Well Christmas is over and it has been a lovely time with family.
The Twelve Nights of Christmas was blessed with wonderful weather, some evenings were so balmy it was like being in the tropics, uncanny. We did have a couple of cold nights but we still stayed outside in our fabulous new town square, the only night inside was the final night which I sadly missed as I was on my way to Auckland. Feedback has been so positive that I am committed to making this happen annually and with more time to plan expanding on the great start. I was fortunate to be surrounded by amazingly talented people who came on board to make it happen including my passionate staff and district councillors.
This was Day One and the crowds only grew with each event. For me the evening with Wairarapa Word, a night of storytelling, poems and music was a gem. I discovered we are surrounded by the most amazingly talented authors who are quietly going about their lives, many living a sustainable lifestyle and successfully writing for publication. Gared Julian from Moon Over Martinborough participated and listening to his lyrical voice read from his book was a highlight. I plan to attend their Sunday sessions in future.
The Twelve Nights of Christmas was blessed with wonderful weather, some evenings were so balmy it was like being in the tropics, uncanny. We did have a couple of cold nights but we still stayed outside in our fabulous new town square, the only night inside was the final night which I sadly missed as I was on my way to Auckland. Feedback has been so positive that I am committed to making this happen annually and with more time to plan expanding on the great start. I was fortunate to be surrounded by amazingly talented people who came on board to make it happen including my passionate staff and district councillors.
This was Day One and the crowds only grew with each event. For me the evening with Wairarapa Word, a night of storytelling, poems and music was a gem. I discovered we are surrounded by the most amazingly talented authors who are quietly going about their lives, many living a sustainable lifestyle and successfully writing for publication. Gared Julian from Moon Over Martinborough participated and listening to his lyrical voice read from his book was a highlight. I plan to attend their Sunday sessions in future.
Xmas was with my adorable son and his partner in the big smoke. I cooked a late lunch all from the Christmas edition of NZ House and Garden and it was as good as any restaurant would serve up. We enjoyed a roasted pear and glazed ham platter, potato and bean salad with herb dressing and caramelised beetroot with cashew nuts and blue cheese. I changed the beetroot recipe slightly to accommodate the ingredients I had and the cheese that Hailey kindly left in her fridge for us. We finished it all off with a lemon tart and an organic vanilla seed custard. Xmas mince pies and marshmallow treats all home made of course. The xmas cake was not cut for a couple of days as we had over indulged. We had enjoyed a breakfast with our sons in-laws earlier in the day and then had a lovely dinner with them the following day. The weather was very unkind over Christmas/New Year so our plans for Boxing Day races and days at the beach never eventuated.
Enjoyed a lovely overnighter at Taupo on the way up. Sitting on the lake foreshore with a cold wine after a 4 hour drive was divine.
Once home we decided it was time to turn some plans and dreams into a reality. The first was my desire for hens. A hen house was constructed by my hubbie and is awaiting the delivery of four Araucana hens on Sunday. He has taken great pride in adding bespoke features.
I have been gardening in my time off but the wind the last few days has been heart breaking. Nothing is every allowed to be easy is it?
On a personal level I have been struggling with pain from two rotator cuff injuries, one in each shoulder obviously. ACC, the provider of injury care and welfare. Not my experience at all. I had my first shoulder claim accepted but the necessary surgery claim declined so in December 2012 I appealed their decision. It has been twelve months of hell while they postpone hearings, withhold information, fail to respond to correspondence and meanwhile my injury is deteriorating. Then as you overuse your other arm I heard the left shoulder tear when opening a cabinet that had a sticky door. Well that really became a challenge for ACC, two claims, they simply couldn't accept their was a second injury. Nearly another twelve months have passed while they request information from the GP who has now sent the same documentation three times. Requesting an ultrasound took months and finally the GP rang them and asked what was the problem, no explanation was forthcoming and no apology for incompetence. Finally I have an appointment to see the surgeon in late January, not holding my breath as it all turned to custard with the right shoulder so only anticipate the same for the left. Meanwhile you are expected to live on pain killers and anti-inflammatories. Too bad if you suffer side effects and fundamentally do not agree with propping up your life with pills.
I decided this morning after another terrible night of pain and feeling like crap this morning that it is time I lodged a complaint with the Ombudsmans Office. New years resolution!! Who ever keeps those? But we can share our sentiments.
You know if we are forced by legislation to only use the governments accident injury insurer then the least they can do is provide the cover. Otherwise, many of us would opt out and pay for a policy that actually did what we had paid for. We can only hope the pendulum will swing back and the decision makers at ACC will moderate their application of policy to enable claimants to receive adequate and appropriate cover. Very few claims are fraudulent so why should all of us suffer because of so few.
