A picture of the sky. The sky is pink with fluffy clouds on the left graduating to blue as you look right. There are 3 trees in the mid-ground, with the tops of houses also shown. The trees and the rooves are silhouetted against the sky

Just like that it’s 2021, where did 2020 go??

Antnz on January 5, 2021

2020 seems to have flown by, I know that it’s been a year none of us will forget. Globally Covid has been a bit of a shit-show; I am thankful and grateful to be in New Zealand and the decisions our leadership has made. On a personal level was a year of re-examining what is important to me and prioritizing, a year of accessing the medical and disability services and support that would have been beneficial over the last two decades. I guess like many, it’s been a year of uncertainty, confusion and a rapidly changing “normal”.

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A picture looking down towards the ground. ADNZ Raven is looking at camera with her tongue poking out slightly. On Antnz left shoe, a plastic brace is attached to above toes. ADNZ Raven's harness and lead are lying on the grasswith a tennis ball,

CHAOS seems to be the theme of 2020

Antnz on September 9, 2020

Once again it feels like just the other I sat down and got stuck into writing a blog, but in reality it’s been awhile since my last one. For me life had been in this weird space of both carrying on and being on pause. While we in New Zealand have seemingly successfully navigated Levels 4 and 3 of our Covid Alert system; the sun rose each morning, yet so much of life was “on hold”. And now we have moved down through Level 2 and now after several weeks of Level 1 some sense of “normality” was happening before New Zealand had a “second waves” cluster/s appear in the last few weeks.

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Assistance Dogs NZ Team Training: Day 2

Antnz on June 20, 2020

We haven’t had a lot of opportunity to do public access with Assistance Dogs NZ (ADNZ) Raven while we’ve been on lock-down, and today she rocked it in her new harness. ADNZ Raven’s physiology is different to ADNZ Ben so we’ve been getting the set up right for her public mobility tasks. If you would like to support ADNZ Raven’s fundraising please head to: https://give.everydayhero.com/nz/assistance-dogs-nz-ben-has-retired-please-support-his-succes

Video description: ADNZ Raven is wearing a bright blue harness with a Y-front and small handle attached to a D-ring on the back of her harness, to the right of her body. Antnz is on Raven’s right (behind in frame). They are walking into a bank. Antnz is using crutches.

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ADNZ Raven Team Training Day 1

Antnz on June 17, 2020

We’ve been together a wee while now, but lockdown prevented the face to face time with a trainer. We’re off to a good start today.

Out and About, then some play with ADNZ Ryder
On the top left is the lettering "Level Four Covid Alert Walkies". Below the lettering stands ADNZ Raven to her waist, wearing her blue ADNZ jacket looking across frame. Antnz blue sweat pants are seen to the right of Raven, you can just see Antnz wheelchair.

Out for a walk. Level 4, Covid19 Alert

Antnz on April 25, 2020

I’ve finally dragged out the GoPro and been taking some footage here and there. This was us getting out on a “government approved exercise” walk on the 23rd April. Assistance Dogs NZ Raven is still getting used to this route and where the barking dogs live. I needed to get my editing groove on again, so put this together…. I hope you enjoy.

Nice day for a walk with ADNZ Raven!

Stay Home, Save Lives.
Antnz

A picture of a white window, with curtains shut. Behind the glass are several teddy bears on the window sill, a stuffed Kiwi hanging from the frame, two colored-in Easter eggs and one Poster with text saying "Thanks essential workers" surrounded by smaller pictures representing different essential services

WOW in the last couple of months the world went a bit wonky!

Antnz on April 18, 2020

It seems like yesterday I was writing a tribute to Assistance Dogs NZ (ADNZ) Ben, then next thing I know; the world is looking a whole lot different! ADNZ Raven is here and our entire country is in a state of emergency on “Level 4 Covid 19 Alert”; which is essentially “only leave your house for essential services like food or medical care, or your employment is classed as an essential service, the borders are now closed”.

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