The bunting is up, the flags are flying and the sweepstake is running…the excitement is building and we can’t wait for the next game. If you see our BCL cars out and about with the flags flying give them a toot and a wave.

Wow!! A huge thanks to Penny Hay for organizing the 500 Friends earthquake appeal to help the people of Christchurch. Roselyn Vodanovich was instrumental in rallying our troups so much so that when our boxes arrived (amid a buzz of excitement) they were promptly filled and delivered by our field assistant Fergus to the appeal centre.

Absolutely fantastic.

Every year this iconic Auckland fun run surges down Tamaki Drive before spilling out into St Heliers and then on to BBQ sites in Madills Farm and Glover Park. Those beautifully regimented BBQ sites are a site for sore legs! And yes the BCL team are responsible for the lines, we are proud to have worked with the Round the Bays team to design and setout the BBQ areas. So next year when you get to the finish line you can pause and admire our annual ‘subdivision’ of the parks before you tuck into a well earned sausage and beer.

It is heartening in these tough economic times to see that community spirit is alive and well in Auckland. Recently, in conjunction with Signature Homes, we have been involved in a community project in West Auckland that has really been quite special. The Forsyth Family has had a really tough time recently and when approached by Graeme Robertson from Signature Homes for help we felt privileged. TVNZ ran a Close Up programme on the Forsyth Family, this can be viewed here. Our team carried out all of the initial building setout including pre calculations, upload of data, on site control, installation of height datum and building corner setout.

It was our small contribution to the Forsyth Family and it made us feel great to have been involved. The real driver behind the project has been Graeme Robertson of Signature Homes West Auckland and we would like to thank Graeme and his team for allowing us to be part of this community effort.

Mayor Bob Harvey lays the first bricks; The Forsyth Family (right)

We would like to wish the Forsyth Family all the best for their future, no doubt they will be looking forward to stepping out of the limelight and getting back to being a family again.