Applying for the Job

Spook caught this image of me applying for the bike job at Wastebusters.
The dame who runs alongside the reycyling truck has beautiful white teeth, flowing locks held in place by a bandana, and cool shades.
I thought I had a better chance if I looked like her.

Tornado Alert

Had to sleep in Finns room last night. He and Spook had watched Sleepy Hollow while I snoozed on the sofa. The wind was howling round the house in a suitably Octobery kind of way (but it was 13 degrees) and Finn was remembering a news report of a tornado in The North Island. By the time he got to bed there was the sound of 40 possums chewing on the tin roof. This was a bit much after a night of spooky movies.

Happy Anniversary

To Mum and Dad on their 39th wedding anniversary. All my love.

Meg went off with 5 girls for her Halloween sleep-over, reminding me to buy treats in case anyone came round guise-ing. Finn didn't go to football as he said all his friends were going out guise-ing. We were going to go down to town for a drink and a milkshake for a Friday night celebration, but lit the fire and snuggled in to watch Monster House instead. Finn could barely concentrate with the knowledge that there was a bowl full of chocolate on the table. At the last commercial break he shot off down the street to see if there were any kids out and about. He came back and declared Halloween to be officially over and dived into the chocolate bowl. Keith, my gardening neighbour was out making sure everything was neat for the garden visit tomorrow. He saw Finn running up and down the street and shouted encouraging words to 'run faster'. He'd seen his picture in the local paper in the hurdles race (3rd position) and must have thought he was out training.

Sob!

Was just walking down the driveway that leads from Scotland to New Zealand when a warning light surrounding the word 'refuge' filled my head. I had to run back up to deal with it. Refuge/refuse. Might have confused those words a little.....or have I? Is 'refuse' what everyone refuses to keep in their houses and 'refuge' is what the recyclabibbles take away to keep safe and give another home? So would I be a refuse collector with a big beard or a hip-looking refuge collector?

And when I told Dan that Wanaka was build on a Falluvial Plain, he looked confused. I then panicked and didn't know whether I meant a Fallopian Plain or a Falavel Tube. And I do worry about all those Chinese people that I taught English to, 20 years ago.

I'm going to take the neighbours some pancakes, now. However, I DO know, that they are called Pikelets here.

Wastebusters

I iether can't remember my password, or I'm not allowed to comment on my own blog, but I can't get to respond to you John, other than here.
You need to understand the difference between refuge and recyclabubble. The refuge is picked up in a bin lorry by a portly fellow with a very large beard. The recyclibobbles, are picked up by a team of trendies in the wastebusters mobile (the current one has an engine). Usually driven by a lady in sunglasses with this wonderful svelte dame in flowing head scarf and big shades who runs behind the truck throwing the things in, which I then go and bring back home.
Now, I've got the big shades, I just have to tease my thinning hair into dreadlocks and I reckon I'm in with a chance on the bike. (I've only registered an interest, I'm not in on the books).

Re the Aspring runners - I thought I could warm up with a drive by to see how enthusiastic they look. On the other hand, the neighbours might need some help with the gaden party.

That Saturday Feeling

I read 'The Messenger' every week, when it comes out on a Wednesday. Tells me everything I need to know about what's going on in town. Who needs a flatmate, how much fire wood costs, jobs, and wot's on.

I mentioned Aspiring runners the other weekend, and that I hoped Spook would check it out for me. He didn't (well, it was quite cold). So here it is again. Aspiring runners meet at the 'outlet' at 2pm. Spook thinks it means 'those who aspire to running', and will therefore be joggers. I do believe, that as we live on the edge of Mount Aspiring National Park, that this is the club name and that they will be full on runners, who will dash off round the first corner and leave me behind. I'd love to turn up and run freely in the style of Phoebe from Friends, arms and legs flying all over the place. Or maybe I'll not turn up at all. Maybe Finn will need me to stand in goals. Yes, I forgot, my son needs me. Poor wee toot. (after school he said 'this is the first time I feel I actually live here' - must be because I made pancakes).

I got Meg a couple of scary looking tops for her Goth outfit, from the recycling yard (musn't call it the dump). I also bought the electric frying pan, on which I made the beautiful pancakes. And I spied there, a bike with a long trailer attached. I enquired about it and it has been specially designed to fit the recycling bins in town and is the eco-friendly way to pick them up. Hasn't actually been tried out yet, but I was suitably inspired to overcome my shyness and offer to give it a shot if they ran out of puff. What a great job! She took my number. Imagine how good it would be. I'd need to take the work vehicle home with me so I could get on the job early as possible, and it would take priority over the Toyota in the car port.
Nice.

Sir Spook

I'm becoming a bit suspicious of what that man of mine gets up to every day. In Fort William he grabbed a rucksack and either jumped into a clapped out old truck or onto his bike. This morning I was a bit more awake than usual and took in the spectacle of him gathering his 'work' things. A laptop computer under one arm and a large folder under the other. I had to open the door for him. and then I watched him climb into his 2nd fancy car of the job so far ( well, not so fancy to most of you, but it does work and there's no rust). This one is a very white Toyota Corolla with a bit of a sporty look..................I think I might take a cycle up there one day soon for a wee look. It reminds me of the guy in The Full Monty who went to the job centre with suit and briefcase every day so his wife wouldn't realise he's lost his job.

(the editor would like to note that, not only is the plant drawing not anatomically correct, but it is not botanically correct either)

oh,no

Please, please, please, artist friends...I didn't like that picture so much that I sent it twice. I just lost it, did it again and then found it in the blog. I just keep pressing buttons and things fly off. And I know my pencils should be sharper, and I still use a sharpener instead of a knife and it's not really anatomically correct, and it's not really a very good photo and I'm sure I could do better and yes, I still do flowers, and ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...........blrrgh

Oooooh, look -here's another one!

