January Newsletter

Welcome to the monthly newsletter from DistanceFamilies.com

It's summer here and New Zealand has gingerly opened up from all our pandemic restrictions and we're trying to be 'normal'. Christmas was celebrated with our in-country family and a bunch of Facetime & Whatsapp calls with those overseas. Much of the country is now away on their summer holidays. Omicron has arrived, but so far, with a couple of exceptions it's trapped at the border, as new arrivals have their managed isolation stays extended - lucky them!

DISTANCE FAMILIES NEWS

​The NZ government has delayed its earlier decision to open up the border to citizens (& immediate family) with reduced restrictions. You'll see from the December Newsletter's photo our son and daughter-in-law are no longer able to arrive in February. Our other two adult distance children also have tentative plans for 2022 visits. Crossing our fingers. Patience is a necessary virtue if you are a NZ Distance Family. 

​In the meantime here are 25 Things Grandparents can say to their Grandkids and don't forget to store and share vital information.

I have recently taken on the co-chair role of the Australian/New Zealand Affiliate of Families in Global Transition (FIGT). I hope to be expand awareness of FIGT in this part of the world. It's a terrific resource for expats and migrants.

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BOOK SERIES NEWS

The last month has been full of much brain gym. Quite a few mornings have found me editing the second book of the Distance Families series, Being a Distance Son or Daughter - a book for ALL Generations.  Then in the afternoons my hubby has been golfing more, so with the house to myself I've listened to hours of my own voice checking the audiobook narration of Being a Distance Grandparent - a Book for ALL Generations. 

Both are working their way through the editing processes and will be published later in 2022.

In the meantime I am pretty chuffed to find my book in the Top Ten Expat Bookshop List for 2021 and a terrific review from grandparenting experts here

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ON THE HOME FRONT

Christmas and summer are times to down tools but I confess there hasn't been much of that on my part. Later in January though, we're heading to COVID-free Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, and it will be down tools then. We really can't believe what a blessing this holiday is considering where the world's at. Right now we don't have to isolate in either direction. We've been to the Cooks once before and it's honestly as beautiful as the link videos show. We're not sure how reliable the WIFI will be but if I can share any photos they'll land on Instagram @helenellis.author.

​We've been enjoying our new extended garden and for the first time I have dahlias to be proud of. Newly planted trees are surviving in the heat and look like they'll hang around for the long term.

Kindest regards
​Helen Ellis