tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15067334013032302922024-03-05T14:34:42.975+00:00Team PiriniTEAM PIRINI
Keep up to date with where we are, what we have been doing & what we look like!Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-21445057661163440032013-12-27T03:56:00.001+00:002013-12-27T03:56:32.429+00:002013 in review<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What a year! It is with lots of joy & good memories that
we look back on the past year. Although
it has been hard at times, we are thankful every day for the gift God has given
us in Gabriella & its amazing how much our life & photos have changed
as we have spent our first year as parents!
Aside from the normal milestones a baby will bring, our lives this past
year has been full of family, camps & an around the world trip!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We have continued running holiday camps each holidays
(expect July) and really enjoying the team that comes together each time &
the children that come & are changed.
More info, photos & our camp reports can be found on our website: <a href="http://www.lonsdalechildren.blogspot.com/">www.lonsdalechildren.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In February we had 5 awesome days in the beautiful Opononi
with my family in our 4-yearly family reunion.
It was great to catch up with 4 of my 5 siblings & their families,
along with my parents. We enjoyed
fishing, boating & jet skiing with some great food & discussions thrown
in. I am thankful for the legacy of a
loving Christian family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The end of June saw us taking to the skies firstly to the
States to celebrate my brother Jono’s wedding.
We spent a lovely week in Washington State (near Seattle) taking in all
American culture we could, including Independence Day complete with a great
fireworks show. It was very cool to be a
part of Jono’s wedding & really enjoyed the great US service & warm
hospitality from Marie’s family. We then travelled on to Ukraine where we
stayed in our house for a month & caught up with lots of friends &
enjoyed being back where we had lived for about 3 years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrL1FN5JNPSOqnkQcuA0VyiPSX79sR5IIcD5rCQqZX3dCICylwZx4UneWLGWliBeyGv69DUiNGtfx_MVa1KxOmVVsqL2jJZEo7IJKUdRnfR8qCymlaWlW1hbBJ81d-lGbqYPBtG0U9f8/s1600/Inreview.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrL1FN5JNPSOqnkQcuA0VyiPSX79sR5IIcD5rCQqZX3dCICylwZx4UneWLGWliBeyGv69DUiNGtfx_MVa1KxOmVVsqL2jJZEo7IJKUdRnfR8qCymlaWlW1hbBJ81d-lGbqYPBtG0U9f8/s1600/Inreview.png" height="452" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are still in the process of renovating parts of our house
in Kaitaia. We have completed the
lounge, guest room & Gabriella’s room.
Our summer project is to work on the new bathroom, slowly but
surely. It didn’t help that we found a
60 year old concrete fireplace in one our walls that we had to demolish! School
has been quite hard work for Jon this year, he has taken on a few extra
responsibilities which have taken up extra time & effort, especially as the
school has been without a Principal. He
is looking forward to the new year & the direction a new Principal will
bring. Playing at church has also kept
his busy, along with music students, the odd gig & perfecting his coffee
skills. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we look forward to 2014, I will be starting a
new business (After School Care) which should keep me extremely busy. We are also looking to carry on with camps –
registering them with OSCAR & expanding to 4 camps per year. We love having people over for a coffee or to
stay a night or two, so if you are in the area, please feel free to pop in or
contact us. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have a great 2014 & keep
in touch.</span></span>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-18891431691691275152012-12-07T22:06:00.005+00:002012-12-07T22:08:57.918+00:002012<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQfaIQqZ8dm_StZetyv0nnV2b8gj2KIaxpQVDiHoH2yQ_dBW7znBpChU0t40ZnPgWS7x4pxV4XWV06WB1YETEuJN3MhXQPVnGy3Pyjxor3U3rRTgzrp2fPkWh4u16RUj5jaMXnuiHAKE/s1600/Picture1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQfaIQqZ8dm_StZetyv0nnV2b8gj2KIaxpQVDiHoH2yQ_dBW7znBpChU0t40ZnPgWS7x4pxV4XWV06WB1YETEuJN3MhXQPVnGy3Pyjxor3U3rRTgzrp2fPkWh4u16RUj5jaMXnuiHAKE/s320/Picture1.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying Matauri Bay on our 10th wedding anniversay</td></tr>
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To say 2012 has been a life-changing year is almost an under-statement. It is interesting to look back over the last 12 months and see how much has changed since this time last year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWu711c2zlyNfg4dWx_nAid16BVwrrJ1gxnEjcY1mFeFBhKa4g_v50j3A-FTcunQCX-APmP6syc_29z_g9gVN-c7eIOP_T5kACkOUMObzKF_AzntvoHAcUGfj6hrxv4v1cCOpuvGCZYTg/s1600/Picture6.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWu711c2zlyNfg4dWx_nAid16BVwrrJ1gxnEjcY1mFeFBhKa4g_v50j3A-FTcunQCX-APmP6syc_29z_g9gVN-c7eIOP_T5kACkOUMObzKF_AzntvoHAcUGfj6hrxv4v1cCOpuvGCZYTg/s320/Picture6.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jay's first Kingfish</td></tr>
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The year started off in a cruisy manner with continued renovations to our lounge, a great summer camp, trips to the beach & some good fishing. <br />
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Jon continued on in his job as a secondary music teacher, taking on another day per week & more students. He also volunteered with the ambulance service (St John) and completed a few courses throughout the year to now be at a level of “First Responder.” Playing on the music team at church and renovations on our house has also kept him busy. <br />
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I was offered 2 permanent days at the same school as Jon & with my other day continuing on from last year, 3 days of work a week became my routine. I continued to volunteer at Girl Guides, and spent considerable amounts of time on the preparation &administration of the 3 camps we have run this year. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaQ5yd_YhkwH-GNNEaQHA4zm0trVTKwoASI0-KGlE39EkoDsbsPjHarSmziMtUzDpUKoX6YyEjao4YjI_mYtdnLU39JpQSXP0TWXwLgMLnSskLHCGqQE2nhLJGYVjuSFRzKk2SWMiOn8/s1600/Picture4.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaQ5yd_YhkwH-GNNEaQHA4zm0trVTKwoASI0-KGlE39EkoDsbsPjHarSmziMtUzDpUKoX6YyEjao4YjI_mYtdnLU39JpQSXP0TWXwLgMLnSskLHCGqQE2nhLJGYVjuSFRzKk2SWMiOn8/s1600/Picture4.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What was put back into my body!</td></tr>
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Early March saw us in Auckland for over a week as we completed the IVF process. It was an interesting ride – one I wouldn’t care to repeat again. BUT we were over-joyed and very thankful when the results came back not long after to say we were pregnant. The rest of the year then began to fit into the different phases of pregnancy. You can read about the whole journey on my blog at <a href="http://www.roofellin.blogspot.com/">www.roofellin.blogspot.com</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7nqXEbFLqe7uus8N-YpDwFdJ57QKcwTLBsjV3LTgRjWsZVuXlzAMNIX7Ar5O8WfG1Zf53jrDWha04snNxZkSFTZKn4wwBi00shaT4QxcAwUZ_Zu3-DP5BNpADS60mG2lv0DkQJVE5eg/s1600/Picture7.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7nqXEbFLqe7uus8N-YpDwFdJ57QKcwTLBsjV3LTgRjWsZVuXlzAMNIX7Ar5O8WfG1Zf53jrDWha04snNxZkSFTZKn4wwBi00shaT4QxcAwUZ_Zu3-DP5BNpADS60mG2lv0DkQJVE5eg/s200/Picture7.gif" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bruno</td></tr>
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We enjoyed having friends from Tauranaga come & visit us in Easter, when we enjoyed a bit of fishing & some good weather. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDdPbzIsBHpJy8pNzzp9uVuv279ryYUBUV9c_eX1lV58ypOFY8ANczmAdTBsZeYm2bKq_qv8iI77t_Sa5gSM3PJFUaTq5zORtqUExwdr_GMKbHzRTDc4y69VUEsi_k2OA8nJkTnYRoKs/s1600/Picture5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDdPbzIsBHpJy8pNzzp9uVuv279ryYUBUV9c_eX1lV58ypOFY8ANczmAdTBsZeYm2bKq_qv8iI77t_Sa5gSM3PJFUaTq5zORtqUExwdr_GMKbHzRTDc4y69VUEsi_k2OA8nJkTnYRoKs/s200/Picture5.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the same hen??</td></tr>
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My sister & her family came to visit us in the July holidays, and again we enjoyed some fishing and other activities. <br />
We also had a few pets added to our family in the way of 3 chickens (fresh eggs everyday) and 1 crazy kitten/cat. <br />
We also enjoyed spending most Saturdays during the winter watching our nephews play soccer. It is nice to have family so close & be apart of their lives. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrMKxwWQx5zdKjcOc0_rKG14mByf3i02NH-20y4R3h2Zqo6s5N5HAY5WYF_Qj1rj3ygYaY_YTwCMfLQTg5Ni9FitajOvtKdFXEgzLdCPGwDEeuL73Trvz71GbWNJpzpveMpo4Ih_jT_M/s1600/Picture2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrMKxwWQx5zdKjcOc0_rKG14mByf3i02NH-20y4R3h2Zqo6s5N5HAY5WYF_Qj1rj3ygYaY_YTwCMfLQTg5Ni9FitajOvtKdFXEgzLdCPGwDEeuL73Trvz71GbWNJpzpveMpo4Ih_jT_M/s320/Picture2.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Reunion</td></tr>
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Spring saw us starting to prepare for the arrival of our baby, I stopped working & Jon started on the baby’s room. It all seemed rather surreal, but on November 28th, Gabriella Ruth Grace Pirini was born. She is an amazing and beautiful gift from God, who continues to blow us away. At this stage we are just settling into life with her, but she is very good & is sleeping & eating well. For a whole lot more photos of her go to <a href="http://flic.kr/s/aHsjD78wkc">http://flic.kr/s/aHsjD78wkc</a><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-n4S2Sqe4iVZcWTtbfzzUJlKpBDaZzsf6Uq2X_iHQOO9zi41Bpw3c5IMqqz4YddhMeTWODybbWRkmK5dE06el2zz522IueRCSTmfOnEk5BMqKWdJZw3EnvemsfydhRhQ6pIIMksOiRw/s1600/Picture3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-n4S2Sqe4iVZcWTtbfzzUJlKpBDaZzsf6Uq2X_iHQOO9zi41Bpw3c5IMqqz4YddhMeTWODybbWRkmK5dE06el2zz522IueRCSTmfOnEk5BMqKWdJZw3EnvemsfydhRhQ6pIIMksOiRw/s320/Picture3.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabriella Ruth Grace Pirini -- 7lb 11</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiuHZFsmKOD6fiap-GSjg-18hiPaVLzaky_62yGJzwaOrWn5XY7wGc3zJEWzZVqoncd3bueVBZcJMs_r3uAstT509WGp2FPIgMofO4-itfEq3KefK2ee7rE-fYR_VFPmK9byr1wwkNbI/s1600/Picture8.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiuHZFsmKOD6fiap-GSjg-18hiPaVLzaky_62yGJzwaOrWn5XY7wGc3zJEWzZVqoncd3bueVBZcJMs_r3uAstT509WGp2FPIgMofO4-itfEq3KefK2ee7rE-fYR_VFPmK9byr1wwkNbI/s320/Picture8.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lounge progress</td></tr>
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As we look ahead to the next year, Jon will continue in his same job (although he will now be fulltime). We will still aim to run 3 camps this year – see <a href="http://www.lonsdalechildren.blogspot.com/">www.lonsdalechildren.blogspot.com</a> for the reports of these camps & how God is at work there. Our plan is also to travel in the middle of the year for about 6 weeks to both the States & Ukraine. Near the end of the year I might look at going back to work for one day a week. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQogK7G0S1gW4U4N-tDYK6JG0-ORizZEjfTXUT_MJo5FWeLLwM3mYyih8tSI7ZRj3n1ZGVemCmB3_ytScm6KxhbqyZjAJrEiJy4jdq0hhzT74V7wv12Y9P2CFk-NoBKEdMbmnp-4vd0U/s1600/Picture9.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQogK7G0S1gW4U4N-tDYK6JG0-ORizZEjfTXUT_MJo5FWeLLwM3mYyih8tSI7ZRj3n1ZGVemCmB3_ytScm6KxhbqyZjAJrEiJy4jdq0hhzT74V7wv12Y9P2CFk-NoBKEdMbmnp-4vd0U/s320/Picture9.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby room progress</td></tr>
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We look back over this year with thankfulness & glad to have so many people all over NZ & around the world who we see as family who pray & support us. <br />
God Bless & Merry Xmas to you all<br />
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Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-3832928498816174212012-01-03T11:11:00.001+00:002012-01-03T11:24:08.698+00:00Happy New Year 2012<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d09e6fC7rdk/TwLgXWgVDoI/AAAAAAAAFuU/GUGAZr7PTMI/s1600/IMG_0937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d09e6fC7rdk/TwLgXWgVDoI/AAAAAAAAFuU/GUGAZr7PTMI/s320/IMG_0937.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The demolition process</td></tr>
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2011 ended in a rush, and to be quite honest I was quite happy to see the end of it. It has been a good but hard year adjusting to life here in New Zealand again & working through different situations, ideas & thoughts. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hZo65xLggp0/TwLgZgT_pyI/AAAAAAAAFuk/FOBG9l3fCIw/s1600/IMG_0994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hZo65xLggp0/TwLgZgT_pyI/AAAAAAAAFuk/FOBG9l3fCIw/s320/IMG_0994.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New doors from inside lounge</td></tr>
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Moving into our own house at the end of September has been good & given us a space to call our own & work on as we get the chance. We have already taken out a wall to make our lounge bigger & put doors in where there was a window to give us access onto the existing deck. It is a huge improvement & makes it great for indoor/outdoor flow & enjoying the summer evenings. We are in the process of discussing the other projects/renovating we will do with the rest of the house. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-heBjO6Zy8/TwLgYZyXNDI/AAAAAAAAFuc/LmQh-ESzJRk/s1600/IMG_0991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-heBjO6Zy8/TwLgYZyXNDI/AAAAAAAAFuc/LmQh-ESzJRk/s320/IMG_0991.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New doors onto deck</td></tr>
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Our last camp in the October holidays went well, (click <a href="http://www.lonsdalechildren.blogspot.com/2011/11/october-2011-camp-report-once-againthe.html">here</a> for the report) we had a great team of adult helpers & leaders, but not as many children this time. It was awesome to see more people buy into the vision we have & we feel excited as to how God is going to grow this. We are in the middle of preparing for our summer camp, and again it is a roller coaster ride of getting the enough people to help out (still desperately need a cook – any takers?) and other decisions that need to be made, things to be bought etc. Registrations are looking good at the moment & we are hopeful for a full camp. It is amazing the different children who are coming to camp and the positive influence and difference it makes in their lives. It is great to have positive feedback and hear their testimonies. <br />
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The rest of the school year & term ended in a blur, with extra work, exams, school Gala’s end of year break-ups, prizegivings, Christmas etc. We were looking forward to the holidays with great expectation, and it has now been nice to potter around our place gardening and settling in properly to our house. We head away tomorrow for a few nights break to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary – the years have flown!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CiSRn8ImoAU/TwLgb0Xze0I/AAAAAAAAFu0/l4TYxt910cM/s1600/IMG_1230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CiSRn8ImoAU/TwLgb0Xze0I/AAAAAAAAFu0/l4TYxt910cM/s320/IMG_1230.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Dad playing Wii</td></tr>
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We have had our follow-up appointment at the Fertility clinic which kick-started our IVF cycle which begins for real at the end of February. It is with some excitement but also anxiousness/trepidation that we look forward to this process. No doubt it will be a trying time, but whatever the outcome we are confident that God is in control and we can trust Him.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OVE4t9Jw9To/TwLgauZiyPI/AAAAAAAAFus/BabcU0JE-ZQ/s1600/IMG_1197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OVE4t9Jw9To/TwLgauZiyPI/AAAAAAAAFus/BabcU0JE-ZQ/s320/IMG_1197.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New nephew -- Isaac</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The rest of the year for us looks similar to last year, although as we have now shifted into town we will not be going to the church in Pukenui that we have been attending, which also means we will no longer be running the youth group & after-school club there. We are not sure which church we will be going to yet, but one that is a bit closer. We aim to make camps our focus this year, and not be involved so much in other church activities. It is our intention to keep volunteering for Girl Guides and St Johns though. <br />
<br />
We wish you all the best for 2012 and would love for our paths to cross this year in some way shape or form.<br />
<br />
PS And we are pretty thankful NZ won the rugby world cup :-)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q0o3nEy2ya0/TwLgdDJBw3I/AAAAAAAAFu8/HKi4L9siaSs/s1600/PICT9401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q0o3nEy2ya0/TwLgdDJBw3I/AAAAAAAAFu8/HKi4L9siaSs/s320/PICT9401.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tonga v Canada</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-21752076369537033412011-09-05T22:35:00.001+00:002011-09-12T01:49:03.340+00:00September 2011<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonshD-amX1cfS1FH4loo0HeV9jGk1wELCWEAmXZmuQTJLLCumRYht2l_QiQTD9ZC0MsiqnVzkj2gLH3hhQKOHNR77kgIaTxYTrgftnO9VZ7fo46Y6_tQ07XCpvywoTCo5-3FNlkl5eag/s1600/IMG_1146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonshD-amX1cfS1FH4loo0HeV9jGk1wELCWEAmXZmuQTJLLCumRYht2l_QiQTD9ZC0MsiqnVzkj2gLH3hhQKOHNR77kgIaTxYTrgftnO9VZ7fo46Y6_tQ07XCpvywoTCo5-3FNlkl5eag/s320/IMG_1146.JPG" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon in his St John uniform</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;">Its been awhile since we last sent an update & photos! It has also been a year since we left
Ukraine. It seems longer than that &
we often think about Ukraine & miss our friends & house there. Things have been plodding away here with not
a lot happening except for the normal weekly routines. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">Our weeks are pretty much the same consisting of…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">Teaching</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;"> – Jon has 4 days
as a Music teacher, I have 2 permanent days at a couple of schools, but tend to
pick up at least another day each week.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">Youth</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;"> <b>groups</b> – We have one for 11-12yrs on
Wednesday afternoons & one for 13yrs onwards on Friday nights. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">Church</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;"> – Jon leads the
singing & I teach Sunday school every 2<sup>nd</sup> month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">Lessons</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;"> – I am still
learning drums – slowly but getting there.
Jon is continuing with his part-time Bible College & enjoying
that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">Tutoring</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;"> – I have a few
students who I help after-school in their homework or other subjects they are
struggling in. Jon teaches music lessons
to a few people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2O00rKnY-gb9PllVcTWPQrGBg1Pq2oI4JxgEhtGg-vZoQRz7oc3AWI-A1UBStjW29HqwziM_y7wQdDK1uSgnsH9gFQwbr8Wye66TduHkyqM2J08FopFXR6VOhB2ENZ0UXZ046l6c0uo/s1600/kauri.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2O00rKnY-gb9PllVcTWPQrGBg1Pq2oI4JxgEhtGg-vZoQRz7oc3AWI-A1UBStjW29HqwziM_y7wQdDK1uSgnsH9gFQwbr8Wye66TduHkyqM2J08FopFXR6VOhB2ENZ0UXZ046l6c0uo/s320/kauri.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A really old Kauri tree & our nephews</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">Volunteer work</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;"> – Jon has
completed all the courses to become a St John ambulance officer & I am a
Girl Guides leader which is every Tuesday afternoon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">Sport </span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">-- during the
winter this has consisted of us watching our nephews play soccer most
Saturdays. Now the weather has started
to warm we are playing touch every Sunday afternoon & hope to put a youth
team into the local tournament next term.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">Camps </span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">– we had a great
camp in April (see <a href="http://www.lonsdalechildren.blogspot.com/">www.lonsdalechildren.blogspot.com</a>
for the report) and are in the middle of planning one for these coming holidays
in October. These are definitely what we
enjoy doing although a lot of hard work!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXTQfhMQEVs2K1PmUA4AF1BWNL-u8JWJniez7jpJ8N4d-YOIzIWVUUBn2YyAFfG0HZpTY7JXaSAWuirpV_wbFzK5Fpl8608hBKAAb6LNOgstF09ep8d1vTvlbzf4AWmU5eWWA-GI4BrE/s1600/jaykanga.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXTQfhMQEVs2K1PmUA4AF1BWNL-u8JWJniez7jpJ8N4d-YOIzIWVUUBn2YyAFfG0HZpTY7JXaSAWuirpV_wbFzK5Fpl8608hBKAAb6LNOgstF09ep8d1vTvlbzf4AWmU5eWWA-GI4BrE/s320/jaykanga.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon's mate Joey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">School Holidays </span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">-- Last holidays we
enjoyed a NZ bush walk with our nephews & saw some mighty Kauri trees. We also flew to Australia for a week or
so. It was good to catch up with Jono in
Sydney & Gaven in Tasmania & see where they live etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">Family -- </span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">Jon’s parents live
just across the road & his sister 10 mins down the road on a diary farm, so
we see each other often. It is really
nice to be a tangible part of our nephews growing up & developing a good
relationship with them. Our oldest
nephew has just left home & joined the army so we miss him. Every Sunday afternoon I help milk the cows
on the farm which I really enjoy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp71Zny7WfmLbB0GIWFxHzhDZ5xTBn7_JRVqTUgybBntWymFBOvDvWwLkxqrIREpMXL0VXiL4lITv40PDlzwqQDT7WJYu2x9X20bykGB3cNmsoRhyphenhyphen3shZOzhDRQJURZfRuG829n3R1MNY/s1600/lamb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp71Zny7WfmLbB0GIWFxHzhDZ5xTBn7_JRVqTUgybBntWymFBOvDvWwLkxqrIREpMXL0VXiL4lITv40PDlzwqQDT7WJYu2x9X20bykGB3cNmsoRhyphenhyphen3shZOzhDRQJURZfRuG829n3R1MNY/s320/lamb.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nickolas with our lamb</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">Recreation </span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">-- We have watched
a few good movies lately (& some dumb ones!) enjoying some good books, (esp.
the cookbooks!) keeping the vege garden going, watching the rugby, fishing
(&surfing) has been on the back burner since the water went cold, but we
should be looking to get the kayak back into the water very soon & some
more snapper in our freezer!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">Pets</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;"> – Talking about
the freezer…we have bought a pet lamb which we are feeding on the bottle. The idea is to fatten her up </span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14pt;">J</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">The chickens, cat & dog are yet to come…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">IN OTHER NEWS:</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">We are in the process of purchasing a house in Kaitaia (we are currently
living 30 mins north of Kaitaia) which we intend to shift into in about 3 weeks
time. It does require quite a lot of
work, but will be a great project for us.
