The Big Smoke, Toke

Hello all,

This is so excellent in being able to keep up with everyone and everything. Things like trips to New Orleans and tramps and the like are the sorts of things that we would usually miss out on hearing about.

Well, its been a while since I have posted anything, so there has been lot happening. We had the major mill shut about 2-3 weeks ago and it all went very well. I was following a senior engineer around following his jobs and keeping track of progress etc. Worked out well for him as he got a return of gout in his ankle which prevented him from being so accessible around the mill. Also worked out well for me because I got to learn a lot of the ropes without being directly responible for most of it!! The other cool thing about the shut was being able to go inside some of the equipment, such as tanks, stacks and boilers which gives a better understanding of what is going on. Here is a photo I took off one of the maintenance cranes during the May shut:

I was meant to be in Christchurch over this weekend just terminating now for a course, however, it was cancelled and I only found out n the Monday before hand. So that was a shame as I was looking forward to seeing the family and Hannah and friends, but I am going down next weekend on my own expense anyway. So that will also be good. Will get to catch up with Patrick on his birthday which will be good and also going to watch Hannah perform in a play that her class have been working on for a couple of months now. So that should be a good time.

One of the advangtages with not going to Christchurch this weekend is that I was invited to an amazing party last night. It was one of Heather's work mates' 40th birthday party and there was a Hangi and a spit and more beer than I have seen in one place for quite sometime. Therefore, the fact that I didn't know many people became a minor detail after a while and now I know an even greater fraction of the Tokoroa community.

So taking care and enjoying some warm days even for the end of May and looking forward to hearing from everyone. Take care, Matt