Very well behaved

On Saturday evening Wilma and the girls and Fred and Barney went across Carlton Gardens to the home of Monica and Paul (Monica's one of the principal players in the MSO's 2nd violin section) to help celebrate their daughter Matilda's 1st birthday. We'd heard she was very fond of dogs so we took F & B along too. Frank from the SSO, on loan to the MSO for a couple of weeks, who is of 100% Italian stock, made us the most delicious spag carbonara imaginable. Fred and Barney were very well behaved and Jessye, Rosie and Sophie weren't too bad either.

The next day J, R and S's former violin teacher from Wellington, Lynley, and her family came to visit. Jessye (12) and Ella (13) demonstrated what happens to girls around that age when you don't see them for a couple of years. The puppies were a big hit, of course.

Jessye has been very keen on netball for years now and she is doing as much as she can of it at school so Wilma thought it might help her to have a hoop in the "back yard". Peter and his assistants raised it in the only spot in the courtyard that was feasible and everybody had a go.

Wilma's MSO concert on Monday night was attended by some very special people. Sandra and Wilma were best friends at primary school in Auckland and the two of them with Sandra's sister, Janice, did everything together. The three even had matching and rather distinctive zip dresses (you had to be there) and sandals. Sandra now lives in Melbourne and is a regular MSO visitor but on this occasion she was joined by Janice and their Mum, Evelyn, whom Wilma hadn't seen for more years than she can remember. Janice and Evelyn were visiting from Auckland for Sandra's ridiculously numbered significant birthday.

By the way, as for Rosie, no news is good news. She continues to be fine and we await her next MRI in 9 days on April 29 with follow-up 6 days after that on May 5. She and Sophie went back to school on Monday and Rosie will resume ballet tomorrow and Henri Touzeau Strings on Saturday morning.