Rick, Nicky and Claire in NZ

Another busy but fairly routine week comes to an end. Nicky has had a full 5-day week again. Things have been a little quieter at the library with the schools having gone back after the Easter holiday. Claire has been busy with Uni and Whitcoulls again. I have had a good week with three new Mac customers needing support. Socially we have had a very quiet week. Yesterday Nicky and I just pottered round the house doing the usual chores while Claire was at work, and then went up to Parakai for a wallow in the hot pools for the evening after dropping Claire at Ryan's. Today, Sunday, we have had a great day. While Nicky was at church I went to see a new (to me) life class tutor about doing some modelling. He was a very nice chap and it might lead to work in the future. Then Becky (Kendall) arrived and we made a picnic and the five of us (inc C & R) drove out to Waitipu. This is the southern most point of the Waitakere Regional Park, and is a vast expanse of black sand. We had our pi

Another week draws to a close, and I write this while watching the text commentary of the Chinese Grand Prix on the BBC website. Nicky has been busy at work as usual, apart from Friday (see below). She has finished her Maori course now and probably won't continue to the next levels and they run on evenings where she already has commitments. I have had some Mac work which has been good again. Claire has been studying for a Psychology test which she has on her first day back (tomorrow). On Monday evening I joined the Eden-Roskill Camera Club as a paid up member. This means I can submit work for the regular competitions. On Tuesday Claire was of laser striking again, and on Wednesday she and Ryan to Mission Bay for diner and a film. On Friday Nicky was on annual leave. She had booked the day in order to go to a listening course in Hamilton which was due to run Friday to Sunday. Unfortunately, the course was cancelled, but she decided to have the day off anyway. She started out with a

The week started off the way all weeks should - with Monday being a holiday. Easter Monday here was fine and bright. Paul and Jenny invited us over for a BBQ in the evening, so we decided to take in a volcano on the way. It was Mt Wellington this year. We were aiming to be a P&J's by about 6 so we got to the volcano quite late in the day and the weather was past it's best, but it still gave us some new views of Auckland. The evening at P&J's, along with Doug, Naomi, Steve, Ros and Beccy was very good, and some of us ate to much as usual. Nicky was back at work on Tuesday for another busy week, and her final Maori class. Claire is on half-term at the moment, and has been relaxing, working on an assignment and did an extra duty at Whitcoulls. I did some Mac work on Friday and a modelling job yesterday. Other than that, it has been a quiet week. The weather has been clear and sunny since Thursday which has been lovely. On Saturday night we had Steve, Ros, Beccy and Jan

April has started with a long weekend, changing the clocks, and a little rain. Work has been busy for all of us. Claire now has a couple of weeks holiday with a couple of assignments to keep her occupied. Nicky's Maori continues, and on Wednesday I met up with some of my fellow students from the massage college, for a pie and a pint, literally. On Tuesday I went to Hamilton to have a look at a backup system, which was a new experience - the going to Hamilton that it is, I've seen loads of backup systems. Apparently Hamilton is the city of the future. Possibly. I liked the museum (where the backup system was) and the coffee was good. We were hoping to go to the beach on Good Friday, but the weather had other ideas. So, we stayed home, did a jigsaw, watched a film and generally veged out. On Saturday Claire was working, and I had a modelling job for a portrait class, so Nicky visited Ruth and Mary. Both seemed to be doing pretty well. Today we have had another day at home trying