- Not long to go now, 5 sleeps.

- Athletics went well. Didn't really get any good photos, will try again next week, the sun was in
an awkward place, so will move next time. I also helped out with the field events, so will try to get photos of that next week.

Not much else happening. I've done a couple of pages this week, which I have added into my slide, but this one here is one I was starting on Friday night, because I had bought a whole lot of new papers, and rather than add them to my stash, I was encouraged by Vicki to actually finish a page, so here you go Vicki, it's done. I also picked up a tip from Dallas, and have outline the BG letters with black, they have helped it to stand out. I actually lifted it from the May '06 CK, but I should have done the stitching in white, me thinks, as you can hardly see it.

Anyway, off to brave the weather and tidy the section a little.

Relieved.

We live in a street with predominantely retired folk, or at least older families, so with several houses around us selling, we were disappointed to find no kids moving into the street. Until the weekend. The new people in the house across the road have kids at primary school, and one of the boys is even in Camerons class. I went and met her today, lovely lady, so I'm hoping that Cameron will be able to get along with this boy and have a friend, especially one living so close.

In other news, I finally spoke to my dearly beloved.

No thanks to Telecom.

Because the phone calls from hotels are so expensive, and I have been ringing him from home, we have set up a system. He emails me when he is in the room, and has a spare hour or so, so I can ring him and talk. We had decided to wait until the weekend, it's much easier to get a time that suits us, so I hadn't heard anything by late Saturday night, I was starting to get worried. Turns out Telecom had kindly, or not so kindly, decided to hold back his emails for me, 3 of them, because by then HE was getting worried at why I hadn't rung. Finally they came through 12 hours late, and I was able to ring him, and had a good chat.

Things are going well for him, this week has been a bit better, he has had some company, been out and about for a few drinks, (a bit too much out and about, if you know what I mean!) and it even snowed on him while walking home. The countdown has started, it's the downhill slide, not long to go now.

Right, we are off to our first night of athletics for Junior tonight, so I better go get some dinner ready.

Things learned while travelling overseas:

- don't get your laundry done through the hotel. A few pairs of undies, socks, 2 shirts, t-shirt type, not business, and 2 pairs of pants = $320! Yes, $320. I told him overseas that he would have been better off to toss those and go buy more.

- don't use the hotel for toll calls. We all know calls overseas can cost a lot, and ones from hotels even more, but $200 for approximately half an hour?!?!? WTF? How can they justify that? So, today, plan B. Jon emailed me when he was in his room, and I rung him. Slingshot. $5. And we talked for 1 hour and 4 mins.

It was nice to catch up, especially on the little things, but he is homesick. Unfortunately he is not even half way through his trip. I think he is bored, as he has been in a little town with not much to do, so is looking forward to the next part, heading for Norway today, and then Finland on Thursday.

Anyway, off to battle with my children over dinner, we are having something they haven't had before, and it will be a protest all the way, wish me luck.

Yay, you can all come visit me now.

I was getting very dispondent about having no visitors, yet my profile view said people were following the links, until I realised that I had not clicked the box to show my blog to the public.

Right, so I'm making a big effort to leave messages for you all, so I expect the same in return, huh, is that understood!

1. Do you have any middle names? Joy! Not sure where that came from, but I was always reminded of it when I was not in the best of moods.

2. What’s under your bed right now? Nothing!!! And probably only because it is a full base so I can't jam anything under there, otherwise I probably would!!

3. Last time you laughed so much you cried? Not sure I cried, but he was good. We have this guy at work, an 'older' man, who is a real laugh. He was the butt of all the jokes today, which was fine, because he was the one making them!

4. What age were you when you first drank Alcohol? 16, and far too much of it! Had no exposure growing up, and when introduced to it went completely off the rail!

5. Porn Star Name (First pets name and name of your street)? Jo was the name of our first cat, which is a pretty good pornstar name, but Rawhiti, Jo Rawhiti? I don't think so!

