ANZAC Weekend
Apologies for not updating the blog last week, but we have been a little busy, and a lot tired.
Last weekend was ANZAC weekend. Even thought only the morning is an "official" public holiday for the memorial services, many businesses close for the day and many people treated it as a special weekend as it was the last public holiday for awhile.
So, as all three of us were off work on the same day (a rare event these days), we had decided to have a family day. This started off with a lie-in and a leisurely breakfast. In the afternoon we went to the Auckland Museum to go and see the dome. This is a new addition to the top of the library which is rarely open to the public as it is for events, such as wedding receptions and corporate do's. On ANZAC day entry to the museum was free and the dome was open and Claire had suggested a visit. As we arrived at the museum the weather started to perk up and it wasn't long before the sun came out - about the same time that we got to the dome. It is an amazing space with fantastic views over Auckland. It is a large circular area with what I can only describe as a undulating roof-line. These photos don't do it justice but should give you an idea:
After such heady excitement we felt we had to come back down to earth, so wandered down Parnell Road to the Mövenpick shop and had gorgeous ice creams. With most of the shops being closed, Parnell Road was very quiet for a Friday afternoon.
To finish the day off we went to the cinema to see the new St Trinians film, which even though it hasn't had good reviews we all enjoyed. It took the spirit of the two original films and updated it well we thought. In all, an enjoyable day.
Saturday was another work day for Nicky and Claire while I did domestic errands. Then in the evening Nicky and I had a lovely warm wallow at the Parakai hot pools as it was their monthly clothes optional evening.
I woke up on Sunday morning feeling quite a need for some Radio 4, and was very pleased to discover that Broadcasting House is available as a podcast. I downloaded the April 20th edition and to my pleasure to found it was the tenth anniversary edition. After enjoying it so much I may make this a regular Sunday morning activity, so that I can listed to BH on a Sunday morning as I sometimes used to, albeit a week behind!
In the evening we headed over to Howick to have dinner with Paul, Jenny and Naomi, which was excellent, and a good way to end the weekend.
Nicky had applied for a Team Leader post which has become available at work, and was told that the interview would be on Friday, May 2nd. She was then informed that she would be expected to give a PowerPoint presentation on "How do we ensure the library service will still be relevant in 2020?" Nicky had never used PowerPoint before so was filled with trepidation, but after the interview was told her presentation had been inspirational. It could be awhile before we know the outcome, and Nicky has no expectations, but it was good experience and she demonstrated her willingness to move onwards and upwards.
On Wednesday evening Nicky and I joined other members of her church Life Group at a Thai restaurant (Claire was at works training evening) on Dominion Road. There were 10 of us so we chose 10 different dishes and shared them, with what seemed like an endless supply of boiled rice. All the dishes were good - there were none which Nicky or I didn't like - and some were very good. We will definitely be going back as it was very good food and great value at just $20 each.
Then on Saturday night we went bowling with a mother and daughter group again from church. Nicky and Claire participated but I declined due to may past ten pin bowling injury. We ate there too but the food wasn't brilliant (not exactly a surprise) but we lived to tell the tale. Claire and I both commented to each other that once inside the bowling place you couldn't tell what part of the world we were in. Are all bowling alleys the same?
And finally the empirical trouser testing has continued. After being washed the trousers do not repel the rain as well (chemical treatment I assume), but they dry out very quickly still which is good. We now have LPG heaters at work which helps trouser drying greatly and generally I feel the trousers are a success. The weather has been much wetter, and for awhile still quite warm, but now it is cooling down again.
We are finishing the week off with a bottle of bubbles and Steve, Ros and Stella are here for a memorial game of Scrabble for Nicky's mothers birthday. Claire and I were planning to watch Star Wars with today being International Star Wars Day but we haven't managed it yet and I can see bedtime looming on the clock. So I will close until next week.
Rick
Last weekend was ANZAC weekend. Even thought only the morning is an "official" public holiday for the memorial services, many businesses close for the day and many people treated it as a special weekend as it was the last public holiday for awhile.
So, as all three of us were off work on the same day (a rare event these days), we had decided to have a family day. This started off with a lie-in and a leisurely breakfast. In the afternoon we went to the Auckland Museum to go and see the dome. This is a new addition to the top of the library which is rarely open to the public as it is for events, such as wedding receptions and corporate do's. On ANZAC day entry to the museum was free and the dome was open and Claire had suggested a visit. As we arrived at the museum the weather started to perk up and it wasn't long before the sun came out - about the same time that we got to the dome. It is an amazing space with fantastic views over Auckland. It is a large circular area with what I can only describe as a undulating roof-line. These photos don't do it justice but should give you an idea:
After such heady excitement we felt we had to come back down to earth, so wandered down Parnell Road to the Mövenpick shop and had gorgeous ice creams. With most of the shops being closed, Parnell Road was very quiet for a Friday afternoon.
To finish the day off we went to the cinema to see the new St Trinians film, which even though it hasn't had good reviews we all enjoyed. It took the spirit of the two original films and updated it well we thought. In all, an enjoyable day.
Saturday was another work day for Nicky and Claire while I did domestic errands. Then in the evening Nicky and I had a lovely warm wallow at the Parakai hot pools as it was their monthly clothes optional evening.
I woke up on Sunday morning feeling quite a need for some Radio 4, and was very pleased to discover that Broadcasting House is available as a podcast. I downloaded the April 20th edition and to my pleasure to found it was the tenth anniversary edition. After enjoying it so much I may make this a regular Sunday morning activity, so that I can listed to BH on a Sunday morning as I sometimes used to, albeit a week behind!
In the evening we headed over to Howick to have dinner with Paul, Jenny and Naomi, which was excellent, and a good way to end the weekend.
Nicky had applied for a Team Leader post which has become available at work, and was told that the interview would be on Friday, May 2nd. She was then informed that she would be expected to give a PowerPoint presentation on "How do we ensure the library service will still be relevant in 2020?" Nicky had never used PowerPoint before so was filled with trepidation, but after the interview was told her presentation had been inspirational. It could be awhile before we know the outcome, and Nicky has no expectations, but it was good experience and she demonstrated her willingness to move onwards and upwards.
On Wednesday evening Nicky and I joined other members of her church Life Group at a Thai restaurant (Claire was at works training evening) on Dominion Road. There were 10 of us so we chose 10 different dishes and shared them, with what seemed like an endless supply of boiled rice. All the dishes were good - there were none which Nicky or I didn't like - and some were very good. We will definitely be going back as it was very good food and great value at just $20 each.
Then on Saturday night we went bowling with a mother and daughter group again from church. Nicky and Claire participated but I declined due to may past ten pin bowling injury. We ate there too but the food wasn't brilliant (not exactly a surprise) but we lived to tell the tale. Claire and I both commented to each other that once inside the bowling place you couldn't tell what part of the world we were in. Are all bowling alleys the same?
And finally the empirical trouser testing has continued. After being washed the trousers do not repel the rain as well (chemical treatment I assume), but they dry out very quickly still which is good. We now have LPG heaters at work which helps trouser drying greatly and generally I feel the trousers are a success. The weather has been much wetter, and for awhile still quite warm, but now it is cooling down again.
We are finishing the week off with a bottle of bubbles and Steve, Ros and Stella are here for a memorial game of Scrabble for Nicky's mothers birthday. Claire and I were planning to watch Star Wars with today being International Star Wars Day but we haven't managed it yet and I can see bedtime looming on the clock. So I will close until next week.
Rick
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