Enter the Dragon...

Nice photos mum and dad - thought I'd better add one too...

This photo was taken at the KensingtonSwan ball on Saturday. The Theme was 'Enter the Dragon' (after the Bruce Lee movie). At first we thought it was an awful theme and had no idea what to wear, but then we got into it, and I ended up coming away with the best dressed prize ($500 voucher at WorkingStyle). So all good there!

Hope everyone's week is going well! Yesterday was a bad day for all up here, for so any reasons! The worst of which, was that the Landlady rang to say she is putting the flat on the market. One day after Harriet moved in. classic. So now we have to decide whether we wont to stay here and put up with open homes (and the ultra high cleanliness standard needed), o find a new place and go through the rigmarole of moving and setting things up again. greeeeeat.

Other than that, all is good.

Have a great day y'all.

Me Again

It's raining and colder so winter is around for a while longer. Great photos. Everyone looks well and happy.
A great win for Canterbury rugby last night. I had a really quiet weekend, George and brigette working last night, Chris in Rotorua and lots of patchwork achieved with some favourite CD's playing. Chris arrived home after an extremely rough plane trip. Quite green around the edges.
Have a great wekk.
Love to all
Kathleen

Nelson News

Hi All
Great photos Ashely and Barbara! You all look so relaxed!!

This weekend has been busy here also, the weather lousy, maybe we will get a few fine days ahead. The garden has missed some attention this weekend, Willie had all of the Saturday sports fixtures to organise taxi services to and from while I spent the day assisting a local school interview applicants for their principal position....very interesting indeed!!

Today has been some what relaxing due to the wet weather! Tim had rugby trials this morning, Traceywork this afternoon and now I have just returned from a delightful dinner with a dozen teachers from all over the UK who are in Nelson for a week to look at creative teaching. We are hosting them Tuesday and Thursday! Tracey had work all afternoon and prior to that we managed to find some shoes foo the ball in a couple of weeks time.....it certainly is countdown time....

I am off to Hastings Tuesday afternoon, back Thursday for an ICT mini conference....could be good despite the dull looking agenda! It will be a good little break if nothing else and always good to catch up with other sin a similar situation!

Hope this finds all well and rested for the week ahead!

Warm wishes
Janice

Trip Photo's

Hi All, Here are some Trip Photos

Barbara at Gallipoli Ashley trying out a camel ride at Euphesus

Euphesus Ruins---300,000 people once lived here.

A Crusader at Heart---in Rhodes, Greek Island in the Mediterranean

Church on Santorini

Hella and Brians House

Harbour Scene in Copenhagen.

Cheers, Ashh and Barbara

Photos

Hi All,

Hi All, A selection of photos for you all.

They show The Denmark Harpers arriving at the Restaurant for Birthday Dinner, Two of the Dinner Table, Brians vegie garden, and Pastry Shopping for lunch.

Brian is 50 on the 1st of August

Hi Everyone.

Happy 50th Birthday Brian.

We do hope that your party went well and that all the arrangements turned out as you expected. No doubt you have opened the pressie we left for you and also the envelope from Mum and Dad.

We are both well. We managed to get some Roses pruned testerday and again this morning. Barbara is a dab hand at cutting things back, identifying items for transplanting etc

The weather is real cold at the moment---feels like it is snowing no too far from here. There is a little bit of drizzle outside---hopefully we get some more to help the garden get ready for spring

We both have a busy week ahead---Quadrangular tournament at Craighead on Monday/Tuesday and I have to go to Chch on Thursday.

Barbara has put a roast of lamb in the oven---it smells delicious, especially with roast veg and mint sauce---Must go, the lamb is ready

Cheers, Ashh.

Brian is 50 on the 1st of August

Hi Everyone.

Sunny and warm.

Hello from Christchurch.
Can you believe these lovely (19 degrees) days in late July. I thought it was winter............................It's so nice.I finally managed to finish pruning the roses.
We are all well here now. George and Brigette both had time off work and school last week with the flu. Quite miserable.
We had a great time in Auckland in early July for band contest. The band came 4th over all.
Nice to see you David and Jeff. Organic Pizza, good wine and good company make a good time.
Chris is off to Rotorua to a Locksmith conference for the weekend. Last weekend Garry and Chris enjoyed The Bledisloe Rugby match. They were shouted a trip.
Congratulations Jayne. A great achievement.
Nice to talk on tuesday Ashley. Glad you had a lovely day. Brian, Happy 50th. Celebrate well.
Will sign off and get motivated. Planning to do lots of Patchwork this weekend.
Take Care and Lots of love to everyone.
Kate

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHLEY

Hi Ashley
Hope that you are enjoying your birthday.

