Autumn

Hello all...

I know I've been slack with keeping this updated lately, blame it on the hassle we are having trying to get Internet into our flat. It STILL isn't sorted! Be warned, this post will be a biggie... There's lots to catch up on.

Below I've posted a few pics of my walk to work, it's a gorgeous time of the year with all the leaves turning. There have been some crisp sunny mornings when mist rises up off the lake & looks spectacular. The clocks went back this weekend, so I now walk home in the pitch dark!

I enjoyed my week off over half-term, although as usual it went far too quickly. I did however pack a huge amount into it. Lots of time was spent in the garden, so that is now looking good. I did manage to plant 200+ bulbs, so hopefully it will all be worth it come the spring... Thursday night a group of us from school went to 'the dogs'. Will & I managed to win a bit, but we weren't as successful as HBB who had a very good night. Friday night was a dinner party at Ric's which was most enjoyable. A lot of very good NZ sauvignon Blanc was drunk that night. Even Will couldn't resist, & he had to get up at 5am the next morning to drive to Nottingham for a Korfball tournament!

On Saturday morning I headed into London to meet up with my friend Denise (Wayne's sister-in-law). Her & her husband Craig are living in Italy at the moment, & Craig had organised the weekend in London for Denise as a surprise for her 30th birthday. We had a nice day wandering around with another of her kiwi friends, & went on the London Eye. The London Eye was very cool, even if it was a typically dull grey London day, so the visibility wasn't the best. I now want to go on it at night time with Will & see the city lit up. Around Christmas would be nice with all the extra lights around. We then met up with a few others & were cooked a very nice NZ lamb roast dinner at another of her friend's flat.

On Sunday I had rugby, & it was a top of the table clash between the league leaders Thurrock, & us. Unfortunately we lost 5-0 in a pretty brutal match. It certainly was physical, & I woke on Monday morning barely able to move. It is now Tuesday evening & I'm still in a lot of pain! I do love it... really...

It is 6 weeks tomorrow till the Christmas holidays begin, & Will & I have booked to go to Canada. My good friend Jon has a house in Kimberley, 5 hours drive from Calgary, right in the heart of the Rockies. Him & his wife have kindly invited us to spend Christmas with them there. Will is excited about all the skiing on offer, & I am quite keen to try some cross-country skiing. As most of you know, I don't really do things that involve going fast downhill... It should be really nice, we fly on Saturday 15th December, & are back on Wednesday 27th. We will then enjoy a late Christmas with Will's family.

That's about all my news... Well done if you made it to the end. Bit of a marathon effort, but don't say you weren't warned!