Well, I had a half day off yesterday to collect my parents from the airport. I went home and got Toby from school then we went home and we got the TV room ready for guests. It looks pretty good I must say. I bought a curtain rail and I finally hung the cream curtain Mike ’s Mum made for it.


My parents were pleased to be finished their travelling – they were pretty tired. There was a massive hail storm at about 10pm last night (I went out to look and it was big chips of ice instead of the usual little balls) and it didn ’t rouse them from their room. I wonder if they were already asleep?

I have a release tonight so I ’ll be late home. I think Toby will get collected from After School Care by Mum and Dad at about 4pm.

Have a good day!

My weekend was a constant string of losing and forgetting things. But, for all that, it was a good weekend. Mike went to the local pub after work with colleagues and got home in fine form on Friday night. He found Toby and I snuggled up in bed watching some cartoons. I slept on the couch as when the boys fell asleep, I got up to go to the toilet and there was no space left in the bed. I wanted to wake at midnight for the opening ceremony of Beijing anyway, so I found some blankets and slept on the couch. However, I woke with a start at 3.55am. Oops. I went to wake Toby (he wanted to watch the games) and he said sleepily “No thank you Mummy. Tell me all about it later. ”. So I watched the last 40 mins or so.


Saturday morning I took Toby to swimming as Mike was a little tender after the slight excesses the night before. Toby did very well. He had a new instructor and despite the freezing conditions outside he happily splashed about in the pool.

Then we were back home for lunch at Tom ’s house. We watched the condensed version of the opening ceremony and enjoyed soup.

In-between social times we unpacked book boxes and filled up shelves in the TV room. Mike has everything necessary to attach the bookcases to the walls now so that might be tonight ’s job.

Sunday we went for morning tea to Sarah and Hamish ’s house and Toby played with Ryan. Then we went home and Mike and Toby made chocolate pudding while I unpacked more boxes. Then we hurtled off to Tawa for lunch for Anthony ’s birthday. During pudding Kara rang Mike ’s phone and caused major chaos as I remembered I was supposed to be at a concert with her in Wellington . Eeeeek. Mike and I hurtled out the door leaving Toby there, but then we abandoned the idea of me making the concert.

So, we had a leisurely end to the meal and we went home. Mike hired a trailer and we swapped our single bed for Hannah ’s double bed for Mum and Dad to use. My body is now officially broken from the estimated 500kg of book boxes I moved at the weekend. And then I had to take all the books out of the bookcases and get Mike to lift them while I put wedges under them to make them lean back into the wall. So, can I say I have moved a 1000kg of books this weekend? Well, that ’s how my body feels!

The ride in was lovely this morning. Clear skies, dry roads and double gloves! My fingers stayed warm despite the chill.

Ok. Time to get started.

I am wearing my black merino NZ Olympic supporter top right now. Come on NZ! I might even contemplate staying up past midnight to watch the opening ceremony for a while. What fun!

I enjoyed the play last night so if anyone has the chance to see Bombshells (a one woman show) then I ’d say head along. I laughed so much I was crying and had a sore tummy afterwards. It was the slide show that did me in (the slide of the mattress leaning against the wall set me off into giggle land!) in one of the skits. Kara and I also enjoyed dinner at Finc near the WCC building. It was very good and they do breakfasts that look superb. I will try to arrange a brunch there one Sunday soon!

I can ’t wait for the clock to get to the end of the day today. It ’s been a long week and I feel slightly manic at the thought of two days off. My work colleagues seem to be either keeping their distance or enjoying my company more than usual (and not just Mike for the latter option either!), depending on whether they think I ’m dangerous or crazy.

Time to get stuck in before lunch. I think I can get my latest screen change implemented in time!

We have started filling bookcases. It might take some time! The green room is still very full and it is difficult to get to the boxes still. We also need some washers so we can attach the webbing and secure the bookcases to the wall.


