Rick, Nicky and Claire in NZ

We are having a long weekend with tomorrow being Labour Day and therefore a public holiday. From the Kiwi perspective, this is the official beginning of summer. Hopefully the weather will understand this too. We have had a mixture of sunshine and rain this week, though yesterday was fantastic with clear blue sky all day, and though the breeze was still a little chilly in a sheltered spot is was pleasantly warm. Nicky's week at work has been busy as usual, where as Claire and I have had a quieter week. I have only had a little Mac work this week, and one massage. Claire has been on study leave though she had a test on Tuesday. So, as an "end of term" type thing, I went to University with her so that after her test we lunched and and saw a film. We went to see Up, the latest from Pixar and John Lasseter, and we really enjoyed it. On Wednesday evening, Claire and Frances (a friend from work) went to see a stage production of Alan Bennett's' "The History Boys...

It has been another uneventful week. Claire's lectures have finished this week, so she is now preparing for her end of semester exams as her first year at University draws near. I have had another reasonable week with Mac work and a massage. Nicky has been as busy as ever at work. Steve came over for a game of Scrabble with Nicky yesterday, but other than that we have had a quiet weekend, apart from dashing in and out trying to get washing dry in between showers. The sunny periods have been quite warm and the general temperature has risen with the North-westerly breeze, but we expect more rain in the coming week. That's all folks - see you next week. Rick

A routine week has been had by all this week, me thinks. I have had a reasonable amount of Mac work, Nicky has had another "quieter than expected considering the schools are on holiday" week, and Claire has been studying as ever, with "end of semester" ground rush. The weather has been reminding us that summer is not quite here yet. We have had quite a bit of rain and Thursday was decidedly chilly, but things started to clear up on Saturday and we woke to sunshine and cloudless sky today. Nicky was on muffin-making and ironing duty, and Claire was studying, but I decided to take advantage of the weather to have a stroll along the beach. I drove out to Bethalls on the west coat and walked along to O'Neills Bay. The sun and the surf was gorgeous: June, a neighbour from Matata Street joined us for tea, but it has been a quiet week. Bye for now, Rick

We are into October now, and as predicted the weather has been a little stormy. We are mainly having days of sunshine and showers, but some of the showers are major downpours, and the wind in quite brisk at times. We have had the usual work routine this week, though Nicky has not been as busy as she expected at the library. The schools are on holiday which usually means more issues to deal with and people to attend to, but not so this week. Maybe the weather has kept them home. I have had a little Mac work and some massage work but it has been generally a quiet week. Claire has been to and fro to campus as usual, and had a friend over on Wednesday and made cookies (which we have all enjoyed eating). Big highlight of the week as been the opening of a new supermarket in New Lynn, opposite where the new railway station is being built (you can tell it's a slow news week can't you). It is a branch of New World, which scores in Nicky's book as they are NZ owned, whereas Foodtown ...