What do you know?

Well it is quite funny really. We moved down here four months ago, no family members around, didn't know a sole. We have made so many wonderful and very close friends already. But what is really strange, is that we have just discovered that me and one of my best friends here are related. I counldn't believe it. She had talked to her mother in law about me but had never mentioned my last name. One day she asked and Ally told her and she said "Oh I think we are related to them." Knock me over with a feather. I got my family tree out and sure enough, there they were, bold as brass LOL. Allys MIL gave me a book that she had done on the family tree and it has filled so many blanks in, lots of photos I didn't have and I have lots she didn't have. Of course it is only one branch but I think it is really unusual how we came back to where DH NZ roots started from. I've been doing the family tree for some time now and those of you that have done some know how time consuming it all can be. It is quite a funny feeling looking back and seeing family from 1785 and they didn't have birthdates back then. Just Christening dates.

When you see Abby and Rebecca (Allys daughter who is 6 months older than Abby) together it is uncanny. They are so alike it isn't funny, looks, mannerisms everything. Rebecca was also a twin and Alley had a miss-carriage at three months and they were going to do a D and C and did a scan first and realised that there was still a baby in there. Ally said to me, "the thought of three of them running around would be a tad scarey" certainly isn't wrong there LOL. Those of you who have a three year old going on 13 will understand that one LOL (Trina :) )

Enought of that. Yesterday there was a garden tour around here (6 gardens I think). I was going to go on it but someone asked me to help make pikelets and me being me said sure. There was only meant to be 70 odd people for afternoon tea. Starting at 1.00 we thought we would be wound up by 4 at the latest. 3.00 we were run off our feet and we got a phone call to say that there was 130 sold tickets and probably another 20 odd that were organising it. We made 10 batches of pikelets and there was much other food as well. Finally got to have a drink and put our feet up about 5.30 (and it wasn't a coffee either LOL). Was a great day and everyone seemed to enjoy it. met lots of new people which was really good. Finally got home about 7.00 and luckily Lionel had the kids fed and in the bath. They had a BBQ for tea, felt sorry for them though, as I never had any salads made up, or lettuce in the fridge. The kids loved it though. Well will leave you too it. All you NI who are away at scrap camp, I hope you had a fab time and I am so jealous of you all. Can't wait to see what you have been busy at. I hope there was a cricut there ;)

If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?

Photo update.

I do appologise for not being on here more often. No real excuse either LOL. A fortnight ago, Mum and Dad came down and Dad brought his fly rod and we went for a little fish on the river (it boundaries our place by about 4ks). Well Dad was over the moon as he caught a 3 1/4lb on his first cast. Jake was in his element wanting to gut it and see what was in it. (Jake is right into that sort of thing, anything with blood and guts.) Unfortunately it was the only one caught but it was a perfect entree' for tea. Only down fall to it all is we have had Jake harping on and on about wanting to go down and try and catch another one LOL. We did go down the next day which wasn't as nice and had a picnic down there while Dad tried to get another one. Managed to get this adorable photo of Lionel and Jake. (one time Jake wasn't right behind grandad saying "can you see one yet Grandad, Granddddaaaadd.")




Also managed to get this lovely one of my mother and Abby. I had to laugh though on the Saturday the kids had their clothes off for a bit and played in the water walking across the other side and back. Well Olly got to the other side and stood on this little island thing and yelled out "there is something in the water and it's got fingers." We tried to reason with him telling him that it was just grass, because there was no way he was going to get back into the water. "No it's not, its brown." Yea brown grass, its dead. At this time Jake came back and said In a matter of fact voice, "its alright Olly, its just a drowned person." as if it happens every day. Olly jumped back "ewwww" It took a fair bit of convincing saying it wasn't and it was fairly hard to keep a straight face. Poor Gran had trouble controlling her self. Oh you have to love their imagination.
Well here is another photo of our dear daughter who is turning the big 3 years old tomorrow. Boy the time has flown, our sweet innocent wee girl, butter wouldn't melt in her mouth aye.

What a week

What a week we have had. It didn't start very well at all. I had a phone call from one of the ladies at school. She had found out that her son had been bullying Jake. I couldn't believe it. What a gut wrenching thing to be told, all I could think of "was you poor little bugger." It happened at the last school too, by one boy and he turned out to be bullying just about all the kids there. Some of the stuff that he was doing (well there was actually more than the one boy in the end, he got his cousins and a brother in on it as well). The mother was so horrified and was so appologetic about it all. On further investigation we found out that it had been happening at school and on the bus. The bus driver and teacher knew about it and had taken action against it (well they called it action, made him stay in at playtime and lunch time that day). What I felt was so terrible was that no one had taken the time to contact either us or the other parents involved. If the parent of the bully hadn't found out accidentally then we would be none the wiser. I told the principal this and he said to me that they don't contact the parents with everything that goes on. As a parent would you want to know if your kid was being bullied, or if your kid was the bully? I know I sure would, and I know I am furious for not being told (as is the boys parents). If this kids parents hadn't been on to it, where could this have headed too.
This boys parents have been absolutely brilliant about it all, and couldn't do enough for us. The boy isn't allowed to go to school camp in a fortnight or participate in school activities for the next month or so. She even brought the boy around and made him come in on his own to appologise to Jake and to us as parents and told us to say what ever we felt appropriate, so long as we gave him a big telling off. The poor kid, I felt so sorry for him. He walked in shaking in his boots, I led him through and here is Lionel (All 6ft 4 inches of him) standing by the dining room table, must have been a daunting sight for this 10 year old. We let him appologise (and he really did appologise and appeared to be really remorseful) then it was out turn. Lionel backed off a bit from what he was going to say because he was a lot smaller than we envissaged. I told him what I thought and how dissapointed we were in the fact that we had only been here a little over three months, didn't know anyone, and it was a big enough move as it was, and the most courtiest thing he could of done was look after the boys and take them under his wing and show them the ropes not do what they were doing (some of it is too disgusting to even write in here). Well this all happened on Monday and I tell you what. We have a completely new boy, what a change. I don't know why we didn't pick it up, the signs were there (looking back). The worst thing was he even had told us (well not in so many words), but the hints were there. We are quite annoyed that we never picked up on it and are just so thankful that this boys parents have been so supportive of us and been "on to it" so to speak. They have taken action, they have made him face his responsibilities, made him face up to what he has done and really made him realise how it affects everyone. I just hope that it has been a big lesson for everyone.
Well on a lighter note, you should see my lounge. Oh it is devine. Had the carpet man in on Thursday and sorted out carpet, ordering wall paper on Tuesday, picking up curtains on Tuesday and their tracks (got them from the Warehouse on special, whooooo I love specials LOL 40% off). Fire is going in this week and the new hot water cylender (The old one is 43 years old LOL) and we are changing places with it so it can get hooked up to the fire and the old cupboard is being used as a storage cupboard for scrapbooking stuff Yayyyy. Then (hopefully) the week after the new doors are going in cieling styple coated, then wall paper and carpet, then all we have to do is the two deckings LOL. Sound easy? Phew sounds exhausting lol. Will keep you informed

Remember'. Don't argue with an idiot. People watching might not be able to tell the difference

It is snowing.

