|
Top of Page
2003 the year
Post script 23 February 2004
It has taken a long time for me (Tom) to come to terms with last year. It was a year that questioned values. The key was the trip to Brisbane and the World Council of Credit Unions and the discussions on the need for courage and integrity - doing the right thing when only you and your Angel are watching.
The house was a biggy too! Both the sale of 1010 our prized possession in Hastings and the work we did at 29 revitalising the back yard.
December
Monday 1 December, we are looking for a dog, a West Highland terrier.
Tuesday 2 December we are offered a Sealyham, and are considering the offer.
So, Wednesday 3 December, our wedding anniversary and the day that the buyers of our house in Hastings went unconditional. We celebrated by taking the boys and ourselves out for tea.The rest of December is a bit of a blurr. Tom went on holidays on Friday 19 december and we went up to Hawkes Bay on Saturday. Spent a delightful four days at Helena's Retreat before going to Mutti-bar's and Pop's for Christmas Day delights. WE were spoilt in staying a a neighbours house close nearby. After a wonderful time we came home on Sunday, spent a quiet New Years eve and went to the Christian Community camp on January 2nd. but that is another story and another year.
Top of Page
November
The pace hasn't slackened. We put the house up for sale and it now sits under contract for $165,000. Will it go unconditional - we wait to see. We put it into the hands of an agent and we wait to see that too. The neighbour of 1010 requested a fence and we acquiesed.
Tom finished the fence and gate in the back yard of 29. Catherine planted out the garden. It looks and feels great. Some of the flowers are flowering. It now awaits the arrival of the appropriate kind of dog and cat. The rellies cam and had a look - William, Verne, Aunty Sue, Trim and Kevin and made generous approving sounds.
Tom's works continues a rush. As branch chair he oversaw the Branch's response to the Portfolio Review - a new experience - but very tiring - facilitating it in two weeks.
Catherine's continues in a rush too! she is busy with Lifeforce and Holographic repatterning.
The boys are feeling the beginnings of separation - from each other as Sol prepares to go up to class 1 next year. Harry will remain in kindy for another year. Both had some time off with fevers - so their bodies are adjusting to the change.
The christian community enjoyed a visit and a working bee. Tom put out the programme for the November visit and put it out again for the December visit. He organised an email list as well. The National Mid Earth Summer Camp continues to attract registrations and now has around 60 registrations.
The commodore remains unsold and is undergoing some minor repairs in the garage as the worn paint gets a once over - time will tell if this exercise is adding value, wasting time or depreciating the value of the car.. It's lots of fun though.
With the fence and gates now complete we begin our search for a dog and a West Highland Terrier emerges the leader. At around $1,000 a bit expensive for a family pet don't you think?
Top of Page
October
What an interesting month?
We have just returned from a lovely weekend in Hawkes Bay staying with Lex and Sophie, who along with Chris and Pauline, helped us with a working be at 1010, in preparation of selling. Jim, the next door neighbour, played Pied Piper with 6 boys trailing after him as we cleaned up the drive and garden. We visited Marilyn, Tim, Romilly and Diane. Tom had a meeting with Jim and Romilly to discuss the Christian Community in HB. Lunch with Trim and Kevin who had William and Verne Mills staying with them. Showed a couple through on Sunday. Met a new couple behind 1010. Came home with a very tired family on Monday.
Property values in HB are very hard to determine. We can only do our best and pray that it all works out well.
Tom was endorsed as President of the Open Polytechnic ASTE (Association of Staff in Tertiary Education) Branch. Yes he's President of the Union.
The rain has continued - I'm wrting this on the 14th October - and the retaining fence is still not complete. We have had 160% more rain than the October average. A couple of fine days coming so all is not lost.
Last weekend I went up to Auckland for the Christian Community National Council meeting - what a great group - flexible, thoughtful, caring, humourous - and came away with renewed vigour. There are a page of 'to dos' and hopefully enough enthusiasm to carry the changes through to the communities.
The Council meeting was broken on Friday night and Saturday by talks and discussion on Marriage. Resolve, the rings, binding of sticks, man and woman. We were left wondering where these elements are in the community, partnership and collaboration in the community. Very personal and intimate discussions were shared on Saturday. On Sunday Peter and Njeelte Bollen celebrated their marriage of 25 years - a silver wedding.
