2003 - STRUGGLING ON

Paul & Karyn Gardiner
Christchurch
NEW ZEALAND

Dear Friends and Family

Karyn here, writing about our 2003. This year has been a particularly tough year for us; due mainly to concerns over Phoebe’s health and Paul’s work being particularly hard. It started well, though, with us seeing in the New Year in Scotland with friends and family. We spent 4 great weeks in the UK and managed to catch up with many old friends. We’re very sorry to those that we missed, but we’ll be back sometime.

Soon after our return to NZ, we were in hospital for the first time with Phoebe’s palate operation. It was a difficult 24 hours but the operation was a huge success. As they do at that age, Phoebe bounced back from it better than us!! She began feeding better and within 3 weeks we had disposed of that damn feeding tube. She’s continued to grow slowly, but steadily, since. Then in July, just as she started walking, we had a return visit to hospital for anti-reflux surgery on her kidney. That was really tough and we were scared it would hold her back, but that was not to be the case. Within a few days she was walking again and getting into all sorts of mischief (we call her the Nippy Nudist, as she runs to her bath).

In terms of work, I have done some occasional guiding, and I’ve also enjoyed escaping the madhouse on the odd Saturday to do some craft classes at the local high school. Paul has had a very intense year at work, as he has been looking after the whole of NZ on his own, so he’s decided to take 2 months off over Christmas and enjoy the summer with Phoebe and I.

For those who don’t know, we finally sold Paul’s UK house this year. We’re hoping to build a large, warm home here in Christchurch with the capital and move out of this cold house before next winter. However, NZ real estate is going through a huge boom at the moment. In Paul’s words, finding a decent plot of land right now is harder than finding a virgin in a maternity ward!! So we’ve decided to be patient and hold off for a while.

Other highlights this year include visits from friends and family from the UK, including Paul’s Uncle Ian & Auntie Joan and also a friend of his Dad’s. All Black Rugby, the World Cup tournament and winning back the Bledisloe Cup also featured heavily in our lives. But of course, the special joy has been spending our days with Phoebe and watching her develop into a lovely little girl. As well as the operations, she’s had chicken pox and more colds that I can count. Yet through all this, she is such an outgoing, giving, good-natured child and we both marvel every day at how much we love her and what she has come to mean to us.

We hope you are all well, and our love and best wishes to you for the Festive Season.

Paul C Gardiner, Karyn M Gardiner, Phoebe K Gardiner