Spring at last!

Hi Everyone,

Quite a while since I last wrote but it has been a little quieter these last few weeks. Now we are in September and officially in Spring - the weather has been very warm with gale-force winds most of last week. Today sunny but much colder and maybe some snow on the hills. I don't mind the cold if the sun is shining.

Enough of the weather except to say that I hope yours is to your liking. I trust that you are all keeping well - we are still suffering the usual coughs and colds but hoping that the germs will disappear very soon.

Most of the accompanying flower photos were taken in the park yesterday - it still seems strange, if I think of the date in relation to the flowers, to see daffodils etc in September. Mother's Day flowers here are of the autumn kind - chrysanthemums and the like! Still commenting on the season - the pollen from the wattle (yellow) is everywhere, over the windows, (house and car) gardens and pavements. Not worth cleaning up too carefully as more will be there tomorrow. That's my excuse.

Well, Joe has had his birthday - six now. It was a long time coming as we endured his countdown of the number of sleeps remaining. Hope he hasn't started counting down to the next one yet! He had lots of Lego so was very happy. His first Rugby season is over and he really enjoyed it and seemed to be in the middle of all the action, with endless numbers of touches and lots of tries to his name. A very proud Nana watched nearly every game (well it didn't rain!)

All of the other grandchildren are doing well and keeping very busy in their social lives. I don't know how they manage to find time for school except that school is a big part of their socialising. We are in week 7 of the 10 week term so two weeks off very soon. I still help out in Joe's class one morning a week and thoroughly enjoy myself.

Annie and I went to the ballet a couple of weeks ago to see La Sylphide. Most enjoyable - it wasn't a story I knew or even music I recognised unlike Romeo and Juliet last year. I also went to the theatre this week with the U3A theatre group to see a home-grown Kiwi play "Four flat whites in Italy", described as an overseas experience for those 'pasta' their prime! (OE usually taken by kids between school and uni). 'Flat whites' are coffees here in NZ - very like a latte. It was very funny with a sad undercurrent. My favourite line was from one of the wives while shopping -

At our time of life, a dollar saved is a dollar wasted!!!

Later this month I will see 'Mamma Mia' so looking forward to that.

I have booked a holiday for us all in Australia in October so hope for some sunshine. I am very excited that Jennie and John are coming to stay in the New Year. Hopefully we will have a good summer. Just about done - only the photos to download. The one of Sarah and Matt cooking at the back of the truck was taken during an attempt to go sledging up the mountain and the weather defeated us. The family of otters were quite young and moved in concert as you see them here.

All my love to you all, Carol xxx