DONKEY BRAYS, PLANES SOAR!

Weird Title today eh?

Why? cos where we live now it very near to the biggest park in New Zealand... and the Botanic Gardens... it is a beautiful suburb! And from my lounge windows I can see the parkland... and there is a donkey on the hill that brays out "HEE HAWWW, heeee hawww" every now and then.. it is so cute!

This is from one of the lounge windows, the donkey and a few horses are in the paddock above that chimney.....

And as for the planes... well we are fairly near to the Auckland International Airport.... so we get to see lots of really big planes either leaving or arriving... but we are far enough away to not have the noise as well.

I am loving it here! It is soooo close to wonderful SHOPPING, yet we are in a lovely quiet area with lovely views.

Today I am going to continue sorting out 'stuff'.... and try to get into that garage and start finding stuff that I need! Like, I can't find the chopping boards, or my valance off my bed... hell there's heaps I can't find!

I am hoping we can place the potted plants around the yard too... lots to do!

We also need to go and buy some stick on thingee's for the big glass doors... my Aunt walked into one yesterday and so did I! You can't tell they are closed cos there's nothing but a big plate glass door and it looks like they are open! I was kinda lucky cos me boobs hit the glass and I bounced off! My Aunt hit her head. Oh well, shit happens! ONWARD.....

ABOVE AND BELOW: Our house from the front, with all our metal bits, letterbox and pots. Looks so neat!

ABOVE: The Front Door Entrance.... Didn't take long to find just the right things to put here.

Right, back to it.....

Mum and I went to an old freind's 80th Birthday this afternoon... spent about 3 hours there and then back home for dinner.

End of Day: I'm knackered (AGAIN)... but we are getting there! I'm thrilled to bits with how the outside is looking. Just have to get into the garage now!

NSV: been very good with food intake today... I am sure I'm burning it all off as I go! nite nite.

TEDDY COMES HOME TODAY!

AWWWW our wee dog comes home today, I'm really looking forward to that. I am going out today to get him a water proof kennel so he can spend time outside.... we really have no room for him in the garage at the moment! :



ABOVE... our garage now! NO room to move! It will take me months to sort this bloody lot out. Oh well, I won't be idle eh?

ABOVE: The first container... packed to the max arrives...

The first thing to go into our new home... my bed. lol

Here's C***** taking the old letterbox out of the ground for me yesterday....


And here's C***** and J****** putting MY LETTERBOX in it's new home... it was so neat of them to do that for me! I gave them lunch for being so nice....

The first room I finished.... the spare bedroom, which my Mum is sleeping in at the moment. Notice the 'doodle' art on the wall that I got from Rick Green ? It was the FIRST thing I hung on a wall in our new home! And it goes so well in this room.... I'm wrapt with it.

I am going to take lots more photos today now that I'm back on the 'net and show off some more finished rooms..... and hopefully over the weekend I can start catching up on some blog reading!

But for now I've got to get the kids to school, go buy a kennel.... you know... DO STUFF!!! lol

ABOVE AND BELOW: Griffin's new room.... I am thrilled with it!

Mum and I went SHOPPING this morning... I forgot to publish me post for the day! Derrrr..... anyway... where was I ? Oh yes, SHOPPING! We went and bought more school uniform for the kids, then got a kennel for Teddy:

ABOVE: Teddy's new kennel..... with a lovely warm padded bed inside to keep him warm... poor wee bugger is going outside tonight! Hope he doesn't cry all night!

See the colour of the carpet? GET USED TO IT.... ha ha ha ha! I have no doubt I will be showing off me purchases on it in the future....

End of Day: another really neat day, but we did no unpacking today... having a break!

NSV: I cooked dinner for the first time in our new house.. wooo hooo! It took me a few minutes to figure out how to get the stove to go... but I did it ! nite nite.

MAYBE I WILL GET INTERNET TODAY?

TODAY:

- Kids to school.
- Stew to work.
- Final container arrives.
- Telecom man arrives (hopefully) to get our internet up and running..... he bloody better!

Also, I must do a grocery grab, we have NO FOOD!!!

Mu Mum is here now also, so I shall have the delight of showing her around the new home.... she arrived so late last night it wasn't really possible to show her much.... EXCITEMENT ABOUNDS!

I am praying the internet is on some time today too... I can't wait to post some photos!!! I have a lot......

No doubt my Aunt Ethel will arrive this morning too, my Mum is her big sister.... Ethel has been a godsend to me over these last few days, helping me with the kids and with the unpacking.... ahhhh family eh? Some ya just can't live without. LOL.

