non normal behaviour they weren't adapting well. It became time to find a home for Straw the stray (so called because she would drain the glass with water so low it looked like she had used a straw). Last weekend a work mate came to see her, but today told me she had decided against a long haired cat. But thanks to my friend Jill- she told me about a fellow who was looking for a cat. Him and his daughter came and visited Straw tonight & took her to her new home. I'm delighted she has found a home where she can be the centre of attention and where she'll be loved. I do feel a little sad to say goodbye to such a wonderful, friendly cat and hope she settles in well at her new home.

In other news, Tuesday was a dark day in New Zealand. I was to attend the More FM Winery Tour that evening (Midnight Youth, Opshop & Brooke Fraser), and at work in the morning we looked at the paper and saw raindrops covering almost the whole of the South Island in the papers weather map. Just after 1 a colleague had been reading the stuff news and announced about the earthquake. As the info started to roll in, the mood dropped. A few of my workmates were also due to the concert in the evening. We all went, but the crowd was rather subdued, the rain suited the mood of the day. A big one, a shallow one, with a big impact on the old CBD- at mid day with many people at work in tall buildings. Not good. It is interesting how such an event brings out the best and the worst in people. There are the people who help random strangers doing whatever they can. There are the search and rescue teams from NZ and many from abroad. There are the doctors, engineers, courier companies and others doing their bit. There is a resolute mayor standing firm in a difficult situation and displaying his leadership skills. And then there are the looters, the rioters, those who try to take advantage of the disadvantaged when the order that is maintained in a normal society is interrupted. Like many, my heart and thoughts are with the people of Canterbury.

Here are a few websites where people can get information:
http://canterburyearthquake.org.nz/
http://police.govt.nz/christchurch-earthquake
To donate to the NZ Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org.nz/donate

Thoughts...

On the horsey front, I've decided to try the English world. I bought a used mounted Wintec 500 complete with 4 different gullets off trademe. I spent nearly 2 hours the day it arrived browsing the net trying to figure out where the stirrups and girth attach. How silly I felt when I realized the stirrups attach in a completely different place than the girth. :) I had a couple of sensible horsey persons visit and they thought the saddle seemed to fit my Oscar well with the black gullet in it. My first ride was a little adventurous. I had the stirrups WAY too long and the girth WAY too loose... After stopping mid journey I managed to get the stirrups the right length and the girth done up somewhat tighter and better. (But I found it so very hard to try and get it tight when you have to do up a buckle, the slip through method on the western seems so much easier...). Trip #2 seemed a bit better as an english riding friend taught me the trick of doing up the girth when mounted. We're still not completely sure what we think we prefer- english or western. My seat feels much better english and Oscar seems more responsive. I also love how light the english saddle is. I do miss the stability and stirrup size of a Western saddle. We'll keep working our way through them and see which we ultimately prefer. Perhaps we'll keep both and use each at different times. I did a session with Oscar in the arenas on the weekend, but think I actually prefer working and learning with him out on the trail. He seems much more responsive. It is so difficult to get him to side step on a rail, but he does it well to open a gate.

I've been continuing on my health / better diet attempts for the past few weeks. I bought a $20 for 20 day pass at Cityfitness gym and went 2 or 3 times a week for the past couple of weeks. I was surprised to rediscover how much I enjoyed going to to the gym. One day I went after work when I was feeling completely exhausted and drained- I returned feeling great after a bit of cardio and a lot of weight machines. I've tried to go on nights I haven't done pilates, horseback riding or jogging. I think I may buy a membership in winter when it's harder to get the outdoor exercise. I heard on the radio today regular memberships start from $15.90 per week so its not exactly cheap...

In other thoughts, I had recently heard a quotation that caught me and went searching the internet for it. I was able to find a few versions of it on Wikiquote:
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Marianne_Williamson
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.... Your playing small does not serve the world... As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." (A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles", Harper Collins, 1992. From Chapter 7, Section 3])

In other words, live the dream. Face the fears. Step out. Take the chance. And in doing so- inspire others, too. I wonder if the reason little kids (and us big kids too) enjoy stories so much is that that they speak deeply to the dreams that exist within each human heart. Dreams that are not tempered by the size of the obstacle. We all have a story to write. What are your thoughts- what does this quote say to you- and do you agree with its premise?

Happy New Year!

It has been a while. I shall endeavor to post more regular updates in 2011.

When I last posted I talking about just starting to get started on a more healthy lifestyle. I started trying to jog about 3 times per week, and do pilates, horseback riding or walking most other days. I can notice a definite improvement in my ability to walk uphill. I'm not sure if the jogs are getting any easier. I did go out for 90 minutes on NYs Eve and that was a challenge. I involved hills, and it was a lot warmer than normal since I usually go out at 6am and that was in the evening. That is my longest run this season to date.

I've also started riding Oscar, my horse, regularly. After buying him at auction in late November I did a few lessons before I managed to track down gear including a used Charlie Leach Western saddle (1979 vintage). My first ride out he was pretty difficult. We passed some horses with riders going the other way and it was a REAL mission to keep him moving forward. He spent many years as a trek horse so its a challenge to make the transition. Since then it has seemed a bit easier each time, although we still struggle when I'm out with others and trying to do something different. It is great to be back in the horsey sphere- anyway.

My cats continue to keep me occupied. Allie & Jasper have decided they like getting up at about 3am! Hopefully this will change sometime quite soon!

More updates

Well, I've done a week at the new job as an Accountant. So far it is a positive change from my prior employment! I hope this shall continue. Despite my 25 minute commute, I'm still getting home at 530 or 6pm so far. Such an early finish was pretty much unheard of at my prior job. I hope it continues.

During my week off between jobs I tried to start on a healthier living approach than what I've done of late- especially during my past 6 months of busy times. My goal is to exercise at least 6 days a week. So far that involves going for short 30 minute jogs (so far I've managed to get up to do it before work 2 of my 5 days), horseback riding, walking up the Centre of NZ or doing pilates. I can't believe how bad my fitness level is. 10 months ago I was used to walking up hill or jogging up hill. Now I struggle at my 30 minute jog and even walking uphill is a challenge. 6 months ago I could do some of the intermediate exercises in pilates. Now I'm struggling with beginners. The video keeps talking about my powerhouse- I feel that I don't have a powerhouse! I'm also trying hard to eat healthier than I have over the past 6 months- where unfortunately I often defaulted to a coca cola for lunch along with some unhealthy fried food at the cafeteria (burgers, fries, etc etc). I'm trying to work on vegetable soups, sandwiches and wraps for lunch. I'm only a week in but so far it has gone okay. Now- to keep it up...

The kittens keep growing up. They are no longer kittens, but of course I still think of them that way. Jasper was at the vet recently for having injured his elbow. I also had Allie in for a sore tummy. They both recovered quickly. Allie continues to insist on getting up at 5am. I now am up at 6 so it does mean a shorter sleep than I was used to.

On a serious note, the papers and air ways are full of updates surrounding the Pike River Coal miners situation on the West Coast. Thinking of all those involved.

Another slow update...

Well... I've been terribly silent of late, haven't I?
I'm currently on holiday. I finished up my old position on Monday. I start a new position as Accountant at a new company next Wednesday. I am enjoying my break!