Christmas 2005

This years tree.

It’s 9am. I’m sitting in bed with Eric and a second cup of tea and listening to National Radio. The NZ NY’s Honours are being announced. Tom Scott (a cartoonist – I think), has just said “… it is traditional to say this is for all cartoonists and artists everywhere. Bugger it. This is mine and the others can earn their own” So Kiwi!!!!!) Eric is reading a fishing book (fishing and sailing are THE Tanner interests at the moment – more later). We are in the midst of that ‘post hectic Christmas chill out and do nothing unless you want to do it phase’ – bliss. As it’s raining/overcast for us that means staying in bed and reading/blogging. Harri is MSN-ing with her friend Bryre in the UK and Alice is asleep.

We’ve had a great Christmas. The weekend before Chris and Helen stayed for a couple of nights as part of their NZ holiday. (Chris and Eric did law together at Canterbury). They were last here about 3 years ago and have since got married. In answer to the ‘what can we bring you from the UK’ question I had answered Hobnobs and, if you can get it, the Dec Good Food magazine. I was absolutely rapped when Helen said, ”didn’t manage the Hobnobs but got this”, and produced the magazine. I love the Good Food but bought gardening magazines over it, except at Xmas. I have every Dec Good Food for years before we left the UK, and now have 2005. It has been SUCH a pleasure to browse through, and we did venison recipe on Xmas Day. Chris and Helen are wonderful company and we thoroughly enjoyed their stay. When they last came it was a flying overnight visit and all we did was eat and talk. This time we took them over to the Mount (Helen has never been there) and then called in on Mandy and the children to discuss sailing. Helen and Chris were hiring a yacht for a week from Boxing Day and Adam and Oliver have some sailing experience. We had strawberries and cream and a glass of wine their before heading off home. A very pleasant day.

Having Xmas on a Sunday is such a good idea and I think it should always be that way. Having that extra days preparation is great. Trouble is I need a week beforehand. Never knowing what the weather will be like, I had a hot day and a cool day plan. I borrowed a trestle table from a colleague whose husband manages a rugby club and was going to make a long, elegant table on the pool deck if it was warm. From the photos you will see that we reverted to plan b and I used it to make a square table in the dining room. I had a menu plan that was adaptable to in or out eating. As below:

Avocado Hummus (made by Harri)
Creamy smoked salmon pate
Chicken liver pate (Delia’s, wonderful)

BBQ’d green lipped mussels

Roast turkey
· Herb and sausagemeat stuffing
· Sausages
· Cranberry. Port and orange sauce

BBQ’d venison steaks
· Blueberry and port sauce

Asparagus with hollandaise sauce
Boiled new pots (from garden)
Orange and red onion salad
Grilled vegetable salad

Xmas pudding mousse
Tiramisu
Pavlova

Cheeseboard

Panetone
Stollen
Xmas chocolate log
Xmas cake

I think that was all!!!

It has become an annual event that we take the girls into Hamilton for a late night shopping trip. I take one for half the session and then we meet up and Eric and I swap children. It was a very untraumatic trip partly because the finances were seriously limited this year and Eric and I had decided not to buy for each other (well not much anyway)and we scaled down seriously our pressie buying all round. Also we found a stall selling beaded jewellery that was suitable for many girls we needed to buy for. I had already bought MP3 players and seriously expensive tickets for Harri and Alice to see Hayley Westenera in Hamilton in late January so just needed ideas for a few bits for them.

Christmas Eve was busy from 7am to 11pm. We then went to Midnight Mass in Matamata. Xmas morning was funny. I woke at 5am and dragged myself into Alice’s bedroom to retrieve the bits for Eric’s stocking which I, oops I mean Santa, had stowed there in her wardrobe. Unfortunately Santa had chosen one of those stiffer, seriously noisy carrier bags and I woke Alice. I shot out to the bathroom as she stirred but as I came out the bathroom with fully laden stocking, Alice was sitting on her bed wading through the contents of hers. I told her to put her light out, which she did after 5 minutes. Harriette tried to wake us at 7am with a cup of tea – and failed. As she stood over us I suggested, sleepily, that she climb into bed for a cuddle. This she did and huffed and puffed for 10 minutes at how frustrated she was - then fell asleep!



We then woke but Alice was still sleeping so we refused to look at our stockings, to Harri’s further frustration. We were sitting in bed chatting when we heard Alice (by now it’s 9am). As she came in I whispered ‘pretend we’re asleep’ so we three closed our eyes as we sat. Alice crept in, saw we were ‘asleep’ , placed her stocking on our bed and crept back to hers. She didn’t seem to notice that Eric had a mug of tea in his hand! Anyway, I peeked in on her a few minutes later and - she was asleep!!!!! Poor Harriette nearly cried! I finally allowed her to wake Alice at 9.30am and we then went through all 4 stockings. Santa had very thoughtfully given the girls puzzle books, probably to keep them busy and so avoid waking parents early. As it was they were not needed!


Look what Santa bought me!



After Santa had been


Mom and Daddy joined us and we sat down to a breakfast of kedgeree (traditional Tanner Xmas fayre) and smoked salmon scrambled egg for the girls. We finally got round to pressie unwrapping around midday I think. Mom and Daddy gave us some money towards a pool cover so that is a priority before the autumn and will save Eric hours of leaf fishing. I also had CD’s (Bic Runga, War of the Worlds and Birdsong, Thank you Carol), pots for the garden, floating candles, various books etc. Eric got 2 Hugh Fearnley-Wittingstall books. The one on Meat (again from Carol) is fabulous and could have been written for (or by) Eric. Hugh and Eric share the same mentality and I’m sure he would enjoy a visit here (maybe I should invite him!). We have done the usual finding of pressies after Xmas day. This year it was a book on the queen Harriette had forgotten to give Mom and the girls pressies from Grandparents over the mountains (they used to be), all discovered in subsequent days.


