Well Becca is now 7 - and I am at least 120! The party went well - 14 small girls made beautiful (if slightly tacky!) beady things; they ate disgustingly pink icecream cake and sang happy birthday, and made more noise than you would think possible - so we put them into cars and drove them to someone elses party!! Very painless! Must remember to take down the balloons on the gate.
As usual, I never fail to be amazed by the wild imagination of toy makers - Becca got a Pop Idol Barbie (longer legs than the Colossus of Rhodes! and arms like Mr Tickle!), a fortune telling mirror and quite remarkable array of things that you can stick together, take apart and generally mess around with for hours.
Sunday was slightly more complicated. At 2.10 I was soooo organised that I actually started hanging washing out - and this would have been fine but for the fact that I had told Heather and her boys (including Neil, her nearly famous yachtsman husband - ) to come around at 2.00 not 2.30 as I had thought! In usual Percy fashion, my guests spent the first 20 minutes talking amongst themselves while I put the hoover away, got washed and changed and tried to remember what I was meant to be doing next in the kitchen! I complicated things further by deciding that a mussel starter was in order - not that smart when you consider that I have never cooked mussels before (John's dept!) and the Turkey was out of the oven before I even started to reduce the sauce!!
In the event, we finally sat down to "Christmas Lunch" at 4.15 - so my 3.00 estimate was not far off?! Was not a bad lunch, in fact - but I can never understand why Roast Turkey makes you so much fuller than roast beef, pork or lamb - do not remember ever having felt so full in my life!
After pud and mince pies we had a very lovely evening in front of a blazing log fire before everyone left to get the kids to a reasonably early night before school. Once abandoned to clear the rubble, I discovered I had forgotten to serve both the cranberry sauce and the rum butter!
Today felt just like Boxing Day (except for going to work) - girls took turkey sandwiches to school and I took some to work. And this evening Soph dropped in to say 'hi' having just arrived back from Australia - and we had cold Turkey salad for dinner - figure I should just about be through the cold stuff just in time for Christmas!
27 June 2005
23 June 2005
The date!
Thought you might like a bit of a giggle at my expense as I re-enter the world of dating!
Let's face it whole thing a bit of a nightmare anyway - hadn't actually reckoned on having to remember how to flirt at the age of 40, or on having to question whether I am a decent kisser or not! Certainly hadn't reckoned on the fact that it seems that I am doomed never to meet a sinlge, attractive and attractable male - BUT... Soph's nearly ex boyfriend, has a very lovely lawyer friend who very gamely rang me for a blind date! (never done one of those before either!)
After chatting on the phone for an hour on Monday and arranging to meet next Wednesday, we had a bit of a text flirt going on (whole new realm from last time I was dating!) on Tuesday, and on Wednesday I resolved to keep thumb away from phone keys as I wasn't sure my bank account could take the strain of a week of unabated texting! Anyway, turns out nice chap and I had got wires crossed - I had a phone call this Wednesday asking if I was standing him up! Oops!!
Anyway, invited him over for a glass of wine.
Remember the sitcom scene where the woman tidies up by stuffing everything behind the sofa or in the cupboard etc - well imagine that coupled with a desperate attempt to not look like I have just stood in the rain watching netball (which I have!) after a fairly heavy day at work! All in 15 mins - didn't even have decent standby outfit to change into as the weather has been so bad that pretty much everything is wet or dirty! Oh and no food in house either!
Did manage a fresh face and shirt - but sadly, I don't think that this made up for the Chrystaltips hair!
Anyway, nice evening - but very lovely man and I made no sparks at all. Sooo, back to the drawing board!
Maybe I need to set up a dating agency?!
Let's face it whole thing a bit of a nightmare anyway - hadn't actually reckoned on having to remember how to flirt at the age of 40, or on having to question whether I am a decent kisser or not! Certainly hadn't reckoned on the fact that it seems that I am doomed never to meet a sinlge, attractive and attractable male - BUT... Soph's nearly ex boyfriend, has a very lovely lawyer friend who very gamely rang me for a blind date! (never done one of those before either!)