I can't believe it. This morning we woke to the sight of snow. Oh those poor wee lambies. There was probably about two or three inches and it has come and gone a bit during the day. The worst part is DH is away in the car (yes we only have one car) and I have to go and pick the boys up on the motorbike. Not a pleasing thought I tell you. At the moment I am actually procrastinating. I should be stripping wall paper, it has to be done by Thursday and it isn't going well at all. There is four layers, the top two aren't too bad, well probably top three really but the bottom layer is a real nightmare. I am using warm soapy water so hopefully I will get there.

Finally managed to get a photo onto here. This is Jake standing on the inside of the whole fire set up. Actually standing on the inside of the yunca. Now this is all gone and the door to the right. I will endevour to get more photos and get them up here.
Till later here is a question for you to ponder. Why does your nose run and your feet smell? Or what if your scared half to death twice?

What a mess our place is in

You should see our house (actually I am pleased no one can, although I am trying for the fourth time to upload photos to show you. Grrr). The builder arrived last Wednesday after ringing Tuesday night about 9.00. Luckily we'd been to central the day before and picked up Jake and left the other two so only had one child here. By the end of the first day the whole wall was out, both fires gone and a bloody mess left behind LOL. the next day things didn't look like they had changed at all, but the plumbing was sorted and Friday we had more lights in a cleanish house, although there is some nooks and crannies that has soot hidden but the wall paper is coming out carpet up and a couple of external doors in yet so there is going to be a bigger mess yet, oh how am I going to cope LOL. We called in and saw the people that are making our doors and have changed them a bit. Originally the plans that they had drawn up had three sections of sliding doors with the door only being 860 wide. I wanted bigger ones for the front any way. So we went and saw them. Now we are having stacking doors along the front that will have a 1.7m opening (just huge). These will look great when they are in and the decking done. Along the back though, we are only having a normal sliding door that opens half of is which equates to about 1.2m. Still a nice big opening though. Specially when it is all done LOL.

We now have all the kids home and they think our new space is brilliant, although the hole in the floor has become to tempting for Abby who thinks it would be a great hiding place LOL. Managed to talk her out of going down there. With the builder here and him having some great ideas that Lionel agrees with, the project will probably drag out a little more to (which I am delighted about by the way). Be nice to have something finneshed properly for a change. Looking forward to getting it all done though. :)

We have the concrete pad done for the new fire and the builder has leveled the floor with a small concrete pad where the old fires were. The wall paper is off the dining room wall and the ceiling is gibstopped once for the stipple coating (still needing another coat though) and now I have to get the paper off the lounge wall before Tuesday when the builder is back to gibstop, tile the hearth (yummo). Then he comes back to do the fire and Hot water cylender and the ceiling will be done after the doors are in incase there is problems. (which should be about two or three weeks, if we are lucky).

Well enough of my household plans.

I hope everyone has had a great school holidays, hard to believe that they are nearly over with already. Won't next week be a quite one in comparison?

Sorry Blogger won't let me upload photos, hopefully next time

Remember :- even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.

Sick kids

Oh how typical, school holidays strike and what happens "sick kids". It is a really bad one going around here at the moment. Tuesday the senior class usually has 22 kids and there was only 4 in class. Jake managed to pick it up last Thursday and didn't eat for 5 days. He is better now but just lacking energy. Monday his teacher said not to send him back this term as so many have and they just haven't the energy and they get it back again. So atm Jake has gone back to Central with my mother. She came over on Wednesday to baby sit the kids while DH and I went and saw Georgie and Caroline Ever-Swindell at a function. It was a great night actually and they spoke extremely well and are so down to earth like you wouldn't believe. And I forgot my camera how disasterous was that, to be honnest I think DH hid it on me LOL.
Any way Oliver and Abby now have it and are just lying around and sleeping. Luckily they aren't as bad as Jake was, they are eating a little, but it is a worry for the little ones.
Went to Dunedin yesterday as we had to go and pick up our new fire. Even managed to get some scrapbook shopping in LOL. Just happens that the shop is not far from Mc D's so I talked DH into going there with the kids just while I popped down for a wee look LOL. Managed to look a little and buy a lot though. :) Didn't do much else while there, just groceries and the fire. Now all we need is our builder to get his a into g and get here. Sometimes I wonder if he will be here by Christmas, was meant to be about three or four weeks ago, then it was a fortnight, now we are still waiting.
Not much else happening around here at the moment, been tailing and our hoggets (one year old sheep) have just started lambing. And of course been on the farm tiding up and doing fencing agghhhhh.
Well till next time remember
Characters live to be noticed. People with character notice how they live.

I am still living LOL

Yes I am still alive. :) I do appologise for not being on here more regular. My computer screen broke down and it has just been fixed, and we have been busy too.
Well Oliver has turned the big 5 and is at school. It is really strange only having one at home, feels like we are rattling around sometimes. Abby is quite lost at times as well, other times she is loving it IYKWIM. Olly had a birthday party the weekend before his birthday and he had alot of his wee friends around. I decided that we would have it in the morning instead of the afternoon. Lionel was quite pleased about that as he thought everyone would be gone by lunch and we could do some work in the afternoon. WRONG. Most people ended up staying till about 6.00 that night, but it was a excelent day LOL. Olly thought it was just wonderful and because his birthday was on the Wednesday we could do it all again. Not a bad idea, but he was just thinking of all the presents and the lollies, fizz etc LOL.
Been busy outside here, started staining the fences and I spent two hours doing very little. I'm not sure on the colour but decided that it will have to do as I am not spending another two hours going over the little bit I have just done. Its the thought of about a week plus on the fences left to do (that is if I don't water blast them, which I think they really need, but I am steadily talking my self out of it).
We also tried putting the house on fire about 4 weeks ago. Well we didn't try really, but boy we were lucky. Some how a fire started in the wall cavity of the open fire and when we came back there was this big burnt hole in the wall above the fire. A builder came and looked at it and couldn't believe that the whole house didn't go. Something that I would absolutely dread, imagine loosing all those scrap albums, the scrap supplies (Ohhhhh I would of cried over all that). I wouldn't of been worried about anything else, as it could all be replaced, although I was told by a dear friend (No names mentioned LOL) that I would have to take my camera so that I could get a photo of the house burning LOL. Would of made a great layout LOL.
We have about 900 ewes lambed and hope to start tailing next week, weather permitting. The next lot are due to start lambing on the 20th September then the last mob starts about the 7th october, so this year it is quite spread out, which has worked out really well as there won't be as much pressure on us for the tailing and if the weather is bad there is less lambs affected by it IYKWIM.
Well that is about it from this end of the country for the time being. I will be back soon, and remember "time may be a great healer but it's a lousy beautician."

