There and Back and Starting Again

Sophie and me to Sydney - an uneventful leaving on her UK passport and a visa for Australia (her NZ one had expired).
Sophie and me back to Auckland - an extremely eventful afternoon getting an emergency NZ passport (back into Sydney from the airport to the consulate, interview there, off to get passport photos, phone Qantas for docs to be faxed, back, for more talk at the Consulate, the promise of a passport, drawing breath -
- and the magical appearance of an actual emergency passport.

So's Sophie could come back into NZ, a privelege which, apparently, she would otherwise be refused.
Back to the airport, and a ne'er-so-well deserved sit down with the rather pleasant, fresh, delicious Qantas lounge food.

The showing of Sophie to be the real thing - calm and cheerful after a brief explosion of emotion, almost running around, no complaining, stamina, everything required to manage an unexpected rather big woopsie.

Fantastic.

Experiences of Coogee, Manly * 2, swimming, walking along the clifftops, shopping, the ferry, the movies in the heat of the afternoon, finishing Harry Potter for the 35th time, the Sydney classic snack/meal (lemon/lime/bitters or beer + wedges, sour cream, sweet chili sauce), a meal at the pub Gerald had particularly enjoyed (outside in the garden), lovely thick starchy hotel sheets, Darling Harbour, The Rocks, a new dress, vegemite toast, hot, hot weather.

And home to Alex's results.
He was relieved, perhaps, apart from a disappointment in maths.
Passes in everything, an A for IT.
What I would like? For Alex to enjoy the learning for its own sake, and to relax into a year without undue emotional stress.

A huge,, huge tree branch broken in the storm, fallen onto the roof of our porch. Insurers coming - but not till next week in this torrid claims environment. Andrew had done me another favour and part cleaned it up - enough that it was a manageable disaster. More nice things done by caring people.

Alex is back at school.
Sophie starts next Wednesday.

Loving the challenges.