After chatting on the phone for an hour on Monday and arranging to meet next Wednesday, we had a bit of a text flirt going on (whole new realm from last time I was dating!) on Tuesday, and on Wednesday I resolved to keep thumb away from phone keys as I wasn't sure my bank account could take the strain of a week of unabated texting! Anyway, turns out nice chap and I had got wires crossed - I had a phone call this Wednesday asking if I was standing him up! Oops!!
Anyway, invited him over for a glass of wine.
Remember the sitcom scene where the woman tidies up by stuffing everything behind the sofa or in the cupboard etc - well imagine that coupled with a desperate attempt to not look like I have just stood in the rain watching netball (which I have!) after a fairly heavy day at work! All in 15 mins - didn't even have decent standby outfit to change into as the weather has been so bad that pretty much everything is wet or dirty! Oh and no food in house either!
Did manage a fresh face and shirt - but sadly, I don't think that this made up for the Chrystaltips hair!
Anyway, nice evening - but very lovely man and I made no sparks at all. Sooo, back to the drawing board!
Maybe I need to set up a dating agency?!
21 June 2005
Faster than a Speeding Bullet!
Well, it turns out that time has flown again, and I haven't blogged. Cannot believe we are already into June and soon into July. It seems that the older I get the faster I run, the more gets crammed in - and still the days whizz past until I hit yet another birthday!
Speaking of which...Lou's birthday was a hoot, popcorn and pizzas were demolished and it was very civilised - no tears, not much mess and general good will all round! Suspect Becca's on Saturday may be another story!
Today is Tuesday - (I have just marzipanned the Christmas cake for Sunday. At some point between now and then will also have to ice it - doubtless there will be the usual spikey icing snow scene - can't remember when I took over Christmas cake duties from Mum but am rather hoping that soon Booie will get the urge!) and I am in the middle of the week from Hell!
I realised this afternoon that I hadn't got around to buying Becca's birthday present (so, now you know it is nothing to do with the post!), neither have I made up the party bags or started on the cake. This year, finally, Rebecca has decided that she would like a cake that she likes! For the last however many years she has insisted on sponge cake, even though she won't touch it. So this year, she has decided on a number 7 ice cream cake in synthetic pink strawberry ice cream. I have never made an ice cream cake before - but I will have by the end of this week as I can't find anywhere to buy one from! Have also got to remember to be in for 6 hours in a row to cook the Christmas pudding - although I have remembered to order a turkey and have passed on veggie duties to Sarah and Mathew - Heather is being Trifle monitor.
If the above sounds doable, remember there is also the job and netball! Just to add to my pleasure there is also "Americana" at school on Thursday. This is, almost, a concert! It follows in the tradition of the Scottish Night (St Andrews Day 2003), Irish Night (St Paddy's night 2004), and Pacifica (some time since St Paddy's). A 'choir' of hundreds (ish - although it has gradually diminished in size), known as Chelsea Singers, gather in the school hall wearing appropriate dress (parents also expected to dress up!)(none of which have been organised yet!) and then sing-a-long-a-tape deck of traditional songs from the region for about 3 hours (not exaggerating very much - honest!)! Within this set-up there are then a number soloists and groups who take on a song. One or two of them can sing but most can't - very painful - usually there is at least one cute (but appallingly precocious) 5 year old , who is chosen because he/she is ok about standing up in front of a couple of hundred adults, rather than because they can actually sing!
Anyway, Thursday we have Americana. Highlights will include Tie a Yellow Ribbon, You Must have Been a Beautiful Baby and If I knew you Were Coming I'd Have Baked a Cake. Deep Joy! That said, the kids enjoy it so I really should stop grizzling and smile and clap as usual!
I think after this week we get to settle into wintry comfort stuff - as in warm jumpers in front of open fires and log burners on a Sunday afternoon with the papers. Tends to not be quite so much running around in the winter.
