General update, and a pledge!

Hi everyone,

I've gotten slack on the blogging, and I need to fix that. I guess when you fall into a routine, it is easy to forget to share your thoughts and stories, since you don't feel like you have any. But I am still learning new things, meeting new people, and seeing new sights every single day. I think I just needed to remind myself of that.

Last weekend we stayed around the house. Our activities are always dependent on the weather, and it was rainy and blustery. We left the house just long enough to go to the grocery store, and we did manage a quick picnic by the sea on Sunday. We bought salad and fruit and some rolls and ate in Shorland Park, so I guess all was not lost.

It is a three day weekend here this weekend (NZ's Labour Day). It sort of snuck up on us, and so we didn't have anything planned. We were considering a last minute trip back to the Tongariro Crossing, but once again, the weather looks like poo. It is an eight hour hike, so if you get wet and cold, it would be pretty miserable. So our Plan B is Martinborough, the wine region. Plan C is an island in Wellington Harbour and a day trip to Days Bay. We'll see what happens.

In the meantime I'm busy planning for my parents' visit. I can't wait to see them and show them around! We booked the ferry, which will be all of our first trip to the South Island. We are spending two nights in the sunny, arty town of Nelson, and the day in between will be spent at the Abel Tasman National Park.

Work is going well. My boss and I have agreed on my schedule, which means I'll be working from 9 until 1.30 for the foreseeable future. The buses from Island Bay can be pretty unreliable in the mornings, so at least I'm able to continue taking the express bus. It easily cuts the communiting time in half. I also get to wake up after 7am and catch the bus with Rory, which makes the mornings pleasant.

Rory just had his first performance review, and it went very well. So it seems that we are both settled in our jobs for now.

It is windy out at the moment (surprise, surprise). I need to walk to the grocery store and cook dinner...my usual late afternoon activities. :)

Love, Amy

P.S. My thoughts go out to the American couple that was attacked in Ecuador. You are always at risk when you are traveling, and it could have easily been Rory and I. In fact, reading their blog (sudamericadventure.blogspot.com), they were just in Guatemala a few weeks ago. My best wishes to them.