Dubai

Dear Spook
Your children did well on the long haul. I gave the anit=histamine just as we were taxi-ing down the runway at which point Meg voiced concerns about being allergic to it! That turned out not be the case although she was a little sick - exhaustion and doubly tired as mum drugged the children and then mum was the only one who could sleep!! Finn coped with the turbulence but when the sound of beautiful birds came all around us, I think, by the look on the childrens faces, they thought there was a hole in the roof. The opposite of the desired effect.
We have to go straight on to the final leg of the journey now and are thinking of you all the time.
xx

Sydney

Good flight Chrsitchurch to Sydney but awful to leave Spook behind. We have never gone through that before. but the children absorb things well. Finn did try the 'trouble teenager of single mum' routine. I had to nip that in the bud pretty quick, but the customs must have thought I was a hippy single mum with colourful clothing and bedraggled look as I got a thorough search and drug 'wipe' - not of anything too personal, you understand.
WE have about 3 hours to kill here and the kids would love to be able to get outside and feel Australia, but that is not an option. We had a horrible thought that we had to go via Bankok as well as Dubai, but that was just a continuation of the flight that we left in Sydney. We just have a 14.5 hour flight to Dubai, so suddenly that seems a breeze. We have the chill pills, so fingers crossed we will wake up in time for breakfast. It does feel uncomfortable to be putting more and more distance between us and Spook but once we all settle where we are meant to be just now, it will be fine. He got back to Wanaka around 8.15pm his time, so that wasn't too bad after a 6.30am start. Not to mention the 2am awakening. He has 2 days to recover now and get out running and cycling as well as packing all the things we couldn't take. In a magnificent gesture of selflessness, Meg handed over her bag of 'teenage girl' things as we were 7kg over. By the time we get on this next flight, it will be about 1am. The children will do well to be civil by that stage.
They are so ready to be home now, though it was very painful driving out of Wanaka.

Start of the last day.

spook and I woke up at 2am, started chatting at 3am, made tea at 5am. We went over the last year, the highlights and lowlights and put it as the biggest year in our lives as a family, so far. Feels like the beginning of an adventure rather than the end. We both feel quite excited today. We turned on the computer and browsed about. We love Kiwiana as it represents a lot of what we have come to love. I was told by one individual, just before we came over, that the south island was racist, sexist and uncouth. (From someone who's son had spent a year here). Well, it's not as if we don't have any of that in Fort William!! We have encountered some incidents of that, but the overwhelming sense we have is of a warm, hospitable people, who are interested in the world, and we could count on both hands the number of people we felt we could turn to if we were ever in trouble. To be on the over side of the world and feel that, is quite special. So the children and I leave in a very positive frame of mind - apart from Finn who is still a bit annoyed with us for upsetting his equilibrium as he was quite happy being happy in Fort William, thankyou very much, and now he has to be sad about leaving everything that is good about Wanaka. The two Mitre 10 adverts still make us laugh and give a flavour of the humour here, but we do have one more which keeps up the Ozzie/Kiwi differences. Ozzies love vegemite, and Kiwi's are firmly in the Marmite camp. Meg, Finn and all their friends do this atrocious Ozzie accent, which is an total exageration, but amuses us.www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOE5pEX98CE
Will blog our way home.

Bye Bye.

First thing this morning we went and retrieved Finn from the Turner household. They are all set for a holiday up in Coromandel in the North Island. Steve has been in the States for 2 weeks so they'll meet him there. We will all miss them very much. Rosie the dog doesn't look too bothered though.

Finn got dropped off at Jack's (Victoria's wee brother) on the first run over to Spooks shed room. Kate Ferguson came up from Dunedin to say goodbye and she, Meg and Victoria went on some kind of jaunt in town which seemed to involve bumping into Rene and going back to her house for a dance party, going back to town and swimming in the lake, rescuing someones cell phone from the lake and getting free shots on the peddle boats as a reward. She had an excellent last day. Finn went for a cycle down by the river with Jack and was very happy with his day too.

