Going Loco

Apart from when we have had family to stay with us from the UK, Michael has never had any time off work. We have never had any time just on our own and so it was something that was well over due. This week, Michael has a week off!!

Our week started with a bang thats for sure - is this the way the rest of the week will be I wonder!?

On Saturday we were kindly invited to Stef and Rich's house to celebrate Stef's birthday. Rich treated us to a goreous meal and we drank ourselves stupid (I will mention Cocktails, Beers, Wine and 2 bottles of Vodka were consumed!). You can read about it all here on Stef and Rich's own blog site but here are a few photos to give you an idea...

So apart from all the partying, we have filled our time so far with walks. The first was in our usual haunt by the Hutt River -where the scene so reminds me of the rolling hills of the UK.

The second walk being in the Kaitoke Regional Park, which is more famously known for being a film site of Lord Of The Rings - definately one of our favourites.

It's fantastic to be able to just go out whenever you feel like it and have no time restrictions, I never once checked the time today and it was lovely!

We will be able to do that for the rest of the week too. The blog will go silent for a few days now as we are heading off on holiday. But don't worry, once back there will be a full and informational update!

Have a good week everyone, ours started off as hopefully it intends to carry on!

Something For Me

As any parent knows, finding that something for yourself, be it a hobby, exercise, or 5 minutes to read a magazine, these are the little things that make our every day world much easier.

So today I made the move and finally found that something for me: Horse Riding!

I rode as a child and into my teens, I was a really good rider and with being a confident jumper too my horse riding skills were excellent. However 15 years down the track it's amazing just how much you can forget!

The first lesson was at 11am today at a gorgeous place called Thompson's Horse Centre which is based in the stunning Mangaroa Valley (watch the brilliant video on this website for more information). When I arrived I was a little nervous but very excited. They then brought out one big horse called Rocky - and I was expected to get on it!!

I explained my fears and I was kindly treated to a slow half hour ride around the paddock, gaining confidence again and really just getting to know my new buddy. It's funny that I forgot the even the simplest things - I couldn't even remember how to hold the reins properly! And it's probably best not to mention the dismount ever again!!

It was brilliant though, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, felt exhilarated, and gained confidence after only one lesson. I will be going back soon, it's already playing on my mind. I am itching to get there and bring some of those amazing childhood emotions and memories back.

Wish me well, and if you see me walking funny - you now know why!!

Over Before It Started

I am always apprehensive come the Kindy holidays, not because I don't want to spend time with my little girl - it's just my little girl prefers Kindy to her mammy!! Bethany is so into Kindy, she really does love it.

Despite the first few days of torment (in the form of an 'I am bored' every three minutes) we ended up having some gorgeous times together. However the time went sooo quickly, it seemed to start and end within a blink of the eye.

Bethany is very high maintenance child, she always has been - from the newborn needy days right through to the clinging toddler, and now a compulsive needs entertainment type child. However despite that, the one on one time we had was really good. After only a week back at Kindy this week I have missed her terribly!!

So we had a good two weeks, did heaps as always. Bethany had like a million play dates, well it was probably more like 4 but it seemed like heaps!

We have been to see some amazing shows. First off was Dora The Explorer's Pirate Adventure. I have been to many of the children's stage shows but I must say this was definitely the best by far. Stunning set, amazing props, perfect costumes and the best acting. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves with mammy being caught dancing in the isle! We took Sammy with us and the girls just had the most exciting time.

Second show was Cinderella On Ice which we saw today. Wow. What an amazing show. Again fully amazing set, costumes and with only the odd few problems it was just wonderful.

We did however have a huge wait to get in. Yesterday on the opening day the show was cancelled due to problems with the ice, there were further fears with the ice today and we were left standing the foyer for a painful 45 minutes waiting to go in, but the director of the show came out and personally apologised and explained the worries which was really nice. Of course despite those fears the show certainly made up it for it.

We have also had birthdays, my two gorgeous friends Susan and Stef celebrated in style. We had a little get together for Susan with the Tuesday Ladies and Jo once again wowed us all with her stunning cake making skills. Stef was treated to a birthday trip to a lovely place called Kaitoke Country Gardens where we drank bubbly and had a delicious lunch. Happy birthday ladies - I hope it was a good one!

Last Saturday we spent a night at Susan's house with all our friends for a Buzz night! We all took different dishes, drank heaps of wine and insulted each other whilst playing Buzz. It was a fantastic night! Typically though Michael won everything, there was once a time when we were going to get Buzz here at home but after Mr Big Head could hardly get himself home due to the size of his noggin I doubt it now!!

In between all that it's been home time of games, dress ups and baking. Bethany is a good girl, yet sometimes (and more so lately) she can be a right little madam. I try to weigh up if it's a reflection of how she spends her time but then I am reassured in the knowledge that it's more than likely another 'stage'.

