:: URBAN GYPSY ::

2006-08-18T15:09:00.000+10:00

Ahhhhh.

Australia.

Sigh.

At last.

Hi Honey, I'm home!

2006-06-20T07:21:00.000+10:00

Time to bid you all Au Revoir... for the time being at least.

The packers are in tomorrow so the computer will be down, taking me with it no doubt. The Hubster is stressed yet I am determined to remain a calm water in the sea of madness that surrounds me.

Goodbye Auckland, New Zealand. I shall see you all on the other side of the Tasman... here's to Melbourne, Victoria. YAY!

2006-06-19T10:10:00.000+10:00

Mmmm... crisp butties for lunch. Now there's healthy for you. It's like I'm fattening up for the winter. Oh if only I could hibernate. I've ticked lots off my Things To Do List but had to encouter the dreaded Doctor's Receptionist this morning. Explained my urgency in getting the children's imms. all typed up nicely for me to present to their new school but she just had a look in her eye that said, "You'll get them when we're good and ready."
Yesterday we pretended we were tourists and went up to the top of the Sky Tower, the southern hemisphere's tallest building. Now The Hubster and I argued this as we thought the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur would have won that hands down but apparently it isn't in the southern hemisphere... although we reckon it looks like it on the world map but who are we to argue. So yes, we shot the 60 floors up, ooohhed and aahhhed at the 360 degree view (which you can see for yourself via the link above) then went to the Ruan Thai for what is arguably The Best Thai Curry in Auckland. Well in my humble opinion it is and it's in a lovely, if dimly lit, setting, with all sorts of different artifacts shown off in glass cabinets and a large, wooden elephant and rider as you walk in. We were shown to a window seat which in the summer has fantastic views across the harbour but it was dark and raining last night so not much fun for the children. Still, Sproglet A said it was the best meal ever! Says a lot about my cooking, doesn't it?

2006-06-14T11:05:00.000+10:00

I am supposed to be cleaning the dirt and dust off the trampoline which is lying in a non too tidy heap downstairs. I really don't like all this crappy cleaning I have to do now, especially downstairs as it's the middle of June and cold down there, so I pottered around upstairs making food hampers for friends out of the strange odds and sods I have in my store cupboard. 3 bags each of self raising and all purpose flours, treacle, couscous, 2 tins of peaches, Carnation Light and Creamy 97% fat free milk and 3 tins - yes 3 - of Bachelors Mushy Peas. I don't know if I'm too embarrassed to give them to friends! I've exhausted anything else that stops me from doing the dirty jobs downstairs so I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and get them done.
You see, truth be known, they should have been done the other day but due to yet another of Auckland's total 1950's style blackout, the guy coming to collect The Hubster's car decided he wouldn't dice with death at all those traffic lightless junctions and asked if it was OK to leave it until Tuesday. Yes, sure, fine. The Hubster filled it with a wee spot of juice to get him home, zeroed the clock - and the damn thing stopped working. Well the car has decided it's old and doesn't want to clock up the kilometres any longer. Well ain't that just great! We called the buyer and asked if he wanted to sort it out, ie. did he enjoy tinkering with cars as a hobby? He doesn't and he wants it fixing so I was too-ing and fro-ing all day long to drop cars and husbands here, there and everywhere, or so it felt. It's now going to cost $450 to fix and The Hubster is not a happy man.
It was our Wedding Anniversary on Monday too. We celebrated by doing nowt. Didn't even cook anything special. Seven years. Keep scratching.

2006-06-09T13:42:00.000+10:00

YAY - we've sold the cars! On Trade Me, no less. It cost $50 to advertise them both. The Hubster took a $500 deposit on his and a lady snapped mine up today. Sooo pleased.

We can always organise our move but are usually left trying to get rid of two perfectly fine cars. Car showrooms don't like to take them unless you're taking one off their forecourt to replace it and so you end up practically giving them away on the last minute. Anyway, we priced them to sell and they have - although we had a bit of a scare with mine.

An English lady came to view it at Auckland Airport, which is where The Hubster works, and remarked, "I'd ask you to lift the bonnet but I don't know what I'm looking for anyway so don't bother," which made him laugh because he wouldn't know what to look for either, but didn't want to tell her that, lol. She was happy, she paid with folding stuff and drove on her merry way only to phone The Hubster ten minutes later to ask, "What's that funny noise it keeps making? I'm bringing it back!" Well The Hubster's heart leapt... it was fine this morning. What the bloody hell has happened in the last ten minutes to make her want her money back? It turns out she'd been driving with the handbrake on!!! She appologised to The Hubster for having a blonde moment and said she was highly embarrassed. The poor woman left with her tail between her legs and her face bright red. I really do feel for her... isn't it awful being a woman trying to buy a car? That's one of the reasons I got married. I call it a perk of the job so I hate it when I have to take the cars to the garage, such as today.

This is The Hubster's car.

Now I am a titch at just under 5ft 4 and the roof of that car comes up to my chest! It's lovely and sporty to drive but you can't see a bloody thing in front of you because you're so low down! It had to have it's WOF (MOT) today so I had his then I could take it to the garage and he took mine. Thankfully it only cost $60 to sort out. It'll be someone else's responsibility from Monday!

2006-06-06T13:01:00.000+10:00

Back to normal again after the long weekend. Yesterday was a public holiday as it was the Queen's birthday (not her real one mind) and it signals the beginning of the ski season here in N.Z. I had a rotten day which started with me chucking up then sleeping until 3pm!!! I have no idea what was wrong but I think Sproglet B picked something up as she felt unwell on the Sunday so all in all, not a fantastic weekend.

We spent Saturday jet washing and scrubbing outdoor stuff in preparation for our Oz shipment. Anything with dirt or grass on needs to be clean in order for it to get into the country. We scrubbed the cars too and went to a car fair on Sunday morning. What a great place!!! If you want to sell your car you just turn up on the day, pay $30 and park it up for all to see. There are booths there offering those reports they do, such as if your car has been in an accident or if finance is outstanding etc. If you're lucky enough to sell you can change the owner documents there and then and get finance approved! We just checked the place out on Sunday but it was raining so we didn't stay long. Also, we'd had dinner with friends the night before and drank too much as usual, so we really weren't in the mood for an early start.

I'd wanted to get out and about with the camera but I haven't had much chance. The Hubster bought a Sony Cyber-shot W30 back from Oz as a gift for me. It's wonderful and does so much more than my previous oh-so-basic digicam. I had been doing my homework between this camera or the Canon Ixus 55 and in the end it came down to the Canon being far more expensive than the Sony and offering just about the same thing. I did like the Ixus 750 but that was just too far out of my budget. So far I love my new camera and I'll try and post a couple of photos soon.

2006-05-30T08:04:00.000+10:00

Ah shit it's cold in here. It's colder inside than outside! I'm toying with the idea of lighting the fire but it's a woodburner and so it takes time to get going and we didn't chop logs at weekend so I should really save the logs I do have, for tonight. No, I can't chop any myself because I can't even wrestle the safety cover off the axe :o(

Besides which, I should be cleaning the car. It's very messy with cardboard shapes, stickers and glitter that has fallen from the children's artwork. Also I'm in need of a caffine fix. We are down to one car this week due to the fact that I hit The Hubster's the other day. He came back from the airport at stupid o'clock in the morning and after taking the children to school, I pulled into the driveway. He climbed into the car, as we were off to the DIY shop (more on that later), I turned the car round and was heading out the drive when he realised he'd forgotten something. I reversed at full speed, forgot his car was there and scraped alongside it with my bumper. So, that's at the panel beaters waiting for the paint to dry and The Hubster needs a lift to work. 6.30am we had to be up at. He goes to work at 6.40 so I threw a jumper over my pj top and pulled on a pair of sweat pants, wrapped the sproglets in a blanket each, laid their seats back and off we pootled. (The rear seats of my car lean back. I kid you not, it's rather like travelling in the cattle class section of an aeroplane as it also has individual arm rests. The sproglets were given a tangerine and a banana to eat en route which just added to the atmostphere. We also have TV screens to fix in front of them but they only come out for long trips.)

Well, firstly our trip to the DIY shop: Mega Mitre 10 - like B&Q in the UK. The slidey-up-and-down-bit of the shower, the bit that holds the shower head, broke the other day. It's only silver coloured plastic and it cracked and won't hold the weight of the shower head. Can't buy one anywhere - you have to buy the whole fitting. What a big bloody con!!! So we've glued it. Let's hope that works.

Secondly, I have three weeks in which to get everything sorted as we will be flying to Melbourne, Australia on the 24th June. Yay - he got a job!!! When he handed his notice in yesterday they promised him the earth if he'd stay. They'd match his Australian salary (a third more than his current pay) and he would be promoted to the position he'd initially been promised. He told them it was too little too late. Besides which, as The Hubster says, "Where's the incentive in that? Shouldn't they be offering more than the Aussies in order to make me stay?" I mean, he does have a point there, doesn't he? However he did tell them that we hadn't really settled and more money wouldn't help the feelings of New Zealand just not being right for us. When he told the guys on site they all said that it would be great if he stayed, but Melbourne is such a fantastic city they would all leave to go there if they could too. Can't argue with that can you?

So please bear with me if I don't visit as much or post less (is that possible???). I will try and keep on top of things but you know where I am if I don't, lol.

2006-05-10T10:29:00.000+10:00

We are on the move. Again.

I have lived in Auckland for one year and ten days... a lifetime by our usual standards. In fact, in the past ten years that The Hubster and I have been together the longest we have spent in one place is two years. Two years to the day and that was in a teeny weeny village called Yanbu on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. The time has now come to move again. The Hubster was promised things in his work which we now know just ain't gonna happen. Having taken into account the huge salary and package decrease we took to migrate here, the promises that were made and will not now be fulfilled leave us in - how shall I put it... in the shit. Yeah, that just about sums it up. We aren't yet at the point in our lives where lovely scenery can overcome our financial hardship. New Zealand has never been the place for me so we are upping sticks to move to Melbourne, Australia. The Hubster has flights booked and interviews lined up for two weeks time so all please cross your fingers that he comes back with a job offer - or three - then we can be offski. Thank you.

Onto other news... my baby has lost her first tooth!!! Just two days after her birthday party she was opening a new drinks bottle by pulling on the lid with her teeth when TWANG! Out it popped. There was blood (hers). There were tears (mine and hers). There was lots of huddles and cuddles and after her initial shock she was immensely proud that she would be starting Big School with a gap toothed smile. OnWednesday 26th April, my baby did start Big School and she smiled her gappy smile and she ate more than she's ever eaten and slept longer than she's ever slept and finally - FINALLY - after almost ten years I no longer have a littlie running around my feet for most of the day.

It has been two weeks since that day and I feel very odd and peculiar now that my whole routine has vanished. I have had The Hubster's dinner on the table for him as soon as he walks through the door ("Could you not do that love only I need time to go to the toilet and get changed into something more comfy. Fifteen minutes would be good, yeah love?") and the house is reasonably clean all the time instead of just some of the time. We had friends over for dinner at the weekend and it was bliss with the adults in the lounge abd the children watching a film downstairs in what was the storage room, up until last week when I cleaned it all out and made it into the living space it was intended to be. I have taken my book on various outings to coffee shops and spent my first child free hour drinking a decent cup of coffee and having a quiet read. I did a little retail therapy too but that can't possibly continue!

