New Arrivals (and the 100th blog entry!)

Posted on Monday 25 February 2008 at 07:26 - 1 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Wow!  The surreal feeling has been with us since yesterday at 2.30pm.  Why?  Well we picked up T's sister, her hubby and 2 kids at ChCh airport at spot on 2.30, and they're not here for a holiday - they're here to stay!

After 13 months of web cams, phone calls and MSN messaging they are actually here with us.  Driving along with the entire family in the car is proving to be the oddest experience. 

Anyway - they arrived OK after a good series of flights, and the kids were well behaved too.  Once we had got back to the ranch (they'll be staying with us for the next few months) we unpacked and settled in, and then K, C and I headed off (leaving T with the nephews - baptism of fire or what?!) to go and see a car they had spotted on Trade Me from the UK.  On our return we had pizza and then it was off to bed as we were all nodding - they with the jet lag, T and I with the exhaustion of a 7am start and being flat out non-stop to 9pm.  We thought we'd get a good night's kip, but with 2 jet lagged kids in the house it was 10.30pm, 1am and then 4.30am alarm calls for toilet/ water/ blatant crying.  A taste of things to come...?  We hope not!  Thank goodness we spent the previous day completing a sound insulated stud wall with super internal sound insulation between the landing below and our bedroom - if it wasn't for that we'd have been up ALL night.  Still, we'll soon get used to sharing our house with others and it's just been so great having some family who actually KNOW us here, and not 12000 miles away.

So, today I took T to work so that we had the car for the day and I played taxi driver as K, C and the boys went to look at cars, get bank accounts opened, and basically start on the foundations of their new lives here in ChCh NZ.  We got back for 2pm and T managed to get a bit of time off work so I took over babysitting duties and looked after the boys, and T went with K & C to look at houses.  To be honest, I absolutely LOVED being uncle A.  The boys, though obviously shattered, kept their cool and we all went to feed the ducks and take a walk in the beautiful 25 degree weather we've had the past couple of days.  3 hours later and we're just relaxing to watch 'The Incredibles' and then the troops returned and we have just now put the boys to bed and finished clearing up after tea (Kiwi BBQ of course - yum!).

Tomorrow we will be doing some more of the same, and hopefully securing a car for the new arrivals.  Then it'll be time to take in a bit of the scenery and check out a bit more of what Canterbury has to offer.

For me, I am just loving having a few days off work

Oh, and HOORAH! for the 100th blog entry.  Just over a year and we've done an average of a blog every 4 days (or so my calculations tell me).  I'm amazed we've made it a year, let alone got 100 entries in so happy 100th to us

My Triathlon.

Posted on Thursday 21 February 2008 at 08:36 - 2 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Hello there everyone, I rarely come on here as I usually contribute to the posts that Andy writes.  I thought I would tell you about the experiences I have been through during the lead up to my triathlon and the race itself.

After Andy did his race I felt compelled to achieve greatness such and his, so I too could revel in the compliments of others, so when my friend C told me about this woman’s triathlon, I was very interested. We initially thought we take a leg each, C, her friend S and me, however as training progressed I felt sure I could do the whole thing myself. I fear I was getting rather to big for my blister forming running shoes.

After getting an adequately jelly gel seat for my spangly new bike, Andy and I began riding around town and out to Brighton pier. This trip to the sea was about 11 km each way and serve very well as a training route. We took the roads along the river and had a very nice time. We have a running machine in the spare room, so I took to running / walking very fast on this, and always continue until just before a full blown asthma attack. This, thankfully, became a less common occurrence and in the end was running for a decent amount of time.  I began swimming with Andy and was doing really quite well if I do say so myself.

Even though the training was going well, I still feared that doing all three together would result in the end of me. So the weekend before, C and I wisely chose to do a practise run! I kid you not. As if doing it once would not be bad enough, we were doing this for fun. However, in the end I managed it quite well, even though we had really long transitions gaps, I completed the 3 sections in about 1h 30mins, and unfortunately came over the finish limping as my flat, stupidly twisted feet were sorer than when you get chilli in your eye. Not a good sign! Adding on 10mins for transition, I figured if I could do the whole thing in 1h 30 then I would be pretty chuffed.

