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Our blog of our impending move to the North Island.
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8 Months Later ...
... Yes that's how long it has been since my last blog entry! But time flies when you're having fun so forgive me!
We had MIL arrive in April and whizz through with a friend of hers for a day before heading down to Wellington and the South Island before rejoining us for a couple of weeks. It's amazing to think this friend of hers is the girlfriend she emigrated here with when they were both 18 years old. MIL returned to the UK after Hubby was born here, but her friend remained and it was lovely for them to have a couple of weeks catching up and for MIL to meet all her friends' family.
I was going through a particularly crap time at work when she was here, new manager and all just pretty pants really. I made up my mind that if things hadn't improved within 6 months both manager relationship wise, but more importantly earning potential wise then I'd have to try pastures new. So I left the job in October, thankfully under good cirucmstances and with an invitation to return anytime if the housing market picks up. Which it doesn't look like doing anytime soon.
So Christmas found us both out of work, but thankfully with enough savings to see us through before after New Year having to pull our fingers out and find something to do! We were really close to buying a shop, but some rude bugger pipped us to the post - still I console myself with it obviously wasn't meant to be. Something else will come along, it always does, and to be honest it's probably only about the 3rd Christmas and school holidays I have ever had home with the family! Needless to say they are driving me mad now!!
This Christmas we opted for a more traditional Kiwi feast of roast ham, salads and a seafood BBQ. Last year we had roast turkey and all the trimmings, but by the time we sat down with sweat dripping from our brows it was just too much! Thoroughly enjoyable day finished off with a trip over to the beach for a bit of kite flying!
The kids all continue to blossom which is fabulous. Our son has taken up go-karting and this occupies both him and the hubster most Sundays travelling around racing. It would appear he is a natural and so I am becoming pushy stage mother in the hope he'll be able to keep me in the manner to which I should be accustomed! At the Christmas Club Day I bravely agreed to race a friend's kart in the ladies race. This I assumed was made up of other mums like myself who had never raced - WRONG!!! I honestly had lain awake the night before anticipating how it would feel to blast away and romp in first passed the chequered flag - the reality was I limped in last! Still, I did it and none of them thought I would! I tried my hardest, went pretty fast (well obviously not fast enough but not crawling round like a "Nana"!)
I have now decided that after eating and drinking everything in sight over the last 10 months or so it is time for a radical upheaval. I got an ipod and arm holder from Santa so I have taken to walking/jogging with one of the dogs at a time round a route I have created to ease myself in gently. I'm doing well, 5 runs/walks in the last 4 days. If I see no difference in my waistline I am going to seriously consider liposuction ...
Our eldest works in a local restaurant and if she's not at work she's out with friends or asleep - as all good 16 year olds should be! She is really happy at the moment and the job seems to have done wonders for her confidence and self-esteem. She is a thoroughly nice young woman - obviously it's hereditary!
The 13 year old is going through a 13 year old stage so the less said about that the better!
And the youngest just turned 6 and is, well, milking being the youngest!
Do we still love NZ? Absolutely!! I can honestly say you'd have to drag me back kicking and screaming to the UK, even just for a visit. Not interested one iota I'm afraid!
So, Happy 2009 to one and all and may all your dreams come true! |
Posted: 06:35, Mon 29 December 2008 |
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What We Did On our Holidays ...
A selection of snaps from Rotorua and Auckland ...
 The Luge
 The Bungy Swing
 A Hungry Lion!
 Ahhhh ...
 Small dot on what appears to be the outer rim is daughter Number 1!!
 Here she comes!!! |
Posted: 11:49, Tue 29 April 2008 |
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Am Over It ...
... 24 hours from Hell. All pants. All work related. Very stressed. Lots of crying. Wine isn't easing the pain. On the bright side - am having a week off. All bloody pants.
Sorry - just needed to vent ... |
Posted: 12:36, Fri 18 April 2008 |
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Yes, I know, it's been ages ...
... But we are living here you know!
Just got off the phone from my dad - he's just home from 3 weeks in Barbados - lucky pig - but then again I'm not so jealous as I used to be when we have had the most amazing summer ever!
