In she strolled - all make-up and designer suit. Chatty though. Wasn't like that when she first took us round. "Walls painted and in good order. Cooker clean, dishwasher clean, all in good order. Blinds present." Bloody Hell. I figured Rental Checker Lady would turn up, push her head around the door and then bugger off again but noooo. Not my Rental Checker Lady. She brought her assistant. I actually think that was the whole of Curnow Reality Rentals in my kitchen at that time. "Oh you work away," I said airily waving an arm to indicate she could wander at will anywhere. Then I promptly followed her around each and every room like Catherine Zeta Jones' stalker. She left with instructions to look out for another 3-4 bed home, preferably with a rumpus, garage with internal access, two living areas, decks and garden in a quiet, no-exit street close to good schools. I'm sure I'll be the only one looking out for a rental home like that lol.
I had to work yesterday which accounts for me not blogging much. I did however up date Dearly Departed. It wouldn't be so bad if my work didn't entail working with the children at Issy's Kindy. A full morning with twenty odd three and four year olds. I got home, curled up in a ball and cried. That was my last session for this term. Phew.
- urban gypsy [7:10 pm] |
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
.:. .:.
:: OH WHAT A NIGHT ::
At long last... a night in a pub, or that which closest resembles a pub here in New Zealand. The Cock and Bull: there are a chain of these things. They're a lot like the Yates'Wine Lodges and probably designed to be so It was just so bloody good to get out! Hev, Lex and I managed to let our hair down in great style and we agreed that we haven't laughed so much since coming to this country. Having been offered no P or Party Pills (see previous post) we were in need of a bit of the old Vino de Pisso, necessary when you don't really know your drinking companions. The wine, as ever, gave us all a bit of slack jaw so we spent the night alternating between dancing and putting the world to rights. Crackin' night!
Rolled home about 1.30 am. Being fully compos mentis and wide a-fuckin'-wake due to the diet cola I sensibly switched to as the night wore on, I crept into the bedroom to let Mr Steve know I was home safe and sound. Bed was empty! I slunk out and as I rounded the doorway into the kitchen BAM! Walked smack into him. I screamed, our daughter cried out which then woke our son. "Fuckin' great", he muttered as he went off to settle them both.
He'd waited up for me. Awwww.
- urban gypsy [10:51 am] |
Saturday, August 20, 2005
.:. .:.
:: POLISH MY HALO ::
Last night we had 10 kids over to watch Eddie Murphy being crap in The Haunted Mansion. In order to let their parents have a bit of free time we fed their children popcorn, gave them sweets and fizzy, caffinated drinks, let them watch a scary (debatable) movie and sent them home.
Oh yes... that was where the nightmare really began.
Although my two fell asleep within five minutes hahaha.
- urban gypsy [4:27 pm] |
Friday, August 19, 2005
.:. .:.
:: CULTURE CLUB ::
The silly cow didn't come yesterday. Phoned to appologise at 6.45pm and said she had a slot in the morning. Mr Steve forgot to call her back and when I came home from my little trip this morning, I found her card wedged in the door. Tough titties lady... I can't be expected to sit in day after bloody day just in case you call. It's going to be an arse now because I'll have to keep the house tidy for when she does eventually roll up.
Anyway, today I was introduced to a New Zealand kindy staple... The Aunties. We had Madame Salami herself turning balloons into mice and several handkerchiefs into one long tye-dyed one. Well, she didn't do that trick herself. Her rabbit did. Not a Sex and the City every-girl-should-have-one rabbit you understand (now that would make for an interesting wand), but a furry one. Actually she didn't turn the balloon into mice... my daughter did.
Yeah! My daughter got to have a turn of the 'magic' wand in front of everyone. I could hardly believe it. She picked my child! Mind you, Elissa did look pretty cute today, in comparison to the normal day-to-day scruffy haired, dragged through a hedge backwards look that she usually favours.
I knew there wouldn't be glue and glitter. I knew there wouldn't be sticking of sequins. I knew there wouldn't be playdough and paints, so today, I was able to dress her as the little girl that she is. Of course, as soon as we came home the pigtails were pulled out and the sweater tossed to one side but who cares! She was the chosen one on the day! Whoever said, "Never put your daughter on the stage, " never saw their daughter up there.