• HAPPY BIRTHDAY from us all here in Nelson

Cheers
Janice

Tim to Timaru

Hi all
Great to see some fellow bloggers out there!! Great to catch up on news.

We have had mum and dad here yesterday afternoon and they went home this morning.
My day started not so well with a break in at school discovered by a teacher first thing. Into the library after breaking a window and stole one laptop, could have done lots more damage but it seems school in this area are a target for people wanting laptops. Just a real nuisance but the fingerprints guy did get some good prints so we will see what happens!

This beautiful kitten arrived home with Tracey and all of her friends on Friday night. After advertising on the radio and reading the paper no one seemed to want it. The girls spoilt it and you can see that it now has a beautiful purple collar! It spent all weekend with us and we were VERY tempted to become it's foster caregivers but one Tracey's friends convinced her family that they did need it....whew, a bit lucky for us, although it was totally adorable!! it's been named possum and it now has its' own beebo site!

Tim is off to the Secondary Schools Under 15 rugby tournament from 26 - 30 August in Timaru....this means a few extra practices and at lunchtimes they have been learning the haka!
This Sunday he has a trial for the Nelson Bays Under 15 rugby team...that will be interesting!

We are in ball dress mode at present as Tracey has her boyfriend Locky's school ball in three weeks....the material has been selected, the pattern sorted, tomorrow night they are off to hire the suit ans we get to make a matching tie!!

Today has been absolutely freezing, the wind was straight off Mt Arthur and it blew all day.....the chill factor was huge and I was on duty at lunchtime!! Brrrrr!

Love to all from us in Nelson

Janice

Skiing

Hey Team

Jeff here. Sorry I haven't been posting. Little to say (for a change!) I guess. Um, well, it's sunday night. Am quite tired after a big weekend on the snow.

We drove down on friday night leaving at 4:30 and getting in just before 11. We then skied fairly hard out on saturday and enjoyed checking out the new 6 seater at Turoa. Leather seats would you believe. Me and a mate (who also can't ski good) decided to check out a run we had seen the groomers making earlier in the day. Unfortunately they hadn't finished making the run yet and so we found ourselves in a wee bit of a pickle. Needless to say we survived to tell the tale with only the odd bruise and scratch on our skis. Overnight there was 25 cm of powder on turoa but unfortunately blizzard conditions killed off our chances so we boosted home instead. Awesome.

Work is picking up at the moment after a few quiet weeks which is good. I am doing quite a large project surrounding our imports business which should keep me busy for a bit.

Kate is doing well in aussie. Highlights involve working many night shifts, going to byron bay and performing a nose-lego extraction.

Dave's flat is going well. We've managed to scare off one flatmate and get a new ginger one. This is obviously going to improve the ginger to non-giner ratio in my favour.

Out for dinner on friday, no plans for the rest of the week and then maybe skiing again the weekend after.

Party on.

Jeff

PS BSc - awesome.
PSS wedding - all going to plan i guess. Kate says the darling harbour reception venue looks very slick so that is good. choyce
PSSS - be my facebook friend.

Home again..frosty days are here again!

Dear all,

Well we are safely back in Timaru and have actually been home a week lastnight. It seems hard to believe really. The biggest adjustment was to the climatic conditions. Life without frosts would be nice.

We both had a fair bit of 'jet lag' but I guess it is just a good thing to blame when motivation tends to wane. Sadly, when we got home we were made aware that a close friend of the family was very ill. David knew her very well and so as her health deteriorated David decided to visit Timaru.. unfortunately Ann passed away before he could see her. He delivered a lovely eulogy for her at her funeral.This sad time, combined with a course in Christchurch and a 2 day PD appraisal process on Thursday and Friday made it a very long and tiring week. The bonus was having David home but the circumstances were very sad.Last night we began to relax and felt that gradually things were returning to normal.

We enjoyed the rugby and I watched the netball which was exciting.

We really did enjoy our trip. It was nice seeing Brian and Healla and family again. Ash has his birthday on Tuesday and Brian has his big 50 celebrations next weekend.On our last night in Denmark we went to Tivoli gardens..an old-fashioned and beautiful amusement park. We listened to some fantastic music while there. We are now trying to find the time to double check all our photos. It seems that we do not have our first few days..Dubai and Istanbul which is very sad. I guess one just has to hold the memories of the sand in our heads.

