So we survived Keith and Sophies' visit(!) and started February by farming the kids out and heading off down to Wellington for the New Zealand Sevens tournament. Two days of partying amongst 34,000 loonies mostly in the most bizarre fancy dress. Anything from Elvis to the Flintstones and doctors to gospel choirs and everything in between. (that included Borat in his fluoro thong!)

The house build is coming on but a lot slower than we would like, we should hopefully be in by the time Neil and Jenny get here towards Easter.

We head off to the South Island at the start of March where I am doing a mountain bike race(!) around Arrowtown ( www.motatapu.co.nz ) with John Cantillon. Jax and Briar will probably have to kill time sampling the local Pinot Noir. Hope also to spend a night cruising to Milford Sound before returning to Wangavegas once more......

Jennie, Ollie and Alex all go back to school this week, we are ready for it but I'm not sure about the kids. Jennie away at the moment til Tuesday with a group of ten friends up at Lake Taupo.

Jaxs' Hotmail account no-longer working so use either jonnyost@xtra.co.nz or jackiepaine@xtra.co.nz (sic) the misspelling of jacqui/jackie is courtesy of NZ telecom and cannot be corrected as technology does not permit it!!