If that was not enough we had the AGM of the Christian Community Inc late Saturday afternoon. The positions are
Chairperson: Rodnie Whitlock
Secretary And Christcurch rep: Peter Brittenden
Treasurer and Wellington Rep: Tom Laing
Hawkes Bay rep: Romilly Brickell
Auckland Rep: Peter Bollen
General Rep: Godfrey Therkleson
And the three priests: Erin, Elke and Hartmut
These are challenging times. We worked with the Social, the Rights (the constitution) and the Economic realms. Of course, for me as national treasurer, the main challenge is with finance. The National Council has prepared a "courageous budget" according to Hartmut, which only covers the cost of the priests and the administration associated with National Council. This cost hovers around $95,000 and when reduced by known income leaves $78,000 for the community to find to support the priests. This figure does not include the $11,900 loss recorded last year. This budget reflects a departure from the past. Each community which has a resident priest and church is being asked to bear the cost of maintenance, rates, insurance and repairs for both buildings. Major renovations will be need to raised with National council. This proposal brings the necessity to bring in money and people outside the circle of the Christian Community. It is time to reach out and discover and support community of interests, while we support ourselves. National Council will also find it necessary to fund raise. Communities which find it difficult to support the buildings alone will be encouraged to seek support directly from other communities and perhaps pair up - Auckland with Wellington and Hawkes Bay with Christchurch. It is hope that the finances will be seen as an opportunity for increased participation and interaction and community building.
The National Council reconfirmed that the Wellington community must meet its obligation to the general fund first - people before buildings.
Saturday was also a special day for me, as I served on the right for the ACM and also the close of day - the first time in well over nine years since I had served and the first time I served for the close of day.
Top of Page
September
In the last few days typical spring weather enabled us to get out into the garden and start on the back fence. Shovelled a tonne or so of clay and earth to extend the back yard, transplanted some lawn, and dug a couple of post holes - and ran out of light. Today it has been raining steadily so no more work. The back yard is a sodden, clay mess. To top it off one of the storm drains is blocked with the front yard awash. Not to worry tomorrow is another day.
We, Catherine and I, had a holiday. The boys were out with friends for 3 nights in the middle of September and their Mum and Dad enjoyed 6 films of varying quality. Harry saw his first film in a cinema too.
Top of Page
August
Tom resigned from Harbour City Credit Union Board. He was placed in an untenable position through the actions of the Board before and during a Special meeting of the Board. Many thanks to the words of support from around the world. More later. The Christian Community in Wellington may benefit from this. His family already has. The boys had a couple of friends overnight while Erin also visited. We enjoyed family days out.
Tom flew up to Auckland and drove our new - well second hand but in very good order - back to Wellington on the same day. It performed beautifully. A Toyota Camry that Catherine is really enjoying.
Top of Page
July
The Laings continue to ponder their future in the current house and in Stokes Valley.
Tom attended a credit union consultative round in Wellington. Consultation? In the course that he teaches Consultation can take three forms
We'll discuss- We'll decide
We'll discuss- I'll decide
We'll discuss- you'll decide
The way this organisation conducts its consultation is "we've decided - you'll endorse" - an action that leaves a lot to be desired. More later.
Tom became the National Treasurer for The Christian Community in New Zealand because Lesley Waite was accepted into the Priester Seminar in Stuttgart where Tom studied in 1994. The National Council met in Wellington. The need for courage continues. The need for courage to be vulnerable - asking questions when you don't know the answers. At the same time as the meeting , Catherine and the boys visited the East Coast and Hawkes Bay
Tom completed another application for the East Coast community Development Trust for an expansion of the CITY programme. We're not confident about getting the funding but we'll see how we'll go.
Freezing southerly blankets the north and south island with snow. None at our place but it felt like it - but certainly above it. Disappeared in a couple of days but it was cold. Tom was struck for a couple of days with the flu.
A day later, Harry turned five - and we celebrated by going to the zoo and visiting his Auntie Jen who entertained them with soap bubbles and paper plane competitions in the cul-de-sac; his Auntie Clare who entertained him by feeding Lara; his cousin Hamish where they played table tennis and music.
Catherine attended the Anthroposophical Conference with Inge Ketel from Auckland who stayed with us and Martin Mallow, Harry's Godparent, came to stay a night. He leaves for Switzerland in August. We bought his car which although smaller than the Commodore is cleaner and tidier in body work and interior. We're hoping the boys will be more caring of this car than the last.
Top of Page
June
The boys got an early birthday present by getting a bigger room (a double to share). The house got reorganised as the spare room became a storage space, the boys room became the spare room, the office was scaled down office and, along with the computer, got shifted to the kitchen
Harry got an early birthday present - Solly's bicycle and learnt to ride in two days. For Solly, Christmas came early and he got a new bicycle.
On the 18 June 2003 a new addition to the Plunkett household - a baby girl -Lara- and a cousin for the boys.
