As I write this there is no internet connection. Bugger!

The issues with living remote in New Zealand. We may live in the supposed winterless north in the far north of New Zealand but a storm with reasonably high winds has come through, so I am guessing it has in some way knocked out the transmitter. Or maybe its our own device on the roof that receives the signal. Who knows, all I know no internet means no phones as well. Cell reception is very intermittent here so going to be a quiet day. A chance to clean up a little.

The boss, Xiaoli – the wife, is back Thursday. Collect her at about 8pm from the Auckland Airport which means 1am home. Going to be a long day I guess.

On the way down I need call the parrot shop in Kerikeri and collect breeding boxes for the budgies and Cockatiels. That time of year. Chickens are already hatching which will make the boss happy to see. I know at least 3 geese are sitting on clutches of eggs. Probably some of the Muscovy ducks as well as I don’t seem to be feeding as many right now.

Need call in at a high school where I have an appointment to discuss international students from China attending that we can bring through business. New Zealand per head of population having one of the highest ratios of Chinese students abroad in the world. Good business for us, good for the school as it brings in much needed funding which can go towards our own New Zealand funding, and good for the community. A win for everyone.

Since I left China Xiaoli has had 2 further meetings. One in Weihai through a contact of hers who I know she has signed a memorandum of understanding, as I prepared it. The second Chongqing with a travel consultant who I have been talking with. Hopefully both positive for ‘Peter and Xiaoli Tours’.

I will never do such a short trip with lots of internal travel again in China. You survive the trip but once back the recovery is just to long. It knocks you around to much.

Talking about China, Air China have advertised I saw yesterday, $501 return to China for their autumn. Had I not just been there I would be tempted at that price to hop on a plane and go back.

Business for Peter and Xiaoli Tours is still quiet as is our accommodation. Spasmodic business typical of this time of year. Good bookings in place for tours November and January. 20 day tours for groups out of England. January can be a strange month for us with tours so its good to have a lengthy booking in place. The other months now we are through winter should just start falling in place.

The accommodation Ninety Mile Beach is picking up and many enquiries are starting to come for the summer peak season. The boss can take care of those on her return. Just a pity the accommodation has not found a buyer but it is a cash cow through the peak season so we will ride out once again, then look at shutting the doors the quiet season. Time we got a life of our own back together. We spend most of summer apart as I travel the country with tourists, time we put ourselves first.

With tours this summer I want to push our 6 day North Island tour which takes in a cruise to the White Island live volcano. Parts of it are unique to us and it is a superb tour route. To me it equals the South Island tours we do, just in a completely different way. Also hoping that just maybe we can get to quote a mix of tour plus fishing, the latter being one of main past times. Time will tell.

Both long tours for English groups in place take in both Islands so now we need find groups for slightly shorter tour routes.

Prime aim of the China trip was to grow the business so we can bring more family into it. So need keep that objective right up there. So hopefully a busy summer season approaching.

http://www.peterandxiaoli.com

Bipolar – A disease I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy

As I write this I am not sure I will publish it because once people know you have bipolar they generally run a mile, and very fast. It is the minority that actually try help and understand.

For me I was first diagnosed probably 20 years ago. It took me a lot of counselling plus medications to stabalise my head. Over the years my issues have driven many friends away but those that stuck have become life long friends.

My clients never see the downside. They only ever see me riding a high, giving my all. In my advertising days I was always head hunted. Only ever applied for one job. My very first job at just 15 years of age. In tourism as a tour guide, clients see me as an extremely positive guide full of energy, full of drive, and full of information. From my 8 years or so in tourism I have a worldwide network of friends from all different nationalities. They just never see the crash that may come after they have left.

I believe I have learnt to conquer the bipolar and have done it very well. Its years since I have suffered the suicidal thoughts. The highs I love. Its like I am on fire and I can do anything, and generally I can.

I now a days understand why I was head hunted for jobs. I was good, very good in fact at what I do. It is those highs the bipolar person loves.

I have known people to knock off their medications because they had big projects on and needed the high that the average person never experiences. On a high we are brilliant. Unfortunately after the high often comes a crash.

This week Xiaoli, my boss, my wife has upset me and I cant seem to shake it. A trivial issue which a bipolar sufferer can blow out of proportion. This week not helped by the fact Xiaoli is still in China completing business meetings we both set up. She is my shoulder I lean on. Very heavily at times.

Does she understand the disease. Probably not. Just knows I am the person she absolutely loves that has these weird times where negativity sets in. And no one except myself can get me out again. And she knows she is the only person that I will let my defences down with which in turn enables me to conquer the bipolar demons.

I have been off medications for a number of years now initially against doctors advice but my doctor agrees, I own the disease now, it no longer owns me. What got me to this point. A lot of counselling that delved deeply into my past. Helped me understand why I was always head hunted for jobs. Helped me understand I am bordering on brilliant and not a failure in life. And lastly those friends that stuck with me through black and blue. Never judged me

I understand now I am really good at whatever I do. I never understood that before. Just only ever chose to hear the negative comments. And that reason goes right back to childhood.

My doctor holds me up as an example of the way a bipolar sufferer can conquer the disease which will really never go away. Not sure I like being put on that pedastool.

For a sufferer to conquer bipolar or even depression, they must first admit they have a problem and need help. Until they do that they will never get on the road to recovery. And don’t be afraid to hold your hand up and say I am a sufferer. If friends or family run a mile, and some will, then those are the ones you do not need around you on your road back to good health.