Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas from Queenstown!

Just a quick entry this time to wish everyone a very merry Christmas wherever you may be.
Claire and I set off for Queenstown this morning just before 10am and arrived at 5pm.  Mass this year will be at 10am Christmas Day as it is too late for Annabelle at midnight tonight and we would like to all go together.  Claire is coming this year hoping to get another solo from me... I've been practising just in case.  

Merry Christmas!!


Tuesday, December 15, 2009

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Good Night!

Sad News: Claire and Mark broke up recently which was a massive shock to everyone - especially Claire. It seems Mark wasn't sure what he wanted and after two weeks of dilly-dallying around, keeping Claire hanging and giving her false hope, big brave Claire took matters into her own hands and ripped that sticking plaster off, ending things and reclaiming her life. I was SO proud of her - not an easy thing to have to do. Neccessary though, it seems.
It's such a shame as Mark was a nice guy but the way he handled the last two weeks was so disappointing. For someone he claimed to love, he didn't show much respect.



Weight Watchers is still going ok. I seem to have been stagnant for the past two weeks - not putting any weight on (touch wood) but just staying the same. It's hard at this time of year when there are often chocolates and treats in the office, and work parties. But when I think I have been unfocussed I think about how much worse I was before I started Weight Watchers and don't beat myself up so much. Being 'naughty' now means having 2 chocolate biscuits - not a whole packet like I used to! Weight loss to date is 8 kilos. I'm a third of the way to my goal weight. Only 16 kilos to go. Easy.

I was asked to house sit again out at the mansion in Templeton for the weekend just gone. My shift started Friday night and I came back home on Sunday evening. There were twice as many chickens this time and lots of baby chicks. Sooo cute! It was a nice relaxing weekend with, of course, plenty of SKY watching. I can't believe with all those channels SKY has to offer there was really nothing very good to watch. But I still managed to find things to watch. I've had my fix for the next 6 or so months. It's such a time waster!



It's hard to believe next week is Christmas!! How did that happen? This year has gone way too fast for my liking! Claire and I are driving to Queenstown on Christmas Eve. That's the extent of the plan so far. I've been asked to join the Hampton's for a night at Omakau where they are camping on my way home from Queenstown. Other than that I am just going to fly by the seat of my big girls pants!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Claire and I jetted up to Warkworth for the weekend last weekend. It was great!
We arrived early on Friday morning within an hour of each other. Dear Dad and Mum were at the airport to pick us up.
After many hugs we headed North to Warkworth. Home.


Mum, Claire, and I had lunch with A Mary and Heather on Friday. We went down town to Ducks Crossing for a lovely bite to eat in the sunshine. There was lots of laughter and funny stories. It was so good to see them both.

On Friday night Mum cashed in a voucher I had sent her for her birthday for a belated birthday meal of her choice. We had Beef & Pasta salad. Mmmmmm.... Then the cooking montage for Saturdays bbq began while Claire kicked Mum's cute little butt at Scrabble.

Saturday was another brilliant day and some friends started arriving around 12.30pm for an afternoon bbq. There was lots of laughter, wine, and food. It really was a good day and most stayed until after 9pm. Mum said she had a great time too and Claire said she laughed lots. Just what the doctor ordered.

On Sunday (after the AB's dominated in the rugby) we went over to Matakana to see Uncle Bryan and Aunty Bev. Uncle Bryan is still recovering from a hip replacement but doesn't seem to have slowed down at all. He took Claire and I for a ride on his Mule (a 4 wheel drive golf carty-like vehicle) up to the top of the farm. It was fun but laughing with mouth wide open while travelling at speed = bugs in mouth. Not fun.
We also saw the site where they plan to build the new house WHICH looks very impressive from the plans.

We left for Auckland around 4pm and stopped in to have dinner with Kathryn and Moos at their new pad. A nice little two bedroom unit in Epsom. The carpets had just been cleaned and were still drying so we sat on the couches under the trees and ate dinner. It was lovely.

The weekend went all too quickly and before we knew it we were on a plane heading back to cold and rainy Christchurch. The weather down here suddenly turned very wintery this week but this weekend just been has been summery again. Phew. The vegetable garden is looking good though.