Mom and Daddy


H + A





The rest of the Xmas crowd arrived in Ann and Mikes camper sometime in the early afternoon. Juliet, Kev, the girls and A+M (Juliets parents). The day was then the usual eating, drinking and merry making.




A square table this year. Note my new IKEA sideboard retrieved from M+D's container before it went into storage! Anyone bringing a container out next year? I want the table and chairs to match!!!


Puddings.

Isn’t it strange how something so innocuous can end up causing so much hilarity. A few years ago it was a duck caller I bought Eric that caused hysterics after a few drinks. It is a concertina design and the action required to operate it is very similar to masturbating! This year it was watching me try to construct a water polo goal that A+M had bought the girls. Kev’s drunken instructions and advice did little to help but had us all in stitches. A sober Eric completed the job the next day when all us able bodied people went on a 6km hike to get some exercise.

Boxing Day started a little overcast. After a huge breakfast we went on afore mentioned hike, by which time the sun was shining and we spent the rest of the day by the pool, the everyone suitably plied with food and sangria throughout the day. As you can see Eric enjoyed the rest!


Boxing Day!!!

The crowd left the next morning after breakfast and we had a quick tidy up and a few hours relax before the next guests arrived. This time Leona (whom I met in hospital) and Phil (whom Eric did some of his law papers with this year) and their 2 gorgeous girls. Another enjoyable day by the pool. You may recall when I told you about meeting Leona that we had lots of coincidences in our lives. Well we had a conversation that went like this. On discussing ages... "Eric's 40th is coming up" "So's Phil's. When's Eric's?" "8th Jan, when's Phils?" "12th Jan but he doesn't want to do anything". Anyone who knows Eric will know that neither does he!! We decided we should do something and are considering a joint BBQ. So if you are free on Sunday 8th January.....

We had arranged to meet with Helen and Chris at Coromandel on the 29th to spend the day with them on their yacht so Ann had suggested we spend the night before with them, as they are over half way to Coromandel town from us. We thought we’d take the girls up to the Coromandel (peninsula) and do something there then go to A+M’s for the night but as it was we just dossed around at home doing very little, and drove up to Thames in the early evening. We arrived onto a scene of blissful retirement (what this is what I want to be doing when I retire). Ann and Mike, with beer and wine, were sitting on the deck reading, on a lovely warm evening, in complete peace! We had a very pleasant evening with them, lamb BBQ’d on a spit eaten outside on their deck overlooking the Firth of Thames (the sea between the Coromandel and Auckland peninsulas) and listening to the birds that live in the bush that surrounds their home, mainly Tui and bellbirds this evening. Idyllic.

The next morning we packed up and drove up to Coromandel. We met Chris and Helen on the jetty with Jenny (Chris's sister who lives in Auckland) and her 2 adult boys Matt and David. After they had a stroll round Coromandel town and we had all had some lunch, we lost the boys (they were returning to Auckland on the ferry), took the yacht out, parked up and did some fishing. Alice and Harri had fishing rods for Xmas and were dying to try them out. It started well with Alice getting a bite immediately and Eric catching 2 slightly undersized snapper. However it eased off and the final toll was Chris - nil, Helen - nil, Harri - nil (and sulking), Eric 2 aforementioned snapper and Alice a total of 6 mackeral and kowhai. We ate them for starters before a BBQ in the evening. Needless to say she is now hooked on fishing and is very excited at the prospect of going out today. The boat was great. I have been out on the yacht Mandy looks after for an American family but enjoyed this much more. This boat was slightly wider and the layout on deck was better. It was possible to find a spot out of the way of those sailing and settle down to a good read without being moved everytime the boat turned about. Knowing that the loo runs on sea water and my frequent trips did not deprive the water tanks of precious reserves also helped me relax. I reckon if we had a boat like that I could get into sailing. Eric reckons it would only cost about $80,000 second hand!!!!! Maybe when he has a partnership in a law firm! We had a great day and I was very tempted when Helen said we could stay overnight. We had our overnight bag in the car which was only a dingy trip away but I said no and we left at about 11pm, getting home after 1am. Such a great day and I am keen to do some more sailing now! No piccies as my camera died but Chris took one of the four of us which I will post when he sends it to me.

Yesterday was our anniversary and we celebrated it in style doing - nothing. In fact we had not even bought each other card. Still it was our 13th. I will make more effort for our 15th.

My NY's resolutions. Exert some control over what little money we have!!! and make more effort to keep in contact with people. Bridget, Carol, Mark and Cath being top of my list. For all of you reading this we wish you a very Happy New Year and may 2006 bring you good health, good friends and much happiness.

Well I MUST get up. A lazy day is calling!

Harriette and Sarah's Graduation Ball

She can tell you about it.






I know. Pics all odd sizes. More to come and I will sort this out. Tired now and an early start tomorrow.

School Camp-Wellington

It's hot and humid. We've had some huge down falls but it's still sticky. I just hope all this rain clears the air and leaves us with blissful weather over Xmas. Some hope!

So much to write, I'll keep it short. I want to finish writing Xmas cards tonight.