It is a huge house with potentially 4 bedrooms, so lots of room for you to
come & stay & paint a section while you are here! You can see more
house pics <a href="http://raywhite.co.nz/Residential_Property/Northland/Far_North/Kaitaia/Okahu_Rd/KAA20530">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaohhh9VJPqG9Z_BHcbXx7NFZ_wnPiDOsSXSAYCSwAw4Qh4lDO06sR1VO9PmvpElNMu0jtSY7srwkvDiH_VEDiuE2OJyiw4OS6nn1L-_4Q4h7On_5LKWb3pP0007i4PoyO0HoX070XtTo/s1600/Original1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaohhh9VJPqG9Z_BHcbXx7NFZ_wnPiDOsSXSAYCSwAw4Qh4lDO06sR1VO9PmvpElNMu0jtSY7srwkvDiH_VEDiuE2OJyiw4OS6nn1L-_4Q4h7On_5LKWb3pP0007i4PoyO0HoX070XtTo/s320/Original1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">Future plans?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQT8ghFCyqNY5ooOu5HC2EbIEKU3WeufTuBfn66rBKm-Us6ahdq4ZU8XtWKGUGu-jVkT_RwiADIiP0En_p3hZgLiNAy984ebQBfYMBVOa1p0AwvhC0URuUSJYwN5FWWuQybPxHlhjSXs/s1600/metractor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQT8ghFCyqNY5ooOu5HC2EbIEKU3WeufTuBfn66rBKm-Us6ahdq4ZU8XtWKGUGu-jVkT_RwiADIiP0En_p3hZgLiNAy984ebQBfYMBVOa1p0AwvhC0URuUSJYwN5FWWuQybPxHlhjSXs/s320/metractor.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving Gaven's tractor in Tasmania </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size: 14pt;">Jon has been offered a permanent job starting next year at the school he
has been working in which we have accepted.
IVF starts next March, so we wait & see…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0Kaitaia, New Zealand-35.1173296 173.2675593-35.2212366 173.1096308 -35.0134226 173.42548779999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-65750341870382681902011-03-23T05:31:00.001+00:002011-03-23T05:31:24.329+00:00Autumn 2011<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdnQNq0ZTF04LPs9-ALoRiOht4_bCNjxwttT_nVuD1GUDoz4w-oY-9Noje6OOrQKf5ZYTauxEXBwjIWaq9MNgYQAT6lRZWvi6OIL9KK6vev0_RQz9tO6fQEXK-d7p26LvIhoDwKA5hY0/s1600/jayoffice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdnQNq0ZTF04LPs9-ALoRiOht4_bCNjxwttT_nVuD1GUDoz4w-oY-9Noje6OOrQKf5ZYTauxEXBwjIWaq9MNgYQAT6lRZWvi6OIL9KK6vev0_RQz9tO6fQEXK-d7p26LvIhoDwKA5hY0/s320/jayoffice.JPG" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon's office</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">The mornings & evenings are cooler, the feijoas are ripe, and we are selling Girl Guide biscuits, all of this must mean it is Autumn & nearly Easter! </div><div class="MsoNormal">The school year has started with a roar, and it’s unbelievable to realise that we are already half-way through our term. We have lots of things to keep us more than busy and life is very full. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here is what a typical week for us looks like. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Monday</u> is school for both of us, then I head over to Kerikeri for drum lessons (getting home about 9pm) and every second week Jon meets with St Johns as he is training to be an ambulance officer. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Tuesday</u> is Jon’s day off which normally consists of playing bowls in the morning, Bible College study in the afternoon & cooking dinner – which is normally Borsch.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I go off to school, and then in the afternoon I am a leader at Girl Guides, then after doing the groceries head home for dinner which Jon has made! In the evening we are both doing (with our nephew) a Te Reo (Maori language) course together. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fjpa0IOIoB0_PlxqC_1BbjgSeqcaYhHD4XZ1dpY5ipnlk18Hcc9j0ZyRA8llK7jYbOqCL-AKTz306q8sZFi4zImKKjkR0d3R1g970kpR06eK7M_4AwuHS0aW7lKi1zPHdlibdUkdTnc/s1600/bowls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fjpa0IOIoB0_PlxqC_1BbjgSeqcaYhHD4XZ1dpY5ipnlk18Hcc9j0ZyRA8llK7jYbOqCL-AKTz306q8sZFi4zImKKjkR0d3R1g970kpR06eK7M_4AwuHS0aW7lKi1zPHdlibdUkdTnc/s320/bowls.JPG" width="240" /></a><u>Wednesday</u> is my day off which consists of catching up with stuff & planning for camps, youth group etc. Jon heads off to school, and then in the afternoon we run a club for Year 7&8 students from our local area. Wednesday night is free <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Thursday</u> we both are off to school, then in the evening Jon is running a community guitar group lesson in the local school. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Friday</u> is also school for both of us, then in the evening we run a youth group for the youth in our community. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Saturday</u> seems full of things like fishing, music, gardening, catching up on things, going to different events or spending time with the family. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Sunday</u> we head off to church – Jon plays in the music team, & I teach Sunday school every other month.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We feel like we have a lot on our plates and are constantly busy, but we are coping well with it at the moment & feel like the time is right to be doing all of these things. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>Camps</i></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5dOJYap_AiWpCTMoAnjbDoXPuJKIxLs43rJv9Afk4GEKYZRujfOP-eywhTpBFBvSZbplBmjHX9HLgbi4udlj2xMYb5l8uHv1Hb5WVWy6WCcOou0lY7e8Sak7kvpcXB1zG345_QGU2Io/s1600/youthgame.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5dOJYap_AiWpCTMoAnjbDoXPuJKIxLs43rJv9Afk4GEKYZRujfOP-eywhTpBFBvSZbplBmjHX9HLgbi4udlj2xMYb5l8uHv1Hb5WVWy6WCcOou0lY7e8Sak7kvpcXB1zG345_QGU2Io/s320/youthgame.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Youth group game</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As we come to realise more & more that this is our vision and passion, we have stepped out in faith and have approached a campsite about an hour away from where we live about running Children’s Holiday camps there. They were very supportive and interested and so we are planning on running 3 this year. There is a lot to think about, including the possibility of starting a charitable trust, so we can jump through some legal hoops & access government funding for both the running of the camps, and so parents can get assistance to send their children.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Our first camp is in April, we have advertised it far & wide, but still waiting for a response. We also still need helpers & leaders, but as we wait our faith is building & we are waiting for God to work, rather than running in our own strength. You can check out our website at <a href="http://www.lonsdalechildren.blogspot.com/">www.lonsdalechildren.blogspot.com</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQBKgsG13m_QrFDG1k3ck1joIQA13olcYVbr5MNMwAvWB5fqz7TuyBnS_wGowcPlBnBADQo3JfySiRsZvSLdWEoET0ob9uNuHzZ25o6iMkgrb4SFt4t2NU3vS_06QXMnp4F3ymDuv9fo/s1600/ruthfish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQBKgsG13m_QrFDG1k3ck1joIQA13olcYVbr5MNMwAvWB5fqz7TuyBnS_wGowcPlBnBADQo3JfySiRsZvSLdWEoET0ob9uNuHzZ25o6iMkgrb4SFt4t2NU3vS_06QXMnp4F3ymDuv9fo/s320/ruthfish.JPG" width="240" /></a><b><i>Children</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Not much news on this front yet, except that we have received a date for our IVF, which is March 2012. We have still not decided if we will be going through with this, but the option is there if we decide to. It is all government funded, hence the long wait. Until then, we continue with our healthy, natural diet & keeping the weight off, and other herbal & natural remedies. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eyIpPwogmzPbUikqANAUmCqerHUBrwk371gJXmMWbHrdXFAArWTGbGTyWE9pyK79jZu7DMRjKSD01zHZbOEWKFiOf3Ftq72BK866lTo_3nPA6nDcfJZKQZmvaFqLp_CdE7VKwfR9WwI/s1600/jonfish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eyIpPwogmzPbUikqANAUmCqerHUBrwk371gJXmMWbHrdXFAArWTGbGTyWE9pyK79jZu7DMRjKSD01zHZbOEWKFiOf3Ftq72BK866lTo_3nPA6nDcfJZKQZmvaFqLp_CdE7VKwfR9WwI/s320/jonfish.JPG" width="320" /></a><b><i>Future Plans</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">At this stage we don’t have any, we just keep on doing what we are doing, enjoying life & wondering what is around the next corner. We have many, many things to be thankful for and as both Christchurch & Japan struggle to recover we realise again how much we take for granted each day. By the way, for those people overseas, Christchurch is a long way from us, we didn’t feel a thing, but thankfully all of our family & friends from down there are safe & well. My brother-in-law has been working there since last September in an engineering role & will continue to do so, but he & his family were thankfully not there that day in February. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thanks for your prayers, & keeping in touch<br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwE1Mdt48zv7IG9VSJ4aE8wmgxximT2YyGfvjlCZl83ezjZXyz6MEmYbF87Wa5tH2btSKPF08ty3xGvOf8bLmnBNMAgwuZFWWbSfRJ8Ul-f2f2_ZxfjE_JzHxhumWqK185yAx2UOoubXA/s1600/wedding.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwE1Mdt48zv7IG9VSJ4aE8wmgxximT2YyGfvjlCZl83ezjZXyz6MEmYbF87Wa5tH2btSKPF08ty3xGvOf8bLmnBNMAgwuZFWWbSfRJ8Ul-f2f2_ZxfjE_JzHxhumWqK185yAx2UOoubXA/s320/wedding.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-28512036800156188942010-12-29T04:43:00.002+00:002010-12-29T04:46:13.788+00:00Happy New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibomwYbIkytCAUXEoEKowzlzfJ1MeY7oBtbyWvrh3TFo-iiL6F2bhjw6En3hk0JUbImIZ7tR9AGTXwlNr8J88kMhYWpX8bWMDpgt-luuaztHLAAQGizv0Z8xCyGoE07PT1LHjPwVau6A/s1600/house5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibomwYbIkytCAUXEoEKowzlzfJ1MeY7oBtbyWvrh3TFo-iiL6F2bhjw6En3hk0JUbImIZ7tR9AGTXwlNr8J88kMhYWpX8bWMDpgt-luuaztHLAAQGizv0Z8xCyGoE07PT1LHjPwVau6A/s200/house5.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! (or should I say Happy Holidays)?</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot and a little can happen in three months! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have now been back in NZ for 3 months and it seems as though we have made some progress and in other ways none at all. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Living<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are living in a place called <a href="http://www.maplandia.com/new-zealand/northland/pukenui/">Pukenui</a> (which is 30mins north of Kaitaia) which is were Jon grew up. For the first 2 months we were house-sitting his parents place while they were away in Canada. While they were away our job was to pull out the old kitchen and deisgn & sort out a new one. It was an interesting & at times frustrating project, but one that kept us busy and useful. </span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8MaWiIbGjd7khit065WSZ282S-6owBDBy5LiW2id3HuJ5PgThGbdLF1zvUpm6kPwasn8bN_lZep8MQqBVa27w3mDsnpzBtv1hnY4giEx6YnRWYdUN3TZZye1Ymf9PLrXrTasbEO8kpk/s1600/kitchenafter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8MaWiIbGjd7khit065WSZ282S-6owBDBy5LiW2id3HuJ5PgThGbdLF1zvUpm6kPwasn8bN_lZep8MQqBVa27w3mDsnpzBtv1hnY4giEx6YnRWYdUN3TZZye1Ymf9PLrXrTasbEO8kpk/s200/kitchenafter.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen after</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorfc4vORQ4K_b4OyQsHL3hYYjBa6zPq6Bxobxrns_1KL3gy_vypmH8k_ggNwndXf5fjwQpOngGdYh96v2XWs0JN_d6-oUad3l_uvJJHAFSyyHe7DcpUyI-5kJe0ECE91kSCqscgcFPlk/s1600/kitchenbefore.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorfc4vORQ4K_b4OyQsHL3hYYjBa6zPq6Bxobxrns_1KL3gy_vypmH8k_ggNwndXf5fjwQpOngGdYh96v2XWs0JN_d6-oUad3l_uvJJHAFSyyHe7DcpUyI-5kJe0ECE91kSCqscgcFPlk/s200/kitchenbefore.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen before</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the last month or so we have shifted over the road into a small “portacom” which will be our base from now on. Although it is small (1 bedroom) we have managed to un-pack a lot of our boxes and it is beginning to feel like home. We still love to have people come & stay or visit – we have a big outdoor lounge!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEm6lCnoKSgUXtGwt7zfc9B61ZyCItob7eQdH7qcJbnb08r5y9H3yPcaEXAN0d9ebFUUtQM-oQrFizk7Lpr_KQPzPbmjQhqjtq5WWd8QRYchKf95SfaSZn6_xqi6dqSsQY8Y-rLwvyRA/s1600/house1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEm6lCnoKSgUXtGwt7zfc9B61ZyCItob7eQdH7qcJbnb08r5y9H3yPcaEXAN0d9ebFUUtQM-oQrFizk7Lpr_KQPzPbmjQhqjtq5WWd8QRYchKf95SfaSZn6_xqi6dqSsQY8Y-rLwvyRA/s200/house1.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our lounge</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Work<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coming back right at the end of a year has been good in some ways. Although we have had opportunity to apply for lots of jobs for next year, we have strongly felt that we dont want to jump straight into a fulltime job each. Instead we have given our CV's to 4-5 school principals which has yeilded quite a bit of day to day relieving in the past few months. Through this we have also been able to secure some permanent partime work for the next year. Jon has 3 days as a music teacher at one school, and maybe another half day at another school. At this stage I have 1 permanent day at 1 school, and maybe 3 mornings at another school. We are happy how this has worked out, although it has been rather a process getting back into 'the system'!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Community<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Youth Group<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRyG4jwAQ89iDI0v0BpMxq3hFjCGa6F-k3kZ79MpQ0ZqF-oCYloTiNJv0SfSeodZ56NXcZTuzi89VtrsX9wMqeGkGnGX3o_idw6ZkKGqYU2-nUk-yvxHahb6qMMmeqS1hFF22KikizA8/s1600/house2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRyG4jwAQ89iDI0v0BpMxq3hFjCGa6F-k3kZ79MpQ0ZqF-oCYloTiNJv0SfSeodZ56NXcZTuzi89VtrsX9wMqeGkGnGX3o_idw6ZkKGqYU2-nUk-yvxHahb6qMMmeqS1hFF22KikizA8/s200/house2.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our office</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jon's parents had started a small youth group which we have been given responsibility for. It has been really good to get to know some of the youth, and see them learn & grow. We have also enjoyed the challenge of preparing studies each week for them. We ended the year with a camp, and hope to start it up again in the new year. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Church<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have really enjoyed teaching the Sunday school especially because it is a chance to give input into my nephews. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwx5I1h6GyBhwp4trN2FYTckT5Eoa_4G26GW3_KBU8xegSkFZDEy8yUeuTosPK-ge7wiKCdsXubIpTmGd0TAV3CvBq_QCfJbP8h5IP0hKbgMuVnKPPZYk26unIPSj-k4kGtoOw7Uj9bQ/s1600/house3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwx5I1h6GyBhwp4trN2FYTckT5Eoa_4G26GW3_KBU8xegSkFZDEy8yUeuTosPK-ge7wiKCdsXubIpTmGd0TAV3CvBq_QCfJbP8h5IP0hKbgMuVnKPPZYk26unIPSj-k4kGtoOw7Uj9bQ/s200/house3.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our kitchen</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jon has been involved in the music, and has been asked to lead that next year. He is teaching our oldest nephew some of the songs & getting him involved too. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Outdoor Bowls<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have joined the bowling club and try to make it along every Tuesday. It is mainly retirees and older people, but it is a great chance to enjoy sport & be in amongst the community. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Girl Guides<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have become a Girl Guide leader in what is a very struggling club. It is a great opportunity to be a part of girls lives, teach them & be their friends. I hope to be more involved next year as it starts again. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Future ideas<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jon is thinking about starting evening group music classes for a minimal chrage at the local school, and maybe a recording studio. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am thinking through the possibilities of maybe offerign cooking lessons to youth or people who are on a tight budget. Yet to see how these things will pan out. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LjfVYWUV4qGtcTW5FG781ZSYgM0TsDn2hMBgLLls4iY5Q6TIn6Aslnn0lMmc9VRh5qhB-MMPIeyNytYsimamlktJqU4Z4Grw834MhY4M0_eS9IXUyDPxoYyoDO_C5Z95MjtlHNj-vuI/s1600/garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LjfVYWUV4qGtcTW5FG781ZSYgM0TsDn2hMBgLLls4iY5Q6TIn6Aslnn0lMmc9VRh5qhB-MMPIeyNytYsimamlktJqU4Z4Grw834MhY4M0_eS9IXUyDPxoYyoDO_C5Z95MjtlHNj-vuI/s200/garden.JPG" width="200" /></a><b><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other interests<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gardening<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have started the learning process of growing our own vegetables. We have already enjoyed some of our own produce, and hope to expand this so we can produce more & give away some too.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fishing<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have spent a bit of time doing this lately, with mixed results. We also have a net just over the bank (100m from our house) that we check each day. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCPpTytAq09s_5eEj0n1hX_xa88fkCGrHPmROqfTpYwViDjWnhn7dEnA4cqAYNKdo8cxrMciJ4OyICzUocRw_5IJo_6YnqQM0lSjfwN93lTpiz0P1q1qEhzwfiopQu7FwFTyh7JdCYF0/s1600/fish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCPpTytAq09s_5eEj0n1hX_xa88fkCGrHPmROqfTpYwViDjWnhn7dEnA4cqAYNKdo8cxrMciJ4OyICzUocRw_5IJo_6YnqQM0lSjfwN93lTpiz0P1q1qEhzwfiopQu7FwFTyh7JdCYF0/s200/fish.JPG" width="200" /></a><i><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Milking<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At least once a week I go and help out milking 180 cows on my sister-in-law's diary farm. They think I am strange that I enjoy this, but for me it is quite satisfying!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Future<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the distance it is very hazy, but for now we are here for at least 2011. After seeing a specialist we have placed on a waiting list for IVF which is from 12-20 months long. The differing opinions we have had from our appointments has been confusing and hard to understand. We are unsure of what our next steps are, so just taking it one at a time. </span></span></div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We still have the dream in our hearts of managing a children's camp, whether here or in Ukraine. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have struggled as we settle back down here, adjusting to many different things, and wondering what is going to happen. It has been hard at times, and we sometimes feel like “displaced” people but we have many things to be thankful for.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We hope you have had a blessed Christmas and wish you all the best for 2011. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep in touch & if you are in NZ, we would love for you to come & visit</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ruth Ellen & Jon Pirini </span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuINABnOA5p8Dc1byMUx64h8Ff3QT6CGXeS4R-bRC52d8cJxh09-l5Hl-0PhMbxWxGb3nqKWgBaJbnY1P6TaLHGVmTAoU9cnwbylQD5EGYE1zQ2_eSfjy3WobVXetx1daendzgCeJx9HA/s1600/house4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuINABnOA5p8Dc1byMUx64h8Ff3QT6CGXeS4R-bRC52d8cJxh09-l5Hl-0PhMbxWxGb3nqKWgBaJbnY1P6TaLHGVmTAoU9cnwbylQD5EGYE1zQ2_eSfjy3WobVXetx1daendzgCeJx9HA/s320/house4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our house</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-32765772297395823292010-09-29T03:37:00.000+00:002010-09-29T03:37:28.821+00:00Second Spring?<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Well we have arrived safely with all our baggage to a rather wet, wild & sometimes warm & sunny New Zealand Spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We really enjoyed our last few weeks in Ukraine, making the most of the hot summer days, and having people over for dinner to chill-out on our deck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriz7kndQchgFptqn9thQ5W_L2k0Hf-lKVw_25iGaQDF9g8vPZO9kAAckMyXnaXpQxsj3TT4z9nxFvapNTFrhoo5q9Po4lYeuV0HzTlFkV7lOXxrOxOoz6olEmobAk70BKOyWSpgDMjZ4/s1600/5Q2Y0204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriz7kndQchgFptqn9thQ5W_L2k0Hf-lKVw_25iGaQDF9g8vPZO9kAAckMyXnaXpQxsj3TT4z9nxFvapNTFrhoo5q9Po4lYeuV0HzTlFkV7lOXxrOxOoz6olEmobAk70BKOyWSpgDMjZ4/s200/5Q2Y0204.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The 10 days we had with my sister and her family was great fun – going to the Aqua Park, boat trip on the river, the outdoor museum, a test hangi, and generally just spending time together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The weather then turned very hot as we started to finish off odd jobs on our house, and tie up loose ends before we left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e2PMck6lV5bmaxIYl-M6M1dWO9GetlNBiIjjDPTZ4a123UaJOL-YlQXHP9nNQslm862-oa68FEH8eYhwm1VsyinoZy8RDiATyvC6FxQGWxEUXifjvZDX3rpfot5sMmNFoC9cuNrz1uA/s1600/5Q2Y9803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e2PMck6lV5bmaxIYl-M6M1dWO9GetlNBiIjjDPTZ4a123UaJOL-YlQXHP9nNQslm862-oa68FEH8eYhwm1VsyinoZy8RDiATyvC6FxQGWxEUXifjvZDX3rpfot5sMmNFoC9cuNrz1uA/s200/5Q2Y9803.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">August 21<sup>st</sup> was the day we had planned for our farewell hangi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We counted up who had been invited and figured we would be catering for about 80 or more people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were very fortunate to have Matt & Andy Dow from the far north in NZ to make it all the way to our house for this weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were on a biking trip around Europe and decided to fit Ukraine into the itinerary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other friends also arrived and with a full house we managed to pull off a really nice hangi. We also had live music, a rendition of the haka, and taught everyone how to play the “stick game” (see my blog for more details & video).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a really special night with all our friends, and one that will stay in our memories for a long time to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDSgl34m4GmFRbo4qsSSnuh-P6n0P271pvwNWToBzzje6LCwZgveUjA5DmzSycBObcVwMRqmF4KiCNFO6b7ryKlwL6fCAzUQQGXgnkxhl5_dTjTqvnVhO-41cMU-ktFiUqt4RNemPZ_w/s1600/PICT8192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDSgl34m4GmFRbo4qsSSnuh-P6n0P271pvwNWToBzzje6LCwZgveUjA5DmzSycBObcVwMRqmF4KiCNFO6b7ryKlwL6fCAzUQQGXgnkxhl5_dTjTqvnVhO-41cMU-ktFiUqt4RNemPZ_w/s200/PICT8192.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US">With not many days left we packed our house, bringing only 20kg each with us, said our goodbyes (rather emotional at times) and headed out on the 3<sup>rd</sup> September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Um65Oj1BhGw-kHteuwufJNlrKmxRNBlh7XtvSsvXpqskHeAYdLNCSBvsv22q506sWHWH9sFTfcjqsEsyfkjOwurC_PsJxspLNy9H1zTMIG3nPXha3LGW1bHnhMgKsZPxBzYsCfp7ToM/s1600/PICT8317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Um65Oj1BhGw-kHteuwufJNlrKmxRNBlh7XtvSsvXpqskHeAYdLNCSBvsv22q506sWHWH9sFTfcjqsEsyfkjOwurC_PsJxspLNy9H1zTMIG3nPXha3LGW1bHnhMgKsZPxBzYsCfp7ToM/s200/PICT8317.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">First stop was Dubai, then Delhi, Bangalore, Singapore, before touching down in NZ. I have blogged more detail about each stop (click on the city names to read about it) too much to write here – needless to say it was relief, but a sudden blast of cold that hit us, on arrival in NZ!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We stayed with my parents to start with in Pukekohe, Auckland while we sorted out a car, bank issues (we had $4000 stolen out of our account!), visiting the doctor and other bits & pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was also nice to catch up with my sister & her 3 children, who have obviously grown a lot since we were last here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQmuN9KLdEZPPXhaf4g4ZFQX-Cr1uBAnXY4REyHy5Veu9C6gdn84nNrqfSvFCDycwX6IYgL2Ls3-r5GkhCgwssmtpHrs9OmaRDQL1Mv1cJ-K7Tps26k8BezJGWW1DXA4el1tN5brj-tY/s1600/PICT8446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQmuN9KLdEZPPXhaf4g4ZFQX-Cr1uBAnXY4REyHy5Veu9C6gdn84nNrqfSvFCDycwX6IYgL2Ls3-r5GkhCgwssmtpHrs9OmaRDQL1Mv1cJ-K7Tps26k8BezJGWW1DXA4el1tN5brj-tY/s200/PICT8446.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We are now down in Tauranga, catching up with friends and the church where we used to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are going to Taupo for the weekend, then will visit friends in Rotorua & Hamilton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will head up north to Jon’s family on Thursday, probably with a car-load of boxes!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We have started the path of medical help in regards to having children and have a few appointments lined up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should be an interesting & costly process, but we are pretty chilled out about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zgOqwpJQdhMRPeRe1u_c7-trYJZ-NIjWkeam9UXWIDVc8mIHJb5HfQm7YnylW-8UVUeV7eENcXz45emY39OCzRPc2hAXW5kcXS89IgBPapcD9NH-FiyXnbPdLWXgLq3gH87I0JTjTXM/s1600/PICT8471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zgOqwpJQdhMRPeRe1u_c7-trYJZ-NIjWkeam9UXWIDVc8mIHJb5HfQm7YnylW-8UVUeV7eENcXz45emY39OCzRPc2hAXW5kcXS89IgBPapcD9NH-FiyXnbPdLWXgLq3gH87I0JTjTXM/s200/PICT8471.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We have definitely have experienced some reverse culture shock – why is everyone so polite & helpful?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will take us awhile to get settled but now we realise that there is a lot to not take for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-90237422997217520722010-07-22T15:59:00.002+00:002010-07-22T16:08:28.424+00:00Our summer update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To view the original click <a href="http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B-b2gFWYZY4eZDRhODIwNDItODQ4MC00MDEzLWI2ZDEtNDg2OGFkZjZkYzc3&hl=en&authkey=CKCI3rkE">here</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B_166B4J66NTcU6MzBiGarCnG6vnSmv6A5WSGR3m-xaYakBFzOcVKenUslEm8mWhhMRe4i4Hg6M-_DNSPs04qCWzta_fT2pcgc_7glHVYI1wMJHeliRn4lA-bUNnPnozhm93SLLS1Po/s1600/Summer+2010_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8B_166B4J66NTcU6MzBiGarCnG6vnSmv6A5WSGR3m-xaYakBFzOcVKenUslEm8mWhhMRe4i4Hg6M-_DNSPs04qCWzta_fT2pcgc_7glHVYI1wMJHeliRn4lA-bUNnPnozhm93SLLS1Po/s640/Summer+2010_1.jpg" width="452" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9Bk6o3UJflDOj-d6sI1lbG3qpLASA640lORXkb-xINY2xJYXi2QOD2FTnHHOBP7Q692rg3ywU0DXxtIUCwh1jDj_6-_GSnaEki8Hk874sykPWWq82r73QmguFKb07tEHj7Bbvwin43o/s1600/Summer+2010_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9Bk6o3UJflDOj-d6sI1lbG3qpLASA640lORXkb-xINY2xJYXi2QOD2FTnHHOBP7Q692rg3ywU0DXxtIUCwh1jDj_6-_GSnaEki8Hk874sykPWWq82r73QmguFKb07tEHj7Bbvwin43o/s640/Summer+2010_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-18906712170886662272010-04-09T08:11:00.014+00:002010-04-09T08:48:24.154+00:00Spring 2010<div style="text-align: left;">Click <a href="https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B-b2gFWYZY4eNzhiYTYxZjEtNzg5NS00NjJkLTkzYzUtOGNjOTU0ZjQwNjEy&hl=en">here</a> to view as a PDF<i><b> </b></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>SPRING</b></i></div></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimL5vmUcehDAeU1y2i_CBGs74ojIBAcFhCClgUkqKZR9juzUYKAk2MVcegLMozslzdRfspF-vrQltnRrPVZ1KIiObwX0KOFWg3LoC5gq3v5EMMuKtVQ3SgtMEldMFOZUrSBfLOl1HSILc/s1600/PICT7914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimL5vmUcehDAeU1y2i_CBGs74ojIBAcFhCClgUkqKZR9juzUYKAk2MVcegLMozslzdRfspF-vrQltnRrPVZ1KIiObwX0KOFWg3LoC5gq3v5EMMuKtVQ3SgtMEldMFOZUrSBfLOl1HSILc/s320/PICT7914.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>How much hope does that little word bring? We have had a loooong, white winter with the last of the snow melting about 10 days ago. It’s amazing how our spirits lift when we can get outdoors and be active again. We have had our first BBQ (in jackets), our yard has been cleaned up, grass seeded, and the all-important vege garden competition is underway.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxEA9N2Ugr6tnVoY9-Y2pOLICtmDwwiF6jbFHYPEHDU0KnIFWpDoyAomHKFaw004-aMI9iBEk86xQck8ZiRYkWzNQW3UbUmWQth1CAi_zLTCHqmmjUvaPwR2uP4apRRh_-2iu7BE67bY/s1600/PICT7852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxEA9N2Ugr6tnVoY9-Y2pOLICtmDwwiF6jbFHYPEHDU0KnIFWpDoyAomHKFaw004-aMI9iBEk86xQck8ZiRYkWzNQW3UbUmWQth1CAi_zLTCHqmmjUvaPwR2uP4apRRh_-2iu7BE67bY/s320/PICT7852.jpg" /></a><i> </i><br />
