From the editor

Thank you for reading NZ Lifestyle Block, and happy new year from all of us.

That includes the supporting cast, Bob, pictured at right. He arrived after my foot got caught in a small hole while I was walking through a paddock.

As I fell, most of the ligaments around my right ankle said no, we can’t do that. They were followed a split second later by my fibula.

It was a 150m crawl back to the house and cellphone coverage. The longest non-walk of my life was immortalised on a security camera, as was the fantastic treatment by the first response volunteers from Maramarua St John’s. They were followed by professional colleagues in a new ambulance (I was the inaugural patient) and some pretty astonishing, head-spinning drugs.

I’m forever grateful for the health and family system that swung into action. When it was deemed I needed surgery, my amazing aunt and uncle took me on a midnight trek from Thames (then Level 2) across the border to Middlemore (then Level 4). Despite losing 24 ED staff to a Covid stand-down a couple of hours before I arrived, a team of professionals swung into action the moment I rolled through the door.

And then the lovefest really began. My bestie Clare got up at some ungodly hour the next day and took my dogs to the loving home of our friend (and dog trainer) Christine. My wonderful neighbours Georgia and Pippa spent six weeks on goose patrol. My parents braved weekly Covid tests and twice-daily border checks so they could take me to hospital appointments and care for five very suspicious goats.

It was like being 10 again, but with better pocket money.

I’m hopping into 2022, full of gratitude for the many kindnesses I’ve been shown. I hope it’s a good year for all of us.