Firstly, school camp. I've decided (and you'll be pleased to hear this Trish) I really like Wellington. It is big city (well OK city), with all the feel of central government, nice shops and charming to boot. We spent day one travelling down. 35 school children and 12 adults had one carriage. I thought it would be hell but I have to say the time passed quite painlessly. Unfortunately, the weather was not too good and some potentially stunning views were not. We travelled down the spiral line that was featured in Billy Connelly's NZ series. It was good to know what it looked like from the air. The staff (of 2 or 3) give a run down of the history of the towns as we travelled throughand there was indoor and outdoor viewing platforms. The indoor one was hogged by another primary school on the way down. I ended up sitting next to Tony, a dad who works with Eric. He was good company and we chatted for hours. Half way there we stopped at National Park. I had always wondered which national park this referred to but was enlightened on the trip. This is a place name - Duh! The cafe here was surpisingly good. I don't know why I was surprised, I've said before, NZ's eating places are usually good. I just thought being miles from anywhere and having the monopoloy they didn't have to really try. The coffee was a welcome change from the British Rail quality of the that offered on the train. Is it something to do with the motion? I'd have thought that would increase the chances of a decent latte or cappucino. We finally got to Wellington and, after a 20 minute walk, found ourselves at a fabulous YHA. I was VERY impressed. I will not go into the details except to say they had thought of everything. If ever you are looking for accomodation in Welly just find the YHA opposite the New World (a supermarket), which incidently has the best range of wines and beers I have ever seen in NZ.

Day 2 was lots of walking. First to the Beehive (our house of parliment). Well actually the beehive is the admin block. The actual parliment is next door and far more elegant. In fact the buildings are 3 separate 'joined up' constructions and it is criminal that the beehive was built when compared to the other 2 bits. The bit in the middle was first. Then a 'wing' was bulit on. When the second wing was to be built instead of building a replica of the first, and giving some symmetry to the place the modern monstrosity of the beehive was built. After a very interesting tour, a chat from Chris Carter the environmental minister and bumping into our own MP it was off to the botanical gardens.

View from the gardens.

Again, very pleasant. They ramble over a hill and the cable car trip was very welcome! Off then to the least successful bit of the trip, a boring visit to the Mexican Ambassador. I think the idea was that the children would practice their Spanish but Madam Ambassador only spoke in English and therefore so did the children. We watched an all too long video, in Spanish and finally left! I always think of an embassys as being a grand building with lots of security, this was a suite of offices off Lambton Quay (the main shopping street)! Oh well, another bit of education. Some shopping followed and then the kids had (too much) free time back at the YHA. In hindsight it was too long and they got into 'he said, she said' rows. A planned girls (moms) trip out to a bar was cancelled when we thought the teacher might need some moral support. Oh well, thank heavens for New Worlds wine!

Day 3 was off to Te Papa, a 5 min walk away. Te Papa is the natural history, history and science museums in one with a sprinkling of art. I really liked it. It is on the waterfront and has fabulous views.

From a balcony at Te Papa

The afternoon was free time in Wellington as long as the children were accompanied by an adult they could do whatever they wanted. Problem was the girls all wanted to shop and the 4 moms were adamant they weren't shopping!! So it was up to the 7 dads, who I have to say rallied brilliantly. I took a group off to Eastbourne across the harbour on the ferry.


A gentle meander across and a glass of wine in a cafe while the girls played on the beach.


Very civilised. I have to confess we did do some shopping first, but Harriette and I esconsed ourselves in the wonderful Dymmocks bookshop. Not wanting the kids running around the hostel creating havoc we got them to organise some skits for the evening. This has to have been the best bit of camp. I laughed all night. One group did an Austin Powers take off with the boys swaggering around as girls, all make up, padded boobs and bare midrifts. Another did a quiz with some parents, including yours truely, answering questions (why was Mr Barford, one of the dads, sent home from camp aged 12? don't ask, something to do with rum and girls in underwear!!, and a AB's vs England rugby score, which I got right!!. I lost because I refused to stick my chest out and cock-a-doodle and ended up with obsenities like 'Up the AB's' charcoaled over my face. And so it went on. Incidentally Harriettes group won doing a take off of a TV programme Downsize Me.

Day 4 was a VERY LONG day. A 5am start to get the kids breakfasted, packed up and to the train station by 7am. One of the dads had the brilliant idea of hiring a taxi van to ferry all our baggage to the train station. One of the girls had cut her foot and would not have been able to walk so she went with the baggage. The train was delayed, and delayed. Can you believe it? After National Park we could only travel at 40km/hr because the tracks were too hot!!!!! Now this was on a nice sunny but certainly not scorching hot, day. What on earth do they do in mid-summer. Any slower and we'd have been in reverse!!! Add to that that at National Park we had to wait for the south bound train to get in and the driver to have his lunch break before we could leave (they swap crews), and of course they were late getting in because they had travelled down at 40km/hr. We finally got home at 7.30pm, 2.5 hours late. Of course we had not catered for feeding the kids tea and they were very tired and very hungry. They behaved brilliantly and every parent, and their teacher, should be proud of those kids.

Photo's are limited as Harriette had the camera for the trip down and the battery was dead when I did want to use it. The next day we had lost all the photos she had taken and the memory card was corrupted and buggered so I finally had to buy another one.

Tried but still didn't manage to catch up with Trish (Milky NZ's Mom). Hopefully 3rd time lucky.

So much for 'firstly camp' that's all I have managed. I'll continue catching up soon - promise! Night night.

Oh looks like Eric has got a place on the Professionals course for January. A solicitor/barrister by June is looking more likely by the day!

HURRAY!!!!!

He's passed. Eric drove to Uni today after phoning and being told the results were there but they wouldn't be piosting them until next week. He's passed everything. We won't discuss grades bu8t who cares about that, all he needed was passes.

No more blogging now, suffering from the cebrilatory gins! I DO have to tell you about Eric chasing a piglet around the paddock, falling, standing up and then getting wrapped up in wirwe fencing but that's for next time.

Carol I have replied to everyone of your texts!! The answer to your question is No he doesn't have it.

On Being A Single Parent.