<i>So what else have we been up to? </i><br />
<br />
I have started my study again with my last 3 papers. I have found it enjoyable and stretches my mind. It is good to be busy again. I have continued with my 2 students each week and have been seriously considering turning this kind of tutoring/teaching into an online business venture. I have started blogging again (see <a href="http://www.roofellin.blogspot.com/">www.roofellin.blogspot.com</a>) and enjoying reading other people’s blogs and exercising my intellect this way.<br />
<br />
My friend Cheryl and I have spent some serious hours upstairs finishing off the lining, gib and painting. We laid carpet and then managed to get our couch up the stairs before Jon built the interior walls. We have just had the electricity put in, and with just paint, and few other small jobs to go it is almost finished. It has been a long process, but we are already enjoying the benefits of an extra lounge space/guest bedroom. It also has a fantastic view. This is the last major project we will complete on our house, and we although enjoyable we will be glad it is over, and we can just enjoy having people here. (Photo story at end)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMh-Ens51nciCGE5Pg7ELIQrdcsNmiezuCNUVXxXDc-l5e8oqVcqaGuZeryaAuUMNYvyr1ogD6BDAiPYeQCxJdhGTawqCxpBo_dvZxvcLrs8dY7FrCBk0LiJbKqf4fMz9ONcvf44v7U8/s1600/PICT7927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMh-Ens51nciCGE5Pg7ELIQrdcsNmiezuCNUVXxXDc-l5e8oqVcqaGuZeryaAuUMNYvyr1ogD6BDAiPYeQCxJdhGTawqCxpBo_dvZxvcLrs8dY7FrCBk0LiJbKqf4fMz9ONcvf44v7U8/s320/PICT7927.jpg" /></a>Jon is still travelling every day about 3-4 hours and it is really beginning to take its toll. He is looking forward to finishing up at the school, and having a well-deserved break. He is still music teaching 4-5 people (bass/guitar) each Saturday morn and leading the music at church. His studio is working out really well for this. He also enjoys playing squash each week with my brother. (I have had an injury break for the past 3 months!)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5RDBA43mS_BIqhiucfTj3bHzWjRybmdSOLA3BX5Ipj7Vs4syjtF06K0i335UI955YRJ0ispfvv3OZ7Uyvj21C2e4i5JvyFsk3RnKWz5fpZqz6v98bp4cO_6XQA8__VBgHLf-EZ73ECM/s1600/PICT7937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5RDBA43mS_BIqhiucfTj3bHzWjRybmdSOLA3BX5Ipj7Vs4syjtF06K0i335UI955YRJ0ispfvv3OZ7Uyvj21C2e4i5JvyFsk3RnKWz5fpZqz6v98bp4cO_6XQA8__VBgHLf-EZ73ECM/s320/PICT7937.jpg" /></a><br />
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This summer is looking fun & busy for us. We are happy to have my parents visit in June for about 3 weeks, and then my sister and her family will also visit at the end of July for 10 days. We think we also might put on a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C4%81ngi">hangi</a> at our place for our friends and neighbours near the end of August.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnwSarnts5Ler1874BEnnlIxor-0zKm72OVhrBgnwq5UTGXX_OeAEY-E0kwz7uLpVqxLXi4QG57mVlCQHYwGVJLO70pqAc3QwoSoo12Lmyedqs6_LiRrUQ4-KdLks02xLTVbjNmhXfWg/s1600/IMG_8959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnwSarnts5Ler1874BEnnlIxor-0zKm72OVhrBgnwq5UTGXX_OeAEY-E0kwz7uLpVqxLXi4QG57mVlCQHYwGVJLO70pqAc3QwoSoo12Lmyedqs6_LiRrUQ4-KdLks02xLTVbjNmhXfWg/s320/IMG_8959.jpg" /></a><br />
About a month ago my brother borrowed our car, and through no fault of his own had a major accident and wrote it off! (<a href="http://roofellin.blogspot.com/2010/03/rip.html">Full story here</a>) So we are very thankful to God that he walked out alive, but we no longer have a car. We have decided to rent a car for the next 5 months, BECAUSE in 5 months time we will be travelling back to NZ. We have booked our tickets and leave here on the 3rd September, spending time in Abu Dhabi, Delhi, Bangalore, & Singapore, before arriving in NZ on the 14th September. We have bought one-way tickets, but still with the idea of returning here at some stage. We hope to rent our house while we are gone.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-IPEd96UiSVnj-HcGfl9E9ZeFn0cwYl8eKGuNVGmfwvrxkDb07i8HKid3ynkZTEeisIfoD_poF8XuecYEKkei44w-J_SfADCNRgqQcnmQ2KtpcT1FUgB8nU0OUYRspQr2x3_sx7E0Pg/s1600/PICT7894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-IPEd96UiSVnj-HcGfl9E9ZeFn0cwYl8eKGuNVGmfwvrxkDb07i8HKid3ynkZTEeisIfoD_poF8XuecYEKkei44w-J_SfADCNRgqQcnmQ2KtpcT1FUgB8nU0OUYRspQr2x3_sx7E0Pg/s320/PICT7894.jpg" /></a>We seem to be at a crossroads in regards to making a decision about the future. We have come to a place <br />
here now where we are setup with house and language skills (well Jon at least) and now do we take <br />
the plunge and commit long-term, or is it time to move on. We really want something specific to return to here. At this point it seems as though we are the batsman ready to run (somewhere) and are getting <br />
the call “WAITING” and are yet to see whether it is <br />
waiting no, or waiting yes.We do know that God holds the future, and we can trust in Him. <br />
<br />
Looking forward to seeing a lot of you later on in the year – be great to catch up when we are back in NZ <br />
with a lot of friends and family. <br />
Keep in touch, <br />
Ruth & Jon <br />
<br />
<i>Upstairs progress…</i> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-72232985125538665392010-01-12T18:41:00.011+00:002010-01-12T19:46:35.948+00:00Happy New Year<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLf-TSWZjtch_BLGSv11eHPuBXDOMvj4PLIDpwVpC65t1TOQ7Y6j3FQWsYkM_7tevDh9qwNU_LhNiWzT8p1mt6C7NNwDJJWON9h8MKMW2-NASfcm8fjwWr7lswtaPyxUULu3oQq1u7Y4/s1600-h/09_01+Snow+%26+Upstairs+022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLf-TSWZjtch_BLGSv11eHPuBXDOMvj4PLIDpwVpC65t1TOQ7Y6j3FQWsYkM_7tevDh9qwNU_LhNiWzT8p1mt6C7NNwDJJWON9h8MKMW2-NASfcm8fjwWr7lswtaPyxUULu3oQq1u7Y4/s400/09_01+Snow+%26+Upstairs+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425927955151379666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Autumn and winter here in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Ukraine</st1:country-region></st1:place> has not bought about a lot of activity.<span style=""> </span>The normal everyday plodding along with school and study has been interrupted in a number of interesting ways…<br /><o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQ6VWAzc5-HSTsCrxlU0BcC8Nxif9xEBsM71CEsEr6WezKNhj5a308N6CODUWWV85At8yiPeKtj9qRtAhZ1yT2EQL0UwBhATwryHLRhha0f2PmL_QIdUmcjeCQA1NfA83oi9y6l1EBjY/s1600-h/Dec_2009+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQ6VWAzc5-HSTsCrxlU0BcC8Nxif9xEBsM71CEsEr6WezKNhj5a308N6CODUWWV85At8yiPeKtj9qRtAhZ1yT2EQL0UwBhATwryHLRhha0f2PmL_QIdUmcjeCQA1NfA83oi9y6l1EBjY/s400/Dec_2009+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425927811847314850" border="0" /></a><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">My study (online through <st1:place st="on">Waikato</st1:place> NZ)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I enjoyed my 3 papers on Language & Cognition, ICT and Assessment and managed to finish and pass them near the end of October.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">For me it was then a short week’s trip to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city> to renew my visa.<span style=""> </span>I stayed with my brother and enjoyed being in an English speaking country for awhile, and of course bringing back a lot of goodies from the supermarket that we can’t get here!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Since then I have started Russian lessons once a week (about all my brain can handle) and continued with my 2 students and working around the house.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">My friend and I also spent 2 days at another friends house ripping out her old kitchen bench & sink (which was leaking & rotten) an</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">d then replacing it with our own workmanship.<span style=""> </span>Not completely mistake-free, but sturdy, workable & safe.<span style=""> </span>It was a fun project.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZXTvM14eZQ2uG12Iv3g-o7s6D0GSC4HAxxkxA5TPuJZ95WDpnrAkoIv3CMGrgnpHb45rjd8cw80J8M04Sy5MnNQss50gSJ10gG4WZZRdTG05VRKNmWkFUFNqHPNGLTRJYf3ntM9QH4o/s1600-h/28_12+Snow+%26+Fireplace+028.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZXTvM14eZQ2uG12Iv3g-o7s6D0GSC4HAxxkxA5TPuJZ95WDpnrAkoIv3CMGrgnpHb45rjd8cw80J8M04Sy5MnNQss50gSJ10gG4WZZRdTG05VRKNmWkFUFNqHPNGLTRJYf3ntM9QH4o/s400/28_12+Snow+%26+Fireplace+028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425927436962635202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;"> <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I was also involved in organizing a café night which we invited </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">women from around our town too.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""> </span>It was a fun night even though it snowed solid the whole night & day beforehand which made it more of an adventure for people to come!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I do feel rather lazy though, and will look forward to enrolling again for what should be my last 3 papers in February.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Jon’s work</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">By the end of October Jon was ready for midterm break! We calculated that he had driven the road to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kiev</st1:place></st1:city> over 40 times in the past 2 months! <span style=""></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bb87wKFa48C6MJj45xdpDXvf3I__KwUoDpkzH2ofDDSUq8wSOLChp03s-KkU5lky-UB42LaC1e6p8Txqyb7pMMT_trVLXjeIYsmuLkpDe0gbNSNwmcILD8e8lWasgWVi7Cqpq-uFXMs/s1600-h/28_12+Snow+%26+Fireplace+035.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bb87wKFa48C6MJj45xdpDXvf3I__KwUoDpkzH2ofDDSUq8wSOLChp03s-KkU5lky-UB42LaC1e6p8Txqyb7pMMT_trVLXjeIYsmuLkpDe0gbNSNwmcILD8e8lWasgWVi7Cqpq-uFXMs/s400/28_12+Snow+%26+Fireplace+035.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425927258393569042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Well little did he know that the break was going to turn into a whole month off work.<span style=""> </span>The Ukrainian government freaked </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">out over the swine flu virus and declared a 3 week quarantine on all schools & public gatherings.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">The only disadvantage is that he has to make up the time now teaching on Saturdays!<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Anyway he mad</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">e the most of the time off, completing his studio downstairs, preparing 2 talks for a youth conference and other bits & pieces.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Then it was back to work for a 6 day week (thankfully only for 4 weeks) until the Christmas holidays.<span style=""> </span>We have really enjoyed our Christmas holidays spending a lot of it working on the lining of the</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> upstairs area, </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">having a wonderful Christmas dinner & day here, a 2 day mini break on our 8<sup>th</sup> wedding </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">anniversary, </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoH-jOaafU9jKg3py8HGO0CYpwhk0yizgsXUEioo67okT_CfJd2TUlPs81dcVKapL6_otYtl51HKz8vrPd_pSV27iApe9i1ZyscYOP5nLnat5rQVh8jaT6T5SGT_9DTdUU3GcdJcmQNc/s1600-h/IMG_5810.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoH-jOaafU9jKg3py8HGO0CYpwhk0yizgsXUEioo67okT_CfJd2TUlPs81dcVKapL6_otYtl51HKz8vrPd_pSV27iApe9i1ZyscYOP5nLnat5rQVh8jaT6T5SGT_9DTdUU3GcdJcmQNc/s400/IMG_5810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425927065304274322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">buying some musical equipment for Jon’s studio, playing settlers online & generally relaxing INSIDE!<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">We are defiantly having a white winter here…up until mid December it was strangely warm, and then we were hit with cold & white.<span style=""> </span>With a huge amazing dump of snow we spent about 36 hours without power.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""> </span>No big deal really except our water and heating all run of electricity so we were rather happy when it came back on.<span style=""> </span>Dealing with the snow & driving in it has proved some concern at times, but we are thankful for a light, reliable car and always conscious of God’s protection on the roads (while holding tight to the seat at times!! LOL)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Looking forward</span></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcu66xRhI921kYiAlFVYf-ZGhLqFP5AMFaAjgqRckPinaHgxW9GIxcZWOcd2_kAyc5ifqcqxrK8EEJOUjRI0WimD1qk7RHPHCn_xBeAoSlwTz5SBveSymvpIC9oenFqLkMULVJgF5vtg/s1600-h/28_12+Snow+%26+Fireplace+020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcu66xRhI921kYiAlFVYf-ZGhLqFP5AMFaAjgqRckPinaHgxW9GIxcZWOcd2_kAyc5ifqcqxrK8EEJOUjRI0WimD1qk7RHPHCn_xBeAoSlwTz5SBveSymvpIC9oenFqLkMULVJgF5vtg/s400/28_12+Snow+%26+Fireplace+020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425926829756050882" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We have much to b</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">e thankful f</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">or and looking forward to 2010 with anticipation.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">We know that it will bring some changes…</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Jon will finish his contract at school at the end of June.<span style=""> </span>We then hope to spend the summer here and then travel back to NZ (maybe via South Africa & India) arriving near the end of September.<span style=""> </span>We plan to be in NZ for 6-12 months but it maybe longer or shorter – who knows what will happen!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We are still hoping and praying for children and want to set aside a day to fast & pray about this matter. If you want to join us on Jan 23<sup>rd</sup> to pray for a miracle that would be great.<span style=""> </span>We have also started to talk about going down the road of adoption.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HF8i-tZw7OUnRteIfmbmwgTi1vw7tvh3rCA9b92KlLgk8hq1x3V20UQGBc-bqPy-MfrxsDfdT2QF8YNe4gOkTNXzuopuMMjTJlMH1QYQm7l_uv155iiopx5V6MbzLsMJQTP3MI1SgFk/s1600-h/Dec_2009+022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HF8i-tZw7OUnRteIfmbmwgTi1vw7tvh3rCA9b92KlLgk8hq1x3V20UQGBc-bqPy-MfrxsDfdT2QF8YNe4gOkTNXzuopuMMjTJlMH1QYQm7l_uv155iiopx5V6MbzLsMJQTP3MI1SgFk/s400/Dec_2009+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425926634878127762" border="0" /></a><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Other cool stuff<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We now have 2 cats – Rocky (Rockstar) & Dumpy (Dumpster)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We should be getting fast internet tonight! (YAY – we can watch NZ sport & TV online)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Our fire should be hooked up today & working tomorrow (ready for the power to go off again!)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Jon got his first police fine here –although he has been pulled up many times they normally can’t be bothered filling out the paper work and just want a quick bribe!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The single girls in our church are asking for all single guys to come here for a visit or to work (plumbers, electricians, mechanics, builders etc wanted!)</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKA480NrYWyn8zzX92sfeZitKQNS7c87hd1mweTJtkMrRzSicWnSF2Gzeb1fkrYcHwerVrCoQRU5sNnF5DzOjqEsMyQaIe81hw6x2V18kJ4XSTOLKp3IDMQ1WCCUL1-pOVSKg4XlS3_g/s1600-h/12_01_fIREPLACE+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKA480NrYWyn8zzX92sfeZitKQNS7c87hd1mweTJtkMrRzSicWnSF2Gzeb1fkrYcHwerVrCoQRU5sNnF5DzOjqEsMyQaIe81hw6x2V18kJ4XSTOLKp3IDMQ1WCCUL1-pOVSKg4XlS3_g/s400/12_01_fIREPLACE+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425926443246027122" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We hope that 2010 will be a year to remember and filled with many good memories and times of happiness and a good mood. (In typical Ukrainian tradition)</span></p>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-43296651347731175032009-09-26T17:18:00.016+00:002009-11-08T18:47:10.215+00:00Autumn 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3CraWaj63OsThhVCeCTL6X_9JAaZYdLc6Av_oxuZfhnQ7cpSOD-sbYoIRCbWaEO7TvRyn3X6gxgY8qIsCD4txuSQwMGl8iGezv_HmDsr0UrUSYTe5uhiUeLjIU1s22qnkLgUa0zBVLE/s1600-h/aug1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3CraWaj63OsThhVCeCTL6X_9JAaZYdLc6Av_oxuZfhnQ7cpSOD-sbYoIRCbWaEO7TvRyn3X6gxgY8qIsCD4txuSQwMGl8iGezv_HmDsr0UrUSYTe5uhiUeLjIU1s22qnkLgUa0zBVLE/s400/aug1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385837973118115634" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-family:Arial;">Summer is slowly fading away as the days get shorter and there is a bit of a nip in the air!<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We are still getting some very lovely days and like the wise ant we are trying to get our place in order to hunker down for winter.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">This summer has been productive in a different number of ways.<span style=""> </span>Here’s what we have been up to…</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">House</span></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2PIvmPf4Bi-XpIUwrIhGyjVEHVDW4X6-2HjIDM5mF-Imoxg39qRjg8nBdYG1OHLsAsM_Qi2TcNgkmfdPTpnm0XZKSaAMLeyyvhowJhgx8yP03MlNJUo6femDHZPkNecVV8ej74XJNYI/s1600-h/01_09+Gates+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2PIvmPf4Bi-XpIUwrIhGyjVEHVDW4X6-2HjIDM5mF-Imoxg39qRjg8nBdYG1OHLsAsM_Qi2TcNgkmfdPTpnm0XZKSaAMLeyyvhowJhgx8yP03MlNJUo6femDHZPkNecVV8ej74XJNYI/s400/01_09+Gates+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385837651282087682" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We have started to clean up the front of our house and Tom & Jon built a really nice stone wall.<span style=""> </span>Based on an idea we got in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Italy</st1:country-region></st1:place> we have put fake terracotta planters on the top of this with a box hedge in them.<span style=""> </span>We really like the look of this & hope it will last the winter or someone stealing them!!</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""> </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6OjjJFywuj-uZSj_hBTxWm6nV0ClPeG2dA3i7QCzhrGIxOtVGqwkvWaO2Jk-LDbseHvahDLVoXW5yu8C1vI6-litgVMEP1oDZdKBJ28oLF4lvQcZSxnQK89eTMgR_F_vdxeZUMhtjx8/s1600-h/01_09+Gates+017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6OjjJFywuj-uZSj_hBTxWm6nV0ClPeG2dA3i7QCzhrGIxOtVGqwkvWaO2Jk-LDbseHvahDLVoXW5yu8C1vI6-litgVMEP1oDZdKBJ28oLF4lvQcZSxnQK89eTMgR_F_vdxeZUMhtjx8/s400/01_09+Gates+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385837097861761138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sasha then made us the very lovely iron gates complete with the lights on the top of the pillars.<span style=""> </span>We are hoping to concrete this area in the next week or so, and tile the steps up to our house to finish it all off.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We have also started 2 other projects – downstairs & upstairs.<span style=""> </span>Downstairs is just a small room we will gib and carpet – it will become Jon’s studio.<span style=""> </span>Upstairs is a bit more of a major project. Tom & Igor have knocked out the front side and rebuilt a straight wall, made stairs & sorted out the floor.<span style=""> </span>We are hoping to have 2 bedrooms and a toilet up there.<span style=""> </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWESUzfAQSrkAi1boVI3hrgcbfufZ-FETLEK-MEZuIGGcuRfPSrF9XMfqhMmFX04mA939UsOhPEmkLqnhOW4AQUJLSouL6kf_DC4j-OCP0zZfuDcP-5VoM27y4O6yxOEWuWLzOAvOF7CU/s1600-h/08_09+Upstairs_Dog+055.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWESUzfAQSrkAi1boVI3hrgcbfufZ-FETLEK-MEZuIGGcuRfPSrF9XMfqhMmFX04mA939UsOhPEmkLqnhOW4AQUJLSouL6kf_DC4j-OCP0zZfuDcP-5VoM27y4O6yxOEWuWLzOAvOF7CU/s400/08_09+Upstairs_Dog+055.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385836820868921586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">This will really extend the usefulness of our house and having people to stay.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">It is great to be living in our own house, enjoying the view and working with our hands to improve it.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Rest/Relaxation/Reading</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We had a week in <st1:place st="on">Crimea</st1:place> making the most of the beach and beautiful scenery, exploring a Genoese Fortress, going up a 1300m cable car, playing cards & generally having fun.<span style=""> </span>We have also spent this summer reading (see <a href="http://roofellin.blogspot.com/2009/09/summer-reading.html">my blog</a> for a list & reviews) and chilling out with BBQ’s and friends.<span style=""> </span>It has been good.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcSlbpywbcQ5s-I_Gakh2AqcfK3a32mxN8bOHLr8nyAlOFzAWEfCwiYq8JN6Sb-oTjGOjoDi-XcUEAPU8FtwmN6cw1f-qQ3eMaBjwsNE7oMvm29VFdZz6HvyofnXg2YfPS3c_1aWSZYA/s1600-h/24_09+Upstairs+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcSlbpywbcQ5s-I_Gakh2AqcfK3a32mxN8bOHLr8nyAlOFzAWEfCwiYq8JN6Sb-oTjGOjoDi-XcUEAPU8FtwmN6cw1f-qQ3eMaBjwsNE7oMvm29VFdZz6HvyofnXg2YfPS3c_1aWSZYA/s400/24_09+Upstairs+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385836481708295586" border="0" /></a><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Music</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Jon has started working with a few people from our church, helping them out with learning guitar etc.<span style=""> </span>They are coming over every second Saturday night for a practice and a jam.<span style=""> </span>We are hoping this will be a good time for growth and community building. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">School & Study</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Jon is back to school & driving 2-3 hours a day, which is tiring, but he is enjoying living at home, rather than in an apartment.<span style=""> </span>He has moved down to</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvQijDFBONh-dusldyQ4PC0iJjJ5hBGUnbWleilX_kgU7ZVbwkBvctr0zLF7nH0PefUhpRmFUxMLCZvpLuPEpfrdOtinVmvKhGSFNzrpffhLVoywonpxQ2Lt1x1wP8JNmPLSTAsP5X_8/s1600-h/24_09+Upstairs+010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvQijDFBONh-dusldyQ4PC0iJjJ5hBGUnbWleilX_kgU7ZVbwkBvctr0zLF7nH0PefUhpRmFUxMLCZvpLuPEpfrdOtinVmvKhGSFNzrpffhLVoywonpxQ2Lt1x1wP8JNmPLSTAsP5X_8/s400/24_09+Upstairs+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385835746564440450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;"> teach Year 5 this year (stealing all my plans from last year) and enjoying his new class.<span style=""> </span>I am still studying (have been since July – second Semester in NZ) and I will finish in 3 weeks time.<span style=""> </span>I am not sure what I will do during the NZ summer holidays (Nov – Feb) but probably will include some painting upstairs etc & maybe some language lessons.<span style=""> </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaxQTbqSm7kzNLKp3fuzFrbqCVQsyXHePrRJrj0S4nLTPFHBQcv9Aico0OBT5ZxGP3H0QNUYT6zr7si2v3it8GPzmyBSHG_WYDH2kwvs1VztzuTjp973_OHZqSznIbptvpwEafIjVV6k/s1600-h/Crimea+272.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaxQTbqSm7kzNLKp3fuzFrbqCVQsyXHePrRJrj0S4nLTPFHBQcv9Aico0OBT5ZxGP3H0QNUYT6zr7si2v3it8GPzmyBSHG_WYDH2kwvs1VztzuTjp973_OHZqSznIbptvpwEafIjVV6k/s400/Crimea+272.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385835157367124050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">I will also continue with the 2 students that I have started to teach 2 afternoons a week.<span style=""> </span>They are the 2 oldest in a missionary family that home</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> school, so I am taking them for Science & Social Studies. I am really enjoying this</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> and</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> it keeps</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> my teaching fresh.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Animals</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We took the p</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">lu</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">nge and got a dog that had been rescued off the streets in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Kiev</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>He was a very quiet dog that loved to sleep – named him Dozer.