6. What’s your desk top photo on the PC? I usually change it to show my recent photos

7. What did you have for breakfast? Muesli, and Complan

8.Music or TV? Depends. Both! Usually at the same time!

9. Worst outfit you have ever worn? I remember when I was about 13 we had mufti at school, and I wore a yellow shirt, black jeans, and stripy rugby socks and black shoes, thinking I was so cool 'cause everything matched, but I must of looked like a bumblebee.

10 Where do you feel most at peace? Pretty much anywhere as long as I know what is happening. As soon as it is out of my control, or it is unplanned I don't feel relaxed. Don't get me wrong, I like to be spontaneous with the rest of them, just as long as there is no deadline/time to follow then thats ok, I can cruise.

How often am I gonna see this now? As they are getting older these shots are getting rarer, I guess I need to enlarge it, and put it on the wall to remind me that these moments do happen.

Really, I shouldn't complain I suppose. Since Jon has been gone they have been pretty good, Cameron is resisting school, not with any great force, but when he comments at the gate, as I am on my way to work it makes it a bit hard.

You can't see it very clearly in this photo, but Braden is rapidly losing his teeth, and not getting anymore. He currently has a gap from 4 teeth at the top. He also has a gap from 4 teeth at the bottom, has got 2 new ones, but doesn't really have much room for the other 2, so I guess he is going to have my teeth problems.

Has anyone seen or heard from my husband? No?!!? Neither have I. He did ring Saturday night our time to let me know he had arrived safely, but I haven't even got an email. It doesn't bother me too much, but I'm not sleeping well, and am having some weird dreams. I have to work early the next 2 days, so I'm hoping I get some sleep tonight.

Finally, another photo of us that we took on the weekend, on our way to the local A&P show.

Watching some trashy movie on TV2, Evil Woman, really ridiculous, but it has the most fabulous Neil Diamond in it.

Jon got away yesterday, kind of as planned. The shuttle turned up 15 minutes early, so it was a mad rush to get him on it, was annoyed as it was a very quick 'bye', although, I guess the state I was in, it was just as well. Then, I get a text to say he had forgotten his camera (now, how many scrapbookers husbands forget their cameras), so I offered to go for a drive and take it up. The kids and I drove straight to the airport, had 10 minutes with him, and another quick goodbye, 'cause by then it was time to go through customs.

He rung to say he made it safely to his hotel, but was a bit out of sorts due to the time difference, and was going to have some 'breakfast' and have a sleep.

Thats all for now, I'm off to find my Neil Diamond CD, and blast it while he who doesn't appreciate good music is out of the country!!!

Last weekend Jon and I went to Auckland by ourselves. We were supposed to go Saturday morning, but my sister ended up staying at our place Friday night anyway, so said we could go if we wanted to. We ended up staying at my Dad's in Hamilton, as he was borrowing my car for the weekend, so we made the most of it and went to the casino, nothing exciting to report there.

Saturday morning we headed up to Auckland, and spent a couple of hours wandering around Sylvia Park. It wasn't anything exciting at this stage, although I guess when it is all finished it will be a one stop shop which would be good for a day out.

We then headed into the city, and checked into our hotel, Sky City hotel, and, went up the Sky Tower. Now, I have a huge fear of heights, and this was the first time I'd been up there, and I didn't step away from the inner wall, but at least I can say I've been up.

We had dinner at one of the Sky City Restaurants, then went to the Casino. We spent some time on the pokie machines, then decided to be brave and had a go on the Black Jack tables. We got on a couple of good tables, where the players were not so serious, and the dealers were good as well ( a bit of fun).

After a great night, we got home at 3am, and had to be up earliesh, as Jon was doing a bungy jump.

I couldn't do it myself, but I did manage to get over my fear and go up and watch. I was going to watch from the harbourside, but am pleased I didn't as you can't see anything from ground level.

We caught up with Jon's sister for lunch, and then headed back down to Hamilton to get my car, and came home.

Everything was good at home, which is always a relief to come home to!