Kwazar and Keplar

My Dear Princess and Dear Friends,

It was a very social day for us today. Tiger and Loulou popped around in the afternoon for the usual filthy chat 'n' larfs. Their big news items were that:

- Tiger has a new job, sadly not with me at Kainga Ora
- Loulou's mastectomy op has been moved up to mid-October

Loulou is naturally apprehensive, yet upbeat about her upcoming operation. She can now see the light at what has been the end of a year long tunnel. She is just amazing; she has never left us or retreated into self-pity. She makes cancer seem like a bit of a bother. 

I'm sure she feels differently inside. I honestly want to just give her big hugs whenever I see her but she'd probably tell me off for making too big of a fuss about it. 

After they left, Caro and I were off to Paremata for an evening o' fun with Shenée and Craig. And it was even better than that because when we arrived Ellie was there too! With Aubrey! And her fiancée AJ who you have not met yet, but who also works at Kainga Ora. 

They couldn't stay long, but before they left we were all given the grand tour of the house. Shenée and Craig are in the middle of renovating what sounds to have been a real fixer-upper. There is so much work left to do and I was shocked at how much they've done so far - not just in fixing up the house but in clearing thick brambles and fixing up the garden.

The good news is that - one day - it will be so worth it. Their house is on a large section of land (Craig was speculating that theoretically he could get the house moved*, spin it 90 degrees and fit a second house on the land). Also they have a stunning view right over the harbour. 

Shenée's best friend Laura and her husband Dan then turned up, but more importantly they turned up with two friendly Boston Terriers called Baxter and Chubbs. See the extra for Caro getting a cuddle from Baxter.

Shenée made her infamous "Zulu curry" which was delicious and then we all retired to the lounge for games. Caro had not been enthused about this. She is not so much into games, but as it turns out she is Bananagrams diva and loved it so much she now wants to buy the game. We had a lovely time and, more importantly, I could see how happy it made Shenée to have us there, to show off her South African things, talk about her recipe, and just let us see who she is. 

A big part of who both Shenée and Craig are, are animal lovers. In today's main blip, you see Kwazar and Keplar whose names I may have spelled incorrectly. Because Shenée is of a scientific bent, they are named for quasars and Johannes Kepler respectively but I recall she said she had Saffy-fied their names a little. You get the idea. 

So a thoroughly social Saturday, and here I am on Sunday morning with Caro vowing not to do ANYTHING or talk to ANYONE. I know what she means. My favourite thing of all is to be just us. I love being with her, even if she's busy doing something else, even when she's not even looking at me, or talking to me or even being awake. 

Honestly, she could be out clearing brambles all day and I would still be happy. 

Dammit. She's not taking the hint.

S.

* Because most Kiwi houses are weatherboard instead of brick and tile, this is something they do. It is still weird to me.