So ideas please for what to do as a stay home mum when all your children are finally in Big School because it's starting to get lonely.

2006-04-24T07:38:00.001+10:00

A mix of sombre and happy in the household this past fortnight.

The fish didn't survive... Google passed away with Gloria following several days later, both washed away to sea after prayers and a short sermon around the toilet. They won't be replaced. With other fish or guinea pigs.

Sproglet B turned the Big 5! One of the special things about her is that all her birthdays have been celebrated in a different country. Her first was in Saudi Arabia, second in Australia, third in France when we visited Granny & Gramps, fourth in England on the same day she and Sproglet A were Christened and fifth here in New Zealand and I think that's pretty fantastic!

She had her final day at Kindy with a plasticine cake covered in glitter, five candles poking out the top at strange angles and a huge crown on her head, again adorned with glitter, glitter and more glitter. She even cut a hole in the back of it to poke her ponytail through. Although her birthday was Easter Monday, we held her party yesterday. At our home... something almost unheard of in the U.K. We hired a magician to entertain the troops for an hour, managed only one party game beforehand then fed them for the final half hour. A few of the mums stayed after the party for a coffee and chat and one friend - who, with her husband, had grabbed the chance of a break and left her children at the party to go wine tasting - brought a nice bottle of wine back, so we opened that also.

The great part was that Issy's guests were able to give her gifts and watch her open them. At our parties, if a person is good enough to bring you a gift you open it whilst they're there. I absolutely loathe parties where the child gives a gift and it goes straight into a black plastic dustbin liner and taken home to be opened. WTF? Where's the fun in that? My children love to see the look on the face of the Birthday Child when they open the present that the Sproglets have helped choose and wrap. If on the receiving end, such as yesterday, it helps my children be gracious and say 'thank you' in person. If they receive two of the same, we just laugh and say well now you can have one each when so-and-so comes over to play. Everyone leaves happy. Eventually. Took two hours for the last ones to leave, lol.

2006-04-10T17:17:00.000+10:00

Sproglet B's fish. The ones she wanted to swap for a guinea pig.

Back in October we sold our house in the UK (for a pittance I might add but am I bitter? You betcha!) Sproglet A chose a Playstation Game as his special gift and Sproglet B, the fish. The orange commet is called Gloria and the Black Moor, Google, due to his big, googly eyes. These fish have suffered! Getting the tank established took ages and it was only last month we thought we'd cracked it. They've been treated for fin rot once and Google all but lost his whole tail. I am convinced he'd been bullied before we got him and he just deteriorated when we brought him home.

Anyway, Glo was sat sulking at the bottom of the tank. Everytime she tried to swim she couldn't and Google's tail was disappearing. I sighed. According to the internet - lovely thing that it is - swim bladder was the most likely cause of her sulking. The water looked fine but I thought I'd change it anyway. Siphoned the water and cleaned the stones and Oh. My. God. The water that came from underneath was absolutely filthy! I have no idea how it got so bad but no bloody wonder the fish were failing. Again. Clean, clean, clean and the filter too. I quit feeding them for a couple of days and Glo is fine now... yesterday it was Google who was having a sulk at the bottom of the tank. His tail had disappeared overnight and he looks so sorry for himself when he tries to wiggle his bum to shuffle around the tank.

So off to the pet shop we went. Came back with the fin rot stuff, two plastic plants, new filter and a small castle. The only castle we will ever be able to afford.

And no guinea pig.

2006-04-01T20:52:00.000+11:00

FLASH!

Let it be known that at around 6.30 this evening it was not me driving my car along Atkinson Road but The Hubster, doing 60 kms in what we now know to be a 50 kms zone. That'll be another wad of bucks down the swannie.

April Fool? He certainly bloody is.

2006-03-28T15:09:00.000+11:00

So where the bloody hell are you?

Who? Me? Ahh yes, me.

Just a whole heap of 'bloglethargy' lately. *sigh* Here Down Under the clocks went back mid March... the nights are drawing in. Bugger. Or 'bagger' as Sproglet B remarked to her dad last night. Have no idea where she picked it up but it was too funny to shout at her for so we just explained that it wasn't a word she's allowed to use. She is developing a lovely Lancashire-cum-Kiwi accent. Sproglet A, who picks up accents quickly, is beginning to use that horrible questioning intonation... where every sentence rises at the end. Sometimes even in the middle if he pauses. Gotta knock that outta him somehow.

Well the darker nights have seen The Hubster and I order Seasons 2 and 3 of 24 from Amazon. Even with shipping they cost less than the price of a boxed set here and folk say England is expensive. We toured lots of yachts at the Auckland Boat Show. If a cruise is a rich persons caravan park, a yacht is surely the equivalent of a rich persons caravan. Only plusher. But boats don't float my boat, as they say. I'd rather have the caravan.

The tent hasn't seen the light of day since the Goat Island trip. Was hoping to take it out again for Easter but maybe I've acclimatised because although it's not cold, it's wet and windy out there. I don't need to listen to the pitter-patter of raindrops on my tent. I get that in my bedroom as our house has a tin roof. (And Shed Dweller thinks she has problems!)

I need to study. Having been here for almost a year, the Kiwis think I should now be understanding of their road rules and be driving on their licence and not my U.K. one. The theory test is basically multiple choice questions that you pay around £30 to answer. The Road Code can be done with the aid of a disc which replicates the format and questions you will be asked but when you get a question wrong, it doesn't tell you which answer was right so you never learn!!! I need to study because I can't afford to resit the test.

I have to close now. My pies are ready. Don't want them to burn now do we. Haven't had pies for ages. Yum, yum winter comfort food.

2006-03-10T15:28:00.000+11:00

So where the bloody hell are you?

"The country that gave the world such risque comic acts as Benny Hill, the Two Ronnies and Little Britain has banned Australia's new "bloody hell" tourism ads from television because they are too rude."

Or so says our local news. So, for all you fellow Brits who are missing what is possibly one of the nicest shot tourism ads in all time, I present to you, the Bloody Hell Advert.

Reminded, once again, of just one of the reasons we left England.

2006-03-02T08:06:00.000+11:00

Act 1 - Scene 1 - In The Pet Shop.

"Mummy what are these?"

"They are Guinea Pigs." Mumbles under breath, "Dirty, mucky, hard-clean-out guinea pigs."

"Can I have one mummy."

"Umm... no. You have fish."

"Can I have one instead of my fish?"

"Love, you can't just get rid of your fish. I know they aren't well, but you chose them as your special gift when we sold the house and we have to look after them best we can. Besides which, we can't have pets in our new house because it isn't ours is it? We just borrow it from the nice man and lady in Switzerland."

"Yeah I know."

Big sigh.

"Next time, I'm gonna gerra toy instead. Or a guinea pig."

2006-03-01T07:33:00.000+11:00

Pinch, punch first of the month.

Autumn has arrived, bringing the cooler weather. Auckland should today reach highs of 23 c. Mmmm. I reckon somebody somewhere is pulling my leg. Rained yesterday. Hard. Sproglet A went sailing at French Bay. Two tiddlers to a boat. He was so nervous before he went but came home raving about it. In the eight months he has been at school here, they have taken him rock climbing, kayaking, orienteering and now sailing. It serves to remind us we why we left England. Opportunities such as this no longer exist in the UK. Shame.

Sproglet B and myself were supposed to go on a Kindy fieldtrip to the beach but rain interrupted play so she went to Kindy instead. Not a happy bunny. We will head off for a coffee and fluffy shortly. The gardener phoned to say she will be here at lunchtime. I don't really like to be here when she comes because she doesn't work for me. The gardens are included in the rent which is great as it means The Hubster doesn't have to mow the lawn. Once its been cut, it's as bad again within two weeks. All the colourful flowers are dying off now. We haven't spent a winter in this home so it will be interesting to see if the garden looks just as pretty in winter as it does in summer. Am I really talking about the garden? Must be getting old. Before you know it, I'll be 'pottering' *singger*.

I really have nothing to write home about. My life it currently all ticketty-boo, give or take the odd hiccup, and I feel that I write at my best when it's all gone tits up. Don't you find that too... that people write at their best when things aren't going to plan, if they're depressed, unhappy? Oh well. I guess I'd rather not blog than be miserable. I'm waffling now, I know. Thinking out loud. Think I'll update my blogrolling and go visit other, more-interesting-than-mine blogs. It's become sort of like my morning paper read. I can no longer buy the old Current Bun so I have to blog hop instead. Time for a brew methinks.

2006-02-27T08:40:00.000+11:00

Our weekend away was OK but Lex's youngest sproglet broke her foot the night before the trip. They spent all Friday morning in A & E and all the little one could talk ask was, "Are we still going camping?" so we did. She was so upset that she couldn't go off and play with the others. We did the glass bottom boat stuff then peg-leg could see the fish, then went snorkelling. It was nice but I don't get the whole snorkelling/diving fascination... seen one of each fish, then seen them all. There wasn't a lot of colour under the water but there were these amazing blue coloured fish.

Ok, so camping I can do... but the laundry afterwards! Sheesh. That's the 4th load that's gone in today. All the bedding has been changed and the duvet inners put back into their liners. I took them out as the weather had been so hot but it's started to cool now. Not enough to send the cicadas running though. The noise those buggers make is maddening; no really, I mean it. I truly believe it could send a person crazy. Click here and have a listen. Now, multiply that by a gazillion and you have an idea of what I'm talking about.

Not a lot going on today really, or tomorrow as I have to take Sproglet A to school early. He is on a waterwise programme at school so is going sailing (!) and Sproglet B is off to the beach for a Kindy field trip. That'll mean even more laundry *groan*.

2006-02-24T07:23:00.000+11:00

RCL came back. Everything now to her satisfaction. Breathe - and calm.
I feel shite. Completely numb from the neck up. Some would said nowt new there. Happen they're right. Happen.
Tried to limit my evenings with Keifer to a Friday but instead found myself doing two hours a night with him. The cracks are beginning to show. Folk said they would. Once a week was grand but the temptation proved too much. We still have a good time together though.
As I now do with My Name Is Earl. Funny. Laugh out Loud. Well I would if I could.
Voice has gone. The Hubster thinks it's great.
Will be away at weekend. Camping at a marine reserve in the middle of the Northlands. Should be nice. Now, if only I could get rid of this bloody cold.

2006-02-21T16:49:00.001+11:00

Today I woke up with the mother of all sore throats. What I'd like to know is from where it came and why?

Kindy mum today. Whoop-de-fucking-do. Am not cut out for dealing with sproglets other than my own. Nor glueing and sticking. Nor cutting out and painting. Sigh. I want to go to bed.

2006-02-20T12:52:00.000+11:00

Missing In Action.

That's where I've been.
M.I.A. With C.T.U., F.Y.I. LOL.

24 with Keifer Sutherland. What seems like a lifetime ago, we sat down to the first episode of Season 4. There was nothing on TV that we wanted to watch and so we figured we'd give it a go. After the first ten minutes we were hooked. Line and sinker. Before long I wanted to mother Jack and smother Marwan but all too soon, twenty four hours became twenty five. We did manage to get through a Friday night without Jack Bauer - only one mind. And it was a struggle. So much so that when Valentine's Day rolled around, the Gods smiled upon me leading me to purchase Season One of 24.

Once again I am the Gift Queenie! The Hubster thinks I am wonderful (and I am I have to say) plus I get to watch it too. Friday nights are bearable once again.

