Pictures of a rural barrister/solicitor

Not bad for a poor person, I’ve eaten out three times in four nights, that’s almost a year’s allocation of dining out!! I was in Auckland for training on Wednesday night and, as usual we went to the Thai Village in Remuera, a real gem of a place but we must start to expand our horizons a bit and eat elsewhere. Training was good, I usually leave those days stressed to the eyeballs and never quite sure why, but this week was good. Thursday was Alice’s birthday and she wanted a family dinner out. Mom and Daddy joined us and we went to Nick’olas, not sure that’s quite right, in Matamata. We hadn’t been there before and I thought it was a pizzahut type place but it was much better than that. Very nice pizzas and Harriette’s venison burger was divine, chunks of real venison and foccaccia bread. The colour scheme was very different and had us discussing the merits or otherwise. I was a bit reticent about the nautical corner, nice but didn’t feel right in Matamata, heart of dairy farming country and an hour from any coastline.

Anyway….. Yesterday was the big day, Eric’s Bar Admission. His moving counsel was Kit, a Hamilton lawyer who had taught Eric on his Professionals course during one of his ‘residential’ weeks. We appeared at his office for Eric to gown up. Gosh it did feel strange to see him in the full regalia. Actually it was the tiny bibs that made the biggest difference. He looked very uncomfortable. Unfortunately, at the start of the proceedings his wig slipped as he bowed and he sat through the ceremony with it squiff! (or, as Eric says ‘worn at a rakish angle’!!!) Straightened up for photos though. I was a bit disappointed with the whole thing, the ceremony was short but that was OK. I just think they would have put a tea or something on afterwards, after all some of these people could have had 2 hours travel to get there and I am sure parents may have come from much further a field if their children had moved away to uni. The outside of the building could do with a lick of paint so is not a brilliant backdrop for photo’s either, and it being white and the day being sunny was a further hindrance to good piccies. We plan to take some more formal looking ones today (too tired when we got back last night). There was a photographer in court for the signing piccies etc. I just hope that he had the sense to notice if the wig was squiff before he took Eric’s, unlike the photographer at Eric’s graduation. The collar on Eric’s gown was sitting incorrectly and the photographer did not point this out before snapping. Quite disappointing especially when it is someone like Eric who is such a perfectionist when it comes to formal attire (difficult to contemplate when you see him trekking around the paddocks in work clothes and gummies!!). Juliet and Kev joined us and afterwards we went to a bar for a drink then on to Gengy’s for supper. Brilliant news is that Kev has a job as head auditor for a hotel group so lots of travel for him, and the best bit is it’s working from home. Needless to say they were both far more relaxed that when we last saw them. Gengy’s is not quite what I would have planned for such an occasion but we didn’t really plan anything really as we were not sure who from Eric’s course would be there and what they would do afterwards. As it was there was only one other person from his group being admitted and so we did our own thing. We also had H and A with us and Kev picked up Hannah and Emma so we had 4 children in tow. So Gengy’s it was and we had a nice afternoon/evening. On the job front, Eric had a “chat” with a local solicitor last week and is going back for another “chat” Monday morning with both the partners this time. They tried to get him in this week but the only time they could come up with fell into the only 2 hours that Eric absolutely could not make as he was in a meeting. So we have fingers, toes and everything else crossed for next week. No worrying about what one wears for a ‘chat’ this time as he will be at work so will pitch up in work boots, shorts and a polo shirt!
Big piccies as they are very important!!!




What else has been news? Harriette’s birthday was on the 3rd (can’t remember if I’ve blogged this). We finally agreed to the mobile phone so gave her money for this. She also got queen-sized bed linen for her bed, which we are awaiting delivery of (we have decided to buy both the girls queen sized beds to give us more flexibility with visitors when we have more than one couple staying). Mind you we have a distinct lack of visitors of late, anyone fancy a trip down under? You’d be very welcome.

You may recall the sleepover ban I installed either last year or the year before, and obviously I relented as Harriette had one for her birthday (strict conditions applied regarding who could come - adhered to, and what time they could watch videos until - flouted flagrantly!!). Well having relented for H I had to for A. We said A could only have 2 guests and one of them is already at a birthday party so it is just Alice and Grace tonight. That can’t be too onerous – can it!!!

Well I must get up and do something, not sure what yet, I think I may pull up the hydrangea outside the cottage.