Rain, wind and illness

Hi there folks.
The winter - or Spring is going about its business with much wind and rain and the odd lovely warm day.
As a consequence, colds and viruses are doing the rounds. Lots of kids at school are sick and we are not escaping our share. As I write this, the wind is howling as a huge storm crosses over us from Ozzy. We are on the edge of it and will hopefully escape too much serious damage. They are expecting a pounding down the line in Auckland though.

As a consequence of the weather and the ilness we are having quiet times. Last weekend we did very little and it was just what was needed. Stuart is hobbling around on his platered foot. He had the back slab taken off and a more permanent plaster stuck on, so he does not need the crutches any more.

We went to "Aunty" Fayes funeral at the Salvation Army. It was a lovely service really, considering that she had died. Her husband of 16 years was very at peace with her going and was ready for the next chapter in his life.

Eric is spending a lot of time trying to play people at chess. He has been challenging all and sundry. On account of beating me twice in a row he has declared himself the house champion. There is a quote that says that when your kid can beat you at chess, it is time for them to move out .....

We spent some time on Sunday cutting down scrub regrowth on the hillside above the pond. I got to have a big fire and then planted a load of native trees.

We are waiting for our first chicks of the year - we have a broody chicken who is on day 22 of sitting. When she got off the eggs yesterday at least one of them had a little bit of shell broken that looked like a chick trying to get out. So we are keeping away from her so she can get on with it.

Teachers were on strike on Wednesday and being a member of the Secondary Teacher's Union I went on strike - for the first time in my life. There are 2 aspects to our claim that brought this about. We are asking for 4% and have been offered 1% with another 1.5% next year. The second part is more complex and concerns a whole raft of conditions that the union and government do not agree on. Ultimately, I am not too fussed about the money. Not that 4% is partcularly extravagant - try getting a bank loan at that rate! More important to me is the steady erosion of working conditions. New Zealand is a low wage economy with relatively weak unions. Our current government are tories who have no great interest in lower paid workers. So whilst it is a bit scary sticking one's head above the parapet and making a stand, it also seems like a more principled thing to do than to take it lying down.