Mum has been, stayed, travelled and gone. She arrived on the 9th December I think and sensibly chose to split her time between us and a place up the road for some peace and quiet. I have got the details for when I need peace and quiet (just the 6 days a week then!)
She took a 3 week coach tour with Kirra Tours of both the North & South Islands which by all account was amazing. She has fallen in love with the South Island and if she can bag herself a toy boy on her return to the UK (under 74?!) she'll sweet talk him in to returning to the SI and campervanning around for a couple of weeks/months.
The kids have had an amazing summer hols, spent mainly at the beach surfing or in the pool splashing! They all look amazingly tanned and healthy - and that's without painstakingly lying out on the sun lounger working on it - don't you just hate that?!
I've taken up surfing with a girlie group - well, I've been once and intend to go back again this week. It was hilarious and I did enjoy it.
We had a great weekend at Taupo staying with our very dear friends, to watch the A1GP (?) car racing thing? I didn't go to the racing too busy drinking, recovering and getting hair done. Now the buggers have announced they are moving to Oz ... gutted!
Work is still enjoyable, but it's been pretty lean times on the old pay front - picked up this weekend, so fingers crossed I can stick with it ... otherwise it'll be plan F. (I have no idea what plan F is at this point, but I'm sure we've exhausted and discounted plans A - E!)
Hubby had a Happy dave Day for his birthday and we await the imminent arrival of his mum for her visit - we're not entirely sure when, but we think April!
Still all good and love where we are and NZ - just wish I could earn a more consistent salary! |
Posted: 09:27, Sun 10 February 2008 |
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Some recent photos
Of our new lifestyle here ... Aston & I nearly at the top of the Mount
 We live here!!
 Dave in stunt plane flight he won from golf tournament
Dave taking off in "M.A.S.H" helicopter at golf tournament Day Off = Beach & Surfing! It was a little overcast today! Speedway addicts now - demolition caravan racing - so much fun! We all did rock wall climbing - except Dil aged 5 and Cyd aged 15 - as soooo not cool! |
Posted: 12:43, Sat 12 January 2008 |
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It's Been A While ...
I haven't "blogged" for a while now, as frankly I've not had much to say? How dull am I?!
I'm off to Auckland at the crack of dawn and am a little nervous. Firstly the drive - I haven't driven there on my own before. Secondly, I have a real phobia about situations I've not been in before. You know ... where to park the car ... where to locate the mini-bar etc, etc. Plus I have attended this particular "trainer's" session before and he's just not the most entertaining man I've ever met - and I've parted with a lot of money to spend three days in his company?
On the bright side I have the new "Hairspray" CD to listen to in the car, I'm staying in a hotel for 3 nights and I have tagged on an extra days shopping in Auckland!
The weather has taken a turn in the direction of fabulous - which is great, not that I can get any time to appreciate it. But I'm one of these the sun is out so all must be right with the world?
My manager - who is a star - is leaving our office this week ... I cried! No really, big girl's blouse tears when it was announced - in public? I'm over it now, but was shaken and gutted by the announcement! I know - "It's only a job ..."
Been feeling a little dis-heartened with work in the last couple of weeks. I've done better than I thought I would in a short space of time. But the reality is there's still more going out than there is coming in and I for one, don't like that. How can I justify my Louis Vuitton visit this week in Auckland knowing that? (Very easily actually!!)
Hubster took me out this week to celebrate my being away for 4 days, he won't miss me in the slightest - he'll miss golf?! I miss him though, always at the office and when I'm home he's playing golf?
Different life, different country, better weather, happier, better social life, less money, less family time. Ho hum. You couldn't get me on a plane back! |
Posted: 10:31, Sun 11 November 2007 |
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Elvis in New Zealand
Seriously ... I saw him with my own two eyes last Thursday night. We had a works awards do with the theme Viva Las Vegas, and he was there in bejewelled suit sweating profusly whilst struggling through 2 numbers!! My how I laughed. Bizarrely I did NOT receive an award? I couldn't believe it - but there you go! I thought I might have run away with Best Import at the very least - but not a sausage!
After the awards we partied the night away at some strange club/bar in town - I still ache and appear to have thrown my back out, but my colleagues are still talking to me and considering I didn't get home until 3am, suprisingly Hubby is still talking to me!