Right, I'm off for now, hopefully I can pop back on during the day like 'normal' once me internet is connected. I miss multi-updating! ha ha ha! I'm a blog addict... I have missed reading how you are all doing too.....

FINALLY.... we have internet! We have photos:

ABOVE: The mountains on the way up to Auckland....



Brylee and Griffin in their new school uniforms, ready to go to school on Monday morning.....

The family room... before we got our furniture..


DITTO with the lounge....



And the garage.....

MORE photos tomorrow..... it's been another LONG day and I'm knackered! The final container didn't take too long to unload... lots of garden stuff.... and me letterbox! Woo hoo, it really is starting to feel like home.

Did a big grocery shop this afternoon too.... really am feeling like a burst balloon.... haggard.

End of Day: it's starting to all come together... and I've not felt stressed out ONCE! This is lucky for the moving guys .... cos they would have copped it if I'd gotten CRABBY..... ha ha ha.

NSV: eeeerrrrr none today.... I had a pie for lunch! EVIL.... nite nite!

BLOODY HELL I'M TIRED!

TODAY:
- Kids to school
- Stew to work
- Me to house to meet mover guys

I have woken up aching all over! I'm exhausted and the day hasn't even started yet!

But I'm up for it! The sooner we have everything in the house the sooner I can slowly plod my way through it all and get it all sorted out...

We are going to be selling a few pieces of furniture, and I have two big boxes of surplus kitchen ware etc to take to the local Hospice Shop already!

I am quite excited about today too... I think they are bringing both containers today if they can do it in time.... somehow I think they are pushing it a bit, but time will tell. I hope my feet stand up to another day's hard slog!

The spin off of being so busy is you simply don't think of food! I didn't even feel hungry yesterday till late afternoon! EXCELLENT!
Right, enough blabbering... I better get going.....

Today has been AWESOME!!!! I walked the kids to school... there's a very steep hill on the way back, NEARLY KILLED ME! lol
Then the 2nd container arrived and we spent most of today unloading it and finding places for some of the stuff, the rest had to go in the garage and under the house in the 'wine cellar' room.... oh my god are we going to have to get rid of lots of stuff !!!

We had our first dinner in our new home tonight... fish and chips ... it was soooo bloody nice! I kept looking around thinking I was in someone else's house... it still does not feel real to be here!

My mum arrives at 20 past midnight tonight too.... I am picking her up... I finally found some bedding for her bed late this afternoon! There is still so much to find!

WE have this amazing new TV,... but can't find the remotes to get it going yet... hell I hope we find them soon! Coronation Street is on TOMORROW! HA HA HA.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE our new home!!!! I get a thrill just being in it! I know, I'm a sad tart!

End of Day: another fantastic day. Tomorrow should be too, they are bringing the last container, then I can slowly plow my way through all the unopened boxes etc and get it all sorted.

NSV: I am sooo tired I am forgetting to eat, I'm getting masses of exercise... and I feel great! WOOOOO HOOO! nite nite from my new home.

CONTAINER No# ONE ARRIVES.....

TODAY:

- First container arrives!
- Kids to school (back to normal)
- UNPACKING... what more can I say?

UNPACKING..... UNPACKING.... UNPACKING... UNPACKING !!!

Hopefully I can get my internet connection up and running today sometime... then I can use my own computer and post some photos! How neat will THAT be? I have missed posting photos!

I still can't get the smile off me dial..... I am hoping like hell we can sleep in our new home tonight! Time will tell.....

PHEW!!! The 1st container arrived today... we were at the house waiting... it took about 2 hours to get everything out, then we and the mover guys started undoing boxes, assembling furniture, beds etc.... it was bedlam! My FEET are killing me! And me back...

I took photos..... but the internet connection at our new house is down... so I can't use my computer... hence... NO PHOTOS YET. sooooo sorry!

Someone asked me why we didn't get all three containers today? Well we could only do one a day... they are huge! And there is no point unloading anymore than you can sort out in one day!

I am back at my Aunt's house at the moment, just had dinner, then I'm going back to continue sorting out todays lot. Tomorrow I am on my own as Stew has to return to work... so it will a longer, harder day tomorrow.

We are not sleeping at the new house tonight, it's just not possible! There is still too much to sort out.... I'm hoping tomorrow night we will.

End of Day: I"M THRILLED WITH OUR NEW HOME... IT MAY BE SMALLER, BUT IT'S GORGEOUS! Time to go back....

