Not in Timaru this week

We're in Hamilton for a few days, preparing for a 55th wedding anniversary (not ours!) and sailing from Monday-Wednesday. We've not done too much apart from catch up with family and go to the Art Post gallery, which isn't as good as the gallery in Timaru,by which I mean not as child friendly! The big girls enjoyed it however, and started off some good reflections about portfolio ideas for this year.
We are staying at Kif and Garry's (Chris' brother), and the younger two are enjoying the spa facilities,and Oakley (a Shadow substitute). Zach is also enjoying the large TV, as are the girls and Chris is enjoying the wireless network, as am I which lets me do this little task.
We're heading out saiing, so blog updates are going to be a little erratic.

Little River Rail Trail

Mum turned 70 this month, and to celebrate, she biked 70 km, well more than that as it turned out. Our family traveled up to Lincoln Sunday evening, with Shadow boarding at the SPCA kennels, and all our bikes in a trailer. Mum and Dad were on the path at the crack of dawn, but we managed to get the kids fed and on their bikes by nine, and we connected with them at Prebbleton. Mum and Dad had biked to Hornby and back by this stage.
Morning tea was at Sue's place in Lincoln, in their lovely brand new house. The kids stayed put while Duncan, Mum, Dad and moi carried on through Tai Tapu and connected with the rail trail and Motukurara, via a small detour. We met up with the rest of teh gang at the quarry, including my brother Tim who had traveled non stop from Guinea to surprise mum. Very cool! I'd done 43 kms by then, and I'd had enough, not being biking fit, but the others carried on to Little River and then back some of the way. Mum stopped at 83 kms, which is awesome!
We've had a lovely family time, and we're just off to Dunedin for a wedding.

Summer

Took my first funeral yesterday, went all right, the family was happy which is what matters. This one also involved a house blessing afterwards.
Katarina has gone to Wanaka to stay with her friend Catherine for a few days; she has gone up this morning on the bus with another friend. She has also picked up a small job teaching English to a couple of recent immigrant children that we met through the holiday program.
Janine, Zach and Hannah and I went biking through Centennial Park this morning with Shadow, who is now tuckered out! We are trying to practice for Monday, when we go to Christchurch and do the rail trail there with Nanny and Grandpa.