We are now the proud owners of 4 fishing rods - so exciting. Hubby took the two youngest down to the wharf on Saturday morning, I was expecting snapper for supper - sadly they only caught 2 starfish!
Our 8 and 12 year olds are all signed up for Surf Lifesaving club and have to wear these gorgeous little beanie hats and "togs" with "Papamoa" in flourescent green across their butts! It's all geared around parental supervision and participation, great excuse to ogle lifeguards in speedoes whilst soaking up the sun!
So we feel like we're getting there with becoming Kiwi's - well I am as in theory hubby is already!
Met up with Helinuk on Saturday to show them in to their rental - just off there now with Liz and Co for a quick glass of wine.
Enjoy!! |
Posted: 04:55, Mon 15 October 2007 |
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School Holidays Are Over - Phew!
I can't really complain as I've been leaving the kids up to Hubby what with work etc! But even so ... 2 weeks is a long time to have them wrecking the house! Thank goodness for the good weather as they're out so much.
I had Wednesday off and took 3 of the kids for a day out as I wanted to check out 2 areas that some friends in the UK have been thinking of. So we set off for Wakatane, home of White Island a "live" volanoe. Drove through Te Puke again which I am so glad we didn't consider when Hubby was wanting a rural property as personally I think it seems as dull as dishwater! Got to Wakatane and picked up loads of leaflets to book one of the cruises to White Island for a later date. Went to a nice park and beach and then home through Maketu and Pukehina for a bit of a nosey. Or as the kids puts it, "we drove for an hour and a half to go to a park and a beach ...?"
Friday was good news for me and a colleague as we sold our auction listing prior to the auction which would have been this coming Tuesday so we were very pleased with that!
Friday afternoon I set off like the intrepid explorer I am for Hamilton. This time I lifted the bonnet of the car infront of Hubby in an attempt to be seen to carry out my pre-journey maintenance checks. Thankfully this prompted him to check all moving parts and also accompany me to the garage to do the tyre pressures. I have done this before in the UK before you all start sighing at my incompetance - it's just I was worried it might be different here. And how could I forget the first time I'd done it in the UK when I attached the water hose to the tyre only to jet wash myself?!
It was a very pleasant drive to Hamilton and I found Karonious' house no problem. She had a house full from the course she'd just finished and we had a very nice evening sat on the dick enjoying a few alcoholic beverages. In the morning we had a nice walk round the lake and drove through the town before I had to set off. She is coping admirably well with her tough situation and really appreciates everyones kind thoughts and words of comfort. Got home yesterday lunchtime as I had to go to work for a couple of hours. So I popped upstairs to get changed, looked out bedroom window to find my car halfway across the street. Memo to self ... the handbrake is there for a reason - use it!
Had to work a little yesterday and today with another cold which is annoying. As soon as the weather gets nice I get the sniffles?
Picked eldest up from her job at lunchtime and thought we'd sit by the pool for a nice picnic lunch. We did. Whilst 6 of the kids friends frolicked in said pool squealing at the top of their voices!
This morning was a bit of a shame as the All Blacks lost the rugby to France. Some people up the road had painstakingly painted their fence black yesterday and then over the top in silver they had written "Go All Blacks" and drawn a silver fern. As I drove passed this morning ten minutes after they lost there was matey painting underneath "2011" !!! I love the Kiwi's in the UK the English would have been spilling on to the streets gunning to fight anyone if they'd lost!
Hubby is at golf for the third time this week having not played for years before we got here. He seems to be good buddies with one of the golf crowd which is nice and is enjoying the New Zealand weather presenting so much more opportunity to play than back in the UK.
So have loads of phonecalls to make this evening, including one to a friend who left me a mysterious message the other morning with some news she had to tell me ...
So here's hoping this week my cold dries up and work continues along it's current trend!
Have a good week everyone.
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Posted: 06:51, Sun 7 October 2007 |
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You Must Be Joking???
A quiet week on the whole, lots of mooching around and not a lot happening really?
Although the title of my blog relates to a work based incident this week.
