March 2010 - a busy month

March has been a busy month - I am really enjoying getting into the data I have collected on the project - and setting up meetings and focus groups, and i am visiting Melbourne and Brisbane in the next few weeks.

Spent an enjoyable few days with our old friend Brian, who is Cas's godfather and we visited the Blue Mountains and the ZigZag Railway on the way to visit with the grandchildren. Brian used to be a steam engine buff, but we had to go on the diesel engine the day we visited. But still a good tour and memories of a bygone era. Then we enjoyed a couple of days watching Brett on the bobcat digging realy big holes and putting in BIG logs from their own trees to make a yard.

A week ago I shifted two doors up the same street to the basement level of an old house - I had met the "housemates" and had become friends with Joan. I have more space, can move around a bit more, step outside easily to the "garden". Not entirely without its drawbacks, the downstairs bathroom facilities were primitive and I had to borrow furniture but with the help of friends and relatives I am set up with enough and I am sleeping better and bonus - it is cheaper. Upstairs there is an old balcony with a view of the Cook River and a generally peaceful atmosphere in the house. It is nice to share a meal and to have an oven to bake muffins in.

Weather is a bit cooler which is making it easier to sleep and there has been a fair bit of rain around the coutnryside so it is still surprisingly green. Back to NZ in two weeks for Easter! and hopefully another grandchild arriving while I am there.