My first drawing in New Zealand. The only flower in our yard is a Clematis.

Meg is going on a sleep-over this weekend! She's going guise-ing and then staying at Kate's house. They have to be back before dark! Odd, as it's pitch dark when they go out in Scotland, in howling gales. No wonder Scots are so hardy. I just have to get back out to that dump to get the outfit.

Finn says he's not going guise-ing, but to soccer practice instead.
 We managed to sign him up for skateboard lessons tonight!! Starts on Tuesday, and is at the skateboard park. Time to get out of the car port! I hope there doesn't appear to be a sense of desperation in my signing him up for all these things. Of course I love being his constant companion..........

And Meg has decided that she'll not stay over at the party on Saturday night as she will be a bit tired and we can just pick her up at 10pm.

Spook and I will sit at home and wait for the next visitor to arrive from Scotland.....anyone coming over this weekend? We're free!

Found Them

Well, found some of them. This is us on our way home (with Dan) from the Rob Roy Glacier. The other is Meg and Spook on Lake Wanaka side.

Finding a Job

Was down the internet caff with the young crowd yesterday trying to save some internet time from my hot little dongle stick that links us to the outside world. It copes with e-mails but not uploading or downloading, without us busting over our limit. So I thought I'd do some work on my CV which my sister had sent me, in the most idiot proof form she could come up with. The nice lady who works there showed me what to do and wished me luck with the CV. I did not too bad and managed to print it. I didn't save it on to my own address as I'm not too smart, but I decided I wanted a 2nd copy.  There was someone printing and I had to wait, so I moved onto my 2nd task of downloading some photos from the camera and uploading to the blog. Quite exciting, I thought. Clickity,clickity,click,click,shit...
The computer shut down, the camera is missing 4 of it's photo's and I've no idea where my CV is.
The nice young lady who was on duty, came to my aid and said the computer had gone into shock!
 Not the only shock, as I was paying $6 for my disasters!!!! I was keen not to waste an opportunity though, as she was so pleasant, and asked her if there was any jobs going here. 'YOUR KIDDING' she spontaneously replied.
 'Yeah'.

Perfect Woman and Finding Friends

The perfect woman has been found. She had to put out a fire, shoot some clay birds, drive a jet boat, build a fence, make a pancake and give a man a haircut. I can do THAT. This was her 4th attempt at the title and she's only 22!
I've been looking through the papers to get ideas about making new friends. There has been a call for members to the Southern Naturally group. They have 12 members and need about 6 more. Only 30% of the group are women and they really need more. All you have to do is be naked. Apparently it's very good for your health with all that vitamin D. I simply couldn't afford that much sun cream!!!
I also noted that there's a 'man drought' in NZ. The women out number the men by 35,000 in the 20-45 age group. If that doesn't get single men in their 30's out to see us (you know who you are, and I know you're watching), nothing will. You wouldn't have to be naked - at first.
Meg and I cycled to the dump today to look for Halloween outfits. Finn couldn't make it as I applied soothing cream to his knee wound and made it hurt for the first time! The dump was shut, so we'll need to try again.
Spook came home from work, looking browner than ever, but it turned out to be a thick layer of dust, from the windy plains above Wanaka.
 At least it wasn't Poo.

A creaking roof......or a possum?

Meg crawled into bed with us at 5.30am. That was ok as I'd been awake all night singing Abba songs in my head. She'd been lying listening to a scraping noise for hours and had finally got a bit worried. I said it would be the wind, but agreed to come up and sleep in the spare bed upstairs in their room.
The wind had dropped, but it wasn't long before I could hear the scrape, scrape noise too. Wanting to reassure my young daughter I whispered, 'OH MY GOD, THERE'S A POSSUM IN THE RECYCLING BIN IN THE CAR PORT!' So we shot back down the stairs (disturbing the household) and crept up to the back door window to peep out, expecting to see a bushy tail sticking out the bin. Nothing. 'It's on the car port roof!' Back up the stairs to peer out the window. Nothing. The scraping continued, but having exhausted my own imagination (mice in the wall cavities? No, don't think we HAVE cavities), and been of no help to Meg at all, I finally dropped off to sleep and left her to ponder alone in the calm manner which she had been doing before I got in on the act.
Checked for possum poo in the cold light of day, suspicious gnaw marks on the fabric of the house, etc, etc.........nothing.

MAMA MIA

Spook headed off early to Twizel with Dan to take part in a bike race.
 I had a lovely long lie, spoilt by Finn jumping into bed with me and seeing me from a new angle. Apparently one which highlights a mono-brow, some whiskers and 'oh Mum....is that a BEARD'.
 He was dispatched pretty quick.
However, the day improved with lovely sunshine and a morning spent in Scotland via Skype. Then the children and I went and bought wee sketch books so they could do visual diaries (Finn's page has a drawing of his new fancy dude-trainers, and another page has some nice writing on it, spelling POO.) Before we knew it, it was time for the tennis lesson so we headed off with me running (cos Dan's got my bike) and the kids cycling. Meg had the rucksack with the recycled racquets. Unfortunately, the coach had forgotten that it was Labour day today and the place was shut. Meg insisted that it was Finns turn to take the rucksack. Unfortunately, I neglected to remind him to fasten the waist belt on it, so when I jogged round the corner I found him off his bike, in the middle of the road with a dramatically bleeding leg, scraped elbow and the ties of the rucksack wrapped round the spokes. He took it well, but it seemed a shame to have such an injury when he's never yet faced the dangers of the skateboard park or the dirt jumps - just the untied rucksack.
Anyway, Meg spent the rest of the day waiting for the mother duck to abandon a duckling so that she could rescue it and rear it (in lieu of a cat?). And this was in lieu of a baby bird that had fallen out the neighbours tree on our way to the tennis, but had thankfully probably been eaten by the neighbours cat by the time we got home. I'm sorry for the bird, but Spook was not going to like a wee bird tweeting hungrily in Megs room all night.
We had a magnificent end to the night at Siobhans cinema www.paradiso.net.nz What a great place to watch the ulitmate 'feel good' movie Mama Mia. Even the musical loathing Spook was charmed. Relaxing with a beer in a comfy armchair after a tough bike race, while his son languished with his shoes off, on a double seater sofa and Meg taking the back seat of the Morris Minor, he chuckled his way through it and I definatley saw his toe tap a couple of times. And yes Siobhan, warm cookies, milk, a nice coffee, wine..whatever. Has to be the best cinema in the world and is exactly what Fort William needs and should have.