Today was to be ghastly according to the weather forecasters but it turned out very beautiful..sunny and clear so it was good to open up the house and let the warmth of the sun in. Ash took David to the Chch plane very early this am and was back by lunchtime.Yesterday we went to Waimate for a late morning tea and lunch. Both mum and dad looked really good. Fit and healthy. Mum seems to have really enjoyed her trip away.

Lovely to hear form Matt. Congratulations to Jayne on gaining her Bsc..a big achievement and one to be very proud of. I hope Olivia that you are feeling better now. Hi to everyone else..would love to read your news as you post it. I trust everyone is well and happy. I know my wee dogs are very happy to have us home. They love to sit in front of the fire or on day like today they 'sunbathe'. Time to go.

Love Barbara and Ash

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Jayne who has now finished her BSc.! Lots of celebrating is in order!

The Last Post

So where are the posts disappearing too???
The photo post has gone.........
The Alzheimer's post is gone..............
The Loch Ness post has gone............
the trip recount from a and b has gone.............

Do we have an editor amidst our ranks?

WELCOME HOME

Welcome Home Ashley and Barbara.......heating will certainly be a priority, tonight is again forecast for heavy frosts and outside it feels icy already! Guess the dogs will be delighted to see you!

A quiet Nelson day here, shopping day for Tracey and me as it is ball dress time....the mission has had it's highs and lows! A beautiful gown discovered, stunning in fact.....along with the price tag so the mission to fins a similar pattern was succesful to day so it will out with the sewing machine and by August 11 a new creation will be ready to wear!

Holidays end tomorrow :-(

Love to all
Janice

Second Singapore Sling

Hope this one lasts longer... actually tried the beverage on the flight last night. Quite nice really.
We are waiting to board our last flight. It will be nice to get home now as it seems we have been in airports a while. Tivoli Gardens proved to be a real hit on the last night in Copenhagen despite drizzly weather. Today we are filling in time ready to go home.
Last blog for a while I suspect as there will be a lot to do once we hit Spur Road..I guess heating will be a priority.
Hope everyone is happy and well.
Love Barb and Ash

Chilly Nelson

Hello from a very chilly Nelson where frost covers everything out there! A minus 5 frost, cloud cover and I am guessing a very chilly day ahead! Quite a huge contrast to Ashley and Barbara at present! Maybe our plans for a BBQ lunch at Rabbit Island will go on hold!
We have Philip and Sue and Matt from Rotorua here with us.....there arrived to rain in Thursday but the rest of the days have been clear and beautiful, we have enjoyed getting out and about with them.
Jayne and Amy are home and return to Chch ( a minus 7 frost this morning!! ) this week, Amy Wednesday and Jayne Thursday. Amy is heading back with her friend Beth and Jayne is driving herself ....yes, a car purchase has been made! Amy is off to Dunedin for the weekend. They are both waiting for exam results!
Willie and Philip and Sue have left to walk to the Centre of NZ...am sure they will find it a very chilly experience on a morning like this but they are well clothed with beanies, gloves and jackets! Perhaps I should have taken a photo!

Love to all
Janice

Plebs

Hi to All,We are both very very well and extremely happy with our trip. Since last weeks blog we have been in the Greek Islands of Rhodes, Santorini and the party place, Mykonos. The hotel in Mykonos was incredible----on the beach, with wonderful views and it had just been refurbished, in a grand style.

We made the fast ferry trip to Athens yesterday, and visited the PLAKA last evening, did a "noddy train" dusk tour and then walked til we dropped.Today, off to the Acropilis---but a 48 hour strike killed that idea. Did the Zeus Temple etc but the real reason to visit Athens just fell off the radar----bugger. More Plaka this afternoon----great pedestrianised streets everywhere---markets and hawkers and great shopping oppurtunities. Sad to be leaving Greece.

Off to Denmark tomorrow----really looking forward to catching up with everyone there. The planes, ferries and transfers have all worked so far, so by this time tomorrow we should be at Brian and Hellas.Saw some new friends today in the street---we toured Turkey with them, and on Thursday they had one of their suitcases stolen from the ferry turnstiles---all their medication, jewellery purchases, and travel documents--- chaos for them, hopefully that can be avoided in the next week.

Time to run, a meal on the kerbside watching the Athenians go by beckons.
Love Barbara and Ash.