<span style=""> </span>Unfortunately he didn’t last even a week before he went “walkies”.<span style=""> </span>I think someone liked the look of him.<span style=""> </span>As a consolation prize though, I was given a kitten called Dumpy (affectionately known as Dumpster) for my birthday.<span style=""> </span>She has survived so far!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Looking ahead</span></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr52bgc7S8DP93cQaGvd1fp-d3-KdWIOYJjYVR1N6Z1QkxL-TuPIRul6hbZh6E7qPYVYOWElQkC93iJVaa4VUEDG6mmhHFH4CJhH8Xu5ucyt-uLhciCvgcGh4Kzzdx_5odaVyNgdPTz18/s1600-h/08_09+Upstairs_Dog+067.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr52bgc7S8DP93cQaGvd1fp-d3-KdWIOYJjYVR1N6Z1QkxL-TuPIRul6hbZh6E7qPYVYOWElQkC93iJVaa4VUEDG6mmhHFH4CJhH8Xu5ucyt-uLhciCvgcGh4Kzzdx_5odaVyNgdPTz18/s400/08_09+Upstairs_Dog+067.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385834738923523746" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We are praying about and want to start actively working toward becoming part of Christian camping here in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Ukraine</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>This is one idea that initially drew us to this country, and we would like to pursue it.<span style=""> </span>We are trying to find out what is currently here in this country, but would like to manage a camp where we would run outreach holiday camps for children, school camps with team building and problem solving the main focus, and have a great facility for other organizations/churches to hire.<span style=""> </span>Will keep you posted as we forge ahead in this area.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Just a simple glimpse into what we are up to.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGos5wLFYG1qpXzs0oDaTt_2Xyp0AaBLmDFQlo3RHJmReMqWGH4nCXvrfR_VhvBQjfzeZJZH7LPT-GRNIfPv9RZ4YwfWg5kkrTHvDitfotvyDcqic4W6kpDOybi4PfjNZTvIja3uZNu0/s1600-h/Crimea+221.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGos5wLFYG1qpXzs0oDaTt_2Xyp0AaBLmDFQlo3RHJmReMqWGH4nCXvrfR_VhvBQjfzeZJZH7LPT-GRNIfPv9RZ4YwfWg5kkrTHvDitfotvyDcqic4W6kpDOybi4PfjNZTvIja3uZNu0/s400/Crimea+221.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385834504200117362" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Hope this finds you well.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">God Bless,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Ruth-Ellen & Jon Pirini<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-73600194217332428262009-07-22T11:02:00.012+00:002009-07-22T11:37:25.927+00:00July 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlwb7gt9z9GVSijCG4ht-kjH1ISXF_PVGFRWKTDqNlssOfj-QdcrHG15MZrmMhej-UYIaUJIeMzBE_zW6lsHeb5sahXHo0yWzHsvDT8UwCkM399orHpgMSX4MbyWxsZ8wqV_P0PBW9jU/s1600-h/PICT6526.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlwb7gt9z9GVSijCG4ht-kjH1ISXF_PVGFRWKTDqNlssOfj-QdcrHG15MZrmMhej-UYIaUJIeMzBE_zW6lsHeb5sahXHo0yWzHsvDT8UwCkM399orHpgMSX4MbyWxsZ8wqV_P0PBW9jU/s320/PICT6526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361245676095023458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Looking back at our last update it seems most definitely time for a new one.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Snow is a distant memory as we are now enjoying heat in the 30’s and loving being on summer holidays!</span><o:p style="font-family: arial;"></o:p><p style="font-family: arial;"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><b style=""><i style="">School<o:p></o:p></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;">Well it felt like it took forever for school to finish but it did at last on the 26<sup>th</sup> June after some very hot days in the classroom.<span style=""> </span>Our new director has made some good improvements, so it was a little sad for me to leave, even so sometimes all we can say to some of the random stuff that happens at school is “this is <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ukraine</st1:place></st1:country-region>!”<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6Hx6djgDqlDAK182vNA2FVORHAg3jBN1zyutMQ3xX6x7yCGgjReCaBukpwn3Rzd_AKUZd4HlBqezOGUuS2YkiK_nQ42ohwTVBjWxjati5aBjMQxatmQgctLXQ9fQME2JBOO56K7BRMk/s1600-h/PICT6502.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6Hx6djgDqlDAK182vNA2FVORHAg3jBN1zyutMQ3xX6x7yCGgjReCaBukpwn3Rzd_AKUZd4HlBqezOGUuS2YkiK_nQ42ohwTVBjWxjati5aBjMQxatmQgctLXQ9fQME2JBOO56K7BRMk/s320/PICT6502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361243996075164066" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><i style="">Next Academic Year</i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;">Jon will carry on teaching there next year, starting September.<span style=""> </span>He will be moving to teach a Year 5 class.<span style=""> </span>The last 2 years we have had an apartment in <st1:city st="on">Kiev</st1:city>, and traveled down to Rzhyshchiv most weekends, but this year we will live here in Rzhyshchiv and Jon will travel everyday to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kiev</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style=""> </span>It is just over an hours drive, but he says he won’t notice it because of the bonus of living in our own house and not in the city!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhVOuiSvCB3wgYK5WSTbdruaWYcoPnzRXbGqY8VX8Jd9SzBq3VW99QkLdoe6bzGMs8eH6lsGLowGQ07SKk-c7uG8MCxAWSb2_sZOlaNLnHwDStMR7d-4OqrzeBycG68H6A2aAmpL7VPg/s1600-h/PICT6458.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhVOuiSvCB3wgYK5WSTbdruaWYcoPnzRXbGqY8VX8Jd9SzBq3VW99QkLdoe6bzGMs8eH6lsGLowGQ07SKk-c7uG8MCxAWSb2_sZOlaNLnHwDStMR7d-4OqrzeBycG68H6A2aAmpL7VPg/s320/PICT6458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361243554043740562" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><i style="">Car</i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;">Talking about driving, just before school ended we purchased a car, which was going to be a necessity for Jon to be able to do this.<span style=""> </span>It is so good to be able to drive again and have the independence of just jumping in the car & going where & when you need to.<span style=""> </span>We have bought it from Avis a lease company, it is only 2 years old, with very few kms and regular services, so here’s hoping it will last us a good while without having to try & get stuff fixed on it.<span style=""> </span>It is a dark blue Ford Fiesta and runs very nicely, it was a very good deal and we feel very blessed.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRjEcGVqLm2egpd3TTwsCksCJjEnNoE1RoiKc7_XKGYPF5IQ99FFQhyphenhyphenHNNkmPgLGw14jSYRPmlIQy9uZHUyDTLGtwtmUYA1aLg-2dJzsiKMpmz97M_onnUqHnEDXiNi0dALXtKAmFWTY/s1600-h/PICT6575.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRjEcGVqLm2egpd3TTwsCksCJjEnNoE1RoiKc7_XKGYPF5IQ99FFQhyphenhyphenHNNkmPgLGw14jSYRPmlIQy9uZHUyDTLGtwtmUYA1aLg-2dJzsiKMpmz97M_onnUqHnEDXiNi0dALXtKAmFWTY/s320/PICT6575.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361242941151475522" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><b style=""><i style="">Holidays</i></b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">3 days after school finished we went to <st1:country-region st="on">Italy</st1:country-region> (via <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Poland</st1:place></st1:country-region>) for a week.<span style=""> </span>We hired a car while we were there & did quite a lot of driving & sight seeing.<span style=""> </span>We went to <st1:city st="on">Venice</st1:city> & <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city> and also spent 3 nights in a small medieval village in a lovely villa that my Aunty owns.<span style=""> </span>It wasn’t really a relaxing time, but it was great to see the history of the country and just have a change of scenery.<span style=""> </span>We especially enjoyed the Collesuem in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city> and marveled at the amazing lengths they went to build stuff!! My v<a href="http://roofellin.blogspot.com">iew of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region></a> is on my blog.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAAQMoAXBDW2y_qNVWi3x4nf5tpEONwlbh46LlTfvMurTwYUtObcCsYNY0yLIwXBmgiWzTQ-c1ssNFW15gmsT4MhK7qbqQwOyPZ9GFsIKebfdw53J2FeTE6yIOKRwvtq7GauKwJiXa7k/s1600-h/ruth+cabinet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAAQMoAXBDW2y_qNVWi3x4nf5tpEONwlbh46LlTfvMurTwYUtObcCsYNY0yLIwXBmgiWzTQ-c1ssNFW15gmsT4MhK7qbqQwOyPZ9GFsIKebfdw53J2FeTE6yIOKRwvtq7GauKwJiXa7k/s320/ruth+cabinet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361242225369136882" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">We are also heading off to Crimea (the <st1:place st="on">Black Sea</st1:place>) at the beginning of August, so that should be a nice relaxing time for us before summer begins to slide away.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><b style=""><i style="">House</i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">It is now<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdSRz5nEtHJQ0F7FYBoQzMUoWS_HdNzxGnN_dzIbA86tqcOQIz4PHw6vgSA0pTXVqhELs-SEjRX1LIa0Ua7PAh0dKBEWdbjqG0Ei2lsNhb4hbQQuvwQj6m3seOAdZzm-EgXfg89ols-8/s1600-h/1_05+Building+Deck+025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdSRz5nEtHJQ0F7FYBoQzMUoWS_HdNzxGnN_dzIbA86tqcOQIz4PHw6vgSA0pTXVqhELs-SEjRX1LIa0Ua7PAh0dKBEWdbjqG0Ei2lsNhb4hbQQuvwQj6m3seOAdZzm-EgXfg89ols-8/s320/1_05+Building+Deck+025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361241475547343794" border="0" /></a> great to be completely in our own house and slowly making it feel like home.<span style=""> </span>I have started building some little things for around the house, like a towel shelf in the bathroom & bedside tables etc.<span style=""> </span>I enjoy doing this and it keeps me busy.<span style=""> </span>Our deck is mostly complete and we have a custom made BBQ that will keep us fed most summer nights.<span style=""> </span>It has been great to have people over for a BBQ & just enjoy sitting on our deck, taking in the view & sipping wine!! I love summer!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><b style=""><i style="">My Study</i></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmvqeifsydiOMsCqB2RU5z3HQa4PNVvQCi7cIdcYSjPdcv9dwyA9cK1YmjkPHrwAN1l5WkMMHYKGkiN_DK3MipkrHesc3Kx26GU0z-cmUrIB3Evw9VIseX9BYFh8a_ASfr4ZnsbcYO28/s1600-h/30_05+Nastya+etc+016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmvqeifsydiOMsCqB2RU5z3HQa4PNVvQCi7cIdcYSjPdcv9dwyA9cK1YmjkPHrwAN1l5WkMMHYKGkiN_DK3MipkrHesc3Kx26GU0z-cmUrIB3Evw9VIseX9BYFh8a_ASfr4ZnsbcYO28/s320/30_05+Nastya+etc+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361240820578366866" border="0" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">I have officially started my study online with <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Waikato</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>I will first upgrade my teaching diploma to a degree, and then continue on to get a Diploma of Sport & Leisure with the hope of becoming a PE teacher or something similar.<span style=""> </span>So far I have found it stimulating and interesting.<span style=""> </span>Apparently it should keep me busy for about 30 hours a week!! </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">We are still praying about heading home to NZ in Oct 2010 for at least a year if not longer.<span style=""> </span>We are not really sure what lies ahead, but learning just to enjoy where we are for now.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">Thank you for your prayers & friendship, we feel it & it is appreciated.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">PS<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We were both feeling the heat the other day, so took a bit of weight off by shaving each other’s hair.<span style=""> </span>This is the result!!</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1Y_yS_peNVCHu9ctPVfs8yL7wZuiGQQxPNOzBOvKpNLCZXDIxErV-LKXCDygiWS5DCYtojc-USlkzy-qAUzlqVj_7AlLG0MT-7WUmA5_v8QeGbbSM9xTxS73XTag_R_FCqgcnTrtfW4/s1600-h/PICT7004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1Y_yS_peNVCHu9ctPVfs8yL7wZuiGQQxPNOzBOvKpNLCZXDIxErV-LKXCDygiWS5DCYtojc-USlkzy-qAUzlqVj_7AlLG0MT-7WUmA5_v8QeGbbSM9xTxS73XTag_R_FCqgcnTrtfW4/s320/PICT7004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361239230219760818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOki6OMm7CKtTRyA0rL7rnYu5diTLGgGIBEo2L0vN2IQW1rKjy0O-y6n_c93S8XZcRefOpqyoYbFsxJv3jzFelOqFlnVXdtPMt-fLQXvrGyiZEaX9npRUNeDk4o9xNVVqJS4K03jM7A-c/s1600-h/PICT7006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOki6OMm7CKtTRyA0rL7rnYu5diTLGgGIBEo2L0vN2IQW1rKjy0O-y6n_c93S8XZcRefOpqyoYbFsxJv3jzFelOqFlnVXdtPMt-fLQXvrGyiZEaX9npRUNeDk4o9xNVVqJS4K03jM7A-c/s320/PICT7006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361238791679722066" border="0" /></a></p>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-18242868388976340072009-05-05T15:17:00.014+00:002009-05-05T15:45:59.380+00:00Waiting...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFlMZLuxaamX_2va3bYVEJT2SPDTbJ5d1pkboz8O36kekh3NGK6-Hq43FCvbbyfg8LsS5BdlgvT5R6ruY4jJvd_FdM8xbUNzg8THBlSeWaYNpLkCgvcpUghq2BA4nPe79ZqrnldPWNWg/s1600-h/snowman.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFlMZLuxaamX_2va3bYVEJT2SPDTbJ5d1pkboz8O36kekh3NGK6-Hq43FCvbbyfg8LsS5BdlgvT5R6ruY4jJvd_FdM8xbUNzg8THBlSeWaYNpLkCgvcpUghq2BA4nPe79ZqrnldPWNWg/s320/snowman.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332365619686870866" border="0" /></a>Since our last email update it seems as though we have spent a lot of time waiting for things to happen or work out. Some of these things have fallen into place & for others we are still waiting!<br /><br />Well firstly our good friend from here, Sveta, has made it to NZ & is currently studying at EXCEL School of Performing Arts in Auckland. In the end it was no small miracle that she arrived safe & sound. The last few weeks were rather harrowing with late night phone calls to NZ or Moscow where her visa was being issued. And then finding out less than 24 hours before she was to fly that she needed a transit visa for Sydney (although she was going to be there for less than a hour) – good one Australia!! But she is there now & loving it so we are praying for a great year for her.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe9TjgfbJZ_UvukCrVh5xls9qypwri7h6_XxKP8qqEXHUhHVsg0QJ1ORq-XJi7ifkT6Jvi3OkLEeYy9ajUCPTKALe_MQjiF1qaZAsepcuZlaHOeBINK6Q1pOE77LIW-mMIspXNSKRZNE/s1600-h/Jons+Iphone+pics+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe9TjgfbJZ_UvukCrVh5xls9qypwri7h6_XxKP8qqEXHUhHVsg0QJ1ORq-XJi7ifkT6Jvi3OkLEeYy9ajUCPTKALe_MQjiF1qaZAsepcuZlaHOeBINK6Q1pOE77LIW-mMIspXNSKRZNE/s320/Jons+Iphone+pics+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332365551114793394" border="0" /></a>We have a new director at school who was taken some good steps forward in managing our school which is really positive (after our last director did a runner!). We have had our job-share proposal (to teach 2 & half days a week each with the same class) turned down so that is a bit disappointing. So the plan for the next academic year (starting September 09) is that Jon will work fulltime at the school & bring home the bacon & I have enrolled in Waikato University to upgrade my Diploma to a Degree & then move on to get a Graduate Diploma in Sport & Leisure. I will also work 2 days in a voluntary role for my brother’s English language business as the Curriculum & Resource Development Officer. That’s right I will be developing resources & curriculum!<br /><br />Spring & warm temperatures have finally come to Ukraine – it hasn’t rained for over a month! Our backyard is beginning to bloom and to make the most of it we are in the process of building a deck on the back of our house. This term is full of long weekends so we are making the most of these back at our house doing odd jobs & relaxing.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dfhRyR65sY1W-pKVZtZjk1v8-FT1zwH45ZCVZgVSTxp1kLfG4AK-xeev8ISnDUyJH3dvchixCyFBj15awFUOuxGzaH9tQnBGw32vGpVkpaGu8U5KWHC1gvSdmhRNiWNM5gdtrZ1rRl4/s1600-h/Jons+Iphone+pics+047.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dfhRyR65sY1W-pKVZtZjk1v8-FT1zwH45ZCVZgVSTxp1kLfG4AK-xeev8ISnDUyJH3dvchixCyFBj15awFUOuxGzaH9tQnBGw32vGpVkpaGu8U5KWHC1gvSdmhRNiWNM5gdtrZ1rRl4/s320/Jons+Iphone+pics+047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332365484988597746" border="0" /></a><br />We have even managed to get to the ballet & theatre for some great evenings out with friends!<br />My brother who is currently living in London came over for the long Easter weekend. It was good to catch up with him & show him a little bit of Ukraine.<br />We celebrated ANZAC Day in style with a game of cricket (NZ v AUS), some ANZAC biscuits & our Aussie friends even made lamingtons, pavlova & meat pies!! My brother played the Last Post on his bugle & it was good to hang out & remember our ANZAC’s.<br /><br />We are counting down the days to the end of school (38 school days left) and looking forward to 2 months of summer. We have booked tickets to Italy for just over a week, also hope to visit Crimea again & also get some work completed around our house.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3q_0PkFZOlnEte5XY6OvsEcsy5ORVGyiuhb4m5K53B726PaXz4cAa6l3G2WkN7RQJkxn2vrVGopC3oECAVa67FTMaEOAsZjdEbwfIYXRObR4bO7HUq0g-uyMSbV0kuRvhyphenhyphenwbdJsUCHZc/s1600-h/25_4+Anzac+Day+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3q_0PkFZOlnEte5XY6OvsEcsy5ORVGyiuhb4m5K53B726PaXz4cAa6l3G2WkN7RQJkxn2vrVGopC3oECAVa67FTMaEOAsZjdEbwfIYXRObR4bO7HUq0g-uyMSbV0kuRvhyphenhyphenwbdJsUCHZc/s320/25_4+Anzac+Day+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332361831212243154" border="0" /></a><br />We are still waiting and wondering what to do in regards to children. According to the tests we had done in NZ I am not ovulating, so we are wondering about the best course of action from here. Not sure I really want to approach the medical system here in another language!!<br /><br />Well that’s about all the news for now. We have been talking a lot about our future and where we are headed. We are conscious of making the most of now & using our time wisely to achieve all we can where we are. We have put a tentative “18 months” (thanks to some wise advice from Donny!) on the table as to the time when we head back to NZ – and are open to what God wants us to do.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1a7EM2TjbNKYJAWO2solrnVKJdg1nXh_fqmzfO79gPedQB8hSvlFMRSX0BRDeBnnytIYSaxog-dnre6uXHncJjNi-PTM7XWXxO99c2XENA30TO2j-2BRjX0WRQNxMu-oS3iK2CGUMOs/s1600-h/14_04+Easter+Holidays+045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1a7EM2TjbNKYJAWO2solrnVKJdg1nXh_fqmzfO79gPedQB8hSvlFMRSX0BRDeBnnytIYSaxog-dnre6uXHncJjNi-PTM7XWXxO99c2XENA30TO2j-2BRjX0WRQNxMu-oS3iK2CGUMOs/s320/14_04+Easter+Holidays+045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332365416251302530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Until next time…<br />Jon & RuthRufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-47579072313771558302009-03-06T15:41:00.003+00:002009-03-06T15:48:29.165+00:001 Year & 3 months on...<span style="font-size:100%;">I’m sure it is true that good things take time…because although it has taken time, it has been very good to move into our own house!</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p style="font-family: arial;"></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Coming back<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;">Well we arrived back from NZ with our luggage safe & sound 3 weeks ago and it almost seems like we never even went there!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;">We thoroughly enjoyed our time there catching up with friends and family.<span style=""> </span>It was with mixed emotions that we headed back to <st1:country-region st="on">Ukraine</st1:country-region> and after 40 hours of travel arrived to a snowy but not too cold <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kiev</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;">We began school again the next day and although it was a shock to the system it was good to get back into a work routine again.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">School</span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;">We have contracts up until Sept 2010 but have asked that next year we only take one position/class and share the job.<span style=""> </span>This proposal doesn’t seem too popular at the moment, but we are just praying about this as it would give us more time down at our house and being involved with people there.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;">The economic crisis has hit people in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ukraine</st1:place></st1:country-region> hard & we feel the effects at the school which sometimes makes for strange decisions and interesting situations.<span style=""> </span>The students & staff still remain fun to work with, so that keeps us going.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Housing</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;">3 days after arriving back we signed up a new apartment which is about 10 mins walk from our school.<span style=""> </span>In the last few months rent prices in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Kiev</st1:city></st1:place> have almost halved so we were able to get a very nice, big 4 room apartment for not much more than what we were paying last year for a 2 room apartment.<span style=""> </span>We are living here during the week and although we have moved most of our stuff into our house in Rzhyshchiv we are only staying there for the weekends at this stage.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;">But it is good to see our project to come to some sort of completion…and we are very thankful to God for this beautiful place to relax in & entertain people.<span style=""> </span>It’s a never ending job owning property, but we can now comfortably (very) live there.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-weight: bold;">People</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;">We are in the process of applying for a visa for our friend <st1:personname st="on">Sveta</st1:personname> to come & study in NZ.<span style=""> </span>Most other details have fallen into place, and we are just awaiting this.<span style=""> </span>We hope that she will be on the plane at the beginning of March ready for a huge year at EXCEL!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;">We are making inquires and would like to be involved in some sort of way with street kids/orphanage work here in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kiev</st1:place></st1:city>. Not sure what form this will take, but are looking into this.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Future</span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;">We are unsure as we look into the hazy distance, but just enjoying what life throws us at the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;">While in NZ we had tests done regarding having children, and are still trying to figure out the best path for us to take.<span style=""> </span>We are not 100% sure what needs to happen, but this may result in us coming back to NZ for medical help within the next 12-18 months.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;">Our half-term ends next week, so we are taking a short break to <st1:country-region st="on">Norway</st1:country-region>, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Oslo</st1:place></st1:city> were we also hope to get Jon’s computer fixed and have a relaxing break.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;">Thanks for your friendship & prayers<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:100%;">Until next time<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:13;" lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Ruth & Jon</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-16249743943116673432008-11-09T16:27:00.015+00:002008-11-27T10:04:29.286+00:00Countdown & Decisions<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1027"> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout ext="edit"> <o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><b style=""><i style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVWK3pa0sG9T-GzJpWmeoKKwR1S4HStM8XPq7WDTHaqKyhU9adLO7FxvuBlu2aPrM_SRN4p-JUbAg2lxJoJhKQp-U5swZt7AG7Dr9zm-0VcR0amhpYrJzJXYiBHw1yRvpSr9v5SbDIs8/s1600-h/House+21_9+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVWK3pa0sG9T-GzJpWmeoKKwR1S4HStM8XPq7WDTHaqKyhU9adLO7FxvuBlu2aPrM_SRN4p-JUbAg2lxJoJhKQp-U5swZt7AG7Dr9zm-0VcR0amhpYrJzJXYiBHw1yRvpSr9v5SbDIs8/s320/House+21_9+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266702776399773090" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">Well summer has</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"> gone…and the first </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">half of our term this year com</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">pleted.<span style=""> </span>We have just got back fr</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUNrffbwUGg5gdCEHqjBmrxiwyvh8F0IutmSUgo8KlDH1mIEB7Xvkh_DGPBCMAZAL58-bXe8h9ZjGQhD-Hw-jzkJGnnLM0cpQ84PWQuYBe4Lt-C-qP6PSFxP4M-eXyBwP_omQjh716yI/s1600-h/2_11+House+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUNrffbwUGg5gdCEHqjBmrxiwyvh8F0IutmSUgo8KlDH1mIEB7Xvkh_DGPBCMAZAL58-bXe8h9ZjGQhD-Hw-jzkJGnnLM0cpQ84PWQuYBe4Lt-C-qP6PSFxP4M-eXyBwP_omQjh716yI/s320/2_11+House+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266702528197601442" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">om a week’s mid-term break and it is 37 days until we leave for NZ!</span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;">House</span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">Since our building team have lef</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">t the house progre</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">ss has continued, but much more slowly.<span style=""> </span>W</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">e have been back down to Rzhyshchiv every</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"> </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">weekend this </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">term</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"> and spent most of our time with paintbrushes in hand.<span style=""> </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWn5FUHwydQ8uO32-Ab4dQV-4rosTzRIgp4UyibiQB6bisVyJ-lVoL0LICwAS18SRLQDr7WpuANwptEhhJwLbbF2XlZBGYA8w8oQWUR4GJbfAiVYgfOXZVu8jYdj71Pg5cN_-IT8Iv7go/s1600-h/2_11+House+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWn5FUHwydQ8uO32-Ab4dQV-4rosTzRIgp4UyibiQB6bisVyJ-lVoL0LICwAS18SRLQDr7WpuANwptEhhJwLbbF2XlZBGYA8w8oQWUR4GJbfAiVYgfOXZVu8jYdj71Pg5cN_-IT8Iv7go/s320/2_11+House+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266701573771563554" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">It has been satisfying </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">to see things to start to look like home.