NSV: Bloody hell am I ever getting a good workout! Burning calories... yeah baby! nite nite.

TODAY IS THE DAY..... and off to school they go!

Today we officially own our new home... probably late this afternoon.... I am sooooo excited! How can I make this day go faster????

AND... Brylee and Griffin start at their new school this morning too.... how exciting for them too. Well, my fingers are crossed that we don't have any problems! When Griffin started Kindy and school he vomitted every morning for MONTHS... and screamed and cried.... hell I hope he doesn't do that! He is such a little "homebody"... and likes his routines....
I am expecting both of them to cry a bit though... the poor little buggers don't know anyone at this school! Scary stuff for a little kid.
Stew and I are planning on devoting the bulk of today to settling them into school....
No other plans till we get the keys to the house.

So, that's our day planned... cross ya fingers everything goes as expected, and the kids have an awesome first day at The Gardens School. later....

- 8.30 am... went down to the uniform shop to get last of kids school uniform

- 8.45 am.... kids to their new classes...BOTH cried... but then settled and were FINE!!! We hung around for about 20 minutes then left!

- 9 am to 12 noon.... went to shopping centre and had morning tea, then we went to local Medical Centre to enrol and line up a new Family Doctor.

12 - 2.30 pm... chilled out at Aunty and Uncle's home

2.45 pm... picked up the kids, who had a wonderful day and were very happy. (Thank God)

3.15 pm... WE PICKED UP THE KEYS TO OUR NEW HOME! Wooooo hoooo.... everything went smoothly with no problems whatsoever.

3.30 pm to 5 pm... we were in our NEW HOME.... just wandering around getting aquainted.... what switches turned on what lights, how the alarm worked etc. IT WAS SO NEAT.

We are now back our Aunt's home... tomorrow will be a BIG day... the first container will arrive in the morning and will be unloaded, then another container will arrive on Wednesday and the third one on Thursday.

ALSO on Wednesday night VERY late my Mum is arriving from Australia to visit... HELL I hope I've found a bed for her by then! LOL.

End of Day: how many times can I say 'AWESOME'? I am so happy you can't wipe the smile of me dial! YIPEE to being happy.
NSV: I was craving cheesecake, I ate Cheesecake, I'm bloody happy. So there! nite nite.

SUNDAY... A TRUE DAY OF REST!

TODAY:
- visit Stew's Dad
- Check out Botany Town Centre (Stew's idea) NO SHOPPING!
- Just chill out and do bugger all! Maybe take a walk around the new neighbourhood?

Today is about no stress, no housework, no worries.... just relaxing. There will be enough to do in the next week or so ...... the next two days are going to be all about chillin out and getting some rest.

NO PHOTOS either, I'm using my Uncle's computer.... you poor buggers will have to wait until my computer is connected at our new home! But think of the fun when I can post some! wooo hooo!

RIGHT, I'm off to start the day as a JAFA.... *BIG SMILES*

We have had a lovely day... our visit to see Stew's Dad went well. His Dad is nearly 92.. and very frail so we don't stay long. After that we went to Botany Town Centre... I did buy something! Two lovely plants, one for me and one for my Aunt and Uncle.. and a wee gift for me Aunty too.... new school shoes for Brylee and a Car Parking Sign with my name on it for our new garage! So, obviously I cannot go near shops without buying SOMETHING...*sigh* You all knew that already though I am thinking! LOL

We did a 'drive by' our new home... and the present owner was there .. saw us and waved us in to have another look! How cool... I got to go in and have another drool.... ha ha ha. I still LOVE the house.... it is much smaller than what we are used to of course, but such a nice feeling house. I can't wait till tomorrow when it is ours.

End of Day: it's been another awesome day... no stresses, just having fun together. And the weather has been awesome, sunny and warm (well out of the wind that is!)......

NSV: I am feeling happier today than I have in a very long time... this is good. nite nite.

SATURDAY ... WOOOO HOOOOO

MY LETTERBOX... not quite the last thing to go... but DEFINITELY one of the most important! We are leaving No 3 ******** and moving to No 3 *******... HOW COOL IS THAT? We don't even have to change our number.

THE day has finally arrived!

LEAVING PALMERSTON NORTH!!!! YES YES YES!

WE have a long drive ahead of us, but I can't wait to go... our new home awaits.....
Being together as a family again.... FAN-FRIKKEN-TASTIC!

Right, until I'm in Auckland tonight and can access a compter, this is it for the day.

Wish us luck on our journey..... LATER PEOPLE!

