Showing posts with label Jamie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jamie. Show all posts

Tuesday, 3 December 2013

I'm Back! So is Jamie.

Not that I've been physically absent from my home; just from Blogland (apart from the occasional visit).  All this living the 'real' life can be very frustrating.  I keep wondering what my Blogland friends are up to and what I am missing.  Of course croquet is to blame.  There was a national tournament taking place at the two local clubs (the one I play at and Te Mata in Havelock North - and, no, there isn't a Havelock South or East or West for that matter although there is an unadorned Havelock down in South Island).  I also had a croquet friend staying which took care of the evenings.  By the time we'd gone over the day's play, eaten and so on it was time for bed and a 6am start for another 9 hours on the lawns (and, in my case over an hours travelling time too).  All in all it was 7 full days and yesterday was housework and catching up.  Today was child taxiing and more housework.  

Well that's me up to date.  Wasn't that exciting?  How did I play?  Don't ask!

On Sunday, though life was quite exciting.  I was on the lawn playing my last (and exciting) game before 8am because at midday I had to collect Jamie (The Family's number one son) who was, unbeknown to them returning from his gap year in Europe and working and learning Chinese in China.  In fact for the two days prior to leaving China Jamie had only had Chinese speaking friends and colleagues to talk to.  The return was to be a surprise for The Family.  Which is exactly what it turned out to be.  For Jamie the sudden return to a relatively unpopulated, quiet, organised sort country which spoke English was quite an experience too.

Air New Zealand's ATR 72-212A on the Auckland Napier flight touches down in Napier

First foot on Napier soil
Recognition
Home : "You're not due for another two weeks?!"

Sunday, 2 December 2012

The Gap Year

Jamie, The Family's, 18 year old first born has left for his gap year.  Even I, male used to a son travelling the world, was a bit on the choked side as Jamie got on the plane for his first unaccompanied flight via Auckland, Los Angeles and London Heathrow to Edinburgh before going on to Switzerland for the winter's skiing season (working) and then China to do a course learning Chinese.

The last hour had not been without drama when a problem with the visa waiver for the USA transit was discovered but with the help of the wonderful Air New Zealand staff at Napier Airport all was sorted in time for the first leg of the flight.

That's Jamie in the blue T-shirt
Poor light through a plate glass window at 30x is my excuse for the poor quality
Looks happy!
Ready for the off
Left behind!