A breakfast meeting ... my first ... I've never worked for a company big enough before to be a party to breakfast meetings. So I was quite excited by the concept - until the facts came out. This was to be a breakfast seminar - not meeting - to hear a motivational speaker. Now, I'm quite sceptical about this kind of scenario, but figured it'd get me in to the managers good books and must show willing. Sure, part me with $33 and I'll go, what's to lose? The answer to that one Ladies and Gentlemen ... my SLEEP?!
Said breakfast meeting was in Rotorua. We were to meet at an office at 5:45AM???????? I duly set my alarm and had an early night. Woke up at 5am to realise the alarm I'd set had been an hour late, so just managed to wash and floss, fall into car and make it to the meet.
But it was worth it, he was a great speaker, an Australian, and it was a good morning. I promptly got back to the office and signed up for his motivational emails, emailed my sales manager and borrowed 4 CD's he had of the guy speaking and signed up for a 3 day training course in Auckland in November. Have told Hubby it's 7 days as obviously need time to shop and go to casino etc, etc, etc.
Have felt a bit down this week in spite of Mr Motivator, just not got the work I'd gone for the last 3 times and felt a little demoralised. Then today, total fluke, picked up new listing and new buyers, possibly for my auction property, just goes to show, right place, right time, right attitude. I don't know, but it must have happened for a reason?
Eldest is at a friends tonight, having had 2 friends sleep over last night so she seems pretty sorted. No. 2 daughter had a friend sleep over last night and they went to the cinema, just picked her up from that friends house so she seems pretty sorted. Darling son, is always happy and proudly showing off sock tan lines - eww? Third week of Spring, God knows what he'll be showing off by the time Grandma comes for Christmas?! And littlest is happy at the nursery that have learnt from their previous lessons and now fair shower us with attention!
Darling Hubster - well, I've hardly had 5 minutes to catch up with him in the last week, but I have asked him if he wants to go see UB40 headlining a concert around his b-day in Feb and we can make a weekend? He seems keen enough!
Basically you move all this way and you're still run off your feet! I'm exhausted.
Kids are on school hols now and we are meant to be going skiing, will keep you all posted! |
Posted: 10:22, Sun 23 September 2007 |
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It's A Hard Knock Life ...
Well, it's been a while since my last update so I thought best to contribute something - but whatever I say will seem like smug, gloating, because we are just having such a nice time!
Last week I made my first 2 sales, which is in about the half the time we had initially allowed so I am very, very pleased! Now I just have to keep it up which somehow seems even more daunting!
To celebrate I had a glass of vino in the office with colleagues Friday after work and then raced round to my Aussie friends for a good old girls night in. Got a taxi home and collapsed into bed.
Had Saturday off as I knew I had to work on Sunday and went in search of a BBQ. As Spring is officially upon us I felt it only right to embrace Kiwidom wholeheartedly and purchase the real McCoy for all the Summer entertaining we intend to do. Only, no charcoal BBQ to be found? Only $1,000+, all singing, all dancing gas portable, outside kitchens?? I ask you? Do I need a hot plate/plate warmer with a BBQ? A wok burner? No I do not. I want my food to taste like BBQ food should, clearly of charcoal - not gas - that's not a BBQ where I come from?! So I think it may be a case of building a brick one somewhere in the postage stamp sized garden.
Saturday night I took the 2 youngest kids down to the hotpools in the evening and it was Heaven. I sat in the 38 degree salt water, listening to Fat Freddys Drop over the speakers gazing at the Mount, relaxed and happy. (Sadly though I do need to speak with the management, as there is no bar at the Hot Pools and obviously this really would make it Heaven?)
So now on to this week and I have managed my third Wednesday off in a row as Hubby has gone to golf with the lads again. Today saw him fall out of bed (ME? Elbow said man ... who do you think I am?) at 6:30 to catch a bus from the golf club to take them off to play somewhere in the Coromandel, Pauanui I believe. I've not heard from him since so can only assume he is having a good time! My youngest and I set off for another Wednesday Ex-Pats coffee morning and had a very pleasurable couple of hours sat in the sun eating cake and drinking coffee. Somewhat alarmingly we seem to have come up with the idea of forming an Ex-Pats netball team for the older lady ... and no alcohol did not pass our lips!
