UK trip continued

We had mostly brilliant sunshine except for the last 2 days but that just helped us leave.

We didn't have any long stopovers just a few hours in Dubai and Brisbane. Emily commented on how the airports were just like shopping malls and she was right and almost all airports look the same and have the same stuff to buy.

The final part of our journey was our domestic flight from Auckland to Napier. We always arrange a few hours between our international arrival and our domestic flight this time it was 3hours on a late Friday afternoon in miserable wet winter weather in the dreary domestic terminal (it just isn't as comfortable as the international terminal). We were all exhausted from our almost continuous flight and then our domestic flight was delayed by another hour.

We eventually got back to Napier our booked taxi was waiting for us and when we arrived bcak in our new house a friend had dropped off some cheese scones and milk

One of the best things about the trip was having time to read- I read Food Inc the book about the film of the same name which covers the Food industry in the US. The moneyless man - a year living without money definitely lots to think about and Born to run- life changing story first time in a long time I haven't wanted to put a book down.

More info on these books tomorrow.

Join the movement and we'll start a revolution - stop all unnecessary shopping - separate your needs from your wants.

UK trip more details

I can actually say I enjoyed this trip to the UK, I know this because I missed being on holiday after we got back.

We had summer weather that we dreamed of but never fully expected. This gave us extra space in the in-laws small house by eating most of our meals in the garden. It also allowed us to take the the children for walks in the local fields and woods whilst the in-laws carried out their morning ritual of getting up at the same time and having exactly the same breakfast at exactly the same time everyday.

Our plan of booking two trips to other accommodation worked well Center Parcs at sherwood forest was good and the in-laws visited for days out. And we went to Pontins in Southport for four days to visit my Dad and my brother Jason came to stay there as well with his wife and my new niece. Chloe-Anne who is 18months was a good ice breaker and Emily and Cameron took to her instantly and she likewise took to them. We had a great visit with Dad just eating out and going for walks along New Brighton beach (where dad used to take us as kids) and took the children on Mersey Ferry. The only downside was Pontins, it was dreadful, run down , deadly I had stayed there for a week about 33years ago before moving to South Africa with my family. I remeber it being fun however it looked like it hadn't been maintained or decorated in that 33years we stayed only 2 of the 4 nights we had booked and paid for and went somewhere else for the next night and headed back to the in-laws in Doncaster a day earlier. Teresa left a gerat comment on their feedback form 'Are there no minimum standards' and 'Don't you ever get inspected'

It wasn't just the accommodation, it was also the travel through Liverpool in rush hour traffic back to Southport it was taking an hour and a half

And that wasn't the only driving causing problems , in Hawkes bay and in New Zealand generally there is really very little traffic congestion, but to get back to Doncaster from Liverpool we has to travel past Manchester and the level of traffic finally got to Teresa and she had to pull into the motorway services in floods of tears.

Organic food was easy to find in the local Sainsbuty's and we found local farms selling their own meat which was also great.

The inlaws had arranged a hire car - it was supposed to be an Astra but we had a huge up grade to a top of the line ford mondeo which was huge and both of us had trouble parking, it was a diesel and was very very efficient

There's a bit more to go which I'll write tomorrow.

Join the movement and we'll start a revolution - stop all unnecessary shopping - separate your needs from your wants.

UK trip

Much better trip to the UK 19June-16 July but the flight never really gets easier. Details next post.

Join the movement and we'll start a revolution - stop all unnecessary shopping - separate your needs from your wants.

I'm trying to get back.

I'm trying to get back to blogging after a hectic couple of months.

Join the movement and we'll start a revolution - stop all unnecessary shopping - seperate your needs from your wants.

Still seeking motivation for training

Training is still a struggle at present. There seems to be so many other things going on, with children , the house and of course the big trip to the UK where I know I'll have no training opportunities unless I can start running again. I plan to try tomorrow.

My best training has been cycling to and from swiming twice a week and my longer weekend ride. I've been enjoying swimming after I've made myself go. And last Sunday I enjoyed cycling in the rain.

Last weekend we finished most of the packing for the move on the 11thJune and the waiting has been getting to us. specially as one day this week I had to drive over to Napier 3times. We keep saying afetr the 11th we will hardly be using the car.

Business is also so very busy and I've had good responses from long term clinets about the redesigns of there websites. My favourite is Ericksen Honda particularly Matt who is so upbeat and positive and really appreciates my effort. He passed on a compliment from the Honda bosses in Auckland who apparently loved it and wished the main Honda website could me more like it.

Other fun clients are twin wedding photograpers, one has recently just recovered from a disease that almost took a leg but she is still more positive than some of my other clients.

A new project I thought I had just finished, a simple online registration of tradespeople who would be matched to jobs by an agent, has just become a lot more complicated and is evolving into something bigger minute by minute. The clients Sue and David are just realising all the possibilities there 'simple' website could do. And now they have big plans and I just hope I have the skills or can learn the skills for what they want.

These are all positive people who appreciate my efforts and knowledge and advice. But I get a lot of negative people who don't say thankyou and just nit pick about nothing. I had a new experience yesterday, a client who runs an electrical company, wanted me to do another website for his wifes holiday home business. So I finished meeting with them and went straight to talk to one of their employees who I just finished a website for his holiday home. He told me he basically didn't like part of the design (an essential). I consult my clients about the design and way before any coding is done then I show them and consult again after I have coded a proper page because as I go along I make changes, take things out, add details or something might not work as well I thought. But he decides to tell me this when it is finished this has never happened at this stage of the process before. I always have a meeting after I've finished, a sort of refinement meeting , changing little tings maybe a word here and there or a photo. I went home in a grump and had to recode my pages. I wasted an afternoon I had earmarked for another client. And there was no thankyou or a sorry. I just try and remember the positives and try not to dwell on it.

Join the movement and we'll start a revolution - stop all unnecessary shopping - separate your needs from your wants.