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Far from simply maintaining the status quo as Pam had anticipated , there was real decision-making to be done , and the Government did n't make things any easier by rescaling the aides ' grading and salaries and also restructuring the children 's financial support , all of which meant long and difficult consultations and discussion , and huge amounts of extra paperwork . Contrary to reports in some European newspapers , the North Island was not evacuated . In July Ian visited both girls in one trip ! Although you may find it hard to believe , we did n't spend all our time sailing . Ian 's nephew Peter and five other medical students from Belfast came to stay with us for a few days on their way back from work experience in Sydney ; our pool table still has n't quite cooled down from all those hot shots . It was quite an experience : thirty thousand librarians all in the same place . Despite inevitable recriminations from both sides , we had a lovely weekend . Although restaurants have tables and chairs , we were fortunate to visit some private homes where you sit on a mat on the marble floor to eat . So she stayed , and we're all at home together this summer and very much enjoying a family Christmas . We did some sailing . There was much talk of icebergs , but we did n't see any . It involves both physical and intellectual handicap , including compulsive hand and arm movements , and Stephanie is prone to epileptic seizures and apnea . The clarinet quartet he organises has been having a lot of fun , with weekly meetings as either quartet or trio , and has also been indulging in some jazz along with the regular diet of modern classical music . Indeed , one child had exceeded his expected lifespan so there was the real possibility that he might die any day . ( Some people who receive this letter seem to think he does n't work at all . ) We have some reservations about changing schools just before the end of her school career , but Nikki has thought it through and is determined , and we are anxious to avoid what happened with Anna , who changed halfway through her final year . Feeling a very long way indeed from any humanity - - there were no other boats out there at all - - we steered nervously through a narrow , rock-bordered channel between islets , the heavy ocean swell crashing to left and right , to take a peek at an incredible anchorage , almost unseen from the outside world except through a large hole in the huge rock that protects it from the elements . There were many excellent tutors , both local and from Australia , and the real stars were the Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet , the world 's premier professional recorder group , who travelled all the way from Holland for the occasion . There was not much time and a lot of work , but he managed to fit in a flying visit to the Capello Sistina ( Sistine Chapel ) , having to practically race through the Vatican Museum , rushing past all sorts of wonders , to get a few minutes in the Chapel .