So the day finally came, and after a week of my work colleagues asking me ‘why’, I was suitably nervous. The night before we were just chilling at the house, but a few glasses of wine later, I realised I needed to get up at 5am and the wine would definitely not help the matter.

After a good night sleep Andy and I were rudely awakened by the Hello Kitty alarm buzzing in our ear, and I was bolt upright in a second. We needed to get to C’s house for 6am as she lived just across from the centre we where the race was. I changed and packed all my very vital equipment: t-shirt, ankle supports, togs, lip balm, pink flower power helmet, hello kitty towel etc, and Andy put my bike on the car’s bike carrier. Andy had said to have bit of brekkie, but I felt so uneasy in the stomach, I just couldn’t.

We got to C’s house and went straight across to register. Luckily we did as after queuing found out something had gone wrong with our online entries and our names weren’t on the list, and we most definitely weren’t coming in (as the bouncer famously said!). POO! is all I thought. All the lady kept saying was ‘you need a chip, you need a chip!’ (a timing chip for my ankle) And I kept asking was ‘where can I get a chip, where can I get a chip?’ Which, in my mind rapidly went to ‘where the F**k can I get a chip’ because she told us we had to search through all the bags of chips of all the 800 competitors.

800 chips later and still no silly little chip! So I went back to the registration tent and, I my very British way, went straight back to the front to see the lovely chip lady. Whilst waiting, another lady kindly asked to help us, and after a short explanation simply gave us a chip explaining we would be the last wave of competitors. Never mind that, I thought, my stress is over. Ha Ha, not at all as it turned out. After changing, I realised I had left my most important piece of equipment at home, my inhaler, but it was too late to go back.

We were in wave 34. That meant 34 minutes after the first wave. When our numbers were called I became all giggly like a little girl, and thought the whole thing was so funny. People in England who know me must think the same- Toni, doing anything sporty? Anyway, Andy was with me all the way and after the whistle blew, was my biggest fan. Seeing him there was really cool, but made me laugh the way he was cheering me and I swallowed a load of water and scared myself stupid. This really slowed me down, but after 300m and about 11mins, I was out and running over muddy grass to my bike. Only then I was out did I realise, other were getting back from their 10km bike ride already! What a difference 34mins makes.

Anyway, Andy was jumping up and down shouting to me to be quick, and I was putting my sock onto my wet and now muddy feet. Joy! I felt like I was taking forever, but I whipped my togs (Kiwi for swimming costume) off and had on my bra and pants underneath and put on my shorts and special ‘Triathlon’ t-shirt. I clambered onto my bike and with Andy’s shout of support about how great I was filling my ears, I left oozing with confidence.

Part 2 I thought, 1 down 2 to go. Almost straight away I realised I was on my own and most of the competitors were all ahead of me. I was very disheartened, but I ploughed on. When I was almost at the turn around, 2 people passed me and I heard the organiser guy shout, ‘Pack up, she the last one’. “Great!” I thought, “I’m last!” I felt so sad and a bit humiliated at coming physically last across the line, but the pathetic girly whimpering only made my breathing worse and I nearly had to stop. “Wimpy girls don’t do triathlons”, I thought, and gave my self a mental slap and carried on through the hurt. When I finally did come back, I saw the relief in Andy’s eyes - he must have thought I had fallen off. (When on a bike I tend to do that a lot - that or ride into stationary objects)

In a very triumphant way I rode into the transition area, which was almost empty, and parked my bike. When I saw Andy I felt even more sad, as I did feel I was letting him and myself down a bit. But there were all my friends cheering me on for the 3km run. The best part was, because I was on my own and the last competitor, Andy did the run/walk with me. It was great! My calves were really sore at this point and he really helped me push through the pain and run. I still had a very bad tummy ache, and put it down the exercise, but couldn’t shake the need to go the toilet (number 2 – eugh!).

When the finish line came into sight, I broke into a run and, in a typical chariots of fire run, sprinted across the finish line. There, I received a medal with ‘FINISHER’ on it. “Yes!” I thought “I am a finisher - I finished it!”