* * * * * * * * * *
Enter The Jalan Besar Dragon.

If you come here often (and I know you do, even if you don't comment), you will have witnessed me bemoaning the fact that Chinese New Year didn't seem to happen here in New Zealand, a country with quite possiby the largest Asian community outside of China. The Harbour Festival seemed to outshine it but then we discovered that it was being celebrated - for a whole two weeks in fact and culminating the events was the Lantern Festival, a weekend of family entertainment, delicious food and... lanterns. Hundreds of them, strung up throughout the city's Mt Albert Park. (Clickie linkie for lovely photos not taken by me.) However it must be said that my dragon one (above) is better than theirs, even with the golden-haired lurker in the bottom right. The one below is also one of mine. I can't quite get the low level lighting thing sussed. Hints and tips most welcome.

* * * * * * * * * *

Waipu.
(Pronounced why-poo.)

Why not? Hehehe. OK so it's only funny to me.

I have my photos back! You guessed from the ones above? Oh.

It's a bit like the 'olden days' when you came back from your jollies with three rolls of film, not having a bloody clue what was on them, then waiting... and waiting... and waiting for them to be developed. Oh the anticipation upon entering the chemists and handing over a handsome ransome to see the delights you tried to capture. Oh the surprise! Oh yes, there's something to be said for film.

Waipu Cove looking towards Whangaparoa

Kayak Ant rides the surf

The Hubster boogie boards home

2006-02-12T20:09:00.000+11:00

Right, here goes:-

We have today received your letter dated 3rd February, 2006, detailing your inspection of 33666 Huia Road which we believe was carried out on Tuesday 24th January and not the 19th January 2006 as stated in your letter. We feel a ‘Notice of Breach’ is rather harsh when, in this instance, two of the three points you mention are highly subjective and could easily have been resolved with a quick telephone call to us.

The battery was removed from the smoke detector due to its bad positioning. We are sure you are aware as rental agents, that smoke detectors should ideally be in every room other than the kitchen and the bathroom. To fix a smoke detector directly between these two places in a corridor which opens immediately into the kitchen with no door is bad planning. This positioning of the smoke detector will simply mean that it will frequently sound its alarm almost every time the oven, grill or hotplates are used to cook foods which either require the use of added oil or those which have a higher fat content, therefore creating smoke. May we suggest that a good prevention of this would be to install smoke detectors in the two bedrooms off the corridor and the corner farthest from the kitchen in the living area? This would then ensure that we and the property are indeed correctly protected in the case of fire, which is as much of a worry to us as to our Landlords.

Whilst we welcome your inspection on Thursday 23rd February 2006 at 10.30 am, it is unlikely that anyone will be present that morning and so you are free to let yourself into the property. Trusting everything will be found to your satisfaction upon your second inspection.

What do you think? We sent that yesterday. At first I got all waffley with details such as those blogged yesterday but then I took it all out and just left the important bit in. We shall wait and see.

2006-02-11T09:00:00.000+11:00

Actually, it isn't three weeks ago; she has her dates wrong. She says she came on the 19th January but I've just discovered an email I sent to her at ten past five that afternoon, asking her if she would possibly call early the following Tuesday, 24th January, as we would be away for the weekend (Lake Taupo, Huka Falls - remember?) and we would at least be out of the house so she could feel easier about checking it. She replied with yes, that's fine. So HA! I shall incorporate that into my snidey letter back to her.

2006-02-11T08:58:00.000+11:00

Now I'm not known for my tidyness but the bloody cheeky bitch! How dare she! Rental Checker Lady came three weeks ago. Three weeks and one day to be exact. It has taken her two weeks to type a letter and one week to send it, headed up BREACH OF NOTICE. It transpires that the shower and the oven need cleaning. WTF??? Both showers work better now than they did when we first moved in due to me dismantling the heads, soaking them and then poking out the shitty calcium deposits with a toothpick, each tiny hole by tiny hole. And the central draining - I take that apart too, soak it and scrub it to rid it of all that yucky, orange soap skum that can build up. Did she fucking look that far, superficial cow. As one is an over-the-bath-shower, I assumed RCL means the shower in our room so when he came home from work, The Hubster and I stared and stared at it. "I have absolutely no idea what she means, " I said. "Is she sure she's got the right house?" "Nope, neither do I," he said. (I love him when he's supportive. Usually, I can count on more support from my bra, but The Hubster does have his moments.) And who's cooker doesn't need cleaning? It gets used and needs cleaning. She came on the day we were due back from camping. It was school holidays. I live, quite literally, half the world away from family and friends... what does she expect - that I take the children around to my mum's for a couple of hours then I can get some housework done? The battery was also missing from the smoke detector. The smoke detector is located in a corridor that is just off our open kitchen and so everytime you cook something with oil, the bloody things blares away, so yes, we took the battery out. OK, we admit it was very stupid of us not to put it in when we knew she was coming to check, but we really do take exception to it taking three weeks to give us a Notice Of Breach Of Contract for something that could quite easily have been done over the telephone. Two days after moving in this house, I rushed The Hubster to our late night doctors clinic with a severe asthma attack. The hospital didn't have the right facilities and so sent him by ambulance to hospital at the other side of Auckland. He had 4 nebulisers before he reached that hospital. He was put into observation overnight and woken every two hours to be given drugs. Whilst he was there, I completely cleaned this house, despite the fact that contract cleaners had done it, the Dyson picked up two cylinders full of cat hair. I cleaned all the window and door frames where the previous occupants cats had come and gone and left hairs behind. Under the dishwasher was old, stale catfood and balls of hair and fluff. The handle on the cooker, on upside down and so loose that it fell off everytime we opened the oven. And the bitch has the fucking front to say the shower and oven need cleaning? Oh boy would I like to see inside her house.

2006-02-09T16:05:00.000+11:00

During the holidays, we went out for a coffee which arrived in a big bowl. "Looks like soup," remarked Sproglet A, "Coffee - soup," he laughed. I told him I had a friend with a blog called just that, Coffesoup. Michele, over at C.S. hasn't posted since Christmas but I thought I'd pop by in case she was back online and lo and behold, a post. And one that really struck a chord with me is the one I've linked to, above.

Whilst reading that post I was nodding away to myself. "A-ha. A-ha. Yep. A-ha," because I always feel that I'll embarrass The Hubster at a Works Do, due to me being a stay-at-home-mum. It's all fine until someone asks, "And what do you do?" to which their eyes glaze over when you say you haven't worked for 10 years. What the fuck is that about? Why do I say that? I mean, I work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and don't get a day off. Can't phone in sick... if you're sick, tough. Gotta get the children to school. There has been the odd day - when the gastric flu has made its presence felt - The Hubster has had to have a day off to look after them. That's the only way it can work in our household. As yet I haven't worked out a way to change gears in the car whilst every aperture emits some foul liquid mess. It's even worse when they are sick at the same time as me. That's just plain cruel.
Due to always buggering off and travelling, we have no family nor long term friends to look after them. My children are with me constantly. ('Cept for when they're at school of course. Don't take it literally, but you get the drift, don't you?) Sure, we have been able to get a friend to babysit on occasion and we always return the favour, but it is bloody hard. Yes, being a mum does sometimes make me feel like my brain is turning to mush as my children are still young. Sometimes I think I'd really like a job just for the break it would give me. And if it wasn't just Dora the Explorer and Steve and Blue that saw me daily, I would maybe make more effort with clothes and hair and waistline... but they don't care, so I don't waste my time.
However, in the 10 yrs that I 'haven't worked', I have come to realise that a big part of why I am tired and overweight, is because I am unselfish. When The Hubster worked overseas and only Sproglet A and I lived together, he would be asleep by 7pm and the rest of the evening was my own. I wrote letters to The Hubster (no computer, shock, horror), did cross-stitches, worked out and watched a couple of programmes I really was interested in. Well I couldn't go out in the evenings so I had to find something to do!
Now, out of the four mornings I have free whilst Sproglet B is in Kindy, I spend one morning food shopping, one morning cleaning, one morning catching up with emails/writing a shopping list/sorting paperwork and bills and the fourth morning doing all the bits I didn't have time to do in the first three mornings as I ran out of time. My afternoons are spent with Sproglet B, then later Sproglet A and homework, cooking tea for them, getting them ready for bed, cooking for The Hubster and I and finishing laundry that was started during the day. I am truly blessed here in NZ as our rental home has a dishwasher! Bit small though and not everything fits in it, so I still have to wash by hand, although The Hubster is very helpful in that department. By 9pm it's done and I sit to watch TV or chat with The Hubster. I find I am doing so much stuff for other people that I don't have time to look after myself, but I don't know how to be selfish. I'm an only child and the only way an only child makes friends is by sharing and giving and that seems to have moved onto the big, wide world with me.
So it really annoys me when people think I'm overweight because I don't do anything all day... in fact, it's the exact opposite. I am so busy that I don't have time to sit down to breakfast, rarely do I sit and eat lunch so that by the time I'm cooking for the children, I will eat anything that's in sight before cooking dinner for The Hubster and I later on in the evening. So in the next few weeks, I think I might have to aim to be a bit more selfish and try and reclaim some time for me. I'll let you know how I get on. In the meantime, if you could just spare a few thoughts for the chubbies amongst you... it's not that we're all too lazy to take care of ourselves, it's that we're too busy to take time out to care for ourselves.
Sorry for the ultra long post.

2006-02-09T12:52:00.001+11:00

Swimming lessons and how to find a good one. I don't know. I did some research and found one that isn't too far away and is set up by a former Commonwealth Games representative for NZ and coach of NZ swimming teams. But Oh Dear; the woman teaching Sproglet A is simply awful. Horrible. Now, bear in mind he's just turned nine, he went over to her to introduce himself with a cheery, "Hi, I'm Luke. I'm a new one for you," and she said, "Pardon? What did you say your name was?" So, a little taken aback, Sproglet A just said, "Luke." She ticked his name off her list. "Right, get in the water then - this lane - warm up." Whoa... and who took her ball off her??? She (Jackie) ended up dropping him back a class as "I don't see him progressing as fast as the others in this class," which is fine and dandy; if he ain't ready, he ain't ready, but to tell it to me whilst he stood there, wet and shivering... that's a real confidence boost for him, isn't it? He doesn't like her. I don't like her. I told him that if he didn't feel better with her after a whole term, and if he didn't feel that he'd learnt anything from her, then he needn't go back to her class next term. She was only about 30, but surly, barking orders from the side and her movements, when she was showing the children, where fast and sharp. Her whole manner is very abrupt and terse. :o(

In complete contrast, Sproglet B started her swim lessons today with the most amazing bloke ever! He was just like a real jolly uncle and she was the giggling motivator of the small group. If Sproglet A met him he would think him wonderful and he is, so I'm happy. She wears arm bands in the pool whenever we go but he had her take them off, which she's pleased about, and I think they just use board floats to get them to swim. In fact, I don't know how they teach them to swim without some sort of floatie device - we shall see. In the meantime, let's hope that Jackie gets some sort of personality transplant. Or just gets a personality.

2006-02-08T08:10:00.000+11:00

BACK TO SCHOOL. YIPPEE!!!