Other news - was out at friends on Saturday. Pot luck dinner. As in everyone takes a dish and who knows what you end up with - this is not actually a particularly good idea as it seems that in general everyone takes curry, or everyone takes puddings! Saturday's, however, very good spread including a pumpkin hollowed out and mashed up and then peas put in and spooned back into the shell (no idea how the peas didn't get marmalised, but they didn't) - v. tasty. Only after I got home did I realise that probably for the first time ever, I was the only Pom! Had a very good evening none the less!
Have also decided that to shift the weight again (how stupid am I!) I need a challenge - and so Soph, me and one of the Kiwi's from Saturday are going to do the round Taupo bike run. If you don't know about Lake Taupo, it is huge. Look at a map of NZ - the big blue blob in the middle of the North Island, that is Lake Taupo - it is a 160k round trip. Could do it twice - but figure I have to leave challenges for future crises! Am setting up an exercise bike inside and a bike stand (you can train on your own bike without going anywhere and your bottom gets moulded your saddle!) in the garage. It's on November 26th - haven't decided whether to get sponsors yet - will let you know if I do!
Dave the lovely Scot who read at our wedding is over in a couple of weeks to see some of the Lions matches. Soph and I are going to catch up with him and his new wife for a few days which I am looking forward to - and Soph moves back to Auckland next week. So loads of stuff happening - all good.
Oh, and am out on a date next week!
Speaking of which...Lou's birthday was a hoot, popcorn and pizzas were demolished and it was very civilised - no tears, not much mess and general good will all round! Suspect Becca's on Saturday may be another story!
Today is Tuesday - (I have just marzipanned the Christmas cake for Sunday. At some point between now and then will also have to ice it - doubtless there will be the usual spikey icing snow scene - can't remember when I took over Christmas cake duties from Mum but am rather hoping that soon Booie will get the urge!) and I am in the middle of the week from Hell!
I realised this afternoon that I hadn't got around to buying Becca's birthday present (so, now you know it is nothing to do with the post!), neither have I made up the party bags or started on the cake. This year, finally, Rebecca has decided that she would like a cake that she likes! For the last however many years she has insisted on sponge cake, even though she won't touch it. So this year, she has decided on a number 7 ice cream cake in synthetic pink strawberry ice cream. I have never made an ice cream cake before - but I will have by the end of this week as I can't find anywhere to buy one from! Have also got to remember to be in for 6 hours in a row to cook the Christmas pudding - although I have remembered to order a turkey and have passed on veggie duties to Sarah and Mathew - Heather is being Trifle monitor.
If the above sounds doable, remember there is also the job and netball! Just to add to my pleasure there is also "Americana" at school on Thursday. This is, almost, a concert! It follows in the tradition of the Scottish Night (St Andrews Day 2003), Irish Night (St Paddy's night 2004), and Pacifica (some time since St Paddy's). A 'choir' of hundreds (ish - although it has gradually diminished in size), known as Chelsea Singers, gather in the school hall wearing appropriate dress (parents also expected to dress up!)(none of which have been organised yet!) and then sing-a-long-a-tape deck of traditional songs from the region for about 3 hours (not exaggerating very much - honest!)! Within this set-up there are then a number soloists and groups who take on a song. One or two of them can sing but most can't - very painful - usually there is at least one cute (but appallingly precocious) 5 year old , who is chosen because he/she is ok about standing up in front of a couple of hundred adults, rather than because they can actually sing!
Anyway, Thursday we have Americana. Highlights will include Tie a Yellow Ribbon, You Must have Been a Beautiful Baby and If I knew you Were Coming I'd Have Baked a Cake. Deep Joy! That said, the kids enjoy it so I really should stop grizzling and smile and clap as usual!
I think after this week we get to settle into wintry comfort stuff - as in warm jumpers in front of open fires and log burners on a Sunday afternoon with the papers. Tends to not be quite so much running around in the winter.
