Tina, Amber & Scott

My Turn again, the weather has been so strange this summer we had a really nice November and December was rubbish! Jan has been half and half some really hot days 30 + like today and then 15 like yesterday, really bizarre.

Anyway just a short note to say that we are all well, Amber had a bad case of runny bum a few weeks ago which made her miss her own pool birthday party, which is why we swapped to the park at the last minute. but she is on the mend now. We had a busy weekend with Bryden’s first birthday party on Saturday, and Daniels naming ceremony, followed by Birthday party, followed by Carol’s welcome home party on Sunday, we are all pooped especially Amber.

Scott and I are planning the year ahead and realised that we may have a few visitors in Oct and then December so we might try and get away for a few days at the end of the summer. We have the Fujitsu people coming round this week to give us a quote for installing another heat pump/air conditioner in the back room, so that we can move Amber out there soon.

We also got plan’s to finish off the bathroom this weekend so we might have to go paint shopping! 1 more 1st Birthday to go in a few weeks and that the party season over for us until November again Well I say Party but of course the Wellington Sevens are on this weekend and the party season starts now ish really, there is a wine festival going on and martin borough fair soon, plus ACDC are playing everywhere and people are out on the waterfront having a good time, You just gotta love Wellington on a good day!

Yaaayy, Its Wellington day, one of our Public Holidays, so the Rest of New Zealand has to go to work, but we have a day off   I think we worked this out before somewhere, but we get one more Public Holiday a year than the UK,  probably Jan 2nd, I think, to get rid of the hangovers.

Amber could not go to the pool party that Claire and Tina organised in Tawa pool for a joint Birthday party, due to the Doctor saying that she needed to stay out of the water for at least 14 days after her bought of Gastro.  Poor thing, Tina was upset and they had put a lot of planning into it.  So instead we drove up to Param, to collect a TradeMe item, and check on Al’s rental place. 

SO because she couldn’t have her pool party, fingers are crossed that this afternoon the weather will break, the sun will come out and we can have a picnic party down at Willowbank park.  Its overcast but warm, Temp is 18 degrees C outside, but hopefully the clouds will disappear.

We’ve had a nice relaxing weekend for a change.  I managed to installed WIn 7 on my works laptop, so chuffed.  Amber took a couple of first steps,  just the two or three, and landed on her bum each time, but its progress. I don’t know how to feel about this. I’m obviously looking forward to Amber finally waling and reaching that hurdle, but not looking forward to having to chase after her everywhere.

Right the, got to baby just woke up.

Morning all,  I thought I should do another update,  two in a year so far, WOW,  OK then Tasha left us yesterday, flew out at 20:30 to the cold log winter of the UK, they seem to be really having a hard time of it at the moment. We hope the airports are actually open to enable her to land.   its been quiet at work so far this year, FJ is stood down until 11th Jan for the Summer break. Most places take three weeks off over Christmas for the Summer holidays.  it seems strange but when you consider the schools have their six week holidays over the period and that the school year starts in January, then I suppose it makes sense. What I do appreciate is the easy drive into work whilst the schools are off.  Guaranteed next Monday State Highway 1 will turn into a Car park from the Tawa on ramp.

So the weather is getting nicer, We have some storms on the horizon over the weekend. Tina is going to be busy with a baby Shower she is organising on Sunday at our place for a friend, and she starts her new job full time on Monday. Amber is being looked after by a nice lady in Tawa while Tina will be at work, and everything is good. Still working on the Bathroom and trying to get it done. it might take a few months though to crack it.  I found a you tube of a Wellington video that I thought I would share.  Very good and quite truthful in a worrying kind of way. Enjoy.

OK, we’ve failed, we were meant to update this every time something happened, then once a week, then its just drifted.  looking at the dates, Tina seems to have done the last three updates, and my last one was on the 10th of Oct !, 