Tom went to Brisbane for a week, caught up with nieces, Lizzy and Mandy, attended a World Council of Credit Union's Forum, and came home and suffered extreme, and I mean extreme homesickness for Australia - the colours, the sights, the sounds (those Aussie accents, the kookaburras, the crows), the tastes (a Coopers Ale, a lamington), the feel (the warmth 21 degrees), the smells (well almost).
The conference was inspirational and relevant. The Need for Courage. The need for Integrity - doing the right thing only you and your angel are watching (as Solomon would say). The Need for Courage in times of change. The need for transformational leadership in times of change. The need for courageous leadership for the future. Some serendipitous moments regarding ideas and people.
Met a possible cousin - Tim Laing - timlaing.com who sent me three emails as I was pondering various aspects with my Credit Union. Thoughts like:
"Ideas and concepts require harsh scrutiny and lively debate. It is only in this fiery crucible can we forge the best out of the half-baked. People on the other hand are far more fragile. Be tough on ideas and gentle with people, but in the process don't take too much bull. It's a balancing act that requires time and patience."
Top of Page
May
Made heaps of changes to our website and added pages on Holographic Repatterning and Lifeforce -just the briefest of introductions. See the links on the left hand panel above. In The Christian Community, during the priest's visit, we celebrated a baptism. What a joy!
A quick visit to Hawke's Bay sees the East Coast Community Development Trust's Community Improvement Through Youth project progressing well. It is being repeated in Colenso High School. Extended to Flaxmere High School. Piloted with unemployed youth with funding from TEC and MSD. The Napier City Council and the Hastings District Council are also supporting CITY. Great news.
Top of Page
April
The busy-ness continues - We hosted Erin Ketel, priest for the Wellington Christian Community and his family. The Christian Community turns 14 this year. During a recent visit to Hawke's Bay Tom attended the Confirmation service - and came away asking what his life would have been like had he being confirmed with such a ceremony. His life and lifelong search would have been much different.
Tom also attended a meeting of the National Council of The Christian Community Inc and was coopted onto the Council and asked to take on the role of Treasuer. He accepted.
Tom was also invited by the New Zealand Association of Credit Unions to join their Curricula and Qualifications Board for a term of three years - he accepted.
His own credit union, Harbour City Credit Union in Wellington asked that he take on the role of coordinating the education and training of Directors - he accepted.
After attending a Branch Officer Training Workshop for ASTE - Academic Staff in Tertiary Education - he took on the role of coordinating an email forum looking at the Strategy Three and and Four of NN's Tertiary Education Strategy in Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Enterprise and Creativity. There has been a disappointing initial response - hopefully it will pick up after Easter.
He also published a website for the Union on the Open Polytechnic's intranet which has received favourable comment from many quarters.
Catherine and Tom attended Catherine's cousin Angus Forgan's wedding to Bex, in Blenheim.
Catherine and the boys enjoyed a holiday with friends on the south east coast of New Zealand's north island.
Catherine's Holographic Repatterning sessions continue apace.
Top of Page
March
What a busy month - Catherine has undertaken further training in HR and is now offering free sessions to get her hours up for accreditation in July.
Tom's work continues to get busier and more interesting - what with course developments and students getting back into work after their break. Life in the Christian Community in Wellington grows, as does the interest in Social Capital. And of course he turned 52.
The boys continue to surprise and entertain. Recently Tom took them fishing and they caught a big one. They hadn't had any luck themselves and when a professional fisherman came in with his catch. He offered to give them a fish if they watched his gear while he moored his boat. Which they duly did and so did he. The Laings ate well that night. They have had old friends and new friends come and stay.
Top of Page
February
An interesting month - Catherine has put out a brochure on Holographic Repattering see also Interests below and started massages. Tom has settled into work at the Open Polytechnic; has become more involved in the Christian Community in Wellington and has a new interest in Social Capital. Also See Interests below. The boys have settled into kindergarten at Raphael house with new friends and experiences. Dave Turner came and consolidated the efforts for CITY in Hawke's Bay. So settling and initiatives.
Top of Page
January
Since the beginning of the year - it has been a mad rush. We spent the week following Christmas at the Family at Taupo and had a really enjoyable time. It was the first time the that we had enjoyed the water - the boys being old enough to do so safely. A relaxing time with beautiful weather. This was followed by a visit by Tom's mum, Shirley from Australia and Tom's cousin Ken Perry and his wife, Val, from the UK. All in all a busy time.
Click on Top of Page and you'll return to our menu.
|
Lots and Lots of warm Christmas wishes and greetings from us!
Hope you are happy and looking forward to a prosperous and happy new year
The Laings in New Zealand
Email: tomlaing@paradise.net.nz
Last updated 23 February 2004
|
