Rick, Nicky and Claire in NZ

We started the week with a public holiday as Monday was Labour Day. The weather was sunny and Nicky and I had a quiet day at home. The weather has been sunny most of the week, with some cloud cover on occasions and the breeze has still been a little cool. Mike Cox (who we met at the airport last week) and his two friends came over for dinner on Tuesday, along with Ryan. It was good to meet them and get some idea of Mike's plans. He is going to be here for 9 months, wants to work (seasonal stuff) and travel. Things have improved a little for Nicky at work, though the fundamental issues still need to be resolved. Thursday was fun as the library was having some Halloween themed events, so all the staff dressed up as witches, and Nicky made some Pumpkin Pasties which went down very well. On Friday evening she went to a fair well do for Waitakere City Council - the new SuperCity starts tomorrow. Claire sat two more exams this week which went OK. Her last one is next week. I have had a c...

The week started with a trip to the airport for Claire and I. Michael Cox, son of friends of Nicky and I from our Maidstone days, flew in from the UK via Hong Kong. His flight arrived at lunchtime so Claire and I popped down Auckland International to welcome him. He was with a group of people coming to NZ for a few months with BUNAC (http://www.bunac.org/uk/) and wasn't expecting us to be there, but we think it was a nice surprise. He is coming for diner with a couple of his friends on Tuesday so we will find out more about his plans then. Claire has been home all week (apart from working at Whitcoulls) revising for her exams. Much of her English Radicalism works seems to involve lying in the sun… I have had some Mac work during the week and on Saturday morning. Nicky has had a busy and difficult week at work. There is one member of staff who has some mental health issues and everybody finds him very difficult to get on with, both at Ranui and other libraries. He has been the cause...

I was forced to own up while at the bakers on Monday morning. The weather was cold, wet and windy. I explained to the two ladies at Bakers Delight that I had posted on my blog the night before that it looked like summer was on the way, so the change in the weather has to be entirely my responsibility. Fortunately this didn't prevent me from taking advantage of the "two large loaves and ten rolls for $6.50" offer so I came away happy. The weather has continued in a wintery theme through most of the week, though Thursday and Friday afternoons were warm and sunny, and most of yesterday was lovely. Nicky and I sat in the sun and had lunch and read on the patio, and then Nicky took to the shade of the lounge while I did my first sunbathing of the season. Today has been back to rain. Hey-ho. The rest of the week has been fairly routine. Nicky as busy as ever at Ranui; Claire has had her last week of lectures; and I have had a little Mac work. It has felt like quite a busy week ...

I suppose today must be special in some way as it is 10-10-10, but I don't think it has any magical properties. It has been a quiet and routine week, especially on the work front. Nicky has been busy though it has not been such a hectic week due to the school holidays. She has had a couple of training sessions in Henderson which have added a little variety. Claire has completed he final assignment for this semester. She has a test next week during her final week of lectures, and then three exams finishing in early November. I have had some Mac work too, so it has not been a bad week. On Wednesday evening Nicky and Claire walked round to the Community Centre to see Shani in a school holiday production. Other family members have seen it too at other times (the Moss-Masons on Saturday - they called into see us after the show). Our biggest news this week has been the local election, for a Mayor for the new "supercity" and all the Council and Board seats. All the voting has be...

I am multi-tasking while writing this weeks' blog - chatting with Kev in England on Facebook. This is a first for me, not being a big Facebook user. Nicky has been suffering with a bad cold which started last weekend, so she took Monday and Tuesday off work, but went back on Wednesday partially because she had run out of sick leave. The library has been quieter than expected with the schools being on holiday. Claire has been as busy as ever with her studies and I have been out and about doing some Mac work too. I took her up to Uny on Wednesday to do a job on the North Shore. We have had a quiet week socially. Clem and Pat called for a few minutes on Friday evening. Shani is in a show which is on at the BHB community centre. Nicky and Claire are going to see it next week. Nicky went to a quitting day yesterday and today we had John and Ann Mynott over for lunch. They are an English couple who Nicky has me through church. It was pleasant and relaxing especially with a lunchtime bott...