Well, as her ladyship is away, not with the fairies this time but in Wellington, the onerous task of keeping those such as yourself once more falls to me. Don't rush out to find a bus to throw yourselves under just yet! My incoherent ramblings are not really that bad (are they?). Needless to say, I missed a whole load of you lovely chaps and chapesses on the weekend of the 12th and 13th of November. I had an exam on the 11th and held my own two minute silence. The Kiwi's don't do the 11th, prefering to remember their own major losses at Gallipoli instead. It was three quarters of the way through my Torts exam and I quietly put my pen down and stopped scratching for two minutes. That doesn't read to well does it? I stopped my pen from scratching the paper, not, I stopped scratching! Two minutes may not change the world or even most probably my exam results but it made me feel better in myself. I don't really think I could have felt better in somebody else, but that isn't quite true either! There were several very slinky young ladies sitting the same exam and I suppose that stretching the imagination, I could have felt better.... Well let's not go there. It isn't true darling I promise, I never even looked at them. Particularly not the one with the neat bob haircut and a rather sultry looking tattoo in the small of her back. Yes, that one! With the long legs and a slim little waist...

I jest. For those of you who may not know me, I JEST. I wouldn't dare do anything that may lead to the wrath of M. Well, maybe sometimes, but we do make it up very quickly and never go to sleep on an argument. OK. We do sometimes but not very often. I'm letting on with too much detail. I do not recommend anyone do the solo parent thing. There, I've said it. I hate doing it. You end up running around from work to school, school to town, town to home, think about a meal then back to town to pick up the wretch spawned from your own loins. You then have running arguments about showers, cooking, eating and life in general before finally sussing out that if you tell aforementioned wretch to bugger off and go to bed, you may just get some peace! Not good. M come home, all is forgiven for now anyway.

I have had Alice to put up with for the past few days and I find her never ending always being right a major problem in our relationship. We all know that as a Parent, I am always right. No, seriously, I am. Always, always, always. Alice however will swear that black is white and vice versa but never comes up with a cogent argument to back up her theories. Bit like my coursework when I get hot under the collar about something. Human Rights, childrens Rights etc. They don't have any. It is plain and simple. I lost my human rights when I became a parent so why should anyone else have them?

It seems I am rambling, it must be time for my nap. I shall finish the summing up of the case some other time perhaps when I will really let fly! Until then dear reader stay tuned and Michelle may put something on this site before too long. If not, you can have more of my ramblings on life etc. Until next time then, I shall sign off and await your comments! Good, Bad or indifferent, I care not. I just wish to see those numbers notch up. Sleep well guys.

Late Nov blog

I'm having a lazy morning as I will be working late tonight doing an evening teaching session in Hamilton. It's 8.45am and I am still in my dressing gown. E has gone to work and H and A to school. I think Mom and Daddy are around but I know they are off playing golf this morning. They have found a house in Waihi that they like but are not rushing to put an offer in just yet. I hope we can get to look at it later this week. It has a huge workshop which could be dismantled!! Harri will be pleased as it has a tamarillo tree and she is the only one that eats them. It also has manderin, lemons etc

Had a few busy weekends. It was Mom's birthday on the 12th so we had a few people over for a BBQ then on Sunday Mandy was coming over for lunch with her 3 and a family she has staying with her who had just emigrated. I had also casually invited R+R, K+S. A total of 17. Needless to say I cooked and prepared a veritable feast. Mandy phoned to say the boys were racing (boats) and her family had gone shooting, and Robyn phoned to say they were silaging (which she had forgotten) and therefore would pop over for coffee but didn't have tinme for lunch! We were down to 8. Needless to say we have been eating leftovers ever since. I threw the last of it away last night. Yesterday was Mom and Daddy's wedding anniversary. Only a few years left for the big 50 (which means only a few yeasr until my big 50! Had an email from Monique in the UK to say they (a crowd from my old ICU) were going to New York for Lois's 50th, sorry Lois 40th! I have my 50th planned, a girlie shopping trip to Melbourne (they have an IKEA in Melbourne!) Anybody free to join us? (June 2009).

My 50th. I can hardly belive it - I am sure I am only in my 30's still. A friend is going into hospital this weekend. It occured to her that she has not altered her will since some major changes in her life and addressed this prior to admission (nothing too serious but a general anaesthetic is involved). I was surprised that she has put some thought into her funeral, music to be played, what to be worn etc. I hope I survive her it sounds like it will be a ball! Anyway, what with that, recent 'offal hole' discussion, some recent sudden deaths locally of 'young' (my age) men and my imminent 50th I realise that I must be reaching a different phase in my life. I reckon I must have reached/passed my half way point. Hmmm. Maybe I will start that exercise programme I keep talking about!!!

I have finished my CAT course. I had a final teaching assessment on Monday and passed. I just have to get the final assignment in. I was worried that I had missed too much but managed to catch up with a session and am therefore just there. I now want to go onto the next level and do a course about setting up an online teaching course. As we are planning to do this at work I am hoping I can blend the 2 aims.

Eric has finally finished his exams, and has not stopped since. He has a huge list of 'to do' things but this week is tenderly caring for his boat and fishing rods as he and Richard are going fishing on Lake Rotorua this weekend. What are the odds for them catching anything edible?!?!?

Harriette and I are off to Wellington on Monday. I have paid for the trip but received NOTHING in the way of information from the teacher. Apparently I am taking transport, ie kids to Hamilton to catch the train (I knew nothing about this). Harriette kindly volunteered me, thinking nothing about me having to leave the family car in Hamilton for 3 days which means Alice and Eric are left with the heap that is the Safari. But she thinks that's OK! Apparently there was a parent pack sent out on Monday but it hasn't found it's way to us yet.

Alice went to a guide camp last weekend from Friday to Sunday afternoon. They were camping at the foot of the Kaimais in a local farmers paddock. They had a great time. Needless to say she came home exhausted.

Well I guess I should go and get dressed and do something productive.

YES!!!

The outsiders won. The 2011 World Cup will be hosted in NZ. I'm saving for tickets now.

Does this mean we get lots of visitors? I hope you don't all wait 'til then. Carol will you be living here then?

