Is spring springing?

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It's back to normal then, now the Olympics are over. Only fours years to wait for the next one.

Our weather seems to be getting into a bit of a routine (3rd consecutive week) of being OK during the week but giving us a tropical storm for the weekend. This weekend's storm has only just (Sunday evening) got to us, as yesterday was a lovely day here. It is starting to feel spring-like, and the spring flowers are starting to appear. I can't help but feel that winter has a little reminder in store for at some point though.

Work has been as busy as ever for Nicky, and I have had a couple of Mac jobs and a modelling job, along with my other duties. On Friday Nicky had a meeting at the Auckland Central Library, and I had one in the Otago University building on Queen Street, so we drove into town together. This gave me plenty of time to sit in the sunshine in my shirt sleeves on the waterfront to eat my lunch, before having a gentle wander round the older shopping streets behind Queen Street, by which time it had clouded over.

One of my favourite selection of balconies in town:


Nicky was working late on Friday, which gave her time for a hearing test first thing in the morning. This didn't reveal any surprises, but did quantify her level of hearing loss, which is particularly noticed at work. We go back again this week of discussion of options, but which ever way you cut it, auditory assistance is going to be expensive.

Today we have hosted a family gathering for Becky who is returning to Guernsey for some months to be with her mum Netta. We don't expect to see Becky again until next year and are very pleased that Netta has had two very happy trips to NZ since Becky arrived. 

The gathered hoards prepare to feast:

Tai:


Due to this gathering, which we all seemed to enjoy, Nicky and I spent yesterday doing laundry, ironing and cooking, though some reading managed to squeeze itself into the schedule too.

We didn't make it to Mary's funeral which was on Friday, as we only learned of the arrangements on Thursday evening, but other members of the family attended. This, and the hearing tests, made Friday quite a difficult day for us.

Both of us are still getting over the after effects of the lurgey. Even though we are feeling better, progress is slow as our energy levels are still low and we are getting more tired than usual. 

Finally, it is exactly five years ago today, Sunday August 19th 2007, that we had our last party at Park Road. It rained then too.

Take care, Rick

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