I have now purchased a sports bra and was wondering when it may come in handy ... no trainers yet though, one thing at a time!
The rest of the afternoon was spent in the sunshine attempting to clean the pond, I mean pool, but I don't think I made much impression. Shall add it to Hubby's list of things to do.
Our little girl had her first day at kindy yesterday and came back a very happy bunny full of all the "neat" things she had done all day that were "real cool", she has her second day tomorrow. It's nice that she is so unfazed by all the new experiences she has had thrust upon her in the last 5 months.
So with all of the above it is quite a struggle to fit in daily walks on the beach and sipping New Zealands finest wines of an evening, but God loves a tryer! |
Posted: 10:53, Wed 12 September 2007 |
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Looks like I'm going to get paid!!!!!!
Oh. My. God!!!
Finally have a contract on one of my listings - should go unconditional next week and then there's a one day cash out clause - but all looks promising! Considering I had felt like I'd taken my foot off the pedal a little in the last week I am really pleased and motivated again!
Have a nice, quiet weekend ahead with no racous parties to attend for once, so I'm hoping the weather stays good and we'll enjoy some family time.
We are discussing the possibility of a weekend in Auckland coming up, be good to take off and see some more sights. Just need to discuss with hubby.
Hubby has been attending the lads golfing day for the last 2 weeks and really seems to be enjoying life more. He even said to me this week, albeit when pretty pickled, that he had just had his first day of here feeling like home. So I take that as a good sign.
Had my first very brief pang of missing England this morning when I picked up an email from my ex-boss in the UK and they asked if I was going back for the Christmas party. Fond memories ... Ahhh!
We had a good Expats coffee morning this week, really nice to meet some new faces too. Hopefully be getting a Papamoa drinkathon off the ground for next month! Hopefully I can get it to co-incide with a works team building exercise at the surf club, coz there'll be no team members wanting to bond with me if it involves squeezing into a wet suit ...
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Posted: 03:23, Fri 31 August 2007 |
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Party Post Mortem ...
So last night was the much anticipated 15 year olds party.
To avoid any mishaps or being prosecuted we took it upon ourselves to actually phone all the parents prior to the party to discuss the "great alcohol consumption" quandry and also to inform them that Dave would be presiding over the entire proceedings. This seemed to go down well and we quickly established that it was pretty much a 50:50 split between those kids who were allowed a couple of drinks and those who were not.
Dave spent many hours infront of the mirror perfecting his David Brent dance moves and I headed off to a friends with the younger 3 kids.
When we returned Dave was exhausted and most disappointed that he had not been called upon to throw any shapes on the dance floor. Several kids seemed mildly merry, but there was NO vomiting!! Yay!!! Worse thing he'd had to deal with was at least 3 of the girls crying over boys, usually the preferred spot was sat on the floor in the laundry - not one of the little madams thought to do the ironing whilst in there?!
Oh, and daughter dropped and broke my camera - good excuse for a new one!
So then we sat and had a few drinks as we sorted out girls in the living room, boys in daughter's bedroom. Finally got to bed at 2am - kids up at 7am?! How much noise????? But they had an attempt at cleaning up and all thanked us sincerely. So no real harm done.
Daughter is most put out that all her friends think me and her dad are "cool" but can return to school with street cred intact!
Seemed like a nice bunch of kids. My advise for any of you in the future, do the ringing around thing, do NOT let them go out on to the street as this is when neighbours get concerned and call the cops, ban anyone without an invite and stay home to oversee - they all enjoyed the night and there was no hassle. Phew - thank God it's over!! |
Posted: 10:03, Sun 26 August 2007 |
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Ever the Professional ...
So yesterday I'm in the back of a colleagues car on "caravan". For those of you not in the know this is when we traipse round all the new properties that the company have listed in the last 2-4 days. Personally I think it looks like either the bailiffs calling or the funeral directors. It seems obligatory that we all wear black and we all descend on these properties (up to 45 of us during any given period), screech to a halt outside, get out, up to front door, take shoes off (now a canny vendor would be thinking I'll wait outside and help myself to a new pair of size 5's ...) wizz round property, leave business card on table/work top and then fall over each other to try and ensure we're not the last to leave thus bearing the responsibility of having to lock up!
