Saturday 26 January 2008
A-stray-ya Day
Wow what a patriotic country we live in. Aussie's are so Aussie proud, it's infectious and uplifting. All week we've had promotions and advertisements to celebrate being Aussie. We spent most of the day hanging out at home but headed down to LaBalsa park in time for fish and chips on the beach. When we got down there it was heaving with people who had obviously been set up all day, complete with tents and portacots, BBQ's, bikes with trailers and lots of laughter. Driving the streets every third car or house seemed to be waving an Aussie flag. At 7.30 we were set up on the beach to watch the fireworks and the awe on Caitlin and Ryan's faces as they exploded. We have had a lovely day and look forward to next year when we will probably spend more of the day down there. So anyway wanting to head over the ditch this time next year, set the date in your calendar it's a fantastidc day.
Friday 25 January 2008
Enjoying the kids
I'm finding the last blog a hard one to follow on from. With the combination of losing Amanda and both kids off to school and preschool next week, I am making a concerted effort to forget the mess and spend the time concentrating on the little things in life. So here a few pics of some things we have been up to.
The sprinkler fun was fantastic, both kids really enjoyed it. Jaffa enjoyed it too! Although didn't run through it, she was sitting under the edge of the spray - not sure whether she's a cat or a dog!
The sprinkler fun was fantastic, both kids really enjoyed it. Jaffa enjoyed it too! Although didn't run through it, she was sitting under the edge of the spray - not sure whether she's a cat or a dog!
Yes there is water in the container, I initially got this out for them to use to do some "cooking" and making "coffee" but Ryan stripped off and got in. Not sure I'd be too keen on "drinking" the coffee anymore!
We have a big week this week with Caitlin starting school on Tuesday and Ryan starting preschool the same day (he will be going twice a week).
Before this though we have Australia Day weekend, starting tomorrow. What has struck us (being our first Australia Day here) is how amazingly patriotic Australia is, in celebrating being Australian. There seems to be massive community events all over the coast. It is such a different feel to Waitangi Day celebrations (or arguments over whether Helen Clark is going to Waitangi or not .....). Anyway we are looking forward to a family day, followed by a family and friends get together at the beach for food, drinks and fireworks.
Monday 14 January 2008
In Memory of My Special Friend Amanda
With great sadness Amanda's family and friends said Good-bye to her over the weekend.
Amanda has been a very special friend of mine and my family's over the last 17 years and after battling for nearly two years Amanda's melanoma stole her from us.
What an amazing person Amanda is, on the Tuesday before Christmas Amanda phoned me with the heart-breaking news that her cancer had progressed too far and that her time with us was limited, little did we know quite how limited that time was, as less than four weeks later Amanda has gone. For Amanda her family and friends were so very important to her so with an upcoming birthday (today) Amanda decided to have a birthday celebration so she could spend some time with us and we with her before her time was up. That was planned for Saturday just been.
So I headed over along with most of Amanda's close friends to cherish our time together, what a hard, special weekend we had. I flew to Christchurch via Auckland, and going through domestic everything started happening a little too quickly. I bumped into Amanda's friend Janelle who had been speaking with Amanda's family that morning to find out that Amanda had declined dramatically over the last few days and was in hospice. So with lots of tears and reminiscing Janelle and I cried and chatted all the way to Christchurch.
Saturday was to be Amanda's day with us, so instead of the restaurant we had a BBQ at hospice. Amanda knew we were there with her and her family but was no longer able to hold a conversation with us. We all had our own special time with her but it's just so tragic that we have lost Amanda so soon. After a day of having most people who are close to her visiting and reminiscing Amanda slipped peacefully away in the early hours of Sunday morning with her brother and sister-in-law at her side.
I feel so privileged that Amanda's family were able to share this time with us as friends. I have taken away some very special moments that will be with me forever, a little too personal to write here and now but mean so much.
The photo of Amanda and Abigail was taken in July. I was lucky enough for Caitlin and I to go over and spend a week with them while the rest of her family were in Taiwan for her brothers wedding. It was a special week and so nice to see our girls form a lovely friendship too, I can see so much of Amanda in Abby.
I will never forget Amanda's big contageous smile, she was a genuine, fun friend who was very loyal and loving. I will miss her dearly. The pain now comes in waves and I feel it deep within my heart, especially when I think of Abby losing her Mummy so young.
