Keeping control of the floating babes

The Englishman goes further afield

Daniel has moved deeper into New Zealand territory and has signed up for 10 days of meditation at a secret location. He has given up the right to speak, to use a computer and to wear shorts. But he has a secret weapon. His extremely complicated diet has been forwarded to the kitchen of the establishment in the form of several long detailed emails. First the establishment's menus were sent to Daniel. He then requested details of the recipes and ingredients. These recipes were then examined closely and sent back with various instructions and requirements.
Ha! That should confuse them. Meditation or no meditation.

An englishman must wear socks with his sandals.

Daniel arrives

Daniel arrived on Friday on his tour of the antipodes and has been introducing us to his extremely complex diet the rules of which are a mystery to all but himself.
We took him on a walk up Mount Hobson to view Auckland and then on a walk in Kepa bush. Today we're going to check out the west coast; Kare Kare and Whatapu- where 'The Piano' was filmed.
This photo of Daniel putting his socks on proves that Englishmen love to wear socks with their sandals!

Moerake Boulders. 'This is heavy'

Mikanos

Homework

Anita and Joe at Long Bay

Dad, are you sleeping again?

Cauldray House to the north of Auckland. (Right next to the beach)

Here is an example of New Zealand wildlife. This prehistoric looking creature is a Weta. Tom took this photo on a walk around the block the other day.

Bad Back

Yesterday I went to see the physio at SpineCare to have a look at my back which has been playing up since we shifted the furniture around two weeks ago.
This time the injury is a disk pushing out towards the back, so the exercises he has given my are extensions to ease it back in. The opposite of my last injury! I did some (extensions) this morning and it seemed to give relief straight away.
Tonight I'm playing the first badminton match in the Rocket Batteries Doubles ladder. Badminton doesn't seem to agravate the back. There's another competition tomorrow too.

Tom making Ye Mound

News reports later revealed 250 sharks at Long Bay today!

Where are the sharks?

Birthday antics

The other day on my birthday, as Anita, Tom and Joe were bringing me my breakfast in bed, Joe fell off the bed and bumped his head but was deemed to be fine by the doctor. He had rolled over once too often and an imprint of the coconut fibre matting was left on the back of his head.

The weather is getting pretty warm these days in Auckland. (about 28 degrees) We've been getting out for the odd walk around Auckland and last weekend had a swim in the sea at Long Bay. Later in the news we discovered that a shoal of 250 sharks were being monitored at the other end of the bay. (wondered what that helicoptor was doing)

This was taken on the 27th December. The weather changes quickly here. There's a saying: If you don't like the weather in Auckland... wait five minutes.

weather in NZ

the family carter

The weather in Auckland today is bad. Very windy, drizzle and rain, stormy.
Here is a photo of us.

talking to sib

joe

Boxing day in Auckland

Well, it's Christmas day in the workhouse. Well it was, and it still is in some parts of the world. Actually it's now boxing day and we've woken up to the sound of Prince of Persia on PS2. Joe is having an unusually long nap (sleeping off the Christmas excesses) and Tom and I have finished mowing, clipping and raking the front garden. (That bamboo is persistant)
I feel I am writing this to myself as no-one else has entered anything yet. Hopefully this new technology will reach the old world soon!