Well we’ve had visitors, and every weekend has been out and about, first with Lee and Co, then Dad arriving, then Natasha, its going to be quiet when they all finally disappear in January.  Dad and Izzy fly out today, and I’m at work. We had little cover so I had to cancel some leave to go in, which was disappointing but necessary. He’s done great things to the house while they have been here, and to be honest to much.  They have had little time left over to explore this country and the weather has been terrible for this time of the year which isn’t what you want when your trying to show off your new home.  Note to others,  if your planning on coming across aim for Feb / March as its the better weather.  Although saying that anything would be better than the –5 degrees that the UK is experiencing. The new bathroom and washroom are great, just a little cosmetics to finish off and it’ll be sorted.  Working the weekends I might have it all done by August    We had everyone round at our house on Xmas Eve.  Terry and Maria the next door neighbours had gone away to Blenheim, so we had the whole end of the street to ourselves.  Jan and Brian came round with Michelle, and Kenny arrived with Scott and Craig, all good.  Izzy and Tina had done a treat in the kitchen and we had real Birds Trifle that Natasha had brought across ( you cant get it here)  and the weather finally broke and the sun shone down on us.   Xmas day afternoon, we went to the beach and had a picnic, then Sunday  we visited the Paua Factory in Carterton,  Al and Kim arrived on the 23rd, and took us out to a posh restaurant on Monday which was very posh.   And though all of this turmoil and disturbance Amber was as cute and endearing as ever   Happy Xmas, and a Merry new Easter to everyone reading.

What a mental few weeks its been, Since the Smalleys came back from their 10 day road trip, we took them souvenir shopping, up the cable car and had a BBQ all before leaving for the airport! So anyway they are home safe and sound and I bet twinkle was happy to see them…

Dave and Irene arrived two weeks ago and they haven’t had the best weather poor things, all Irene wants it some sun! we have already taken them to mount Vic, and Weta, but nothing else to touristy yet as Dave has got stuck into renovating the bathroom ;o) They are planning a little trip away nearer Christmas, but someone sunny Izzie said we have suggested Samoa’;o)

I have started my new job and have officially resigned from Workbridge ;o( I shall miss it, and my new job is great and full on, I am finding it (fun)? using my adult brain again, after my biggest worry was what to give Amber for lunch!

Christmas has totally sneaked up on me this year, after I was so organised last year getting my cards etc in the post in plenty of time, I only just posted them this week and I am still waiting for the kids Christmas presents to arrive before I can post them to England, so I hope that they get there on time!

As for Amber I haven’t got a clue what to get her, nothing too much this Christmas I guess, as she is too young, next year I shall have to be more organised as we will have an almost two year old running around.

Loads has happened over the past three weeks but as I said its all been a bit crazy and I cant remember it all so I’m sorry. We haven a photo session here this afternoon to earn Dave a little bit of pocket money…. its all go!

Well, its been a few weeks since the last blog and that’s because I was saving up for this update. My Brother, Sister in law, Niece and Nephew are here and we have had a wonderful week. They arrived in great spirits actually even though there were an hour delayed from Auckland on Friday 6th Nov, missing Guy Fawkes, altogether. We made our way home via the “”scenic route”” then a stop at home to show them around the house and area, before heading out for lunch and then to Whiteria Park in the afternoon sunshine.

On Saturday 7th (Nanna’s Birthday) we did a big tourist day with going into Wellington, went round Oriental Parade on the bikes, and up Cuba street to see the bucket Fountain, topped it off with a brief look around Te Papa before heading back home  after a busy day. On Sunday 8th, we all spoke to Nanna for her birthday and then headed out to Lower Hutt for brunch, then on to Weta Caves, Mt Victoria lookout and the wind turbine.

On Monday 9th it was a cooler day, so we took the train down into Wellington and we around Te Papa all day the kids loved it. Tuesday 10th I heard that I got the job that I had interviewed for so it was a day of celebration, Lee & Elose took the kids to Dress Smart in Tawa, in the morning and then to the park. Then we went to Porirua Mall in the afternoon. Wednesday 11th we went for a drive around South Wellington as the weather had decided for us that we wasn’t going to make it to the zoo. Then we went to Porirua pool in the afternoon James and Phoebe both loved the waterslide.

Thursday 12th and Scott took the day off so we went over the Rimutuka’s to Grey Town and Caterton to Puzzle wood, then popped in to see Colin, and Chrissie, then we went to the Paua Factory, we had to drag Lee and Eloise outta the shop. Friday came round again, and I had to go into work, so Lee and co stayed home and babysat for me (ha ha payback especially the dirty nappy, good girl Amber) we went to Titahi beach in the afternoon and then out for dinner at Jan & Brian’s house in the evening. On Saturday Lee and I went and picked up the campervan from Seaview, then once packed up we headed for Queen Elizabeth park for a picnic, the chocolate factory for Lee and Phoebe and then to the ice-cream parlour before parting ways. Scott and I headed back to a BBQ Birthday Party, and on Sunday Amber attended her first birthday party and looked adorable.