Sunday morning and lying in bed at 9.30am!! Firstly late night, rugby (AB's v the Wallabies in the Tri-Nations - we lost, the first match that we have lost since the World Cup) and I had to finish my book (Harlan Coben 'No Second Chance' 8/10 about a child abduction and what you would do for you child and friends), secondly it's raining outside, and has done for days. So I have no incentive to move from this spot. Eric has to feed aminals but I don't so who knows when I'll shift. I was planning to phone Mom and Daddy but have just realised that it's 10.30pm there so will do that tonight.

Had an average week at work. FINALLY, got my payrise and backpay sorted out. The paperwork is completed now, just awaiting the cheque. On Wednesday Alice fell off her horse and on Thurday we went up to the Scotts to have a look at their bobby's and choose a calf. Of course, despite reading up on how to select a good calf ( www.lifestockimprovement.co.nz ) they still chose the weakest cutest looking one's. H in particular chose a yukky coloured thing. All the adults told her it did not look good including Bryce, Richards dad who had strolled down. We put feet down with heavy hands and said No (can't think who stroped - can you?) and said we'd have another look at the weekend, they would be having more red calves in the next day or 2. Since then both Sarah and Kathrine have phoned to announce the arrival of red bull calves (don't know if they were talking about the same or different ones). We will see this afternoon. It was good to catch up with R+R (actually we only saw Robyn), they are soooo busy so we keep a low profile at the moment. I'm looking forward to when calving finishes and we can have a good catch up.

On my various trips to Te Kuiti I met Helen, fairly newly emigrated from the UK. She was also a Health Visitor and is now working as a Public Health Nurse (what in the UK would be called a school nurse). Her husband Phil has struggled to get a suitable job, compounded, I feel, by the fact that he wants a career change and doesn't know what he wants to do. That (ie deciding on a career in the absence of a pull in any particular direction) must be hard enough when you are 17 but awful in your 40's). Anyway... a few weeks ago I invited Helen and her family over for tea and they came yesterday. I'm always a bit aprehensive when I do this. I knew Helen and I got on well but you never know how everyone else will get on. Well no worries, they are all lovely. Phil is a real 'London lad', down to earth, as they'd say here 'good value for money' which I think means good company. They have two boys Tom, a tall good-looking 15 year old and George 6yrs old and quite a character. Both boys were full of confidence and kept H, A and Miwa amused for the whole afternoon. In fact it was difficult to hear ourselves talk over all the hilarity at times, we must get folding doors to go in the wall between the living and dining rooms! There was a break in the weather shortly after they arrived so we took the oppertunity to do that walk you will be familiar with if you've ever been here, over the back and anticlockwise round the block. They had Chelsea, their 5 month old Weimarama, with them and she had a ball charging around with the boys. By the time we reached the stables the heavens opened again so we spent 45 mins or so clucking over the piglets. When we arrived all 13 were snuggled together with Olympia. It was so funny when she decided to feed them, 6 realised they were at the wrong milk bar and scurried over to Octavia but one was slow to cotton on and tried desparately to get let in. Mum gave him a talking to and he finally left for the correct pen. We had a real enjoyable afternoon. The kids got on famously and I was sorry to see them go. In fact we had to kick them out as Miwa had cooked us a Japanese meal for supper, Tempura, and was serving! Phil and Helen are thinking of moving to a place with a bit of land and I wouldn't mind betting that seeing Chelsea hurtling around the place would have added weight to that idea!! A lovely day.

Oh I suppose I'd better get up, Miwa is up and probably wondering if she'll ever get any breakfast and Eric has gone to feed aminals in a break in the rain and it is 10. 25am!! Enjoy the rest of your weekend