So excited. I had my first "unknown" blog comment. Thank you, Meggie!
Anyway, tomorrow is ANZAC Day. A day off for most. And a day to recall for everyone else. Thankful that we are here to remember. Thankful. Above ground. I have a photo of my Granddad in his army uniform. Very handsome and tall and straight. Alive. He died in 1969. I remember his death. My first funeral. My brother and I hid under the table and cried and also knicked the odd glass of blackberry nip. I don't remember seeing as many fat ankles in one place in my life. Granddad used to call me "Tuppence" (have since found out that he used to call my mum that too) and my older brother "Mickey Drippin'. No idea why. He died on 10 October 1969. He had family in Mevagisy, in Cornwall. I really miss him, he had a wonderful sense of humour. And he loved me.

OK. Sunday night. What a productive day I have had. Am I the only person this side of the black stump to know the sheer pleasure of chucking out old undies? The thrill of watching them go up in smoke or into the bin is indescribable. I think. It is soooo liberating. I would happily go commando for the rest of the week and thankfully, because I don't live in Wellington, I probably could without too much worry! One of my daughters has a tee shirt that is emblazoned across the front, in pink glittery writing "Don't let the smile fool you". Wonder if she would lend it to me.....

Do you like this photo? This was taken at the Lyttelton Farmers market a few weeks ago.

School holidays almost at the end. I feel I have brought home almost every grain of spare sand from Sumner Beach. We have had such mild weather (excluding today) that "The Beach!" has been the answer to that perennial question, what shall we do today.

Today is grey or gray. And we had fog this morning. Either way its a cheerful as the Hurricanes dressing room post-match last night.

Has anyone been to visit the Pixie? She is so clever. I think we all need a clever Pixie in our lives.

We have been treated to a mild day, weather wise that is. Work is a bit turbulent to say the least and I think a major Lotto win would be in order.

The kidlets are still on holiday and Gran has stepped into the breach and is taking them out and about. I think she is learning about the SIMS computer game even tho' she is trying to teach them how to spin!

Took the kids to the beach yesterday, so did half of the rest of the city! Ever since I can remember we have been going to Sumner, my mother went with her grandmother and now my girls go with me and sometimes their grandmother. As Harry Chapin said, all my life's a circle.

These rocks and caves are great fun and quite amazing.

Last night we went to see Tony Joe White play at the Civic Bar. Rather a ramshackle entry fiasco which took ages, over 3/4 of an hour waiting to get through the doors. Anyway, it was worth the wait. Loud as but great stuff. At 63 he still has it.

Fantastic night last night. We went to the thugby match (yes, thugby...both my daughters couldn't say "Rugby" and what they came up with seems appropriate right?) CRUSADERS 53 and Western Force 0. We bcouldn't decide to refer to the other team as the Western Farts or the western Feeble, either way I know its not good to show off (see Mum, I did listen) but heck, we're delighted down this way.

Easter already, I can tell because my kids are swinging from the lightshades and being unusually self possessed...yep, chocolate has its own rewards!
I have a house full of relatives and a few strangers as well who seem to be attached to the relatives - visitors from outta town. It seems easier to let them invite everyone they know to our house, we then fire up the woodfired pizza oven and hang out getting to know everyone. It appears to work - never a dull moment.
What do other people do at Easter??

Well, its been awhile. Where have I been? All over the place really. Invercargill, Wellington, West Coast...even Ashburton!!
Best travels have been with my dear friends who have been going on personal journeys involving great courage and copious amounts of patience, wine and humour. Bless you all!!