Amanda has been a very special friend of mine and my family's over the last 17 years and after battling for nearly two years Amanda's melanoma stole her from us.
What an amazing person Amanda is, on the Tuesday before Christmas Amanda phoned me with the heart-breaking news that her cancer had progressed too far and that her time with us was limited, little did we know quite how limited that time was, as less than four weeks later Amanda has gone. For Amanda her family and friends were so very important to her so with an upcoming birthday (today) Amanda decided to have a birthday celebration so she could spend some time with us and we with her before her time was up. That was planned for Saturday just been.
So I headed over along with most of Amanda's close friends to cherish our time together, what a hard, special weekend we had. I flew to Christchurch via Auckland, and going through domestic everything started happening a little too quickly. I bumped into Amanda's friend Janelle who had been speaking with Amanda's family that morning to find out that Amanda had declined dramatically over the last few days and was in hospice. So with lots of tears and reminiscing Janelle and I cried and chatted all the way to Christchurch.
Saturday was to be Amanda's day with us, so instead of the restaurant we had a BBQ at hospice. Amanda knew we were there with her and her family but was no longer able to hold a conversation with us. We all had our own special time with her but it's just so tragic that we have lost Amanda so soon. After a day of having most people who are close to her visiting and reminiscing Amanda slipped peacefully away in the early hours of Sunday morning with her brother and sister-in-law at her side.
I feel so privileged that Amanda's family were able to share this time with us as friends. I have taken away some very special moments that will be with me forever, a little too personal to write here and now but mean so much.
The photo of Amanda and Abigail was taken in July. I was lucky enough for Caitlin and I to go over and spend a week with them while the rest of her family were in Taiwan for her brothers wedding. It was a special week and so nice to see our girls form a lovely friendship too, I can see so much of Amanda in Abby.
I will never forget Amanda's big contageous smile, she was a genuine, fun friend who was very loyal and loving. I will miss her dearly. The pain now comes in waves and I feel it deep within my heart, especially when I think of Abby losing her Mummy so young.
Monday 7 January 2008
Caitlin turns 5!
What a milestone, 5 seems to be such a big birthday, for us the next significant birthday after 1. Suddenly they are no longer preschoolers and everything is about to change ........ 3 more weeks and it'll be the first day of school!
We have had a lovely day. It started with pikelets for breakfast, followed by a trip to Underwater World. Caitlin choose Underwater World over Australia Zoo for the sole fact she got a really cool iceblock there when she went with preschool and would like one for her birthday. We explained that Aussie Zoo would probably have them too, but no it was Underwater World based on iceblocks! We had a lovely time there holding starfish, watching sharks, stingrays........ in the underwater tunnel, seal show and so forth, did I mention we also had an iceblock - the highlight!
Then it was back home for Ryan's sleep and a play, followed by ice-cream cake then off to Grandma and Grandad's for a swim (thank goodness - it was 32 degrees today) and dinner.
The cake was a little tricky this year. Good idea being an icecream cake but with the temperature and humidity the last few days, it's been quite tricky decorating it. 5 minutes of decorating then back in the freezer. Also the reason why we had the icecream cake this afternoon as we didn't think it would last the 25 minute journey to Grandma and Grandad's.
We have had a lovely day. It started with pikelets for breakfast, followed by a trip to Underwater World. Caitlin choose Underwater World over Australia Zoo for the sole fact she got a really cool iceblock there when she went with preschool and would like one for her birthday. We explained that Aussie Zoo would probably have them too, but no it was Underwater World based on iceblocks! We had a lovely time there holding starfish, watching sharks, stingrays........ in the underwater tunnel, seal show and so forth, did I mention we also had an iceblock - the highlight!
Then it was back home for Ryan's sleep and a play, followed by ice-cream cake then off to Grandma and Grandad's for a swim (thank goodness - it was 32 degrees today) and dinner.
The cake was a little tricky this year. Good idea being an icecream cake but with the temperature and humidity the last few days, it's been quite tricky decorating it. 5 minutes of decorating then back in the freezer. Also the reason why we had the icecream cake this afternoon as we didn't think it would last the 25 minute journey to Grandma and Grandad's.
It's amazing to see the change in Caitlin with turning 5, suddenly she is growing up in her attitude and is now a 'big' girl (until she starts school and she will be one of the little kids again).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
