The first year after the accident is a blur of horror, misery, disbelief and above all, darkness. It was hard to feel good about anything. I look back to that time and see just darkness. I served a three-year term on the Veterinary Council of New Zealand, but never came to terms with the stultifying bureaucracy of Wellington, even if the people in the council were nice.
The next year there was a by-election for the Marlborough District Council, one of New Zealand’s five unitary authorities, after a resignation. My friend Ron Crosby urged me to stand, but I wasn’t initially interested. He persisted, and at the eleventh hour I put my nomination in. It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done, putting myself up to be judged by my community, but I was lucky enough to be elected, and then reelected in 2010. It’s been a good and positive experience; the chance to put something back into a community that’s been very good to me and my family gives me a lot of pleasure. Now in 2011 in my second term, there are plenty of challenges. As chair of the environment committee I have some major longterm responsibilities for Marlborough’s future.
This was the first ray of light, following the darkness.
The second, and even brighter, was the birth of our first grandchild in November 2010. Abbi Jane Jerram was produced by our lovely Irish daughter-in-law Dinah and our son Tom. Already she makes me feel more positive, a growing continuation of life. Gradually, and with growing confidence, I can feel myself looking at the good things. I feel strongly the need to leave our world as good as we found it, in sound environmental and economic health, but in that order, for future generations. I see great hope for our children as they go forward in life, despite the loss of their sister. Pippa, Jane’s sister and best friend, wrote and sang a hauntingly beautiful song at the memorial service in Blenheim, and gradually music, always a major part of our lives, is returning.
I also see Pete A battling with his condition. He’s tremendous, brave, understanding of himself and positive. He refuses to let it stop him from enjoying life. His wife Chick and their adult children, Caroline and George, are our dear friends for life.
We’ve had a wonderful 32 years together, and I’m sure we’ve got a few more yet. It was a good career, with many rewarding and many challenging moments. For three years after Jane’s death, I was unable to write, or to even think about it. Now, I can feel the creative juices flowing again, and I’ve really enjoyed putting our stories together.
I hope you’ve enjoyed them as much as we enjoyed being part of them.
Copyright
A RANDOM HOUSE BOOK published by Random House New Zealand 18 Poland Road, Glenfield, Auckland, New Zealand
For more information about our titles go to www.randomhouse.co.nz
A catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library of New Zealand
Random House New Zealand is part of the Random House Group New York London Sydney Auckland Delhi Johannesburg
First published 2011
© 2011 Peter Anderson and Peter Jerram; illustrations by Ashley Smith
The moral rights of the author have been asserted
ISBN 978 1 86979 520 7
This book is copyright. Except for the purposes of fair reviewing no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Cock and Bull Stories Page 21