Spook and I worked our butts off to get everything in order, including Finn's hair (for which we did require his presence) and a family coffee/chocolate in Kai - the bar that Spook phoned me from to say he had been offered 2 years of work over here. I nearly cried in the bank, hugged Sandy in the hairdressers as she has been looking after me (but not my hair once I realised I couldn't afford it) since I arrived, hugged Christy in the Art Gallery who was my partner in the art therapy course, and had to put me back together after it, dropped off my tomato canes to Pat and Kieth, so a wee hug there. She was just back from a triple heart bypass operation and at 82, looked quite fragile. Once all was where it should be, we got back in time to have a takeaway pizza with John and family. John will be a bit lost without Finn, and with Sam away for a couple of weeks. Finn went out skateboarding down the road, after refusing to do it for 8 months and I thought that now was not a good time to sustain a broken limb.

Kate came in from next door and did a rather severe inspection, which was unexpected, but as I had scrubbed far more than anyone had done before we came in, we were not too worried.

On our own now except for the Sinclairs on the other end of the phone line - more sad goodbyes there.

Early night and a 6am start tomorrow so that we have a hopefully stress free journey north.

grateful for:

hmmmmmm..............having got to this stage when everything fits in the Ute. That includes the large box to be delivered to the shipping company in Christchurch with the bikes etc, my road bike to be delivered to the buyer in Christchurch and huge bags stretching the 30kg limit. I hope that tomorrow, I will be grateful to have got them all through checkin. But at least with Spook staying at ground level, he can send anything home if necessary and that there will be no histrionics. It is a very sad Spook who has packed up his family to send away.

All this stuff can go in a bag...I think.

Finn appeared at the end of our bed at about 2am this morning, as a whispery shadow. He couldn't sleep with all the boys snoring next door, so was seeking permission to go to his own bed. Just as well he asked, as Meg was ensconced in his and it would not have been pleasant for any of us if he had tried to sneak in there.

Max came looking for him at 8.30am as they had started x-boxing again. Michaela came over at 9.30am and said he HAD to get out of bed as her mum was making pancakes and it was his party. I think they are trying to run him into the ground!! He slept-walked over to Max's.

I went to town to get chill-pills for the journey. I have to get the timing right so that I don't have to carry the children and the luggage onto the plane. Then I met Mary for our last coffee. If felt very natural to be sitting there. All that cleaning together must fast track friendships as I feel as if we have known each other for ever. No-one else is going to bring me coffee at just the crucial moment. I have to stand on my own two feet now. We didn't hug, shake hands or have any kind of histrionics. We just said "see you later", and both firmly believed it.

Finn nipped into the house in time to recieve a phone call from Sam. He just had time to go back next door and thank them for his party before running down to Sam's to stay there until they leave for a holiday in the North Island tomorrow morning. Shannon noted that he was still wearing the same clothes since he arrived at her's a couple of days ago. This concept of not washing or changing is new to her, but in a surprising wave of empathy, she realised that she had not been in the shower for 3 days herself. This of course, is not as disasterous as a 12 year old boy not showering. He has brushed his teeth in the passing.

Meg spent the day at Victoria's and Spook had a horrible day at the plant with things not going to plan.

So it was just as well I was at home in charge of .............stuff. This is how far I had got at 4pm coffee time. It doesn't look much better at 9pm but has actually taken a giant leap forward and Meg told me she was "very impressed"...............Phew!!!!

grateful for:

Spook's magical way with baggage allowance. And the fact that he is here to send on anything precious that doesn't fit in. Finn and I have next to nothing, and Meg has all the trappings of a teenager. Out of a 30kg allowance each, we are at maximum capacity with Finn and I using about 10kg each. So I would add in gratitude for Spooks amazing ability to absorb all the things that Meg casually presents him with as a 'must'.

Meg's work 'night' out.

Day light saving time today so we moved our clocks forward. I think that puts us at the 12 hour difference now, rather than the 13. I had coffee with Anne and her husband Guy (John's parents) and then came home and tried to make it looked as if we have packed. But there still is so much stuff not in a bag or a box, I wonder if we can squeeze it all into Spooks new abode.

Finn stayed at Sam's and Meg and I walked down to the lakeside to meet Cathie and Tim, Meg's boss and husband. They whizzed us off to Mow hau (I think) Island on Lake Wanaka, along with Cathie's colleague Pip, her husband Ross and daughter Sarah. Cathie and Tim in the red hats and Ross looking grumpy which was certainly not his nature. We had a great picnic and Cathie proposed a toast to Meg as this trip was in honour of her. She had a bagful of gifts and an amazingly good reference. She made a great impression on them. We all got on very well and there seemed to be a strong Kiwi/Scot connection.

