Our Chinese Bible study group is coming along excellently and since we've moved into Halswell I'm putting a lot more effort into learning the language and I'm improving. We've got a good core of 15 learning the language (as can be seen from the photo) with a new induction starting on the 6th of February. We've also got equal numbers of Kiwis and Chinese coming along each week to the Sunday meeting.

On Saturday, our Chinese Bible students invited us over for a meal. Our hosts spoiled us with dumplings, yummy Chinese dishes, wine and tea, and a delicious desert.

• Mariko's Farewell Party. Good food, fun games, good food, Japanese conversation, good food, great association, good food.
• Nicola's Farewell Party. A good friend headed over to the Dominican Republic for 6 months to teach the Bible. The evening was a formal affair and consisted of an assortment of yummy dishes, ballroom/latin/rock'n'roll dancing, and some chinwag.
• Kaikoura Trip. Miho, Margaret Stace, and I headed up to Kaikoura for 4 days' camping. A friend who was camping with us, Barry MacHarper, had a boat so we headed out on that a few times and got a good haul of crayfish, kina, ling, blue cod, and perch. We all enjoyed the abundance of seafood and I got in a lot of fishing while we were there.
• New Congregation. January 1, 2006 was a new start for us in Hallswell congregation. We've been supporting the Chinese group there for some months now so thought it was about time for us to move in.
  

Recently I have been working at a car yard, and I stumbled across a 1973 Morris Marina selling for $2750!! I don't think you can exactly call it a vintage and the body isn't particularly in pristine condition either, as you can see from the photos. This is why I buy my cars direct from Japan and miss out the middle man.

Chocolat is now 15 months old and has already been through her first period. Though this isn't a particularly wonderful 'news flash' it is significant for us as we didn't expect her to live even a year. Unfortunately, though, with the onset of puberty has also come some other not so desirable habits, of which I don't really want to go into detail. I suppose you can't win them all.