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

If you’re about and want to meet up for a pint:

Social Pint in London
Where: 223 Grove Road
When: Monday, July 14 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm

and Dublin…

Cobblestone Bar
Where: 77 North King Street
When: Friday, July 25 from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Be great to see you!

Correction – am back to Europe in July (3 days time) not in August as I had said!

So – on the 27th June my wonderful (but old) Grandfather (mums side) passed away. While it is always sad when these things happen – he was almost 95, and healthy and lucid right up to the end.

I wasn’t planning on going home – but Dad suggested that they could help out a bit, and 6 hours later I’d booked my flights back. I arrive into Europe on the 11th July into Heathrow. Will spend about 8 days in England at the funeral, and then back to Ireland for the rest.

About a year ago the family had booked a cottage in Co. Clare (West coast of Ireland) for a week… everyone was going to be there – my parents, my siblings & husbands, wives, and children. Rather a large party. But no me. But now I can make it (yay)… so really really looking forward to that one.

Guinness will be drunk, games will be played, traditional music listened to…. and a reasonable amount of promoting the New Zealand lifestyle. I hope to meet up with as many friends as I can while I’m over there…

On Sunday went for a hike up Mt. Richardson with Mark & Christine and Maaike. Lots of fun and great to be out in the snow. Maaike is getting a few interviews now so that’s been great… hopefully by the time I get back she’ll be in a new exciting job :)

So… just chatting with my wonderful (and fluky at Scrabble) cousin Thomas… who informs me that my brother Matthew & wife Helene now have a red MG.

These are things one ought to hear first hand.

Finally… an addition from Matt’s PhD Supervisor (David MacKay) on Climate Change. Seems to be saying that Nuclear is the way to go as a stopgap..

Would someone clever please invent (cold) fusion. Soon. Like.. now..

Odd’s ‘n ends post this one. Firstly – a panorama from a most enjoyable walk on the Port Hills with Maaike… good to get out and stretch the legs at the weekend – even if not quite managing to get away from the city.

This week I had a trip up to Auckland for meetings… it was a ridiculously early start (05:40 flight). Still, I was in town by 07:30 so had time for a nice chai latte before work.

On the way back down I saw the following picture – which I thought was quite hilarious. I should have shown you the full picture as there was a mural spanning all around the room….