There is a wee lake on the top of the island which would be a lochan in Scotland. With weather closing in, it all looked a bit more like Scotland.

Finn has been hauled back from Sam's because Max has organised an xbox party for him. I think it will be a break to get on the plane. After being the focus of attention for the last 3 weeks, we will wonder what has happened!!!!

grateful for:

still having 3 sleeps left with us all together.

Running out of Steam

The weather forecast on the radio said there was a bit of wind and cloud in Wanaka today. It is true that the wind chime did move a little and there was about 3 clouds in the sky so it was no lie. Spook and I had breakfast outside in between his work comittments. Finn made a feeble attempt to get a haircut but didn't get out of bed in time, so he is still sporting a mane. We have two working days to tame it and the same to get some drugs from the doctor to knock us out for 30hrs of travelling. Meg went to Tessa's out at Dublin Bay to go horse riding. Finn went to see Sam at the O'Briens house and Meg and I met Spook at Pete and Carol's house out at Hawea Flat. Pete the Paddler is away, but Meg wanted to say goodbye to her favourite teacher. (gym and health). We had coffee, cake and a game of football with her boys. Spook will catch up with Pete at a later date. It's been pretty hectic and Spook is too tired to go out to Hawea tonight, so I will go and meet the girls myself. I think that wee grin on his face is the thought of 10 weeks of peace and quiet.

He doesn't understand what I mean when I say I was the only one who broke a glass. At the fashion evening, there was wine. And expensive clothes. There was a table full of childrens clothing and I knocked a glass over whilst waving my hands about in an expressive manner. Thankfully it was empty or I would have had to spend a flight's worth on baby wear. It did take the attention away from the rails of clothes. (but when the hostess was sweeping up the glass from the floor, I suspect she noticed my slippers)

This is truly the count down now. Last Saturday night. Last weekend.

grateful for:

the man turning up with our car and paying the rest of the money. Yesterday he paid half the money and asked if he could use the car to look at some houses for rent. Today his mechanic was going to check it over to confirm it was sound and then he would pay the rest of the money. Meanwhile he said he would just take the paperwork so that he could sort out the change of ownership. So when he didn't return Spooks txts this morning, Spook did wonder if giving him the paper work - never mind the car- was perhaps a little hasty.

Yeeha!

The children had their last day at school and came home with cards and t-shirts covered in goodbyes. Finn is particularly sad, but says it is better to go now as it would only get harder. Once we are on that plane, I think he will recover and become excited about home.

The mountain photo was taken by Finn last weekend when he was up the hill losing Sam. The other photo is the view from the beach facing the other way from the sea. This is where Hayley's cows are, having their calves somewhere in the bush. I asked her if I could come on the muster some day when I come back. They bring them out in February and providing I can learn to ride a horse with reasonable confidence - canter and gallop at will and stop at will - sit on it for 3 days, be able to hold the mustered cattle in a clearing while they go and get some more (and don't lose them or I'd be as well to lose myself), and put up with 8 men farting in a cabin for 3 nights, she said I would be very welcome to come along. So I'm pretty chuffed about that and can start training when I get home. ( have to find 8 men who fart).

We cleaned a renovated house today and giggled about some shared revelations we had, (at men's expense and something to do with farting), while we were eating lunch. That giggle alone, was enough to make it a good last day at work. Mary and Hayley are going to The Campsite Party at Hawea tomorrow, and as Spook and I haven't had a night out in Hawea, I thought we might join them for a wee while. Spook is on-call, so that should hold him back a bit - no bad thing.

Mary Forfar and I had a beer together and a great chat when she came round with a couple of wee momento's from Wanaka. We didn't go to Shannon's as the O'Briens horse died all of a sudden and it has been a state of great sadness along there. Shannon called in for a beer on her way home instead. Meg went over to their house to stay the night. Sam is at the O'Briens. Finn is eating crisps and watching a movie.

It has turned cold again, and there was fresh snow on the hills this morning.

grateful for:

not leaving Spook in a tent - I think our anxiety levels would be a little higher if that was the case. We can start moving some of his things to his new abode tomorrow.