Hospitals and offal holes

I'm not going to make any more excuses about long gaps between blog entries, that's just the way it is!

The biggest bit of news is that I have been in hospital again! I had a headcold that turned to sinusitis. I put myself on antibiotics and got better but when they finished I went downhill again. After a few days I took myself to the GP (feeling very fed up by now and convinced I should just buck my ideas up!). He was obviously worried about the septic picture I presented with, particularly deteriorating since stopping antibiotics. He thought I might have an abdominal abscess, did heaps of blood tests and put me on more antibiotics. A day or 2 later he phoned to check on me and said that I had a gram negative septacaemia (not good for those of you not medically in the know). Off to hospital. After a 5 hour wait in ED I finally saw a doctor and 12 hours after my arrival I was admitted - the night before Eric's 3rd exam. Anyway, they did an ultrasound and said I had an 'ovarian mass' that looked like an abscess (sorry guys all very girlie talk) and a severely inflamed fallopian tube. Well at least we know now what it is. More antibiotics (IV this time) and I felt a whole heap better. Discharged on Saturday and now having a few days rest but feeling fine. I have another scan next week and we shall see where things go from there. Thank heavens Mom and Daddy were here to run around after me and the girls in between their house hunting!

A strange thing happened in hospital. I got talking to the person in the next bed (relieved to find they were aged under 80, well under 46 actually!) and was saying all this couldn't have come at a worse time, husband doing exams etc.
So's mine she said.
Law I said.
Same here she said.
What's your husbands name?
Eric, but he won't know him, Eric doesn't talk to anyone.
Neither does Phil but he knows your husband.

Turns out Phil is about the only person Eric has engaged in conversation with in the last 10 months. And a few days earlier, at a previous exam, they were bemoaning the fact both wives were sick!

The coincidences in our lives were quite spooky, put aside we end up in the neighbouring beds in the same ward at the same time, both husbands had the same career in a previous life, we both have 2 girls, the eldest fair the younger one dark (their girls are gorgeous, younger than H and A), admitted to hospital within an hour of each other, discharged within an hour or 2 of each other, and so it went on. On top of that they are a great family and I hope we keep in contact.

It is such a relief to feel well. I am sure my colleagues got fed up with me being fine one day and ill the next. (Not that they have complained!). I just felt I was not pulling my weight on any front and it was such a relief to find I was really ill and not just imagining things. Does that sound perverse? Of course I would really rather have not got sick in the first place.

Had a long, and long overdue chat with Carol the other day. Have been instructed to post photo's of Nelson. He is as big as the yearlings. When I have finished this I plan to go for a wander round the block and take some photo's of him, and the handsome murray grey bull we have on loan at the moment from our neighbours.




Isn't he handsome!





My beautiful Freckles


Two Mummies, two babies.


Daddy with their 'Welcome to NZ' pressie Marigold. Destined for their freezer in 2 years time.


Yesterday I noticed Freckles moo-ing a lot and as Eric went to work I went to check Daisy was OK. As I crossed the drive I realised she was stuck in the barn! The doors had blown shut in a storm recently and bent which meant that they could only push in and not pull outwards as they were supposed to. Anyway, she had obviously pushed in and got trapped in there. I hurried to the rescue but got a shock when I pushed open the door, calling out consoling phrases to her as I did, to find myself face to face, in a confined space with the bull!!!!! He got a fright and dived along side the RR where he stayed until I got Daisy out and then he finally followed, none the worse for wear. Daisy was dying of thirst though and fed on Freckles for AGES after! A bull confined in a barn, with Bridgets possessions, can do a lot of damage but luckily he didn't - honest Bridget. Crap on everything, hay bales lightly scattered though but as I was in my long dressing gown at the time I thought the cleanup could wait.

Mom and Daddy have bought a car and laptop, got internet connection and are busy house hunting. Mom was at the local golf course othis morning at a ladies meet so got to meet a few people. House prices have rocketed here and the exchange rate is definately not in their favour so what they can get for their money now is not what they were they were looking at 2 yeasr ago. Still at least they're here.

Girls are fine, Harriette is positively delightful at times, which she intersperses with bouts of foulness - just to keep the balance you realise. Alice is somewhat hormonal and gets so angry at times. Yesterday we played a wee trick on them and Alice went puce with rage. I read that the HP movie had been premiered in the UK and at a higher censorship rating. I looked on the web to see when it was coming here. I booked tickets for the opening day and then told the children that it had an over 13 rating and they couldn't go. Eric then added 'but it's OK because Mom and I have booked tickets and we'll tell you all about' I cannot over-state the reaction. Harriette threw herself into the sofa offering protestations and saying how she looked 13. Alice just went off the deep end, yelling at us saying we were going to take and she was going etc!! I couldn't bare it and told them it was a wind up but Eric wanted to let it run at least a week!!!!!!!!!! Of course when we told them we were going the day it opened aftyer school we immediately became the best parents in the world, once Alice got over her rage!!

Remember I couldn't remember the 'blog moment' from last time? It came to me when I was feeding pigs and walked past the offal hole! We had been talking at dinner about where my uncles ashes had been spread in Australia and that went on to what is to happen to us when were die etc. Now the plan with Eric has always been that he would be cremated and his ashes spread by Dover lifeboat at sea (there is history there for those of you who have known us less that 10 years). Anyway considering that that now is not really an option I asked what we should do with him then added I guess the most apt place for you would be down the offal hole. As you can imagine everyone was in stitches and Eric was indignant. Well I think it would be a fitting end - don't you?!?!?!? The only question now is do we waste money on cremating him first or just pop him down whole. Harriette thinks he won't fit and as it'll probably come to her and Alice to make the decisions we'll leave it in their hands.

