LETTER FROM NEW ZEALAND.

While you are shivering in the cold (not too much we hope), we are sweltering in the heat along with high humidity as well. My Mum is visiting from Scotland at the moment and finding it strange being plunged into a hot summer so suddenly.

Over the last couple of weeks, in spite of having had visitors, we have been getting into the swing of "normal" life again after the Summer break. Eastwest College of Intercultural Studies has begun its new academic year with a full compliment of students and Mark will begin teaching again this coming week. I am counselling, but with a lighter load since I have begun my part-time studies in spiritual direction.

Hannah and Lydia started school again last week. Hannah had her 16th birthday last week as well. Where have all the years gone? Lydia will be 12 in May. Hannah did really well in the first year of important NCEA exams (Like 'O' levels for those who remember them!). Grace, too, in her third year of her exams.

Grace is excited about her up-coming stay in Scotland. She will be living with my Mum for about 10 months, looking for a job, and generally enjoying a "gap" year before coming back to NZ to begin University studies in February 2008. She was originally going to be travelling to UK with my mother, but the ticket proved to be very expensive because Mum and David are travelling an unusual route with some prolonged stops on the way. In fact, it has turned out to be less expensive for two of us to travel a more straight-forward route, so the long and short of it is that I will be travelling with Grace to Scotland. This is an unexpected "gift" for me as it would have been very difficult to say goodbye to both my mother and to Grace on the same day. More significantly, it means I can see my Dad again. His health is not good at all and has been a cause for concern for me. It will be lovely to be part of Grace's settling in process too.

Grace and I arrive in Glasgow on 2 March, and I leave again on my own (sob!) on 22 March for NZ. It has all happened quite suddenly and there is a lot to do before I leave - especially with my study. With God's help it will all be fine. I realise that when this edition of Echoes is published we will already be there will you all, God willing. Even though it is an unexpected visit, I am really looking forward to it and it will be lovely to see everyone again.

Loving greetings from us all –

Joyce, Mark, Grace, Hannah and Lydia