Yesterday saw the return of NZ's school children to their rightful place within the teaching/learning environment. Unfortunately it also saw me doing my shift at Kindy with Sproglet B who was a bit clingy. Neither Sproglet A or B wanted to go back to school. "But surely you want to see your friends," I said. Nope, quite happy at home with mum it seems. Y'see that's where we I went wrong. My mother used to make my summer hols so bloody boring that I couldn't wait to get back to school whereas my children have been camping 3 times (yes we sqeezed another one in at weekend, more on that later), been for days out and have had Christmas, New Year and Sproglet A's birthday take place too. They've had far too much fun and frivolity and so it was a bit of a push to get us all out the door yesterday.

I packed Sproglet A off to school this morning, weighted down with all his new books, swim togs and a packed lunch. Here in NZ, it's the start of the school year and parents must make a 'donation' *tut* to school (this year it's $150/60 quid), pay a paper fee towards letters sent home from school and an activity fee for umm, activities - field trips and the like. Oh and buy books, pencils, compasses, highlighters etc. etc. etc. Bit of a surprise that one: in the UK we didn't pay for anything towards school, except the raffles and fund raising events which we always gave towards. Kindy isn't free either. Sproglet B had her 'free child place for every three yr old' in England but here we pay around $250/100-150 pound per term, depending on the length of the term and this is for four, 3hr mornings per week. Will be better off financially when she starts school in April. This is just Kindy mind, not a private Nursery affair. I'd hate to think how much they cost if this is what we pay for everyday Kindy.

Anyhow, enough of my whinging. Had a beautiful weekend camping at Waipu Cove, lovely campsite just over the sand dunes to the sea. Whilst we were putting the tents up, all this was happening... and we missed the whole thing. By the time we got on the beach around 4pm it was all over and done with. We went body boarding in the surf - the older children are really getting the hang of it - and even took the kayak out (not ours, we went with Lex and the Family Five) although I didn't have a turn on it. Looked like too much effort so I jumped waves with the smaller ones and hunted for shells. We found a starfish and some shells that still had their occupant, which made the shell 'snap' and the children scream!

When you look to the sky at night it's fantastic; I now understand the word 'stardust'. It literally looked like dust because there are so many stars who's light only just reaches earth that it looks hazy as they cluster together, but there were many, many bright ones too. Absolutely beautiful. As The Hubster zipped up the tent and crawled under the duvet beside me, I heard the ocean rolling in and the waves crashing. "Christ, let's hope a tsunami doesn't hit," I said in a rare moment of mild panick. "Yer on an airbed love, you'll be grand," he said, and kissed me goodnight.

2006-01-31T17:20:00.000+11:00

Mosied on down to the Harbour Festival for a mooch around with Lex and our families on Saturday. Went for a nosey on The Spirit of Adventure which was somewhat overshadowed by the sighting of a couple of penguins swimming around the docks... ahem, sorry, harbour. Then we went for a drink as it was a blistering hot and sweaty day. Then we tried to board the N.Z.
Navy frigate but a big man with an even bigger gun told us they'd closed for the day. None of us saw fit to argue with him and so we found solice in another cafe and fed the children. After that we tested our guts on a huge(ish) Ferris Wheel... and then went to an Irish bar for a drink to calm our unsteady nerves. Would simply love to show you all the photos but *sigh* haven't had the film developed yet, and then what with having to scan them in and... yawn. Think yourselves lucky you've been spared that's all I can say.

Lex and I tried to have a drink in the hip and trendy Minus 5, a bar made entirely from ice. You had to donn these big, smelly coats, Russian-style fur hats and furry boots and pay a tenner for the privilege. Y'get a free vodka drink but we didn't get further than the front desk. We only went for nosey but you can't see anything of any interest from there, just a whole bunch of merchandising. How naff. But I fancy going now. Will probably leave it for one of those rainy day weekends when I can never think of anything fun to do. Remind me, won't you, when winter comes and I'm whinging about what to do.

Sunday was spent lozzing around but then we saw the amazing fireworks put on as part of the aforementioned Harbour Festival. Beautiful to watch and a fantastic atmosphere too. Kiwi's are far more family orientated than the Brits and it was a great family night out. It was a lovely, calm night too which made a pleasant change. As it is, the weather is absolutely unbearably humid. I guess it couldn't really be anything else living in Auckland! It isn't as bad as when we lived in the Middle East: that was so debilitating and tiresome. It was so hard to motivate yourself to do anything there. Thankfully Auckland isn't as bad but it's still sticky and night time is horrendous - none of us can sleep. Sproglet B gets the fan first as she's the youngest, then Sproglet A. Once he's asleep we bring it into the lounge then we can slob on the sofa and watch a bit of telly in relative comfort before bringing it to bed with us. If possible, we'd have a threesome.

Yesterday was Auckland's Anniversary Day so The Hubster was off work. We joined Lex and her family for a tanning session down at Bethells (think Xena: Warrior Princess). I'm not too bad, not too pink. Sproglet A had his rash vest and long shorts on so only his forearms went a bit pink... but they're a lovely chestnut shade today so we won't worry about him. Sproglet B has strap marks on her shoulders. Should be thankful that's all she got as she has pastey white skin like me and I too have strap marks. And a burnt outer thigh. WFT? The Hubster looks like a Ribena Berry! lol. He usually goes brown but his skin must be thinning or something... I tell yer, the sun down under is lethal. He got all chaffed whilst body surfing on his Dora the Explorer boogie board and spent last night, legs akimbo with nappy rash cream on his nether regions! Hehehe.

2006-01-27T17:28:00.000+11:00

Got my photos back from my jollies. Trying to convince The Hubster that the cost of films and processing will soon mount up and that a new digicam will be worth the investment. Pleas falling on deaf ears up to now though. Hurrumph. Been scoffing my face with bloody Nutella after reading a new Blog I'd discovered whilst perusing last years finalists over at the Bloggies. Christ I must weigh a tonne or more these days.

Tall Ships have today arrived in Auckland for the Harbour Festival. Only just found out which is a bit of an arse because it would have been a lovely sight to see them breeze into the Waitemata Harbour, their sails flapping in the breeze. Last time I saw the Tall Ships was in the docks at Liverpool, UK. That too was a great day as I recall; bought four ice-creams for a tenner and received change in the sum of around 14 quid! Lovely day. None of the ships had their sails up though which makes Tall Ships look, well, a bit boring really; nothing but wooden poles sticking out at all angles with bits o'rope dangling off 'em. Anyhow, we'll trundle by tomorrow. Can't pass up the chance to be part of New Zealand's premiere event. Be nice to get some 'culcha'. Not a great deal of it in New Zealand. Gotta grab it whilst you can.

2006-01-25T13:26:00.000+11:00

Hi-De-Hi Campers

Didn't feel much like blogging last week and then we had a long weekend away to Lake Taupo, which was lovely. We went camping with Hev and her family... never again.

Hev suggested it for a week and we worked out dates and she spoke of a place on the lakeside itself. Then nothing. She did nothing. When I enquired as to what we were doing, she said she wasn't sure if her other half had enough holidays and that a week would be too long. I'd initially suggested a long w/e but she'd come back with setting up camp took too long and less than a week wouldn't be worth it! Alarm bells rang but stupidly I ignored them. In the end, I booked a site, told her and said come if you wish - this is where we're staying.

The camp site looked lovely. On the website. Turned out to be too near the road and noisy but next to some fantastic thermal baths which we could use for half price which made up for it. It wasn't as clean as I'd hoped but hey... this is camping. The Hubster had initially chosen a place with cold showers and drop toilets - this was pure luxury compared to that. We embraced it fully and got into the swing of things. We travel pretty light - just enough clothing, with typical camping clothes being de rigeur; no hairdryer, no make-up, tins of beans and sausages etc. lol.

It transpires that Hev hates camping! WTF??? Why ask us to go then???? They racked up with a mini fridge and top o'the range camping gear etc. and so much shite it was unbelieveable. No wonder it she says it takes them ages to set up. There's just no need for it - I mean, a camping table with chairs attached plus chairs to relax in for them and their kids, which their children never even used but were kept up under our gazebo, taking up space. At one point, I wanted to sit down but they'd put all their stuff on one of our chairs so I looked to sit on one of theirs. "Oh that one's ours I think," said her other half. "Well I didn't want to move your stuff off mine... I just want to sit down," I said, to which anyone else I know would just have laughed. He got up and moved his stuff off ours so I could sit. It was very much us and them to the point where he made a cuppa for him and Hev, but didn't ask if The Hubster wanted one. He had to ask if there was enough water in the kettle for him. It was like my kettle, my water; your kettle, your water.

They were just so rude... and her youngest child is so whingey. The little 'un doesn't like me and the feeling is mutual. Awful to say about your friend's child but it's true. He won't let me help him at all and she just panders to him. He won't even let me take the wrapper off his ice-cream when I'm stood next to him and Hev is at the other side of the camp. When I tell her, she just laughs and comes over to help him. Makes me feel so small. And he screams at her in a way that my kids would get a wallop. Even our children roll their eyes at him! lol. It was horrible.

The Hubster and I can't help thinking we'd have had a better time with just ourselves and the children. Total contrast to when we went with Lex and her family where we took just one of everything and shared. Thankfully we just went our own way during the day and we had the best time. My digi cam got sick and The Hubster took it apart to fix. Yup, you guessed it - it's now in bits all over the table and doesn't stand a cat in hell's chance of ever being put back together. I've seen another but I haven't to hint for Valentines Day.

However, Lake Taupo itself was wonderful. We rode a jet boat along the Waikato river to the Huka Falls; these aren't my photos obviously but it was the same view for us!

This is me!

Back row - me, sproglets one and two and The Hubster, clinging onto sproglet 2 who is almost hiding behind the Indian lady and her family. Her daughter was sobbing she was so scared. We all got absolutely soaked so we bathed in the Taupo Hot Springs thermal baths after to ease it - so hot! If you are planning - or know someone who is - to come to NZ, Lake Taupo would be a good place to visit and at just an hour out of Rotorua, it would make a welcome break from the smell of sulphur. Bungee jumps, jet boats along rapids, river cruises, jet skiing, water skiing, swimming... beautiful. We came back feeling like we were at long last seeing the New Zealand we wanted to rather than our Auckland burbs. Lovely.

2006-01-13T20:20:00.000+11:00

Summer holidays. Lovely. Except having to go food shopping with children. I am ashamed to admit that my children had me so close to tears yesterday that I almost blubbed over in the bottle shop purchasing a much needed Aussie red. Wine, that is. Y'know, I get heaps of comments about my children's behaviour. Heaps, and it's all good. But what people don't seem to realise is that my children are well mannered and well behaved because I make them that way. That's my job as their mother. I give so much of myself to those children that at times it gets to be too much and yesterday was one of those times.

When we go food shopping they play, but they play like there is no-one else around, flailing their arms about and shooting imaginary aliens which always looks like they are shooting at the little auld woman wandering up and down the aisles. I had to discipline them both several times, resulting in slapped legs for baby sproglet - twice! Whilst in the bottle shop, the shop assistant asked me if the two children outside her shop were mine as she'd just had to give big sproglet the evils for hitting her glass window. It turns out that in my wisdom not to take them into a shop lined floor to ceiling with glass bottles full of expensive contents, they had decided to swing on the shopping trolley and bumped against the shop window by accident. Sproglet no. 1 apologised to the woman and I tried to explain that if I could leave them with someone for a couple of hours whilst I shopped, I would, but living in a foreign land with no relatives does make for a hard life when raising children. There is not a day goes by when my children are not with me and it can become so very, very tiring but she was very nice about the whole thing.