We have had a lot of stages, as any parent probably has. I know this will go on for the rest of her life but I am of late clinging to her with worry. Time seems to go so fast, our days are always so busy and there are times I wish I had had longer with my girl. Standing over her whilst she sleeps and rubbing her head brings tears to my eyes. Crazy I know, but every night I do it, and every night I see her growing and changing. It delights me, it intrigues me and it bloody scares the hell out of me.

Life has never been better though. We will always miss the support of our family but in some ways it has brought us as a three even closer together. Bethany will always be my baby but I also hope she one day becomes my friend, the ways things are going now I have no doubts about that.

Roll on the next holidays!

Wellington Ink

After a few years of debating what to do, I finally got round to completing the tattoo on my left arm. It started off as something small that I was going to add to, as and when I was inspired, but it never really got anywhere. Somehow, what ever I wanted to add didn't quite go, and I couldn't think of any design that was symbolic or relevant. The inspiration I was lacking came back on settling in New Zealand, and we've soaked up the culture since arrival.

After visiting Rogers Tattoo shop on Cuba Street, Wellington, I decided he was the man for the job. He came highly recommend from people at work and other friends who've been there. Reputation counts for a lot in tattooing, and I wasn't prepared to hand my arm over to just anyone.

Roger took a photo of the tattoo I had at the time, made sketches on possible designs and then drew it on - nothing out of a book, found on the internet or the same as anyone else. After about 20 minutes of prep and 90 minutes of being under the needle, I was out! So, here's the New Zealand-inspired art work, now applied to my arm:

Show Time At Te Papa

Killer Creepies!

It was all going so well, people told me it wasn't possible but I was adamant it could be done and for a few months it was happening. What am I going on about? Growing tomato's of course!

I purchased a cute little greenhouse at the back end of summer, and after the little tomato plants grew so well in their little tubs they were transplanted into their new tubs inside the greenhouse, now riding on the edge of Autumn.

They actually thrived, with a little love and protection from Jack Frost they were flowering and looking good. Then it happened, they started to go brown, first one leaf at a time until it was too late. Soon it was all over and I had to say goodbye to my creations.

At the weekend I plucked up the courage to finally clear out the dead plants. Cursing those that would tell me 'I told you so' if I was to tell them. But do you know what actually killed them...?

At the roots there was this passageway that lead up through the middle and living inside were millions of caterpillars all different sizes - they had made a caterpillar hotel from my loved tomato plants!!

Out of all the 'pests' that could have killed my plants I never even once thought of the cute little harmless caterpillar. Of course I need to do more research and next time a caterpillar comes knocking on the Caterpillar Hotel - all rooms will be full!

Kiwi's Have Wings...

Well that's the title of my friend Kya's blog anyway, and as she puts it 'and they know how to use them'.

I met Kya in June 2007 through cyberspace after she left a comment on our blog. Kya, Aidan her husband and their two gorgeous children Boudicca and Nyssa live in Boston, USA. Aidan is originally a kiwi but has been living in the US since early 1990's. After many years in the US they are now on their way to NZ. Something they have been working on for many months, and finally it's all coming together.

Over the year we have kept in touch through their private family blog, it's been wonderful being able to be part of their lives in such a personal way. We really feel like we know them so very well.

And now we do....tonight we met them all for the first time!! Kya and her family are here to visit Aidan's family, attend a wedding and check things out for the final move which is hopefully November.

We met at one of our favourite easy family oriented (with amazing city views) places which is The Fishermans Table - soon to be renamed The Meeting of The Expats Restaurant! It was fantastic to meet them finally, have that long needed cuddle and get to discuss their plans in full. We were also privilaged to meet Kya's best friend Marya who as here with them too.

All I can say is it was a beautiful night. I have so many amazing cyber friends, blogs which I read everyday and people who I will probably never meet yet feel connected to. The world is now a very small place, people from all walks of life have graced us with their wonderful friendships - each bringing something different and true magical to our life.

Haere Mai world!

Are You Prepared?

It's been blissfully gorgeous weather here the last few days. Saturday started and ended with torrential rain, but Sunday brought the most perfect weather and a gorgeous 21 degrees. Again today, sunshine and 19 degrees.

As it is the chores have been accumulating it was time to hit them head on which we did on Sunday. Gardening was done, the house windows were washed, and the big job which took the whole day - the garage was sorted out!

We wrote this post from exactly a year ago - Part Of Everyday Life? which detailed information on the very real threat of earthquakes here in NZ. We were shocked when the Household Emergeny Checklist sat in the mail box of everyone in NZ and upon us reading it further decided we needed to 'be prepared'.

I have always had a few concerns about the whole thing though. It's all well and good having a Survival Kit, but what happens to those who can't afford to put one together?

