I have just lost a blog entry that took me an hour to write. I am none too impressed as you can imagine!

Put this into perspective though Michelle at least you have an income (small though it may be) which is more than can be said for others. We had the bad news this week that a friend had lost his job when the company he works for went into liquidation. They are devastated as you can imagine. Our heart goes out to them. When we received the news I was having a bad day (hormones!) and was on the verge of tears at not being able to locate a permission form Harriette needed signing for school camp. Again - perspective!

We have been to R+R's today choosing calves again. On the way back to the car I spotted an elegant, but slightly dirty, vanity case on the quad! I immediately had visions of Robyn applying lippy or styling her hair while whizzing across the paddock on the quad (the latter would be difficult as she always has a beanie on when working). I picked it up and said to Robyn 'and this?' she laughed and explained that it contained the emergency things for the cows. 'You should see Richard with it' she said. I can't wait!! Richard please don't rush out and buy a more macho looking bag, it would spoil my thoughts!!! I told you Robyn that this was worth a blog entry!

It's still raining. It's rained since Sunday.... 6 weeks ago!

Tuesday saw Miwa depart for the first leg of her homeward journey. We had a Sayonara party at Matamata College on Monday night. The students showed the kids a variety of Japanese games and how to write in Japanese, they then did some amusing skits, lovely singing and had a certificate presentation before a finger supper. I was freezing all evening. It must be me as others were in blouses and shirts and seemed quite comfortable. I, on the other hand, was hidden under layers of jumpers and still cold! On Tuesday we took Miwa in to catch her coach. She was sooo upset and cried. She kept delaying boarding the coach and just when we thought she'd go she'd hug us all again! Poor Miwa. After dropping Alice at school, very late, I drove down to Kawhia for a meeting with a GP there. You may remember we took the dogs there when we first got them and spent 2 hours walking on the beach which was deserted. Kawhia is tiny and the one GP does everything doctor nurse and midwife-wise. He is lovely and we had a good meeting. I had overestimated how long it would take me to get down there and finding I was going to be early diverted through the small Walter Scott scenic reserve. The weather was not brilliant (did I mention the rain?) and as I climbed and witnessed more and more sites of previous washouts I began to wish I was in the Mistral or Safari rather than my little Ford Laser. I survived the journey though and was rewarded with stunning views of both the interior and the majestic and craggy Kawhia harbour. I would have loved to have settled there when we first arrived had it not been so remote. I did take my camera but the battery died after one photo!

I mentioned choosing calves today. Well needless to say any process involving H and I would be stressful. Richard and Robyn had a few red white faces ( a Hereford Fresian cross, is called a white face, they are usually black but some are red) and H and A chose the ones they wanted. I pointed out to Robyn saying Alice would like this one and Harriette would like this one when Harriette announced that she wanted the one I had indicated for Alice. On telling her that she chose the other one, verified by 2 others, she threw a tantrum and burst into tears saying we were all wrong and THAT one was the one she wanted. I was so embarrassed. I sent her away and discussed with Alice whether she would consider a swap but Harriette's behaviour continued to be so outrageous that I told Alice she did not need to reconsider. She (H) was still stropping 2 hours later. I heard an interview with Linda Clark this morning on the radio. Linda was interviewing an African women who lived in Norway and had just writtena book on her life. At the age of 8 she had been forced into being a child soldier. She had killed more people than she could count and had two children as a result of the many rapes she had suffered. Now rebuilding her life and working a nursery teacher she said 'all European children should pray every day and give thanks for the lives they lead'!!!!!!!!! Am I being unreasonable? I ask myself (over and over and over again).

We are meant to be taking Kathrine and Sarah, A and H to the snow this weekend but will not be if this weather continues. Which virtually guarentees we won't be going. S and K have never seen snow!!! Rain Yes, Snow No. This morning (I've had a paperwork day) I walked down the drive to post some letters in our mailbox. There was a break in the weather. I stopped in on the piglets and flooded the stable with sunshine (not because of my presence you understand but the rare appearance of the shiny globe in the sky). Seeing that the sky looked pretty clear I left them with the door open and went back to work. Yes, you've guessed it, within an hour it was hosing down. I actually didn't need to go back down as the rain was belting in from behind the stable so they would be OK. The baby piggies now get out and wander into the paddock. They have wandered up to dad and it won't be long before they find the electric wire that runs at ground level on his fence. Those poor little piggy noses!!!!

Happy Birthday Ben. 17!!!! I can remember..... well perhaps we won't go into that!

2 hours of blogging is enough. I'm off to wash up. Night night.