I was so appalled at my children's lack of self control that they were sent to bed as soon as we got home and given no dinner. The Hubster however, thought such draconian measures where a bit harsh and so treated them to a slice of buttered bread and a glass of water before sending them back to bed. Let's hope that it's a day they'll remember... and I should remember to try and shop at night time.

2006-01-10T14:22:00.000+11:00

Hot today. Muggy. Severe case of cantbearseditus. Spent most of it munching biscuits and reading all my blogrolling blogs, including listening to a couple of podcasts. Pure induldgence. Cleaned both toilets, family bathroom and our shower room. Apart from the floors. White, tiled floors covered with brunette hairs. Requires me to get on my hands and knees to clean so not been done. *Sigh*. I can feel another few pounds piling onto my hips. Am I bovvered?

Granddad hasn't been well. *big sigh* I love my Granddad, the first father-figure I remember. Three children and none of them drive. One grandchild. She drives; lives half the world away mind. Literally. He usually does the shopping as my Gran can't see very well these days and hasn't been the same since she broke her hip two years ago. Mum spent the latter part of New Years Day in a taxi to the emergency pharmacist. £40 fare. He didn't charge her waiting time. How kind. *sneer* Still, the drugs she collected made Granddad feel better. He'd been taking whiskey up until that point - lol. He tripped up the step in the bakers. "Oh dear, are you alright? Can I get you a chair or anything?" enquired the lovely, buxom shop assistant. "Aye, a large brandy," quipped Granddad. I think he got a couple o'meat and potato pasties and a couple of cream buns free. He's 90 and still knows how to work the ladies!

2006-01-09T20:16:00.000+11:00

"You made any yet then?" asked the Hubster, chomping his way through my piece of Lemon Meringue Pie. "Any what? Lemon Meringue Pies? No. That's the last piece and I think you'll find it's mine!" I retorted, all huffy because I have my period and it's allowed. "New Year's Resolutions," he says.

I hadn't. Which got me thinking that I should. I once made the NYR that I would never make any NYR and never start health regimes on a Monday; Wednesday is far better as you still have the motivation to make through at least one weekend. There's a tip for you. So yes, I still need to get healthy and as I have my BF's wedding to fly to the UK for in August, I'd better start. Ah, but still on summer hols until early February so paddling in the sea and going for a tramp in the woods will have do for now. Not decreasing wine nor chocolate nor posh biscuit consumption until then. Nooo.

Went to a nice place just a short drive from our home, called Fairy Falls. Pretty eh?

Easy, forest walk there... all uphill and scrambling over rocks to get back. My legs are aching sooo much but it was lovely. So I suppose if I have to make any resolutions it's to get back into shape and walk more and keep up-to-date with all my friends via email, by setting aside one morning per month (tall order, I know) to reply to all the friends and family I like who go out of their way to keep in touch.

Wonder which one I'll fail at first?!

2006-01-03T16:05:00.000+11:00

COO-EEEE... or should that read HI-DEE-HI.

Back again. Happy New Year everyone! Sorry I was gone but we had a bit of a 'doo' after Christmas and the evening turned into a discussion about holidays, as this is our summer season after all. Ended up booking a last minute break to a campsite just outside of the Coromandel. Spent New Year's Eve eating pies on a beach. Northern folk eh... old habits die hard, I tell yer. Yes, New Years Eve - and Day - was spent doing this

and this

and looking at this

and this

and this!

Hot Water Beach (above) is just fan-bloody-tastic! Apparently some volcanos develop huge underground reservoirs of superheated water. Over time, this water escapes to the surface cooling on the way. There are two fissures at Hot Water Beach issuing water as hot as 64ºC (147ºF) at a rate as high as 15 litres/minute. This water contains large amounts of salt, calcium, magnesium, potassium, fluorine, bromine and silica. There are other hot water springs nearby but the location of these two springs on the beach make them unique.
When the tide gets low, you can dig yourself a little pit and sit in the hot water... but it is HOT! Lex and I wiggled our feet into the sand and felt the hot water burn our toes! It really does feel boiling hot so we had to go somewhere a bit further away to try again at a more comfortable temperature. The tide wasn't low enough to dig a pit but we all enjoyed body surfing on the kids new boogie boards. Was fun seeing The Hubster wander into the water with a Dora the Explorer board and his mate with a Polly Pocket one!

Anyway, my first tenting trip was fine. I think it was helped by the wonderful place we stayed at which had good, clean facilities and a beautiful, thermal swimming pool. Came home sunburnt but happy and are planning to go away this coming weekend too. It's my mission to help you find good places to visit if any of you are planning a break here and there's no point keeping good info to ourselves so here is the link to where we stayed - Miranda Holiday Park.

2005-12-28T11:02:00.000+11:00

WELL! What a bloody odd Christmas that was!

Christmas Eve was spent eating a chippy supper down at the beach and chatting to a lovely Maori man casting his net into the sea and showing the children the fish he'd caught. He gave one to a young couple huddled over an illegal fire BBQ. She had short dreadlocks and he, a big afro and dark sunnies. My kinda people. Different and I like different. Very white and middle class where we live. Not really comfortable with that. Since living here, have discovered NZ isn't as racially aware as it likes us to think. Big divide... but that's another topic.

We walked along the beach then hurried back to the car as the barrier closed at dusk and we didn't fancy the $60 charge to get out again. We greeted the park Warden with a "Merry Christmas" as he made his way down to the beach to check if anyone was still around, rather than just lock them in the car park. Nice bloke. Warned us about the pillocks driving the roads that night... but that's like every night really. Dangers of living on the coastal road.

As we are in the season of light nights (doesn't get dark until 9.30ish) it was after 10pm before the sproglets went to bed and close on midnight by the time we felt safe enough to put up the boinga-boinga. Had to shine the car headlights onto us whilst we errected it. For some reason The Hubster and I found this hilarious and couldn't stop giggling all the time... then we had to test it out.

Santa suit has become a necessity in keeping the belief in Father Christmas alive; two years ago we had a close call with the sproglets and we hope if they wake and see FC in their room, looking all nice and familiar, they'll continue to believe. We fell into bed around 2am, exhausted by the sea air. And trampolining.

Christmas Day

No chance of capturing the sproglets' delight on film as they see that Santa has indeed popped in for a beer and a bite of a pork pie, due to them having to pass through the lounge to get to our bedroom. Unwrapped their stockinged gifts on our bed then went to unwrap the gifts from under the tree.

Christmas Fayre consisted of a fry up for breakfast and then snacking on a family sized pork pie and pickles. Distinct lack of nibbles this year as each time I'd shopped it'd been on a full stomach so didnt' feel the need for crap. Apologised to The Hubster who was craving shortbread. I offered to make some but he didn't want to wait.

No turkey.

No roasties.

No cranberry sauce.

No Christmas Pudding.

No point as we weren't fussed and the sproglets didn't care. Too warm to cook a roast but everyone else seems to do it. Food-wise, a Kiwi Christmas is exactly the same as an English one. Spent the rest of the day trampolining and untagling Barbie dolls and Transformers from the plastic tags that hold them in their boxes. More of a challenge each year that one.

Seasons Greetings everybod. Seasons Greetings.

2005-12-22T19:02:00.000+11:00

Oh it's so good not having to get up for the school run in the mornings. I lay there, squinting in the bright morning light utterly determined not to get up when the alarm went off. We wake up to the radio in our home so I lay there, listening to them whittering on and it was bliss... but I had to get up for a pee after about ten minutes or I'd have wet the bed.

So today I have taken them to see Father Christmas and have traditional photo. The Vixen package. Not sure if that's a suitable name for child photographs but the Vixen consisted of two 5x7's and four wallet size for $30 NZD (12 squids). "And what are you hoping I'll bring with me when I pop down your chimney on Christmas morn?" twinkled Santa in his sleigh at the mall. "A Dora the Explorer tent" sang Issy whilst Luke chimed in with "An iPod shuffle."
And laughter rang out from somewhere in the crowd. Not. A. Chance.

Came back home to child mind Lex's girls as it's her last day of "Wiping shitty arses and mopping up vomit" as she so poetically put it and hell... she couldn't miss that now, could she? After Christmas she starts her new nursing job in a Private Clinic: 9-5, Mon-Fri. Bliss. As its the holidays and none of us have family living here, we have to help each other out in times of need so rather than them sitting in their dad's office for 3 hours, which had been the original plan, I volunteered. A nine yr old, eight yr old, twin five yr olds and a four yr old. Not easy. No. Not easy.

Made chocolate chip cookies, along with my best friend Betty Crocker. They helped take the edge of it. Bit like temazepan. Only tastier.

2005-12-20T07:45:00.000+11:00

It's all done. ALL my Christmas gifts are done. Well apart from an Auntie and Uncle of The Hubster's that have asked us to get the children something. And I haven't even started buying food. And if you take into account that this year it's only the children that are getting things and not the adult family, you'd think I'd have accomplished gift buying some time ago. However, I've had to buy the children gifts from everyone overseas and they've given us the money. Everyone that is, except my mum and gran.

She posted hers. Quite frantic that I've not received anything she sent since my birthday gift arrived; even my birthday cards didn't come. Turns out she's been sending them to 336 instead of 366! Lady at 336, being very honest, sent them back to N.Z. P.O. who've returned them back to the U.K. where you and I know they will never be seen again. I'm angry that mum won't even make a claim to Royal Mail as she just assumes she'll be wasting her time and yes, she probaby is, but to not even try? Pffftttt.

2005-12-20T07:08:00.000+11:00

"It's the holiday season.. and Santa Claus, is coming to town..."

In my previous post I remarked on what a quiet weekend it'd been last Sat and Sun. Well it had, but I forgot to say that we put up our lovely, real, Christmas Tree.

The second w/e prior to Christmas we go out, en famille, and wander around our local farm trying to find the best tree for our home. Not in his fields you understand, but the ones he has for sale in the yard. This year, not having any local farmyards and the real thing seemingly not in vogue in the warm weather of New Zealand, we didn't even bother to sift through the tat being sold by the roadside. As far as I'm concerned, nothing will ever compete with a real tree for me and boy, this one is fresh.

The act of walking into a huge field, searching for the one that's fat but not too fat, tall - ish, and able to fit in the back of the car and then summoning the summer worker in his vest and shorts, lugging a big chainsaw to chop down the one we'd chosen, was the best and most surreal thing we have done since moving here! lol. We didn't realise it was a pick-your-own farm so next year, I'll definately take the cameral with me. They even had upside-down trees (see their site) and trees aimed at UK expats... marketed like this:

If you originated from the UK and are feeling nostalgic this could be your kind of tree. It has short sharp dark green needles that will pop balloons. When bumped or moved after Christmas it will shed all its needles onto the carpet and for the next two months they will elude the vacuum cleaner. However Christmas thrives on nostalgia and memories.

I had one of those in my first home when I was 18; never again! lol. This was the best £13/$24 USD that we've ever spent! Sure it can be a bit of hassle but it's only a few hours we spend buying and decorating it and then a few hours spent wrestling it out the house on the 12th night. Remind me I said that when I'm whinging about it in a fortnight.

2005-12-17T21:11:00.000+11:00

*TUT* I'm getting to be nought but a slack tart wi mi blog... yet another week without a post. So here I am to play catchie-uppie.