They're Here

Saturday evening and the first weekend we have had at home for a good while now. Mom and Daddy here, chatting to the UK at the moment, and Eric is reading the newspaper (actually he should be studying he has exams next week. Maybe I’ll let him off – he has done about 7 hours today!) Girls are watching a DVD.

Where to start? Last weekend was a BH. Mandy had invited Eric to join them for a trip up to the Mercury Islands off the Coromandel for some sailing. They were due to leave on Friday morning but that was postponed because of the weather. They left on Saturday. Eric’s Safari was in the garage so I had to drive him over the night before and pick him up on the Tuesday morning. We missed him! He got ridiculously sun burnt despite SPF 30 and caught a fish. Yes that’s another one. Someone else had caught some scallops and they had them for breakfast one morning. He was exhausted when he got home!

Well Mom and Daddy are finally here!!! I think they still can’t believe they’ve finally made it. They arrived at midnight in Hamilton, which made it easier for collecting them. I got the girls up and took them with me as I had promised them the next morning off school. M + D have had a trip over to Tauranga to do boring business stuff and get in contact with some real estate agents etc. Today they played golf, their first game in weeks. They were seriously withdrawn! We have given them a calf as a ‘welcome to NZ’ pressie. They know they have to eat it! They were really chuffed.

Eric just has 2 more weeks of studying then he has a break for a few months. Poor guy is exhausted. He came back from sailing and had to butcher the rest of the beef. I was adamant it was to be finished before M + D arrived. He managed it, just – I think they were landing as the last lot went into the freezer. We had sirloins and fillet steak the following evening – divine. In fact the fillet was the best I’ve ever tasted! Even if I have labeled all the fillet up as rump!!! We were in hysterics over something Eric said at that meal, something I was thinking I must put on blog, but blowed if I can remember what it was!!! I think Eric can as he smirks when I ask him, but he won’t say. He has his first exam on Monday morning, last one on the 15th November.

Mom and Daddy did their first bit of babysitting last night. Eric and I went to see the Rocky Horror Show performed by the Hamilton Operatic Society. An excellent show, which we thoroughly enjoyed. The rocker wasn’t quite Meatloaf, but the other performances were very strong and the casting excellent. When I first went to the Founders Theatre I thought how small it was but I must be getting kiwi-ised as this time I thought it was big!! Harriette was desperate to see it but we thought it was a bit to adult for her. On seeing it though I think it would have been OK for her – just.

Actually spent today in the garden for the first time in awhile. The veg plot has got quite over run again and the grass around it is 2 ft deep. The weed eater (strimmer) was not working and it went in for repair. Something ‘unusual’ has gone wrong with the ignition and when that was replaced it started but threw flames out the back so the guy is hanging onto it for a while. He lent as one which has an engine on it less powerful than my hairdryer and is not really man enough for the job so I hope he gets ours fixed soon. The strawberries are ready as are the spinach, lettuce, radishes, carrots, rhubarb and silver beet. I have also been working on the lawn in front of the cottage again, it is level and just needs reseeding now. No plans for tomorrow – wonderful.

Gosh if I don't blog soon......

As I type Eric is cutting up meat in the kitchen (what else?!), Harriette is examining the prospectus from college and debating what options to take next year (it's looking like French, Wood tech and Performance music). Maths, English, PE, Drama, Art, Science, Health and IT are compulsory. Alice has taken herself off to bed after Guides and me, well I'm typing aren't I!!

We had Chilli done for the freezer last Friday. It was a sad day and I kept well out of the way. Chilli you may remember was semi handreared when he was found hypothermic and unable to stand. I hand milked mom (Pepper) and fed this to Chilli. Employing the homekill guy to do the dirty deed was an easy option but I'm afraid makes for a far less interesting entry than Carols account of 'Come in 47'. Actually I've just looked back and there is no account of Chilli's arrival, before I entered Blogland obviously, and probably just as well. Anyway... Eric is busy making sausages with the last of the pork as we are endeavouring to empty the chest freezer to accomodate the beef currently cooling in the walkin one. Carol the shelves were removed before putting the beast in and it was cut into eigths - sooo much easier!!

Although I have not blogged for awhile not a lot has happened. The big news of course is that Dom and Daddy are en route, somewhere in Auz as I type. Not sure when they will be here, they haven't booked their flights yet, but I don't think it will be too long. True to Mom and Daddy's luck, house prices have gone mad (upwards) and the kiwi dollar is at it's highest against the £ for ages. Still, at least they have their residency and are here now, well almost here. They are looking to settle in Katikati, about an hour from here near the Bay of Plenty coast.

I checked the goosers yesterday. One of the 2 goosers has no longer got any eggs under her, and no gooslings!! I think it might be the rats. We need to investigate. Gooser number 2 sits on the edge of the nest still has her clutch under her. Maybe it won't be goose for Xmas dinner.

No don't faint but Eric caught a fish!!!! Whats more, it was a fairly large trout, enough to feed 4 in the evening. On Sunday, the reason Eric could not be found was that when he had been fishing off the jetty some local with a boat (just a little Eric sized boat) offered to take him out on the lake. He, Eric, caught 2 trout, a tiddler and this one. I did not have my camera with me but Mandy took a photo. I just hope she sends it to me so I can post it. He was sooooo chuffed.

I must conclude this and go and pack meat, just what I always wanted to do at 9.30 at night!!!

Blogging from the Bach.

