Summer/Winter Break, 2017-18

Papou demonstrating child-sitting skills with bed-time reading

Right before Christmas we headed for home in California and had our longest stretch in four years there, six glorious weeks. Landing at SFO on the 23rd to our usual pick-up from David N., we dealt with a dead battery and then drove the 3.5 hours to Fort Bragg, pausing there only long enough to sleep, pick up Christmas presents and pack for the mountains and SoCal. The next morning it was off to the cabin in the Sierras with my sisters and extended family and friends.

Christmas dinner with the gang (Photo by DHN)

Christmas pud with hard sauce and Kiwi-themed Christmas Crackers

With all of us there and mild weather, it seemed like the right time to bury sister Angela's ashes in a place she loved.

(Photo by DHN)

After two nights in the mountains and a few days to regroup in Richmond, CA, we headed down to Redondo Beach LA to Sofia, Marquise, and our two grandchildren. We had been invited to watch the kids for a few nights so mom & dad to go back to Arizona for a break to enjoy an adult New Year's Eve with friends. The family had relocated from Phoenix to the LA area just a few months before, enabling us to keep our travel to just one state, a big advantage. Los Angeles has its issues, but given a choice I would rather be near the ocean than in the middle of the desert.
We had a great time and Kimarra and Isaiah are mucho fun, knock-knock jokes and all. Here is a collage that bears witness to that.

Redondo Beach Harbour

We just missed Kimarra's eighth birthday (she's 8 already!!!), but celebrated Isaiah's fifth.

Special Birthday Brekkie @ The Pan in Gardena

Cake and candles with Mommy and selfie

The longer stay in the area allowed us to catch up with niece Xania in Venice Beach, before she took off for a semester in Chile, and to visit with Dr. Nic Castaneda (an American friend I worked with in NZ) in Manhattan Beach.

Venice Beach rooftop with Xania

With Nic @ Pancho's in Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach shoreline

The Southern California location made it much easier (with the standard LA caveat "depending on the traffic") for me to pop down to San Diego/Coronado to see my 92 yo father (still a formidable gin player). No pictures of him this time, just of the iconic Hotel del Coronado Beach Resort. You may recognize it from multiple movies shot here through the years, in particular Some Like It Hot with Marilyn Monroe.

Heading northwest across the San Jacinto Mountains towards Rancho Mirage where my sister-in-law lives, took us through high desert, a rugged and sparsely populated landscape. People not familiar with Southern California may be surprised at the elevation and emptiness so close to LA. Artists, ranchers, and lone wolves thrive here. Much like traveling through back roads in New Zealand, you will encounter unexpected sights, such as the giant metal sculptures by Ricardo Breceda.

Snake- by R Breceda

It was good to see Pam pulling things together after the devastating loss last year of her husband, my brother Charles. He would be proud of her!

My sister Margaret has led some tours in the Rancho Mirage/Palm Springs area and strongly suggested we go to Sunnylands Center & Gardens, a 15-acre gift from the wealthy publisher/ambassador/philanthropists Walter and Leonore Annenberg. It is only a mile from Pam's house and we visited the Guest Center and Gardens and had a bite at the café.

Wrapping up in the lower part of the state, we headed back north on US 101, fortunately missing by less than 24 hours the tragic mudslide that took out part of the highway and claimed over 20 lives, a result of prior fires followed by heavy rain.
Our route took us close enough to visit the central coastal village of Cayucos where dear friends the Larsons live. They graciously hosted us at their newly-remodeled home, and when we left, Lars presented us with a Kiwi-related family heirloom with a mysterious history. Ne'er-do-well Uncle Thor, a merchant seaman, returned from one voyage with this photograph, perhaps pilfered from a NZ gallery.

