Who's Who

Long ago I promised to do this. Here it is:

Michelle – 40 something. Main writer of this blog. Has nursed for 27 years now in the UK, S. Africa and NZ. Now working from home as an Immunisation Co-ordinator. Aspires to live the Good Life and is nearly there. Just the necessary full-time job that gets in the way!

Eric – 30 something and Michelle’s husband. Attended Duke of Yorks Royal Military School in Kent and is therefore an ex- ‘Dukie’. Ex-police officer in the UK, retired after being shot, and a law graduate from Kent at Canterbury Uni. Currently jumping through loops for the NZ legal education council in an attempt to qualify as a lawyer. Working part-time as an Animal Control Officer in the meantime.

Hax aka Harriette aka 'The Evil One' – 11 year old daughter of the above. Intelligent and hard to live with at times (hence the Evil One)!

Alice aka Licey Lou. Stan's Pwincess – 10 year old daughter of the above. Horse mad.

Stan – Ex-Dukie. Great advocate of blog. aka (also known as) Paul, Queenie, Stin, Big Man and lots more. Stan is…..unique! May emigrate to NZ … one day?!

Carol – aka Cx, Briggsy. Carol worked with Stan in the Mets. Came to NZ in pursuit of horses on a career break and in a round about way ended up living with us. Part of the family. Now back in the UK (for awhile at least).

Ma and Pa Smith – Michelle’s Mom and Dad. Have visited twice and now hoping to emigrate to NZ.

Milky – aka Bridget. We met through blog. Well Stan found her and she is now an integral part of this world. Bridget is a kiwi planning her big OE. She also lived with us for a while during a difficult patch.

Milky’s Mum – Bridget’s Mum!

Richard and Robyn – our very dear friends who live nearby and whom we see lots of. Dairy farmers who work too hard!

Sarah and Kathryn – daughters of the above and good friends of Harriette and Alice.

Helen and Phil – ‘new’ friends who have recently emigrated to NZ from the UK with sons Tom and George.

Bloo – aka Stuart. Ex-Dukie somewhat younger than those mentioned above. Bloo has done his OE and took refuge here for awhile. Currently living back in Fleet, but not for long I feel.

Hx – Helen. Does not qualify as an ex-dukie as she is the wrong sex, but is in that crowd by virtue of attending a local girls boarding school with which Dukes had strong ties. Lives in London.

Cheryl (and Mark) – friends from the UK. Occasional visitors to NZ with children Myles and Laura. May emigrate in the long term?

Claire – fairly regular reader I believe, but infrequent commenter! A dear friend from the UK whom I met when our children were in nursery together in Folkestone. Awaiting baby No 5. Will this be another girl?!?!

Louise – a dear friend from a million years ago. Louise and Michelle trained together in Kent in the 70’s and although contact is infrequent she remains very dear.

Hels and Chris – Eric and Chris did their law degree together. They have visited us briefly and we hope to see them back one day.

Emma, Katie and Lily – nieces and special.

Sean Veasey – ex-Dukie.

Brian Griffiths – ex-Dukie from a while before Eric’s time. Lives in NZ now.

Fred – recent addition to blog readership. See his blog. It’s hilarious!


If you're name is not there please comment and I'll add it.

Had a busy weekend. Saturday I went to a colleagues house somewhere between Tauranga and Katikati to drop some stuff off for work. She lives in a house built from bricks made in a little brick works in the paddocks. It was a lovely place, with quite an English cottagey feel. Then took H and A into Tauranga to buy clothes. Finally found a pair of jeans to fit Alice. I managed to pursuade her that the rolled up look was 'in' (which is actually true) and avoided turning up 6" of denim.

Sunday Helen and Phil, along with Phils parents, came over for tea and ended up staying to supper. Roast pork, cauliflower, broccoli and rhubarb crumble all care of our own production with the exception of the new potatoes (mine aren't ready yet) and the oxo cubes for the gravy. I don't know why I bother to invite them for 'tea' or 'coffee', they always end up eating the next meal here!! Helen starts a new job today as the key person in a Maori organisation. Hope it all goes well Helen. I will be watching her progress with interest! I will also be working with her from time to time.

Eric is still tired. I think he's playing on things a bit now!!!! He has had an excuse for not finishing the office walls (Harriette's side) as I had not got the paint. Bought it today and Eric was not impressed. It's called Wellywood and is luminescent green!!!

Alice came home from camp yesterday ate supper and asked if she could go to bed!! I am hoping she will do a blog entry about her escapades. Paul, the school principal, told me he was very impressed with Alice making it across the 3 wire bridge (the one I wrote about going across when Harriette was on music camp in March). She was terrified but made it. She enjoyed the archery most of all.

Carol is on South Island. She's obviously had a brilliant weekend with Murray and is calling in there on the way back. I can't believe she goes home next Wednesday and I know Carol believes it even less!!!

Harriette came out with something dorph this morning which warrants a blog entry. We are trying to remember what it is - where is Carol, she always remembers these things?