Rick, Nicky and Claire in NZ

You are probably all aware that Sir Edmond Hilary (know here as Sir Ed) has died. His funeral is today (22nd Jan) in the Auckland Cathedral. Nicky has just left to attend the service. Admission to the cathedral is by invitation only, but big screens have been set up in the Domain (park) for the general public and we are assuming that Nicky's invitation has got lost in the post somewhere.... So, this morning Nicky and I went off to pay our own tribute, along with 45 other men, women and children, two dogs, and a radio car. Nicky had her first day at Te Atatu Peninsula library yesterday, and on my way to pick her up I was listening to Classic Hits FM (one of the top commercial radio stations here) and one of the presenters was organising an attempt on One Tree Hill, emulating Sir Ed's attempt on Everest back in '53. The plan was to meet at base camp (the Cornwall Park Restaurant) at 7am, proceed up the south face (all metalled roads so you have to dodge the occasional car alo...

Nicky will finish her training with Waitekere Libraries this week and will then be a fully-fledged staff member. She is already working regular Thursday and Saturday hours at Henderson, and has got a casual day at New Lynn this week. We don't know where else her presence will be requested, but it has been mentioned that they would like her to be full-time and permanent at Henderson, but we don't know if and when this might happen. Claire's hours have also become more regular no the Christmas rush is over. She is doing Friday evening and all day Saturday at Whitcoulls, and a half day (either Monday or Tuesday) at the museum. She has gone for another interview today at an Apple Reseller because she is missing playing with the new technology. She is looking for perhaps one day a week working in the shop, just to keep her hand in. I have a couple of interviews coming up this week too, at the same Apple dealer as Claire and at the Ministry of Justice, which is next door but one ...

The New Year is now with all of us, and I have been remiss in updating the blog. We spent Christmas Day with the majority of the family at Clem & Pats in Stanmore Bay. Everybody brought food and we had a very good lunch. Visiting the beach in the afternoon was shelved due to the rain. Nicky, Claire and I stayed at Clem and Pats until the evening. Most of the family left mid-afternoon to be replaced by friends of Clam & Pats. So, more food consumed even though it wasn't really necessary. We had a long lie-in on Boxing Day, Claire particularly appreciating it after been at work every day and sometimes until after midnight at Whitcoulls. We breakfasted and then started a jigsaw, as is our tradition at this time of year (we finished it yesterday and discovered it only had 992 pieces, not 1000). Then we met Steve and Ros late afternoon at the Cinema in the St Lukes mall where Claire works and saw "The Golden Compass", a film of Philip Pullman's Northern Lights book...