April Showers

Hello and greetings from New Zealand! (Written on 31st March 2008)

April is just around the corner. So to avoid any April fool's jokes I have decided to write a preemptive mail. Seriously.

The summer here has been long and pleasant. I suppose it was pretty much the same in our first year, although we only caught the tail end of it. Tomorrow is the 2nd anniversary of our arrival. Our second summer seemed to be followed by an early and severe winter. Mind you, we were living in a house that had extra ventilation between the windows and their frames. We found the multitudes of advertisement material in our letter box very handy for plugging up some of those windows. Hopefully this winter will be ok! If we move back to our previous house in time with its lovely ducted heating.

Housing is a depressing thing here in New Zealand. An article today indicated that on an income of $120K a couple without children could barely pay off a house of $375K as the repayments were $900 a week. All the other utilities and food are pricey too. Despite insistence from some we can not buy a house either. The closest thing to suitable for us at this phase of life was $450K. So we are content of being sojourners. I won't bore you with the after tax figures with which we live. So why on earth come to a place like this? Well in many ways we took people's ideas for granted and did our calculations based on house prices in small towns. And in any case housing was never the issue. We wanted adventure and new experiences - and new opportunities for our children. And we certainly have had the adventure!

So we will celebrate our 2nd anniversary tomorrow thankful for all these interesting experiences and people. Kiwis are a diverse bunch. At the heart of things is a people who are poorly defined as a group. As Anzac Day approaches we will remember the greatest defeat of Australian and Kiwi troops on the shore of Gallipoli during the first world war. A country defined by defeat. Add to that the hard truth that the All Blacks have not yet won the Rugby World Cup, and you have a little bit of a problem.

Having been across the ditch this week (the Tasman Sea) I have to say again that the Ozzies are a more cheerful bunch. Most of the people who came to the AHISA conference in Tasmania this week were Australian teachers involved in Pastoral Care in independent schools. More than 300 schools were represented. It was very useful in terms of my work, and very humbling in the sense that we have to look after ourselves in order to look after others. I have not been looking after myself. So things will have to change. A simple formula - when the plane is in trouble, put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others. I did also enjoy the South African contingent there.

As for Tasmania - a very nice island! It's a state within the Australian federation (Commonwealth) and it is really lovely. Not as hot as mainland Australia. Launceston is a town of about 71 000 people on a navigable river. It is one of the oldest towns in Oz and has the oldest independent church school. The hospitality of people was wonderful, and the bonus was the spiritual content - daily chapels, devotions, and good chaplaincy support from the three chaplains involved in the conference.

Roxanne's trip to China is just two weeks away. So there is something exciting on the horizon for her. Sheilagh held the fort well in my absence. Chris has another job interview on Monday, so we are hopeful. David is working long hard days and is exploring working different hours.

Thanks for your emails and news. We always enjoy reading the latest. I know that many are too busy to really sit down with long epistles but short notes are also good. Keep it up.

Happy birthday to my niece Kerry on 1st April! No joke! Have a lovely time! If we have missed any important celebrations, accept belated congratulations. Sheilagh's 50th was great, although I think we should have spoilt her more. Christopher turns 21 on 5th May - just around the corner! Pity that family and his friends are so far away. We will try to cheer him up. Hopefully he will be employed 20 hours a week by then in the IT industry!

On a lighter note:
A little girl asked her mother, 'How did the human race appear?' The mother answered, 'God made Adam and Eve and they had children and so was all mankind made.' Two days later the girl asked her father the same question. The father answered, 'Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved.' The confused girl returned to her mother and said, ‘Mom how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Dad said they developed from monkeys?' The mother answered, 'Well, dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his.'

Blessings and love

Robin

PS it is raining outside. Almost April showers.


Robin Palmer