LC set me a bad example at Christmas and asked Santa for an I-pod. So impressed was I that I cashed in my credit card loyality points and obtained an I-pod Nano. Re-named I-Pod "Nana" by the rest of the family (apparently I have loaded it with "Nana music" although frankly my Nana never have listened to Fela Kuti and Jah Wobble).
I make no apology for deserting my Blog for so many days as I now have over 4.5 days' of I-poddy music to listen to. I tried it out this evening when pulling ragwort in the back field but forgot to lock the volume and found that it kept turning itself down and then the heavens opened and ruined my fun.
Yep, at last, today, we have rain. Watering the Elton John's hair-transplantesque lawn and the saplings has taken over an hour a day. The lack of rain has also played havoc with our water tanks. We have one tank from a bore to serve the house and another tank fed from the roof of the house to feed the farm. Both have been playing up and at one stage this week, showers and washing machines were on strict ration.
AT THIS POINT THE COMPUTER DECIDED TO PUBLISH MY BLOG WITHOUT PERSMISSION. SO I GUESS THAT WAS A HINT TO SHUT UP.
Never one to take a hint .... 
We have now finished our Christmas break and Mr Not, once again, departs the house for his park bench at 7.30am daily. The children and I still have until 7th February to enjoy our relaxed mornings. JT and LC have been taking it in turns to make breakfast whilst Mog and I do farm-type chores and finish them just in time to eat it. Next week LC and I are heading off to see Billy Bragg (whenever a fellow West Ham fan comes to NZ it is customary to hunt them down and commiserate!) We haven't seen him since a Firemen's benefit in about 2003 when LC spent all evening blagging free badges and stickers from Union Reps and grabbing autographs from anyone who would stand still long enough. She came back with "some old man's" signature which turned out to be Ian McLaggan and spent ages showing her autograph book to "someone's Dad" (Glen Matlock!?). Sadly, she is now older and less brazen!
One more silly thing before I head for my bed. We have had a couple of trips to the beach recently (part of my NY's resolution to have a bit of a life beyond the garden gate!) On Sunday evening there was a band playing outside one of the beach bars and a glamorous young lady singing cover versions. Her first number was U2's hit 'Vertigo' which commenced with a rousing cry of ... and I quote... "Uno, Dos, Très, Quatorze" ??
?? and nobody noticed. Not one person sniggered. Oh yes, well maybe one! 
Nighty morning a toute le monde 