Today.... has been awesome! We left at around 8.30 am... stopped and took some gorgeous photos of the mountain and Lake Taupo on the way up the island.. it was a gloriously fine day until we got to Hamilton, when it turned a bit cloudy... We stopped at Tirau and met up with Lee-Anne (a fellow blogger) and her husband Colin, and had lunch... I gave her a painting I'd done for her wedding gift. Then on to Auckland... no problems the WHOLE way... we got into Auckland at around 4.30 pm...

"We are now JAFA'S" wooo hooo!!!! I'm a JAFA, I'm a JAFA" doing a little dance....... BIG SMILES!

End of Day: an awesome day, one I have been waiting months and months for! We were in Palmerston North 6 years and 3 months... quite long enough for me! Tis cold down there!

Bring on the warmer weather, thank you very much!

NSV: I feel so good, it doesn't even matter that I am so overweight again! It will come off again! ONCE I'M SETTLED AND BACK INTO A DECENT ROUTINE. So there! nite nite.

LAST FULL DAY HERE IN PALMY - 1 sleep to go!!!

TODAY:
- Kids to school for the last day there.
- final day of packing up our home.... to be followed by last bit of cleaning...

then we are outta here!

So far this week has gone really well...no major problems at all... and the guys from Crown has been neat... bloody hard workers and nice to spend time with. Even if they are cheeky buggers! But I give as good as I get! (as they have found out)

It's great having Stew here finally, I feel like I can relax a bit.... it has been hard organising it all on my own for so long.... Stew is starting to feel a bit better from his tonsilitis now too..... just in time to turn around and drive back to Auckland tomorrow.

We are down to just the outside stuff to go! I am thrilled to bits with how this pack up has gone, after thinking on Monday that it would never get done on time! Yaaa for the Palmy boys ... they have done a bloody fantastic job!

I am expecting to lose my internet connection some time today, so if I don't do "End of Day"... that's why!
LATER....

Remember me saying yesterday these blokes would be lining up to have their photo taken? ha ha ha, these two insisted I take these ones:

ABOVE: Here we have Brad, holding a huge metal cog... this bloke has lost over *70* kilos all by himself!!! He had a protein drink morning and night and a 'normal' meal at lunchtime and did heaps of exercise! AWESOME.

ABOVE: The 'famous' Tama.... notice he's holding the same metal cog?? LOL... talk about a couple of posers! heeee heee he.

All the garden stuff out the front of the house....waiting for the last container to arrive to take it all away. Then we can truly finish the cleaning and be outta here.

End of Day: very early, but we have the purchasers doing their "pre purchase inspection" at 2pm today... so we are getting everything done and OUT by then.

It's been fun... it's been tiring, but WORTH IT.

NSV:.... got heaps of exercise! nite nite.

2 SLEEPS, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???

Time is flying by... Stew is coming down today.... 2 sleeps till we move to Auckland and start our new life as JAFA's.....( Just Another Fucken Aucklander!).... I can't wait!

I have lived there before, OK, it was over 23 years ago, but I LIKED IT... I love the area, the shopping, the beaches, the proximity to our other kids/grandkids, the shopping, the warmer climate, the shopping.....

Did I mention the shopping? Oh how sad, we will be broke.... no more shopping for me (well not MUCH) lol.

I think I am finally feeling REALLY EXCITED about this move, it is going to happen! My house looks so WEIRD without our furniture in it... and forlorn..... BUT I DON'T CARE, a new home awaits.....

ONWARD...

***KAREN*** (in the States) I have held off publishing your comment from yesterday as you used your hubby's blogger account again.... get back to me on that one.

SANDIE: I totally agree !!!

The house is full of blokes again... most of them are cheeky little buggers, especially that Joe.... ! He likes mosquites, BIG ones that suck on his neck.... LOL ! They have been going home and reading my bloody blog, the cheeky shits!

THIS (above) is Joe, he thinks he's all that.... ha ha ha! I'm waiting for the other blokes to ask to be on here next....

Stew got here safely around 2.30pm, AFTER I had been vacuming virtually all day... TYPICAL, there is still quite a bit of cleaning to do tomorrow, but I have done the bulk of it today.

End of Day: and early wrap up from me, but I'm knackered and ready to head back to the motel for a bit of relaxation. Back for the last day of packing/loading/cleaning tomorrow.

NSV: NONE... eating crap. No excuses, just too tired to worry about it. nite nite.

GETTING TIRED...3 sleeps to go

What happens when the packers wrap all the chairs/sofas in your house ? You have nowhere to sit... so ya start to get really tired.... I'm TIRED.

