still winter!

Hi Everyone,

Well, it is still winter here (hope you folks on the other side of the world are enjoying some well-earned sunshine) while we are braced for a winter storm later today!!! The North Island seems to have had a much worse time of it, weather-wise, since I last wrote with gales and thunderstorms but we have escaped relatively unscathed. It has been cold but that has been mitigated by the brilliant sunshine (until this week). I have seen some daffodils daring to put their heads above the ground and very welcome colour they give.

On to my garden. I am sharing some before and after photos with you; hope that you agree which is which!! The plants have not been taken out of their pots yet, as you can see, but once the spring arrives ......... With any luck, by this time next year they will all be well established. Then I will post some more photos. I am very pleased with the results so far. The garden looks bigger and, hopefully, will be easier to maintain. Still a few more plants to buy to plant in the parts of the garden you can't see. Planning now as to which veggies to plant.

The family continues well - a few coughs and colds though. They have just finished 2 weeks of school holidays and have been very busy. I have been to the theatre to see 'Arsenic and Old Lace'. A very good production in a lovely theatre - not too big, and the action fairly zipped along - a very enjoyable evening. Next month I am going to see 'The Miracle Worker' - the story of Helen Keller. We are also having a girls afternoon out and (a first for us all) are going to the ballet to see 'Romeo and Juliet'. The only girl in the family not going is Olive so Daddy will look after her. Have also been to see 'Kung Fu Panda' with Joe and Ben - their first time at the cinema!

I am very pleased with myself as yesterday I passed my driving test - just the written test in order to get a NZ licence. I was a little apprehensive - it is some years since a took one and there were no written tests in those days!!! I only got one question wrong and you are allowed three. I have also renewed my UK passport and have had the NZ visa updated.

Before I finish - thank you to all of you who keep in touch with email and letter. Hope that I have not repeated myself too much. We all of us appreciate the contact. Love to you all, until next time. Carol xx