All the pain faded away, and elation flooded through my veins. I am so happy and proud of myself for completing it, even though it hurt for a while.  My final time was 1 hour and 21 minutes, and I was no way near last!  In fact, I was number 625 across the line out of 815 that started.  Hardcore?  You betcha!

PS: I then endured Monday and Tuesday off work sick as I had a tummy bug.  See what I mean about hardcore?!

Been a while

Posted on Wednesday 20 February 2008 at 07:50 - 1 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Nearly a month since the last update, and it's sure been a busy time.

House

The UK house STILL isn't sold.  Can you believe it?  We certainly can't, though we are now on the brink of getting it all signed off so it will soon (fingers crossed) be done and dusted.  2 weeks ago we got the call from our solicitor that we were completing that Friday.  The following Monday we get an email that we hadn't completed as at the hour they were going to sign they actually bothered to read the 'sellers statement' and saw that we had previously had problems with our neighbours to the rear.  When we got that email I was absolutely furious.  T said it was the maddest she has ever seen me.  The buyers basically said that they were not happy and wanted us to take 4k off the asking price for the possible problems this may cause.  Note the words 'possible' and 'could' in there.  It was the most blatant buyers ambush I have heard off, but we basically told them to go F themselves if they a) thought we were going to drop the price for any reason and b) thought that the neighbour issue wasn't resolved.  2 weeks on and it looks like their bluff has been called and after a fair bit of paperwork and toing and froing it will all go through tonight and they will pay the deposit etc.  What a palava though!  I have been ultra stressed about it all and it has left me feeling down and moody at work so we will both be SO pleased if it really does go through this time.  If not, then we are over the worrying and will just re-let it until the mortgage expires in another 2 years. C'est la vie and all that eh?

Work

Ton's work is going well. She is 2 full weeks in and seems to be settling nicely.  To make a good impression and make her life easier she's been getting in to work at 7.30am - meaning for the first time in our lives it's me left in bed in the mornings and not the other way around.  It is so weird that I now get up with her as it's just not right.  I'm sure I'll soon get out of that habit though.  My work still goes well, and I recently went to Wellington on a work jolly which was fun.  I will soon be off to Sydney for some training in mentorship which means I will hope to catch up with some folks over that side of the ditch.  We have a slight problem in that I don't have a visa to leave and re-enter NZ, so if we don't secure our residency by mid March I will be paying another trip to NZ immigration and handing over $200.  NZ Immigration are certainly doing well out of us at present - but Sydney will be worth it though I'm sure.

Family

We are soon to receive some long term guests in the form of T's sister K, her husband C along with our nephews J and J.  To say that we are excited is a massive understatement.  And they are not here for a week or a month - they are over for good!  Yup, the trail blazers have led the way and now the family will follow (we hope!).  They have gone through nightmares to get to the stage they are at, but can't wait to arrive and start their new lives here.  We will all be living here in our house for a month or two until they sort out their own place and get settled so it will be wicked to have them in our lives again.  Can't wait! 

In addition, T's mum D is coming out for a couple of weeks over Easter and that is going to be amazing.  It's a real shame that T's Easter holiday doesn't coincide with her mum's and so instead I will be taking leave to show D the sights and sounds of ChCh and the environs whilst T does the hard graft at work.  It's a hard life, but someone's gotta do it.  It will also mean ANOTHER person in the house but we'll survive I'm sure, though with only 1 bathroom I envisage queues for the toilet!

Triathlon

Not to be outdone by yours truly, last weekend T went and got involved in some hardcore Triathlon action, doing the national More FM triathlon at the local sports centre.  It involved a 300m swim in  the pool, followed by a 10km bike ride and then a 3km run.  Following 2 days of torrential (and much needed) rain we were expecting it to be called off but Sunday dawned bright and sunny so it was game on.  An early start - 6 am (yawn!) and we were at the start all ready to register.  T went and did the biz but it seemed that they had lost her entry and she was put in the final 'wave' of participants.  I'll leave her tell her story about it all but she completed the race in an hour and 20 minutes, and although it was hard the satisfaction of completing it was evident in her massive smile!  I was just SO proud of her I could have burst.  We promptly went to have breakfast at New Brighton pier to celebrate - it was a wicked, wicked day.

