June and winter officially starts

We have had a more eventful time this week, along with lovely autumn weather. We have had almost 5 days of cloudless skies. It has been great to enjoy the sun during the days, but the clear nights have made the mornings cold, so much so we had to de-ice the car on Wednesday. This was the first time we have done this since moving to NZ.

The week started with a public holiday due to the Queen having another birthday. In celebration, she sent us one of her citizens from the UK - Jo Millikan - who lived across the road from us in Loughborough. We collected her from the Backpakers Hostel in town on Monday morning, and headed out west to Bethalls beach for a stroll and a picnic. We didn't spend long on the beach (though I did have time for a paddle) because the wind made it very much like Skegness - bracing. We headed off to the Waitakere Ranges visitor centre and had our picnic there - inside, out of the wind, and with a great view. Back home, Claire and Jo got instantly back into their DVD watching habit from some years ago and then after diner we took Jo to Mt Albert to see Auckland by night. Jo then took us up on our offer of accommodation so we zipped into town and collected her stuff from the hostel.


Tuesday was my birthday. I had the pleasure of taking the car to college for the first time to enable me to transport two cakes (Bruce Bogtrotter and carrot) for consumption by fellow students and staff. At the end of our Anatomy and Physiology lecture (on the digestive system appropriately enough) they sang happy birthday before making short shrift of the cakes.

Claire has been on study leave this week, so on Tuesday went into town with Jo and they had a ferry trip to Devonport and lunch and a snooze on top of North Head in the sun. I picked them up in Parnell, and we headed back to Blockhouse Bay for a quick was and brush up, before meeting Nicky at Bricklane. Bricklane is a bar/resteraunt place where we were joined by the vicar (June 2nd is also her birthday) and a number of Nicky's church Life Group. We ate wonderful food and joined in the pub quiz as two teams. We both finished equal fourth which was much better showing than last time.


Nicky had made a cake for Sarah (the vicar) which the staff served as our dessert which I though was very good of them. Some people ordered hot drinks but the staff didn't seem fazed by us not buying dessert. I think they are quite pleased for any business at the moment on a Tuesday night because once we and all the other participants in the quiz had left, the place was empty. We couldn't manage to finish the cake so Sarah distributed it round some of the other teams. Once we got home I open my presents before going off to bed.


Wednesday morning was our first frost. It has been really good having some dry crisp weather. Apparently things will change over the weekend. Nicky's sinusitis has not really cleared up and has got very painful this week, so she saw the Doctor on Thursday and decided to take Friday off as she was in so much pain.

Friday also brought us another new experience. I re-arranged the remaining stuff in the garage and was able to get the car in !!!!!!! We realised we have not parked any of our cars in any of our garages (all two of them) before, so this is a major event for us. The problem has been to make enough space to get the car in and provide enough room for us to get in and out of it, and a path through the boxes to the door which joins with the kitchen. The arrangement of boxes isn't ideal at the moment, but we still have some to clear some more stuff we don't plan to keep so should be able to improve maters over the next few months. The important thing is to be able to go to and from the car while avoiding the winter weather. The garage door has a remote control so this means we should no longer have to get wet.


Nicky and I had a quiet day at home on Saturday with Claire at work. I did another practice massage and Nicky got some sewing done. Today Claire has been up in Warkworth with fellow students studying for next weeks exams, and Steve has been over for Scrabble. I have got another assignment done and we will shortly be settling down for our Sunday evening TV viewing.

We have missed some of the political events in the UK over the last few days, but have gathered that the local elections didn't go well for Mr Brown and Co, and there have been much goings and comings with the cabinet. We are still eligible to vote in the UK for 13 years or so apparently, so we may get our act together to interfere when the time comes.

Until next week dear friends,

Rick

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