Other news - was out at friends on Saturday. Pot luck dinner. As in everyone takes a dish and who knows what you end up with - this is not actually a particularly good idea as it seems that in general everyone takes curry, or everyone takes puddings! Saturday's, however, very good spread including a pumpkin hollowed out and mashed up and then peas put in and spooned back into the shell (no idea how the peas didn't get marmalised, but they didn't) - v. tasty. Only after I got home did I realise that probably for the first time ever, I was the only Pom! Had a very good evening none the less!
Have also decided that to shift the weight again (how stupid am I!) I need a challenge - and so Soph, me and one of the Kiwi's from Saturday are going to do the round Taupo bike run. If you don't know about Lake Taupo, it is huge. Look at a map of NZ - the big blue blob in the middle of the North Island, that is Lake Taupo - it is a 160k round trip. Could do it twice - but figure I have to leave challenges for future crises! Am setting up an exercise bike inside and a bike stand (you can train on your own bike without going anywhere and your bottom gets moulded your saddle!) in the garage. It's on November 26th - haven't decided whether to get sponsors yet - will let you know if I do!
Dave the lovely Scot who read at our wedding is over in a couple of weeks to see some of the Lions matches. Soph and I are going to catch up with him and his new wife for a few days which I am looking forward to - and Soph moves back to Auckland next week. So loads of stuff happening - all good.
Oh, and am out on a date next week!
08 June 2005
Winter's here....
Sunday was the start of winter. I know this emphatically and without a shadow of a doubt for four reasons: 1 - we had our first roast of the year: roast lamb, onion sauce, mint jelly, snips etc - followed by a rather stonking apple crumble which I didn't make. 2 - turned around the living room. In summer we face our French doors and our deck, winter we face the open fire. 3 - lit the fire (just! - come back John all is forgiven!). And 4 - fleecy PJs came out of storage.
And Blimey, it is seriously brass monkey weather!! Always forget how chilly it gets here. Don't think it is anything like as cold as the UK, but for some Godforsaken reason, no-one seems to think that GCH is very necessary here. We live in little wooden houses on hillsides with wicked winds pitching in from the Pacific, the Tasman and the cold bit by the South Pole (can never remember which is Arctic and which is Antarctic!) - and we have no radiators!! There have been evenings in the last 3 years when I have resorted to spending the evening in my sleeping bag! Mind you, the kiwis are a bit dillusional when it comes to weather. In the summer they blast everything with air conditioning so that it's almost as cold as winter.
Speaking of curious kiwi things - did you know that over here, a French door / patio door, is called a ranch slider?! Linen is Manchester. Sweeties are lollies. Ice lollies are iceblocks and trousers are pants. Never thought I would get used to the trousers / pants thing - but confess to actually calling trousers pants!
I think I have started to wander - focusing, briefly - what's new?
Girls have colds again, Rebecca has had another chest infection. It has rained for 3 weeks. I'm fatter.
Saturday is Louisa's birthday party. Yes her birthday is in January. It falls smack in the middle of the school and annual holidays so no-one is ever in Auckland and so Lou's party generally gets kicked into February. This year, however she has been really rather skanky and I have had to cancel it (with the option to buy it back with good behaviour) at least 3 times! Finally, 6 months late (or 6 months early, whichever way you prefer to look at it!), Boo is having 6 friends (including Jacob!!!) round on Saturday for the movie "A Series of Unfortunate Events" followed by Hell's Pizza and a couple of girlies staying over. Think the movie is to be accompanied by much popcorn, and the Pizza is to be followed by multi-coloured jelly sucked up through straws! She's looking forward to it - and she is behaving beautifully. Have had a lovely Loulou for about 4 weeks, but who's counting?:! Should also mention at this point that Boo has been trying to set me up with Jacob's Dad!
Two weeks after that, Becca is having her birthday party (on the day!). She's having a jewellery making party with 10 little friends. Was going to all be straight forward except that this afternoon she came home with an invitation to a friends party on the same day and at the same time! Arghh! So now, her party is preceding the other party and there will be a convoy of mothers shipping screaming 6/7 year olds to part II of the party at the local bowling alley.