Toby is very good and sleeping well. He had a good morning playing on his DS and challenging his Dad. Mike made us pancakes for breakfast, so it was a great start to the morning.

Today is logistics day. We drove in because we have a 1630 – 1730 meeting and we need to get to Toby by 1800. So it seemed the easiest way. Mike will also use the car to drop Toby ’s passport application off at the UK Embassy. And I have a cultural evening planned with Kara going to a play. So, all good.

It is a lovely day here this morning. No wind and blue, blue skies!

We now have 4 empty bookcases crying out to be loaded with our lovely books. Mike wants to attach them to the wall so we may get around to doing that tonight. Then we can start to fill them. How exciting. Mike was asleep early last night – left over effects from his migraine I expect.


The ride in this morning was lovely. The sunrise was almost lurid in its colours. Reds, yellows, oranges and a bit of purple. The roads were dry and I rode like the wind (well, in my own head I did).

Toby has his new New Zealand passport. It just arrived on my desk! Very good news! We can actually leave the country with him at the moment once again. Roll on overseas holidays (more wishful thinking just a product of my own mind!).

Ok. Time to start the day. Weetbix was good, tea was even better. Now if I can get this new screen to behave itself we ’ll be right

Mike went home at lunch time yesterday with a beauty of a migraine. It ’s a shame for him. He slept in our darkened bedroom until I went to bed about 9pm. He said he felt a bit better by then, but he ’s still fragile this morning.


I built two bookcases after putting Toby to bed. We just need some webbing to bolt them all to the wall in the event of an earthquake and so they won ’t fall and squash someone sleeping under them. Eeeek! Then I can fill them up and get rid of loads of book boxes.

I can see a bit of blue sky out there. Not too bad at all.

What a splendid weekend – mainly because we had no DIY to do at all. I took Toby to his swimming lesson on Saturday morning (he played up a bit because he said the pool was too cold for him – maybe he needs some thermals on in the pool!) and we played with wee Tom in the park afterwards. It was great fun. Next week I need to remember the money for a hot chocolate! Oops. Toby and I got home at about 11.30am and we had lunch. Toby had a play date arranged with Jonathan so we dropped him off there. The carpet men came back on Saturday afternoon to finish the two bedrooms off (they were only there a short time) while Mike and I went out to look at sofa beds. I think we have found one we like so we ’d better order it. It takes 2 months as we want a colour other than their stock colour.


Toby came back home at about 4pm, and we got dinner ready and replaced most of Toby ’s furniture. The Tabors arrived at 6pm for dinner and the rugby. I ’m very glad it was a good performance from the All Blacks. Duncan and Emerson slept over (I think this might have been their first sleep over at anyone ’s place) and although they all ended up in the lounge watching the rugby with us, they did all fall asleep there. So, we turned off the TV and went to bed after their parents left.

Sunday was a better day. We got some blue sky for the first time in ages. People were going mad. The beach was packed (no one was swimming you understand – just enjoying the sunshine). We went round to Sally and Andrew ’s house for Bichan lunch which was a lot of fun! Toby was very happy to be there. After that, Mike, Toby and I went to the zoo. And we had a ball. After the shocking weather the animals were out and about soaking up the sun. We got close ups of the tigers, male lions (eating half a sheep each), zebras and various other beasts. Then the best bit was (well, after Toby met Evan from his class and played on the jeep) was when we got to the giraffe house. The keeper arrived and we were the only ones there watching the 3 giraffes eating some branches and leaves. So we got to feed them carrots, apples and pellets. It was great fun. They were so gentle taking the offered food. Their lips and tongues were very dextrous.

Back home and Mike and Toby headed off to McDonalds for dinner while I ate yummy leftovers from the rugby dinner. And I fished out all of the bookcase bits and we ’ve built one! Ta dah! Not a lot of bookcase building has gone on, but it has started! Tonight another one of two and maybe even some emptying of boxes! Very exciting!

Have a great week.