February Newsletter

Welcome to the monthly newsletter from DistanceFamilies.com

The past month has been extra tough for many with Omicron making itself at home. Locally it's arrived but not prevalent yet. There's no official lockdown in NZ but for sure, the nation is cautious.
​Much is happening behind the scenes at DistanceFamilies.com. 

DISTANCE FAMILIES NEWS

After the on again, off again border announcements from the NZ government we're back in business. NZ citizens and permanent residents may arrive soon requiring only home isolation, albeit for 10 days instead of the earlier seven. Hubby and I are SO looking forward to the first of our three overseas adult children arriving in March. It's been three years plus since we've seen each other. The other two and a couple of grandkids will follow later in 2022.

Do you have an interest personally and/or professionally in all things global mobility? I can recommend the Families in Global Transition (FIGT) virtual conference at the end of March. I will be attending and presenting for the second time. It's a friendly, welcoming environment.

THE POWER OF PHOTO BOOKS
In 'Being a Distance Grandparent' I write of the value of printing photo books for grandkids - photos or highlights of an upcoming visit or photos of a visit just had.
Let me introduce Peter, one of our grandchildren from America. In the picture he's 15 months old and visiting NZ during the 2015/16 Christmas. He's playing with red blocks hand made by my uncle. When Peter returned home I sent him a photo album from his visit. This photo featured. He visited us again six months later when he was nearly two. In the meantime the photo album has hung around the toy corner.
Peter's now 7 years and hasn't been to NZ or seen these blocks for 5 years but the photo book has always been doing its job to keep memories alive.
I was so surprised to receive this text from my daughter.
"Peter has asked that I make sure you know how much he likes the red blocks and to make sure you haven't given those away... he wants to play with them when he comes in July."
WOW!!! The power of Photo Books.

Enjoy reading about global mobility and distance families? There are plenty of resources:

• Follow #globalmobilitybooks
• Look for book reviews on Instagram @helenellis.author 
• There are oodles of Distance Family articles here.​

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BOOK SERIES NEWS

The audio version of 'Being a Distance Grandparent' narrated by myself is DONE. The project started last July and with lockdown it dragged on but finally after 8 or 9 studio visits, 19 hours in the studio and the normal editing I am delighted with the finished book. The audio book sector is the fastest growing publishing platform.
Global audio book platforms are presently loading the book file in their systems. It takes a couple of weeks or so before the book will appear online. In the meantime here's a free sample.

If you've already read 'Being a Distance Grandparent' I would welcome a review. There's lots of places you may review.

​In the meantime I'm excited as the the manuscript for 'Being a Distance Son or Daughter - a Book for ALL Generations' begins it first round of professional proofreading next week.  It will be published later in 2022. Advance beta-reader comments are online.

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ON THE HOME FRONT

January's highlight was our holiday to the Covid-free, South Pacific island of Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands. Once the negative test results came through we thought the fun and games of travelling was over. No such luck. On our first day nearby Tonga experienced its tragic volcano explosion. We were staying on the beach with a tsnuami warning! In the end coastal surges appeared on the other side of the island and we were safe and sound.
​Then a couple of days later a cyclone arrived with torrential rain and sideways winds. We spent a few days avoiding falling coconuts and newly formed pot-holes, mainly huddled in our cottage. 
The day before we were supposed to leave the daily Air NZ flight had three aborted landings returning to NZ. Flights were cancelled for two days and we left a day late. It was an adventure with a capital A but still fabulous. Paradise is still paradise even when the weather is off.

Kindest regards
​Helen Ellis