After that, I think I would probably quite welcome settling into a cold bottle of unoaked Chardonnay, however, instead I will be peeling potatoes, carrots, parsnips and sprouts for 12, for Mid-winter Christmas on the Sunday. Which reminds me, at some point I really must cook off my Christmas puds!
Strangely, however much I know that we are now in Winter (see paragraph 1!) my brain does this weird loop and thinks that I should be planning New Year's Eve soon. And despite the fact that my washing seems to spend more time hanging limp and wet on the line than it does in my wardrobe (does spend a Hell of a long time scrunched up in the ironing basket too, but hey!??!), I still find myself talking about June, July and August as 'over the summer' - as in 'we'll go down to Taupo and see Megan over the summer...' - as I said, weird brain loop!
Netball continues. The girls do Chelsea Singers (I'll tell you about that another day!) on Wednesday and Thursday mornings before school, which gets me in 30 minutes early, which buys me half an hour in the afternoon - which means I get to get back from work in time to see Lou play netball. Turns out my Booie is really neat little player. Better on attack than defence. Her shooting is amazing and she marks like a little demon (till the other player gets the ball, when she kind of gives up!) - and sometimes she seems to make space! as in make it!! Anyway, I haven't played netball since I was about 15 and have never watched a whole game in my life - but suddenly Wednesday afternoon netball is the highlight of my week - not least cause I get a wee bit of time with Lou on her own. Saturday netball comes in a close second, of course!
Bedtime - cold sheets - girls have heaters and wheatie bags - I have holey socks - woe is me!
N'night xxx
And Blimey, it is seriously brass monkey weather!! Always forget how chilly it gets here. Don't think it is anything like as cold as the UK, but for some Godforsaken reason, no-one seems to think that GCH is very necessary here. We live in little wooden houses on hillsides with wicked winds pitching in from the Pacific, the Tasman and the cold bit by the South Pole (can never remember which is Arctic and which is Antarctic!) - and we have no radiators!! There have been evenings in the last 3 years when I have resorted to spending the evening in my sleeping bag! Mind you, the kiwis are a bit dillusional when it comes to weather. In the summer they blast everything with air conditioning so that it's almost as cold as winter.
Speaking of curious kiwi things - did you know that over here, a French door / patio door, is called a ranch slider?! Linen is Manchester. Sweeties are lollies. Ice lollies are iceblocks and trousers are pants. Never thought I would get used to the trousers / pants thing - but confess to actually calling trousers pants!
I think I have started to wander - focusing, briefly - what's new?
Girls have colds again, Rebecca has had another chest infection. It has rained for 3 weeks. I'm fatter.
Saturday is Louisa's birthday party. Yes her birthday is in January. It falls smack in the middle of the school and annual holidays so no-one is ever in Auckland and so Lou's party generally gets kicked into February. This year, however she has been really rather skanky and I have had to cancel it (with the option to buy it back with good behaviour) at least 3 times! Finally, 6 months late (or 6 months early, whichever way you prefer to look at it!), Boo is having 6 friends (including Jacob!!!) round on Saturday for the movie "A Series of Unfortunate Events" followed by Hell's Pizza and a couple of girlies staying over. Think the movie is to be accompanied by much popcorn, and the Pizza is to be followed by multi-coloured jelly sucked up through straws! She's looking forward to it - and she is behaving beautifully. Have had a lovely Loulou for about 4 weeks, but who's counting?:! Should also mention at this point that Boo has been trying to set me up with Jacob's Dad!
Two weeks after that, Becca is having her birthday party (on the day!). She's having a jewellery making party with 10 little friends. Was going to all be straight forward except that this afternoon she came home with an invitation to a friends party on the same day and at the same time! Arghh! So now, her party is preceding the other party and there will be a convoy of mothers shipping screaming 6/7 year olds to part II of the party at the local bowling alley.
After that, I think I would probably quite welcome settling into a cold bottle of unoaked Chardonnay, however, instead I will be peeling potatoes, carrots, parsnips and sprouts for 12, for Mid-winter Christmas on the Sunday. Which reminds me, at some point I really must cook off my Christmas puds!