Paradiso

And Siobhan, just to let you know  (because it was her favourite place) we sent Dan out to The Paradiso Cinema tonight to watch an arthouse movie, where he lounged happily on a sofa and then enjoyed a beer at intermission. Very impressed with the set up. Mama Mia is still showing there so I'm hoping to take the children to see that very soon.

The Rob Roy Glacier

Ah, back to normal Wanaka sunshine, thankgoodness. Couldn't be doing with too much of that rain. We drove the 50km out to Mount Aspiring National Park and walked up to the Glacier. This did not go without incident as Meg refused to cross the long-ish, narrow suspension bridge and ran off before anyone could make her. We had to decide for the others to go on and for me to stay with Meg. It took quite some persausion to change her determination NOT to cross, into something more positive. In fact, it took a lady a wee bit older than me to turn up and refuse to cross it, to make her not want to be like that. After so many attempts, that had her get a little further each time, she had effectively crossed it about 4 times, before she finally past the point of no return where it was actually deemed safer to run to the other side than run back AGAIN. In fairness it was quite high and the glacial water was gushing below. We were both high as kites when she succeeded, though she felt a bit sick! She flew up the climb of lovely single track through dappled sunlit forest, past a gorge a bit like the walk to Steall Falls, but longer. We stopped only to see a Kea bird which two passing men whispered to us to watch. A huge, ugly, green-brown parrot with a big hook beak. Despite having taken a long time to overcome her bridge fears, she got to the glacier view point before the others had turned back. A wee hero and her Dad was shocked and delighted to see her. We felt as though we had passed through a few movie scenes, from King Kong, to Raiders of the Lost Arc, to the obvious Lord of The Rings, such was the landscape.
When we got home, despite a reasonably long walk, both children became very industrious. Meg cleaning out the shed and sorting out all our rubbish of bike boxes etc (etc being knee pads/flippers/waffle irons) and getting our lives into some semblance of order. Finn spent the evening skateboarding and whittling a stick. A sign that energy really does create energy.

Feeling at Home

Warm start to the day soon became cold wind, which deteriorated into icy rain, misty hills and powdered  snow on the nearest ones. The perfect women of Wanaka don't do cold apparently, as the competition ground to a halt and everyone sheltered in the bar. Oh my goodness, there are some fairly scary women here, and builders bum seemed to be an important aspect. And smoking roll-ups. I just don't know if I'm going to have what it takes - a lot can happen in a year though.  I could work on my builders bum in time for entering the competition next year.
The dirt jump park opening was another world, 5 mins up the hill. From 10 yr olds to teenagers strutting their stuff. A diverse town.
Had a coffee to warm up and sat next to a Kiwi couple who had recently been to Scotland, and in particular, Stromeferry which they loved because it had no ferry, and they had been out on a boat collecting scallops with Neillie McRae from Achmore, whom we know very well.
Back home to light the fire and Spook and Dan went to check out the road to Mount Aspiring. A stormy drive through hail and rain. Most unfortunately, we missed Wullie and June, who are on a big tour over here,and they'd called by when we were out drinking coffee. Meg was home, recovering from this weeks sleep-over, so thankfully was able to greet them. They only had time to leave us some lovely NZ wine, before heading north-west to visit a glacier, on their way back home. We were really disappointed to miss them. We last saw them when they called by our going away party in Fort William, to get our Kiwi address, and we had looked forward to their visit.

Got that Friday feeling!

 We have a visitor from Fort William, here on a working trip. It is unusual for Spook and I to get the 'Friday' feeling, as years of shift work and 'on call' have seriously interfered with that lovely concept. So tonight we enjoyed a relaxed meal and a glass or two of wine and thoroughly enjoyed Dan's company.
Finn went to football practice with Spook, insisting all the way that he was only going to watch. Spook said that the minute he arrived, boys were calling his name and eventually he gave in and played. Spook left him to it and to walk home himself. A very contented boy turned up at 8.30pm having waded in the loch on the way back to cool down. So hopefully this will be part of his own Friday feeling.
I had a wee dram down the road to celebrate my first night out in Wanaka and then left Spook and Dan to check out the finer aspects of a night out in this town.
Of course, Meg is on a sleep-over. Hannah's mother turned up (she hosted last weeks sleep-over) with 3 girls in the car and whisked Meg away. They were going water-skiing with Mikhaela's dad. I think we will feel a bit more settled this weekend. There is a lot to be done.
There's the perfect woman competition. I will need a wee keek at that. And there's the opening of the dirt-jump park. Big celebration. And the Aspsiring Runners meet at 2pm. Now, I'm trying to persuade Spook to attend that on my behalf so he can check out the girl runners - in a non-predatory way. More of a 'would Mo keep up' kind of way. But I wonder if he might not keep up with them himself. I did just leave him in The Bullock Bar, home of the perfect woman competition, where the girls look quite.....tough.   I so hope they wont use him for a warm up.

Anyone for tennis?

