Monday

Thought I would update before I unplug this computer and take the hard drive back to be checked over.

Our weekend was great. The weather - well I think we experienced all four seasons. We arrived at the beach Friday and the weather was beautiful, calm and sunny. We had a few staying, my daughter and family, and my sister and her son and his fiancee. Was a lovely night as we could open up the french doors and sit on the deck. We joked about the winds as when it blows over there - it blows!! Hard to imagine when it was so beautiful. Friday night was a bit of a fun night, we got out the Cranium game and played it a couple of times. Not sure how the men won - twice! Late night getting to bed and the men had to get up early around 5.30am to go out for paua. Madness - it was freezing!

Saturday, well everyone got to experience the wind!! The house seemed to shake and rattle, it was fierce. We drove onto the beach and the sand was whipping up like a sand storm. The sea was rough. I went out on the deck at some stage and could barely get the door open to get back into the house. Really very rough. Then late Saturday afternoon we had a power cut. We had heard the previous weekend the power was out for 17 hours. Hoped it wasn't going to be a repeat of this! No electricity means the water pump doesn't work! But then Peter got a container full from the water tank so we could flush toilets. We had one lonely candle, then discovered we had no lighter as our son-in-law had lost it. A quick trip to the neighbours and we borrowed a lighter. We had 13 for dinner that night so thankfully we had planned a BBQ. Peter's niece and family came up and bought a couple of crayfish (uncooked) and we fired up a gas ring to cook them. Didn't want them going back home with the crayfish because we couldn't cook them! The grandkids went to bed after a dinner of cheese sandwiches and fruit. Jordyn the four year old grandson was a bit concerned as he said his mum promised him Shpherd's pie, hard to explain to him how we couldn't heat it up! The power came back on around 7.30 and stupid me said something along the lines of how I was looking forward to eating by candle light, boom - then we were in darkness again! Teach me to open my mouth. The power did come back on a little bit later. During the night Jordyn had what Rachel thought was an asthma attack, but now they think it was bronchitis. Just couldn't stop coughing. I slept through it all!! Must have been the wine! Bad nana! So she was up and down to him a few times and they did eventually get him settled. Sunday morning he was fine. Typical of kids.

Sunday, the men went out early again for another dive. When we got up - the wind had stopped, the sun was out. Was really quite pleasant. All our visitors left after lunch, seemed weird there just being Peter and me after having a houseful. Then his nephew arrived and they decided to go fishing, so I went along with my book I was reading and sat watching them. It was lovely and warm, people sunbathing so very pleasant just sitting. They were doing surf casting and caught six big fish. Not very nice ones though, quite a dark colour and a dense textured fish. May be ok as a fish pie, or fish cakes, also we have marinated them in the past in lemon juice. Still they were happy fishermen.

This morning we were up early as we had to get back for Fynn's birthday party at 2.00pm. It was madness, kids everywhere but they seemed to have fun. LOL his child care teacher arrived with a present of padlock's which he really wanted. Strange kid. We have a week of birthdays ahead it seems. Our daughter had her boys two years and two days apart. Tomorrow is Devin's seventh birthday, so we will be up bright and early to take down his present. Fynn's actual birthday is Thursday.

So tomorrow early, down to see Devin before school, then take the computer into be checked. After that not really sure as I'm a bit lost without my computer here for work. Hope it's not in there for long as we access our work through a website. I'll have to get out the laptop with it's dodgy wireless card and see how I get on.

Food - hard going when people arrive with all the goodies, cheeses, dips, breads, wine - get the picture! I did try and be careful, but know that I wasn't that brilliant. Still I enjoyed it! It was only a couple of days and now back on track. Times like this makes me realise how much I used to eat! I wouldn't even think and just have what I wanted. In it would go! At least I know I can be reasonable with any indulgences now days and also know how to get straight back on track.

Catch you some time during the week when this computer comes back.

No more long weekends now until Christmas:-(