Today - took Issy to a children's party in a big, sweaty, indoor play area called Chipmunks and now owed by Wolf 'Another- One-Bites-The-Dust' from 90's Gladiator, not to be confused with the one with Russell Crowe. Then I got defuzzed at the beauticians and enjoyed the peace and quiet not gained at said Chipmunks. Went to mall - sproglets had ice-creams, The Hubster and I a mocha at Starbucks-Charge-Big-Bucks. Bought danish pastries for breakfast in the morn and pizza for dinner. Came home and undid top button on jeans... ahhh.

Friday - lazed about. Still not right due to Tuesday night so soaked in the bathtub and read my new book about the Red Hot Chili Peppers, as my eyes are now able to focus.

Thursday - Issy's Christmas Party at Kindy. We took Fairy Bread as piss easy to make and The Hubster filmed her second Nativity play. She led everyone in the singing with the loudest voice and we were suitably proud of her.

Wednesday - passed in a blur. Missed it completely. Might not have even happened this week. Dunno. Can't remember (see below).

Tuesday - OH. Tuesday. Lou, the friend who keeps missing our Girlie Nights Out, decided to make it up by taking me out to dinner at Toby's. After 40 mins of bad service, our drinks finally arrived and we drank. Then we drank some more. And some more and some more and I was sick. When I got home though - not in the restaurant. It is 6 years since I was sick through alcohol. Mind you, we did for German/English relations what no politician ever could and have now put the world to rights.

Sunday and Monday - did nowt. Well nothing I remember anyroad.

Promise not to leave it so long. Promise. Have a lovely weekend y'all.

2005-12-10T20:13:00.000+11:00

The Hubster has gone out for a beer with friends, which was grand at first, but now I'm bored.

I am lazing in the comfy computer chair swigging diet Coke - caffeine free - out of its one and half litre bottle. Classy eh? Gassy more like. 'Scuse me. *snort* So... what to do, what to do. Mmm. Well, I've managed to offend someone in an expat. forum. They're homesick and asked for advice so I told him to stop phoning 'home' where everyone is happily getting on with their life and not really missing them the same as this couple miss everyone back 'home', stop thinking of the UK as back 'home' and put that effort into making new friends, to which he responded that making new friends wasn't an option as his old friends go back 20yrs or more. WTF? Why bother moving if you don't want to make new friends? Y'know, you'd be surprised how many folk aren't interested in people. I always get the village idiot chatting to me - they seem to pick me out in a crowd of others. Maybe I've got a face for it, I don't know... I'll happily chat away to anyone who speaks with me as I find people interesting rather than annoying and what's five minutes of your time when you might get a new friendship out of it? Anyway, the forum thing just didn't seem to be working for me tonight so I thought I'd blog. But didn't know what about. So here I am just waffling on.

Went to shop for a new pair of Birkenstocks... Heidi Klum has designed a range making them comfy and trendy. And you thought never the twain shall meet? Yeah well I guess they won't in my household. The HK ones are £150 in the UK - deffo out my price range here as the regular ones are twice what they cost in the UK. I just cannot justify spending £80 on something I know to be forty quid in Europe. *sigh* I came home empty handed.

We left it until after 4pm to shop as we thought we'd have to donn body armour and compete with the expected hordes of Christmas shoppers. Parked easily and stolled the muggy streets, noting that some shops actually closed their doors at lunchtime. IT'S TWO WEEKS TO CHRISTMAS!!! "This would be unheard of in Europe," I said to The Hubster, who agreed, but said this way was much more pleasurable. I disagreed as I love all the hustle and bustle in the cold weather but even I'm loathe to cook a turkey on Christmas Day this year. Any ideas for the perfect Christmas summer lunch anyone?

2005-12-07T07:59:00.000+11:00

Yet another week has flown by since my last post! I don't seem to get time to blog much these days as the weather is good and the children finish soon for Christmas and summer holidays so I am trying to make time for myself before we hit the wall! lol. Thankfully the car only needed the service and passed its WOF which is like the UK MOT, only every 6 months instead of annually. Considering my car is 9 yrs old, I think I did pretty good. I love my car.

Had yet another night out at weekend; a SAHMs Christmas Works Do - lol. Well two of them work but we aren't a stickler for the rules. Started with 8, then 6, then five then four... y'know how it goes. The four of us had a great night which started with a Thai meal, followed by a 70's/80's music club. Got to be careful at our age that no-one asks us if we're out with our daughters or something so this was a good club choice. By 2am tight shoes and alcohol had got the better of us and we wearily tottered home. I guess that's it for this year as folk from the UK are beginning to arrive; Lex has a cousin coming, Hev - her mother and Lou is hosting her flatmate from the early years who wants to propose to his girlfriend. Let's hope she says yes or it could be a tense time in that household!

My littlest sproglet wet her bed last night so I have laundry to do; she forgot to 'go' before bed so we had a rude awakening at 3am. Not good for my beauty sleep and, let's face it, I need all I can get these days. Now she is showered and clean I will take her out for a long overdue haircut and a fluffy, which is a New Zealand thing I think - small cup of hot, steamed milk and marshmallows. She feels grown up like Mummy when we do this sort of thing and I enjoy it too. 'Cept I don't have a fluffy obviously. Need a shot of caffeine otherwise I'd nod off. This is only the second time in two years she has had a night-time accident and I just hope it's a one off and she isn't coming down with a virus or something. That'll be all I need... two years ago, the eldest had Chicken Pox over Christmas and she had them over New Year!

So now to check email and bounce spam. Will try and play catchie-uppie with everyone later.

2005-11-29T09:26:00.000+11:00

Oooh... I'm getting old. Old I tell you!

The Tan-In-A-Can? Weeelll... it came out in a burst resembling drinking chocolate so I frantically rubbed it in, resulting in slightly orangey knee patches and fronts of ankles - and still white legs. No, tell a lie, it's more Dulux Peach White or Crab Shell. No hangover, because I'm a good drinker who alternates hard booze with soft stuff and I hate the out-of-control feeling that being drunk gives me, but I was absolutely shattered by 9pm Sunday night! The Hubster and sproglets went down to the beach whilst I stayed behind to wrap Christmas presents.

Father Christmas is bringing that good old Kiwi garden staple; a boinga-boinga. 12' diam. with safety nets... that's going to be fun to erect at 11pm in the dark on Christmas Eve when we've had a few! No, I haven't tried to wrap that; I did the stocking fillers. It's getting harder and harder to hide the gifts because there is no real hideaway storage... they're in the wardrobe with my old winter coat slung over them! Luke will turn nine in the new year and he still believes in Father Christmas. Each year, since he was about six, I've expected some snotty nosed, ugly little scroat of a kid to tell him the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. My mum thinks he will be bullied if he believes any longer. She turned to me in my teenage years and said, "Father Christmas stops coming when you turn 16," and bugger me he did too! Yet when we spend Christmas with The Hubsters family, he visits their house.

Talking of which, my MIL is in hospital in the UK today having a gall stone operation, before travelling back to France for Christmas. I don't think she realises she will be in pain for a good few weeks and as most of France is covered in a thick, white, snowy blanket I think they may stay in the UK a bit longer. She should have flown out here to recuperate - it's getting to be nice now. My car is in for a service (gulp) so I am having a lazy morning, drinking coffee, dunking biscottis and blog hopping so I should be round at yours anytime soon.

2005-11-25T12:36:00.000+11:00

I'm a holiday snob; I get it from my mother. She worked full time and was adamant that on her holiday she was not cooking and making beds, which is a fair point but we never really went anywhere as we couldn't afford those sort of holidays. To this day, she still doesn't own a passport!!! Unbelievable, I know.

I have grave concerns about this tenting-thing. It is the only way we can afford to tour around New Zealand and see what this country has to offer and I know the children will find it wonderful. I'm not too sure about me though. For example, The Hubster came home yesterday with details of a site who's main facilities are cold showers and toilets. The other had no shower and drop toilets, but was in a beautiful location up North. That's where we're hoping to head as it's warmer. It took me all my time to stay in a UK caravan park, although I am now a convert to them. They make a fantastic, cheap base from which to go sightseeing for the day and you can spend a little time on the park entertaining the children so they don't get too bored doing the 'grown-up' stuff. But a caravan's not a tent. It's dry and has beds, sofas, cooker, microwave, heaters, wardrobes, mirrors, somewhere to plug my straightening irons in and a private shower and toilet!!! And call me fussy, but I'd like a warm shower and preferably somewhere I can do laundry if need be, re-freeze my thawed freezer packs and a place to buy bread and milk from.

Yeah, I know... some folk want it all and a bag to put it in.

Anyway, I have a bit of a do to attend tomorrow night and have bought fake tan. I'm not very good with fake tan. Had the streaky, orange legged disaster waaay back in High School and I learnt my lesson. This is the tan-in-a-can variety which I've never used (have foresaken trusty Clarins to try this) but I figure because you spray it on, it will be easier to control and a fine mist will allow me to build up the colour. Too shit scared to put it on my face or neck or arms, but they don't look pasty white - my legs, on the other hand, are illuminous. I'm too tired to have a go now though as I had my friend's children sleepover last night. Had to get them all to different schools on time this morning and then I did Kindy duty at Issy's school and now she's asking me to take her to the park now and I don't want to go... I just want to have an afternoon nap. My God I'm getting old.

2005-11-21T20:01:00.000+11:00

TAA-DAAA!

Can't stop; till trying to get the fucker back in the bag it came in!

2005-11-20T12:30:00.000+11:00

TENTS TIMES

We've bought a tent. An all singing, all dancing tent. I was hoping for one like the children have...

Step 1: Take tent out of bag.
Step 2: Shake tent and voila... up it sproings.
Step 3: Relax and enjoy.

At 2 pm we started to errect it; by 2.15pm we'd conceded defeat. "You'd think a tent of this size would have instructions," I bemoaned to The Hubster. He agreed and got on the phone to the shop we purchased it from. "Yes we should have instructions and they'll happily fax them to us if we give them the number." I stared at the phone incredulously, mouth gaping like one of Issy's fish. Fax? Fax?! Do people still fax?! We asked if they'd scan the instructions and email them to us but that function probably won't be widespread in N Z until 2010, just in time for the Rugby World Cup that we are all set to host and so The Hubster had to hop into the car and go collect them. *sigh* I am now awaiting his return in anticipation of commencing all the fighting and arguing that putting a tent up always entails. Oh what a beautiful Sunday!

2005-11-18T18:42:00.000+11:00

POMMIE BASHING

Busy day today; morning consisted of the transformation of my mono brow into two arched ones and the de-fuzzing of legs. That, plus the haircut on Monday, and I feel so, so, so much better about myself. This afternoon entailed a trip to the fishy shop to see why Issy's fishies are ailing. Came away with a scrubber sponge to shift the algae from the sides, a water plant to help oxygenate the water and instructions on performing a partial water change. *tut*
"I've done that; the bloody thing only became dirty after we did that at weekend," I moaned.
"Ah well, give it a good scrub and do it again and see how you get on. What colour is the algae?" the fish meister enquired.
"Greeney-blue. With brown splodges," I replied. "Why?"
"Well green hues suggest too much light whilst brown ones indicate a lack of light. And you say you have both?"
"Yes, I have both, so what does that mean?" I asked, totally flummoxed.
"It means you might have to shift the tank," he quipped. Then he narrowed his eyes and squinted at me. "You a Pom*?"
Oh God here we go... let's end the day Pommie Bashing.
"Yup, I am," I said, proudly pulling myself up to my maximum height of 5 foot and a tab end.
"My dad's a Pommie; well, he's been here for 40 years so I guess he's one of us now," he drawled.
I paid for my purchases and as I walked out the door mumbled, "Aye, but I bet you're all on a British passport!"