Finn had his school athletics day to day. We cycled to the sports ground at 8.30am and were cold (he had shorts on). Within 10 mins of being there, the day had already warmed up. Now I know why there are so few orange haired kids in Fort William. They're all in Wanaka. Why did we ever worry? I had a helluva time trying to identify him once he moved amongst the crowds. Between fancy wee hats and ginger hair all over the place.  He enjoyed the day and I enjoyed seeing his friends. Really liked Thomas. Pity he lives a bit further out of town.
Had to go back to the tennis club after tea for a hit around. The VERY lovely Aussie coach introduced himself, shook hands with the children and said they should come along for beginners coaching next week. I signed up immediately for myself (got to encourage the children). My session is at 6pm and the childrens one is at 4pm. Without them realising what was happening, he'd won them over and they both agreed to go. There's no way I could have persuaded them. But honest to goodness, getting Finn to apply his skills, and make the effort to get out there, is hard. And getting Meg to not play baseball with a tennis racquet, will be a miracle.
 Whether the sole earner in the family will want to pay for his Stepford wife to hang out down the tennis club swooning over the coach is another matter......

Cats

Beautiful day. Spook soaking it up and looking forward to 6 months of this (well, that's what someone said to him today). I sensed Meg was a little bored after 30 mins of being home. All her friends do after-school activities and she doesn't want to do 'clubs'. After tea, Spook went out on his bike and myself and the children went over to play on the excellent 'multi-gym' type climbing frame at Finns school. We had a great laugh and then Meg wanted to show us a lamb she'd found in a pre-school garden up the road, and also show Finn where the tennis club is. We cycled around the town in a wee gang, and I felt like one of the Dudes. I also realised how important my companionship is just now, as they have lost a lot of the independence they had at home. There,they just walked out the door, off to see friends. I teased them before we left that they'd have to play with me.........and now they really have to!!!! Eek, I didn't really mean it. Meg will be fine at weekends as they already have things planned. I'm not sure about Finn, but he seems genuinely happy to have me as a buddy for the time being. We made plans to go to the tennis club, where he wants to play with me, not take lessons and make friends.
When it was bed time, Meg was tearful and said she was homesick. She'd seen something on the floor that reminded her of the cat (was it a worm??) I have to say, it's not the wormy cats I miss! So now we have to let the very fat cat, that sits on our doorstep every morning, into the house, despite Spooks protestations that he'd left all that behind.
But at least she will sleep now.

Correction

When I say half in Scotland, half in New Zealand, I don't mean that I have suddenly come round to some long term living out here. I just mean that WHILE I'm here, I'll be living half in Scotland via peoples living rooms on Skype.  Heaven forbid I should be showing signs of adjustment!!!!

Skype

Have to say, it was really funny, sitting up in bed last night with the computer on. Mel appeared for her first attempt at skype. Suddenly she was there - on our bed, but in her own house, and frantically holding up hand written signs saying 'I don't have sound' (more frantic scribbling) 'I don't know how to work it' and all the time we could hear her shouting at the kids, telling them to answer the phone, get the eldest out of bed so he could get 'this thing' working. She couldn't hear US so we had to do frantic hand signals to let her know that WE could hear HER.
I can see me living half in Scotland, half in New Zealand, quite easily.
The New Zealand half that I will live in will be the sunny one. It was very pleasant doing a bit of trimming in the neighbours garden this morning. 9am - warm and heady with perfumes already. Sewed some lettuce seeds in the afternoon, so am well on the way to a bowl of salad. I drew the line at radishes (which Pat had offered me along with the salad seeds,) as the children are already struggling with asparagus (not home grown at this stage).
 They can cope with giving up all their friends, their school, their home, family and everything that is familiar, with barely a backward glance - but present them with a new vegetable??????????

Reveiw

2 weeks into life in NZ and I wonder if I've had the major change of personality I hoped for.
 Well.....I still wake up in the middle of the night and can't get up in the morning.
 I take a ridiculous amount of time to get anything done in the morning - but I blame that on my current dependency on the computer for news of home.
 I still talk about going for a run (it was to be up Mt Iron, this morning) and then don't quite get round to it.
 I do however sweep the floor most mornings and have twice run round wiping handles and light switches. But that is because the landlady may turn up at anytime, to meet us and do a spot check (she is very proud of having renovate and modernised an old building) and we are inordinately grubby, despite no longer having the excuse of living on a croft. There are windows everywhere, and one definitely has duck poo on it, but we can't take the blame for that. I feel fairly triumphant that I changed, washed, sun-dried and remade all the beds today. This is particularly impressive over a 2 week period ,as 2 months is not unheard of in Scotland.....well, I was a working Mum!
And I can't promise things will be any better when I'm a working Mum again.
 I have provided reasonably nutritious meals each night without going in the huff, made everyones 'piece' for lunch and been a gung-ho companion for my son, happily going out to play after tea. Normally I'm too tired and grumpy.

On balance, same person, more time. If you were to look at my actual work output over each day, it wouldn't be terribly impressive. But the bed-change thing - you cant take that away from me.

Sunday Blog

It's 11pm here and dark and windy outside. 13 degrees. The fire is on and it could be home, if I shut my eyes.
We drove 45mins down the road to Bannockburn (without Meg, who refused to come home), and had lunch at Jan's cafe. Spook knew her when he was a boy, similar in age to Finn is now, when she worked with his Mum and Dad. She'd seen him briefly in 1999, but was quite emotional to find him there in her new cafe. We had a lovely lunch and had to leave her to work, so went off to look for the gold mines. There was a gold rush here in the 1930's and it's a wild and barren landscape. Finn could imagine Indians and wagons.
Home and met up with Meg. She insisted we all go out on the lake in pedaloes. She and I had a double and Finn and Spook had to tussle with one that was for four people. Spook looked really pissed off at working so hard to make something go so slow........and mostly in circles. Can't think that he'll be repeating that exercise! Don't think it was what he had in mind for New Zealand. We all had wet bottoms.
On our way to the lake, the gardening neighbours careered round the corner in a golf cart. Pat had been putting Keith's new knee through it's paces and she had won the round.   I'm invited over for some more planting after lunch tomorrow.
After tea, Spook and Finn climbed Mount Iron.   It took 26 minutes to get to the top. Not everything in New Zealand is extreme, though it did prove more satisfying than the pedaloes.