<span style=""> </span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">All the plumbing and <o:p></o:p>electricity has been completed and most of the paint.<o:p></o:p> </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">Our kitchen has</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"> been ordered </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">and we are getting excited about being able</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"> to live in our own house (even if it is just for the </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">weekends at this st</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">age – while we have jobs in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kiev</st1:place></st1:city>).<o:p></o:p> </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7GA9ijexbxsuoVh3mItTA40hQnTYPA7J0MDfAEHNOB4rDgbKWilFZt016kdPQB-QialoohnpGAPtvzL4uCb79PPJBVxKSaJZgYTwwtsXKnq3UyAx58ymuN2WRyI8rh5CWpxk6o9-2Dc/s1600-h/2_11+House+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7GA9ijexbxsuoVh3mItTA40hQnTYPA7J0MDfAEHNOB4rDgbKWilFZt016kdPQB-QialoohnpGAPtvzL4uCb79PPJBVxKSaJZgYTwwtsXKnq3UyAx58ymuN2WRyI8rh5CWpxk6o9-2Dc/s320/2_11+House+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266701469651160930" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">We feel really blessed with the workers God has provid</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">ed for us, and the quality and attitude with which it has been achieved.<span style=""> </span>It was only a year ago we bou</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">ght this house…and at times it felt like we would never get it finished!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;">School</span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">We have enjoyed startin</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">g the new school year with new classes.<span style=""> </span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">I am still teaching Year 5, and Jon teaching Year 6.<span style=""> </span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">As usual it has been interesting with new students and staff to adjust too, but seems like a very positive feel th</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">is year.<span style=""> </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRbmL_NdF8xDz8mYGRC9hL4zbPsWFXl66NnBMJhMOA2GRZ7rGKjT0zGQ9QJ0ObxkyBaQPlb6ru0df28TIJICkFyebNK4S3FqV72Qzx6816pP29UULJpm2cu9dtbElDL04eRsEWLGYiVk/s1600-h/House+21_9+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRbmL_NdF8xDz8mYGRC9hL4zbPsWFXl66NnBMJhMOA2GRZ7rGKjT0zGQ9QJ0ObxkyBaQPlb6ru0df28TIJICkFyebNK4S3FqV72Qzx6816pP29UULJpm2cu9dtbElDL04eRsEWLGYiVk/s320/House+21_9+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266702671279608210" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">We have applied for 10 weeks leave (3 weeks xmas holidays ++ 7 weeks extra) for our trip to New Zealand, </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">and </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">although </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">we didn’t think we would be successful the school has been very accommodating and offered us 5 weeks paid leave…</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">which we are seriously considering although <o:p></o:p>we will have to cut our planned time a little shorter.<span style=""> </span>The only other option would be to find 2 teache</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">rs to cover our time away (anyone want a 5-6 week stint in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ukraine</st1:place></st1:country-region>?)</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01bokPIKQzHt25-Mp9it4V5bOwuXRUB2dx1XLlxaAXiBVGZupHEAmhXZvDZZmawGhGMObqUuwmBeDH5Wrw2owZFIZoa6Ew7xNVuKJkSvtoo11nuawpogZeeDctbV96TYiXJUbRxON56Y/s1600-h/DSCF3522.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01bokPIKQzHt25-Mp9it4V5bOwuXRUB2dx1XLlxaAXiBVGZupHEAmhXZvDZZmawGhGMObqUuwmBeDH5Wrw2owZFIZoa6Ew7xNVuKJkSvtoo11nuawpogZeeDctbV96TYiXJUbRxON56Y/s320/DSCF3522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266702046439535346" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;">Opportunities</span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">We have a very</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"> clo</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">se frie</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">nd here who ha</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">s an amazing</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"> </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">musical gift and a </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">beautiful voice.<span style=""> </span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">We have encouraged her to get some training in this area, </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">and she is in the midst of a</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">pplying for a 1 year course </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">at <a href="http://www.excel.ac.nz/">Excel Performing Arts Centre</a> in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Auckland</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">New Zealand</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"><span style=""> </span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">As you can imagine this is a huge step and big financial undertaking, but an absolute dream-come true.<span style=""> </span>Check <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBU8R2V8QVs">her audition</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBU8R2V8QVs"> </a>out to see for yourself the ability she has.<span style=""> </span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">With an average wage here being about $7,000US <b style="">per year</b> this type of dream is basically unreachable.<span style=""> </span></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">We are looking for sponsorship in this area, and we would love to see her dream come true and give her an opportunity of a lifetime.<b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;">Future</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">We have been consideri</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">ng our future here and different decisions we have to make.<span style=""> </span>We are now in a different phas</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">e of understanding the culture and </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">language, and makes for some good discussions and soul-searching!<span style=""> </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY01gk33iD3CTyiAfoMKcbx82Uzx6XccAebiHNQB1aJ9fL7ze2BlaYYAEQ7Ok3EYN-_4HWdrC-Rntrqvgc6XW0RgLg6bnPUl1-HAc69r-rD236ZXzf9L_d2Vn25LMzbmrmjEHPk23nLlE/s1600-h/DSCF3595.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY01gk33iD3CTyiAfoMKcbx82Uzx6XccAebiHNQB1aJ9fL7ze2BlaYYAEQ7Ok3EYN-_4HWdrC-Rntrqvgc6XW0RgLg6bnPUl1-HAc69r-rD236ZXzf9L_d2Vn25LMzbmrmjEHPk23nLlE/s320/DSCF3595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266701845738289026" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">This</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"> is by no means the promised land, but we have made some very good friends, and generally enjoy living here – although we do miss our friends and family in NZ! </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">We are in the </span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">midst of applying for permanent residency which should make official documentation much easier for us in th</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">e future.<span style=""> </span>The economic situation is looking rather interesting, as all American dollars seemed to have disappeared completely from the country. We are not sure what the futur</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">e holds, but want to remain positive and just take each step as it comes.<span style=""> </span>Our trip back to NZ will give us another perspective and maybe clarify some things.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;">Holidays</span></b></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">During mid-term break we took the train to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Budapest</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Hungary</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>We went with my brother Jono, and enjoyed a couple of days in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Budap</st1:place></st1:city></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">est</st1:place></st1:city>, and also hired a car for 3 days and enjoyed driving the countryside on great roads, soaking in thermal baths and generally relaxing.<span style=""> </span>We also got new visas for <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ukraine</st1:place></st1:country-region> while we were there, which was the main reason for the trip.<span style=""> </span>It is great just to be able to pop across the border to check out another European country.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNfmljHgIdHrM9fVvrMt75jaGwUs5wo6rbylQM1J4NYNQc74NZbK6fHwDVG34i7nI96vmqhf8oORy1P5lfpoxTru6EZoOCrLk3iZWcpmNpuVZhfEVQvYSn-Ptv2Hs3HYpj96ZjJRyi-M/s1600-h/DSCF3559.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNfmljHgIdHrM9fVvrMt75jaGwUs5wo6rbylQM1J4NYNQc74NZbK6fHwDVG34i7nI96vmqhf8oORy1P5lfpoxTru6EZoOCrLk3iZWcpmNpuVZhfEVQvYSn-Ptv2Hs3HYpj96ZjJRyi-M/s320/DSCF3559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266701730770392914" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">Obviously we are looking forward to our trip home…we leave here on Dec 13<sup>th</sup> and arrive <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Auckland</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">New Zealand</st1:country-region></st1:place> 7:35 am on Dec 15<sup>th</sup>.<span style=""> </span>We will leave NZ on either 18<sup>th</sup> Jan or Feb… yet to decide.<span style=""> </span>We are looking forward to ca</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">tching up with everyone…let us know wh</span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">en it suits you best!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-NZ">Until we meet again…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ruth & Jon</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:11;" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-31810512080377285482008-09-10T18:14:00.036+00:002008-09-14T11:50:43.920+00:00Summer 2008<o:p style="font-family: arial;"></o:p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span lang="EN-NZ">Wow! <span style=""> </span>What a bus</span><span lang="EN-NZ">y summer we have had, and very little time to send out any photos or update.<span style=""> </span>So here goes…</span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ">The last day of school</span><span lang="EN-NZ"> (27<sup>th</sup> June) saw u</span><span lang="EN-NZ">s o</span><span lang="EN-NZ">n th</span><span lang="EN-NZ">e overnight </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3GvYUPdz8Zx4tpELpMBkYzrJwGHxXJe6XsSMBQvf6W3s6UpkFJLnXICwIwrX-IjsU7QN7EnXNBLdgaYiGWVayCXZ-cDHVJ-CeUL-2MnI88xpauKWRgV1zXoVOORNe5mXCpvqNZy69Pw/s1600-h/DSC02303.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3GvYUPdz8Zx4tpELpMBkYzrJwGHxXJe6XsSMBQvf6W3s6UpkFJLnXICwIwrX-IjsU7QN7EnXNBLdgaYiGWVayCXZ-cDHVJ-CeUL-2MnI88xpauKWRgV1zXoVOORNe5mXCpvqNZy69Pw/s320/DSC02303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244460632442234818" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-NZ">train</span><span lang="EN-NZ"> to Lviv where we ca</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ught up with friends before we ca</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ught the v</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ery slow overnight bus</span><span lang="EN-NZ"> ac</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ross the bor</span><span lang="EN-NZ">der to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Po</st1:place></st1:country-region></span><span lang="EN-NZ"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">land</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""> </span>There we m</span><span lang="EN-NZ">et our friends from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">New Zealand</st1:place></st1:country-region> (Mark & Jacqui)</span><span lang="EN-NZ"> and it was great to see them aga</span><span lang="EN-NZ">in.<span style=""> </span>We spent a few days in <st1:country-region st="on">Poland</st1:country-region> enjoying Krakow while we waited for necessary visas to travel back in</span><span lang="EN-NZ">to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ukraine</st1:place></st1:country-region>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ">Once back in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U</st1:place></st1:country-region></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPsJUKGNk9h_14skHonJheaQr5T2Oc75M8hy27uiYWmpRQjcts_c8-jttb80DkxdUyiutzboBTXLFyUTheHh9jVPM3BDSbkp-Zywu9P-fY5hMscnsMFOPTtaLg3eMY-V5mydlQyx4Keo/s1600-h/0+-+Mark%27s+camera+%286%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPsJUKGNk9h_14skHonJheaQr5T2Oc75M8hy27uiYWmpRQjcts_c8-jttb80DkxdUyiutzboBTXLFyUTheHh9jVPM3BDSbkp-Zywu9P-fY5hMscnsMFOPTtaLg3eMY-V5mydlQyx4Keo/s320/0+-+Mark%27s+camera+%286%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244461428479717154" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-NZ"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">kraine</st1:place></st1:country-region> it was straight into work on </span><span lang="EN-NZ">th</span><span lang="EN-NZ">e house plus preparation for a camp we were running.<span style=""> </span>I supp</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ose it was then that Mark realis</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ed what kind of building project he had agreed to!<span style=""> </span>We knocked down more wa</span><span lang="EN-NZ">lls, go</span><span lang="EN-NZ">t </span><span lang="EN-NZ">sick of the sight of bricks and made a </span><span lang="EN-NZ">general start on</span><span lang="EN-NZ"> some of the big jobs</span><span lang="EN-NZ">.<span style=""> </span>In t</span><span lang="EN-NZ">he meantime my brother Jono arrived back from </span><span lang="EN-NZ">a year in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region> and</span><span lang="EN-NZ"> we then shifted into his house fo</span><span lang="EN-NZ">r the rest o</span><span lang="EN-NZ">f th</span><span lang="EN-NZ">e summer.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ">With our backyard looking more respectabl</span><span lang="EN-NZ">e and the grass </span><span lang="EN-NZ">growi</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAM9dMcfYUq5nA8oKZ0BQYvLVg-olhWMSnpAG2buiatsYrPn-78IW-grPYEtxh8qAELVxPVD_slJ6UVSPBGo5TYMgLRJugx-qKq98-_QPIDQlFZR2TAdIskv0amARNoVxUOtKrUV8Ovkc/s1600-h/DSC02620.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAM9dMcfYUq5nA8oKZ0BQYvLVg-olhWMSnpAG2buiatsYrPn-78IW-grPYEtxh8qAELVxPVD_slJ6UVSPBGo5TYMgLRJugx-qKq98-_QPIDQlFZR2TAdIskv0amARNoVxUOtKrUV8Ovkc/s320/DSC02620.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244461773987894354" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-NZ">ng, we hosted a “downunder” summer Christ</span><span lang="EN-NZ">mas, c</span><span lang="EN-NZ">omplete with backyard cricket, touch ruby, a BBQ & pavlova.<span style=""> </span>It was a good time to e</span><span lang="EN-NZ">njoy the fruit of our labours and relax in our </span><span lang="EN-NZ">backyard.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ">Camp 120 was </span><span lang="EN-NZ">the next event.<span style=""> </span>My brother usually runs this but as he was away most of the year, w</span><span lang="EN-NZ">e agreed to take </span><span lang="EN-NZ">o</span><span lang="EN-NZ">n this responsibility this year.<span style=""> </span></span><span lang="EN-NZ">We had about </span><span lang="EN-NZ">100 </span><span lang="EN-NZ">yo</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ung peop</span><span lang="EN-NZ">le</span><span lang="EN-NZ"> on </span><span lang="EN-NZ">an island</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir40UObrs3RZZZBFLO4qxX-9jh2d3FYWM9JazvR_lJZfnCId6fVLc5hQEvDk9tDWvs6o_4uvnFFPegJ6bYIXDILAVvH0mKcREcg2pEPzn1mIPOQaNtWcPzM4eaYbWbbjJQIBOCDoc4BiE/s1600-h/20_7+Camp+120+164.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir40UObrs3RZZZBFLO4qxX-9jh2d3FYWM9JazvR_lJZfnCId6fVLc5hQEvDk9tDWvs6o_4uvnFFPegJ6bYIXDILAVvH0mKcREcg2pEPzn1mIPOQaNtWcPzM4eaYbWbbjJQIBOCDoc4BiE/s320/20_7+Camp+120+164.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244463607578029186" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-NZ"> for a week, and had a grea</span><span lang="EN-NZ">t time.<span style=""> </span></span><span lang="EN-NZ">It was interesting to run something like this (</span><span lang="EN-NZ">which we</span><span lang="EN-NZ"> had done m</span><span lang="EN-NZ">any times in NZ) in a cul</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ture that was not our own.<span style=""> </span>I think it went </span><span lang="EN-NZ">well.</span></p><p face="courier new" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ">It </span><span lang="EN-NZ">was then b</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ack to the</span><span lang="EN-NZ"> </span><span lang="EN-NZ">house, with getting the windows put in, bricking in some o</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ld windows, starting the gi</span><span lang="EN-NZ">b, and other numerous jobs that kept popping up.<span style=""> </span>Eve</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ntually we were sta</span><span lang="EN-NZ">rting to see progress and gettin</span><span lang="EN-NZ">g excited about what it would be like.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="times new roman"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_b-vUAmOnFaoHIy3O-jzvaTd0vQ4Q-DrH7VO-Wcftdx1tIBfmo6xN5ZAe-NLGNIYbLEZnlb3GVUJ2yqfFAzzG96uYjhy1gPsYCTH2BgsdO818COWciH81MzC2THXqMp_U8ggsoXEJmP8/s1600-h/crimea+aug+08+%2833%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_b-vUAmOnFaoHIy3O-jzvaTd0vQ4Q-DrH7VO-Wcftdx1tIBfmo6xN5ZAe-NLGNIYbLEZnlb3GVUJ2yqfFAzzG96uYjhy1gPsYCTH2BgsdO818COWciH81MzC2THXqMp_U8ggsoXEJmP8/s320/crimea+aug+08+%2833%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244464416659807138" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ">Near the beginning of August we took a week off and with a group of 7 p</span><span lang="EN-NZ">eople went to the Crimea (<st1:place st="on">Black Sea</st1:place>).<span style=""> </span>It was a very beautiful place and </span><span lang="EN-NZ">was great t</span><span lang="EN-NZ">o swim in the sea again (as opposed to the less than ideal river here).<span style=""> </span>It was a nic</span><span lang="EN-NZ">e hot relaxing summer holiday and a place we would love to go back to.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLzGWCuCQu3LURhwYvPnwaTmcE3nxHaHVAMIBrd3swDnF5EAlKNlmZ95WIuskenWfNA-11e7Oz3vpHkAGj8HpiCW5lueaSSqjIzAMAR-dKcd_uJfqEx1xs9rwUdFF7NbrinI-H4RjExI/s1600-h/2008_0807bala0267.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLzGWCuCQu3LURhwYvPnwaTmcE3nxHaHVAMIBrd3swDnF5EAlKNlmZ95WIuskenWfNA-11e7Oz3vpHkAGj8HpiCW5lueaSSqjIzAMAR-dKcd_uJfqEx1xs9rwUdFF7NbrinI-H4RjExI/s320/2008_0807bala0267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244464758537512818" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p><span style="font-family:arial;">With about a month left of summer the hous</span></span><span lang="EN-NZ">e work started to gain momentum with insulation, vapour barrier and gib all happening at once.<span style=""> </span>Cheryl came and worked hard giving us expert adv</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ice on the gib stopping and Jacqui became a professional at that in no time.</span><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ">Near the end of August, with Jon & I having to go back to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kiev</st1:place></st1:city> to start school, we left the house in Mark, Jacqui & Cheryl’s capable hands and it was great to go back a</span><span lang="EN-NZ">nd see the progress.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ">September 6<sup>th</sup> was the date set fo</span><span lang="EN-NZ">r an end of summer party/celebration of<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ">t</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nLl2nBcvF9rn1NI9fQp6Q4zXBfPQME4-kXgc3tVRZkFFex5io9LqR0iKuXiuFjtSZvu9B-9SUwzj4ts_l1gP3uUOONYezDeCcIKoEF6AcAmSogUI-CUSWySuZFE4j0hpffpGWHwS5Cc/s1600-h/DSC03549.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nLl2nBcvF9rn1NI9fQp6Q4zXBfPQME4-kXgc3tVRZkFFex5io9LqR0iKuXiuFjtSZvu9B-9SUwzj4ts_l1gP3uUOONYezDeCcIKoEF6AcAmSogUI-CUSWySuZFE4j0hpffpGWHwS5Cc/s320/DSC03549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244466512158123634" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-NZ">he house being mainly completed and coinciding w</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ith </span><a href="http://roofellin.blogspot.com/2008/08/come-join-celebration.html"><span lang="EN-NZ">my 30<sup>th</sup> birthday</span></a><span lang="EN-NZ">.<span style=""> </span>With cold rainy weather the weekend before we thought that summer had fi</span><span lang="EN-NZ">nished</span><span lang="EN-NZ">, but it warmed back up again and we had a wonderful night wit</span><span lang="EN-NZ">h friends enjoying our backy</span><span lang="EN-NZ">a</span><span lang="EN-NZ">rd, an</span><span lang="EN-NZ">d big shashlik (bb</span><span lang="EN-NZ">q meat on a stick).<span style=""> </span>Huge thanks to our awesome building </span><span lang="EN-NZ">crew who </span><span lang="EN-NZ">work</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ed extreme hours the week before that to get the house mostly completed.<span style=""> </span>It looks amazing!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtqrQx3c01cOUBS4-SFxnzqUbo5hCTTx9CZjtbDRPhffGpYMleBU8d0t6ih5nvtt_zNyPZJKPZvxTJBym33SRXZZGDcrUYNZlN3a6abpIV-7WOf2gNWNPQmjTGueIUtLDF5E9Vdibo8o/s1600-h/DSC03567.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtqrQx3c01cOUBS4-SFxnzqUbo5hCTTx9CZjtbDRPhffGpYMleBU8d0t6ih5nvtt_zNyPZJKPZvxTJBym33SRXZZGDcrUYNZlN3a6abpIV-7WOf2gNWNPQmjTGueIUtLDF5E9Vdibo8o/s320/DSC03567.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244467096931236242" border="0" /></a><br /><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span lang="EN-NZ">We are r</span><span lang="EN-NZ">eally stoked with the pr</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ogre</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ss of the house, and it is now starting to feel like our home.<span style=""> </span>For the h</span><span lang="EN-NZ">ouse before & after photos<a href="http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=ddv9jjn6_1161cc5gdmfk"> click here…</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;">The 7<sup>th</sup> September saw us sad</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;">ly say goodbye to Mark & Jacqu</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;">i as they co</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;">ntinue on their travels, and with the weather cooling down it seems we have definitely completed a busy, eventful but fanta</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;">stic summer.</span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZl7hefhOi8h-hsfjhtIivkI9VYrbHtBbA6OwFcZMQMUAmQAhycKGFIK1fefUN-m9PqtyOHUX2E3JBU9e0SnxO8vey2hqKmEnVYvWa26JAw6tW0WuhABnKdMTV-RfPfhvHM0EydkyDKk/s1600-h/2008_0908markandjax0008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZl7hefhOi8h-hsfjhtIivkI9VYrbHtBbA6OwFcZMQMUAmQAhycKGFIK1fefUN-m9PqtyOHUX2E3JBU9e0SnxO8vey2hqKmEnVYvWa26JAw6tW0WuhABnKdMTV-RfPfhvHM0EydkyDKk/s320/2008_0908markandjax0008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244467510450755890" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-54086917758940754942008-06-10T16:03:00.027+00:002008-12-08T21:44:18.950+00:00“Cherez tre tezhni rozlabon kozhen den!”<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">This is the new phrase I have been saying lately…it means, “In 3 weeks relaxing e</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">veryday!”<span style=""> </span>We are counting down the weeks now until school </span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">finishes as the weather heats up and the summer feel is really kicking in.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p></span><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">H</span></b><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">ouse:</span></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSJXEBMNXBo03BgxpxTbccYmsTYs4Y6kVt2kzCeh0OJqbKEWZgVz8mzc0GN_mmnprF5t1az836zeak7j2ph4-aJRdPSGChLgtombwGFhaIJSzAS_GZAnLSyeI1wV0T8jqHe86IDaCtNE/s1600-h/4_5_House+015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSJXEBMNXBo03BgxpxTbccYmsTYs4Y6kVt2kzCeh0OJqbKEWZgVz8mzc0GN_mmnprF5t1az836zeak7j2ph4-aJRdPSGChLgtombwGFhaIJSzAS_GZAnLSyeI1wV0T8jqHe86IDaCtNE/s400/4_5_House+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210286303673222034" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p><br />Since we last wrote we have seen some great progress on</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> our</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> house.</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p><br />Firstly our friends Mark & Jacqui from NZ are</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> heading this wa</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">y in 3 weeks to spend the summer with us and do some hard work! (Mark is a builder)<span style=""> </span>We are really looking forward to having them here. <o:p></o:p><br />Also one of our friends here Sasha has asked his Dad to work on our house and in the past 2 weeks has completed the first stages of the electricity and is now beginning on the plumbing. He is a very nice,</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> experienced, honest guy who is good with his hands and is doing a great job.<span style=""> </span>Th</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">is is a great answer to prayer and it is good to see</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> something happening at last.