So anywhere during this twice weekly ritual yesterday, my mobile rings. It is a woman whi I met at the weekend who wants to buy a house. Great thinks I. I had posted her some property details of a couple that I had thought would be of interest to her. She says she wants to view 4 of them that afternoon and would I call round her place and pick her up? Of course says I as this is a perfect marketing ploy to trap client in car and get to know more about them and build a rapport.
So I duly turn up at the alloted time full of positivity ... this is going to go well thinks I. She squeezed in to my less than luxurious golf and tactfully didn't mention the state of the outside of the car (mad pollen in the air at the moment.) I turn key in ignition ... nothing ... not a purr, growl or whisper. Bugger!
Not a problem says she we'll go in my car. Oh the shame.
So off we set for about 2 miles to the first property. No lockbox? The sign is down? I phone the office. That agent has just left the company and we don't know if we still have the house? Bloody marvellous. After much apologising we get back in her car and head for the next house. She doesn't like it. May have had something to do with the 8ft vendor being there and insisting on showing us round? Head for property number 3, can't get key to work. Call out agent and he thankfully turns up in 5 minutes and pretty much forces the key in the lock. Doesn't like this one either. Last one at least no drama and she quite likes. So back to hers for me to phone the AA.
Only I've left my purse with AA card in it at the office. So I phone "House-Dave" (this is a registered trademark thank you Karen!) He tells me to open the bonnet. How says I? Dear God says he. I surpass myself and manage this no little feat. He tells me to look at the battery and find a + and - sign? There's a large clack box type thing in the middle is that it I ask? No dear, that's the engine! After 5 minutes of this I convince him that he has to come out and help me.
I return to the now somewhat embarrassed client for a "nice cup to tea!" Hubby comes and duly jump starts car, but not until after 4 year old has run up and down the street in the red all-in-one PJ's (it's 4pm?!) shouting "I'm Po, I'm Po"
Amazingly, I have a meeting with the client and her husband on Sunday to take them back to the last house and hopefully list their property - she must be an angel from above! |
Posted: 11:32, Fri 24 August 2007 |
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Teenage Party ... I Have Issues
I think I may be turning in to my mother ... But I have real issues with my daughters planned party next weekend.
She just turned 15 and wants to have a party. Fandabbydozzy thinks I with visions of me in a v short leopard print mini skirt AbFab stylie ... apparently our invite went missing?
Her + 20 friends ... ALONE in our home????????
Then we are informed "some" of her mates will be bringing alcoholic beverages???? I don't think so ....
But then didn't we ... at that age ...
Downer being, her mates brother had similar party a few weeks ago ... and not only was there alcohol, but rudeness too??
I feel v, v, v, old ... what to do? |
Posted: 12:05, Sat 18 August 2007 |
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Another Weekend ... Another drink!
Having taken the day off work yesterday with poorly ear infection, I actually feel recovered enough today to accept yet another invitation! It's such a hard life!!
I knew I had to work today with an office duty and an open home, so I got up early and made it in to work for 8:30am ... on a Saturday ... I ask you?! Couple of hours spent in the office pretending to look busy and dealing with some "tyre kickers" coming in pretending to be looking to buy multi-million dollar houses! Off I went to my open home. And for the 2nd Saturday in a row ... not a soul through? I wouldn't mind, but I have to call the vendor and tell them how I went? Lie or tell the truth? Hmmmm?! I wonder if the turquoise, yellow and red combi decor is putting people off? I dunno, call me old fashioned ... ?!
Tonight we have been invited to a party by one of my work colleagues. Turns out it's her birthday, so I set off to buy a small gift. It is so hard to know what to buy for someone you don't know very well, in a strange country whose shops you don't know very well. She recently had an op on her arm which is now in a sling - a one armed tank top I thought? A singular leg warmer for her bad arm? One glove to keep those static digits toasty? I settled on a picture frame having decided against the "Queen Bitch" headed note paper as I really don't know her well enough to know if that would be found funny or rude?!
