Surprise!!

And yes he was surprised to see us so early! We had a really good trip north despite the over turned trees and broken branches through Levin. hat a time they had on Thursday through that storm, but there was lots of clearing happening when e came through.

We got to National Park just on 2pm, wwent down to the cafe to say hello and then headed to the house. We crept next dood to school and sat chatting with the Principal for a while before going into the hall to see our boy. The kids around him asked if we were his parents - the school is so small all the kids know all the parents and clearly we were unknown therefore we had to be Colin's parents. We followed them back to class, where they were dismissed for the day and then had a chance to see Colin's artwork and other school work and chat to his teacher.

And then Colin asked if he could go to a friend for a while! I was so pleased about that so he went off to his friend, we unpacked and had a cup of tea. When he came home, he was all over us - even after dinner he just had to sit next to us and touch us.

He talked about his being homesick and how he cried every night but by the Thursday he was feeling better. He knows that he will be sad on Sunday but also has expressed how lucky he is and pleased that he has this chance.

Colin is also working hard at school - he has to - he's the only Yr 8 boy so is unable to diasappear into the crowd! Because it is such a small class, there are very few behavioural problems so the kids can just get on and learn - Colin acknowledges this too and that he's enjoying it.

We are doing nothing today - it is wet and miserable out so I made pain au chocolat for breakfast and now we're just relaxing in front of the fire.

We may head up to Piper's Lodge tonight to watch the rugby (don't laugh) and tomorrow, Colin wants us to go to the cafe "Out of the Fog" for breakfast