A Night Out

Wendy and Martin went out to the annual dentists' get together at a fashionable winery on Friday.  It may be midsummer and I may be typing this in 27 ℃ (81℉) but they got dressed up in their Scottish garb for the occasion:

Together

We went for a walk last evening.

Wendy and Martin walked on ahead of me

Comfortable

On Reflection

It is already three days since Sunday. Time to have let the mind settle. Time to be thankful. On Sunday when I was in Wanganui playing in a Croquet Tournament The Family and other families with whom they are friends were at Waimarama Beach to the South of Hastings. The beach is a favourite for family days out. There was an events day on the beach. which was, consequently, crowded. Later in the afternoon when the children had been playing in the surf for quite a while, one of the children got out of his depth and into danger. Martin went in to save him and got him out of the water but was then left without a body board and the waves suddenly became large and a severe rip started. Martin was dragged out into the waves. Although a strong swimmer he was, by this time, tired and, with no body board, was in difficulty: very severe difficulty. The lifeguards were too far away and, despite everyone on the beach waving they and their three rescue boats remained at station. Fortunately a former lifeguard and another strong swimmer went in and, eventually, brought themselves and Martin out.

This blog isn't the place to analyse what went wrong. Suffice to say lessons have been learned. Whilst the trauma will not be forgotten life will return to normal.

I wasn't there but every time I think about it my blood runs cold.

If ever there was a time to be thankful this is it.

The Traveller Departs

As I write this Martin is probably landing in Los Angeles (without a shadow of a doubt the worst airport through which I have ever had the misfortune to travel) on his way to Edinburgh.  So until 12 January with school holidays, life with four children will be interesting.  At least here the sun is shining  and the weather is warm.   Ah yes.  Breakfast on the deck again this morning I think.

A Man and His BBQ

In New Zealand a man is judged by the size of his BBQ rather than by the size of , well, anything else really.  Martin now has a really big BBQ.  Wea ssembled it on Christmas Day morning on the deck of The Cottage at 32 deg in the shade.  How great was that?