Rick, Nicky and Claire in NZ

And so we reach the end of July. Nicky has had another full and busy week at work, but a quieter social week, just going out on Monday night to her church outreach prayer group. Claire has been getting into full swing with her studies, and with her new position at Whitcoulls. Both of them have continued to battle with their colds and are improving but still not 100% Claire had a bit of a set back on Friday as I encouraged her to go to the doctor to get her chest listened too and he (? I think) felt that the infection may have triggered her asthma again. She has been free of this for about 7 years so it is a disappointment. We don't have a long term prognosis yet. The bulk of my activity this week has been as Tour Guide for John, which has been good fun. The weather wasn't brilliant on Monday (cold and wet), and John was still feeling challenged with his cold, so it was the afternoon before we ventured into town on the bus. We walked down Queen Street and then onto the Maritime ...

or the Come and Go house. For those of you who don't get the Harry Potter reference, see the Order of the Phoenix, chapter 18 Dumbledore's Army, page 343 in the UK edition. The week began with wonderful weather. The clear skies and gorgeous sunshine of Sunday continued throughout Monday and Tuesday. When Claire and I returned from the airport after collecting Rachel Rhodes on Tuesday it was 28°C in the lounge - all due to the free heat from the sun. It got cloudier and turned to rain by the end of the week, but it's not to bad for winter time. Rachel was making her final visit to us after having an excellent couple of weeks in Fiji. She came back for just one night to have a roast chicken dinner and collect her skis. This thoroughly confused the immigration officers at the airport both on arrival and departure as her visa expired on Wednesday, and they couldn't understand why she came into the country for just one day. She claimed it was just because of her skis, but I ...

One way and another, it has been a bit of a week. Monday: Quite a sunny day. Cool but fresh. Nicky at work. Claire (health now improving) pottering about and going off to the National Archive near the airport for what turned out to be a very positive visit. Nice people, interesting place, good advice. Possible post-University career. Me back to the Doctor. Finished the last of my second batch of antibiotics on Sunday night, but my cyst had been leaking again over the weekend. Third course of antibiotics prescribed. In the afternoon I went into town to take some pictures for the photo competition as the sun set. Had great fun doing the Ferry Building and a few other "Auckland Icons". Got back home and had pizza which Claire had made for us before going off to the camera club monthly meeting. Tuesday: Not quite as sunny, more showers, colder. Nicky at work again and her last night of doing desserts at for the Alpha course at Church. Claire running erands including going into wo...

This week has been quieter than last, which as been fortuitous as we have not been enjoying the best of health. Nicky started with a cold over the weekend but it didn't really take hold until Monday, which she took off, along with Tuesday. She popped into the library first thing each morning to manage the Maori language week display which she was responsible for, and went back to work on Wednesday. This didn't last as she was vomiting so I brought her home at lunchtime. Thursday and Friday she managed at work but is still under the weather. Claire has also been unwell. She started the week having a couple of good and relaxing days but came down with an infection on Wednesday so hasn't been to work this week. It was really odd having her at home on Saturday, but in a nice way. She was perking up by the afternoon so Ryan came over and picked her up. I was discharged by the District Nurse on Wednesday lunchtime, and Thursday was good. Friday I didn't feel quite so bright a...

What with one thing and another it has been a busy week. On Tuesday Rachel Rhodes, a school friend of Claire's, arrived again (she has been to stay with us before - she has been working in Queenstown for a year as part of her degree). Her flight was delayed due to a mechanical problem with the plane so she didn't arrive until early evening, and went straight off again with Claire to a pub quiz. During conversation on Wednesday evening we discovered that Rachel really likes roast dinners and hasn't had one for ages, so on Thursday I went and bought a lovely piece of beef, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Rachel and Claire had a quick trip to Mission Bay for ice creams on Thursday before Claire went off to work, and then on Friday had the morning out at Dress Smart followed by a good lunch at a café in Mangere, while also enjoying the sunshine. Rachel departed for Fiji on Saturday so Nicky and I took her to the airport and we all had a wander round for awhile. It took Nicky and I...