The designer who's clothes were for sale last night was http://www.mirandabrown.co.nz I didn't buy an outfit for the journey home as they had nothing in my size. Which made it all the worse that I broke the glass. I think I was also the only one wearing my slippers. With a choice of crocs or trainers, it seemed the better option.

I was the only one who broke a glass!

It is sadder to leave here than it was to leave Scotland, because I always knew that I was coming back to Scotland, and like the children, didn't really appreciate how long 2 years was and also believed that everyone would come out and see us. I feel like I am abandoning fledgling friendships here before they can be fully nourished and that is hard. Mary and I are so like each other in lots of ways and have spent the most time together. Through her, I felt like I was getting to grips with the real South Island.

Shannon took me out to this very Wanaka evening to meet and mingle with a designer and all those who want to buy her expensive and sustainable wear. I met Mary Forfar there, and we compared notes on how odd it is that the Kiwis tell us there is no class system here - as we looked around the room! Shannon was no more interested in the fashion than I was but it was a wee reminder of that side of life here. Carrie was there and was very excited because she had discovered a new Bubbly drink where the hibiscus flowers in your glass open when you pour the champagne in. Meg will be taking notes for the future. Mark was the only man there, and I suspect the designer will have been displeased as he was taking the ladies eyes away from the clothes.

Mary Forfar bought a puppy the week her husband went home for 12 weeks as they thought it would be good timing to keep the children from fretting without their dad. The dog loves Mary and barks at anyone who comes to the house as probable intruders and Mary suspects that her husband will not be welcome when he comes back.

Shannon took me out for dinner afterwards and we acknowledged that our friendship and that of our childrens was special and whilst we will really miss the ease of strolling in and out of her house, we will keep it up over the seas.

It will be a sad few days.

grateful for:

being sad.

Sunshine Girls.

Meg came home with all her mates and the friendliest and most organised process of selection began. No grabbing or yelling and the only rule seemed to be that you had to wear everything you selected.

Finn came home with 4 friends. When they saw all the girls, they headed out to the park to play baseball. Spook and I went out for a coffee - it seemed the safest option.

We had a lovely coffee and blether with Grant and his wife Karen. Spook felt very comfortable, despite not having met them before, and so must Grant have, as he offered Spook his sleepout, which is a step above his current option, (room in shed) with kitchen and long drop (toilet that is a hole in the ground with a long way to the bottom). They live on a sunny farmstead out of town. All being well, Spook wont need to take them up on their offer, but it is typical Southlander warmth to get the offer. Grant went to school with Hugh McPhee's partner Donna. It doesn't take long to establish some kind of connection (he hasn't seen her for a few years so doesn't know Hugh) as they reckon that whilst we are only 6 degrees from a connection with everyone we meet in the world, it is only 2 degrees in New Zealand because of the population. We have noticed this to be fairly accurate. No event was thought up, but they will get together again.

Finn went to his school disco and the gang seemed to increase to about 6.

Mary and I went to see Sunshine Cleaning. A very enjoyable movie, and Mary and I both giggled when they were spraying and wiping blood from the shower and complaining that it wouldn't come off and we both knew a product that would surely do the job!! Just goes to show you can come up with a good story about anything. I will really miss Mary.

grateful for:

taking Meg away from NZ before she is 15, at which point she would be able to get her learners licence and would go imediately to the nearest wide point on the road and start performing 'donuts'. Please see markings on the road photo, which are a common sight.

A Blast at Haast.

Spook and I do not have his and her jackets - he just borrowed mine as it was raining when he went fishing. Now it is covered in fish slime. The fish that made him so happy came out of the Makarora river - the story goes, that 3 bigger ones escaped.

I was just happy because it was such a great day. The weather changed with the vicinity. We went for a walk in a rain forest where it rained, and there were more shapes and sizes of ferns than you could imagine. No wonder it is their national emblem.

We drove to Jackson Bay because we somehow picked up over the year that it was a lovely place. In reality, it was some run down houses and a run down pier and we could definately hear the sound of two banjos playing in the distance. We turned and drove back to Haast for coffee and to reconsider. We past this wee Father Ted caravan perched on the stones to avoid a high tide. I can't think that it would survive many high winds. This was the whitebaiting river. Spook was invited to join Hugh McPhee here this weekend as he has hired a boat and somewhere to stay with a pile of mates. It could have been this caravan. I think that Riverdance would be a must on such an occasion. But he has to work and say goodbye to his family, so.........that is probably a good thing!