Sitting in my PJ’s (which I’ve only just put on – nobody wears PJ’s in bed – do they?), at about 9am, in a huge bach with lake Rotorua at the end of the garden about 15m away. Eric was last seen leaving the bedroom at 6am to go fishing from the end of the jetty (also at the end of the garden) and hasn’t been seen since. There is no fishing stuff at the end of the jetty so I am assuming he hasn’t fallen in but gone off to fish elsewhere. Mandy (Scott-Mackie) had rented this bach which sleeps 11, for the weekend at the end of the school hols and invited us for the duration/day/bit of the weekend. We came yesterday and are going home this afternoon. The weather has been absolutely diabolical – for weeks now – but today is actually settled and dry (it won’t last). It showered heavily yesterday but the girls (there were 5 of them), went out in the kayaks that are here. By the time they came back it was hailing heavily and they looked a picture carrying kayaks up the jetty, absolutely soaked moving very fast as the hale was stinging them!!!! As well as the 5 SM’s, Hannah had 2 friends here, Mandy had a girlfriend and she had a friend, also Olivers mate Dylan was here. A friend of Fe’s phoned to say was she at home as he was going to pop in and he ended up coming here and staying overnight as well. I think that made 13 of us (Victoria went home yesterday). When Eric gets together with the SM boys it is hilarious and we had a very pleasant evening. 3 roast chickens, huge amounts of asparagus (in season at the moments) broccoli and jacket potatoes followed by a huge rice pudding, large amounts of wine, crisps, nuts, chocolate etc makes for a happy bunch of people.

Eric and I were childless for a few days last week. Juliet and Kev came down for the weekend in the middle of the hols. Juliet was going to stay on as we were stuck for babysitting Monday/Tuesday. In the end plans changed and she took the girls back to her place, leaving us childless. We planned an early movie then supper on the Monday evening as we were both in Hamilton at 5pm. We couldn’t find anything that appealed moviewise so opted for an early supper. On collecting Eric from Uni we decided we weren’t hungry! How about a muffin and big latte in Fran’s (Cambridge) on the way home. Fine. Err No. Fran’s, and every other coffee shop, was closed at 5.30pm (don’t you just Love New Zealand!!). So it was pop in and say Hi to Richard and Robyn on the way into Matamata to get fish’n’chips and watch a DVD in bed (how wonderfully decadent!).

Must go and start breakfast. BBQ sausage, eggs, bacon, leftover potatoes, mushrooms, eggs and microwaved baked beans. Still no sign of Eric.

More babies!

Octavia

has just produced these (there are actually 11 in this bundle!):

to join these (7):

and these:

This first born litter was 5 so we now have 23 piglets!!!!

HURRAY!!

Received this email from Daddy this morning!!!


Hi, Just to let you know that we exchanged contracts this afternoon and have a completion date of the 29th. We are on our way!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mum & Dad xoxoxoxoxo

Goosers

Managed to get close enough to thake this photo today. Can't wait for the babies!!

The Weather Worsens!

Spring seemed to well and be well and truely established, the daffodils came and went and then..... the rain came, then the wind, then the temperatures dropped and yesterday Christchurch came to a grinding halt because of snow, and the snow fields ar eplanning to reopen. Although the sun is shining at the moment we have a maximum predicted 13 degrees today. We had got used to temperatures in the 20's. Oh well, at least the paddocks get a good watering.

Did I say nice rain?

Well the novelty has worn off!! It's been torrential for 24 hours now and the wind is blowing a hooley. Going out to feed the calves and lamb is no joke, waterproof trousers and a dryasabone required. I must say the calves and Fidget looked quite sweet all curled up together in the barn. One door blew shut and it has lodged inwards damaging the door stay, we have wedged it and Eric can fix it when the weather improves. The door stay is 10 foot above the ground so balancing a ladder in this wind is not advisable!

I forgot to mention yesterday that it was election day, (did you vote Bridget?) probably because I got to vote in hospital so did not have to venture out. Well by 11.10pm we found out that the ruling Labour Party had won, by one seat. 50 to 49 (of 122 seats). Winston Peter's NZ First Party (right wing) has 7 seats but already opted not to partake a coalition but will support a confidence vote for the leading party. We now face weeks of negotiations while a coalition is formed. Interestingly, the very recently formed, Maori Party now seems to hold the balance of power and with National declaring they would abolish the 7 Maori seats in parliment I don't think they have a chance will them.

As I mentioned Helen and Phil, George and Tom, came for supper last night. Though I say so myself it was a lovely meal, Normandy Pork (sort of pork/apple casserole cooked by Eric), broccoli, carrots and leeks from the garden, the first of the seasons asparagus, and jacket potatoes. A slightly overcooked Creme caramel (Delia's recipe) and a fabulous cheeseboard Phil rustled up. He also had a platter of sweet chilli peppers and goats cheese cubes, seriously scrummy. Helen has recently been diagnosed as diabetic and been very motivated to loose some weight. She looked great. They came early so George could feed the calves/lamb/chooks and pigs. He was impressed with all this - except the inordinate amount of saliva calves produce, which always ends up round the thighs of your pants!!

On the subject of pigs, Olympia and Octavia are seriously pregant and I expected Eric to find more piglets down there when he went to feeed them this evening. This is going to cost a fortune in pig nuts, 3 lactating sows!

That's all!

It was only one night in hospital....

....and the drip only left a moderate bruise!