Kiwi etiquette is a little bit of a mystery to me. I knew there was the possibility that our humour could be mis-understood, our accents even, but I am quite nervous about tonight's party incase my pole dancing party trick goes down badly?
Take TradeMe for example ...? Hubby has listed a few items for sale, but prior to that he did some research looking at other peoples' similar listings. One wardrobe looked quite like one of ours, so we asked the seller if the shirt was included in his? We thought it was funny. We weren't sure what wood our table is so we listed it as "might be oak, not sure ... but definately wood." No comment. I drew the line at his wanting to put one shoe on "suitable for amputees." I did however, list "Van Gogh's Earring Collection" as I found a selection of odd, single earrings ... again no bids as yet?! Still, we are having fun and have raised a few $'s too!
Have to work again tomorrow (I know on a day of rest too?!) so may well just pop in to the party for the one glass and then make our excuses!
Have a good weekend y'all. |
Posted: 05:55, Sat 18 August 2007 |
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Quiet Day ...
... at work and really zero motivation today for some reason. Usually I am exceptionally good about getting on with things and keeping productive, but for some reason I am just totally lazy today!
So I've e-mailed stacks of people and caught up on my socialising, read half of NZ's equivelent of Heat magazine (there is a God) and in half an hour I'm sneaking off home, to put my feet up with a cup of Earl Grey!!!
Our son was very upset yesterday. We'd bought him a new skateboard as his old one from the UK was knackered. He was so delighted with it and went off to school on it yesterday morning. But when he came home he was in tears (unusual for him to get upset) 3 boys in his class had been picking on him, as kids do, but they'd threatened to smash up his skateboard and they'd rubbed chips into it? Hubby went in to school this morning and they have promised to have these 3 horrors about it, so hopefully there'll be no more hassle? Was really sad for my lickle soldier!
Hubby has gone TradeMe crazy and the bugger has made more money on it in 3 days than I've made in 7 weeks of slogging away at work all the hours that are available. This isn't fair and it's not kin - what kind of example is he setting to the children?!
In honour of the start of Spring in a couple of weeks I have consulted the full length mirror, having refused to listen to my waistband and there is no escaping the facts ... I need to lose weight. Hubby has looked at joining the gym/pool but at $800 pa each and no family discounts I am thinking this is madness. Many years ago we paid about that to join a gym in London and I went twice?! I'm thinking ... can I possible get up an hour earlier and walk/jog/pass out along the beach pre-work? Finished off at the end of the week at the Hot Pools? No grape juice on a school nite? Surely that would suffice? I'll think about it when I'm lying on the sofa later. I thought I would purchase some new trainers and a sports bra - at least that is working towards some kind of fitness programme ... planning ahead!
Waffle over - back to "work" (can you tell I have at least perfected the art of looking busy?!"
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Posted: 03:21, Thu 16 August 2007 |
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It's Been 4 Months!!
I am sooo slack about writing this blog, so I thought I'd do a very quick entry whilst I have a few spare minutes.
I bloody love living here ... can't explain it but I have felt "at home" from the minute we arrived. I've had one "wonky donkey" weekend (the one when I blew up Hubby's car because HE neglected to check the water in it!) One in 4 months is nothing short of a miracle compared to how I used to feel on a regular basis in the UK. I'm sure alot of it is down to the sunshine and fresh air too!
The kids are all also now settled and to be honest we hardly ever see them - which can only be a good thing! they have so much more freedom here, always out playing or off on their bikes down to the park or beach - fantastic!
We too have a better social life than we did before. Everyone seems so much more laid back and less judgemental - which when you are us can only be a good thing!
I love my work - even got presented with a bottle of wine for "getting off to a flying start" which actually had me choked up! My Mr Head Honcho no less? I think what was so nice in my eyes was that he even knew who I was, never mind what little I've achieved to date!
Our house is nice, the people we've met are nice, our lives are happier and I would say more fun, less stress ... it's all good! |
Posted: 11:42, Sun 12 August 2007 |
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Argh!!!!
I have spent an entire day doing just 2 blooming jobs? I remembered somebody saying photocopy all important documents and take one lot in your hand luggage and the other in your luggage. I can't remember which you take in your hand luggage, I'm assuming the originals. Then I can't remember if they said put the copies in your cases for the flight or in your boxes for the container? My carry-all file doubrie will take up a quarter of my weight allowance if it's in the case?! Arghhhh ... why didn't I remember to do all of that when I was at work alone before I left? Hmmmm.