It wasn't Mrs Spears who said that was it? What is wrong with that girl these days? Not content with spending around $10,000 USD on baby gear (allegedly) but according to Xtramsn.co.nz, "The 'Toxic' singer, who is due to give birth next month, has yet to settle on a name for her child but Spears and husband Kevin Federline have both taken a liking to 'Preston'. "
The only Preston I know is this one:
The rich and famous don't seem to have the need to vet their child's name the way the rest of us do: having to make sure their initials don't spell words that will bring on the teasing or worse, bullying. Maybe if they sent their child to school with a name of Sam or Tom, that would bring on the teasing. Maybe, if their name was a plain and ordinary one, they wouldn't fit it. But Preston? That's just asking for trouble!
- urban gypsy [12:03 pm] |
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
.:. .:.
:: WAAHEY! DAY ::
Have uploaded a weight loss blog, which you can find here if you wish. I have to run. The rental managers are coming to do a damage check tomorrow and although nothing is broken, I have a pile of dirty laundry that needs shoving in a drawer somewhere and well, my usual tidy up session involves lots more shoving stuff in drawers. It's always worked for me. Why change the habit of a lifetime. See you round like a beach ball.
- urban gypsy [7:44 pm] |
Monday, August 15, 2005
.:. .:.
:: IT'S A GAS ::
Mr Steve poked his head around the bedroom door at stupid o'clock and announced, "Car won't start".
Hauled myself out of bed wearing last year's Christmas present from my sister-in-law, bought as a cruel joke I should imagine as they make me look like a giant, pink blancmange. With lace.
Made coffee. After very little umming and ahhing, deduced that car had run out of petrol.
Now imagine if that had been me.
- urban gypsy [10:18 am] |
Friday, August 12, 2005
.:. .:.
:: SOCIAL CIRCLES ::
Dirty underwear or blogging? It's not even a competition is it? I mean really. Yes I should be doing laundry but this is much more fun. I had just about the best day yesterday! Issy had a girl friend home from school which is a first for me; I'm used to boys wrecking the place leaving our little palace looking like a Baghdad palace, y'know what I'm saying? They played dress up as Sleeping Beauty and Belle and we danced around the room to Kylie songs. Then we made the Oceanic favourite of Fairy bread, iced biscuits and decorated them with 100's and 1000's and played dress up some more. Fan-bloody-tastic. I foresee glitter and sequins for the next girly visit and perhaps the making of fairy wands. It's great having a girl. *warm huggle*
After I took Issy's friend home, we went to the Book Fair at Luke's school. Jeez - the price of those books! They had the prices in GBPounds on the back so by the time I'd converted my NZ$ back to stirling I'd worked out a book for a fiver in the UK was costing me the equivalent of eight quid! I growled and parted with $40 (15 GBP) only for the children to be told to 'Come back tomorrow,' to collect them. Apparently they'd only put one of each book on the shelves so you couldn't take a copy there and then. My two sulked for 20 seconds then forgot about it but there were plenty of tear stained faces walking out that library.
Then we had Parents Evening. GULP! More male primary school teachers please... esp. if they look like our son's, hehehe. Kept that bit to myself. Didn't think Mr Steve would appreciate me saying "Oooh wasn't he nice," with a wink and dirty laugh like you do when you're with a girl friend. Anyway, Luke is one of the top six students for maths and english, is easy going and a delight to teach, so no worries there then. The thing is, his teacher said that he can't take credit for that as it was obvious he was bright when he arrived. What remains to be seen, is if this is due to his UK education... will he go downhill under NZed's system? They don't study geography or history as separate subjects but do something called Topic (which I thought was a chocolate bar) and that tries to combine everything in a sneaky way. They seem to have it pretty free and easy in primary school but I think they have to knuckle under a bit when they reach Intermediate schools. There are three schools here whereas in the UK you go to two, then further education if you wish. It's all a bit complicated.
Update for the weight loss: 4lbs off last week, happy with that considering the weekend. Went walking again yesterday - five minutes late in order to miss the Survival of the Fittest walking group, but I'm off out tonight. I have a babysitter! Whoo-hoo. Right, round to visit for a while.