New friends

Allo allo. Well another great week has just passed us by.
Olly has been at school two mornings this week on school visits and he is just loving it. On Tuesday I stayed with him (he is only there for an hour and a half) and I made a retreat to the staff room and had a cuppa. Oliver decided that he should be staying for morning tea, so we made a pact. If he went on the school bus he could take his lunch box and have morning tea there. (for some reason he didn't want to go on the bus). This really pleased him and and I can tell you that those three nights before he went back to school were extemely long. He would harp and harp wanting to go every hour of everyday. LOL. We went out to the bus and Jake was schooling him up on what to say etc when the teacher asked him if he was here. It was so cute listening to it all. The bus pulled up and he was out of the car and and into the bus that quick. Any way I turned up at school about quarter to eleven and Olly did a runner LOL. He shot into his class room and came running out with his new book bag and he was so excited as he had a reading book LOL. Apparently he even read it to everyone in the class. That night when Gran rang he was telling her about this book but couldn't find it so what did Olly do "I will read it to you Gran, but I don't have it so I will just read it cause I can remember it". Will have to scrap that one ;).
On Thursday we had Jakes cross country. It was only about quarter of an hour away which was great. After about half an hour of being there the weather turned and it got quite wet. Luckily we could go after the kids raced and with Jake only being 6, his race was second so we were out of there pretty quick smart. Poor kids though, they were wet through to their skin. Wee Abby just looked like a drowned rat, I didn't get a photo of her like that though unfortunately (I didn't want to get the camera wet)LOL. I did get a photo of Jake with his new wee friend though, and unfortunately blogger won't let me upload it at the moment. I will when it lets me.
We are still busy shearing and I have to admit, my muscles are feeling a whole lot better. (Donna, I hope your legs are feeling better).We are just doing the two runs though, so that takes the pressure off completely. Scanning on Tuesday afternoon so that will be another busy busy afternoon for us (starting about 3.30) and have 1200 odd to do, lets hope they run well.
Well take care and hopefully I am able to upload photos next time.

I have been scrapping :)

Yes I have been scrapping. Can you believe it? I know a few of you will be surprised. (you can pick yourself up off the floor now Sharee).

Had another busy week here. Still mucking around getting rooms sorted out. Been working on the sleep out. There is still stuff left by the previous owners who are coming to get it all soon (hopefully). The carpets are an absolute disgrace and I am going to rip them out. It looks like there has been moths in there and they have laid their eggs and they have hatched into lava. They have been eating the carpet ewwwwwwwww. So my plan is to rip them paint the floor (it is concrete and has underfloor heating) and get a nice rug. Good plan?

Started shearing yesterday and boy it is hard getting back into it. It is the first time that we have done full wool for probably 7 years. This morning by legs felt it I tell you. Felt like a wound up rubber band and if I bent over the muscles would break LOL. But by the end of it I will be fine. So two days down and 7 more to go, ahhhh. Luckily we are just doing two runs (four hours) a day so that we can get animals fed and other things done on the farm, also doing it that way the kids don't get sick of it, well that is the plan.

Tomorrow we have playgroup, then on Thursday Jake has his first cross country down here. Must remember to take my camera, it has had very little use.

I will get a copy of my layout up for next time after I have scanned it.
Well take care everyone. Till next time

First day at Playgroup.

Today was our first day at playgroup in the big smoke of Waitahuna and we all had a ball. Bit daunting going in there not knowing a single sole though, but came out feeling like I have been there all my life. Forgot to take my camera so must grab it next time and get a few photos. The day wasn't much so the kids spent most of their time inside at the tables and in the kids kitchen. At our last playgroup it was held at the school but here there is a building on the domain that is all thiers and it is wonderful. Everthing can be left set up and there is this fenced in piece outside with a sandpit and all these outside bikes. Even sat at the window and watched a rabbit come up to the building then hop away when 15 little faces went up to the window to watch it LOL. Must have been scared to death poor thing.
Tomorrow Olly starts his school visits for school. He is really looking forward to that. Jake is a bit annoyed about it as he wanted to go on the bus, but because Olly doesn't want to then we are going by car (all of about 7 or 8 ks LOL). Olly starts off with an hour each day for two days a week then builds it up by half an hour each week, so when he is five he is doing the whole day. It is a great concept and one I think I will enjoy more when he is going for the whole day LOL.
Haven't been doing much else around the house the last couple of days. Did manage to spend Monday baking while Lionel was back at our old place getting the last of our gear (that is another story). Did banana choc chip muffins, my big batch of biscuits (that does over 100 biscuits) double batch of ginger nuts, double batch afghans, and double batch of belgium square. The muffins have gone already though :(. And before you ask I only had one minni one RAFLMAO.
Now the story about Lionel going back. Well officially you have 30 days to get all your gear out which for us is another 10 days, but last week Lionel rang the dutchman and said that the truck couldn't come this week and it would be next week (just out of courtisy) and he said that is fine, take as long as you need (something he has always said from the start). We got a phone call from Lionels brother on Saturday to say that he was throwing all our trailers ect on a big scrap pile, so Lionel rang, he said everything was fine. So up on Monday Lionel goes to load the big transport truck and makes sure everthing goes on (like the old Mazda for the kids, trailers etc). He gets there and there is this pile of fencing stuff that he has pulled out and alot of our gear on it. He'd trown our motorbike trailer and crate out, three big half moon sheds, pig shed (all insulated), two large coppers and numerous other things on this pile that are unsalvageable. Stuff that could probably add up to alot of money. They managed to save the trailer, the crate is a bit worse for wear but we are going to have to get it straightened. Aparently he even had our no tramp woolpress on that costs about $8000 to replace. Gulp. So as you can imagine there were a few words said and the Dutchmans reply was "I from Holand, I not understand." Didn't go down well I tell you, but we got a bit of stuff back and alot that we couldn't salvage if we wanted. It is good to know that we don't have to go back for anything now. When we go back it is to see our friends.
Well I will leave you with that and hopefully I will be back soon. Take care and be careful :)

Back, I'm back online and the connection has stayed connected for more than 5 minutes :)

Well I have just sent emails out to all my belove'd friends and online friends. We were going to be canceling our internet as I have had so much trouble with it staying connected. But tonight it hasn't been too bad so I will probably be still in the cyber world :)
Things are going so well here and we are just absolutely loving it. My parents came down today (they have just been up north while we shifted and got back two days ago) since they have been here we have pulled out all the trees in the garden (the house would get no sun because of them) hope to get photos up next time I am on. Sorry won't be any of my gorgeous kitchen though, sorry to dissapoint some of you RAFLMAO. Kids are loving it too. Jake starts his new school on Monday which he is looking forward too and Olly will probably start school visits the week after. That will be good for Jake too.
Well till next time take care and make the most of your internet :) I know what you mean Donna, it isn't until you hear how bad someone elses connection is that you appreciate your own. I use to moan about my broadband sometimes when it slowed down, now I realise how lucky I was. Just have to win Lotto and get the wireless :)

Back on line

Well finally I am back into the cyber world. Sorry it has taken so long (for those of you complaining RAFLMAO, and you know who you are). We are getting organised slowly. I am really pleased that there is two lounges here as everything has been dumped into one and I am slowly working my way through it. To make it worse the people that had this place before hand still use the sleep out so I can't get the double bed and all the guff that belongs out there away. Hopefully it won't take long and I can get it all done. We are heading back up to the old farm to do a final clear out, probably monday. The last truckload will be out of there. That will be exciting. Nice thought not having to head back up to clean or get more gear and we can concentrate on this house and farm, getting it the way we want it.
As you can imagine I have done no scrapbooking at all. I hope to change that very soon, after seeing so many of my online friends work has really got the creative juices flowing and wanting to come out.
To make things worse I can't get broadband here and the thought of spending $700 on wireless does absolutely nothing for me IYKWIM so I have to put up with dial up so things are very slow here.
I am off to sort out more boxes. Till next time take care.

