Visit back to NZ

I am starting this blog so that my family and friends can keep track of what I am doing, and so that I can look back on the grand adventure I am having working as a Research fellow on an Australian project in Engineering Education. I have been based in Sydney since mid July and will post more information about my stay over the next year, but the last two weeks have been amazing.

I went up to Darwin to a meeting of the Australian Council of Deans representing the Australasian Association of Engineering Education.- my first trip to Darwin and after what seemed a successful meeting we had a flight in a restored DC3 - low altitude, low technology flight but the view at sunset was amazing. Then I flew home to NZ to catch up with Peter, family and friends and to touch base with some of my NZ working colleagues.

I was tickled pink by a quick phone call from Peter before I left Darwin to tell me that Jonathan and Olivia will be having a baby next March - yippee!

The first event was to watch Jonathan at the North Island Judo championships - as a Blue belt he was entering mainly for experience but threw himself ( quite literally) into each bout with gusto. He was beaten more than he won, but that might be expected with most other competitors being black and brown belts of considerably more experience - but he did win two matches and even beat a brown belt in one bout which made his day! (he is on the left in this photo - sorry it is not full of action - I do have a video but it takes forever to load). I wish I had taken a photo of his enormous grin after he won!

Then I had two days working at U of A which was good and pretty productive time with colleagues.

Then off for two days in the bus with Peter - we stayed the first night at Managanese Point near Whangarei and then drove out to Whangarei heads to Ocean Beach and over to the west coast and down to Helensville for the night by the Hot Pools. It was fun, our bus behaved beautifully and I slept so soundly.

Then I did the doctor, dentist, hairdresser thing and had a bunch of friends popping in until I left early Sunday morning. A bit hard to go and leave Peter, but he is doing well and is glad I am getting the chance to work at a job I am loving.

After changing the clothes in the suitcase had to fly up to Toowoomba Sunday afternoon - but more information about that in next post.