</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p><br /></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">We</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> have also </span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">spent lots of time in the backyard</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> and really</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> e</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">njoying </span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">seeing it take shape.</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><span style=""> </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJtleATHaJDyxB0S89fIthq1oKVWiOOmeZ0UDUB_pdnfyU5M_NKJAb88-uAs2f-TZ6Stww_NLvK1Ax12WHcZCYqzRRQp6T4tbmQozjtmFAiTh1kQl7r2RdYB-mf0ZmMj9yUQcH4TGg1E/s1600-h/20_4+House+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJtleATHaJDyxB0S89fIthq1oKVWiOOmeZ0UDUB_pdnfyU5M_NKJAb88-uAs2f-TZ6Stww_NLvK1Ax12WHcZCYqzRRQp6T4tbmQozjtmFAiTh1kQl7r2RdYB-mf0ZmMj9yUQcH4TGg1E/s400/20_4+House+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210287056005826978" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">We were even crazy </span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">enough to lay a</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> cricket </span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">pitch using bricks!</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> </span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">(We wondered if our neighbour would think we wanted them to grow!) </span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">Mowing the l</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">awns is now a</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> weekly Saturday job, and makes us feel ‘normal’!</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> </span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p><br />We did have an unfortunate weekend a couple of weeks ago when our house was broken into (doesn’t help when we are only back there sometimes on weekends) and most of our tools, stereo & CD</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">’s were taken.</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><span style=""> </span>Not very nice</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">, but the</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">y left everything else for which we are</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> thankful.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMP9MZdAIU34FhLewCEo6dVmQMk9mt_U7XTGOYFoEWQRqEnIoDNoSmH7X9ZGFkRQj50FjHOpAXdQGah8fYP-2mQeTt_ANJBEyTpgiKcu8fJCdDamED_7vKC16wjM_NYhMWLtFpusArzM/s1600-h/PICT4832+%283%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 382px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMP9MZdAIU34FhLewCEo6dVmQMk9mt_U7XTGOYFoEWQRqEnIoDNoSmH7X9ZGFkRQj50FjHOpAXdQGah8fYP-2mQeTt_ANJBEyTpgiKcu8fJCdDamED_7vKC16wjM_NYhMWLtFpusArzM/s400/PICT4832+%283%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210287940894382802" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseo1TyHCPbV02x4487ivhss8Rh_NIbX4Nxup9dn1VYJ-43RRm7tG5hxWk6gnNCw3OvdfbfVeqQVNH6msotUlhPbaBcyyTczIEJUbodoHssAqea0sl7jy_hlm668J0Al1FNUeXFSTI6Uw/s1600-h/27_04+Cricket+%26+Picnic+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseo1TyHCPbV02x4487ivhss8Rh_NIbX4Nxup9dn1VYJ-43RRm7tG5hxWk6gnNCw3OvdfbfVeqQVNH6msotUlhPbaBcyyTczIEJUbodoHssAqea0sl7jy_hlm668J0Al1FNUeXFSTI6Uw/s400/27_04+Cricket+%26+Picnic+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210289128809966706" border="0" /></a><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">Language:</span></b><br /><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">The big piece of news here is that I ha</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">ve managed to learn the Ukrainian alphabet, and I can re</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">ad most words, just don’t know what I am saying!<span style=""> </span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">J</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">on is continuing to do well and practice what he knows, and I have more desire now to learn.<span style=""> </span>I</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> am hoping to get some lessons during summer.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">Sport:</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p><br />We have continued with cricket about once a month which has been enjoyable.<span style=""> </span>Just doesn’t seem the same though without the grass!!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_cIt50Hhi5Ply6-llWbRPnavRuFtxU5ntQdGLo7XvsKg00hkeZSpde-h3gJHbro0CKOycqBsSPOZnq_cSEX9NFkgjwYYm5dDs239JmWHQ9rDO8lRaLiTtXrU2arRn-T0y-L1otZJ2Xw/s1600-h/27_04+Cricket+%26+Picnic+036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_cIt50Hhi5Ply6-llWbRPnavRuFtxU5ntQdGLo7XvsKg00hkeZSpde-h3gJHbro0CKOycqBsSPOZnq_cSEX9NFkgjwYYm5dDs239JmWHQ9rDO8lRaLiTtXrU2arRn-T0y-L1otZJ2Xw/s400/27_04+Cricket+%26+Picnic+036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210291631394231458" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">Monday nights:</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><br />Our dinners have moved outdoors with the lovely weather we have been having lately.<span style=""> </span>It has been great to sp</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">end time around the fire/bbq.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p></span><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><br /></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">SUMMER PLANS:</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">Trips:<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">As soon as school finishes (June 27</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><sup>th</sup>) we are</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> on the train to Lviv, and then across the border to <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Poland</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>This serves 2 purposes, firstly Jon will renew his visa for the next year, and secondly we will meet Mark & Jacqui there before we bring them back into <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Ukraine</st1:country-region></st1:place> a few days later.<span style=""> </span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p><br />We also plan to visit <st1:place st="on">Crimea</st1:place> th</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">e first</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"> week of August.<span style=""> </span>There is a group of us that have booked cheap flights ($40NZ return) so that should be a heap of fu</span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">n and be good to explore that part of <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Ukraine</st1:country-region></st1:place>.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdXvVqTQh9G4CLILQ-WAkI9OElVmTT5d9P96E_EQ31bg017qJ05-9ilo7Ae133gEghgNSlrpwqUm8JZ62iTLqfeJySiNyv5ngCHV9OtkqOn1j0os6HPtj9SHPqh5oaSNKzy2z8uHo1Qo/s1600-h/02_6+BBQ+in+forest+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdXvVqTQh9G4CLILQ-WAkI9OElVmTT5d9P96E_EQ31bg017qJ05-9ilo7Ae133gEghgNSlrpwqUm8JZ62iTLqfeJySiNyv5ngCHV9OtkqOn1j0os6HPtj9SHPqh5oaSNKzy2z8uHo1Qo/s400/02_6+BBQ+in+forest+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210298204639105122" border="0" /></a><br /><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">Camp:</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p><br />We have agreed to direct/run the camp my brother Jono has been running the past 3 summers on an island in the middle of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Dnepr</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">River</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>We are busy sorting out details for this at the moment, organising tents, water, a speaker & getting Jono’s boat working etc.<span style=""> </span>We pray that this will really be a great encouraging & safe time.<span style=""> </span>It will be from July 14-19<sup>th</sup>, Jono arrives back just in time on the 9<sup>th</sup> July.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">Xmas:</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p><br />We know it’s not really the right time of year, but it is definitely the right time of weather for us, so we have decided to have a ‘mid-summer’ <a href="http://roofellin.blogspot.com/2008/06/you-are-invited.html">downunder Christmas</a><a href="http://roofellin.blogspot.com/2008/06/you-are-invited.html">!</a> We have taken the date 6 months on from Ukrainian Christmas and decided to reclaim 7<sup>th</sup> July as our traditional Christmas day while living here in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Ukraine</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>We have invited our other ‘downunder’ friends, so looking forward to a game of cricket & BBQ together.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p></span><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">A year on…</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p><br />We have had a good year mostly.<span style=""> </span>It is interesting to be in a culture/country that is undergoing some huge economic changes which is also affecting cultural and social changes.<span style=""> </span>We are learning and growing and feel this is where we should be – at least for now.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p>Until next time…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">Rufus & Jay<o:p></o:p></span></p>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-91578001133691371902008-04-13T19:13:00.011+00:002008-12-08T21:44:19.703+00:00Spring 2008 Ukraine<span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" >Hope & Growth – these 2 words sum up and describe what spring is like in a climate that has long cold winters.<span style=""> </span>It is also exactly the feelings we have now as we head into the last term of school with the summer holidays in the near future.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmORFI6FY4NRH-QjJMmkRofAbBPeqn3VMji1sGHJ1AHRHNTHo-XK8-Lvz7VQXilnZtMhHindzyixYX5tx58CzcXCQHUYDM8DnlIymhSkbEQ14Y1KN4sSpYUYwG0JTBslA4xLNZr1Uvl4/s1600-h/15_3+House+Bathroom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQmORFI6FY4NRH-QjJMmkRofAbBPeqn3VMji1sGHJ1AHRHNTHo-XK8-Lvz7VQXilnZtMhHindzyixYX5tx58CzcXCQHUYDM8DnlIymhSkbEQ14Y1KN4sSpYUYwG0JTBslA4xLNZr1Uvl4/s200/15_3+House+Bathroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188811272769173490" border="0" /></a></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">House:</span></b></span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" ><o:p></o:p><br />This is consuming a lot our time and thoughts at th</span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" >e moment.<span style=""> </span>The progress is a lot slower than we would like which at times is very frustrating, but we have come up with an action plan that should see most of the big stuff completed before the end of June when school ends and we need to shift out of our apartment in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kiev</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style=""> </span></span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" >This does rely though on finding good workers, so we are praying & waiting for this.<o:p></o:p> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFBtBKN8sTGKBjWKjTLM36eK3FPVvHByAKJminqURnyxST5sZSlwGzd8XH2zi4GW2LITPXU74Q_gD7B4dppefbQ-UDfCWba3XAHafd_V-ESI8SKTHpfU-a3hlHMMpC-riWAUxd-cKfyc/s1600-h/House+buying+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFBtBKN8sTGKBjWKjTLM36eK3FPVvHByAKJminqURnyxST5sZSlwGzd8XH2zi4GW2LITPXU74Q_gD7B4dppefbQ-UDfCWba3XAHafd_V-ESI8SKTHpfU-a3hlHMMpC-riWAUxd-cKfyc/s200/House+buying+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188812157532436482" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" >We have done a lot of work inside getting rid</span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" > of the old walls, bathroom, radiator pipes etc.<span style=""> </span>It is looking very bare!<o:p></o:p> </span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" >We h</span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" >ave also spent a few weekends outside clearing the backyard, </span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" >sowing grass & generally cleaning up.</span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" ><span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBMaNeDRtBbCiW7N-V6LRj9fNj6zqZ1hcswroz98b_KslQuqIKhHvReljNZr-IQkb_AZJ_gA_IkMYb3T6nA6SZ5ovkWCFnsUJDrgpte9YJZe9xhib07lYbvKLZ2jvd4ERSAkQcE6sG-I/s1600-h/6_4+House+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBMaNeDRtBbCiW7N-V6LRj9fNj6zqZ1hcswroz98b_KslQuqIKhHvReljNZr-IQkb_AZJ_gA_IkMYb3T6nA6SZ5ovkWCFnsUJDrgpte9YJZe9xhib07lYbvKLZ2jvd4ERSAkQcE6sG-I/s200/6_4+House+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188812930626549778" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" >Although we </span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" >have </span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" >struck a f</span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" >ew snags along the way, we are enjoying having our own place a</span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" >nd</span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" > know it is a good investment and project to work on.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p><br />School:</span></b></span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" ><o:p></o:p><br />Things seemed to have settled</span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" > down a lot at school, and we are definitely into “last term mentality.”<span style=""> </span>We finish at the end of June & are looking forward to 2 months of summer holidays.<span style=""> </span>We have been offered jobs there next year which we have both accepted (including a pay-rise & bonus)! </span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">Music:</span></b></span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" ><o:p></o:p><br />Jon’s band is in the process of recording a single which will be the last thing for them as they take a break while the leader has a baby.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p><br />Jon is enjoying working at home though recording some of his own work and figuring out how recording all works.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">Sport:</span></b></span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" ><o:p></o:p><br />The cricket season started this weekend and our bodies are feeling a little sorry for it.<span style=""> </span>Cricket is a little different here though – I am the only female player (probably in the who</span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" >le of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ukraine</st1:place></st1:country-region>) and we play on a dirt football field that has a traditional authentic Indian cricket mat in the middle as the pitch.<span style=""> </span>You can see photos & a short video clip of the ground & players at <a href="http://www.kcc.com.ua/">http://www.kcc.com.ua</a><span style=""> </span>We play/practice every Sat with 2 big tournaments in August with teams from all over <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ukraine</st1:place></st1:country-region> which should be fun.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p><br />This will be the first summer we haven’t played touch rugby! </span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">Out & About:</span></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaHKm2o2lP6N3fo6A93_ABR1ko5HEm3cwUW_V_tApqUOwgmFABD4Nv_FMo6g8cI7hUdJe3LpKWa-8_bixDhJWe02KDCKLg4SJ_otdRTULhcsymF_HqDX-ewcAehJH1iWDCJl6-7lhAbI/s1600-h/22_3+Wedding+209.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaHKm2o2lP6N3fo6A93_ABR1ko5HEm3cwUW_V_tApqUOwgmFABD4Nv_FMo6g8cI7hUdJe3LpKWa-8_bixDhJWe02KDCKLg4SJ_otdRTULhcsymF_HqDX-ewcAehJH1iWDCJl6-7lhAbI/s200/22_3+Wedding+209.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188814957851113522" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" ><o:p></o:p><br />Winter definitely seems to be a hibernating time here, but we have managed a few trips.<span style=""> </span>The Easter weekend we went north-east by train to Konotop for a wedding of some friends from school.<span style=""> </span>Our receptionist (who is Ukrainian) married one of the teachers (who is from <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Wales</st1:country-region></st1:place>) It was a traditional Ukrainian wedding & a good weekend away.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CwWV55coESaIwaHMD_eZ5hDLGTThlOadvRB7P2jX7S-v5GCpRZuUhLRKxEbB9doTctNvfLAXlLxD-Tb4r2hfcm-CSTa0mSHWZbPWCjH1zkSmwIXG_TboBjSXiPsQvk5MfxorhdSTEsY/s1600-h/22_3+Wedding+207.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CwWV55coESaIwaHMD_eZ5hDLGTThlOadvRB7P2jX7S-v5GCpRZuUhLRKxEbB9doTctNvfLAXlLxD-Tb4r2hfcm-CSTa0mSHWZbPWCjH1zkSmwIXG_TboBjSXiPsQvk5MfxorhdSTEsY/s200/22_3+Wedding+207.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188814047318046754" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><o:p></o:p><br /></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;">Growth & Hope:</span></b></span><span style=";font-family:Sylfaen;font-size:130%;" lang="EN-NZ" ><o:p></o:p><br />We are still enjoying living here although it does have its moments, and at times is very confusing and the culture is just plain strange!<span style=""> </span>But we feel like we are growing and learning more about ourselves, and life in another context.<span style=""> </span>We want to enjoy our time here, make the most of the experiences and look back with no regrets.<o:p></o:p><br />We are planning & looking forward to a trip back to NZ at the end of this year, it will be great to be back & catch up with everyone.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family:Sylfaen;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Until next time…</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-8498238123482955002008-02-07T17:11:00.000+00:002008-12-08T21:44:20.231+00:00Happy 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV-Rb5AT5ghnF2ZtNy-_P4e-qiY6l4KL6ohlXCexDMM_WpYzadVqLbAG-3CQl40c1t4zixWEdtWzbu_gWv7k_1f7G8GQZv4rFt9P_wb-6ap_q7LwxW5NSEGXL3EpPuL5mwRBOHN5xVUA/s1600-h/Rzhyshiv+19_01+%288%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV-Rb5AT5ghnF2ZtNy-_P4e-qiY6l4KL6ohlXCexDMM_WpYzadVqLbAG-3CQl40c1t4zixWEdtWzbu_gWv7k_1f7G8GQZv4rFt9P_wb-6ap_q7LwxW5NSEGXL3EpPuL5mwRBOHN5xVUA/s320/Rzhyshiv+19_01+%288%29.jpg" alt="Yes this is a frozen river!" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164289056443895602" border="0" /></a>Well…<o:p></o:p>it has been awhile since we updated you on what we have been doing, which hasn’t really been much, so here’s all the meagre news!<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p></o:p></span><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><br />House<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Last time we wrote, the house had just been finalised.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Since then, </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">we have had a </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">sewerage pit</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> dug,</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygn87kl-bOKE8UfocP1yMOxtB0jj4l20bgj5GTuPAzKSkzeR24I7-tdFysaHg_SqVjG794RHgBvldWTs5-czvAZSZ7v_-ODf7n9orz54teqsHLQ2baSSy-LvIbpu5Dz8tNgp-M6Iyt3E/s1600-h/Rzhyshiv+06_01+%284%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygn87kl-bOKE8UfocP1yMOxtB0jj4l20bgj5GTuPAzKSkzeR24I7-tdFysaHg_SqVjG794RHgBvldWTs5-czvAZSZ7v_-ODf7n9orz54teqsHLQ2baSSy-LvIbpu5Dz8tNgp-M6Iyt3E/s320/Rzhyshiv+06_01+%284%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164288107256123138" border="0" /></a><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> and water piped from the well into our house.</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><span style=""> </span>We have also started the job of knocking out the inside walls, and old fireplaces/stove.</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><span style=""> See our <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpz5AGMOec3unX8667V5v9UqCNJfZRoNia6lVNyjM-5K1mFtlJCALA4-nIf6dB-Z9-e-4IaNKj6R8dJNRv_pky5hjm0VjUYcgHvY25XUnKJj97QaaWtpRh4Uwetfl48jQnmBh5dWgRHWE/s1600-h/house3.jpg">plans</a> for more detail.</span></span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p></o:p><br />We have nearly finished tha</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">t now, and electrical</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> & plumbing work comes next and also replacing the windows, </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">the building of the new internal walls, and gib-rock all inside.</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">This should make it mostly liveable – we attempted</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> 10 days over the Christmas break of living there, but it w</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">as rather</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> depressing</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">!</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">We ai</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">m to build an </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">exten</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">sion in summer </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">which will include the kitchen.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Also in the</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> nex</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">t </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">couple of months </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">we </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">aim to spend </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">some </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">time on t</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">he outside, </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">planting stuff,</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> taking down a few </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEol-7eRF3-CxJN55gCobpu_T67xHftw7NCrMi2M8ZP4RvYfGnA8baCzSISxXHdWVR8gfTmTd6YeMXAgU-5ro8jjKoJuIsBwscrMg2YPfCL1v9BmTQMPQTZjLUXr5OjTRN64oiqRZzBQ/s1600-h/Rzhyshiv+06_01+%2813%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEol-7eRF3-CxJN55gCobpu_T67xHftw7NCrMi2M8ZP4RvYfGnA8baCzSISxXHdWVR8gfTmTd6YeMXAgU-5ro8jjKoJuIsBwscrMg2YPfCL1v9BmTQMPQTZjLUXr5OjTRN64oiqRZzBQ/s320/Rzhyshiv+06_01+%2813%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164288240400109330" border="0" /></a><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">trees & hopefully</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">planting some lawn (maybe even a cricket pitch). </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p></o:p><br />We do look forward to making it our home, and having people coming & going like we are used to.</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><span style=""> </span>My 30<sup>th</sup> birthday party</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> in September is a great incentive to</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> have it all finished by then.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">School</span></b><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p></o:p><br />Hmmm….school!<span style=""> </span>We both love our jobs and our classes, but the management of the school is creating a few headaches for us.<span style=""> </span>We are not really sure of why – maybe it’s a cultural or personality clash, but it has made it stressful at times.<span style=""> </span>We are trying to ch</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">oose to be positive and not complain or gossip </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">about stuff, but that is easier said</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">than done at times.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">The school is run as a money-making business which </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">is rather frustrating at times, but w</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">e just need to look at this year in the light of what we can learn & who we can become!</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMWDhFNy3YfSf5-ARS4uw5O3UorDEuhk76R033a_7VHLLNixhbAH5bjgM__Or24DFnVIYX1XNeFFm8Odz1tOIYIs6uWFqpk11jE8AuXhsASD7G6Cng6C1_Qiw7plov5PX97f-_slmgkY/s1600-h/Rzhyshiv+19_01+%283%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMWDhFNy3YfSf5-ARS4uw5O3UorDEuhk76R033a_7VHLLNixhbAH5bjgM__Or24DFnVIYX1XNeFFm8Odz1tOIYIs6uWFqpk11jE8AuXhsASD7G6Cng6C1_Qiw7plov5PX97f-_slmgkY/s320/Rzhyshiv+19_01+%283%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164291354251399010" border="0" /></a></p><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><br />Music</span></b><o:p></o:p><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><br />The band Jon is in continues to get asked to play at different places, which is good.<span style=""> </span>We had a trip to the top of the <st1:place st="on">Crimea</st1:place> peninsula in Dec for a weekend youth conference where they played.<span style=""> </span>This was a great time – more info on m</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">y <a href="http://ruthpastor.blogspot.com/2007/12/mark-in-sand.html">spiritual journal</a><a href="http://ruthpastor.blogspot.com/2007/12/mark-in-sand.html"> </a>about this trip.</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><span style=""> </span>We will also be traveling east in early March for another concert.<span style=""> </span>The traveling we have done has been on overnight trains which are an expe</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">rience in themselves & great fun.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">The band is a cool bunch of people and we both enjoy hanging out with them.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OPGtTLLgiXAg34agd_cCF84NRlj-Ne1iyLqZFGzPK6YgevqAktD7AaoNc_sRKHc4TP3qzxAYIjEDIl1327Y_ntr2HtM2TT8bz_4Ld8yt9BBHh-rIZGwNW3PPM-BC7WdEazNmKsUimI0/s1600-h/Snow+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OPGtTLLgiXAg34agd_cCF84NRlj-Ne1iyLqZFGzPK6YgevqAktD7AaoNc_sRKHc4TP3qzxAYIjEDIl1327Y_ntr2HtM2TT8bz_4Ld8yt9BBHh-rIZGwNW3PPM-BC7WdEazNmKsUimI0/s320/Snow+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164288674191806242" border="0" /></a><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Weather</span></b><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p></o:p><br />We are still really waiting for this awfully cold winter to hit us!