Good bye Old home

We are nearly away. Have most of the packing done. Notice I said most of and not all. We did a big load down today and are taking freezers etc tomorrow. The computer is coming to pieces tonight so I thought I should shoot on here and update everyone before I loose contact with all of you. Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes, it truely was the best birthday ever LOL.
Lara it would be absolutely brilliant to meet you, I have sent a email. :) That is one thing I love about our scrapbooking community, everyone is so wonderfully friendly and I actually feel like I know you all personally even though I haven't met one of you. That is something that I will have to rectify one way or another IYKWIM. Maybe a scrapcamp or two somewhere :).
Till I am back on line. Take care everyone and keep scrapping :)

{Yes, at long last}

For those that don't know. THE OIO Consent has come through. We found out yesterday lunch time and as you can imagine are absolutely delighted about it all. It was both Lionel and my birthday yesterday (yes we are on the same day LOL, although he is a few years older than me LOL :) ) so it was the best birthday present that we could ever hope for.
Tomorrow night we head to central with the kids and are leaving them there for a few days. Thought it would make things alot easier to pack up and shift with out the help of a little 2 and a half year old saying, "I help, I help too." Or "No I do it by MYSELF". Those of you who know Abby know exactly what I mean here LOL. I told the local school today and I had a great reception by Jakes school bus driver. She was absolutely delightful with it all. Just before Lunch she brought around "a little something." Those were her words, and she had three fruit trees (one for each of the kids) two peach and a plum. I couldn't believe it. She said when they fruit to think about her. It nearly brought a tear to my eye, she said that Jake was her little mate on the bus and that he was one of the best behaved well mannered child she had ever had. He sits in the front of the bus and reads to her and does his spelling words and they discuss all sorts of things. I am getting her to write a letter to Jake and tomorrow I am getting a photo of him in the bus with her and plan on doing a layout. It won't be done before we go but when it is I will share it with you all.
We have a big tandum trailer booked for next Tuesday and Wednesday so hopefully we can get most of it done in those two days. Borrowing my parents double cab truck as well so will be able to do two loads at once IYKWIM.
So things will be fairly hectic for me for the next couple of weeks or so, so if I don't get on here and up date it for a bit, please forgive me. Till next time have fun but becareful :)

Grrr, Gouvenment departments.

What a frustrating day we have had. Yesterday after getting home from down south there was a message from our Solicitor to give him a ring. We rang this morning and it turns out that Peters OIO concent has been sitting on some morons desk for the last four weeks and they have just discovered it. We are meant to have an answer by next Friday the 23rd and they want to know if they can have another two weeks to go through it all. This would mean that the lawyer would have to go to the lawyer of the owners of the farm we are buying to see if they could extend the date out two week, mean that we might have to pay grazing for the ewes we have just brought, postpone all the trucks that we have lined up and trailer for moving our gear. One of the companies would of changed hands by then so we aren't sure weather or not they are able to do it. Not only that we are held in suspence for another fortnight (they hope that is all it will be.) I mean how long does it take for them to have a look at it, there is still a week. We are so annoyed with them, infact, Lionel rang them and they said "oh we can't discuss the case with you as it doesn't affect you." Doesn't affect us, bloody cheeck of them. Lionels reply was "No you are right it doesn't affect us, it puts us and two other families future on hold. (the people we have signed up the farm off, and Peter who is trying to get the OIO concent). If we ran our business like you run yours then we wouldn't have a business." Her reply "Sorry, sir but we can't discuss this with you, is that OK?" We are just so deflated and so F****d off words can't describe it.
Now on a much better note, thank you to everyones kind words on me being pubblished, either on here, via email or via phone. You will all be able to hear me yelling and jumping for joy from where ever you are. Tammy you will probably hear me in America LOL.
Mardi, Jake sure is excited about it all and it is probably a good thing he won't understand what is happening at the moment.
Donna, I sure am thrilled about Rodney being kicked off, bout time aye :) And I think I might get rid of all Abbys purple clothes. Do you think that might break this horrible horrible girl thing that is going on at the moment? I don't mind the girl thing so much but this having to wear pink alllllll the time is quite frustrating IYKWIM.
Well take care everyone and I hope I have some good news to report on the farm ASAP

A short notice trip to the Waitahuna farm

Last night we had a phone call to say that our sheep were going to be landed on the new farm ( I know we are getting the cart before the horse here but it was too good a deal to say no to IYKWIM) They were to arrive at 9.30 this morning which meant leaving here about 7.15. So we told Jake that he could come down to the farm with us if he wanted to look at the sheep. His reply was "Oh no, I will stay home with Mum." Trying to explain to him that we were all going. I started thinking someone had their wires crossed. Turns out he was thinking we were going to look at the sheep and he wanted to stay at the house at Waitahuna, he is already calling it home so I don't know how he will cope if it all doesn't go through. Not a nice thought for everyone really. We now have until Friday the 23rd to find out one way or another. Seven days to wait it out. Everyone seems to be fairly sure it is going ahead but we want to hear officially first as you can imagine. This morning at 10 to 4 Jake comes into our bedroom "Dad, Dad, can we get up now and go to our new house?" What was this kid thinking, not even 4.00, I couldn't handel this, so I sunk my elbow into Lionel (hee hee, gotta love that RAFLMAO). He was so wound up (Jake not Lionel LOL). He didn't get settled down till about 5.30 then we were up about 6.00.
It was a beautiful day down there and we got to have another look around and meet one of the neighbours again. Didn't get home till about 6.00 after getting tea in Dunedin. Guess what we had? McDonalds. The kids just thought it was the bees knees. (We had to eat it in the car as the kids managed to find a huge mud puddle and were playing games in it LOL. Actually looks like it could of been tackle.) Last time we had McD's was the beginning of the year so it did make a nice change.
Well I have just had a huge dissagreement with Abby. She was already to go to bed (is late because she had a big sleep in the car on the way home). She had yellow pjs on and on going to bed decided that there was no way she was going to bed tonight with yellow PJS on when she knew there was pink ones there. She won LOL. I am not sure where she gets this girly thing from as I am far from girly, the only place I like pink is on a layout LOL. Everything she wears has to be pink or frilly, except she won't wear a skirt LOL. I hope it wears off soon as I can't handle a pink, pink girl LOL.
Well that is all the dribble for now. Please if you do pop in here leave a message so I know youve been.
Take care.
Oh yea, huge congratulations go out to my dear friend Sharee (her link can be found on my blog) who has made it into FK. Way to go NIET and also to Rach. I am so excited as I hear they are nearly a full page of each layout :) Now I have to wait till next week to see it.
Take care everyone :) and remember
Proffessionals built the titanic and amatuers built the arc. Have a go.

Brrrr, fire is definately going here

Boy it is cold here today. Had to go out side and shift some sheep to give my dog a run and it wasn't really something that I wanted to do. I nearly looked like a Eskimo and we haven't even got snow around so I really do sympathise with all you out there who have snow around and the winds.

