Bugger!

I know everyone dies but really, some people just shouldn't until they are really old because we need them and their giant brains to help us.  I am gob smacked at hearing the very untimely demise of the clever, charasmatic and very fun Paul Reynolds - IT commentator and believer in the public good and the rights of everyone to be literate in all forms of literature.  He loves libraries more than we do.  I know everyone knows him better than me but I remember sharing a great night out with him and his partner Helen Smith, John Truesdale, Sue Sutherland and Justine in a Mexican restaurant in Auckland and it was the most interesting, stimulating and fun night of talking and laughing.

                                                  Too sad to see a lovely person slip away.

Just finished reading #31

The Help  - Kathryn Stockett

This was a great book.  The last 200 pages were un-put-downable.  Set in Mississippi in the early 1960s...that should give away lots about the story, but it isn't worthy and horrifying, just a story about women making a difference in their way.

Three woman take the lead, Minny, Aibileen and Miss Skeeter.  Together they go about taking a risk and exposing what it is like to be a 'Nigra' in the Southern States in a time of Civil Rights and BIG change.

Again, this could have been worthy and tragic but without being over sentimental or unrealistic this story is told with heart and subtlety.  Lots of characters of all colours and hues and no, I repeat, no wasted pages in the middle of the book.  Three voice, one story.  READ IT.  It is so good.

Georgie

That funny little girl of ours has taken to squeezing herself into a basket on the window sill.  I think the fire is too hot and fries her tiny brain.

Mother's day

Mother's Day, as we know, is a commercial invention - a vehicle to extract money.  However, if you just think of it as another excuse to hang out with your whole family then it is really great.

Our little family outing turned out to be a day trip to Kaikoura on the train. Very cool.  Got the 'Europe train experience' itchy feet.  I love trains and train travel and have wonderful memories of many journeys all over the place so it was slightly dangerous but being a multiple mortgage owner, there is not chance of an accidental overseas holiday as sometimes happens.

And today we gathered our whole Christchurch family including inlaws, cousins and all we could muster for a gorgeous picnic at Allandale just past Govenors Bay.   Just a perfect relaxed day.  The kids loved the mud! 

the grannies

muddy boy, missing a gumboot

walking off the feast - Nic's pic

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all my lovely mother friends and family

Friday YAY

Yay because

• We are off on a family adventure day tomorrow and I have no  idea where.  Can't wait.  It is my mother's day present.  I was imagining a picnic and walk in the country but suspect it might be something a little more urbane
• I got to see Nic at work today as part of his school visit
• I learnt how to use a programme at work that has been bamboozeling me for years
• I passed my first assignment

Small but significant reasons to feel very happy