I've been slack in keeping up to date with our family happenings. But with the Christmas and New Year holidays fading into the past, I'm hoping to publish more often on the blog. Hopefully people are still reading it! Are you? Is anyone out there? Please do comment as then I know this is worthwhile. Even if its just a hi back or some news of your own that you'd like to share with us.

We had a lovely holiday in Fielding a couple of weeks ago. For those that don't know its about 10 minutes out of Palmerston North in the North Island. We have friends that moved up there to be closer to their family. They have a big house that use to be a back packers. So you can imagine how many rooms it has! 13! The girls loved seeing the Chisholm kids as they have three the same ages as our girls. Sarah-Jane has known Henry since birth and they've been best mates since then. Aimee has wee Rose that is similar in age. Rose turns 3 soon. They were very shy of each other for the first few days then became inseperable on the last 2 days we were there! Pity they didn't befriend each other sooner. Emily has Lael to play with and have known each other for 7 yrs. We had a lovely time with the weather being the best its been for ages. Of course its because we were there!!
I was highly disappointed that we didn't see any dolphins on both trips on the ferry. I basically kept up a vigil to see them. I could have been relaxing in the warm! But driving down through Kaikoura we saw some dolphins out at see. They looked like little black jelly beans from the distance we saw them but that's cool. At least we finally saw them. Terry even graciously stopped so we could watch them.

As usual with holidays we came home on a low. Back to real life and real budget! Since returning we haven't done anything exciting and the weather hasn't been that great either. Did you hear that its snowed in California!!! That is freaky as they don't have winters.

Some sad news for us is that the day after we returned we got the news that a friend had died of cancer. She went very peacefully and in the arms of her husband. The memorial was beautiful. She had arranged her own service and asked that everyone bring a flower. So there were hundreds of flowers as some bought more than one. Well Jo I can't wait to catch up with you in heaven.

Thats all the news so far. Aimee has attached herself to my arm crying and whinging for food (I obviously starve her). I better go. Thanks to Terry's Mum having her stay for a night I had a decent nights sleep.

Love to all.
Lydia.