<span style=""> </span>We have had a few snowfalls, about a week of temperatures hovering at about minus 15</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> & </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">the river froze</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">n in Rzhyshchiv, but apart from that it has been rather mild.<span style=""> </span>All buildings are well heated, if not overheated, and you learn to dress warmly when you have to<br />step outside.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiGV-ISWGyWgsk5QZoNbtd-hyDV-ZgGDM6pTRM7hdeJQmRfnAhfayPxfNtqlS5mKBZcGXHJ37d-86xZTyN9sdtYqrkh8qWCy0mtw1dicR_a2tyOVnZoQ0tBHIqAXD3DE1On4CG67PgFw/s1600-h/Snow+010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiGV-ISWGyWgsk5QZoNbtd-hyDV-ZgGDM6pTRM7hdeJQmRfnAhfayPxfNtqlS5mKBZcGXHJ37d-86xZTyN9sdtYqrkh8qWCy0mtw1dicR_a2tyOVnZoQ0tBHIqAXD3DE1On4CG67PgFw/s320/Snow+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164291925482049394" border="0" /></a><br /><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Other<o:p></o:p></span></b><br /><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">We have a group of friends in Kiev that are over<br />here from time to time, so we have decided to make Mondays ‘dinner night’ at our place.<span style=""> </span>We have about 10 people here each Mond</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">ay, and every 2<sup>nd</sup> week we have a Bible study.<span style=""> </span>This has been really good, we have been missing having people in our home, and being part of a community.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p></o:p><br />Another thing that Jon is enjoying at the moment is playing around with his new technology (Macbook & Protools – for those who care!) he has bought for </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">recording purposes.<span style=""> </span>He hopes to start getting good at this & start some recording of one of our </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">g</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">ood friends who has some</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> original work & an amazing voice!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">So that’s really all from us. Until next time…</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3taU9W-MiBgfDi6sidpeoYFCqKfVfnlwlPaGOSa7tEPk44JZecR2x8-ZH37akTnFIrUutUzbxoz48CW-aCzBMCL03sLHIMr9KVJ-BagW_JBr0b7MRk2WfCJD0gUnEQkEAzF77p00siaI/s1600-h/Rzhyshiv+06_01+%2834%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3taU9W-MiBgfDi6sidpeoYFCqKfVfnlwlPaGOSa7tEPk44JZecR2x8-ZH37akTnFIrUutUzbxoz48CW-aCzBMCL03sLHIMr9KVJ-BagW_JBr0b7MRk2WfCJD0gUnEQkEAzF77p00siaI/s320/Rzhyshiv+06_01+%2834%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164292831720148866" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-19162663747591392172007-11-07T16:29:00.001+00:002008-12-08T21:44:21.462+00:00Hello from the Homeowners<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zQwzk2zpgjVLyn9BtkDlEUgr7juXuT-TZs-hJhBkcROmLeyGV4zWPsp9exoNX4deSDHdHKb927-SNk1O-D4nAtQDQafjWuzD0WBGPSUTYUi5_eeD4swE0APh0vL0w-whOt2OeoC4Dls/s1600-h/House+buying+029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zQwzk2zpgjVLyn9BtkDlEUgr7juXuT-TZs-hJhBkcROmLeyGV4zWPsp9exoNX4deSDHdHKb927-SNk1O-D4nAtQDQafjWuzD0WBGPSUTYUi5_eeD4swE0APh0vL0w-whOt2OeoC4Dls/s320/House+buying+029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130137042253649522" border="0" /></a><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" ><o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >Well I suppose that’s the big news for </span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >us</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > this</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > month.<span style=""> </span></span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" ><br />We have just bought a house here! <o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >Although we thought the </span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >process</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > would be a long one, in the end it</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > was rather</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > painless.<span style=""> </span>There were a few hiccups along the way, but then everything came through in the end</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > & it kinda doesn’t yet seem real.</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" ><span style=""> </span>We are excited that is a clear</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > direction we</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > are now heading in &</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > plan to be here now for 3-5 (or longer) years.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >The house has been well built</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > (brick) with a level undern</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >eath.<span style=""> </span>It</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > has 3 bedrooms, and bathroom &</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > kitchen of sorts.<span style=""> </span>It also has a garage with a ‘summer</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > kitchen’ on the</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > back of it.<span style=""> </span>There</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > is plenty of land at the back with fruit trees & plenty of space for a bi</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >g</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > lawn & garden.<span style=""> </span>It overlooks the</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > river & with another</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > storey on top it would be a fantastic view!</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JAdltlkdYYrmOcgq1ehowDDvJbvAnwah2_e8OqtGtEW_B3BCtlAlO7CVX9SqAJOPp-eyPZ1ameucbCTDjZ21O5VP8pwZRRdocy4_hsPI5_NzghyzHKm_0anMvCWhaHlURvl8daKgJ6g/s1600-h/House+buying+027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JAdltlkdYYrmOcgq1ehowDDvJbvAnwah2_e8OqtGtEW_B3BCtlAlO7CVX9SqAJOPp-eyPZ1ameucbCTDjZ21O5VP8pwZRRdocy4_hsPI5_NzghyzHKm_0anMvCWhaHlURvl8daKgJ6g/s320/House+buying+027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130144330813150850" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:225pt;margin-top:214.2pt;width:243pt;" wrapcoords="-75 -100 -75 21650 21675 21650 21675 -100 -75 -100" stroked="t" strokeweight="1.5pt"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\RUTHEL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\02\clip_image003.jpg" title="House buying 022"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:0;" wrapcoords="-75 -100 -75 21650 21675 21650 21675 -100 -75 -100" stroked="t" strokeweight="1.5pt"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\RUTHEL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\02\clip_image005.jpg" title="House buying 027"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >It is in the town</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > Rzhyshchiv (hour south of <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Kiev</st1:city></st1:place>) an</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >d just up the road</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > from my brothe</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >r’s house.<span style=""> </span>Our plan is to go</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > back most weekends, and maybe get the garden etc. under</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > control,</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > while</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > waiting for warmer weather</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > to do any major alterations</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >. We think it would</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > make sense to stay here for our summer holidays (July & Aug) to</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > work on</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > the house.<span style=""> </span>So</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > anyone up for a real summer</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > holiday (up to 40</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > degrees with a beach down the road) you would b</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >e most welcome to join us? We would then try to travel to NZ for</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > the southern hemisphere summer</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > later on next year.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo73BfkSOx8p7ugBV1HpF2qoDZAhbObhJ-EpKfYgAaPvd2_H09Ipyamq-tIj2YFsxwNBZ9eLI7AKHvFeParDeXCMkgK4ylLS2QB5NDUp3psh4UFdNw7-u0Z7TNIrakVgrOD6pB6P9b3zo/s1600-h/House+buying+022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo73BfkSOx8p7ugBV1HpF2qoDZAhbObhJ-EpKfYgAaPvd2_H09Ipyamq-tIj2YFsxwNBZ9eLI7AKHvFeParDeXCMkgK4ylLS2QB5NDUp3psh4UFdNw7-u0Z7TNIrakVgrOD6pB6P9b3zo/s320/House+buying+022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130145224166348434" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >Although we will carry on here i</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >n</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > Kiev teaching for the next year or</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > so, our plans are to shift out there in a</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > couple of</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > years & maybe start an</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > internet café & takeaway business.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1029" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:261pt;margin-top:3.25pt;width:207pt;" wrapcoords="-75 -100 -75 21650 21675 21650 21675 -100 -75 -100" stroked="t" strokeweight="1.5pt"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\RUTHEL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\02\clip_image007.jpg" title="House buying 015"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" ><o:p> </o:p></span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >It was an</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > interesting if no</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >t a bit scary process in paying for the house.<span style=""> </span></span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >We</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > withdrew $60,000 US dollars from</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > the bank & gave it to</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > the guy.<span style=""> </span>First time I have ever (& probably last) seen that kind of money! </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacLBZSzhGKUNKFLCcpAukOmLMJNN0-sl7i2SqApJWMtquyHT-X3geQM9eDt-Xh9DhsDzjMFnq9vG9COk0KcS9pqdy0p973Io4ABDw_6cT4axgbfYY9bISv-IW5CzNjvr_TY-fwW6Naao/s1600-h/House+buying+015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacLBZSzhGKUNKFLCcpAukOmLMJNN0-sl7i2SqApJWMtquyHT-X3geQM9eDt-Xh9DhsDzjMFnq9vG9COk0KcS9pqdy0p973Io4ABDw_6cT4axgbfYY9bISv-IW5CzNjvr_TY-fwW6Naao/s320/House+buying+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130145902771181218" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >So with our savings from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city> & a l</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >ittle</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > help from th</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >e bank of Mum & Dad we have entered the booming</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > Ukrainian real estate industry!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" ><o:p></o:p>School<br /></span></b><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >Is still keeping us busy.<span style=""> </span>It can</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > get</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > interesting at times with the mix of so many cultures, and languages, but on the whole w</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >e are enjoying</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > ou</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >r jobs.<span style=""> </span>We have made some good friends with some of the staff, and we always have things to do & places to go.<span style=""> </span>Life seems rather</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > busy!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >Music<br /></span></b><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1031" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:7.2pt;width:242.7pt;" wrapcoords="-133 -178 -133 21689 21733 21689 21733 -178 -133 -178" stroked="t" strokeweight="1.5pt"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\RUTHEL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\02\clip_image009.jpg" title="Group compressed"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </v:shape><![endif]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsBT7zzIZdkhLNBvYvjrPy54E-3Cqx1LYUztVOF0buPdB6c0BkxupI3U9df-4v8S-gQvKNhpFX2t2xVh_3_qDzefUHk3DvYAi4rt3ldOMOL8IYlAPxxAGBtRFk4CSDfxsfIlidzvpfRA/s1600-h/Group+compressed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsBT7zzIZdkhLNBvYvjrPy54E-3Cqx1LYUztVOF0buPdB6c0BkxupI3U9df-4v8S-gQvKNhpFX2t2xVh_3_qDzefUHk3DvYAi4rt3ldOMOL8IYlAPxxAGBtRFk4CSDfxsfIlidzvpfRA/s320/Group+compressed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130146400987387570" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >Jon has been</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > invited to join a band here called “Kroke’.<span style=""> </span>They have already produced 2 albums & play</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > a</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > pop/country style of music.<span style=""> </span>They had a concert here in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kiev</st1:place></st1:city> a couple of weeks ago & then we travelled</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > (overnight by train – heaps of fun) to Lviv the next</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > weekend for another concert.<span style=""> </span>It is great music &</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > a really cool group of people.<span style=""> </span>You can get a small glimpse of it on our website. (Or order a CD fro</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >m us!)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" ><o:p></o:p>Weather</span></b><br /><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >We had our first snow</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > yesterday…rather cool setting off fireworks (for Guy Fawkes) wearing hat & gloves!<span style=""> </span>I’m not so sure our excitement & fascination</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > will still be around in a month or so when it becomes rather normal! We plan to</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > make the most of the snow & have planned a week in the</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > Carpathian mountains over Christmas relaxing & also a couple of days skiing.<span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1030" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:282.3pt;margin-top:10.9pt;width:185.7pt;" wrapcoords="-152 -114 -152 21657 21752 21657 21752 -114 -152 -114" stroked="t" strokeweight="1.5pt"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\RUTHEL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\02\clip_image011.jpg" title="House buying 008"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >Health System</span></b><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4D7qRQu0UMaVg1wPNpa4f6EtADzxBfaooo45rgsuHZ5zg4QaWTafI-jM5GTyEyZUvz0SFhSbswQXKbw1r7h7SafAFfwjGB9EMF_NDqCXOGJAqAcUebCkMPTWUFs0RQOGjoswMnPDzsQ/s1600-h/House+buying+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4D7qRQu0UMaVg1wPNpa4f6EtADzxBfaooo45rgsuHZ5zg4QaWTafI-jM5GTyEyZUvz0SFhSbswQXKbw1r7h7SafAFfwjGB9EMF_NDqCXOGJAqAcUebCkMPTWUFs0RQOGjoswMnPDzsQ/s320/House+buying+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130147199851304642" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >Our friend <st1:personname st="on">Masha</st1:personname></span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" ><st1:personname st="on"></st1:personname> broke her leg a few weeks ago, which required a rather major operation.<span style=""> </span>It was an</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > interesting experience for us to witness first-hand the health system.<span style=""> </span>For the 2 weeks she was in</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > hospital most nights we visited her after work with dinner.<span style=""> </span>There is little or no help (unless friends or</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > relatives provide it) with food, eating & other things like that.<span style=""> </span>She is on the way to recovery but it will</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > be a slow process.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" ><o:p></o:p></span><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >Language</span></b><br /><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >Jon is doing quite well in this area</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > & manages to make himself understood in most situations.<span style=""> </span>I am just realising how much effort I need to put in to get there.<span style=""> </span>I am</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > going to give it a good shot though.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1032" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:8.9pt;width:5in;height:270.25pt;" wrapcoords="-69 -92 -69 21646 21669 21646 21669 -92 -69 -92" stroked="t" strokeweight="1.5pt"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\RUTHEL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\02\clip_image013.jpg" title="Kroke in concert 27_10 067"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" >We are enjoying living over here (although there are times we get</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > homesick) and really loving making friends with some great people. So if you have itchy feet & want to see a bit of the world, there’s a spare</span><span style=";font-family:Thorndale;font-size:14;" lang="EN-NZ" > bed here & a great country to explore & people to meet.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1JEhlKKub9Xltmgep0gKk6M-wgOG2IzdwP6_EQA_KID26HuFVucGUgMWrqVHDjrpT8LnLu4ec9KVWjSxTVSElgCfIOYXp9xGl-bfc3P7NDPP3U9hzzuttw3VYjALwM_VaXbbX-SU2Wo/s1600-h/Kroke+in+concert+27_10+067.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1JEhlKKub9Xltmgep0gKk6M-wgOG2IzdwP6_EQA_KID26HuFVucGUgMWrqVHDjrpT8LnLu4ec9KVWjSxTVSElgCfIOYXp9xGl-bfc3P7NDPP3U9hzzuttw3VYjALwM_VaXbbX-SU2Wo/s320/Kroke+in+concert+27_10+067.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130148715974760146" border="0" /></a></p>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-22236941673963615512007-09-12T18:21:00.000+00:002008-12-08T21:44:22.493+00:00Hello from Ukraine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjX6ZmAiUrYbsIre6QXXW-JGmD4e95-EiEI298_qsfKxu0Z7c31-o3eQTHmej27hGqOtGiNrc9BIm6FMcbITtjUUBroLcQXZYcNMQHyFnP5MWquVo3KGPUTUF-PpQO7ATi9DkBzDRTrVs/s1600-h/PICT3540.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjX6ZmAiUrYbsIre6QXXW-JGmD4e95-EiEI298_qsfKxu0Z7c31-o3eQTHmej27hGqOtGiNrc9BIm6FMcbITtjUUBroLcQXZYcNMQHyFnP5MWquVo3KGPUTUF-PpQO7ATi9DkBzDRTrVs/s400/PICT3540.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109385614469220834" border="0" /></a><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Sorry about the long update silence.<span style=""> </span>Yes we have arrived in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ukraine</st1:place></st1:country-region> safely with all our gear, but we have had sporadic email/internet in the past 5 weeks hence the long wait.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p><br /><br /></o:p></span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;" wrapcoords="-160 -120 -160 21660 21760 21660 21760 -120 -160 -120" stroked="t" strokeweight="1.5pt"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\RUTHEL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.jpg" title="PICT3540"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Summer Holiday<o:p></o:p></span></b> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Well we arrived 5 weeks ago to a wall of heat (especially compared to ra</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">iny <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">London</st1:city></st1:place>) and have en</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">joyed a summe</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">r holiday before we started work last week.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">We stayed at my brother’s place (1 hour south of <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Kiev</st1:city></st1:place>) in a lovely sleepy village.<span style=""> </span>We spent our time sleeping, reading, helping around the place & spending time with the locals.<span style=""> </span>We also took a 10 day road trip through the western part of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ukraine</st1:place></st1:country-region>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">We stayed in 4 different spots & explored many different places. It is lovely countryside & still very ‘old fashioned’ looking.<span style=""> </span>The <st1:placename st="on">Carpathian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Mountain</st1:placetype> area is absolutely beautiful, </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">as was the very old castle</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> in Kamyanets Podil’ski</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> (which we camped right next too</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">) </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">and the old quaint city of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Lviv</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">There were 6 of us that went & we had </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">a great time -- </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">although it did rain</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> a couple of days & t</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">urned a little bit cool.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:126pt;margin-top:46.25pt;width:306pt;" wrapcoords="-106 -141 -106 21671 21706 21671 21706 -141 -106 -141" stroked="t" strokeweight="1.5pt"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\RUTHEL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image003.jpg" title="PICT3443"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58wIBxVSBOeG6JuvoTMmxhyphenhyphenSDRqPslq9KH_vTRL-RObFkWvdW2VhZGOYEmpIfv9ShnGlqr2ilJRfDrWGF7yi4QLFVaauKlh_Mf8iCNWok9ay6RoQoxas40io_HrI_2uhFnVtl6iAmNDQ/s1600-h/PICT3443.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58wIBxVSBOeG6JuvoTMmxhyphenhyphenSDRqPslq9KH_vTRL-RObFkWvdW2VhZGOYEmpIfv9ShnGlqr2ilJRfDrWGF7yi4QLFVaauKlh_Mf8iCNWok9ay6RoQoxas40io_HrI_2uhFnVtl6iAmNDQ/s400/PICT3443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109386009606212082" border="0" /></a><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Once</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">we got back from the trip, </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">the temp just got progressively higher everyday until the day we shifted into Kiev it was almost unbearable in our apartment at about 38 (or maybe higher) degrees.<span style=""> </span>It has dropped back down though & is lovely autumn weather, gotta make the most of it!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">We have also spent a bit of time checking out the property market.<span style=""> </span>We have put an offer on a house, (near my brother’s one) but at this stage just waiting to see what happens.<span style=""> </span>We</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> realise that nothing will happen in a hurry here.<span style=""> </span>It is the land of documentation & official stamps, which I am sure is the source of half the countries jobs!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:125.85pt;margin-top:9pt;width:306pt;" wrapcoords="-106 -141 -106 21671 21706 21671 21706 -141 -106 -141" stroked="t" strokeweight="1.5pt"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\RUTHEL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image005.jpg" title="Picture 020"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></b></st1:placename></st1:place></p><p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">International</span></b></st1:placename><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> <st1:placetype st="on">School</st1:placetype></span></b></st1:place><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rt1q6KPg54HL6X_8pdC9Cwp8mUN_ubX548YVCXqy4ymM9fKSUA7byE4KVyGOajCu5ZHn5x-RomGpvLUJNn3beRtSiDITHAxe60kM19qXtH-UADS9YC3EAfP1c-W7vqKAM7UVUoVWTOI/s1600-h/Picture+020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rt1q6KPg54HL6X_8pdC9Cwp8mUN_ubX548YVCXqy4ymM9fKSUA7byE4KVyGOajCu5ZHn5x-RomGpvLUJNn3beRtSiDITHAxe60kM19qXtH-UADS9YC3EAfP1c-W7vqKAM7UVUoVWTOI/s400/Picture+020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109387053283265026" border="0" /></a><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Last week we had </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">3 teachers’ only days to prepare</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> our classes etc.<span style=""> </span>We were delighted to find that our classes had 12 (Jon) and 18 (Ruth) </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">students in them, and as they are Bi-Lingual classes (the core subjects are taught in both Ukrainian & English) we only teach about half the periods each week.<span style=""> </span>I am teaching a Year 5 class, & Jon has Year 6.