Here is the photo of the album I made for my Aunty. Thought I should upload it before I forget. The pages on the inside are done in Bazzill in the Monocromatic range. I have used the five colours of the brown and have four pages of each colour going from light at the front to the darkest at the back. I am sure she will love it. Now I just have to make the card and the pin to go with it. Have a good day and keep rugged up.
Bronny :)

I am being published yayyyy

Just a quick post as I hadn't found out last night when I blogged but I am being published. Yehaaa. I am just over the moon about it as it is my very first accepted submission. If had to have the affected layout removed from by blog but you all can see it in the next up2scrap magazine that will be on the shelf in August, not sure when it arrives on the Australian shores but I imagine it won't be long after that as well.

Home relaxed and refreshed

Well we had a fantastic night away on Saturday in Queenstown, Millennium Motel of all places. This was our prize for winning the Scott and Co (our accountants) super 14 rugby picks. Talk about flash, although I have to admit it wasn't as nice as the one in Christchurch but it was still fantastic. We dropped the kids off at Mum and Dads in Central and had a meal with them before continuing on to Queenstown getting there about 4.00. We had a meal at the Speights Bar and restaurant and then went back to the Motel and watched the rugby. At least this game wasn't held in thick fog and we could see what was happening. For Breakfast we went down to the restaurant and had the full course breakfast meal (of course all this was paid for by Scott and Co). What a delicious meal, bacon, eggs, sausages, mushrooms, omletes etc, the absolute works. It was thoroughly enjoyed and then we headed home reluctantly LOL. Called in to some family in Arrowtown and caught up with them. It was absolutely pouring down when we left but by the time we got to the kids it was fine. Ended up getting home here about 5.00. Luckily (or unluckily as the case may be) we didn't have it in Queenstown the next night as there was inches of snow. Mum and dad had 5 inches and on the other side of Oamaru they had two feet of the stuff and even right down to sea level. Lovely to look at though ;).

Watched dancing with the stars and my prayers were answered (sorry Rodney) but the dance was absolutely hiddeous and don't you feel sorry for his poor partner, being dropped like that, how embarrasing but at least he got voted off. Now who do we want to win? Well I vote for Queen Beatrice. Lorraine is beautiful but to me Beatrice is the one. (Listen to me and I haven't even voted yet :( ) .

In the scrapbooking front I have made no layouts but just completed a project for my Auntys 50th Birthday at the end of the month. She is having a party but unfortunatley it is at the other end of the country and hopefully we will be shifting farms about the same time so are unable to make it. I made a album kind of thing to go on her table that she can take to her party and get people to sign it and leave comments in it and also be able to put photos in it. If she keeps it on her coffee table she will be able to look at all the wonderful comments and photos and bring back some wonderful memories. I will get a photo before my next posting and you can all see what I mean. I plan on making a 50th Badge for her that co-ordinates with it as well, so she can wear it on the night and also a card. Hopefully the card turns out like I imagine LOL.

Till next time take care and keep scrapping :).

Rodney, Rodney, Rodney

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What a weekend

I know it is late but what a weekend....... The Crusaders winning the super 14. For this we were in two competitions, the first was with our local accountant and the second was through xtra. For the computer one we were sitting down at 7th and then the second last week we were down to 18th (I think). To get in a prize you had to be in the top 15 with first winning a new car and the next 14 winning cellphones. So we decided we had to play it safe but be a little risky at the same time so we backed the Crusaders by 13 points and more thinking most would back them for 12 and under so if there was a big difference we would be up there. What do you know the score 19-12 so our plan bummed out and we ended up 20th. Still not bad considering there was 147,000 people entered in it. Well the second comp was the accountants and we were leading that before the weekend with out any chance of being beaten. We had a phone call yesterday and we had the choice of a nights accommodation in Dunedin with a meal voucher and tickets to the rugby or accommodation in Queenstown. Well we are going to............Queenstown. Yay. Night a way with only Lionel and my self. Not sure what motel we are staying in will find out tomorrow. Yayyyy.

Now the downside to the weekend, Rodney Hide is still in Dancing with the stars, can you believe it????? I have never seen some one dance so badly in all my life lol (Sorry Rodney if your reading this RAFLMAO). Lionel said the best thing to come from Rodney not being voted off was us not having to watch him dance again. RAFLMAO

Well what else is happening....... um not much sorry guys. I have done no scrapping but plan on starting a album for the kids day care as a present when we go. Will show pictures asap.

Till next time.

Take care :)

{more purchases}

Wow another few busy days. Been really cold here with fires going nearly all day everyday. Yesterday we had playgroup and went down to the juniors room to hear a story and sing songs. I've organised a story teller to come in a fornight and tell stories, she wears dress up hats wigs etc. The kids just adore her. We will invite the junior room up to us which should be realy good. Will let you know how I go and hopefully have photos ( you never know, might be lucky enought to get a layout :) ).

Today we had to go into town and DH decided that we should have a look at DVD players. Our VCR hasn't been going for about 18 months and last time they fixed it said that it really wouldn't be worth fixing again. So we thought we should do something about it, and upgrade to a DVD player/recorder. Only thing was when DH went in and had a look and I was talking to the sales man (DH isn't into all these gadgets so doesn't understand all the lingo). He dissapeared and we went away and he decided that we should get a TV as well, cause when we get to the new farm we won't be able to afford one for quite some time. Our TV is about 12 years old and sometimes the sound goes and sometimes the picture goes greenish around the edge so things weren't looking good for her any way. We got just a cheapo one but it will do the job. Unfortunately the TV wouldn't fit in the car so they are dropping it off on Monday but I managed to get the TV unit in and also the DVD, so got it all set up this afternoon. Now all we need is some DVDs. I have some scrapbooking ones but that idea didn't go down well with DH at all {can't figure that one out LOL }. Well I might go and try and encourage him to watch one of my DVDs. Don't count my chances though.

Till next time, take care. :)

I made a purchase :)

Another day in town today. Jake was meant to go on a school trip to Dunedin today but things didn't go according to plan. The bus broke down before it even got to the school, it got there late and everyone got on then they got about 1 k down the road and it broke down again. By the time this happened it was 11.30 so they wouldn't have been able to do everything that was planned so instead they walked back to school and are going to go next week. I know Jake is bitterly dissapointed but to compensate when they go next week they are going to Cadburys chocolate world. (phew, glad I am not going :) )
We dropped the other two at Barnados and I went shopping. I desperately needed a new handbag. Mine wouldn't stay closed and I have had it for 15 years (took some working that out I tell you). I brought my hand-bag. What a choice there was, about 100 handbags and the same in wallets. I deliberated for ages over what one to get. I picked one out that I liked, chocoalte brown leather bag, it is gorgeous, and expensive for me. So here is my little beauty not a very good photo of it actually.

Then I needed a purse (my zip was shot in my last one and money would fall out when ever I took it out of the shabby handbag.) so I had to start all over again. I eventually picked a lime green leather one that will hold all of my cards etc in. It certainly won't be lost in the bottom of my handbag :)

Tomorrow we are off to playgroup again. It is proving to be quite a hit, with us all going down to the little kids rooms and listening to a story and also sing a couple of songs.