I would defy anyone not to feel happy when they arrive on this beach. Perhaps 10miles and no-one else on it. Full of mother natures amazing sculptures. Roaring waves and great light. I just grinned from ear to ear. I don't see seas like this very often and it is only 90minutes from Wanaka.

We felt guilty about not making a big enough effort with the packing, so there was a big family push tonight and Meg feels much better. So do I. She is having a wee after school session for her friends to come and plunder the items she can't squeeze into her case. I have to make cake, buy drink and vaccuum. She has done everything else after all!

grateful for:

digital camera. It is fantastic to click everything you fancy and see it as soon as you get home. Imagine the days of a 36 exposure and all the dud's you get back a week or so later. And you use up the last one and come round the corner to find some horse women rounding up the cows in the middle of the road. (Haast today - must have been mates of Hayley's).

Dusty Spring time.

I cleaned my last toilet at Heritage Park (pink blossom) and Spook went up and did a few runs at Cardrona. It's funny to see the dust and the snow. He says it is melting fast.

Meg had a great flight down from Christchurch - clear views all the way, so saw the South Island in all it's glory. She had a great weekend, and whilst Finn can't wait to get home, Meg is going through some last minute sadness at the reality of saying goodbye to everyone. She also met Richie McCaw at Christchurch airport with his family and she and her pals got his autograph and congratulated him on The All Blacks win on Saturday (Captain).

I have a quiet week for my last week at work, so Spook and I are going up to Jackson Bay tomorrow. It's near Haast and will do for our Tasman Sea walk. Better get the sandfly cream out. On Wednesday we're going for coffee with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees to discuss fundraising. Ok, so it's Grant from the boys rugby sidelines, and it's time to talk to Spook about No Fuss and a fundraising event that could run each year here. That should give Spook something else to keep his mind off us as we head off into the Autumn. I don't want him getting bored.

Hopefully, Mary and I will get to our movie on Wednesday night.

grateful for:

Having my darling daughter back, even if she is a bit of a tyrant, wondering why no more packing has been done over the last 4 days.

A quiet week, so that I can get some more packing done!! (time to clean my own toilets and oven)

The Milk Boiled over, but not the engine - thank goodness.

Thomas arrived in the 1939 Chrysler this morning. He had no sooner stepped out, than Spook and I had hopped in the back. His Dad, Vern, took us for a wee hurl round the town. Nothing is changed from it's time of creation. Shows what a dry country this is! We were half way round the town when I remembered I had just put my coffee milk on to boil, so it was less than relaxing when I was urging Vern to show me how fast this baby could go!! (My powers of concentration have not improved)

I bought Spook a pair of stubbies, as I think he has been here long enough to assume The Southern Man look. Just needs to get those white thighs sorted. And when he bends over, he can get his buttocks done too.

The boys have all gone to the Cinema to see 'Up'. It is on in the middle of the day, so there is no harm in sitting in a darkened room over that period of a sunny day. As long as they get out with a ball after lunch. It's Johns birthday, so I've got a cake in the oven.

(Boys walked home but were not interested in ball games in the park as they have set up a flat-sharing situation for the 4 of them on Sims!)

Spook frustrated by the lack of provision for the poo at his work and thinking Christmas will see him having had enough of it. At the 'Lesson's learnt' meeting with the Council, the Irish man who thought the only good thing about the place was Spook, had his head in his hands in despair at his leaving. Pete and Steve also reckon the only thing right about the plant is Spook, so there is some comfort there. Pete will be finishing with the company at the end of September, and Steve is thinking it would be a good idea for him to move on to less smelly pastures too. There wont be anyone left for Spook to worry about, other than our friends who might not like poo spilling over their toilet pans (not that bad, I'm sure.) Once his upper thighs match his lower thighs in colour, he'll be good to go - not that anyone at home will notice, mid-winter.

Having spent 3 out of 4 holidays with The Sinclairs in Nelson, it will now be a bit surreal to be on the other side of the world for the next holiday. Plots will be plotted to not leave it 5 years before our next getogether.

grateful for:

still having 10 days here.

