Mike had another migraine last night after we went to the Tabor household to collect wee Toby. But he seems to have suffered no lasting ill effects from this one – probably because he was quick taking some medication. This is the third in two weeks though! Toby enjoyed the Tabor excursion – he hasn ’t been up there for a wee while. They have had visits from relatives and we ’ve been busy too.


So we took the bus this morning. My back was sore once more yesterday after the ride in. So a day off is probably a good thing.

I have planted half the plants I got from the Lewises for my birthday! Will do the others at the weekend. I hope they thrive!

Weekend plans? Swimming, Ron Bichan ’s lunch, rugby at the stadium – and that is just Saturday. Sunday Mike and I are off to Auckland at midday. I stay till Wednesday evening and Mike is back Thursday evening.

Not too shabby a morning – I heard the tuis chortling in the trees this morning. A lovely way to wake up. Mike and I rode in together and left Toby fast asleep. Grandy and Gramps will walk him into school. Aidan T will collect him at 1500 and take him home for dinner! We went out to Jessica ’s birthday party last night so wee Toby had a late night – especially for a school night.


My parents are going to borrow the car today and drive to their new place. I ’m not exactly sure what they are up to over there. Settlement is still Sept 5 th . We have left the car out and pointing down the hill, so no need for a hill start straight off for Dad!

Ok. Time to make a huge dent in my work!

We had a marvellous time up at Mt Ruapehu. We left at 1730 on Friday but everyone (mainly Toby) wanted Maccas at Paraparaumu so that added a bit of time to our journey up there. We arrived quite late (2230 was it?) and crashed into bed with good intentions of getting up at 6am. We finally left the accommodation at 9 or so and Mike, Toby and I had fun at Turoa. The few runs I managed to get in were wonderful. Toby played a lot in the learners area and used his toboggan quite a bit but the main event involved lots of snowball fights.


Sunday we all drove up to Turoa but the high winds had closed the field. So we drove the long way (oops – I cannot navigate around the central North Island – it just confuses me no end) to Tokaanu and soaked in a hot pool for a while.

Monday we all went to Whakapapa and we set Toby back by trying to make him ski down from halfway because we had no idea Happy Valley existed – perfectly set up for doting grandparents to watch their learner grandson and ensconce themselves in a café. Now we know that exists, Whakapapa is the ski area of choice. Toby had a lesson on Monday and another one on Tues. His Monday lesson was with 8 other 5 year olds but Tuesday saw him the only young one in the lesson. So he got a one hour one-on-one lesson and can now turn with some prompting (point your pizza where you want to go – and he turns!).

Mum and Dad found the accommodation lacking. There was a strange incident with the chilly bin (the staff emptied the fridge in one wing and thought we ’d left and consumed the contents of our chilly bin) and the sound proofing is not great. Mike, Toby and I slept like logs though. But that might have something to do with skiing all day! They were pleased to see what skiing is all about and I think their overriding sense was why do we bother. Mike gave me lessons on skiing on Monday as we spent most of the day skiing together and I had an absolute ball! Mike kicked up his skiing to another level with these carving skis and he looked great. Now I have even further to try and ski as well as him!

Mike also tried out his new snowboard he bought in Tahoe. He says he has some work to do to get it to work well (more training on the bike and loads more hours on the board). I can ’t wait to head back up. There is so much snow! Maybe another long weekend mid Sept?

Ok. Time to see what I ’ve missed in the last two day here at work.

Woo hoo! It is Friday and we ’re all very excited. We ’re off to Ruapehu for 4 days of skiing fun. The weather may not be playing nicely. It is supposed to snow each day. Tuesday is southerlies and gales. Nice. Still, we have our togs for the hot pools.


I have a life event that I have achieved as of yesterday afternoon. We now own a Thule roofbox for the car. Somehow, I almost feel life is complete. What other goals can I set now? They are all paling into insignificance. Heheheheheh.

I attended a rather late, and a little boring, Microsoft session last night. And when we got home (Mike collected me) we packed all our stuff and now it is in a pile by the door. We fell into a heap in bed.

We caught the bus this morning. We have to head home at 1600 and pack the car up and head off!

What an absolutely gorgeous morning. My parents have practically bought a house and I think settlement is Sept 5 th . I supervised (in a very loose sense as I did fall asleep before Benjamin) Benjamin last night while Vivienne and John went out to a movie John desperately tried to convince me to attend rather than him. I watched Olympic coverage from a warm couch and woke when Ramble went upstairs and Benjamin sneezed! Heheheheheh. Toby had Gramps on lunchtime duty yesterday and while Toby enjoyed the attention, I think Gramps is decidedly ambivalent about supervising a playground full of exuberant children.

So, I drove in today after dropping off Toby (hence the latish start to the day) because we may be buying a rooftop box for the car. We shall see. I was also going to bring in my snowboard for a tune and wax but Mike ’s assessment said it was fine.

Kara had some bad news last night – she is up at the mountain skiing. Her dog, Pitch, died at the kennels! She is very upset. We will see her at the weekend if she is still up there. It may be difficult to console her.

I have my cup of tea and about to start the day in earnest after winning the 5 minute quiz this morning!

What a beautiful morning. Mike and I left at the same time this morning because Mike has an early morning meeting. My parents were left to do the Toby morning duty. I just rang them and everything is going well. It seems they may make an offer on a townhouse some time today. We shall see what happens.


Tonight one of us (probably me) will go and supervise Benjamin and Ramble while John and Vivienne paint the town red (John has a work function on) so I am looking forward to that. I ’m not sure of the time I am expected there yet, but if it isn ’t too late, maybe Benjamin can take Ramble out for a short walk while I tag along. Or too cold. Or too wet. I can think up loads of excuses. ;-)

I must order some groceries for the weekend too. How exciting. We ’re off for 4 days of skiing fun!

Better get stuck in.

Well, it has been a week of bus riding now – I think I am officially soft. But the weather doesn ’t look very nice out there despite the dry roads. The wind is cold and although the sun is shining, there is little warmth in it.


Mum and Dad are off to view another house today in the same complex as the one they currently like – in Ngaio.

Toby went to sleep last night like he was in a coma. Not a peep out of him. I left the boys upstairs and getting ready. I think Mike will walk or drive Toby to school and let his teacher know we ’re away Mon and Tues next week.

Ok. Time for a tea.