Well till next time

Take care :)

I managed to scrap today :)

Well I did finally manage to sit down and do some scrapping. It was actually for a challenge by a scrapping friend. I had to scrap a baby photo of either me or one of the kids. I had forgotten that I was meant to journal on it as well so I go back to the drawing board and do another one LOL (that's what I tell DH, so don't say a word LOL). I adore this photo and I know it will be useful in another 15 years (when he is 21) and I do know that he will hate me for it too LOL.

Today it has been wet wet wet here. Kids have been stuck inside all day until I had to relent other wise I would go mad, so 4.00 out they went and what a mess, but they had a fab time. Tomorrow I hope it is fine other wise the washing machine will be going for a while because I won't be able to keep them in again.

Abby has decided that she might use a big persons toilet and she will run into the toilet pull her nappy off and jump on. It was great the first three or four times (the next 10 times weren't quite as exciting LOL) but nothing, then tonight when Jake was on the loo she went in and thought she might go. Jake said to her "jump on the potty and go" What do you know, she hit the jack pot. A fair bit of excitement then she had to ring Gran and tell her all about it. Lets hope it continues.

I forgot to mention that last week I was in the bathroom putting makeup on and I was doing Mascara with my mouth open. Olly wanted to know why I did that, to which I replied "It helps keep my eyes open." Nothing more was said. But then coming home from town I was having Abby on. Telling her not to go to sleep, keep her eyes open. Olly (who was in the front seat) turned around and said go like this Abby, and he held his mouth wide open. I asked him why, to which he replied (in a totally I told you so voice) "you told me this morning it keeps your eyes open, so if Abby does it she won't go to sleep." It was so funny. Why didn't I think of that RAFLMAO.

On that note I will leave you to it LOL.

Todays thought

"Never regret growing old. It is a privilege denied to many."

Mothers day present reaction

Well what a great reaction I got for Mums mothers day present. The kids had a ball going over it all with her and telling her all about it. The kids then decided that they had to go and make something for gran. They borrowed my stapler along with coloured staples and they stapled flax leaves, leaves, flowers together and made this awesome arangement for her.
On Wednesday we were off to town as usual and Lionel got this phone call from a friend who wanted Lionel to go to a clearing sale so he could bid on a tractor for him (he doesn't like buying at auctions). So he had to ring Lionel on his cell phone as he was away out shifting stock (there is alot to be said for cell phones sometimes.) Lionel said he would, then I got a phone call from another man wanting Lionel to help him load our big mower onto his truck, but of course this had to be postponed till the pm. Then I had a call from Lionels mother who had a flood in her house while she was away for two weeks and she couldn't pull the carpets up to get them out of the house to dry. When lionel got in from doing the stock work he rang her and said to get onto the insurance company. They sent around assessors and people to set up heaters etc to dry the bedrooms out (it was in the en-suite.) So in the end it was a town day with just me. It was quite nice actually and I even had time to go and look at hand bags. Something I am in desperate need of as the one I have got I have had for about 10 years and it has nearly fallen to bits. There is one in particular that I adore so I will go and have another look next week and hopefully buy it. If I do get it I will post a picture to share :).
Today we were going to be shearing, had the sheep in the yards over night and I had even penned up when we decided that there wasn't enought wool on them yet. LOL. So we let them out. We're were wanting to get them shorn before we move but it is a bit silly if we are only doing it to save time down the road (specially since there was only about 2 inches on them). So instead of shearing this morning we did some more packing. The container is getting fairly full now and looks good. Even taken a fair bit of junk to the dump. (boy I don't know were it all comes from really).
In the scrapbooking front I have done none lately. I have a challenge I have to do next (scrapping a baby photo of either me or one of the kids). I have a photo of Olly picked out but just have to do it now and with everything going on I am feeling pretty un-inspired by it all, but soon I will (when my mojo comes back from cardrona ski-field, I think it was there with Sharees on a holiday so hopefully come back ready for action ). Also submitted a heap of layouts to a few mags, up2scrap, for keeps, scrapbook creations, and scrapbook memories. I figure one day I will be accepted and I can't be accepted if I don't submit LOL.
Talking about scrapping magazines, has everyone got their recent copy of up2scrap? Hasn't it come on leaps and bounds since it first came on to the shelf. Great to see so many talented Kiwi scrappers there, Yolande Fenneman, Nic Howard (interesting to compare Nic's first layout and her most recent), the wonderful Evana Willis, Donna, Sharee (two LOL ) , Kelly Rotherham, Trina McClune, Liane Gray, Faye Gregory, Jo Burney and the many other talented ladies that I have indicated. If you haven't got your copy, you better get one, certainly worth a read.
Well that is all for today folks. Take care and keep your chin up.

Thought for the week
"Leave a few get well cards on the bench. That way when visitors call around they think there is a excuse for the mess." (I got this off a friend of mine in America and I love it LOL)

Packing is under way

I forgot to add a photo of the mothers day present I had made for my mother. She hasn't got it yet because she lives two hours away and is coming over this weekend so I wanted to give it to her in person and see her reaction to it. It is hard to believe but the album started off its life as a Sudoko book that I brought and had completed the hard ones in it. The easy ones were left and I was helping Lionel to learn them but I found another use for it instead LOL, so I tore the inside out pulled it to bits, covered it and then added my own inserts and put photos inside. I was going to scrap each page but it was going to be too much. Then I altered Laras handbag pattern to suit the album and here is the end result. I will let you know the reaction I get after I have given it too her. :) I figured if she doesn't like it I will keep it for my self but I don't think that will happen.




Well packing is under way in our house hold. Yesterday our container turned up that we are packing the workshop etc up into. Yesterday afternoon I sorted out our wardrobe in our bedroom and have it packed up into box's in the sleep out. (sewing machine, materials etc etc). Today we went down and have most of the workshop into the container and some of the woolshed. We have to be careful incase some of the stuff is going to be needed. We still have sheep to shear and crutch so can't put shearing machines or press in yet. It finally feels like something is happening, now we just have to wait for the concent to happen sooner rather than later, but talking to Peter he said the lawyer said it should happen with in 3 weeks. So as soon as he gets the OK we will be running around like headless chooks no doubt. (probably won't be a pretty sight IYKWIM? (For those that don't know IYKWIM means If you know what I mean).
Well till next time, take care and don't be scared to leave a comment. I won't bite.
Bron

Happy mothers day everyone

I hope everyone has been spoilt rotten, maybe even breakfast in bed with all the thrills. Nothing like that here although Jake made me this gorgeous card and drew lots of pictures on the front and also made me a paper flower which is gorgeous. He said sorry it doesn't smell then his face lit up and he ran out side and picked some flowers out of the garden and gave them too me. So much more meaning than a bunch of brought roses :). Then he made me a storage container for scrapping (he is always full of inventive ideas). He cut the top off a empty tissue box, cut down each corner so that I could open it flat and he put some things in it for me to scap with :) He said if I go to the table to scrap I can just put some stuff in it and take it to the table as it opens flat. Some things in it were, tooth picks LOL, ribbons, rubons, scissors.