- urban gypsy [2:12 pm] |
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
.:. .:.
:: LIVING FOR THE WEEKEND ::
Everything is fine until the bloody weekend, isn't it?!
Received an invite for a Hell's pizza and wine on Saturday night and well, y'know, beggars can't be choosers an' all that and do I want to make friends or not? Besides which, their pizzas are the weirdest and nicest I've ever tasted. Had an enjoyable evening with a couple who, it turns out, used to live about 20 minutes drive from us in England. They have a woodburner at their home. How posh! Didn't want to leave - it was so lovely and warm. When will the Kiwis discover mains gas and install central heating to their homes, I wonder? Out and about on Sunday, weather absolutely atrocious. Comforted ourselves with bowl of pasta, garlic bread and more wine at a late lunch in Parnell, a place which quotes itself as a "haven of distinctive up-market boutiques, galleries, restaurants, cafes, bars, beauty spots and shops." It's a charming, olde-worlde sort of place... well olde-worlde for a country only a few hundred years old.
Anyhow the main principle of this diet was not to eat carbs for a couple of weeks.
Ho-hum.
Update: Burnt dinner so sending for take-out and yes, I shall be having a 'Pandemonium' pizza and samosas!!! Doomed I tell you... I'm dooooooomed.
- urban gypsy [7:37 pm] |
Friday, August 05, 2005
.:. .:.
:: THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR WALKING ::
Earlier this week I was blog hopping some faves and discovered that Pete and I weigh the same. Oh dear. (Well actually I thought, "Oh shit" but I thought I should appear polite.) I made Mr Steve step onto the scales too. I wasn't feeling as confident as I once did that he would be heavier than me. Umm... he's not. When the fuck did that happen? Oh. ( Over the past two years, he tells me.) It's not healthy for a wife to weigh more than her husband is it? So Wednesday saw the first Diet Day roll by. I may start a weightloss blog - not sure yet. I don't know if it's something I want to waffle about on here because it can be bloody boring if that's all there is. I'll let you know the linkie if I decide to go that route.
The route I decided on was joining a walking group. Got there on time but the others - huh, all two of 'em - had left five minutes earlier. After studying the maps available, I chose a flatish route which would take me close to the coast road and down past a couple of beaches, approximately 1 hour round trip. Oh. My. God. It took me almost 1 hr, 30 minutes and I encoutered one of the steepest hills I've ever had to walk up. With a bend in it at the top, just for the extra bloody challenge. I was glowing like a Belisha beacon when I arrived back at the Community centre. Elaine, nice lady who'd given me the map, said the others had turned up ages ago, although they probably went a different route. I asked if the other ladies appeared to be fit and sporty. "Well, they're training for a marathon so yes, I suppose they are quite," she casually replied.
I'm thinking I might be five minutes late next week.
- urban gypsy [7:18 pm] |
ABOUT ME
i am... honest. loyal. selfless. controlling ... hobbies... listening to music. theatre. blog hopping ... reads... chick lit. glossy magazines ... listens to music like... 70's disco. motown. pop ...
WISHES FOR
`new house (in Oz)
`less housework
`new shoes
`less bills
`new knickers
`smooth, tanned, glowing skin
`digital camera
`an iPod nano
Laurice Solomon picture from
Getty Images edited using Adobe Photoshop CS2
Home
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Urban Gypsy
30-odd year old mum of two
England - Saudi Arabia
- New Zealand
words__
When you run so fast to get somewhere
you miss the fun
of getting there.
Life is not a race,
so take it slower,
hear the music before the music is over, take your time and stay happy...
wishes for__
`new house (in Oz)
`less housework
`new shoes
`less bills
`new knickers
`smooth, tanned, glowing skin
`digital camera
`an iPod nano
I knew there wouldn't be glue and glitter. I knew there wouldn't be sticking of sequins. I knew there wouldn't be playdough and paints, so today, I was able to dress her as the little girl that she is. Of course, as soon as we came home the pigtails were pulled out and the sweater tossed to one side but who cares! She was the chosen one on the day! Whoever said, "Never put your daughter on the stage, " never saw their daughter up there.
