Visitors Again

We have visitors again. Alex is the son of my long time friend Nicky whom I did my first degree with. Nicky has more than her fair share of boys aged from about 6 to about 24. Alex is travelling with his friend Ted and they are in NZ for 3 months. They are based here but planning to travel and do some work. I organised yesterday for them to do some fruit picking on our friends Steve and Liz's farm in Hawkes Bay so they'll be heading off there late next week.The most exciting news we have had for a long time is that Mark and Cheryl, again long time friends (you get a lot of these as you get older!!) whom we met in the early 80's through Mandy and David, are emigrating to NZ. Mark and Cheryl have 2 children and live in Derbyshire. They are most most generous people I know and we love them to bits. Cheryl works ridiculous long hours as a high flying PA constantly spreading herself across UK cities and often abroad. She works between Nottingham and London and is a mum in her spare time!! I think she is looking forward to eing able to focus more on the latter role. They are on a reccie visit in April, which they have managed to time to co-incide with Mandy's second marraige to Ken and Olivers 18th. Olivers is Mandy's middle child and Cheryls godson. All great timing. M+C are staying with us until the wedding then heading off to Whakatane to suss out schools/houses etc. Although M+C have had a few trips out here and we stayed with them when we visited the UK it will be great to have them closer and be able to see them a lot more often.I am sitting in bed with the house reeking of Ylang Ylang which I am burning to mask the smell of very burnt popcorn. We are planning to hire Quantum tonight so I needed to watch Casino Royale last night to remind myself of how it ended. In the break Harriette decided to make popcorn. Despite me saying don't let it burn she decided to go to the loo whilst it was cooking. Burnt is an understatement and despite putting the pot outside the house still reeks this morning.Last weekend I had to take Alice into Hamilton to meet up with friends for a girlie shopping trip. These 14 year olds all looked totally gorgeous and had a great time. Robyn had been the other chauffer so we had a long sushi lunch and did some shopping of our own. I pointed out that despite being very good friends for several years now we have never been shopping together! It was very pleasant. This weekend is Harriette’s turn. She wants to shop for a dress for the annual school ball and another one for the wedding. I have to man a stand for Victim support (I am on the local committee) at the local flea market this morning so will take Harriette to work then do that, come home and do an hour or 2 in the veg plot before collecting Harriette (she's on a short shift) then going into Hamilton. Tomorrow (Sunday) I am doing a 5km fun run for the girls college. Harriette and Alice were going to do the 5km walk but Alice has cried off. Mind you she did have a stinking cold this week when I put the forms in. I have never run 5km before but I will try and do the whole thing. I have done about 4km. I haven't done much cycling lately. I did 55km last weekend but did not eat enough and was feeling quite ill after 45. I was rescued by a museli bar provided by a fellow cyclist. Must cycle in the middle of this week as I am participating in the Sarah Ulmer challenge next weekend where I will be cycling 65km. I don't plan on doing lots of these events it's just that I obviously support the college and I wanted to encourage my friend Helen who is just starting to get fit and is doing the 25km challenge next weekend. Harriette was going to do the 35km cycle but decided cycling bores her!!We had a big storm 2 weekends ago and some major boughs fell from the liquid amber tree on the drive close to the house. It took some branches out from the walnut outside our bedroom and smashed some of the new fencing. Eric had to get the chainsaw out to clear the drive before taking Harriette to work in the morning. Alex, Ted and Eric are going to finish clearing it this morning.Must go and take H to work now.

Brief Catch Up

I'm off cycling in a few minutes. I haven't been able to get out so much since the girls went back to school. All the music activities start up again and occupy 3 evenings a week. I did cycle round Lake Rotorua a few weeks ago with the cycle club and a few weeks ago cycled to Mom and Daddy's which is about 70km