Ah yes, while I do whitter on about New Zealand being great (it really is ;) from time to time to time to time… it’s not like there isn’t the odd heartstring pulled when one comes back to ones place of birth ;)

There were quite a few people to catch up with (but for too short a time). This table of degenerates are all friends from college (or partners thereof). Ok, 4 of them (Morgan & Becks and Mary & Lorna) aren’t complete degenerates as they have infact visited NZ… only they didn’t decide to move – so that detracts slightly…

I was also lucky enough to meet the first of my engineering friends to have a baby. Emma (and Dave ;) have brought the lovely Jessica into the world. Not that I am remotely ready for this sort of responsibility.. it is still quite miraculous…

Also had a really excellent night out in the Cobblestone Bar. A great trad music bar in Smithfield.. It was great to see lots of friends out.. I mean… Dublin really does do pub culture very, very well. It’s interesting.. I think someone literally took apart brick by brick a pub from Ireland and moved it to the States… I wonder if it would feel the same? Can’t imagine so.

Maeve and Andy (getting married next year :) treated me to a yum dinner before hand.. which was definitely a good thing.. as if I’d skipped dinner one imagines the trip to Co. Clare the next day (with two kids in the back of the car) would have seemed a *lot* longer. Maeve & Andy also build a bouldering wall in their shed. Very cool.

Next it was off to Wales. I hadn’t really been expecting to visit my Aunt Rosemary here, but luckily mum and dad drove to England so we had the car. This meant I got to see my (ageing) Granny too.. which was lovely. It is of course the only thing we can be sure of in life – is that we will one day exit it. And really the only thing to do is to be a decent upstanding human and hope that the major religions are essentially correct in that there’s going to be an awesome party afterwards (well, that’s my reading)… It just makes you think when you see ancient family members :)

First one of these signs I’d seen…

I believe it was the first one in the country – and basically says “if you’re GPS tells you to come down here.. then don’t”.

My cousin Katharine was also up from London to visit Granny – and it was great to see her too..

Also managed to take in a quick trip to a … ummm… period village. It was quite cleverly done as they took you through a few hundred years of development and you could see how the houses changed etc. Sure when the oil runs out we’ll all be back to using Irons like these (though perhaps not the rolling pins). The icon picture is from the church.. and tells the story of the Passion of Christ (I think).. before people could read ‘n stuff like dat roight ;)

After the funeral Mum Dad and I went off to see my Uncle Mike (on mums side) up in Dorset. It has a really English countryside feeling… high green (narrow) hedges. I inquired as to how often crashes happen – and was told pretty frequently!

I have two first cousins my age (Cath and Thomas) and it’s always really special when we meet up. It was so interesting to hear about Cath’s Aids research in Africa.. heading off for walks and just having the luxury to spend a couple of days nattering. It certainly is the major downside to being in New Zealand – that of not not being able to see my wonderful family & friends as much as I’d like. Then again, Cath is hardly around anyway!! :)

It was a long old flight from NZ. It was 37 and a half hours from leaving ChCh to getting a cup of tea in Thomas’ flat. Did get to see ‘The Worlds Fastest Indian’ on the flight over – which is a great film. Highly recommend it.

Did have one very odd thing happen – which I may try to get a sound recording of on the way back. Auckland airport has these electronic toilets. They ask you to close the door etc… but…. they also thank you on the way back and ask you to come again… which is a little peculiar.

Anyway – Good times with Thomas & Paula and my Aunt Mary in London… Thomas still needs the A-Z to get him past his door…

Ok, not strictly true. We played our challenge match of scrabble. I was a good 100 points ahead for most of the game, but Thomas kept his cool and came through to win. I think this went to his head and he gave me another shot at getting my trophy back… which I duly did. Good old two letter words.. ZO, QI, XI, JO… you gotta know these things.

Did have a mini pub session in London and a few friends & cousins managed to make it.. lots of fun – thanks to all who made it.

Then on Wednesday 16th it was down to Sussex for my Grandfathers funeral. It was both a sad and a happy affair. There was lots of family, and we heard stories about Grandpapa (esp from the war years) that we’d not heard before – as it was something he rarely if ever talked about. Great to be re-united with Cousins Catherine & Thomas – last time we were together was in Venice I think.

It was great to see my nephew (Oliver) growing up (2.5 years will do that to you) and getting on with his cousin (Marta) who I’d not met before..

Have had a great time with family so far… pictures to follow – in the meantime a short video…