33rd Wedding Anniversary.

Today, I celebrate 33 years of marriage to my Darling wife Irene. We have really been blessed. We have had 33 years of happiness, three wonderful sons who we are VERY proud of and we live in a beautiful country albeit wet. What more can I want?

Another Sunday another week

It's Sunday and another week has gone by and a shit week it was. My better half spent three days at a sustainability conference in Palmerston North, there was a bug in my MRP programme at work and the weather was not too marvelous, none of which helped me in my constant battle against depression. However, every dark cloud has a silver lining, Darren popped in for a quick visit, it always cheers me up when he visits and also Evan gives me lots of hugs, so what more can a dad ask for? Although it would be great to have all three of the boys here, or should I say all four of the boys. (Grandson as well)
Well, lets all have a good week 'till next time.

Sunday Evening

So it's Sunday evening. Spent most of the day painting and framing my pics. Really rewarding.
I find Sunday eveninings a little depressing - work tomorrow

My first posting

This is my first posting.
It is Saturday evening after a cool but sunny day in Auckland, New Zealand. After returning from our usual Saturday morning shopping excursion, I spent the afternoon painting in the conservatory which we have renamed "The Studio". I am into painting sunsets and sunrises at the moment and am busy with two right now. One is of a South African Bush sunset and the other is of the sun setting behind "The Houses of Parliament" Westminster, London. Both are from photos which I saw in a travel brochure and are completely different in style. I must say that my preference is of African scenes, probably because they remind me of my birthplace which I long to see again.
Talking of Africa, for my birthday, my family clubbed together and bought us tickets to see "The Soweto Gospel Singers" who are touring New Zealand in July. They all know (the family that is) that anything remotely African brings on a flood of emotional tears of homesickness. So I will spend the entire performance with tears rolling down my cheaks. They have been warned.
Winter in New Zealand is, for me, a very depressing time. I don't mind the cold, though I don't love it, but I really hate the wet. Put the two together and you have a very depressed Alf. New Zealand has winter rains and the fact that we have the coldest houses in the world doesn't help in lightening my mood. Funny, but the winters I have spent in London didn't seem to worry me, maybe it is because I was younger then or maybe London has so much more to offer. In the words of Samuel Johnson "No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."
I think the fact that we will be visiting our Son, Grandson and other relatives in London at Christmas, will get me through this winter. Roll on Chistmas.