Adhesions, that's what the Reg said it was. It started about 4pm on Tuesday, abdominal pains that worsened over the next few hours. By 7pm I realised it was the same thing that I had had in the South Island which was only relieved by a trip to the doctor for Buscopan and Tramadol injections. So off we went into Matamata. By now I was in agony. The GP was very, nice and after taking a brief history gave me some intravenous Buscopan (an anti spasmodic), the effect was dramatic to say the least and the pain disappeared totally, instantly. With Buscopan tablets and instructions to go to ED if the pains returned, it was back home and off to bed. The early night we had promised ourselves (I had worked a 14 hour day on Monday and the night before neither of us had slept well) wasn't as early as we had hoped but by 10.30pm they were all asleep. I say 'they' because I wasn't, the pain was coming back. I had taken more Buscopan and Tramadol but it wasn't helping. The timeline becomes a bit blurred from here on but Eric took H and A to R+R's (he had phoned and warned them earlier in the evening that this may happen) and we went to Hamilton. By now I was vomiting and shaking violently but by the time we arrived the pain had subsided. ED was amazingly quiet and I was seen and processed within 3-4 hours (that's seriously quick for Waikato ED!). I had the option of going home and only drinking, "only if you insist", or being admitted. I opted for the latter. Firstly, Eric had an exam the next (same!) day and I was worried that I'd have him back up again in a few hours of the pain came back, and secondly, quite franky I was scared of getting into that much pain again and having a 40 minute drive to the hospital to access pain relief. Anyway, I was admitted at 2.30am, had a drip and IV fluids overnight, was allowed to drink in the morning and after tolerating lunch was discharged. Eric wrote his exam on 2 and half hours sleep! I'm now fine but the abdomen has been somewhat tender this week. The X-Rays etc showed a partial bowel obstruction which obviously cleared itself. It's all related to previous surgery. The reassurance of the Reg 'this self-resolves 90% of the time' was tempered with 'you can guarantee this will happen again'. Remind me NEVER to run out of Buscopan tablets!!

In ED Eric commented that I hadn't bought my camera. Why? I asked. 'Well you take photographs of eveything for blog and could take a piccie of you here' !! Thank you Darling!

Some photos, and filling the blog gaps

Eric attempted to dag our sheep in late August. He borrowed Richards dad's hand shearing kit but it didn't work too well. I think it was a combination of the blades being a bit blunt, Eric's inexperience and the unit didn't match the power supply well. I took these.
'Now you put these round what Daddy?' (docking rings for those of you who don't know what she's holding)
Alice and Fidget.

Fidgets turn.


'What us?' - Fidget and Feral


New calves arrive-28th August



Alice and Fidget


I mentioned in my 'partial blog', more photo's there incidently (including ones of piglets - just scroll down), that we attended Harriette's class's Winter Feast recently. They have been studying everything medieval and this culminated in a feast for all the parents. It also doubled as a fund raising exercise for there up and coming camp to Wellington (Yes Trish I may be going so we can catch up then). The 37 children in the class (Yes >37), dressed up, danced, performed, served and taught some of the audience how to to some of the dances. It was a very pleasant evening and they all worked very hard. The teacher was amazing, he did all the cooking and kept a very low profile, allowing the children to conduct the evening. they were also marked on the project and Harriette scored very well. The photos aren't brilliant (and my battery ran out) but these should give you a feel for the evening.





Back to Cedar Lodge, this is just to assure you that the slotting goes on! Eric culled our chooks and these ones lost out.


We did eat one but this led us to the conclusion that if we want to eat our chickens then they have to be less that 3 years old!!!!! Well we knew that didn't we! I have just refered to Eric before writing the last bit. E,H and A are in the kitchen cooking-E (Helen and Phil are coming for supper tonight) and eating breakfast-H and A (it's only 10am!). Eric said the chooks were scrawny. 'What like you 2' says Harriette??? 'Harriette I don't think you could call your mother or I scrawny' To which my delightful daughter replies 'No I mean old and tough'

This is what we get up at 6.30am to do each morning...




The weather. We have had some fabulous warm weather, weeks of it, and the sixth driest winter since records began. However since getting the paddocks limed we have wanted some rain to wash the grass. The cows don't like it chalk flavoured. Well the rain has arrived - with a vengence! Unusally it has come in (huge) showers. Here when it starts it usually doesn't stop for 3 days. Anyway, it's fabulous and I can stop irrigating my veg plot, which looked like this this morning...


Saddle, Alices calf club calf from the first year, and No 3 went to market a week ago. Saddle moo-ed, incessantly, and we are not sad to see him go. Neither was Alice, she banks $500 profit, after deductions for hay, drench, calf milk etc. We get almost nothing as we gave Harriette $500 in payment for Freckles as we don't want her sold. This is the girls spending money for the UK - whenever we get there!!!!

The goosers are definately laying, 8 eggs at the last count, getting close is now too dangerous!! They obviously consider the sheep a big threat (despite the fact Eric has electric fenced them off) as whenever they come close there is an enormous kerfuffle down there.

That's the animals, now the children! Alice got 100% in her basic facts test this week for the first time and Harriette got a distinction in her Austalian exams in Writing, coming in the top 2% in the country (2 marks under the highest NZ score). She also passed her grade one piano exams a fortnight ago. Harriette's behaviour has improved somewhat, I think we have computer usage tackled, and she is proving quite witty at times. Alice is much the same, little Miss Angry of Matamata - Boy can she fly off the handle. I can't think where she gets it from!!!

I didn't get the job I went for. It was 20 hours/week covering maternity leave for 12 months in the Public Health Unit. The interview went well and my plan was that IMAC would second me. However, when I then thought about fitting in my job to 1 and half days a week until Xmas as I am on this CAT course I began to wonder about the sense of having applied. When the guy phoned me with their descision I can honestly say I was saying to myself 'please don't offer me the job'. The ego was a bit dented but the sucessful person had a Masters in Public Health and had worked in a PHU before. I can't compete with that. The course is going well so far, very practically based and not terribly acaedemic, which makes a nice change. I think it is going to be really helpful and I am already hugely rethinking the way I teach.

Eric is seriously stressed/exhausted. He has had 2 exams this week, has not been sleeping well and has assignments due regularly over the next month or 2. He has also been covering his colleague, Steve, who is on leave this week and every time he has skipped a lecture to do some studying, the phone has gone and he has had to go and shift bulls on a road or pick up a dog. On top of this he got his exam timetable this week. He wanted his exams spread over a couple weeks at the end of the timetable giving him some time to study. Needless to say they are almost one day after the next and right at the start.

Well this blog has taken me about 3 hours to do and I have an assignment to get in for Monday. Thank heavans it's raining so I can't get distracted outside.