The preparation for the Round the Bays 2024 remains in progress. Today was a shorter effort but with periods of speed between the posts. Loving the current environment and routes. Hataitai beach very busy today
So on schedule I think.
New Year’s Day
A beautiful morning to go for a run- 11.8km. All part of the practice for February. Shaz did the same
And to the resolutions. Like many other years:
- Reduce the pop
- Practise German each day to improve skills for future needs
Maybe should say do the blog more often!
Happy New Year
Boxing Day
Today is Boxing Day. We have had a lovely time at our new venue- Dave and Michelle’s house. A relax on a sofa and tv watching followed by BBQ and eating on the sheltered deck.
Yesterday Santa delivered the prezzies- right by the chimney.
A lovely time was spent in Paremata at the new house of Chris and Heather yesterday with their family. That was followed by a video call with IQ and EQ from Glasgow to do the opening of gifts. Great fun- though at the end of our day so a bit ‘tired’.
I am awaiting the full glory of the Pōhutukawa trees. So photos to follow later.
Return to NZ
Nantes
(Lost as a draft so posted late).
In the city for the Ireland v Tonga pool match for the RWC2023.
The cemetery has graves of soldiers who died in WW1. They arrived from the front to the hospital. Germans and French and a few assorted others.
The author of the’Magic Roundabout’ is buried there too.
Plus a trip to the botanical gardens.
Bangkok
We are currently on the way to NZ.
This time via a new city. A layover for a couple of days which for the most part is being used to deal with the fatigue of flying, which should not be that bad, and the previous days poor sleep.
Yesterday we slipped in a trip to Chinatown and some street food. Noodles followed by coconut ice-cream. Today a trip to the Grand Palace and temples. Low key for us, not too long, but a good view of part of the culture. Despite our limited time it is clear that this is a busy and huge city.
Autumnal morning
More house action
Mad UK politics
If seems that we can continue to be surprised.
The fifth worst PM in UK history- all of the last five PMs- is back.
The place is in such a bad position that we are boring holes in the bottom of the barrel.
It seems Sunak is finally getting rid of the total crap in his cabinet. Braverman has gone as weeks of agitation and stirring division and encouraging violent right wing action.
David Cameron returns to UK government as foreign secretary
Former PM makes surprise comeback as part of reshuffle in which Suella Braverman replaced by James Cleverly as home secretary
Kiran Stacey Political correspondentMon 13 Nov 2023 10.01 GMTLast modified on Mon 13 Nov 2023 14.34 GMT
David Cameron has returned to government as UK foreign secretary, in a stunning comeback for the former prime minister that highlighted Rishi Sunak’s willingness to take risks as he looks to revive his political fortunes.
Downing Street announced on Monday that Cameron would join the government, accepting a peerage in order to do so, as part of a wider reshuffle in which Suella Braverman was sacked as home secretary and replaced by the foreign secretary, James Cleverly.
As Simon Jenkins says:
‘When the solution to your problem is David Cameron, you know you’re in deep trouble”
PAC
Some changes are starting.
Le pompe à chaleur est en train de s’installer.
After five visits and quotes, and often telling me how difficult the work is, SebMan has started. He was delays because of Storm Ciaren and then the power cuts.
He has made a start- the old poele à bois has been removed and then are new holes in walls and the chimney is partially filled with boarding.
Here’s hoping for a successful outcome