Then I decided to pack some linen in a box as the linen chest appears to be struggling to close. This would mean that at some stage in the last 2 months our linen has procreated and multiplied? The chest has always closed before? So, I decided, in a moment of domestic goddess madness that said linen would be infinately improved upon unpacking the other end if it was all ironed? I have never ironed linen in my life?! Well, very occassionally, if royalty were staying over ... or mother. I have now obsessively ironed in the region of 8 duvet covers and 16 pillow cases - and that's just the singles, I haven't had the energy to start on the doubles.
What is happening to me?
Is this emigration fever? What is the cure? HELP ME!!! |
Posted: 09:36, Fri 16 March 2007 |
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Oh. My. God!!
I can't believe that my last blog entry was entitled 9 weeks to go and now we're in the final thrust - so to speak!!
Finishing work on the 2nd March was really uneventful as I'm still around for another month so keep popping back in to annoy them and use there fax, stationary, coffee etc. Hubby thinks I'm running endless important missions into town whereas infact I post 1 letter and then sit with my feet up, drinking lattes and exchanging gossip!! That's not true really!!
I keep ticking things off my list and then new ones appear at the bottom so the list never gets any smaller which is a little worrying.
I keep experiencing little hiccups that I feel can only happen to me. For example, we opened a Kiwibank account, got all the confirmation through, to then read on Expats that day that Kiwibank don't accept International transfers using SWIFT - so how the bloody hell do I get my sterling magically transformed into dollars? So registered with HiFX thinking they'll have all the answers to then be told by them that I'll have to register with the NZ office so payments can be domestic or open a different bank account? Why me?! Never straightforward!
Have saved over £580 by doing the marine insurance with a company directly and not through the removal company so that's a bonus.
Dogs had first blood samples and pooh tests sent off today. My vet has been an arse about me taking in the pooh samples and him signing the form as he can't be sure they'd be the right pooh for the right dog?! So I was stood outside at 7am today with my surgical gloves and test tubes waiting for them to perform. They looked at me like I was the barking one when I started messing with there doings! And why can't they make sample tubes of a wider neck - these are big dogs - they have big pooh's, now I understand why they gave me the gloves - Yuk!!!
Our eldest has an ear infection and youngest sounds like she may have a chest infection so looks like we'll be making the most of the NHS before we leave!
Everyday is going too fast ... all a it stressy ... but very excited!!! 3 weeks tomorrow - WOW!!!!!!
And can I just say a big thank you to everyone on the site for their support and advice, you've all been fab. |
Posted: 10:58, Wed 14 March 2007 |
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9 weeks today to go!!!
Gosh, it's all kind of slotting into place now, amazingly I would say we are more organised now we actually have tickets booked? Strange, but true!! Had thought it's just be panic stations - but not yet!
Looks like we may have found a furnished rental that we can have for 8 weeks, with the choice of extending if needs be that WILL take the dogs - which is no mean feat with 2 dobermans. Didn't think to point out it's more the 4 kids the landlord needs to be concerned about than the dogs! Sssshhh, don't tell!! Hopefully have friends who'll give the property the once over this weekend and give us some honest feedback - but it looks cool from the piccies.
Have spent very industrious day at work printing off reams of council info with regard to the Dog Act/Rules/Registration etc, etc. A little light reading for the weekend. Also some Kiwibank forms, although I rang them last nite and am none the wiser, but nothing a waffly, covering letter can't sort out/confuse further?!
So, what else to do????
Tell mother when flights are booked - HELP!!
Get packing boxes from shippers so can at least start to clear some stuff just for agents coming round.
2 bedrooms left to finish and half the living room. New carpet to go in, but probably not until we've gone.
Sorts dogs schedule re:kennels/vets etc.
Organise kids' leaving party.
Drink Bolly!!
Bugger, Boss back - must dash!!
Can you tell I'm a little excited??!! :)
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Posted: 04:05, Thu 1 February 2007 |
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