What can you do with a pool, trampoline & slide

Have a lot of fun!!!!!!

2008 comes to an end

Poppy & Azalea & Betsy perform a great farewell dance for their teacher Miss Monica



A sad day as Miss Monica leaves Woodford School

Our wonderful guards

Well 2008 is fast coming to an end and life has been busy with "endings" We've had work parties, school parties, security guard parties and the normal busyness that is associated with all of these things. Its been a full on year for us, not least of all because Carl has spent 20 weeks living and working in PNG.

We have been very blessed with good people around us that make life that little bit easier.

We've had the same 6 guards for nearly 18 months now so they are very much part of the family and do lots around the property to keep it in good order. I sleep well at night knowing they are looking after things for us.

Cathy has been an absolute angel and has done a wonderful job filling in the parenting gaps when Carl is away. She does school pick ups many days, looks after Tobias on his days off as well as keeping the house spotless. We wouldnt survive without her.

We've also had great friends who have helped and supported me when I have had a school pick up emergency, or just needed some adult conversation on a Friday night!!

Tomorrow me and the kids head off to Brisbane and then NZ for 5 weeks with Carl joining us in 10 days. It is a much needed break for me...and 2009 looks to be as busy as 2008 with lots of exciting work challenges ahead for me. My contract goes to Juen 2009 with strong possibilities of extensions beyond that. Looks like Solomons might be home for a bit longer yet.

The IRD Christmas Party Recipe

Me and some of my wonderful workmates




Three of these girls were living in Palmerston North until recently. Their Dad's - who are managers I work with - were studying at Massey and they went to Central Normal school right opposite where our house was.




Inland Revenue is renown for good Christmas Parties. We have recently enjoyed another successful event. So what's the recipe for an IRD Christmas Bash?

- One beautiful sunny day & a glorious beach
- 12 very hard working female staff who do all the cooking and food preparation
- Even more not so hard working men who drink all the beer
- Not enough soft drinks and always too much beer
- A pig....who wished they werent the guest of honour
- A great number of "01's" (wives) and children who enjoy a day out
- A smattering of "02's" (who the O1's may or may not know about) to keep everyone
talking
- Any number of staff who have been terminated over the years for a variety of offences including theft, corruption, arson......all is forgiven for the Christmas party.
- A speech from the Commissioner ... and a speech from the ex Comissioner who has recently narrowly escaped corruption charges!!

What can I say...another great IRD party. I wouldnt miss them for the world!!