Yesterday we had a lovely day here to start off with then it deteriorated as it went on. We went to a 5th birthday party for a dear friend of mines daughter and had a ball. Managed to take 100 photos which I will put on CD for them, probably as soon as I get the photos off the camera. The kids were out side playing with the frisby most of the time. Their section is quite steep and there is higher retaining walls so our boys thought it was great throwing the frizby over the wall, jumping off to get it and then climbing back over it. We had to leave earlyish so that Lionel could get home and check the bulls. They managed to get out the other day onto the road and started heading towards the main road. That is going to be a good thing when we move. There is very little road frontage so the worse the stock can do is get into the neighbours. Luckily these won't be coming with us as they can be a bit hard on fences gates etc.
Today is very cold and damp, although not cold enough to keep the kids inside LOL. Luckily this time they have got boots on though but it is a struggle to keep them on. This afternoon we are away to another birthday party this time a sixth birthday. She is one of Jakes wee friends at school so it will be good for them to have something together before we go. There is still no word on the OIO consent but the time for it is getting closer. Only five weeks to go ekkk. We have decided to buy a container and get it put down where the woolshed/ workshop is and we can start loading alot of smaller stuff into it. Saves trying to pack it all onto a truck and tie it down and then at the other end we will have another storage shed (can't have too many of them now). We won't get any house stuff into it just things like out door furniture etc, so doing it this way we think will save us about a unit load so bringing the cost of cartage back. (Hopefully LOL). Sharee, might even have enough money left to come to SENZ, but don't count on it yet LOL.
Well I hope you all have a fantastic day and all wrapped up warm inside if your day is like ours.
Till next time. Take care
Bronny :)

One proud mum here :)

Forgive me for working backwards here but I have to. :) Today is Thursday and as usual on Thursdays we have playgroup which is held at the local school in their hall, nothing unuasual in that I know :) but when we were having our playgroup morning tea David (whom I know quite well through the Photographic society), the principal came up and asked me if we were interested in taking all the kids down to room three (the junior room) and the kids can sit with the other kids and listen to a story and posibly hear a song. Me being me said yes with out asking all the other mothers, (but luckily they thought it was a great idea.) David said that Jakes teacher would come and check up when she came out to check on the kids for morning tea. We got talking and she was saying how well Jake was doing at school, his reading has improved ten fold in the last couple of months and he has gone up a grade. This made me so proud, but any way 11.00 bell came and the kids went in side, we gathered up the preschoolers (13 of them) and went down to the class. What do I see but Jake sitting up the front of the class with a book. He read to their whole class and our 13 kids and 7 adults and didn't batter an eyelid. He read each page and then turned it around for everyone to see the pictures. For such a shy boy this is a huge step for him and me LOL. To make it even better I had my camera there :). Luckily. I was just over whelmed. Everyone clapped and cheered (particularly me, Olly and Abby :) ) Then we listened to another book read by the teacher and had a song. Everyone had a ball and they have decided it is going to be a weekly thing for the kids. I know for me the next time won't be as exciting or over whelminly heart warming as this one though.

Last night most of the playgroup ladies went out for a meal, it was like a going away drinks for me even though it is along way off before we go. But we decided that it could be a warm up and actually fit another one in before we go and if it all falls though then we will have another one to welcome me back to the area LOL. Any excuse will do us IYKWIM? Any way it was a great night, great meal, great company. Things were going well till I got home about 1.30 then what do I find? The house all locked up and I couldn't get in. "now what do I do?" Try and climb through a window with the thought of DH belting me with something across the head? Or wake him (here goes my thought of sneaking in and when he wakes tell him I have been home for hours). I knock gentley on the window calling his name. Bugger that wasn't working. I didn't want to wake the kids what do a do. So I decided I had to knock and yell at the same time, not gentley but yell loud. So I did. What a sight, DH stumbling out to the lounge moaning because he was asleep saying are you just home? I could hardley say "Oh no, I have been home for hours." Luckily no kids were woken in the ordeal, just a sleeping husband LOL.
Today we had some more great news. A very dear family friend was diagnosed last year about November with cancer. She had scans and had brain tumors and under went Radium treatment and scans proved that it did nothing for her. Now a friend of mine put me onto these tablets and I found I wasn't as listless on them, DH had no trouble with his gums while on them (before hand he had huge trouble with sore gums and teeth), my back was good as gold in the mornings, basically my whole body improved with even moles falling off. grosss I know :) They were also said to help with Cancer. I ordered some and when you order them you get to give them names of people and they will send them a bottle to try. Our dear friend got some about January and has been on them since. Well today she went back to get her scan results and three of her tumors have dissapeared, one has calcified and one has shrunk to half its size. The dr said he wanted to see her in 4 months but if she was feeling as good as she is now to ring him and tell him and they will push out the appointment. This wonderful lady was originally expected to be dead with in 6 weeks (about February). Now she is expected to see her birthday in August and the prognosis is looking pretty good. It really makes you believe in mirracles doesn't it? So right now I think I will have to go and have a celebratery drink for her. To those of you who are still reading. Well done and thanks for listening to me dribble on. Take care. Love and hugs always :)

Well here is some layouts that I haven't put on here. I am not putting all the layouts I do just some. Phew I can here you say :) The first is of my cousin and her family done with BG papers and my new rubons. I love the rubons :) The second is of my two big boys and it is done in the SEI paper range. I even brought out my sewing machine for it and also used my new MM jersey stamps.

Cold day here today with the fire going all day so haven't really done much exciting at all. Did manage to sort out a counter for my Blogg so I can see how many bored people there are in the world looking at little ol me's blogg. LOL.
Any way till next time please take care.

New farm

What a shock, I am back and it has only been about three days.
Yesterday (Saturday) we went down to have a look at the farm for a couple of hours. Well it was meant to be a couple of hours but we got there at 10.30 and left at 4.00. What a fab time we all had though. The kids had a great hunt around and have picked out trees for tree huts (something we don't have much of here). We took a picnic lunch down, I made bacon and egg pie, mince pie (dh and kids love it cold ewww), chicken nibbles and also some cans of fizz which the kids thought were the best thing since slice bread :) One of the neighbours called in to see us which was brilliant. He lent Lionel a motor bike so he could go down over the back and have a look around after they had all the floods. The neighbour is brilliant, easy to talk to etc. He is the sort of guy that I would imagine if we were having a drink out side and he saw us he would call in for a drink and a chat (something I just love :) ) I just can't wait to get down there now.
On the way home we called in to the school for Jake and Olly to have a run around and a look at their school with out 40 pairs of eyes looking at them. They loved it with Jake wanting to get a set of keys for the pool there and then so we could go swimming. Today he was wanting to go back for another look around and to meet the teacher LOL. Gotta love them dont' you.
Today I also talked to my dear friend in the north Island. We have actually decided we are twins seperated at birth. So many things in common it is scary. We talked for 2 hours 7 minutes. Oh I hate those phones with timers.
The gentleman who has brought here called in today and had lunch with us which was great, then three other friends called in and had a drink with us, so we were fairly busy with people calling in all day. I love days like that :)
Well till next time. Take care. :)

Where has the last month gone?