Happy Days

Thomas's mum picked Finn up. (I'd already met her at the salon where I got my hair cut, as he is the twin brother of the girl in his class). Spook and I went to Fete and ran after a pop-up tent that blew away in the wind. We were then left holding it up and couldn't go and watch the parade until we'd secured it. This is the Kiwi way - if you volunteer, you get the job. We only just caught the end of the skateboard race down the street, with the last man coming in dragged by his dog. Very Craggy Island. A real community minded day. Meg running around with her new friends and Finn brought back to town at 5pm. Meg came home at 7pm and begged to be allowed another sleepover. Her friends were down at the shore and she just needed to re-pack. Spook took her back to the shore and met an army of friends just heading back up to meet her. A lovely group of girls from whom he secured a house number and mobile (it's unnerving, not knowing exactly where she is.)  Finn contented himself with batting the tennis ball around the street, secure in the knowledge that most of the neighbours had left town (to escape the fete?) and he could retrieve the ball out their gardens without reproach. (We missed the Slur Tones but enjoyed the easy beat of The Hip Replacements.)

A good shake

Ok, I've given myself a good shake. When I was 20, I headed off into the sunset only caring if I was happy. At 44 I am only happy if everyone else is happy. There has to some place in the middle, surely?
IN the doldrums when I woke up. NOthing to do with the rain battering on the roof. I know when that happens here, it usually clears up soon enough - and it did. Lot's of great e-mails from friends and family so I stopped mope-ing.
But when Thomas phoned Finn, I was grinning from ear to ear! It's going to be a bloody long haul getting through life at this rate if every little hiccup has this effect on me.
So trip to Queenstown cancelled for Finn and I (which was to salve his wounds) as he's going out with Thomas at 1.30pm. Spook headed off on his own and we will all meet up at the Spring Fete. Maybe get a wee dance with Spook to the tunes of The Slur Tones or The Hip Replacements. I'll see which one suits the mood best.
Meanwhile I need to start grooming myself for www.perfectwomancompetition.co.nz . This could be my job.

(what if Thomas doesn't turn up?)

one sleepover down

I planted my seedlings in my neighbours green house and in return filled lots of wee pots with earth for their seedlings. After a cup of tea I helped plant lots of geraniums in the garden as Keith (who's 80) has a new knee and can't kneel down. He still chuckles a lot - but you don't need good muscles for that.
Stu and Coleen have asked us to keep an eye on the house and take in their daily paper for a couple of days.
Meg went on her sleepover.   Finn came home and said his was no longer on a sleepover, but an evening visit and Thomas would phone him with details. He waited in for as long as he could and then we gave up and went over to the school and played tennis and shot lots of hoops. He seems fine, but will be feeling pretty disappointed........  his mother feels it too.
Meg's friends mother is lovely and works in the primary school. she's going to ask if it's worth me speaking to them about some work there with the kids who have disabilities.
The light was beautiful tonight. Had some nostalgic feelings of childhood summers. It had that kind of smell. Yet to them, it's a changeable spring, and still quite cold.  To us, it seems pretty settled
Wish I was home for a while, more than anything, just to spend a little while with my Mum

flippers

The dump did not yeild any badminton racquets - someone got them yesterday. But it did yeild some flippers, elbow and knee pads, and a frying pan. I really don't need a job. It should take no time at all to fill our new house with all the kind of rubbish I took years to accumulate at home.  I picked up my free tomato seedlings on the way home (from a Real Estate agent?) and called into my nursery neighbours to get advice on what to do with them next. She took them off me and lay them in a boggy creek to keep damp and said she'll send her husband round tomorrow morning to take me to the nursery where he'll show me what to do with them.
I'm very excited.
Evening.
(Sun turned to rain and we were the only ones to be seen outside - playing tennis, basketball and sliding down the shute in the playpark.)

Finn is going on a sleep-over on Friday. It looks like we might be back to square one. Last term at school, Finn never made it home on a Friday as he peeled off at Griegs house and didn't return until Sunday.

Sunny day

It's half past mid-day and the temperature is 24 degrees. Big change from yesterday. And lot's of rain last night. Hope Finn puts his cute hat on and remembers his sun cream.
I haven't moved from the computer this morning, catching up on e-mails and still very much living my life through events in Scotland.
Now I shall go back to the dump and buy the badminton racquets I saw there as Meg is complaining the tennis ones are too heavy. She plays tennis like she's playing rounders - double handles the racquet and bats the ball off to the side. Doesn't quite drop the racquet and run, but may as well, as I have to run off into the distance to get the ball back. At least a shuttle-cock wont go as far.
On the way back, I might drop in to see if there are still those free tomato seedlings available. I never managed to get a tomato off a plant I grew yet, but you never know.....

