Well we're back in NZ visiting friends. Not much has changed, sure there's the occasional new building on the skyline, but the traffic is still absolutely horrendous (2 hours from the airport mid-afternoon), and there's so much wind and rain it's been constantly cold and damp since we got here. Okay sometimes I complain about the heat in Brisbane, but I'm kinda wishing it was a few degrees warmer now. Micky's already got the sniffles (she just sneezed and blew snot everywhere! gross!).

We did some catching up with friends yesterday which was good. Got some of the mundanities we'd been craving out of the way, like going to the local shops, having a walk on the beach, that kind of thing. It was nice to just turn up and visit people, and have them be pleased to see you. Absence does make the heart grow fonder! I dropped Micky at the other branch of the family for a visit, which I was kinda loathe to do - I don't like to see them hurt her. But it went well for her, and she stood up to them and did herself proud. Good to catch up with Bron and her brood. It's amazing how much kids grow and develop in 10 months. Unfortunately missed out on catching up with Sim, so we'll have to try to see him again later in the week. Apparently his blood pressure is pretty elevated at the moment because he left reapplying for his work visa a bit late. Hope it all works out for them.