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1029" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:9pt;margin-top:89.4pt;width:270pt;" wrapcoords="-120 -126 -120 21663 21720 21663 21720 -126 -120 -126" stroked="t" strokeweight="1.5pt"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\RUTHEL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image007.jpg" title="Picture 030"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">The school year here always starts on Sept 1<sup>st</sup> with a first bell ceremony.</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><span style=""> </span>Unfortunately it fell on a Saturday this year, so although we had no classes we</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> had to attend the first bell ceremony.<span style=""> </span>It is a big thing for the Year 1 students as this is there first day of school.<span style=""> </span>They get really dressed up, say little poems, sing songs, & dance.<span style=""> </span>There were a few speeches also & of course the bell was rung.<span style=""> </span>The students also bring bouquets of flowers to their teachers.<span style=""> </span>The house looked a bit like a funeral parlour after that!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbkKOwLm4YFJbZ8EApIKeE2GRlzz-u9yh3sHgboLIJlnoB_dMdJIIm1J_pSuKuCOgCs2QVyb-i4zy32DBTfjcVb8avqE9RAWVMj6EuPrendR-34lOSOHO_mFLwACy20TdvfAJn16BKkY/s1600-h/Picture+030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbkKOwLm4YFJbZ8EApIKeE2GRlzz-u9yh3sHgboLIJlnoB_dMdJIIm1J_pSuKuCOgCs2QVyb-i4zy32DBTfjcVb8avqE9RAWVMj6EuPrendR-34lOSOHO_mFLwACy20TdvfAJn16BKkY/s400/Picture+030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109388638126197266" border="0" /></a><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">So we started lessons this week, both our classes are really nice, </span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">no behavioural problems at all, they love to learn & are very eager, although at times they don’t completely understand!</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">I</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">t is actually fun teaching here & we are</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> looking forward to a great year.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">The Year 4 teacher didn’t show, so if anyone is interested…</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">come have the best teaching year in your life!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Language & Culture</span></b><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Couldn’t finish this letter without a word about Jon’s no-shame language skills!<span style=""> </span>He is actually doing really well with Ukrainian (although it is a bit disappointing to find that they mainly speak Russian in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kiev</st1:place></st1:city>) & tries to learn 5 new words every day.<span style=""> </span>So awhile ago one of his words for the day was</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> ‘service’ & we were in the markets buying him some shorts, so he tries his new word out & says to the lady, “Thanks for your service.”<span style=""> </span>He found out later that the version of ‘service’ that he had been learning actually meant ‘church service’ which explained the weird look the lady gave him!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">There are times when we feel a bit homesick or frustrated that we are not understood, but with our great jobs & some good friends (that speak English) it helps to even it out.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Our Flat<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">We have moved into a 1 bedroom flat (it was a bit of a mission to find anything good both price-wise & condition) that is close to school.<span style=""> </span>We have had to buy quite a few things to get going, but now it is beginning to feel like home.<span style=""> </span>We want to be able to</span><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"> have people over often & feel maybe that we can feed & care for some of the students we know that have come to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kiev</st1:place></st1:city> to study from the villages.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">Well that about wraps it up for us this time…rather longer than usual.<span style=""> </span>Although I will just have to end by saying “GO THE ALL BLACKS”! With staff from <st1:country-region st="on">England</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region st="on">Wales</st1:country-region>, SAF, AUS, <st1:country-region st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region>, & <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region> I’m sure the rugby will make for some great conversations!! <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ">P.S. Here is a photo we received the other day of a bus that is travelling around Tauranga…gave us a good laugh!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuwcD0IcJE00tPH6Xq5pr3mBDYJIwWe3yquEEjU2y23ZDpqBgWS4A_TdVNXi_zu9U7ICwzxrzRDgqRU_CHOJJCgtSiFaDrqyuSlysRZCuDuiAh_1hWu-QFTvMjUvd3rvowbqFE4oH-do/s1600-h/HopperBus.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 405px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuwcD0IcJE00tPH6Xq5pr3mBDYJIwWe3yquEEjU2y23ZDpqBgWS4A_TdVNXi_zu9U7ICwzxrzRDgqRU_CHOJJCgtSiFaDrqyuSlysRZCuDuiAh_1hWu-QFTvMjUvd3rvowbqFE4oH-do/s400/HopperBus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109388878644365858" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-51339206729104347782007-07-15T16:09:00.000+00:002008-12-08T21:44:23.096+00:00Farewell UK<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xvJlwqGkEGFF8Ck0LPqZWszyrDmZD9OhX-MkeVELtzDvLnIi58vAMtda4GYxLG0QKjYBbvfFfh7ruJyd6J6a62JlwiM47YdSYqh15O3jlPiU1qHuNuCuQ5mwgG_lYiS3UfVN2BfhnKo/s1600-h/relaxing.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xvJlwqGkEGFF8Ck0LPqZWszyrDmZD9OhX-MkeVELtzDvLnIi58vAMtda4GYxLG0QKjYBbvfFfh7ruJyd6J6a62JlwiM47YdSYqh15O3jlPiU1qHuNuCuQ5mwgG_lYiS3UfVN2BfhnKo/s200/relaxing.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087458694682668050" border="0" /></a><span style="">With </span><span style="">o</span><span style="">ne more </span><span style="">week to go, </span><span style="">w</span><span style="">e have been </span><span style="">reflecting </span><span style="">on our y</span><span style="">ear here, & feel as though this has been a bonus/detour stage </span><span style="">of our lives.<span style=""> </span>It has given us some</span><span style=""> experienc</span><span style="">e, savings & training but it was never meant to be for a long time.<span style=""> </span>We feel like we are now heading off into the second stage/level of our lives together.<span style=""> </span>We</span><span style=""> are excited & nervous at the same time.<span style=""> </span></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Plans<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">We leave <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city> on Tuesday 24<sup>th</sup> July.<span style=""> </span>We will spend a month or so staying with my brother, having a bit of a holiday and trying to find a place to live etc.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Our jobs start on 29<sup>th</sup> Aug with few orientation & teacher only days before the children start in September.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">As our jobs are based in Kiev (British International School) </span><span style="">we will be finding a flat/house to rent in the city, but aim to head south (about an hour) </span><span style="">most weekends to s</span><span style="">pend time in Rzhyshchiv where my brother lives.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">It is also our </span><span style="">intention to buy a</span><span style=""> </span><span style="">house out that way & spend our weekends working on it.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b>Church</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">We had our last day at church toady.<span style=""> </span>We have really enjoyed being apart of this church family, and will miss the encouragement & challenge from these guys – they have restored our faith in modern church gatherings.<span style=""> </span></p> <br /><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QUOdCr66mUZ5Qzmi4mlrjXI7dNeEPBRMg2xhOHEhihrlAJyRRBfVgrwgU7ZuBSY9NTP80ldgxMs58zMMA87WG1KuK5mjWOdq34o-jWyQ0BUke4aGs9QEujgCi7zlGfTHvtYcqsRQCLk/s1600-h/golf.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QUOdCr66mUZ5Qzmi4mlrjXI7dNeEPBRMg2xhOHEhihrlAJyRRBfVgrwgU7ZuBSY9NTP80ldgxMs58zMMA87WG1KuK5mjWOdq34o-jWyQ0BUke4aGs9QEujgCi7zlGfTHvtYcqsRQCLk/s320/golf.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087457358947838946" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b>Sport</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">I am continuing with cricket, with my last game this coming Sunday before we leave.<span style=""> </span>I have learnt heaps & loved being part of the team.<span style=""> </span>You can check out my statistics on our <a href="http://hampstead.play-cricket.com/profile/statistics.asp?id=10608259">club's website</a>.<br />We hope to keep up some kind of sport in Ukraine – I think we might have to start with squash & the gym and wait & see what other sports are available.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b>Trips</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">We haven’t been anywhere lately, just spent a lot of time enduring the rainy season they call summer over here & in between trying to play cricket & enjoy the BBQ & backyard!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCX2GowgGzQVJycgutAJhCp72YeTLmAQlolNXHQGrM06fIXuaYwZVOvsFLeHMLevcDItaCHjl0hNoDLs3q5gzzjcCIJPX55B4th5uMJ0a35PSxs3aPZKS6HlPuQHrIAXNQTW2mOzyTCjI/s1600-h/rainy+BBQ.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCX2GowgGzQVJycgutAJhCp72YeTLmAQlolNXHQGrM06fIXuaYwZVOvsFLeHMLevcDItaCHjl0hNoDLs3q5gzzjcCIJPX55B4th5uMJ0a35PSxs3aPZKS6HlPuQHrIAXNQTW2mOzyTCjI/s320/rainy+BBQ.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087459957403053090" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b>Future</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:group id="_x0000_s1029" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:45pt;margin-top:5.6pt;" coordorigin="2318,10440" coordsize="7200,5760"> <v:shape id="_x0000_s1030" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;left:2318;" wrapcoords="-90 -125 -90 21663 21690 21663 21690 -125 -90 -125" stroked="t" strokeweight="1.5pt"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Teacher\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image005.jpg" title="relaxing"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1031" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:textbox> <![if !mso]> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td><![endif]> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'">Relaxing on the couch<o:p></o:p></b></p> </div> <![if !mso]></td> </tr> </table> <![endif]></v:textbox> </v:shape></v:group><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="">Our contract with the school in <st1:city st="on">Kiev</st1:city> is initially for a year but we think we would like to be in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Ukraine</st1:country-region></st1:place> longer than this. At this stage we are thinking more like a stay of 3-5 years, but who knows what will happen & where God will lead.<span style=""> </span>We will take one year at a time, but we do feel as though this is a ‘niche’ we could live in for a long while.</span><!--[endif]--><o:p> </o:p></p>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-75712823647991767572007-06-18T20:44:00.000+00:002008-12-08T21:44:23.204+00:00Long time...no hear!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">May & June 2007</span></div> <p class="MsoNormal">We have been rather busy & our computer has decided to pass away, so it has been a rather long time since we have updated you on what we have been doing etc.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Work<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I started fulltime 6 weeks ago & have really enjoyed having my own class.<span style=""> </span>It is great to go to work now & I am glad to be back in the classroom properly.<span style=""> </span>We have 5 weeks to go until school finishes for the summer & we are counting down the days, especially Jon who is finding this job not the most fulfilling, but has definitely been a learning curve. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Church<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We haven’t been a lot lately, although Jon has joined the worship team & is enjoying playing another guy’s brand new Strat.<span style=""> </span>Each time we do get there, we are challenged & stimulated, which is great.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Home<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We are really enjoying the company of our flatmates & have some great times together. It was Matt’s 30<sup>th</sup> birthday last weekend, so we had a great party & we all chipped in to buy him a Wii, so we have been having fun playing with that.<span style=""> </span>Our backyard is looking fantastic & we feel our home is a great place to chill out & unwind.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Sport</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With the cricket wickets in the backyard I have been practising & I had my first game a couple of weeks ago.<span style=""> </span>I did alright with 34 not out (with 6 fours) and a catch & run-out.<span style=""> </span>I had another game today, but didn’t get a bat.<span style=""> </span>I train every Tuesday, and play mostly on Sunday, Jon plays often on a Saturday.<span style=""> </span>He has played well too, with his highest score at this stage being 11. We are also playing touch every Wednesday & I am back running, so it feels like we are back on top of our game fitness-wise. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Trips</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t202" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="202" path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;" filled="f" stroked="f"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="position: absolute; z-index: 3; margin-left: 403px; margin-top: 251px; width: 160px; height: 40px;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="vertical-align: top;" height="40" width="160"><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso]--><!--[if !mso & !vml]--> <!--[endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><br /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;" wrapcoords="-56 -75 -56 21600 21656 21600 21656 -75 -56 -75" stroked="t"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Teacher\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.jpg" title="praa sands"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->2 weeks ago we had a week off for mid-term, so we travelled down to <st1:city st="on">Cornwall</st1:city> & stayed in our relatives bach in a place called Praa Sands, (picture below) which is near <st1:place st="on">Penzance</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>It was great to get out of the city & walk along the beach.<span style=""> </span>We visited the Eden Project, Lands End (southern most point of England), <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Cape</st1:placetype> <st1:placename st="on">Cornwall</st1:placename></st1:place> (western most point) and Newquay.<span style=""> </span>We went with our flatmates & another couple.<span style=""> </span>It was a great long weekend & lovely countryside.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01NOetJg26ShP7oT3B051bvfHMoYkifg4uoFLw5QAYHOohKhwlI2gwsLAet1hOBUiDwfXjzkm3fv9x74qa5vSlXrFwFaPsBhjr9Bkesgl__bw0VDCe5t8fF0C6Jmbud8hjZLss6mQJew/s1600-h/praa+sands.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01NOetJg26ShP7oT3B051bvfHMoYkifg4uoFLw5QAYHOohKhwlI2gwsLAet1hOBUiDwfXjzkm3fv9x74qa5vSlXrFwFaPsBhjr9Bkesgl__bw0VDCe5t8fF0C6Jmbud8hjZLss6mQJew/s320/praa+sands.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077508676132197394" border="0" /></a><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Future</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well we fly out to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Kiev</st1:city></st1:place> on 24<sup>th</sup> July & have about a month to have a holiday & sort out accommodation etc before we start work on 29<sup>th</sup> August.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We plan on buying a house there as soon as we can which we aim to renovate during the year.<span style=""> </span>We see this as a trial project & investment and may keep doing this if it works out well.<span style=""> </span>Jon has started learning the language & is doing really well.<span style=""> </span>We are looking forward to our time there, and excited about the next step in our adventures.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:243pt;margin-top:45pt;width:252pt;" wrapcoords="-56 -75 -56 21600 21656 21600 21656 -75 -56 -75" stroked="t"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Teacher\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image003.jpg" title="mount path"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->PS. We have found this new phone service called <a href="http://www.justvoip.com/en/index.html">JustVOIP</a> which we are now using instead of SKYPE. It gives you free calls to landlines in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">NZ</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">UK</st1:country-region></st1:place> & heaps of other places.</p>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-69829811383188234632007-06-18T19:59:00.000+00:002008-12-08T21:44:23.998+00:00Cornwall Trip Photos<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLNKuK-dfYohfjjI1fkdXTqD6arbuZu3PFCawYFedTfJxxRPhuthE99STekCjuLY7b-lPxKIXF06G3-RYN94yCmf9KnLzR0DsGrT152_NLOWjBgYNP18VBbZ_BsOf_v0YKAYJ0iJ6eII/s1600-h/view.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLNKuK-dfYohfjjI1fkdXTqD6arbuZu3PFCawYFedTfJxxRPhuthE99STekCjuLY7b-lPxKIXF06G3-RYN94yCmf9KnLzR0DsGrT152_NLOWjBgYNP18VBbZ_BsOf_v0YKAYJ0iJ6eII/s200/view.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077513611049620594" border="0" /></a>View from the lounge<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZtVpM78NgiKGWkVMMdRtolfvgTCxiFZr1jnNsRs8ystpZ-g22wTSa_iQzu-RnSSMubC3fA5gQyTVXM7pXcn7Dabv6HQ1S0ZST4OwesSGyYsDQrcbcW32_2c5uizaAAwGEWiZi48Jpjw/s1600-h/coastline.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZtVpM78NgiKGWkVMMdRtolfvgTCxiFZr1jnNsRs8ystpZ-g22wTSa_iQzu-RnSSMubC3fA5gQyTVXM7pXcn7Dabv6HQ1S0ZST4OwesSGyYsDQrcbcW32_2c5uizaAAwGEWiZi48Jpjw/s200/coastline.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077512417048712242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8wXCRlg5R0mZnExDixKuilVj7u2Y7Y4Wc5gesTO5Lqy34G4S0y8W2qBhYjG7psUtlc5wP7EQnBzY5cZU1QjgmwHmrQMTZV_UB45U3oS-5RW56U8SvG1o62D9W6YbmMu7WedKM2FPwwk/s1600-h/coast.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8wXCRlg5R0mZnExDixKuilVj7u2Y7Y4Wc5gesTO5Lqy34G4S0y8W2qBhYjG7psUtlc5wP7EQnBzY5cZU1QjgmwHmrQMTZV_UB45U3oS-5RW56U8SvG1o62D9W6YbmMu7WedKM2FPwwk/s200/coast.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077512279609758754" border="0" /></a><br />Cape Cornwall<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">Rugged Coastline<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_R0p-tdt3kjkkWBb3St4kOwOf8qtoJ6Uc3VcRO_tTKK9_DeVHCbpb5t6LL1uWH5pFX5f5EtAPATryxo8ImN6RsZJDTlPkmKx4naFRomtCilucID8TDYyf6JsvLDFiLVkNk1n7rCn5og/s1600-h/lands+end.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_R0p-tdt3kjkkWBb3St4kOwOf8qtoJ6Uc3VcRO_tTKK9_DeVHCbpb5t6LL1uWH5pFX5f5EtAPATryxo8ImN6RsZJDTlPkmKx4naFRomtCilucID8TDYyf6JsvLDFiLVkNk1n7rCn5og/s200/lands+end.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077512717696422978" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Southern most point<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhoifvv8qCkmO8SWZycReb4GlwMxFfqVedAgZnrXeru54EAkD6KTvZNqHVoOZK3q3bqRMBIlK_EGhuBqlS61hYtsczQ9vHsuP7_P5BoEVD8ZKloFZVXbJF8nvtJqjCdH9B39lHn2lVmc/s1600-h/mount.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhoifvv8qCkmO8SWZycReb4GlwMxFfqVedAgZnrXeru54EAkD6KTvZNqHVoOZK3q3bqRMBIlK_EGhuBqlS61hYtsczQ9vHsuP7_P5BoEVD8ZKloFZVXbJF8nvtJqjCdH9B39lHn2lVmc/s200/mount.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077512885200147538" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><br /><br /><br />St. Michael's Mount<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">14th century low-tide path to<br />Michael's Mount<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa2KZ_ceoxqaz0YP0GVsylbO9an1ifsbxE78r2Xc3LD0ECxDIcYQGwg33ZDcExro3Jr960ya3SGUsXbwYpVgOCrhNNC8cVs9EVObNVW5TyxtWIi9baiefWMS_ZByjg8_Yf-ZVDYgspVc/s1600-h/mount+path.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa2KZ_ceoxqaz0YP0GVsylbO9an1ifsbxE78r2Xc3LD0ECxDIcYQGwg33ZDcExro3Jr960ya3SGUsXbwYpVgOCrhNNC8cVs9EVObNVW5TyxtWIi9baiefWMS_ZByjg8_Yf-ZVDYgspVc/s200/mount+path.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077513155783087202" border="0" /></a></div></div></div>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1506733401303230292.post-45568655833408667062007-05-02T21:25:00.000+00:002008-12-08T21:44:24.083+00:00April for us<p class="MsoNormal">Change is good! Our backyard has changed, our jobs & location will be changing in July & we know that our lives are changing.<span style=""> </span>Although we haven’t found change all that easy…we know that without change we become boring & predictable and are in danger of ‘just cranking it out one more time!’</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><br /><b style="">Work</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well it is official… we have 88 days until we finish with school here in the UK, which is about 12 weeks of teaching.<span style=""> </span>We have accepted jobs at the <st1:placename st="on">British</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">International</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">School</st1:placetype> in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">K</st1:city></st1:place><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">iev</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Ukraine</st1:country-region></st1:place> for the new academic year starting in September.<span style=""> </span>We are really looking forward to it, but also conscious of doing good here & finishing well.<span style=""> </span>I start fulltime at school next week & am looking forward to being with the same class each day!<br /></p><br /><b style="">Church</b> <p class="MsoNormal">We are still enjoying our time at <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Watford</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Community</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>, and the input we get there.<span style=""> </span>We have also been reading & exploring lately some sermons & articles on the web about the emerging church.<span style=""> </span>We enjoyed & were challenged by Michael Frost’s series (<a href="http://www.christianityworks.com/pages/teachers.asp?pid=150">http://www.christianityworks.com/pages/teachers.asp?pid=150</a>) about worldview…where the quote at the top comes from.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Home<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We have been transforming our backyard so it will be useable for summer.<span style=""> </span>It is already looking heaps better (it was rather neglected) & we have planted some herbs, tomatoes, lettuce & sunflowers! We have also bought a BBQ & outside fire. It hasn’t rained for 3 weeks & we have had beautiful weather, so we are enjoying the long evenings outside.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Sport</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Alongside tidying our backyard, Jon & Matt have made a putting green, & have a net they chip the golf ball into as well.<span style=""> </span>They seem to enjoy themselves most evenings out there.<span style=""> </span>Our touch season starts next week, & also my cricket training starts for real now every Tuesday.<span style=""> </span>We were also cheering on the Black Caps!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Trips</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well we had a 2 week holiday over Easter, & for 1 week of that we hired a car & explored Chester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Hadrian’s Wall, then into Scotland & Edinburgh, then west to Wigtown (where an ancestor of mine was martyred) & then back into England & to the Lake District where we stayed at Lake Windermere for a couple of days, then the last night we visited Blackpool. It was a great trip & we enjoyed meeting some of my relatives & experiencing real English culture.<span style=""> </span>We even spent a day at a traditional English point to point horse race!<span style=""> </span>It was also good to get behind the wheel of a car again, & with the good English roads, it hardly seemed like we traveled 1200 miles! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Future</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We have lots of dreams & thoughts about what this will look like.<span style=""> </span>We know this past year that as we have traveled we have learnt things about ourselves & how we function that inside our culture & comfort zone we wouldn’t have noticed.<span style=""> </span>We have learnt that working with passion & where we are gifted brings fulfillment. It has been good to understand more where our strengths lie & that we have missed having an open home.<span style=""> </span>Where this next year will lead we don’t know…but we do know that this story is still being written.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We do plan to use this coming year in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kiev</st1:place></st1:city> to also learn the language & see what happens after that.<span style=""> </span>A holiday back to NZ maybe on the cards near the end of 2008…but who knows!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIlQ4-Q5weLXvzfOzEnAW_A8zn1imkkvl-pjwq9_ErNiDTQdjQzxBdlB9wZkwz7oe8mBRIAXKYOlmPOvc86K2MRF894nsoKX4AmUBd-4zBwFZk3L1QjYHKHFm8Wcf63SDlScMqcnxl2k/s1600-h/April+update_Page_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIlQ4-Q5weLXvzfOzEnAW_A8zn1imkkvl-pjwq9_ErNiDTQdjQzxBdlB9wZkwz7oe8mBRIAXKYOlmPOvc86K2MRF894nsoKX4AmUBd-4zBwFZk3L1QjYHKHFm8Wcf63SDlScMqcnxl2k/s400/April+update_Page_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060078283466533346" border="0" /></a></p>Rufushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08221067985950793770noreply@blogger.com0