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I ws looking through the Guardian website and found this photo of Ealing, I think taken in Walpole Park. I assume it was taken on Friday.

 Here is our Saturday:

It was in the mid 20s. Today it is raining, but dare I say it, warm almost tropical rain!

I am surpised to say, myself, that this time mum and dad have actually produced a decent looking garden. As you can see in this collage that we haves some reasonable plants, we have a fig tree (left), gazania’s (middle), rosemary (bottom), flax sprout things (top) and a poly tunnel, which is actually not a plant as you can see. As things are looking very successful I hope that they stay the same over the years (which they probably won’t :)!)

This weekend has ben so busy that it has been hard to keep up with ourselves. So much going on that I have not had the time to write it all down!

First of all this has bee a big weekend for Eleanor. She has gone off to Germany for her exchange, a follow on to having Yasmin stay with us earlier in the year. She has been very excited and positive about the trip. As she will be away for eight weeks, and so will be away for Christmas. So we had Christmas early on friday. The turkey was cooked, with delightful stuffing and all the trimmings. The table was laid out with beautiful crackers containing very poor jokes. Nina and Nathan were there to marvel at the Quirke household! Eleanor received her substantial and thoughtful presents early. The young people then disappeared to watch “Gavin and Stacy”.

After Isaac’s cricket (another wicket for him, but a very fortunate one) it was off to the airport. There were lots of young people on the trip, so lots of friends and parents. There were tears from the bro’s and Mum, but none from EQ. Too positive and excited for her to shed a few tears.

Later in the evening M&D went off to the near annual trip to enjoy Handel’s “Messiah”. It was staged in the Town Hall with the Wellington Orchestra playing, and the Orpheus Choir, of about a hundred, doing the honours. We agreed that it was the best of the five NZ performances that we have been to. Even though we are no longer young, we were very much of the younger group within the audience. Or is that feeling just because everyone thinks it is only others who are growing old?

On the way home we drove past the stadium where Bon Jovi were playing. Now that concert was full of people not accepting their age.

After all that activity, I was up early on Sunday to do a triathlon at Scorching bay, just like ealrier in the year. However, This time i was on my own. EQ away, and JQ citing lack of training. It was not nearly as much fun being on one’s lonesome. Anyway the results were ok. Overall the time was worse, but wind conditions were more difficult and training was less than ideal. The swim time was better than the last two efforts, quite remarkable. Though I did feel absolutely knackered on leaving the water-not a good start. The next one will be better, so watch out Joe.

No, and there’s more! Off to the Basin. I went with the boys and a friend to watch my first in the flesh T20 game. The boys had free tickets so it was only me who needed to pay to watch a bit of toytown cricket. It was good fun really, though the strong wind took some of the edge off the pleasure. I have watched on tv, but there was some added value at being in the crowd. Made me reminisce about my own youth, watching the Sunday John Player League on tv with “flat Jack” playing for Lancashire. The only misfortune was that when we arrived home, the Ashes coverage wound down because of rain.

By the way, in Wellington it now longer does rain. Glorious summer!

After the severity of last winter, with cold weather for weeks,and now snow in November, does one ask what is happening? Does it fit with predictions or does one still explain it with the tilt of the earth’s axis? Maybe that depends on whether one swings with neo-liberal or social democratic arms.

I just have to let you know that the weather is fantastic.

The whole weeked has been filled with glorious sunshine. It was been hot, not just warm, but hot. The skies have been clear and blue, the air has been calm. Beautiful. It is a while since I can remember a run of weathet like this.  Just loveit, anf there is more to come for the rest of the week.

The boys went to Khandallah pool today, which is open in the summer. Joe was there yesterday on its first day of the season.

I was active in the garden yesterday, clearing anf planting. Today I enjoyed a short cycle ride just for the exercise.

With England in trouble in Brisbane, does Isaac’s middle stump bowling victim mean he is in line for a call up?
Isaac had a bit of trouble with the bat. He only scored 3 runs, struggling agianst some pace bowling.

His own bowling was improved from last week and he tormented the batsman before the 4th ball of the over rattled the stumps. Maybe the season is on the up?

Joesph looking handsome, as the publicity machine strides into town.

Closer than England will be to the trophy next year?