Mum's 83rd

Here's Mum at 83, on her birthday on January 28th. Love this eager shot of her and her great grandsons, who all have the same expression.

MOVING - again!

I am moving in the last weekend of February to this house in Yeovil Road. Steve has bought it, so at least I know the landlord! This will be the fourth house I've lived in within a very short radius of Springbank Lane in the last twelve years.
It's quite a bit smaller than the present one, but clean and tidy, and polished wooden floors.

The word for me this year is 'downsizing', and it is happening in all aspects of my life right now. I've had to tackle the assorted goods I've accumulated over the last 12 years, and get rid of as much as possible in order to fit the new space, and I've had to tackle the weight I've put on personally, which is affecting my health and fitness. Here's hoping for some radical change and my being able to cope with it!

It is now behind me, but definitely still within me.

Had a great time in Paris and London with Helen. My birthday celebrated in two places: Lyme Regis, and Paris on the Seine at night.
Best of all, meeting these delicious folks from USA, Holland, Bournemouth. It would be wonderful to go again when they hold another conference next year.

Bournemouth, London and Paris, here we come!

Helen and I about to head off on our adventure to Bournemouth/London/Paris for three weeks.
Can't wait. . . photos to follow.

Bunting

Getting the bunting started for Jem and Ian's wedding reception in October. A ways to go yet. . .

Enjoyed a family dinner around at Helen's last night - celebrating Phil being over here. Got a rare photo of us all together.
Helen's boys helped serve up.
The 'bigger' boys all waiting to be served.
At the table after dinner, having a shot taken on self timer.
Fitting into the little silver car afterwards.

Younger brother visits

Phil is over for three weeks from CA, and the four of us visited the movies at Westgate and enjoyed realigning ourselves so we ended up chronologically seated.


















Had my colours done recently, and adjusted hair colour accordingly.

Jeanette comes to stay

Jeanette Clarkin-Phillips came to stay for a couple of nights this week. Haven't seen Nettie for years, so we had a good catch up.
This was taken on the last night on my cellphone, which is why the quality is so bad.

Wellington Weekend April 29 - Royal wedding as well

I popped down to Wellington to visit Catherine Gardner.
This was a trip I made on Sunday afternoon, just checking
out where I used to live and the stations along the way.

The church goes camping over Easter

We are so few, that it is an easy matter to plan a camping trip for a few days over the long Easter weekend. We went to Muriwai, and found a sheltered valley, and gathered there in our tents and a caravan from Thursday to Monday.
It remained greyish throughout the days we were there, and only Helen and I, who stayed through to Monday, got wet and had to pack in showers.

A rich time had by all.

Pre-Easter Dinner party for four

April 16 was a dinner party here for John, and the Duncans. Hearing about the Hastings region cycle trip that Duncans took recently.

Checking out the Grandparent's homestead

I drove Mum, Dad and Helen down to Opaheke, outside Drury, for Dad to show Helen and I where the old homestead that we used to visit our grandparents was. This is Mum and I on Clark's beach afterwards, having a snack.

Above: Pre-wasps - still enjoying lunch on the side of a country road.
Below: Outside the homestead at the end of Opaheke Road.
Barely recognisable as the old house, which used to have a deep verandah around this corner.

To Clark's Beach, Pukekohe and back

Took a lovely long drive down South Auckland today, to the bottom of the Manukau harbour, and had lunch at Pukekohe. Then Helen and I found the sea - but the tide was out.
You could just see the Sky Tower in the distance - EVEN way down here.