I'm back. Michelle that is.
I picked Harriette up on my way back from Auckland and knew it had been a bad morning when she told me she only had sandwiches in her lunchbox! One of the rules in this house is that the girls pack their lunchboxes in the evening (minus sandwiches which Eric or I, OK Eric usually, does late evening or early morning). In the morning adding anything else is only allowed if they have time. Going to school with just sandwiches means a) they didn't do it the night before and b) they were rushed/late/behind in the morning. Eric filled me in when I got home and it is apparent that there was all out war in the Tanner residence this morning! I'd like to say 'Glad I was in Auckland' but that would only be partly true.
I have to go to Auckland for 2 days every 2 months. The first day is for our Regional Meeting and the second for training. This time we had to stay for a 3rd day for a powhiri (pronounced Po-for-ri) or Welcome. IMAC has moved from it's 2 sites in central Auckland to the Tamaki Campus of Auckland University. It is a brand new campus built for post-graduates on the site of the old Commonwealth village. I gather that NZ hosted the Commonwealth games in the past. It's actually in a pretty grotty area of Auckland but it was nice to be back in that acaedemic environment. But I digress. IMAC has to be formally welcomed onto the campus and this was due to happen today. However the dean is in Australia so it was cancelled. We, ie us lot who had traveled up from the Midland Region, stayed overnight last night anyway for a mornings computer training.
Wednesday I dropped Bloo off at Hamilton Airport on my way up to Auckland. I think he appreciated the time non-travelling. We had our meeting in the rather nice hotel we were staying in and in the evening, before supper, I went for a 40 minute walk round Panmure Basin, an inlet of Aucklands extensive and very convoluted coastline. It took about 40 minutes and was frequented by many walkers, joggers etc. They have a fitness trail will lots of sit-up, pull up and other methods of torture points. I just walked!! It was quite lovely I must say. The sun was setting on a beautiful day and there were storms somewhere as there was a rainbow. The cloud formations were very dramatic.
I was sharing with another English girl with whom I clash with terribly. I find her intolerant and rude. I'm sure she has equally horrible things to say about me! I do try extra hard to be chatty with, and nice to her as we work on the same team and I don't want to create bad feeling for all the others but we always seem to end up falling out! I do hope I don't have to share a room with her again in a hurry. It made the whole time there quite stressful. We did our best to keep out of each others way, dining at different times etc.
Thursday we had training all day at the campus. It was pretty full on and my brain ached by late afternoon. What a good idea it was of one of the Auckland girls to adjourn to the bar, conveniently sited next door to IMAC's base, for drinky poo's. It was just what we needed but meant it was dark by the time we got back to the hotel and therefore we did not do our usual walk. An early supper and then I retired to read my book whilst ensconced in a deep, hot bath. (Another Jodi Piquoult - Plain Truth)
Back to Tamaki for computer training this morning with several colleagues in the car and heaps of luggage. Luckily I managed to get out of the airport run as I was staying on to sort a few computer problems with our computer bod Rodney.
Auckland is a city of contrasts. The beautiful coast line and far,far too much traffic, gorgeous and unusual architecture (mainly in the houses) and grotty industrial areas. As city's go (world-wide I mean) I think it's one of the better ones. Eric doesn't like it.
It was so nice to get home. After collecting Harri we went through to get Alice who ran across the playground yelling 'Mummy, Mummy' with her arms out! I was going to walk this evening but could not persuade anyone to go with me, so instead I fed the pigs with Eric and ambled across the paddock to commune with the cows. They moo-ed frantically and dashed across to chat to me over the gate. I'd like to think they were pleased to see me but I guess I have to admit that they just thought I might give them some extra silage. Sorry cows!
Alice has gone off to the Hinuera disco. She looked gorgeous, not dress-wise particularly,but her face was glowing and she had her hair in scrunchy buns. I wish I'd taken a photo. I do worry a little when she goes, she always seems to come back upset that no-one asked her to dance, or she fell out with a friend that I wonder why she goes back. Fingers crossed things will be better tonight (I say that every time).
Oh well, I've altered Harriette's netball skirt ready for her first match tomorrow and am now off to shower and bed.
Night night all.
Michelle
xoxoxox
No comments:
Post a Comment