It’s Labour Day Weekend which means we have a long weekend.  We had thought about going away for a couple of nights’ camping but the weather forecast was rubbish, and we just didn’t get organised well enough to get away!  I could say that we have been too busy – which is true – but still no real excuse for not getting it together.  This last couple of weeks has seen the start of all the summer sports activities – the boys are playing tennis, cricket (Aonghas), Volleyball (Lachlan), swimming, and would like to do atheletics but we are just working out how we can fit it in! Every evening is taken care of as well as all day Sunday so there isn’t time to take a breath. I have also signed up for Swimfit along with Lachlan which is a coached swim class geared for Triathletes so it is quite strenuous but good fun, and I am playing tennis for the school staff tennis team too.  We won our first two matches so I feel a bit more confident now!  (Shoulder is giving me a bit of jip but we’ll see how it goes) Lachlan seems have to got over his broken wrist and had fun competing in a mountain bike marathon last weekend.  He is planning on doing another in February so we will have to get some practice in.  There are some cool tracks in the forest down at Rotorua so we’ll head down and have a look one weekend.

We spent today looking round at houses again.  We have finally got a completion date for Mount Pleasant so fingers crossed that all will go through soon. Our Landlords have put this house on the market so it looks like we will have to move soon.  It goes for auction on 25th November but they have to give us 42 days notice in writing.  We haven’t had that yet, so we’re just playing a waiting game and working out what to do – we’d like to leave on our terms but don’t want to be rushed into buying a house. On the other hand, nor do we really want to have to move twice in a few months! Added to that 42 days from 25th November means that we would have to pack up and move over Christmas again!! Nightmare!  So, do we find somewhere to rent now and move in the next 3 weeks (we only have to give 3 weeks notice) but then possibly be tied into a 6 month or 12 month rental agreement? Or hang on and look for something to buy and risk having a gap between having to move out of here and move in to a new house!? Dilemmas that we could do without – my head is sore with all the thinking!

The good news is that I have managed to get a job for next year, the bad news is that it is only part time, so only a part time salary which also limits what we can buy. The good news, on the other hand, is that the mortgage interest rates have come down, and the exchange rates are more favourable for us bringing money over from the UK, at least for this week!

My job is at the Waikato Diocesan School for Girls.  It will be interesting working at an all girls school – quite a change from what I am used to, but life is full of challenges!Bring it on!  I will be sad to leave Hillcrest as I have made some good friends, but I am sure we can keep in touch, and a new job gives me an opportunity to make more friends, so it is all good!

Just had some more bad news from Blighty – we have just heard that another of our caving colleagues and friends has died.  Phil Haigh died suddenly last week of a heart attack.  What a shock – he was a fit and healthy cave rescuer and SARDA dog handler, and I spent many a rescue alongside him searching on the Fells or underground.  Lots of shared experiences and banter, and our sons, Aonghas and Sam, were similar ages and went to Beavers together in Ingleton. I remember his older sons helping out down at the CRO depot making tea and hot chocolate for the troops, especially when our eldest, Lachlan, was small and I held the fort in the depot on rescues.   Our thoughts go out to Alison and the boys.

As I said, our two are busy with summer sports but also have new challenges at school.  Lachlan has to make his subject choices in the next few weeks – what will he do?  He is still keen to do Sports Development and despite not making the group last term is hoping that he can get into it this term.  He also wants to do Drama, Food Technology and Spanish to go with the compulsory Maths, Science, English, and Social Studies.  Since they can only do 6 subjects in total, one of his options will have to go, the point of contention is, which one? Aonghas has just been involved in Arts Week at school; last term they practised for their Year 4 Production, (which I think I have already written about), but this term they have been doing poetry and art, and last week was their showcase.  A big evening for the school and certainly the children had a great time performing for their parents in their class rooms and showing us their work.  As well as that Aonghas had a cool time just running around with his mates.  The highlight for him was winning the 3rd prize in the raffle – he was very excited coming home from school on Friday with his winnings in his bag – a bottle of wine, a voucher for a haircut, and $50 voucher for a meal in a local restaurant!

Any way time to go.  It is Ann’s 80th Birthday today – I have just tried to phone but there is no answer.  I guess she is probably away with David , Paul or Jonathon.  Will try again later!