Other news

Erm... dunno what else really.  In preparation for the arrival of others here in the house we are getting some work done to install  a door to the bottom of the stairs that lead to our top bedroom to cut the noise down.  Otherwise it sounds like we are showering with whoever is in the bathroom, despite it being a door and a floor away.  It's half done so far, so most of it should be completed by the time the family arrive except for the plastering.  Just looking around we have so much tidying and childproofing to do before Sunday, so are going to be busy little bees for sure.  It's going to be fab though, so certainly something to look forward to.

The wind of change

Posted on Saturday 26 January 2008 at 06:03 - 1 Comments - Post Comment - Link

Another week over - I just can't believe they go so quickly.  As a kid I remember adults sincerely telling me not to wish my childhood away, that it was the easiest time of my life and to enjoy it, and all I would think is 'Yeah, right!'.  And yet here I am, probably about to say the same thing to the next kid I meet.

It really has been an amazing week, with one massive situation change for us.  After all the doubts and depression over T being out of work and having no joy in finding any teaching work what should happen?

T's only gone and landed a teaching job!

Yup - you're not hallucinating - I'll type it again just to confirm: T has only gone and got a teaching job!  After all the applications to schools based on the 'what you know' basis, and getting no where it is no surprise to us that (this being Christchurch) this job came through the 'who you know' route.  One of the parents of the boys T taught at her last position has kept in touch with T as she was buying some boots off a contact of hers who works at one of the wool factories here.  Still with me?  Good.  Anyway, last weekend she calls T up to ask if she is still looking for work. T says yes, and the lady gives T the email address of a friend of hers who is looking for a primary teacher at her school (where she is the Deputy Head!) to cover 2 terms of maternity leave.

So, excited but thinking that she really had no chance, T slings her CV and a covering letter over (this was last Sunday) and we then tried to forget about it.  Come Wednesday T gets a call inviting her for an interview!  Well, now we both start to get very excited, but try and keep a lid on it as this could well be just a 'sympathy' interview - you know, a friend doing a favour for a friend of a friend.  So, T's interview was first thing yesterday and immediately after she gave me a call to say that it had gone really well but that we would not hear anything until Monday.  However at around 1pm the same day T gets a call from the interviewer asking if they can 'meet for coffee' that afternoon.  As soon as they meet, the deputy tells T that she has got the job, and the meet is to have an informal chat to seal the deal!  It is also to reassure her that although this position is currently for 6 months maternity cover she knows that the person she's covering will not be coming back and so essentially the position could be open ended.

I can tell you now that the word excited just doesn't cut it.  We are both absolutely over the moon.  The 2 biggest problems facing us - visa and work, are currently under control and we can continue to breathe slightly easier day by day. 

We still have issues with trying to sell the UK house.  Our purchasers are proving to be hard to nail down about a completion date and this resulted in me laying it on thick to both our estate agent and solicitor in 2 late night calls.  I basically stated that unless the purchasers provided evidence of finance and a provisional completion date by Friday (yesterday) then we would be 'seriously considering our options'.  Unfortunately we have had no response and so are now thinking that if nothing has happened by the middle of next week following another kick arse call then we will put it back on the market.  Seeing as it now untennanted, it is costing us money and so we either need to get shot of it, or re-rent it asap.  Time - in this case - really is money.  We just hope these purchasers are serious.  God, buying a house in NZ is SO much better - an offer is made, accepted, a deposit paid, a date for completion set, and it's all over bar the shouting within 30 days.  In comparison, the UK (as we all know) is absolutely shocking, and it amazes me that anyone manages to sell anything sometimes.

Anyway, just wanted to share the latest.  T is off out tonight for a celebratory piss-up with a couple of mates, so I'll be holding the fort.  Just one week to go to my birthday, and then it's back onto the beers again.  I intend to fall off the wagon in a big way, as I've been hanging out for a beer this past week or so.  On the up side though, being off the grog has helped me to lose 5kg's so it's not all bad news.

So, all is good in our 'hood and with just the house to go until the stress is really and truly off, we intend to enjoy the remainder of summer as best we can.  Bring it on.  

Done and dusted!

