Yes, yu're quite right. Nothing is happening here. Once more, to school, home from school...you get the idea. Christopher is munching his way through a cookie while playing with Lego, Matthew has gone to Mason's house again and I'm typing meaningless words into a log for nobody to read.

It's been a very quiet day. A couple of phone calls, but not much else. After school, Matthew went to play at Mason's house, while Christopher came home and played as usual. At tea-time, we ahd the usual easy Monday meal of tuna and corn chips. Soon after that, bruce came round to collect some certificates Viv had produced for the Toastmasters club (competition prizewinners, participation certificates and some blanks).

I cannot believe how much trouble and how many tears can result from Christopher's inability to spell awhile, centre, chocolate, different and disappeared. He then read part of a story to me and the boys had their drinks and went to bed. A quiet day, so far. It will probably remain so.

Less than a month on. This time, Viv is off with David, leaving me with the two younger boys. This time, David is going to a school camp in the Marlborough Sounds, staying at Gem Resort (or, to give it a more usual pronunciation, "Jim Resort"). As the announcer at The Warehouse said yesterday, "Fireworks marked down to sivin for tin dollars".

We went to the big civic fireworks display in central Wellington last night, starting at nine o'clock - which meant it was a late night for us all. All the boys fell asleep on the train home.

Unfortunately, it's also an early start this morning. Viv and David need to be at school at seven o'clock, no later than 7:30.So after a stumbling start to the morning, we were soon on our way, dropping Viv and David and their bags at school, followed by another trip to drop off their biscuits which they are bringing for the morning snack.

The rest of the day will be under way shortly. I can't believe that it will bear too many similarities to the last trip, but we'll see: it's schooldays not holidays, the selection of boys is different and I'll be at home rather than wandering around up to Auckland and things. Probably at least some days will see trips to the workplace for bits and pieces.