Lots happening today....
- kids to school
- packers back
- another damn blood test
- first container arrives to be loaded I'm told
- Stew arrives (maybe)
- Move to Motel
- Kids finish school early due to Parent/Teacher Interviews (hope I don't forget them!) I have done that before!

That's it for now... going to drag my tired butt outta bed, strip the bedding off the beds we have been using so they can be packed... feed kids...yadda yadda yadda.... and SORRY for not visiting many blogs and leaving me lovely comments... but I'm busy people!

- Stew is too sick to come down today
- Brylee wiggles and grinds her teeth all night so kept me awake
- Griffin burst into tears reading his homework book this morning...
I'M FEELING REALLY STRESSED AND CRABBY...
What next?

The first of 3 big containers to arrive to be loaded....


Joe and Trevor on "The Boardwalk".... taking out the first of many, many armfulls! The ground is soooo wet they had to cover it so as not to trapse in too much mud (or any hopefully!)

End of Day: full on day... taken our day to day stuff over to the motel, off to a girlfriend's for roast pork dinner. Probably won't be back now till tomorrow...

NSV: on me feet a lot... so probably using up lots of calories! This is good. nite nite.

SHEEPSKIN, JUST SAY SHEEPSKIN.... 4 sleeps to go

A funny story from yesterday:
Tama (the packer) puts the big sheepskin from the lounge in a box...
Steve says "Guess what my parents do on that Sheepskin?"
Tama... FREAKS OUT.... "You have got to be kidding?"

Ahhh, NAH, it's true! *evil snigger*.... now when I want to freak him out all I have to say is "SHEEPSKIN"..... and I've told his workmates too... he reckons they will all go around saying 'baaaa baaa' when they see him .... heeee hee he.

Today:
- kids to school
- let packer in
- Hospital appointment (more darn blood tests)

BELOW: the contents of my kitchen cupboards are in these boxes...

ABOVE: Just some of the lounge stuff done.... would you believe that every box and item wrapped etc has a numbered lable allocated and stuck to it, and it is ALL inventoried... and they have 720 lables for all our 'stuff' ! A 'normal' household has 30 cubic metres of stuff... and we have approx 100 cubic metres of stuff ! (and that's not counting the extra furniture, TV, Fridge/freezer etc we bought recently!) YIKES.

ONWARD....

LYNDA: I already had the big clean out!!!! ha ha ha.

For Karen, a kiwi chick living in the States: She's entered a recipe contest, is in the semi-finals even.. and needs OUR VOTES!!! Go to : http://sitsgirlsrecipes.blogspot.com/2008/08/semii-finalists.html Thanks so much! Her recipe is 'Potatoe Bake'.

WOOO HOO, Tama turned up bright and early today with....more blokes to help! Yaaaa, it will get done on time!

Ahhh Men working..... Tama is the dude under the light fitting.... (I have their permission to publish their photos)....

Hospital... yakkity yak to the Haematologists..... down to med lab for blood tests (4 vials full)... half way home I get a phone call... "oh Mrs H, we are so sorry but the lab Technician forgot to take the 5th vial of blood, we need you to come back" LIKE HELL!!! Maybe tomorrow I will go back! I HATE NEEDLES .... could have cried.... actually feel like crying still. BUGGER IT.

Stew has come down with tonsilitis.... on antibiotics.... hopefully he will feel well enough to come down tomorrow... if not I hope he stays in bed and waits.

All is going really well with the pack... and yes, they will be unpacking the majority of stuff when we get to Auckland too....

End of Day: I'm knackered! Nothing to sit on!

NSV: Fish 'N' chips on the floor for dinner, that was so nice! yum yum. nite nite.

IT ALL STARTS TODAY.... 5 sleeps to go!

8.30 today:
- Teddy gets picked up
- the packers arrive and start
- kids to school (hopefully Steve is arriving to take them)

9 am :
- into town to pay bills (NO shopping!)
- Take pork roast (raw and frozen) to Sandra for our dinner on Wednesday night! She gets to cook it ...

That's it for right now...

I wonder what the packers will be like? Hope I like them, they are here all week! And I intend to be here too... making sure it goes smoothly, making them coffee... tidying up as they go.... so that there is less to clean on Friday night.

OOOOO I am so excited, butterflies in me belly...

THIS..... IS HOT :

THIS....... IS NOT:

And I won't mention ANY name ... but someone in my family had one of these Community Detention Ankle Bracelets put on their ankle this weekend..... for 4 months..... naughty person!