Boys Own Adventures.

The whole of New Zealand is watching the All Blacks game against the Wallabies, so it is easy to upload lot's of photos as no-one else is on- line on this side of the world. So I could include Spooks run along The Clutha, where he spotted his next target swimming in the river.

The boys and I had a good day in Queenstown. Unfortunately, Finn only noticed he was pulling the breaks on, by his 5th run out of 5 on The Luge. He just thought his bogey was a bogey! So I had to buy him another run.

They checked out The White Tree of Gondor on the way over and on the way back, I took a photo of this person and horse who is always standing up this hill looking at the view above The Crown Range. So the boys decided to run up the hill and see what it really was (a radio mast). They were out of my sight, but I knew it was a straight forward route and not too far. Nevertheless, Finn came down without Sam, who he thought had turned back. We couldn't see him anywhere and with such a short run, I couldn't think where he could have gone. Finn phoned his Dad, who was on the point of dropping everything at work and coming to help search when Sam strolled over a rise and told me happily that he had taken a short cut that was a long cut and had got stuck in snowdrifts to his waist, but he had got there and was delighted. We must have lost him for about 15 to 20mins, but it was a lifetime as I contemplated Search and Rescue and the end of the world.

Meg is having a great time in Christchurch - it's very warm. Warm here too. Victoria and Jack have qualified for the finals tomorrow - Vicky sitting in 6th place and Jack joint 1st so it's exciting. I had thought she might be homesick for us, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

grateful for:

Spook getting the car sold. It should go on Tuesday, which is pretty handy. Less than we paid for and spent on it, but the timing is good.

Blood, gory deaths, chains and slavereee - can't wait.

As I still can't make my weary ass run, I decided to compromise and do a quick walk round Mt Iron, from the house. It takes an hour to run and 45mins extra to walk, so it pays to run if you're short of time.......

I walked past Ali's shed/house. There is great space inside this house - 5 bedrooms with ensuite, a wee extra kitchen/living area, a huge kitchen/living area and a monster shed area still available for use round the back. Would they let you build this in Scotland?? Bit noisy with the rain, I suppose. The balcony is pretty extensive too - plenty space for the hot tub.

Spooks wee home is within sight of the top of Mt Iron. Go down the road towards the river, see the white house set slightly back from the road with the balcony, on the right. Just behind that you can see a small, orange-ish roof (there is what looks like an old touring caravan in front of it). It is sandwiched between the balcony house and a house you can just see the roof of, also set a little back from the road. Bingo! 46 Kingston St. Albert Town. A great wee pad. It doesn't have 5 bedrooms with ensuite, but who needs it?

From the other side of Mt Iron, the clouds were building up, over in the direction of Diamond Lake - our Tai Chi hill.

Finn had a going away party today as his teacher is going away on her honeymoon a week before school breaks up. Everyone took food and 3 children made special cakes - one of a Scottish flag, one with his name on it, and one with an orange haired dude in a kilt lying on top of the cake (in marzipan). They have put a fantastic wee book together with all his classmates photos and goodbyes from them. It is really lovely.

I had a cup of tea with Shannon and then went round to Carrie's (I thought she was called Kerry, due to some kiwi vowel sound issues) for the Friday glass of bubbly.

Someone came to look at the car tonight, but are trying to knock too much off the price so we will stick tight. Spook and I are having a nice glass of white and then soon I will take John (Sam is staying the night) up to his house where I will stay the night as his mum and dad are away in Christchurch, and although big brother Elliot is 14, he is too young for a night alone. Then I will sneak out in the morning, after being woken by the dog, and come home to take Finn and Sam to The Luge in Queenstown for a late birthday treat. Meanwhile, Finn and his mates have been playing rounders in barefeet and shorts until they couldn't see the ball any longer.

Meg is having a great time in Christchurch but sending loving txts so she is definately missing us a little.

I have been singing Scottish songs - Scots Wha Hae, since seeing the Stone of Destiny (which has Jonathon - the voice of No Fuss events - in a small but noteworthy role, which saw us sitting bolt upright in our seats and shouting "JONATHON"). I didn't actually realise that it was the SNP anthem. It's nae cheery, but between it and Wild Mountain Thyme, I was getting quite excited about coming home to Scotland.

