guyznewz: 2018

How the landscape looked in 2018

2018 has been a generally good year for Helen and me in Penang although, as usual there are both highs and lows. I try to stay away from politics but there will hopefully be more sensible decisions made by the new Government in this country and they will move away from the Government being called a Kleptocracy.

At least the party flags are re-purposed by the fishermen for their marker bouys.

There are a number of things we continue to enjoy and the cheaper cost of living remains to the fore. We are hoping for a change of emphasis and would like to travel a bit more. In this respect we hope to downsize by selling our large house and renting an apartment. If and when we sell, we may entertain other options.

We had several months without doing AirBnB this year after a dispute with them. We may resume again with a protocol that suits us better.

Helen mostly has a full book coaching Japanese and Korean wives to improve their English. She has two one-on-one sessions each week morning. She has a full range of other activities; book group, walking group, and is a member of the Art Society...along with excellent management of domestic affairs and keeping Coco healthy.

Helen and I had a three week trip in November and December this year where we caught up with friends and relatives and attended Nikki's graduation (covered in a previous blog).

The reality

I don’t have the same fulsome CV as Helen's. I have enjoyed wildlife photography once again but several of my favourite sites have been degraded almost to extinction. It is generally a six month season and I have kept busy with the directed microbial industry.....making bread, kombucha and kefir.....and pies and sausages.

The brewery

We have dismissed the gardeners and their monthly visit so I have more to do in that direction also. Falling leaves are a current problem and in this regard I await delivery of a leaf blower (I blame Glen for this). I have however always wanted to have 'more power' like Tim ' the tool man' Taylor.

I have continued my study on the White-throated Kingfishers and Bee-eaters and have published three E-books and a printed book.

This printed book had a long journey. Ordered in New Zealand, printed in Australia, sent to sister Alison in NZ (as they don't post beyond Australasia). Kind sister sent it on and it disappeared only to appear three months later when the funeral had already taken place.

I joined some friends for my annual trip the Fraser’s Hill. It is a place of many exotic creatures, not only birds.

In the previous 2 years of have been the American Photographic Society’s top nature photography exhibitor based on a complex formula. I will not be on top this year as I have not entered enough salons.

Through a German Bird photography agency I have an image in the prestigious 2019 Audubon Calendar
Each day has a different image.....they missed my birthday by one day.

I have however been pleased with some of my better images taken during the year.

The Gannet had strayed into White-fronted Tern nesting territory and was being strafed.

I am also promoting a new website that is more ordered than before. Website here

I also managed to win a camera in a holiday picture competition in a New Zealand newspaper. Nikki sold the camera to a mate.

We have had to keep the house up to scratch as it has been on the market all year. It has involved the odd touch-up job but the main feature to me has been our orchids in the garden. House selling is a completely different game here compared to what we are used to. It seems most potential buyers are interested in the square footage of house and land rather than any improvements made. It must also conform to Fengshui protocols for some buyers. We hope for more interest and activity in 2019.

Nikki and Dani have both done extremely well this year. Nikki graduated as a medical doctor in December and is working in the Lower Hutt hospital. She was with us in Penang at the start of the year.

Dani has thrown herself into her sports and activities promotional work in Cambridge and has won several awards for her efforts and has been an active participant in many longer running events. She and her Irish boyfriend, Rob, were also touring New Zealand and joined us for celebrations in Dunedin.

On the pet front. Coco continues to give us pleasure and a few laughs. She is very keen to run on the beach each morning and loves to run....just because she can. The crow chick grew to maturity in the 5-6 months we raised it and disappeared from our care after the visits became sporadic. My intention was for it to do exactly this and integrate into crow society, but it was sort of disappointing when it happened. Like one of your kids that doesn’t write much when they leave home.

Our premiere visitors this year, other than family, were Diane and Gary Stewart. They had graciously hosted Nikki earlier when she was assigned to duty in Masterton.

Just before Christmas we met up with Sophia and Nick Baker.

There is always the weekly pub quiz to enjoy. We have had another good year....winning 20 bottles of vodka for first past the post. We have a strong team when everyone is there but there are several strong rival groups.

On the grandchild front we stayed with Deb and Glen in November for 3 nights and caught up with Nathan who had his first year out of high-school in 2018. Hayley who had an interesting school trip earlier and Phoebe who is excelling with her sports.