Matt’s Staff Update
Well it’s my turn again, and I’ve got no idea how long it’s been since I last wrote a Facebook update. It feels like forever, and I was hoping I could stretch it out a bit longer. But JG has been cracking the whip, so here it is.
I should really start with the fact that I’ve dropped Mondays for now as I have to finish the degree I started all those years ago, in Spain. After a whole lot of rigmarole with the Uni, I’m close to the finish line, and I’m finally getting excited about graduating. But since I’ve dropped Mondays, I’ve had to give up the Monday morning walks I was doing with Mike now taking over the Walking group. We’d started out with an idea of possibly working up to some running. But the group was quite keen to stick with the walking. Matt K, Harrison, Luke, and Ben M started out in the group. But Cameron H has taken over from Luke, with Lewis, Clement, and Justin filling in for others at times. It was quite a fun group and a good way to start the week. We tried to mix up the walks and see as many different parts of the city as possible. We did walks from Redcliffs to Sumner and back. Walks along Brighton beach, in either direction from the Pier. Walks through the Residential Red Zone, and even on the Port Hills with Rapaki and along Summit Rd where it’s been blocked off since the quakes. The group did really well walking almost 232kms last year, averaging 6.62kms each walk!
Tuesdays I’m onsite mostly and like working with the guys on the workroom floor. We’ve had a fairly good and steady flow of work since the New Year. With most of it seeming to be newer jobs that I’d say we’ve only gotten this year.
Wednesdays in the morning I have the Sensory Room at Pioneer Southern Centre. I take two different groups there, with each group taking a turnabout. The first group is Joe, Murdoch, and Ben M. Joe likes to settle in the UV corner and have some space to himself. Ben will have a good look through different smaller items tucked away in the cubby holes under the seats and takes a photo to send to his flat-mate. Murdoch has a few different things that are his favourites. He likes to check out the animal sound board with the different animals to tap to hear their calls. Or having a good lie down on the bed before getting his six pieces of paper to do some art. Murdoch actually gets to enjoy it every week as he’s part of both groups, with Kaine and Oscar making up group 2. Kaine has a mirror music box he loves sitting with and seeing the coloured lights that seem to disappear into the mirror. Whereas Oscar loves sitting on the new rocking chair they have and relaxing under the weighted blanket.
On Wednesday afternoons I’ve just started taking a group to a new Special Olympics Golf group that has recently started up. Anthony, Lewis, and Joshua have been doing well developing their golf skills and showing off a few they’ve already got. The group will run till the weather starts to get too cold to keep going over winter, then look at restarting again towards the end of the year once we’ve all defrosted again.
Thursday mornings is when I’m now doing the Film Group, since I’m not here on Monday’s. With the change of day, Eddie and Ben M aren’t part of the group as they’re not here Thursdays. But Lewis, Sam T, Nick F, and Nick T all agreed that Clement could join the group as we now have room for him to join us. It will give us the opportunity to create a character for him to include in our plans. Then on Thursday afternoons we have been part of the regular inter-service Helen Anderson Trust Tee-Ball competition. The competition is as popular as ever, with plenty of the guys all keen to come along and play. Sometimes we have to navigate some thorough negotiating to keep everyone happy. But we make sure everyone that wants to play, can get as many games as possible.
Lastly there’s Friday and shopping. I only do this once a fortnight and have two groups that come and help keep this place running. Group 1 is Ayden, Ben N-F, and Jeff. The three boys work well together to help keep the place well stocked. Jeff likes to help pushing the trolley and getting items from the shelves. Ben is much the same, but also likes to give some of his wisdom from having done the shopping in the past with other staff. And Ayden particularly loves doing the scanning at the checkout and is incredibly fast at it. Group 2 is Elizabeth, Liam and Lyric. Liam does well holding his own amongst the ladies. Or to be more honest, is kept inline well by the ladies. Though to be fair, Liam is a gentleman with the ladies, especially when asking them to be a bit quieter at times. Both groups then help putting away the shopping after-lunch, often helped by Oscar who has come along shopping in the past too.
I’m sure there’s probably a million things I’ve forgotten to put in here. But I’ll have to do another one of these, no doubt before long. So will have a chance to include them then. But until then, welcome to winter ☹