*RANT WARNING* : Was told the packers would be here at 8.30 (IF NOT SOONER!)... so get Steve to take kids to school ... and I wait... and wait.... and then I ring them at 9.15... "Where the hell are you"?.... "Oh bit of a problem, won't be there till about 9.30 now"..... FOR FUCKS SAKE! Wouldn't it have been nice to get a phone call letting me know?

My confidence in this Company is rapidly going down the toilet. And I wait...

Well.... one guy turned up.. Tama is his name and he's really lovely... we are getting on just fine..... and he's really working! I am just sitting watching him... so nice to see a man working! LOL

Work progresses... he's finished the kitchen, part of the dining room and part of the lounge.... Steve and I are keeping him entertained yakking....

Off to a girlfriend's for dinner tonight...

End of Day: all going to plan so far... still don't know how one man is going to get all the packing done on his own in time... but we will just wait and see! Dinner at Michele's was lovely, there is nothing like a meal you havn't had to cook yourself!

NSV: too busy most of day to think about food! nite nite.

I'M DETERMINED TODAY WILL BE A BETTER DAY, 6 sleeps to go

Yesterday sucked... BIG TIME... so today will be better!

THAT'S ALL..... BETTER.

Hopefully today Steve will move into a new flat, he will not have to sleep in his car. My heart broke when I found out he was doing that. No mother wants to think of her kid doing that.

We have quite a bit to do today... all the last minute things before the packers arrive tomorrow at 8.30 in the morning. I must pack our bags ready for the move to the motel too....

I hope I can get through today without crying.... I did a lot of that yesterday... IT IS NOT A GOOD LOOK... puffy eyes and red face... I hate crying.

I want to feel excited about the move ...... PLEASE. I keep looking at photos of the new house.... trying to imagine living there... it isn't working yet.... too much other 'stuff' getting in the way.... And Stew flies back to Auckland tonight. That might be hard... but then again, he will be back on Wednesday and then we will all be going to Auckland and will be together again. THAT WILL BE SO GOOD. SO GOT TO BE POSITIVE...ONWARD....

This is parts of my backyard:

And THIS is Teddy after he's been outside for toilets:

FUN EH? Tomorrow he goes to kennels, one less thing to worry about.

Remember that dear wee pot the Real Estate Agent gave to me?

Well I found some artificial grasses and lavender to put in it.. doesn't it look ever so pretty??? I'm hoping to find just the most perfect place for it in our new home.

Woo HOooo, I'm a spoilt tart! Janene just rang to invite the kids and I to dinner tonight! Neat, another meal I won't have to worry about..... or dishes! ONWARD....

FINALLY, Steve is in a new flat... so I can relax and stop worrying about him. Off to the airport shortly to drop off Stew for the LAST TIME.... then dinner with Janene and Jorja.... then home to do a few last minute things.

End of Day: had a lovely dinner at Janene's, even got to help cook it... AND we had ice cream and chocolate sauce... so yum! Stew is probably back in Auckland by now.. no doubt will hear from him later this evening. Kids in bed, Steve safely in new flat.. all is good again. So quiet in my house tonight! BLISS BLISS BLISS.

NSV: eeerrrrr none! But look out once I get to Auckland and can start walking again and concentrating on my weight! I am going to get back into the bloody 70's if it kills me! nite nite.

I AM SLEEPING IN.... 7 sleeps to go!

BUGGER OFF... I'M SLEEPING IN... come back later... much later.....

I had a lovely lie in... And NO, I'm not suffering from any Stress now! (advice taken and 'worked on') LOL.

We went to town for a wander around, and for me to show Stew something I saw during the week.... and ummm.... we ended up buying another piece of furniture! I will put a photo up once Stew has picked it up.

It is absolutely pouring down today... miserable weather!

COFFEE BEAN: ha ha, dats a girl dog... Teddy's a BOY! LOL

NO, we did not get another puppy!!! That is just a picture off Google Images! Derrrr... like I need another puppy! One is enough!

ABOVE: The new TV entertainment unit for the new Flat Screen Plasma TV... OOOO ain't it pretty? Retail Therapy.. MORE STRESS RELIEF! I might add, I had my eye on a smaller one, but Stew liked the bigger one better!

End of Day: it's been wonderful having Stew home, it's not been wonderful finding out Steve is sleeping in his car... but hopefully it is getting 'sorted' tomorrow. I am so stressed out it's not funny, am going to have a sauna tonight and go to bed early.... I am over today.