"Hongi", AKA "A Maori Salutation" by Geo. Chance, FRPS

With research, Fayne found the Mr. George Chance was a New Zealand photographer of some renown. Born in Liverpool in 1885, he was active in New Zealand from 1909 until his death in 1963 in Dunedin, as this link will attest, and this photo probably dates from the mid 1920's. Although we found no corroboration of the tale of the heist, we plan to donate it to the local art gallery where it will join others of his work and ensure it is properly preserved.
Proceeding further north, we made a brief stop at the Nestlers in Watsonville, and although it was not precisely my birthday, Mrs. N. surprised me with a cake and candles. I shouldn't have been surprised; she NEVER forgets.

Finally we returned to Fort Bragg, our much neglected home, and stayed for nearly two weeks, by far the longest stretch in 4 years. It felt soooo good, and the highlight was hosting the annual winter meal with my office "family" since 1984. I miss them all.














A few days later, Judy V (my office manager and "rock") and I spent some quality time walking around the spectacular Pomo Bluffs Park overlooking the ocean and Noyo River.

We happened to be in Fort Bragg for the second annual Women's March for women and anyone who cares about women or humanity in general. We attended with neighbors and old friends Christine & Doug, her daughter Haley & husband Nathan. There was unexpected excitement that morning as a derelict building next door to Christine's mom Anne's house was engulfed in flames. Once we made sure Anne was out of harm's way and the blaze was contained, it was entertaining to watch the professionals at work from Anne's back yard.

Firefighters arrive

The next day

The March was spirited and provided a chance to see other old, righteous friends.

It was also good to catch up with two old Dixon High School mates, Jim Seyman and Dick Rossi. I haven't seen much of either for the last 50 years, but we caught up a bit for a few hours in a Mendocino pub.

With Jim, a Sacramento restaurateur, in front of Patterson's Pub

With Dick, a Santa Cruz PT, where else but Dick's Place

Following the Fort Bragg visit, we had about a week left in the Bay Area to tidy things up, take care of some business, visit with more old friends like Gerry and Betsy N. and Heather F. in Davis. Before leaving there was one final "appreciation dinner" with my sisters. When we lived part-time in Sausalito for Sofia to attend high school, Fayne started having a potluck dinner on Tuesday night with my mother Billie Hope. My sisters picked up the tradition after her passing and continued it after Angela died in 2013 as a a way to celebrate and give thanks for each other. 

January 31 and it was time to board Air New Zealand Flight 7 back to NZ. We had left presents from Fayne's sister Mary for us to open when we return, as a symbolic end to the holiday season.

Gifts from Mary et al.

The return marked a transition to a new phase in our New Zealand adventure, call it J&F in NZ 3.5.

1. First trip here April 2010-February 2011
2. Work in Auckland March-August 2012
3. Return to Timaru February 2014 for an 8/10ths position
• 3.5. 2018-Cut back to 6/10ths position.

Last year along with two of my colleagues, we presented a plan to the administration for the three of us to share two full-time job  equivalents, and they accepted our proposal. I wanted this extra leave to have more time to spend back at home, but also have time to visit other destinations around the globe, and it looks like that will be happening in the years to come. I will have about six month a year not at work.This is really good news, but will take some adjustment on my part. I truly LOVE my job (as I have told many people) and I am not motivated by the desire to work less or retire. In my fantasy parallel universe, there are two of me, one to work full-time and the other to visit and travel year-round. I suspect this dilemma will not get me any sympathy, and I am sure it will all work out splendidly, I just need to think about things a little differently. Any change (even for the good) brings stress with it, although I am not always the most in tune in real time with my inner feelings. Things usually dawn on me days, weeks, or sometimes even months later.

For example, I just became aware of anxiety I feel when I switch lives and hemispheres: South to North, winter to summer, work to not work. When the crew of the Starship Enterprise use the transporter, it looks effortless. But if that were really possible, I am sure having your molecules vaporized then reassembled far away would be somewhat uncomfortable and disorienting, however briefly. That's a bit what it feel like for me when I go back and forth. Stay tuned! I'll keep you all posted as to how things evolve.