September Newsletter

Welcome to the monthly newsletter from DistanceFamilies.com.

DISTANCE FAMILIES NEWS

​Today, as I start writing this newsletter it’s the first day of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere and the first day of Autumn/Fall in the Northern Hemisphere. It is such a pivotal calendar point for Distance Families.
​Northern Hemisphere expats who have recently moved for new assignments are hunkering down and hoping their off-spring are coping okay at their new schools. While ‘downunder’, many of us have travelled north during the North Hemisphere summer and are coming out the other end of another Covid winter. We’re two thirds the way through the school year and hoping this coming summer will be something close to normal… whatever normal is. 

​Natasha Winnard, an International Education and Youth Empowerment Consultant always shares terrific wisdom about schooling our youth overseas. Here’s a link to her helpful blog.

Being a Distance Son or Daughter brings with it a unique set of emotions – every minute of every day you are geographically distanced from family. Few of the associated emotions are talked about over the kitchen table family visits. Here’s a free chapter titled ‘Unpacking Emotions’ from Being a Distance Son or Daughter

​Thank you so much for sharing this link. I found the chapter so helpful in validating the emotional highs and lows of distance families. (Distance Daughter)

​Now that many of us are ‘back home’ and riding out the next few months, until some will enjoy Christmas visits here is my own article about how to include family when they live abroad.

---

BOOK SERIES NEWS

​The Distance Family book series continues to generate  much interest at home and abroad. The New Zealand Women’s Weekly kindly published an edited extract from Being a Distance Son or Daughter featuring hints and tips to improve communication and connections. 

​Paperbacks of both books can be ordered from bookshops in New Zealand only. I am also arranging for stocks to be held by quality, Kiwiana sourvenir stores. In Auckland you’ll find them on the shelves of Parnell’s gorgeous The Fantail House. Over the Harbour Bridge, The Next Door Gallery in Birkenhead is a wonderful find. New Zealanders… please let me know your favourite Kiwiana store.

​With Spring comes a sense that New Zealand is finally opening up again. Events that haven’t been on the calendar for 2+ years are finally being staged. That includes small events like public library talks and book fairs. If you live in Auckland or Tauranga please check out the upcoming, in-person events here.

In the meantime Zoom is here to stay and this week I had the opportunity to talk with residents of Ryman Retirement Villages sharing thoughts about distance grandparenting.

​I also connected with Italian expat coach, Barbora Gemmelove. We filmed a talk that will be on the programme for her early October, third Language and Mental Wellbeing conference for expatriates. Do check this out. The line-up is excellent. ​

Have you heard of Bookshop.org? It is one of the great success stories of Covid. If you live in U.S.A., U.K. or Spain you may order a book online, have it delivered to your door and choose a local independent bookshop to receive the profit - keeping that income recycling in your neighborhood. What a wonderful initiative. I can’t wait for Bookshop.org to set up in New Zealand. Here is a terrific video explaining Bookshop.org's story and a link to my SHOP page where you’ll find easy links to purchase my books from Bookshop.org. ​

---

ON THE HOME FRONT

​It’s been a bit of a crazy month here. Way back in March we had a small flood in our laundry, damaging some hall floorboards. The insurance company decided the whole of our ground floor (60m2) should be replaced – that represents a large lounge, dining area, kitchen and long hall. Needless to say the new floor looks very swish but there’s been some chaos. 

​Outside the rain has finally taken a breather. Spring is in the air and it’s time for a clean-up. When we moved into our current house nearly nine years ago we brought our fully functioning water blaster. Since moving in it has never worked efficiently and consequently gathered dust. I have always blamed the problem on our eco grey water tank/pump system. This week I discovered all that was wrong was that the nozzle needed a wiggle! What an exciting revelation. I am now the water blaster queen attacking a new patch of concrete each day and changing our outside from grey to off-white. I love my water blaster!

​Inside, we’re in preparation mode. Our U.K. grandson is coming to New Zealand for a GAP year and we’re looking forward to hosting him from time to time. And at Christmas two of our overseas adult children and two other grandchildren will be visiting. Rather than invest in a bunch of new furniture I love these lime green, fold-up mattresses I’ve acquired that will ‘do the trick’ for the six and eight year old. We videoed their room the other day and the boys loved seeing where they would stay.

Take care until next time
Helen Ellis

P.S. Not currently receiving this newsletter? You may register on the right of this page. Thanks for your support. HE