What’s happening?

Practice Partner, Mike Smith, has sent an update from New Zealand, with news on the family, his Masters degree course and his vegetables!  Mike writes:

‘Hello, again, from New Zealand!  Life is very busy for myself, and the family, as the reality of the big move has truly sunk in. The kids are doing well at school and Sarah has a job at the University, so we feel more like we live here, at least for now.

The weather has been through a seasonal blip – early Spring and relapse into bitter Winter.  I had forgotten just how quick the weather changes here – at the beach one day, fire on the next. My vegetables are growing well, although we have to watch them now it is cold again.  It always seems strange being in opposite seasons to Woodbridge and the UK.

Sporting-wise, the All Blacks are in turmoil and the local team (Otago) are worse than Ipswich Town!!  The NZ cricket team are worse than useless, and I had to confess to supporting England in the Ashes!

On a work/study note, I have completed 3 out of 4 of my assignments for the year, with the final one underway – ‘Pathogenesis of Periodontal Disease’. I have no-one but myself to blame, but it is pretty hard yakka (work). My research has begun, and needless to say that it involves sheep!!  They are great patients, however, and the project is going well so far.  The clinical work is fantastic. I am getting a lot of experience with all sorts of surgical techniques and materials.  There is lots to do and learn, and I am sure the time will fly by…

I hope that we will be back for a visit (and dental conference) next year, but Mark and the team seem to be doing a great job without me getting in the way.

As always, if anyone does make it down this far, feel free to look us up – University of Otago , Dunedin.

All the best,

Mike, Sarah, Max, Poppy and Zac.’