Nearly the weekend again and it has been ages since I / we have had a chance to do the blog.

It is definitely Autumn now - not thats its bad weather - just a lot more rain and cloudy days and less sunny days. Steve and I are both working hard - Steve breaks up for easter in six days - a nice two week holiday for him. I just get the bank holidays - which is not as great as two weeks obviously, but it is time off.

I am feeling ok about my job - up and down really - its hard doing something thats so completely different - its more active so I am more tired each day but also , confidence wise - learning the ropes again - is mentally stressful and tiring. I know its not rocket science, but I keep making the odd mistake and its annoying. I may start looking for something new or maybe a course at least, working towards something related to what Im interested in.

Met up wth Mark and his girlfriend on tuesday night and had far too much red wine and suffered the next day - very rarely drink so much in week now and I feel the after effects more.

On Saturday we are going up North - with Andy Mcay and Alanna, its her birthday on Saturday and we are going to stay in one of andy's parents friends posh caravan. im not actually sure what it is we are staying in, but its in Waipu which is in northland and we must have passed it on our trip at xmas - but didnt stop. Hopefully only a two hr drive - steve is coaching cricket sat am and then we head up there for a night.

Have finally booked Easter - going to Coromandel peninsular- west and then north of auckland...have booked a b&b cottage in native countryside with a view of the beach- the couple who run it sound dutch, not sure what relevance that has but it seemed important to tell u at this time. It is quite cheap for the area, so Im crossing my fingers its ok - you never know do you.
Lots to see and do apparently and we will have Good Friday to Easter Monday to explore and enjoy. Fingers crossed for dry and warm weather. Highlights include - hot water beach, where you can take a spade and dig into the sand and then sit in a pool of "hot water" - sounds odd so will have to do that - cathedral cove is very famous - not sure why but will investigate and just lots of lovely beaches and tourists ( altho it may be quieter at easter, at xmas this is where a lot of kiwis go)

Auckland is supposed to be dead over Easter so am glad we decided to get away.

My dodgy hair cut ( i had it all chopped off about two weeks ago) is calming down altho I am still finding longer strands of hair - I must of had the worst hairdresser of all time!

Hope you are all well. Will report back soon with some new photos. p.s. it would be nice to see some of your photos ( clean ones of course) piccies of bumps, children growing up, new homes, and just lovely mug shots - we have been away for nearly six months now and need to see yr faces and yr news.

L & S