Bits and Pieces

Big news from the UK is that Eric's sister Alex has married Dave in Mauritius. We have a lovely photo take on the beach and look forward to hearing all about it. (I'll put piccie on when I get their permission). Many congratulations guys. Eric and I always planned an exotic wedding, in bermuda shorts and outrageous shirts (well Eric and Stan anyway) at Victoria Falls. The earlier than planned arrival of H put paid to that and we finally got there with me 7 months pregnant and a 10 month old baby in tow!!

The human neighbours have moved in so we will be seeing lots of changes across the paddocks in the coming months. Ian popped round today to say the contractor will be in tomorrow and did we need anything doing? We will possibly get the stream dug out between 2 of the back paddocks, it has needed doing for ages, along with a heap of other things around here.

Hamilton gardends at the weekend again. The sustainable living talks were not very interesting, aimed more at getting city folk to think about the stuff we are already doing to the nth degree, composting, gowing veg, recycling etc. The Art Festival was very good with lots of stalls. The girls also wanted to go to a childrens pantomine performed in the English garden. It was aimed at very young kids but the jokes and acting were so bad it was actually very funny! We then had a picnic whilst listening to a fantastic blues duo on the lakeside. H and I loved it, Eric didn't (he has very little soul when it comes to music) and Alice thought it was OK. Actually I am quite impressed with the range of music H likes. She is really a child of the 70's I think liking Mike Oldfield, The Carpenters (whom we all love to hate and I defy any of you not to admit to singing along with the dearly departed Karen!!), Kate Bush etc and she is very into Westside Story at the moment. Mom and Daddy bought her the dvd and script for Xmas. Needless to say she knows all the parts now. She was delighted to find out that this will be the first movie they are going to study at school in moving imagery. I don't envy her teacher!!

I am only doing a few hours work today. I have ongoing problems with my back this year and this morning it was an enormous struggle to get up. I then had to hang onto the walls to walk, and had a gait similar to someone who had had a stroke. And the pain was terrible. I have been putting off going to the physio but have got quite a fright now and made an appointment for tomorrow. Thank heavens for brufen which has made it possible for me to at least move around. Without it I would have had to stay in bed all day.

Well I must go and stretch.

Oh I took these photos after seeing Mrs Tiggy ambling up the drive outside the dining room.