Five years today we arrived in NZ. It was a bright, calm warm day. We were greeted at Wellington airport by the Burgess family and enjoyed the scenic tour of Kilbirnie and Oriental Bay on our way to Tawa.
How time marches on.

Continuing the winter theme, i note the winter code has started  up north. I was caught by surprise last sunday morning to see the League 2 results in-and not a good start to the season. Now, I check again to see they have managed to lose to the mighty Swans in the Carling Cup. Not good.
It can be even more painful following from this distance than from close up.

I am confident things will improve. I am about to book my ticket for the FA Cup final.

Either I have had a terrible case of writer’s block, or it has been so cold, my fingers will not work on the keyboard.
There has not been much to write about-or has there been?
The weather has been cold, and wet and windy-but I must not go on! Though on Saturday Sara was confronted with snow when driving up the road, and we both enjoyed the hail storm watching our respective spots games-cold netball and cold rugby.
The same was repeated as we went to the stadium to watch the Jubilee Cup final-local  club rugby. Incredibly cold, incredibly black skies, and wind and hail. Lucky to be under cover at least. The result for those who care-Norths 10-MSP 10-no extra time, no nothing.

What else is new? Eleanor did well in a Wellington-wide German oral competition- coming joint 2nd out of 90+. Well done to her. She is due to write about it herself.

She also continues with ballet and is in the process of rehearsing for the annual show, requiring plenty of time.
Her school has a biannual trip to Europe, which not surprisingly E  is keen to go on. It is for 3 weeks, with a week in each of Rome, Paris and London. Sounds good, but the cost may be a sticking point!

Last Friday S and I went to the opera- low brow this time-Iolanthe It was not the most quality performance, and Shaz was disappointed.In future, only the quality pop stuff for us.

Here’s to the onset of spring, as I guess may in the readership are enjoying their summer and contemplating or enjoying their Italian or French holiday.

Weather has calmed, but clear nights means cold nights and frost-lots of it around this morning, which is quite unusual around here.

Just in case you did not know, it is winter here. There may have been some clues for those who watched the ABs play the Sprngboks in Wellington on Saturday. It has been wet and cold. So wet, that Joe’s rugby was cancelled on Friday, with the pitchs closed for the previous three days, when it rained some more. The wind over Saturday night made lots of things shake and did not aid a good nights sleep. Sunday was just cold with a mild bone chilling wind.

It is now the school holidays for two weeks, I am hoping the outdoor conditions improve somethat for the days the boys are not at basketball training.

Very pleased parents for Joe’s hard work and effort at school. well done.

Truckies won’t rule out more protests

Page 1 of 3 View as a single page Updated 3:42PM Friday July 04, 2008
By Herald reporters

• Your photos of truckies protest
• Herald photos of the truck protest
• Wellington truck protest (nzherald.co.nz)
• Reader video of trucks in Auckland
• Christchurch truck protest (nzherald.co.nz)

Truck blockade

• Queen St – home to cappucino commuters and logging trucks
• Clark says backdown on road user charge price rise unlikely

Protesting truckies say they will not rule out future strikes, despite meeting with the Ministry of Transport secretary this afternoon.
The Road Transport Forum chief executive Tony Friedlander said the ministry and industry are working together to scope out a review of the Road User Charges.
Protest organisers say about 2000 trucks took part in today’s protest in Auckland alone while other main centres were also blocked-up by heavy trucks.

Hauliers blocking roads and cities comes to NZ. They drove up the urban motorway in Wellington and so we could see them from our house, as the weather was clear and fine this morning, though that did not last. It was so sad, as Sara kept looking out of the window, and wanted me to find the binoculars so she could see better. She has been living here tooooooooo long.

Sara managed to remember our wedding anniversary this year-29th June for those who need to know. As such we went out for dinner on Saturday night to a French restaurant”Le Canard”. We enjoyed the food and wine and the pleasant surrouundings. We were mixing with the famous as Kerry Prendergast ,  was sitting at the table next to us. I am happy to report that I have never voted for her, and that she is the last person I wanted elected. However, you cannot have everything.
I tried to pronounce the menu in my best French, and the waiter was very pleasnt about correcting me.
We left to be rained upon, took the cab home. I went to bed, as up early for work on Sunday morning, while Sara stayed up with E to watch a film. So romantic!

Isaac was the centre of attention along with 100 other young people being confirmed at St. Andrews Church Newlands.

He had done alot of preparation with dad and in his group sessions. He has choosen Paul as his confirmation name. The day as a busy one with dad working in the morning and then on the the way back getting a puncture. With the mobile phone being at home rather than in the car, it meant a walk to the house, phoning the breakdown, and rushing back to the car. All this in the worst weathr so far this winter, with pouring rain and galeforce winds. A cold wet dad by the time the spare tyre was on. Home in time to rush to the church. Dad was the official photographer also, so needed to be there early to set up. Church was packed and certain level of mayhem in place. The event went well in the end, though with a certain lack of panash in view of  the size of the gathering. A jaunt back home for a roast dinner in the warmth, and “champagne” all round.