And we're back....

And playing catch up. While dealing with an avalanche of work. And a horrid cold (thanks long haul flights). War, homelessness, poverty and stupidity aside, is there anything worse than having a cold in the middle of summer? Arghhhh....

But Laos was fabulous and pics will be forthcoming. In the meantime, for your reading pleasure, here's one of two stories I have in the latest Renovate Magazine (click here to read).

 

  

Cold

Someone has sat on the remote and fast-forwarded to winter.

Today on my walk to work I was swaddled like the Michelin Man (although I do love any opportunity to whip out the softest leather gloves I bought in Seoul last year).

Yesterday, when the weather gods hadn't totally lost their marbles, I arranged a post-work Monday run with a friend from my running group, Jeanne-Marie (French, been in NZ a couple of months, adorable). I spent most of this afternoon hoping against hope she would cancel and I could chain myself to the radiator and drink hot tea until it scaled my lips. But she didn't and so tonight we ran like mad women into the teeth of a southerly gale and tried in vain to keep our extremities warm. But it was good to catch up on the gossip and now it is done.

I cannot insert myself into the European summer quickly enough.

This little guy has buggar all to do with being cold but thought I should share, given it's the cutest wee thing I've seen in a long time (Bristol the Wonder Dog excepted, of course).

(Pic credit: Tumblr) 

Home

Three days ago I was contemplating marrying the air conditioner.

Today I had about my person copious amounts of merino, including a cardigan, coat, tights and gloves. We have plunged back into the depths of winter and I am about to set myself on fire just to keep warm.

By the time we got home from the airport it was 1.00am and I managed to make it into work by 11. Sadly by 4.30pm I had lost the power of coherent thought so called it a day. I am now about to crawl into bed. No time/energy for pictures today so instead you shall have these delightful images of the house sitters and dog walkers who cared for His Highness so well in our absence. He, and we, thank you.