(Pommie: Used as a disparaging term for a British person, especially a recent immigrant.)

2005-11-17T18:06:00.000+11:00

SOMETHING FISHY

When we sold our home in the UK we promised each of the sproglets a gift of their choice. Luke wanted a PS2 game and Issy wanted goldfish. We got the money through the other week and went shopping. Oh. My. God. These bloody fish are the hardest to look after!

Gloria is the gold comet and Google, the Black Moor. He had a ragged tail when we bought him which has got worse and worse and now he struggles to swim. We think he has fin rot. Cause: poor water conditions. Oh. We also thought you could just plonk them in a bowl and that would be the end of it. Nooooo. There's tank cleaning, partial water changes twice a month, full water changes every other month and that's once you got the damn thing established. We did the partial water change and siphoned their shit from the gravel last weekend and now the tank has green and brown algae coating the sides. WTF??? If this is what happens when it's cleaned I shan't bloody bother next time. Fuck 'em.

Only I can't can I, because I would have the death of my daughter's prized pets on my hands and I couldn't cope with the guilt. So they are now cruising in a blue bucket next to the fridge and tomorrow I will no doubt have to part with more sodding money to keep these $12 (5 quid) goldfish alive. Unless they go belly up by breakfast time.

2005-11-16T18:32:00.000+11:00

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SAHM

SAHM - Stressed-At-Home-Mother.

8.oo am - up, wash, dress myself and my two children. Make breakfast. Ah - can't. Luke has already done that for him and his sister and is now preparing his sandwiches for school. OK, I'll have a coffee then run them both to school as I have busy day ahead of me as a SAHM.

9.00 am - Meet with Hev outside Kindy and go Posh Frock Shopping (for her, not me. Sadly) Do we have time for a coffee? Perhaps just a quick one.

12.00 pm - Collect daughter from Kindy, eat lunch of cream cheese and ham bagel and umm... coffee? Why not?

2.00 pm - Take Elissa for play date with her friend. Would I like to come in for coffeee? Let me think... oh that would be lovely! Thankyou.

3.15 pm - Collect son from school. Visit Alex. Do I have time to stay for coffee? How awfully kind of you. Refusal would be bound to offend.

5.00 pm - Back home; gee what a hard day. Perhaps a coffee would help perk me up? Yes. Yes, that's right. Nice cup of coffee would see me through. How marvellous!

2005-11-11T16:18:00.000+11:00

GIFTS GALORE

From new friends:-

From overseas:-

See the Ruby and Millie lipgloss at the front? From my Granny! lol.

From The Hubster and sproglets:-

I love my new bag from The Hubster. Desperately needed an across the body, messenger style bag as my Tinky Winky bag, as the children call it, is a real handbag. I bought the Tinky Winky bag (gorgeous red, butter-soft leather) once Issy was out of nappies. I longed for a bag that wasn't ginormous; something that would hold a purse, keys, lipgloss and mobile phone... not wipes, nappies, cream, bibs, change of clothes etc. Well now I need a bag to hold at least wipes and tissues again for all those messy ice-creams and when we eat out, which we can do now she's older, but I also find I need to be more 'hands free' when browsing in all those shops that you couldn't get a pram in!

Hev looked at it. "S'bigger than mine", she sniffed. I smiled.

2005-11-10T11:31:00.000+11:00

'APPY BIRFDI TO ME!

*sigh* Another year older.

Am now, officially, in my mid thirties. In fact you couldn't be any more mid thirties than I am today. The photo isn't actually a birthday photo but it's me a la party mode in Effes Turkish restaurant, Manchester, having a bit of a 'do' before I left for N Z. That's my mother, there on the right. It was only taken... *thinks hard*... 7 months ago, so it's a pretty accurate glimpse of moi. The hair is longer and greyer as I haven't touched it since I came here and I usually wear glasses. All I see when I look at that picture is that my fingers are like chipolatas! Must lose weight. Not today though, eh. Not on 'mi birfdi'. Nah. Besides which I've already been out for two frothy al pacinos and a big slice of carrot cake this morning *big grin*. The Hubster says he will be home early and we'll go out for tea with the children and did I want pavlova or sponge or chocolate cake.

What does he mean, "or"?

2005-11-06T16:51:00.000+11:00

BLOODY GUY FAWKES

If it hadn't been for this guy, my letterbox would not resemble this mess.

2005-11-04T14:29:00.000+11:00

KINDY FIELD TRIP

Whereby you stick 30-odd 3 and 4 year olds in a field and leave them there Hansel and Gretel style, no?

No.

It's where child-weary mothers tramp into the woods (maybe that's where the Hansel and Gretel confusion materialised) sacrificing those oh-so-precious few hours of child-free biscuit munching and Oprah watching to help their precious offspring, and those of other mums who were clever enough to "have something on on that day", rip up leaves and stir 'potions' contained within a paper cup, with sticks full of bugs and bug poo and then smell their delightful pot pourri created from the forest floor.

Well at least it didn't rain.

This Field Trip took place at the Arataki Visitors Centre, here in Auckland. The 11m high Pou (guardian post) at the entrance, represents ancestors of Te Kawerau a Maki and is one of the largest of its kind in New Zealand. Or as we all saw it, a big, maori carving of big, maori men with big, maori... well, take a look yourself.

2005-11-03T15:24:00.000+11:00

FROST FREE

I have a new fridge.

Y'all jealous yet? Huh? Huh?

2005-11-01T19:26:00.001+11:00

MEAN GIRLS

We went to a Halloween party, well just one for the sproglets. I am gutted as I didn't think they celebrated it here as they don't in Australia, so I gave all my spooky stuff away before I moved. However, I am on a steep learning curve that New Zealand is not very much like Australia... as if the two try to do anything and everything to distance themselves from each other. The sproglets had fun, until it was time to leave.

We found Luke spread eagled on the floor behind the sofa, hiding from the girls who'd been playing kiss-chase with him. Poor mite... he was like a hunted deer! When I hauled him to his feet he burst into tears. Turns out that as he was hard to catch, the girls had taken to spitting at him instead! I mean URGH!!! I HATE SPITTING; I hate to see sportsmen do it along with the old men of the streets in the Middle East. In fact my friend's daughter used to make that horrible hocking noise in the back of her throat when she was just two years old and we found out she was copying the guys who tended the gardens on the compound. Huh, soon had that nipped in the bud, let me tell you!

Anyway, sufice to say I had words with all the children responsible before I left... and it wasn't even a party at our home. I hope we're invited back one day.

2005-10-31T11:50:00.000+11:00

' HELLO FRIENDS...

YES, I AM BACK... with a new house, new pets and what appears to be the start of good, summer weather here in New Zealand. Don't have the time to chat at the moment but I will leave you all with a small picture of my new home. Chat to you all later.

2005-09-30T11:16:00.000+10:00

OH MY GOD! Hadn't realised that it's almost four weeks since I last posted. Very sorry lads and lasses but I am going to have to call it quits for a short while. Hopefully not for too long but let me list today's events and you'll know why.

Got a call from the dentist. She has a cancellation - would I like it? Now that could be either good news or bad news, depending upon your view of dentists. Bad news for me because I need work and didn't want to have to bring it forward really. Never mind. Took it. Have to be there at - and this is not a joke - 2.30! LOL. Geddit? Tooth-hurty. I swear that's the time she's given me. Brought an amalgam-filled smile to my face before the next phone call.

We are being evicted. Arse. I mustn't have cleaned the place properly when she came for the inspection! lol. Nah, the owners are coming back from Japan (I hope it's not Tokyo Girl); they want to do the place up and flog it and so we received the prerequisite 42 days notice a couple of hours ago. Asked immediately what other properties do they have for rental at the mo and can I go look at them.

Hopped in the car - Mr Steve's car actually, the bum-scraper one - bloody thing won't start. Arghhh!!! Unplugged the sweaty sproglets and hauled them back into the house. We are on 2 weeks school holidays. We don't want to be stuck in the house together, narramean?

So I thought I'd update my blog only to realise that I hadn't been playing out for a while. Soz. Now my time will be taken up with trying to find a new home for us all (tut - again) in a place that I can still access broadband. That's going to be the hard part. What is they say... these things are sent to try us.

I will be away for a while but I'll blog hop and visit you all when I have my new abode.

Ta-Taa for now bloggin' buddies. xxx

2005-09-04T12:02:00.000+10:00

:: TIMES ARE HARD AND FRIENDS ARE FEW ::

Blimey! Where've I been? Hadn't realised I hadn't posted for a week. Bloody Trade Me.

Selling my children's clothing. Never tried anything like this before and have usually been able to hand them down to other children who'd look good in them - we have style in our home. Bags of it. Bags of 'em that are now on NZ's version of eBay. I'd give you the link but they won't allow you to bid from overseas. Why the bloody hell anyone overseas would want to buy stuff from NZ is beyond me anyway. Most of the the stuff on there is imported from the UK or US. If I can't make a few bucks this way I shall have to get a job.

"Hours are 12 til 1 with an hour for lunch, is that OK?"
"Aye, that'll do nicely thankyou very much. $500 pw? Lovely."

They just don't come up like that do they?

Today, is FATHER'S DAY. Happy Father's Day Mr Steve and any other NZ dads out there. The sproglets brought him cold toast and jam in bed then I made bacon butties to take the taste away :-). They all went out to clean the cars then came back inside for chocolate cake. Mr Steve is all veged out reading his new Father's Day Present, the sproglets are helping find Nemo on the Disney channel and me, I'm here. Between here and Trade Me actually. Auctions end tonight. It's very addictive. Thank God I'm selling and not buying!

2005-09-01T13:33:00.000+10:00

:: SPRING HAS FINALLY SPRUNG ::

And about time too!

2005-08-27T19:10:00.000+10:00

:: HOW CLEAN IS YOUR HOME ::

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.

2005-08-24T10:51:00.000+10:00

:: 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.

2005-08-20T16:27:00.000+10:00

:: 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.

2005-08-19T12:03:00.000+10:00

:: 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!

2005-08-17T19:44:00.000+10:00

:: 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.

2005-08-15T10:18:00.000+10:00

:: 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.

2005-08-12T14:12:00.000+10:00

:: 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.

2005-08-09T19:37:00.000+10:00

:: 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.

2005-08-05T19:18:00.000+10:00

:: 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.

2005-07-31T19:10:00.000+10:00

:: WHAT'S IN A NAME ::

As a wee child, someone bought me a blue bear with a white tummy. It was a koala bear. I named him Koala.

As a wee child, someone bought Mr Steve a black bear with a white tummy. It was a panda bear. He named him Panda.

You may conclude from this, that neither myself nor Mr Steve have what you might call the greatest of immaginations. You'd be right. Perhaps that is why we felt drawn here to New Zealand after discovering that major sports teams have the simplest team names anywhere ever.

We have the All Blacks, Small Blacks and Tall Blacks; Black Caps, Black Sticks and Black Sox... but the best of all has to be the badminton team. Click the link here to see the... Black Cocks.

Umm... we also have the Silver Ferns (netball) and the All Whites (soccer) but they weren't nearly as much fun to write about.

