2011 is well underway and our family is busy preparing to have our leaky home sorted! We are just another New Zealand family suffering from this building crisis that will see a great many victims yet! There are eight stories in the Otago Daily Times as the crisis has been kept quiet in the South and we wanted the public to know that it isn't just an Auckland problem!

Latest news, singing wise, is that I am singing shortly in Auckland. I have an opportunity to perform New Zealand Repertiore. The pieces I will be singing are by New Zealand composer Dorothy Buchanan. I commissioned her to rewrite "Peace Song" for cello and soprano and have not performed the work for a decade. The other peace is Reo Karanga, a piece that suits an event as an opener due to its beauty and ear catching melody.

Later in the year I will be involved in workshops and rehearsal for a new Opera by Jenny McLeod that will be premiered at the New Zealand International Arts Festival. Again, I am thrilled to be involved in performing New Zealand works and being able to sing both in Māori and English.

Apart from that, the PhD is ticking along although only part-time due to the leaky home business which is stressful and yet a learning curve for me when I eventually swap careers over to practice law.

Deborah, 2011.