Susie Quattro

Megans friend called by at 8am so they could walk to school together. This town is so transient, that Kate (the friend) leaves town on Sunday to live in Dunieden for a year. She's going to be back in the holidays though. Meg is sleeping over on Friday as its the last (first!) opportunity.
I went and got my hair cut at AliBaba's. Sandy cut it. She's from Wales but sounds as if she's from Somerset. Her colleague, Jane is from London and says that Finn is in her daughters class. They were great for a blether, and say to call round for a chat any time. I was hoping for a haircut that would impress the girl in the Job Agency on my next visit - but it's more Susie Quattro than teenager, and she probably wouldn't be able to appreciate the likeness anyway.
I picked up a copy of The Messenger - a free magazine that comes out every Wednesday and tells you everything that's going on. An invaluable list of where to meet up for a leisure cycle, a run, social tennis, where to get your free tomato seedlings, and what crimes have been committed in Wanaka this week. They are expecting a quiet spell, now that the ski tourists have left town! Unfortunately, some 'out of towners' have written some anti-Wanaka wording on the back of the toilets at the skatepark. (Bet they were the ones that had a problem with the ginger hair..... bloody 'out of towners').
I also bought a copy of the Otago Times. Pretty shocked that a local councillor had a bit of a bash on her holidays. She and her companions boat sunk and they spent a few hours in shark infested waters off Fiji. She's fine now, though!  That' good news.
I'm coping much better with news from home, as I realise it is no easier for those there, than it is for me. With the speed of e-mails and Skype, I am just as up to date as everyone else. A wee message came up on the computer when I plugged in last night. I clicked a button and my sister Rona started talking to me, then I could see her, and the next thing my kids shot out of bed on hearing her voice and Finn was baring his butt to the webcam (because he couldn't think of anything to say.)  It was all so normal!!!!  The wonders of Skype.
When I lived in China -21 years ago- I had to lodge a request at the Telecommunication Office,  for a call home and wait in a queue. Then I had 5 minutes to talk. I was desparatley home sick and the moment I heard Mum's voice, I started to cry, which I managed to keep up for 5 minutes. The call ended without my speaking any coherent words, but I felt fantastic afterwards. 'Nothing like a good greet', I told myself as I left the building. Mum was less reassured by the call.

Tired tonight

Feel like I've got jet lag again, but everyone else seeming to have integrated quite well. A cold day today, of about 12 degrees and a cold wind. Glen made a roast dinner of NZ lamb which was very nice. Spook clocked up another 10 hour day today and I only forgave him when he assured me he was on an hourly rate. I don't mean to be greedy, but............... what will make it okay, is that when he comes home, we'll still be able to go out and do things together.
Saturday is the Spring Parade and Fete. The Slur Tones are playing, so that'll be good! A cultural experience I think.
Early to bed tonight.

Upside down

I could only write a little last night, as the happiness at the children's successful first day at school, was turned completely upside down by the news that Mum has suffered a massive stroke. Phone calls from Dad and fantastic e-mails from my sisters and brother, with honest appraisals, and the news that she loves this blog means I will carry on with it. But I can't do that without mentioning here, that her well-being will be part of my well-being.
Marion and Glen arrived last night with their lovely children and that helps to keep my mind from constantly mulling over thoughts that are not helpful. It turns out that the children are not running or bungie jumping, but doing all that stuff that 22month old and 8 month old's do. Exhausting their parents, whilst simultaneuosly delighting them.
Spook came home after an eleven hour day at work. I was getting concerned about this Kiwi work ethic, when it transpired that a meeting had been held at close of day to discuss tonight's mountain bike ride, and a couple of beers had been needed to oil that process....this bloody country has been waiting for him, for sure.
Both children off to school today without a backward glance. As part of a new routine for one income families, I went to the dump today (well, they call it a recycling centre.)  For £8 I bought a couple of nice blankets (it's still 5 degrees in the mornings), 2 tennis rackets, a waffle iron for over the fire, and a perfectly good wash basket........this country has also been waiting for me.

Finn's galore

What do you know. Finn has two boys in his class called Fin and the one he has selected for friendship has orange hair. Short orange hair, but that's ok
Meg was an hour late home from school, as she was dipping her toes in the creek with a friend.
 First sleepover is scheduled for the Labour day holiday.

Helpmaboab

Meg set off to school looking extremly confident.....gulp.
 Finn discussed all the bullying possiblities, esp regarding his inappropriate garb. Asked what would happen if he had a bad day and didn't want to go back to school tomorrow...gulp.
 Into classroom where he met his teacher - Susan, who was wearing JEANS. Children wear wearing a whole variety of outfits. Left Finn looking a lot more relaxed, but still collected shorts and polo shirt from shop.
Then I set off to the Job Angency where I filled in a form and had a wee chat about what I might do. I felt like a teenager with wrinkles. 17 years without having needed a job interview, and now I'm back to where I was when I was 17.  The girl who took my details had a gorgeous cleavage and smooth face (about 25?,) and was pretty disinterested in me.
  On the way home I chatted with another neighbour who has an amazing garden. She must be about 40 years older than me and owns a nursery out of town. I asked if there was any work I could do, as a nursery was exactly where I had decided at home that I'd like to work, so that I could tell Spook what to plant, and how to plant it, on our return to Scotland. She suggested I come along to the 'How to grow Potatoes' talk next week, and in a couple of weeks, she reckoned there would be some 'pricking out' work. Felt much better.
Came home and washed the bathroom and the floor and cooked the tea. Muffin making will have to wait until I can afford the muffin tins.
About 1 hour and 10 minutes until Finn comes home. 1 hour and 30 mins until Meg comes home.
Sigh.