Good luck to No Fuss and the Big/half Triathlon on Saturday.

grateful for:

the positive benefits of alcohol.

Johanna Vermeulen - Finn's teacher.

Meg Sprung Loose.

'twas a perfect day in Wanaka. Not a cloud in the sky, nor nasty hot winds to upset anyone. I was behind an exceptionally tall and pretty, pregnant blonde in the post office queue. I recognized her from the cattle station where I had helped at a wedding. A very beautiful place, on the way to Mt Aspiring National Park, and far from the madding crowd. I heard her saying to her companion that she was not long back from 2 weeks in Bali. It had been wonderful and she was "SO not liking being here". It reminded me that it is good to leave a place before I become complacent and don't recognize it's merits any longer. Thankfully, I was still able to enjoy the jewel-like quality of the morning sun shining through the shrubbery across the road as I ate my breakfast at 8.15am in warm sunshine. I was also able to appreciate the six-packs that are beginning to appear, and there was equal number of short frocks to be admired too, for those who like that kind of thing.

Meg has gone to stay at Victoria's tonight and is heading to Christchurch at 6am tomorrow, with Victoria, brother Jack and their Auntie, so that she can support them in their climbing competitions. There will be some shopping done in the big smoke too. I already miss her and feel a little anxious about her away for 4 days. They are coming home on the plane, just the 3 of them, on Monday morning. It better be a good flight. I don't want her refusing to get on the plane to Scotland! Victoria was chatting away about how awful the flight to Queenstown can be and how it sometimes can't land............great.

grateful for;

eh...........Meg getting the chance of a wee adventure??

her mobile phone.

Boys Day Out.

It was looking a bit windy for Treble Cone this morning, but it was good they went ahead with the day off school, as it was far less windy way up there than down here. The boys had a great day. Finn thought the Kea was cool until it tried to pinch his sausage roll. Spook says there was a huge area of ski field and some great music pelting out of the cafe - Frank Sinatra, for one. He reckoned their boarding would have come on better with the longer runs here, but it is almost double the price for a season pass, than at Cardrona.

Meg went to Kahu Youth group tonight. She had to give it up for her work and today was their 1st Aid training, which had been Meg's suggestion, so she was really pleased to get to it. She is enjoying having more freedom and has accumulated enough funds not to feel the pinch!

Then we all went to Oakridge spa resort for a hot dip and pizza's. We are being extravagant as Spook has a little tick list needing ticked. I have booked a day next week so that we can go to the coast for a stroll by the Tasman Sea, just the two of us. Both children have had their day with Dad now, so it will be my turn.

I think I have only 2 more units to clean at Heritage Park - possibly for the rest of my life. Meanwhile, I have 4 days off, so will need to sort out change of address and bill stuff. Spook is back to work, so it is bad timing.

grateful for:

opportunity to get as much sun as possible so that I don't feel I missed summer.

not having to cook the tea.

Scots Wha Live in NZ with Les Americanos.

The wind howled through the night and battered the house with much banging and clanging. It dawned clear and bright. A beautiful day with no nasty hot winds to put people all wrong. Mary says it's the ions that get stirred up from the north west.

Finn was at the dentist first thing this morning. He has no cavities, but told Shannon there was a plank in his back teeth that had something to do with this mornings breakfast. It was plaque!

Spook and I took Shannon to the Cinema to see if we could stir up some Scottish Patriotism in her. We had always heard that Wullie Kellock from Spean Bridge was one of the four students who stole the Stone of Destiny from Westminster, in the 50's. He didn't seem to feature and it was a slow movie, but the patriotism was certainly brought out of Spook and I by the end. Shannon has gone home to download some Scottish music. Scots Wha Hae was played in the back ground a lot, which was a bit bizarre, as I gave Spook a rendition of that in bed this morning before we got up. I gave Shannon a rousing verse when I dropped her off at her house, but I don't think I inspired her to download it. Wild Mountain Thyme was featured, and that did sound good. It's all part of the plot to make sure Spook comes home at Christmas. I shall be bombarding him with such things.

The photos are from Sunday, as even though it was a glorious day, we didn't manage any photos. There is Steve, Shannon and Spook; a great white warrior wife; and Big Mo and Wee Shannon.

grateful for;

Being Scottish.