Journal. Our Wet Summer

The wet weather is with us once more. Today we are being drenched from a low which started to develop off the northern east coast of Australia, off Brisbane a few days ago and then moved fast to-wards the North Island of NZ.

Waiting in the wings is a topical cyclone just south of Fiji which has passed through the neighbouring Pacific lslands. We are due to get the tail end of it when our present spell of bad weather passes. So more rain to come and high winds as the cyclone tail passes down the east coast of NZ.

Every day the South Pacific weather map shows tropical rain and lightning. Even though it is the cyclone season up there, it is abnormal.

We, here in NZ have been having abnormal rain since early December with fine spells in between. Our garden is reaching jungle proportions from the rain and the heat. Usually we are well into summer drought conditions by now.

We look forward to normally stable Autumn conditions and maybe a dry warm and sunny winter.

Journal: Business

Today we made the first steps to close our business and signed the Cessation of Business form to take effect on 31 March 2004.

A red letter day, we then become superannuants and sit in the sun all day.

Journal: Caitlin

Caitlin's leg has begun to swell once more. She has been placed back on antibiotics once again. Oral, not intravenous this time. She is to be examined on Thursday 26 February by a visiting specialist.

A bit of a worry.

Journal. Ashlee's teeth

Yesterday, Monday we took Ashlee to Thames (in NZ) to have her braces checked and then return her to Sacred Heart School where she boards.

We set off at 7.20 a.m. and arrived back home by 11.30 a.m. most of the time spent driving. That also included spending a little time having a peek at a house Anthony has an interest in buying. He has a few reservations about it and he will look again on Wednesday.

Journal. A Party

Today is Saturday and a lunchtime birthday party had been arranged for me. We went to Hamilton Casino (and here too) and had a long leisurely lunch with family only.

Everyone enjoyed the outing, even the children. The Casino café is set up high overlooking the Waikato River and our table was along side the glass wall and a panoramic view.

We spent over 3 hours here, eating from the buffet, chatting and then sitting on the sunny outer deck with coffee. Some including Pat spent time in the gambling hall trying for the Merecedes sports car but without luck.

We all had a lovely time vowing to "do" it again soon.

Oh, and it was Valentine's Day too.

Journal. Waitangi Day

A long weekend and another public holiday. Today the Treaty of Waitangi is celebrated by a few only. Today the majority of the population do not believe in the Treaty of Waitangi and are openly scornful of it.

I think within a few years the Treaty of Waitangi will no longer exist and the population of New Zealand will breathe a collective sigh of relief.