Brother from another mother

I met up with my FFL* and his wife at Kakanui this afternoon. We sat at a picnic table eating scones, drinking coffee and catching up on months of news. 

The three dogs (Bean, Reilly and Bryn) rumbled around us, running up and down from the beach, expending far more energy than their humans did.

Among other things, FFL spent a month trekking in Nepal in April with their children, so there were plenty of tales and photos to be shared. What an adventure.

They are spending the long weekend viewing properties with a view to buying a place round here, in good time before official retirement, and to which they might retire early.

I am excited about this news. There is an end in sight to our long distance friendship between here and Chchch, where they currently live. 

Between 2011 and 2015 FFL and I worked together three days a week on Banks Peninsula, which is where we cemented our friendship and vowed to be unrelated siblings. I have really missed him in the nine years since I moved south, making do with our catch-ups when he has come down to their crib in Moeraki.

They are viewing R's property tomorrow - immediately after I have spent the morning gardening there - then coming to Chez M&B for a bowl of soup before heading home to Chchch again. It would be magic if they fell in love with R's place. Too much to hope for I think!

The first day of winter went well.

However, I haven't spent much time on Blip!

Thank you so much for the responses to my sil's good news yesterday.

* Friend For Life