Posted on Sunday 20 January 2008 at 08:04 - 3 Comments - Post Comment - Link

My first (mini) triathlon - what can I say but 'wow'!  We went out for a few bevvies last night to a friend of a friend's, and I stuck to the water and we had a relatively early night in preparation for this morning.  The alarm woke us at 5.45, and despite the late night we were up and out by 6.30.  We got to the collection area in Sumner Bay about 10 minutes later, and got the bike and my kit into the transition area - laying everything out in order so that once I was in from the swim it would be easy to get ready for the cycle.  the format was to be a 250m swim, followed by a 20km cycle and then a 4km run to finish it off.

Once sorted we then went and had a look at the sea, and it didn't look friendly.  A strong onshore wind had blown all night long and there was a real swell running, making it look doubtful that we'd do the swim section at all - replacing it with a run instead.  In light of this I didn't bother getting ready for it - a decision I was to rue.

As we'd forgotten the camera, T headed back home to get it and my wetsuit (it being a bloody cold morning!) just in case we did do the swim bit.  Meanwhile I did my usual thing of talking to random people and in the process I met a great couple.  They had both done a few triathlon/ half iron man/ cycle type thingies, and filled me in on how to get my kit laid out, what to expect at each stage, and just how things ran.  It was all pretty straightforward, and by the time T arrived back we were just about to start the briefing.  It was fairly simple, and just told us the rules of the road when cycling as the roads weren't closed to normal traffic, as well as the swim route.  Yep - we were doing the swim.  Oh dear - I was still in jeans and a t-shirt!  It was wound up with the organiser saying 'so, can I see all swimmers on the beach now!'  Bugger.  I scampered off and slung on my wetsuit, swimming hat and goggles, and arrived along with all the others on the beach - having just a couple of minutes to get wet and used to the water. 

Those with a sensitive disposition, look away now.

So - this was it.  It was really happening and I was pretty nervous, feeling just like I used to on the starting grid when I raced motorbikes in the UK.  It felt good!  We were to head off in waves of 10 competitors every 1 minute.  I was in the second wave, and watched the first wave head out into the sea.  They didn't seem to struggle too much in the steep swells, and so my confidence rose.

Then - it was time for me to go! 

Our wave all headed off as a group, and we gradually stung out as se swam towards the first buoy.  I gradually lost a bit of momentum, and was soon struggling in an awkward front crawl, making heavy work of the big breaking swells.  After swallowing what felt like half the ocean, I was through the worst of it and headed towards the beach.  Then it was a quick sprint towards the transition area, stripping off the wetsuit on the way, and giving a wave to T and Hayden & Raewyn (who had just come to watch - complete with hangovers!) as I went by. 

Transition went well, and I was soon up and on the bike, headed out for 10kms with the strong wind behind me.  Even though I was on a heavy old mountain bike, I wasn't too embarrassed by the big boys on their shiny expensive racer toys, and managed to keep witha little gaggle for most of the way.  It was actually my bike's gearing that was a problem, as it just wasn't long enough for the tail wind.  The posh racer bikes had a much higher top gear and could use it to their advantage.  This con soon turned into a pro though, as when we came to the turnaround point that lovely tailwind turned into a real bitch of a headwind and my low mountain bike gearing really came into its own.  I put a bit of effort in, and overtook the group I had done the first half with, then got my head down and really just got on with it.  Expecting to be passed at any minute, I didn't bother looking behind, but when I did about 2k's later there was no one in sight. Yeah!  On the run back to transition I only got passed by three other people, and managed to re-take them again on the way into the transition proper. 

Just the run to go then.  I started the run feeling OK, but within just a hundred yards or so I strted to get a terrible stitch.  I just kept running and after the first 2k's managed to get rid of it - T helping out at this point by running alongide me for a few metres, spurring me on.  I ended up running the second 2k's alongside an old chap (must have been late 60's!) who was running at my pace and who encouraged me along as I was starting to really struggle.   Respect to the veterans!  Then - there it was - the finish line was in sight and I powered my way towards it.  Or what I felt like powering was.  I think floundering was probably more acurate.  I crossed the line in 1 hour, 11 minutes and 55 seconds, and was absolutely knackered and thrilled at the same time.  I'd done it - my first triathlon!

Obligatory ugly photo alert:

So, will I be doing another?  Erm... ask me again in a week.