Long weekend this weekend as it’s Auckland Anniversary. (Prodigal’s off to the beach with mutual friends: Prodigal Kiwi Blog: Whangamata & Midsummer Murders) So Monday is a holiday in the top half of the North Island and then it’s the first day of the new school year on Tuesday when three on my children head off to kindergarten and school and the days become more structured.

In case you didn’t know in NZ each province celebrates its own anniversary with a public holiday (normally attached to a weekend). The list of dates is at: New Zealand HolidaysI think in South Canterbury they celebrate two! (but I could be wrong about that).

Anyway a long weekend is a nice way to prepare for the rushing about of next week.