2005-07-30T20:48:00.000+10:00

:: BLOG OFF BLOGGER ::

Here is my nice, new blog design - well not my design but you know what I mean. If I seem huffy well that's cos I am. Just entered a nice long(ish) blog post and it's been eaten by some technobug or other and whisked off into hyperspace never to be seen again.

So yeah, my new design. Hope it doesn't make your eyes sken like the other did. I've installed a chat board just so you can say hi, as I know not everyone likes to make a comment - sometimes there's nowt to comment about - but it's nice to know you came by and read this inane drivel. Will do better tomorrow.

2005-07-28T12:15:00.000+10:00

:: HIRE A HUBBY ::

When I first saw the blurb on the side I thought it read "Wire A Hubby" and was all set to call them.

Then I spotted my mistake. Apparently they deal with all those things that your husband won't. I daren't go down that route... could be here forever.

2005-07-26T20:22:00.000+10:00

:: HOT TO TROT - OR NOT ::

" Bold text on a black background looks cool at first, but it is very user unfriendly. My eyes! My eyes! (clawing at sockets)"

WOW! Does this template really make some of you feel like clawing your eyes out? *sigh* Now, tell me honestly... do you think I should change the template to something softer? Or should I keep it a wee while longer, seeing as it's only been up there about three weeks?

Answers on a postcard please...

2005-07-23T17:42:00.000+10:00

:: GREY DAYS ::

"You been painting?" asked Mr Steve.

"Huh? Whadya mean?" replied moi.

I sloped off to have a gander in the mirror. It would appear I need a haircut.

Far, far greater than that, it was all too obvious that I need a hair colourant.

2005-07-22T19:53:00.000+10:00

:: HAPPY MEAL ::

Had a good night last night, yeah... looks set to become a monthly event which is great! I arrived first and explained that I'd be meeting two or three other friends who hadn't arrived yet and that we hadn't booked. Not a problem - thank God - and I was shown to a table straight away. I'd much rather prop the bar up... far more inconspicuous than sitting at a table looking like you've been stood up! We chatted about all sorts of stuff which was really good but nothing juicy that I can pass on to you guys. Didn't chugga-lugga too much vino de blanco and so was able to tackle my website once I was up this morning.

My website is old, old, old and hasn't been updated properly for a number of years. I set about trying to simplify it today, changing the graphics and making an easier layout and I hope to have it on a new site early next month. For now though, I am absolutely sick to death of looking at it and so I am off to Bloghop around. Catch you round like a rissole ;-)

2005-07-19T08:12:00.000+10:00

:: Y'GOTTA HAVE FRIENDS ::

[Pooft.] There it goes again. [Pooft.] And again. [Pooft.] Yup, either next door is on fire or they've deemed it cold enough at 8.30 in the morning to stoke the woodburner. They are the nice neighbours; the ones that invited us over for dinner a month after arriving. Perhaps I should get up and look... just in case they really are on fire? Nah. I'm too cosy, wrapped up in my dressing gown with Luke one side and Elissa the other, all snuggly and watching 'Lovejoy' on UKTV. [flick] Ooh, some 'chick' (as the female of the species are often referred to here - even by other 'chicks') is baking biscuits on another channel. I send the kids to check that next door isn't really on fire and also to fetch breakfast upstairs, which this morning comprises of Arnotts Mint Slices and Tim Tams. Or as I like to call them, poor man's Viscount and Penguin. I have it on good authority that if you bite both ends off a Tim Tam you can drink Baileys through it like a fat, chocolate straw. Too early for that though. Besides, I don't like Baileys. Yeah, I know... must be the only woman on earth not to like Baileys. Gin and wine are the regular tipple of choice these days. Actually not that regular, which is unfortuate.
Making friends here is like pulling teeth. It's hard to even make eye contact with many of the mums at the children's schools, even though I see the same women at Luke's school that I saw in the morning when I dropped Elissa off at hers. It's like, "Oohh don't make eye contact with the fat foreign 'chick' or then I'll have to speak to her and she might invite me out and then I might have to invite her over for coffee and how will I introduce a new friend into the fold I've had since primary school????" Never met a bunch of more ignorant and unfriendly women as I've encountered here. However that may be about to change as I am off on my first girly night out Thursday evening for dinner with two friends I have made, both English, one of which lived about 15 minutes drive away from us in England. Small world as they say. Became friendly with Heather because she was the only one willing to speak more than one word to me at Elissa's school whilst dropping her son off there. We met up a couple of times for the children to play in the afternoon and yesterday she introduced me to another of her friends that she'd made, Alex - the one who used to live close to me - and that was that. Night out arranged and that is how it should be.
SOOO if any of you have a new work colleague/neighbour/child in your child's class, be nice. Introduce yourself and spend an hour having a tea or coffee with them and stop being afraid of perhaps making a new friend that's far more interesting and fun to be with than the ones you already have.

2005-07-15T08:22:00.000+10:00

:: GUILTY AS A GIRL CAN BE::

"...and a packet of Sudafed, please Mr Pharmacist. Sorry? You want my name and address? For a packet of nasal decongestant?" Small voice. "Why?"

Immediately I look guilty. Maybe it's way he peers over the top of his dark rimmed bifocals, making me feel nine years old again, the whole class laughing at me when Mr Winward (God rest his soul) tried to confirm my d.o.b. as "the 10th of the 11th" and I didn't understand he meant the tenth day of the eleventh month; I kept reiterating "no, just the 10th Sir, not the 11th" and feeling so stupid, my cheeks burning with embarrassment, yet I was certain he had got it wrong. Standing up to a teacher such as Mr Winward wasn't done when I was small. He was old, old school.

"Why, madam, because of the all the pee, that's why?" My head whirls, pee, pee, pee. Nope. Not getting it. It's never had that effect on me. Ahhh does he mean the letter 'P'? Nope. Still not getting it. 'E' yes, everyone knows about the letter 'E' but this one, this is new. Guilty expression must have been replaced by stupid arse one as he goes on to explain, "It contains Phenylalanine which drug users extract to form a party pill and so we have to take the name and address of everyone asking for regular medicines with it in. Everyone's a suspect nowadays. Hardly any of this stuff left."

I duly give him my details then, to my utmost amazement, a voice comes from somewhere inside of me, one which should remain inside of me but spills forth and stupidly utters, "What's from stopping people giving you false details?" Oh for Christ's sake love - are you trying to make out you're a dealer??? He peers again. I hope he can't see me properly. He's my local chemist now. I shall be visiting him when I'm at my worst. It's not what I need. "Nothing," he replies, staring hard. "Just wondered," I cough, and hurry home clutching my little brown paper bag as if I really am a drugs runner, all the while thinking, "What does a chemist mean by party pills?"

"Here, yer drugs," I say to Mr Steve when I get home. "Have you heard of party pills?" "Yup," says Mr Steve, "they advertise them on the radio a lot. They are exactly what you're thinking but totally legal apparently. There are even party pill shops where you can go buy a few tabs for the weekend. Crazy isn't it?" and he slopes off to the bathroom with a pint of water and two tablets only to emerge 10 minutes later asking for Elton John dance floor remixes and blowing a whistle. Here is the disclaimer on one of the shop sites. First one I went to. Have a read and then tell me it doesn't addle yer brain! *manic grin*

Yet another side of New Zealand I've seen that they don't promote in the brochures. Now you know just why the Hobbits where so small.

2005-07-14T19:51:00.000+10:00

:: TWIDDLE DEE TWIDDLE DUMB ::

Can anyone tell me why, on my blog ring codes to the left of my page, am I getting those funny A's with the twiddle on top? I know it's been a while but I just cannot figure out how to get rid of them. I have copied and pasted codes exactly as they were given to me and I can't get rid of the twiddley A's no matter what I do. I am definately Twiddle Dumb. *sulk*. Also had problems with my comments link too, so I have changed from Blogger to HaloScan; very sorry but I have lost the comments that had been made previously. Let's hope this one is faithful.

Today I took the children to the Bruce Mason Theatre up on the North Shore of Auckand, to watch The Little Mermaid. Two blokes and two women with home-made costumes and sets and lots of laughs for the younger ones. Luke didn't want to go, deeming himself to be above the 'tail' (sorry) at eight years old - of course, he thought it great when he was there! He likes going over Auckland's big coathanger. I found this picture on a web search: it isn't mine but if you want to see a few more shots of the place I live, I suggest a look at his site Perciva. Beautiful photos of the Coromandel Penninsula which is just two hours drive away. I always think it's nicer to view others photos instead of a tourist brochure... on this site, you can't tell the difference. Enjoy.

2005-07-13T10:21:00.000+10:00

:: LIFE'S A BEACH ::

Christ! Nearly poured gin in my coffee instead of milk. No I haven't taken to having an early morning tipple - bloody hell if I started that, I might never stop. It was out from last night. Purely medicinal. (Or is it only rum and brandy you can say that about?) Today the sun is shining and about time too after having two days of cold wind and rain. Luke is playing his PS2 and Elissa is doing a jigsaw. I am thinking of taking them to the beach after lunch.

Cornwallis Beach, West Auckland

The thing that's putting me off is that my mobile phone won't work there. I've had a mobile phone for less than two years; I managed just fine before it. I don't know if it's because the beach is a pretty quiet place and being responsible for two, small tiddly peeps in a quiet place worries me more than being in a crowded place. Is it a sad sign of the times or a real worry. This was one of the reasons we moved to N.Z. but in reality, I don't know if it's any different to anywhere else in the world. I also have to go do a Supermarket Sweep. Mmm... wonder which the kids will prefer?

2005-07-12T15:12:00.000+10:00

:: AIR WAVES ::

The Doc has told me to lose weight. That's the arse about arriving in a new country and having to register with new doctors. I knew I'd put on a few pounds in the past two years of living in the UK. Y'see, all those things you folk take for granted such as eating out at nice restaurants, glass (bottle?) of wine, popcorn at the cinema etc; well on my return from The Kingdom I went a bit mad doing all the things I hadn't been able to do there. In reallity this means my BMI has rocketed from a slightly overweight 26, two yrs ago, to 30 bloody 2!!! WTF??? It's not good is it?

SOOO I bought a pedometer. If I lie on the bed and wave it side to side in the air, it counts my 'paces' *snigger*. So far today I've amassed the grand total of seventeen. My arm ached after that. Maybe tomorrow eh? Maybe.

2005-07-11T16:01:00.000+10:00

:: UPSIDE DOWNSIDE ::

I was listening to the news earlier about a new wine, developed in California and aimed specifically at women. The guy from the vinyard was saying how they have realised finally that wine is drunk by 60% of women and so they were aiming their new product, which contains less sugar (upside!) and less alcohol (downside) at - get this - 'upscale and sophisticated women' *snort*. Obviously he's never seen most women having a good night out! Well I went to their website. If the girl on the introduction page cut down on the amount of cake she's troughing, maybe she could afford to drink a bottle of the decent stuff. BTW, the wine is called "White Lie". Huh - y'not wrong.

2005-07-10T12:33:00.000+10:00

Auckland's Sky Tower

:: HERE I AM AGAIN ::

With a whole new blog for a whole new country. Yes, I made it to New Zealand and so now I have a little more time I hope to bring you a little more of me and my life and my days... more of a suburban gypsy these days than an urban one but that didn't have the same ring to it. Hope you are happy to have me back.