What would happen should there be such a disaster that the street we lived in had neighbours without food or water...and we were the only ones with a kit? Not many people could survive off that one kit.

Where do you store something like that so it remains safe and doesn't get damaged through such disaster? I know in our last house everything would have just slipped down the hillside.

Despite the concerns we always knew that us as a family should be prepared. So it may have taken over a year but we finally pulled it together. Everything we would need should there be a disaster - everything we would need to survive for the recommended 3 days (including one sneaky bottle of wine!)...

Of course we hope there will never be a 'big one'. But it seems that at this time of the year people start talking about it more. 21 years has past since the last major earthquake which was in Edgecumbe in 1987. People say we are on the brink of that 20 year fault line and it will be 'any day now'.

So how do you think you would manage? Do you have a Survival Kit? I know many of my kiwi friends who have never had one and don't plan to. Maybe it's just an expat thing, maybe we worry too much, or maybe there are things we don't know about...?

Either way, we are ready.

The Expat Ladies

On Thursday I met up with my new friend Stef and her daughter Daisy, and then we went and met my dear long time friend Sarah and her two girls Charlotte and Sophie.

It was a strange old get together. There was Sarah who has been in NZ for 12 years, me clocking in at 2 years and Stef still fresh from the plane at 2 months! A whole world of wisdom, experiences, and new life mixed up between us all.

We all headed to see The Snow Queen which was on at The Wellington Performing Arts Theatre. I don't know if you know the story but I remember reading it when I was young (being originally written by Hans Christian Anderson) and the story was so elegant yet wishfully enticing. The story of two young friends separated by a splinter of ice sent by the Snow Queen and their journey to find each other again.

Backyard Productions are well known in Wellington for working on low budget shows, and always bringing out the best, but this time however I don't think they did their usual best. I found myself drifting away through the show, it really didn't hold my full attention, and if it didn't hold mine then I can certainly see why there were so many restless children.

Another part which shocked me was when the people of the forest (who stole from people) had knives. As a prop that possibly was OK, but when they started scarily pointing them in the face of the children sat on the floor in the front row - I was shocked!

Despite those moments though we all had a great time and I will admit the acting was really good. We got to meet the cast afterwards and Bethany met her favourite character The Snow Queen, which she has told everyone we have met about since!

Afterwards we said goodbye to Sarah, Charlotte and Sophie. Stef and I took the children to Te Papa. We had a wonderful lunch together and then spent the rest of the afternoon wandering round taking in all Te Papa had to offer. It really was a lovely afternoon and it felt like Stef and I had been friends forever.

I am very lucky. That night I had a lovely chat on the phone with Sarah which topped off a wonderful day magnificently. In that one day of being with two special ladies I learned things I never knew possible and bonded in ways I never thought of.

Sarah and Stef are from two completely different words, equally fantastic lives but just different. I would say I was somewhere in the middle. It's been such an amazing journey over the last 2 years and the people I have met have always inspired me.

I have many kiwi friends who I adore, but still these expat ladies keep pulling on my heart strings. Having these two wonderful ladies to inspire and guide me is perfect, I do feel complete now in my little friendship circle.

Brrrrr...

Well it's that time of the year again - winter!

The seasons here in NZ occur on the turn of a month, not like in the UK. So Winter officially started here on the 1st June and will end on the last day of August, Spring starts 1st September etc.

This time last year we were making posts on the weather and I remember this one - A Winters Tale - like it was yesterday. The snow scattered Rimutuka Hills are back and despite being cold, as written in that post all you need is some sunshine and you are sorted.

Of course we now live in Upper Hutt and despite only being 30 minutes away from the city, the change in climate can be dramatic!

We had a few summer months in our new home and we sweltered at temperatures near 40 degrees, and when we mentioned this to our friends they would give us this 'look' and tell us that although the summers were better, we should be prepared for the winter!

This morning we awoke to a -1 degree temperature. There was ice everywhere and Denver went out for a slide around on the decking instead of his usual old stroll round the garden. Everything was white and glistening and from our home we could see the deeply covered Rimutuka Hills in the distance.

After lunch we went for a drive into the valley to see the snow capped hills of the Mangaroa Valley. They were stunning!

One thing is for sure it's still warmer than it ever was where we used to live in the UK. I remember 5 inch thick ice filled paths and death defying walks to work on a morning. Snow laid throughout the town and getting stuck in the car was just a daily occurrence.

I must admit though I don't miss it one bit! I do however welcome the wonderful memories the snow brings, the amazing childhood memories of sledging, building snowmen and having snowball fights.

In some ways I feel sad for Bethany that she might miss out, but she will have more memories of other things that we could never have done in the UK, things that she would have never had and experiences she would have never share. I think that is worth more than a snowball fight any day.

