I had a lovely birthday on Saturday with good wishes from all over, including from our good friends in Canada, Don and Deb. Mike and Nic joined us for dinner which was cooked by Kev in great style emulating Annabel Langbein! I think we have just about finished all of our bookings and are coming closer to the time when we start thinking about what we are going to take away with us. Shoes are always a problem as they weigh so much and yet you need to have a selection for all circumstances. I tried on a pair of boat shoes yesterday - yes thinking about our canal trip and really want to look the part!

We are still getting after shocks from the earthquake but things have settled down a little the past week. I think Japan's terrible situation has had a hugely sobering effect on us all in NZ when we think how much worse things could have been!