NSV: no appetite today... to stressed out I suppose. No doubt will return soon enough, drat. nite nite.

STEW'S HOME TONIGHT.... 8 sleeps....

Yaaaaaa, Stew is home tonight, I can RELAX for a while..... well OK, maybe not relax that much, but I intend having a bloody sleep in tomorrow! It is MY turn. I reckon it's MY TURN for a sleep in for the next couple of months even! He's been up in Auckland, able to sleep in every other weekend, and me? Havn't had a decent lie in for months. I am TIRED people.... damn tired.

AND GRUMPY.... stressed out .... annoyed with Steve.... annoyed with the dog... HELL I'm annoyed with everything right now. I do believe it's because the move is so close and there seems to be so much still to do....

Can I just curl up in a corner and pretend it's not happening for a few hours? Please. (this is from a woman who had been hanging out to move for 9 months!).... derrrrr.

*SIGH*... ranting over.... let's see what today has in store:
- guess????
- yep, kids to school
- pop into town to pick up new Slow Cooker (it was free from Fly Buys)

Dat's about it! Maybe I'll have a lovely long soak in the bath to help de-stress myself? I'm sure Stew doesn't want to come home to a stressed out crabby wife! Any other good ideas to help me de-stress????
later....
LAURA: funny woman ha ha ha!

Dinner... in the nice new crock pot... corned beef and spuds....Stew will love it! My Aunt has him on a diet up there in Auckland... I don't think he's seen a spud in a while! LOL (spud = potatoe)

BTW: Steve is STILL here.... trying to get that boy outta my house is even WORSE than when I was getting him outta me womb, and that's saying something, cos he was 10 pound 12 ounces at birth! And no C-section for me, OH NO, I had to push that bugger out! Kinda what I'm trying to do right now! ha ha ha.

YUMMMMM, me house smells so nice... dinner is simmering away, I'm off to have a nice hot bath and shave me legs... might try the suggestion for de-stressing LATER... a couple of Bacardi and Diet Cokes and NOOKY! LOL

End of Day: hubby home, I'm bathed and shaved (everything!)... hee hee hee.... looking forward to some 'alone' time with me man! Don't even think I need the grog... am ready to GO! *evil little snigger* ....

NSV: does getting rid of excess hair count in weight loss? I reckon! nite nite.

SINGLE DIGITS.... 9 sleeps to go!

Time LINE:
- Stew home Friday night, back to Auckland on Sunday night
- Move Steve's stuff into temporary storage (thanks Janene!)
- Packers arrive Monday 25th and Teddy goes to kennels
- Move to Motel Wednesday 27th
- Stew home Wednesday 27th
- Packers take everything away Friday 29th
- Do BIG CLEAN UP of house on Friday night, keys to Agent
- We leave for Auckland Saturday 30th
- Take possesion of new home Monday 1st September
- Move in Tuesday 2nd Sept
- Teddy home Friday 5th Sept

I think I have remembered everything we have to do... I have even lined up several girlfriends to feed us during the packing week... so I don't have to worry about dinner that whole week. Yaaaaa.

TODAY:
- kids to school
- do more last minute things around here
- check out the kennels Teddy is going to be staying in while we are moving. I hope they are nice.

Things I am putting off doing till the weekend:
- cleaning the oven (Stew can have that pleasure)
- defrosting the fridge/freezer
- disconnecting the washing machine
- putting all garden pots and "ornaments" in one place
- replacing our letterbox with the old original one
- put aside all the stuff the packers won't transport (paint, oils, flammables etc)
- Pack our bags for the motel stay and trip up to Auckland.

I think that's all !

I hope I'm not forgetting anything......I almost need a notebook hanging around my neck, there's so much to remember. But that would NOT be a good look....

Last night one of the lovely Real Estate Agents who did a lot of work to sell our home popped in with a wee gift for me! It's a cute metal pot... I can put dried flowers or grasses in it...

Now how cute is that? And so nice of Lolly to give it to me. ONWARD... Oh and I just have to laugh cos it's something new and I DIDN'T BUY IT! And do you realise that once we move anything I buy won't have a blue carpet backdrop? ha ha ha.

Well I think I have finally organised all the disconnections/reconnections.... I was on HOLD with Telecom for 25 darn minutes... I almost hung up and rang their rivals Telstra.... Grrrrr. Friggin HORRIBLE music I had to listen to as well. Pfffffffft.

