All's quiet on the southern front. Things are settling into something like a normal pattern here now, no major news or adventure to report, just day to day stuff. We've been biking into work for a few weeks now, it's a pretty nice ride along the river bank for most of the way, avoiding the traffic. Malc's work is really well equipped for it, with a bike lockup just round the corner and a shower in the office.

The weather is behaving a bit like a typical English spring, with wild swings from boiling hot to pouring rain. One thing that is really starting to kick in is the infamous Canturbury 'Nor-wester' wind. This is a foehn wind, like the Chinook wind in the US. As the wind comes accross the Alps from the west it looses all it's moisture, and heats up as it descends down to Canterbury. It's hard to describe what its like, the wind is very strong and gusty but really warm and dry. We found ourselves sat outside in it at 9.30pm the other night with shorts and t-shirts on.

Last weekend was pretty good fun. We had a surprise visit from Dan and Clare on Sunday as they had decided to go on a last minute trip to LA to see Dan's mum. They flew from Nelson to Christchurch and then had all day to wait for their international flight, so we took them around a few of the sights and then dropped them back at the airport. Then Sunday night was the city fireworks display off the New Brighton pier. It was another of these surreal, out of season experiences, sitting on the beach in a t-shirt watching the fireworks. Pretty awesome display, and we were really gratefull to be locals and not have to sit in the traffic for 2 hours aftwerwards.

The arrival of Annies mum (or 'Nana-geddon' as it has become known) is on us this weekend, and the week after we are taking a week off to do some travelling, looking forward to being tourists again.

Thanks for reading, check back soon!

Spring has arrived, the clocks have gone forward, and right on cue the weathers turned to poo. 3 cloudy days in a row is a new record! Temperatures were supposedly a record high in September so I guess it's payback.

Weekend before last we took big Al for his first camping experience. Got a double mattress which just fits in the back, very cosy. We spent the night at Hanmer Springs, taking a night time dip in the hot pools which was pretty nice.

The next morning we pootled across Lewis Pass to the west coast, and up to Nelson to see Dan and Clare. They were both well, and pretty settled into their new pad (pictured), with nice views out across the hillside. All too soon we had to head back, this time going around the top of the island and back to Christchurch down the east coast. We were merrily bouncing along with about 120km left to go when Annie pointed out how the diesel was almost on empty. We turned around to go back to the last town (Cheviot) to fill up, but at 8pm on Sunday night the place was a ghost town, with everything shut. We decided not to risk driving the last stretch on fumes and settled down for the night in a layby, with a 7am rise to be outside the petrol station for opening time ready for the blast to Christchurch and straight into work. Not the best start to the week.

We had to have medicals (again) for our residency applications, as the ones we had for our work permits have expired. Annie asked the doctor if she should worry about her finger that has been wonky since falling over on the nutcracker lift at Hanmer ski-field. He booked her an x-ray, and it turns out she has 'mallet finger'. It is basically broken, and she has to wear an attractive plastic splint for 6 weeks. Not a happy bunny.

The ski season seems to be over, with many of the fields now shut for the season. So now it's surfing time. Malc has finally purchased a board and has been out a couple of times. The water is still only 10 degrees C, but pretty bearable in a wetsuit. It's an easy walk to the beach with the board, and with the clocks going forward last weekend, hopefully much evening floundering should ensue ...

This weeks top purchase was a second hand laz-e-boy rocking / reclining chair. After sitting on them at Dan and Clare's we decided we had to have one. In a nutshell ... it rocks!