Wow, I came in here after checking Mardi's blogg and can't believe that it has been over a month since I have written anything. I must hide my head in shame really. Lots and lots have happened since then. We have our farm signed up a guy has this farm signed up and it has passed the DDT level check with flying colours. Now we wait, we wait for this gentleman to get his overseas investment commission consent to say that he is allowed to farm in NZ. All the lawyers tell us it is just a formality but really I will not be happy till it is all signed up we have the money in our bank and are shifting down to the other farm. Then just maybe then I shall relax. To be honnest I probably won't be relaxed cause the thought of unpacking isn't one I relish the thought of. Not just the house but the whole farm EKKKK. We will get there hopefully. tomorrow we are away down to the farm to have another look, take the kids down and they can have another look (they have only been down there once) so this will be good for them. We will have a picnic lunch (which I should be getting ready now) and then plan on going to the school to have a look around. This will be good for Jake as he is shy and will enjoy looking around with out other people watching him. Then next time we take him we will go when school is in or when there is a teacher there. Luckily he is really looking forward to it all, well all the kids are. They keep asking "are we going to live at the new farm today?" Poor little chaps, will be wondering if we are ever going to go. 6 weeks is a long time for them.

This layout I have done for a online competition (New Zealand based web site). It was based on a sketch and generally I am happy with it LOL. It is my DH and my BIL (well they aren't married but they might well as be IYKWIM). It was when we were camping at the lakes in the new year and their competative nature came out. Skimming stones, something so simple yet filled in a fair bit of time and entertained many people. :)



Till next time take care :)

Well this is my latest layout. It looks better in real life than it does here. To be honnest it was quite good blowing the old cobwebs out and getting into it again. I haven't sat down and done anything for ages with all that is going on in the farm selling stakes, but I love it any way. :)

Friday we went down to the farm we have signed up and saw what they did with the sewage. It looks really good and of course we got to see it again. We left kidlets at mum and dads on the way down but as it turned out they could of come as the plumber wasn't there. Never mind.

We had a phone call from our real estate agent today (they do work Sundays :) ) and we are sick of waiting for one of the lawyers involved so he is going to our Lawyer 8.30 tomorrow morning and get him on the phone. One way or another it is going to be sorted weather he has to drive to Christchurch and get the papers off her himself. It is so frustrating that she is holding everything up. Grrr. Tomorrow we will be under way and be able to sign this place up. Yeha.

Today my MIL came out for lunch. We had a big roast on and as usual I had a heap done so Li rang her and she said she would come out. And to be honnest I think she enjoyed it and the kids company.

Well today I was talking to Sharee and had a yacka to her for a while :) She has even encouraged me to do canvas. Ekkk don't know how that will go but I will give it a try. I can picture it finneshed but usually when I finnesh it is completely different to how I envisaged it. Time will tell.

Well that is all the news for now. Tomorrow we will know more :)

Another quiet week

This photo was taken last week when the Banadoes went to the beach for a visit. We just met them down there as it is just down the road (all of two minutes) and the kids had a ball. I like this photo as Oliver was jumping and I caught him in mid air plus the sea and Kakanui in the back ground. Pitty Oliver is a bit dark but I might have to have a play with it on the computer :).

We were actually shearing this day and I rang them to say that we were and they were more than welcome to come and have a look after the beach. They took me up on this offer and I rang Lionel to say so. Well you should of seen the look on Lionels face when he sees a forty seater bus pull into the woolshed plus three car loads. He got a bloody fright as he was only expecting 10 kids and three adults when in actual fact there was about 40 kids and 10 adults. Ha teach him RAFLMAO.

Now doesn't she look gorgeous LOL. That hat!!! Do you think I could get it off her while we were at the beach. It fell in the water and it got put straight back on. Water and all LOL. At least they enjoyed it though. And I got plenty of photos what else can you want.


Well things are still going well with the farm. Another two couples coming through tomorrow, means I have to get the house spic and span as well and on top of that we are shearing Corrie lambs. I guess I will be busy flitting from the wool shed rousing to the house tiding up for the next on slaught. Boy I will be pleased when it is all over ;). It isn't really that bad it is just having everything spic and span for people to come in and look at everything. Just hope they haven't been looking in my scrapping supplies. Fingers out of there LOL. :)

Mum and Dad are coming over this weekend, going to come to T-ball and watch Jake then on Sunday we are all going to a Heritage thing here in Oamaru. I figure I haven't been to one yet and if I don't go this year we will be to far away if we end up moving so might as well make the most of it while we are here. Good idea???? They will have blade shearing, people making the old wheels, clydesdale horses ploughing etc all that sort of old time things. I hope to have some photos to share on here :)
Till next time :)

More been looking

Well there has been more people looking at the farm. Todate we have had three different people through and had a look. One of them is coming back Monday for another look. I have friends ask me if we have had many look through. Honnestly I don't know weather or not three through is alot. The farm hasn't been advertised for a week yet and it has only been on the net (today was the first time advertised in the papers). So is three through alot? I don't know. There has been 8 ring the agent about it and booked in to come and have a look so, my fingers and toes are crossed. Both me and my DH dearly want to move on to this other block of land. It is what we both want to do and the type of farm we would both love to get out teeth into. I will endevour to keep this blog up to spec and inform anyone that is reading this up with the ball. (I hope you are reading Sharee as your the only one who knows this web addy RAFLMAO)

Winter is on its way

Well winter is certainly on its way here. Today I have come that close to lighting the fire. If I hadn't been so busy I think I would of. I have cleaned the house from top to bottom. Scary thought that. Only thing I haven't done is wash the ceilings. ewww. :)
Our place is officially on the market now and the agent has just rung to say that five people have rung him and that two banks have approached him on behalf of clients. My fingers and toes and anything is crossed that something comes of it all. It is the worst thing waiting. Seems to take fore ever. We have until the 12 April then if this place isn't sold we loose the right on the other one unless we get an extention. I will miss my new kitchen though if we go, but that is a long way off.
DH is off on the tractor at the moment so I probably won't see him till the kids are in bed. Tomorrow I am off to town as it is town day for us. Get the littlies off to Banardos and groceries done then I hope to meet a friend for lunch. I haven't caught up with her since about December and she is due April. They have a shearing run and are that busy it isn't funny. So if we don't do it now we are running out of time before bubs arrives. That is exciting too.
Well till next time take care.

Last one away to day care.

Well today is the first day that my baby girl has gone to daycare. They only go for three hours a week on Wednesday morning. It was a great feeling but sad also. I could do what ever and not have to worry about her. Like this was the first time in 5 years that I have been into Tangibles (a little gift shop full of things that are within kids reach and are breakable LOL). She enjoyed being ther too and her big brother looked after her. At lunch time she spilt yoghurt down her front and one of the ladies said, oh look at the mess. Big brother said, oh that is all right she gets in a mess at home all the time. He said all this with such a straight face apparently. :) Gott love innocence don't you :) The three hours went really fast though. Next week I plan on getting a hair cut which will be wonderful :)

Another busy weekend

Well what a long day today. :) I went to a friends house last night for the local playgroup and we had tea and a few drinks (probably a few too many drinks). It was so nice sitting outside looking out to the beach and having a nice cool glass of wine with wonderful company. It was the local playgroup girls so we all had no kids. DH worked out if I have been helping him on the farm all day and going out at night I don't usually have time to get ready and do their tea as well so he took the three kids to town with him and they got takeaways :).
Then today we had to be down at the yards at 7.30 as there was lambs going away so considering I didn't get home till 2.00 it is going to be a long day. I just am not use to this late night drinking thing but it was enjoyable.