School Tomorrow

1st day at school tomorrow. Not really for Spook as, although he starts officially tomorrow, he has already spent that time familiarizing himself with the sewage works nether regions. Meg is excited (oh god, she better find a friend the first day, as she certainly feels confident that's all it will take). Finn is a little more nervous, especially as we discovered tonight that his shorts and polo shirt are not in the bag of things we bought. The lady must have forgotten to put them in. He now has to go to school in baggy tracksuit bottoms (that IS part of the uniform) and a No Fuss t-shirt (which isn't.)  At least he has a really cute hat to hide his hair - which IS part of the uniform - not a beany though. I've to go with him and will apologise to the teacher and then hop on my bike and get to the slightly out of town shop where the elusive shorts and top must be. By mid-morning he should look like everyone else............well, nearly.
The cycle and run went ok today, apart from my getting lost in the Sticky Woods and feeling a little vulnerable (it was bloomin' dark in there and felt a long way from home), and having to walk home 'cos I'd run too far and had run out of steam.  The cyclists fared better.
Robbie phoned tonight and it was great to speak to her. She's been here since January, having moved from Australia, and Braeroy in Lochaber, 4 years before that. She's still floating around at sea, unsure of how she feels about being in this country, or for how long they will stay, but thinks the 2 year adventure will be what makes it work for us. Her children still think of Braeroy as their home. It will be 5 years come Christmas since they left. Roddy is hoping that New Zealand will feel more comfortable for him than Australia - colder and more mountains!!!  We will spend Christmas together - which we did 5 years ago. This time I will make sure the gravy's not runny. I always felt bad about giving Roddy runny gravy for his last Christmas dinner in Scotland.
 I'm just not sure how to heat gravy on a barbecue.

This could be ok

We all seemed to be a little more relaxed today. Finn admitted that whilst he's happy, he misses his home. I do too. All these beautiful views and an extremely comfortable temperature of around 17 degrees and I just wished I could sit on my own doorstep. Then I remembered that my own doorstep was probably wet and cold, so time to re-adjust and enjoy. Finn also move on, with a blissful afternoons snowboarding in very forgiving conditions. Spook reckoned it was his best day boarding ever. Cardrona is very family friendly and they both expect Meg and I will enjoy it next winter. That's the season closed now.
Meg and I resolved the shoe issue with something that will get her through the first day, and the lady in the shop has ordered her sandals that don't make her lip curl in distaste, which is a comfort. We celebrated with a milk shake and then shopped for school supplies for herself and her brother. Then home for a mother to daughter pedicure, cook a nourishing meal for the family (part of my new persona), and nip down the bike shop to get our peddles tightened as Spook hasn't go this tools with him. Meg and I went our for a wee turn along the shores of Lake Wanaka as a warm up before an exploration tomorrow. Only 3 bikes work just now, so they will cycle to the plantation area and I will have to run. Spook has run twice and I can't quite be bothered. However, Marion and Glen McNeilly, who are Kiwi's but lived in Fort William for 4 years, are arriving tomorrow with Jessica-Anne and Hector, and I'm terrified she'll suggest a wee jog and my cement filled limbs will give up on the first corner. I remember seeing Marion at club training in Lochaber, when we had to run full pelt up a hill and jog gently down. Marion's gentle jog down was twice the speed of my full pelt up. Ah well, it's New Zealand  and Marion and Glen have both been previous winners of the tough Coast to Coast event in this country - Jessica Anne (nearly 2) can probably out run me by now. Hector (1) probably has one of these bouncy things hanging in the doorway, but it will hang him upside down by his ankles for extra exhiliration. I have borrowed A J Hackett's autobiography from the library (bungie jump inventor) in order to gain some insight into the Kiwi mind.

Missing Spook

Spook went up to show an interest in his work today and didn't come home for 10 hours. It's harder to contact him in THIS country than it would be to contact anyone in Britain. His mobile only receives texts from me (at 50p a shot and not much credit left) and was in his car anyway!! He proved his worth by being down a hole fixing something, Spook style. Not so good for me sitting here, though, not knowing.
Meg went to see her school today and was quite happy with what she saw. Small, and easy to find her way around. An Australian boy starts on the same day, in her class. She insists that she will walk to school on her own (15 mins). Only problem at the moment is finding shoes that meet the requirements of the school, and her feet.
Finn continuing to work on new moves on skateboard.
5 degrees when we got up in the morning and 16 around the middle of the day.

Calm

Children awakened refreshed and got straight onto the computer to see if anyone had been in touch. Thank goodness they had.
Finn still spending lack of 'Grieg' time by honing skills on his board. Thanks for your reassuring comments Blog John. There is no way Spook will be fighting Finn for the board - he prefers 2 wheels, not 4. Met another neighbour today who says her son is the Top Gun skateboarder of the town. He's 17 and has seen Finn playing around on his board. His father reckoned Finn wasn't quite ready for the ramps they keep round the back of the house, but thought that Beech, their son, might show Finn a trick or two in the summer.
Meg writing loads of letters home already - exactly like myself, when I lived abroad 20 years ago!
Spook met 4 runners when he was out for a run today, so hoped there might be one or two people in town he could get on with. I wonder if he and I will start to follow people around, in a needy/stalkerish sort of way?

Homesick

5 days in and some painful feelings hit the children tonight. Looking at their Bebo sites online and wanting to respond spontaneously, made them realise how hard it will be. It will take some time to sort out MSN contact and to work out what times friends will be awake at the same time as Meg and Finn are. Finn visited his school today and liked it. Meg bought some new jeans in Queenstown and liked the shopping possibilites down there, though both acknowledged that they wouldn't want to live there, and like Wanaka best. Still, there are no friends here yet. In reality, it will be Spook and I who will struggle to make friends, as he will work in near isolation once things are set up, and I don't HAVE work.  We had thought it would be good to have a week to settle in, but the children need school to start, so that they can find out if they will have friends.   I am not worried at this stage about making friends.  Much more worried about how to help the children through this difficult wee spell. Hard to imagine that they actually want the holidays to end and school to start. The weather is pretty cold and the house particularly so compared to what they're used to. Cold laminate flooring without rugs, and a fire that heats the area immediately in front of it. This is pretty common in NZ, I believe......  and they miss their things.
Finn has been practising skateboard manoeuvres in the car port, but complained because a duck came and pooped in his line of fire. He has trendy new chunky trainers, but they hurt his feet - fashion is not about comfort. Meg has bought a lovely 2nd hand white and pink snowboard, which the man in the shop got all set up for her and he wants her to take it back after she uses it, so he can wax it and protect it for the summer, ready for next season. He's given her a loan of boots for three days. The weather is set to improve on Friday, so we will give the slopes a try then.

