Hi there, as you will all no doubt be aware, today the 21st of September is one of the more significant dates of the calendar year, yes it's my Birthday!! It's a stunning late summer day today here in London - clear blue skies and 27 deg forecast, which is quite ironic given that is how old I am today. It's the first birthday I've had where I awoke at 6.30am to find my stunning daughter had been plonked on my chest which was very cool and then the most amazing thing happened. Alexa uttered her first words. She said in a very matter of fact manner - "Dad, you are the greatest dad a girl could ever wish for and you don't look a day over 27. I am going to make you really proud of me, I am going to win Wimbledon one day and then I am going to buy you the Porsche that mummy won't let you have because I can't fit in it". Now, you have to admit, that is pretty impressive stuff for a 7 month old and what a way to start your birthday. I was blown away.

We are now based at Shaun and Kirsty's lovely home in Wandsworth, having spent all of last weekend doing some last minute DIY and a thorough clean up of Turtle House ahead of our tenant moving in on Monday. A big thanks to brother Mark who helped us with this and with shifting all our gear to Twilley St. Mark also snapped off these 2 great photos of Alexa while we worked. By the time we finished late on Sunday evening Turtle House (front, middle and back) was immaculate and I have to say it was pretty damn sad leaving the place - it has been a wonderful home for us over the last few years, plenty of great memories...

Anyway, moving on... today is my second to last day at work, which is a pretty decent state of affairs I reckon. Ashurst has been a great firm to work for and I will be leaving behind some great mates/colleagues but I am more than ready for a change of scene now. I am not entirely sure what that scene will look like (apart from general setting being Auckland) but that sense of uncertainly is quite exciting of itself - no doubt the next few months of travel will give me/us a great chance to think more about what NZ life we want to make for our family when we get back home. 2 key thoughts occurred to me as I left for work this morning. Firstly, I can't wait to spend the next 2-3 months saying goodbye to London and discoving new places with my girls and secondly, I can't wait to get back home to family and friends in NZ.

Jonesey - get the snapper rods ready mate!


Talk soon.

DCS

Visiting Rachael

Yesterday, after our singing class, Alexa and I hopped onto a train for Richmond. There we caught up with Rachael, a good friend from work. She and I used to be gym buddies, encouraging each other to keep attending the body pump class and to go a weight heavier.

We started off with a cup of tea and a play on the mat, then wandered out for a spot of shopping followed by lunch. Alexa enjoyed herself playing on the mat with a plastic cup. Here are a few shots. Alexa is into studying faces at the moment.