GRRRRRRR... friggin dog did shit on the back seat of me van.. went out to check out the kennels, they are lovely... me dog is NOT. Oh well, the seat is now nice and clean... after I scrubbed the shit outta it... (literally) ! Home now, looking forward to a quiet evening. Steve has bathed the kids for me (wonders will NEVER cease!)... so all I have to do now is feed them and chuck them into bed. Yaaaaaaaa.

End of Day: just a so-so day really. All Steve's stuff got brought back to MY house today... pissed me off big time, but hey, what can ya do? Hopefully it will all leave again on Saturday. *sigh*

NSV: none, ate like a pig... should walk around snorting... just so stressed out and grumpy today. nite nite.

HMMM, I'M SURE I AM SUPPOSED TO BE DOING SOMETHING TODAY.... 10 sleeps to go.

Ever woken up thinking "There is SOMETHING I'm supposed to do today" ... but can't remember what? Well that's me today!

I hope it isn't important!

So until I remember: TODAY:

- kids to school

- continue fluffing around the house, getting everything ready for the packers....

- meet my girlfriend Chris D for a coffee before she goes to ENGLAND in the afternoon with her hubby!

Chris D and her husband are going to England for about 4 weeks I think... it might be his last trip 'home' due to his having lung cancer.... but ya never know with that man! By rights he wasn't expected to live this long... but he's a battler and determined to stick around for ages! GOOD ON HIM.

So I'm going to town AGAIN today... pray for Stew's sake that I don't get sidetracked by a SALE..... LOL

Maybe DARK GLASSES will help? Or BLINKERS ? Or maybe I should just leave me handbag at home!

Morning tea: was lovely, we had it at our girlfriend Sandra's coffee shop.... so got to see her too. Then... I popped into town and bought....

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....................N.....O.....T.....H.....I.....N.....G....................

You can stop holding your breath now Stew!!!! LOL.

I'm safely home now, so no chance of going shopping mad today!

Kids fed and into bed... and I'm cleaning out the pantry and getting the rubbish ready for pickup tomorrow... thank GOD this is the last time I will have to do the rubbish on me own! I hate it... sorting out plastics, paper, bottles, and 'other' rubbish into their seperate lots. And let's not forget the BIG BIN for all the garden rubbish and junk. You would think with a big strapping boy (STEVE) in the house I wouldn't have to do this eh? WHAT A JOKE... he's never out of bed in time to help lug it all down to the road. The USELESS BLOODY SHIT. I am fuming as I do it let me assure you!

End of Day: another really nice day here, sunny but not warm.

NSV: getting lots of incidental exercise... don't ever sit still for long! nite nite.

RAIN, HAIL, FREEZING.... 11 sleeps to go.

Late last night it started raining and hailing again... This morning.... sunshine AGAIN, but OOOO So cold...

Today:
- kids to school
- Stay home! NO shopping! The lightbulbs can wait till Stew comes home!

Steve's flat situation has fallen through... so now he has nowhere to live.... and only 6 days to find something! FAR OUT, that's all I need, more stress. Half his stuff is in his cousin's house and has to be removed asap... I am beyond all this shit, I just want to put my head in my hands and scream.

Lucky I don't bite my nails when stressed cos if I did I'd have stumps for fingers.... instead I usually eat... WONDERFUL.

CLARIFICATION: I don't have to pack the house up... a moving company is coming in on Monday and they do it ALL... what I have to do is

- take everything off the walls.....DONE

- clean the house.... DOING

- pack clothes, essentials for me and kids..... DOING

- Arrange power/gas/phone/SKY disconnections/reconnections.... DOING.

THAT'S IT! The moving company packs everything, takes it to Auckland and then unpacks everything .... HOW COOL IS THAT? And the best thing, it doesn't cost us anything either... Stew's company pays for all expenses incurred for the move.

After my best intentions... I have been to town TWICE today already! First time to post some stuff, then second time to sign our life away with new Mortgage Documents..... Scary Stuff That!!! HUGE mortgage..... EEEEKKKKK.

OH.... and there was a shop having a Closing Down Sale.... AND..... they had my dinner set in there.... so I just HAD to get some side plates, I had none you understand! So now I have a few. ON SALE people, ON SALE!!!! How could I resist? *skulking into a corner now to repent me sins*

Alley: Of course I forgot the bloody light bulbs! Ha ha ha!

Felt really DOWN this morning... but I plugged myself into my iPod and am now feeling much better... love me music! Off to get the kids from school now... OH YAAa. *sigh*

End of Day: totally knackered again tonight.... just mental exhaustion I think... stress is tiring!

NSV: getting on top of all the 'to do' things... this is good. nite nite.