Amy the TV Star...

TVNZ recently made a visit to Amy's school to do an article on Teaching Values in the new curriculum. The principal asked her to do a lesson that could be filmed, and on 29th August, she appeared in a 5 minute segmant on prime time TVNZ1 show, Close Up. She came across really well and has nothing but great comments from lots of people. If you missed it, you can assess it online on either Youtube:

http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=jar4C43zxL8

Or the tvnz on demand website or just click on the following link (just watch the advert, click on the play button, then click on Chapter 2)

http://tvnzondemand.co.nz/content/close_up_2007/ondemand_video_skin?tab=&sb=date-descending&e=close_up_2008_08_29#ep_close_up_2008_08_29

Sporting Highs and Lows...

James: I have proudly supported my local professional football team, Hull City, since childhood. Attending games with my Dad, standing on a home made box so I could see over the men in front of me. Sadly throughout my childhood they got relegated from the 2nd tier of English football to nearly loosing their place in the professional leagues! But as a faithful supporter does - I believed they would come good - and people mocked me! Amazingly, since I left my home town, Hull have gone nowhere but up, back through all the divisions, built a new super stadium and this year they got promoted to the top tier of the English League for the first time in their 104 year history! Of course, I could only watch it online in bed at 2am, but still I cheered in disbelief! I fret we'll have some more all nighters for the coming season as Man United, Chelsea and arch rival Liverpool (ha) come knocking. Go the Tigers!

Away from the TV we both play sport. Amy plays in the top netball league in Christchurch for Halswell, well, she has for the past two seasons, until they got recently relegated - sad times. Summer league will help her to get her head back in the game! James' football team, Nomads, finished 4th in the 2nd Division. We had an average season, scored 7 or 8 goals from central midfield but age is playing a factor - need to get fitter!

Ridpath Family Celebrations...

James' family have been celebrating recently with the engagement of his younger brother, Ian, and his fiance, Jen. They have been courting for a few years and are so suited - we're so pleased. They spent 6 months in NZ after our marriage and made such an impression on people, everyone's asking when they're coming back here to live! They'll be tying the knot on 4th August 2009 in Ireland, so we'll be heading across for a European summer!

Also on James' neice, Gracie was recently Christened on her 1st Birthday in Northampton. Sadly we've yet to even meet this special little lady, but we look forward to seeing her next year and catching up with all the family. She's not a big talker on the phone yet, unlike her older brother Charlie, who Amy claims has the cutist accent ever!

Beker Family Travels...

Well you wouldn't believe it really - James travels all the way to NZ and starts settling down with his lovely wife Amy - and her family. Whether it was James' accent or annoying habits who knows - but suddenly Amy's immediate family decide to move to the UK. Jen has been living in London and recently been travelling all around Europe. John and Marrianne have set up in Oxford, England, and are working and travelling in their time off! We do miss having family around, but have lots of church family who look after us and our house is never empty!

Big changes at James' work and church...

Our church leadership has been asking some big questions of itself over the past year, and in April 2008 announced that we would be adopted by one of NZ's quickest growing churches, Grace Vineyard. This is a really exciting change that doubled our church attendance in just 2 months! This new influx of people has certainly added momentum to our church and we're really looking forward to the future. Neither of us have been a part of a Big church before, so we look forward to big thinking and big plans! This hasn't affected James' day by day job, but does mean an increase in volunteers, resources and opportunities! It looks like the building project is really going to happen - which will mean fixing our leaking roof, renewed offices and a facelift - bring it on!

Amy's Loving School...

This year Amy has been teaching a Year 7 & 8 class (ages 11 - 13)

and she is loving the challenge and humour that comes with these older kids! Recent highlights have included taking maths geniuses from her school to compete in the Canterbury CantaMaths competition (a maths problem solving contest) - one of her teams produced the schools highest ever finish. Amy also continues to lead the school choir and also coordinated the 2008 Kaiapoi Choir Festival - coordinating 5 schools and over 250 children! James also jumped onto the bandwagon by playing the piano for a few pieces!