Strangely, however much I know that we are now in Winter (see paragraph 1!) my brain does this weird loop and thinks that I should be planning New Year's Eve soon. And despite the fact that my washing seems to spend more time hanging limp and wet on the line than it does in my wardrobe (does spend a Hell of a long time scrunched up in the ironing basket too, but hey!??!), I still find myself talking about June, July and August as 'over the summer' - as in 'we'll go down to Taupo and see Megan over the summer...' - as I said, weird brain loop!
Netball continues. The girls do Chelsea Singers (I'll tell you about that another day!) on Wednesday and Thursday mornings before school, which gets me in 30 minutes early, which buys me half an hour in the afternoon - which means I get to get back from work in time to see Lou play netball. Turns out my Booie is really neat little player. Better on attack than defence. Her shooting is amazing and she marks like a little demon (till the other player gets the ball, when she kind of gives up!) - and sometimes she seems to make space! as in make it!! Anyway, I haven't played netball since I was about 15 and have never watched a whole game in my life - but suddenly Wednesday afternoon netball is the highlight of my week - not least cause I get a wee bit of time with Lou on her own. Saturday netball comes in a close second, of course!
Strange how there are some things in a situation which you don't anticipate. As in, you split up with long term husband and expect to be broke and tired. You expect to get a bit frazzled from time to time. You don't think about the fact that you will rarely get any time with either of your children on their own anymore. Thursday night is Lou's Brownie night so I get some time to read with Becs and have cuddles, and Lou I get 20 minutes after Netball - but that's about it.
Anyway.... just to complete my promises from previous blog - played Triv a couple of weeks back with a load of poms and a token kiwi. Girls led 5 - 0 for the bulk of the game, but couldn't land on the last piece of cheese - and in the end were beaten by the chaps! We wuz robbed!
Played a brief and unfinished game on Sunday after the roast as well and discovered that Matthew cheats!! (Could he have me for libel for publishing this fact on the web do you think?) - Turns out Sarah knows as much useless information as I do! - possibly more actually.
Spell checker very sad on the blog site - a 'Pom' is a poem - 'netball' is notable - 'Louisa' is logic and 'Jacob' is scabies! Oh, and defence is spelt with an s not a c!
Bedtime - cold sheets - girls have heaters and wheatie bags - I have holey socks - woe is me!
N'night xxx
07 June 2005
Broken Things
Can anyone tell me why absolutely everything breaks at the same time? Currently I seem to be in the middle of Breaksville! Since and including the breaking of my marriage, I have had a broken kettle, fridge, clutch, mobile phone, home phone, hoover, sewing machine and last week my computer! Lost everything! Ho hum, life goes on! However, that is my very long winded way of making a very genuine excuse for not having updated blog in the last couple of weeks.
That said, am beginning to have a strong belief in Karma! Before arriving in NZ and having driven for 19 years to that point, I had never had a flat tyre or a puncture - since September 2003 I have now had 7! I am now starting to suspect that this is a direct result of the fact that in December 2002 when we literally didn't have 2 pennies to rub together, I didn't own up to the fact that a tyre company charged me $21.00 instead of $210.00 to replace my two worn front tyres. I am now frantically doing the math and figure that at $25.00 a plug, I am now about even - and am hoping that now I have also squared my karma - but I'm not holding my breath!
By the way if you want to send me any photos to cheer up my sad pc - gratefully accepted!
That said, am beginning to have a strong belief in Karma! Before arriving in NZ and having driven for 19 years to that point, I had never had a flat tyre or a puncture - since September 2003 I have now had 7! I am now starting to suspect that this is a direct result of the fact that in December 2002 when we literally didn't have 2 pennies to rub together, I didn't own up to the fact that a tyre company charged me $21.00 instead of $210.00 to replace my two worn front tyres. I am now frantically doing the math and figure that at $25.00 a plug, I am now about even - and am hoping that now I have also squared my karma - but I'm not holding my breath!
By the way if you want to send me any photos to cheer up my sad pc - gratefully accepted!
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