A Twist On The Ending

After 19 months of being home constantly with mammy and daddy, Bethany was to spend her first night away from us last night...however without a hitch it was not!

Bethany went off with my dear friend Jo who has two gorgeous children called Sammy and David. Bethany waved goodbye as she headed off down the drive-way and a lump formed in my throat and my emotions took over. In that split second my little girl had gone off without me for the first time since being here, and it tore at my heart.

After a good half hour of crying I was able to pull myself together slightly, realising that after all this time of forming friendships and building up trust, Bethany would be fine with my amazing friend as she would look after her as if she was one of her own.

Michael arrived home from work and we sat round not really knowing what to do. Should we go to the cinema? A meal out maybe? But sadly before we could decide we were hit with some sad news...Jo called to say her Nana had died.

Poor Jo and her family were devastated and with their Nana being in Rotorua (which is over 6 hours of driving away) decisions needed to be made. I spoke to Jo many times on the phone that night, after sitting out in the car in the garage ready to go get Bethany, Jo reassured us it was best to leave Bethany there as she was already in bed. We very reluctantly agreed - I mean what a time for us to lumber Jo and her family with our child!

But along came 11pm and along came the phone call. Bethany woke herself up coughing and then started crying - so off we went back to the city to collect her. Jo and her poor family were all up when we got there, they were packing for the early trip to Rotorua the next day. One good thing though was that I got to give Jo a much needed cuddle - even if it was at midnight!

Finally at 12.30am we arrived home with one tired little girl. Bethany suddenly thought it was morning time and took some time to settle again. After the whole bedtime routine being re-run she finally fell asleep around 1am.

However despite the night, guess who came bounding in our room just before 7am this morning!!

Our thoughts are with Jo and her family, I no longer have Grandparents but Michael has a wonderful Nana in England who we love so very much. Tears prick to my eyes at the grief Jo and her family must be feeling and thoughts we can't bare to think of which are currently banished from our minds - for now.

So in the space of a few hours lives changed dramatically. Happiness, sadness, separation, anxiety, trust, worry and finally grief. A little girl had her first experiences that she may remember forever, parents fought with emotions, and a family grieved.

A hell of a lot for one small day.

Dreams Do Come True

You may remember a while ago we introduced Richard?

Well after only two weeks in NZ, Richard, Stef and Daisy have not only set up a new life - they have made it so easy that it feels like they have always been here!

Richard got a fantastic job offer with amazing perks after only 3 days. The three managed to find a wonderful place to stay in Raumati and on Friday they moved into their new home in Whitby!!

Bethany and I met up with Stef and Daisy at Junglerama on Thursday last week. We could have talked forever and I was totally amazed at how well they had settled and how everything to them already seems so 'normal'.

Reminiscent of the days we arrived and remembering the emotions that came with it all brought tears to my eyes. I love my kiwi friends very much, without them my personal journey would have probably ended a long time ago.

Sometimes though to have that someone to talk to who knows what you have been through (and believe me moving to the other side of the world is not easy) and who understands this, is just something I need very much.

Bethany and Daisy we think have formed an amazing relationship too. Daisy is much younger than Bethany but she is so clever and advanced that you wouldn't know the difference. We have seen over the years different children that Bethany connects with, the children she feels comfortable with and the children she just plain doesn't like! So luckily the relationship between Bethany and Daisy is blooming, and we can see a forever friendship growing here.

Richard and Stef's things (i.e. their household items) are currently somewhere on the ocean making their long journey from the UK, and should hopefully be here soon. I laughed hysterically at a text message last night that Stef sent me which said Richard and her were sat on deck chairs in the front room, drinking vodka from plastic cups and watching a TV on which was on the floor!!

Today we rocked up at Chez Smith with a box of fish and chips and a whole heap of love for them. We adore their new house and to walk in and feel that family warmth is amazing. They are so settled, they are purely happy and have embraced their new life head on and that radiates immensely.

Of course we are proud. We would like to think we have helped them, we would like to think they feel supported and we hope they know we are here for them no matter what. We would also like to think we are going to be friends forever more and ride side by side on this new journey.

Good on you guys - dreams do come true and you have proved it more than was ever possible.

Now I Know My A, B, C

I am getting big you know. My mammy said I will be 5 soon, but not till Christmas time. She also said I will be going to school, but that's just funny.

I like to write words, but sometimes they don't make any sense. I made a story book of my own and drawed pictures in it and my mammy wrote the words. Sometimes though she puts the wrong words in and it makes me mad.

When I am in my bed at night I sneak out of bed and get books to read. I can't understand the words yet and sometimes I just don't get it but the pictures are pretty.

Daddy said one day I could be a writer but I don't know what he means as I am going to be a princess. I already have my dress and my clip clop shoes.

Anyway I have had enough talking now so bye.