Cold

Yesterday we wandered around in bare feet. Finn began his strategy for fitting in by purchasing a Quicksilver Beany hat and ramming it on his head. Just a wee peek of ginger sticking out below. This gave him great confidence and later in the day, he went into town (2 mins down the road) alone, and strolled through the shops, mentally selecting other items for his new image.
Spook went up to the work site and met other United Group colleagues and came home with a file for homework. A much smaller plant than he is used to. They told him fresh snow was on it's way, and it was like living in the caravan again, listening to the rain falling on the tin roof last night. Snow well down the near hills and felt very like fort William must do right now. The house is cold and it is a warning of what we will need to cope with when winter comes. Meg had breakfast and then ran back to bed before reappearing in Spooks Rab jacket, woolly hat, tights and tracksuit bottoms. Appointments have been made to meet staff at the schools and hopefully we'll manage a day's snow-boarding on Thursday. Spook has bought someone's board, boots and bindings for £60 (on sale outside the petrol garage,) as they are leaving town. That's how things are done here. There is a mass exodus expected next week when the slopes close and people dump stuff they can't take with them, and head off, looking for another winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Arrival

Met by Spook's new Boss. Within 30mins he had been handed the key to the Ute and directed to the hotel in Wanaka. We have a car for two weeks to help us settle in, but Steve (the boss) borrowed it to go snowboarding. We observed our 1st bungy jump 20mins up the road - don't think I'll be doing that! The hotel has floor to ceiling/wall to wall window with views onto the lake and over to the Mount Aspiring National Park. Steve called by later on his mountain bike to remind us to put everything on the tab.
We went and had a sneaky look at our new house, peering in the windows. Looks quite compact but comfortable, with a small yard. Met the neighbour, who had been keeping a close eye on us. Stu and Coleen, who are English and Australian and have lived here for 30 years. They are late 60's and he weeds the creek that runs through their garden. Wanaka seems to be for the young dudes and the retired. From the nerves I have suffered so far, I think I am more likely to be found hanging out at the bowling green with Stu and Coleen, or learning Bridge, than seeking out anything that makes my heart beat too fast.
Finn experienced his first difficulty today. 3 kids on skateboards commented as they scooted by  "orange shoes and orange hair - minger". Pretty unsettling for him as he is no longer surrounded by loving friends. Do think that the big bluebottle sunglasses he insists on wearing, do not help his image. I am now in the unusual position of having to take him out tomorrow and buy branded clumpy trainers, baggy jeans, skateboard, and trendy cap. We will need to put him through his paces at the skatepark while everyone else is sleeping to see if we can get him up to speed.  He mumbled sadly ' I sometimes wish I didn't have orange hair'.
 We'll make them wish they ALL had orange hair!

The Journey

Very sad to say final goodbyes at airport, but got a wee bit excited on plane. Easy flight to London. Immediately struck by how friendly people were. I thought London wasn't? Next stage exciting because we had all these movies and music to listen to. bit of a problem when I was watching Sex In The City and there were naked people frolicking about - I felt as though I was watching dirty movies and everyone could see me doing so.  Saw stewardess coming with coffee and panicked. Managed to freeze frame on man's naked bum just as she asked me what I'd like!!
Children's eyes began to stare in their heads when afternoon tea arrived around 3am. Los Angeles customs a bit intimidating. Elderly lady put us through our paces and was wearing a gun.
Next stage to Auckland seemed shockingly long. Everyone managed a bit of a sleep, but when we crossed the equator, with 7 hours flying time left, the plane dropped so suddenly and sharply with turbulence that would have satisfied an adrenaline junky. Everyone yelped and I tried to reassure Finn that this was perfectly normal, whilst mentally preparing myself for holding onto two children as we free-falled through the air, hopefully landing on a bit of fuselage and tried not to think of what sharks may lurk down there in the never-ending sea.  It really did feel as though some damage must have been done to the plane.
Auckland was immediately warm and welcoming. The pilot spoke in a warm and friendly tone as he told us that we would have a smooth beginning to the flight but should expect turbulence as we got closer to Queenstown. 120km winds, but nice at ground level. We rocked about at the beginning of the flight and I gripped the seat, staring straight ahead as I imagined the even worse approach to Queenstown. He asked the flight attendants to sit down early as winds were up to 180kms. Having survived thus far, it seemed a shame to die when we were so close to our destination.  After some intense anticipation on my part, where I could no longer offer reassurance to the children (who didn't looked remotely bothered,) we floated down to ground level as smooth as a bird coming in to land. Stunning. I had come all this way to have the life scared out of me, only to have the easiest landing ever. I think they make things up just to keep living on the edge. Spooks new boss did tell him that they'd re-directed a plane earlier, and last week he'd come in with one wing pointing at the runway, the other up in the sky, so the plane had just shot back up and returned to Christchurch without landing.
Welcome to New Zealand.

Nearly there - not yet

It's been a funny couple of days. Running around crazy, friends helping us pull it all together. In fact, we probably wouldn't have managed without them. And then so many calling in to say goodbye, intensifying the sadness that we haven't spent much time with different friends. The children SEEM to be taking it all in their stride. It doesn't feel like we are leaving everything behind tomorrow morning, or that we tucked the kids into bed for the last time in those beds for two years. I hear that Wanaka is an amazing and great place to live, but so is this. Presumably in a different kind of way. I walked up the High Street today and still thought 'I like this place'. There is a real chill in the air now, and fesh snow on the hill since yesterday. A dusting. The house is in pretty good order by our standards, but goodness knows what rotting things will unearth themselves to the new lodgers as time goes by.