House Warming Party

2 weeks since the last posting - does that mean life is slowing down and there's nothing exciting to write about or are we just sooooo busy doing great stuff that I'm toooooo busy to blog?! Probably neither sprinkled with a bit of both.

Maria's now had 2 weeks of working with Medica - she's officially "white van woman" - as she drives her mobile testing room around the streets of Christchurch. And we've finally got some money coming in - yippee! She's had to go to the physio's with a thumb injury - damaged ligament - that she picked up whilst skiing and they have fitted her with a thumb brace. No trip to New Zealand is complete for Maria unless she breaks a bone or damages a ligament! Maria and I enjoyed a walk up the Rapaki Track on Friday as she wasn't working that day. The walk takes you up to near the summit of Mount Vernon and you get good views from the top of Banks Peninsula and back over Christchurch.

Sarah seems to be settling in well at Heaton Intermediate School - we went to parents evening the other night to have a chat with her teacher - who also seems pleased at how well she in integrating in the class.

Chris has started his training at McDonalds at the Linwood restaurant. He's worked 3 4-hour shifts last week and is now an expert Big-Mac assembler! Not sure when he actually starts "full-time" as the restaurant hasn't been fully built yet! Sometime at the start of September apparently.

He's had a couple of outings with Christchurch Rugby Club 6th XV - been on the end of 2 heavy defeats - but still enjoyed it nevertheless. It's end of the season now so I think he's looking forward to joining a "touch-rugby" team for the spring/summer months to improve his handling and fitness. May even have a go myself.

I've been extremely busy over the past 2 weeks - setting up my business and attending various networking functions. Unfortunately that has not meant spending lots of time on the golf course or in the pubs of Christchurch - but hopefully that's something for the future.

Last Friday we all went along - with Matt and Lou - to the AMI Stadium to watch Canterbury vs Waikato in the Air New Zealand (Rugby Union) Cup.
It was my first time at a "proper" rugby match and I found it very enjoyable. The weather was a bit cold and damp - reminded me of going to an evening match at Old Trafford in February - but there was plenty of entertainment on the field - both during the match and at half-time. There was also a team mascot that looked a bit like Derby County's Rammie - though without the horns and testosterone - must be "Sheepie" then? Dan Carter - All Black kicker - was playing his way back to fitness for the AB's and demonstrated some phenomenal penalty kicking.

This weekend we hosted Di, Geoff and Sighle Illson plus "landlady" Nicky for dinner. A good time was had by all and lots of good wine was drunk by most. Maria produced a wonderful vegetarian lasagne that went very close to knocking me off the lasagne-king pedestal in the household!