It's Summer Again

It's hard to believe we haven't blogged since February! Time has flown by and our lives have been extremely busy.
Sarah D arrived in mid-March and, along with Joan, was here for the big day when we moved into our new home on March 31. The house was nowhere near finished but our holiday home rental was due to end and we had no choice but to take up residence here. Two house moves in 10 weeks was exhausting and we survived the first couple of months in the house with a sofa, beds, microwave, kettle, dishwasher, loo and makeshift bath/shower (in which we also did the washing up. There is a picture of Sarah sitting on the loo seat with a bowl at her feet, doing the washing up, which I am forbidden to post!) Every day began around 7am with crowds of builders invading the house and working around us.

The night we moved in.

The Furries quickly settled into their new surroundings and like us are very happy here.
Lynn returned to the UK in early April to take Joan home and what was meant to be a fleeting visited was prolonged by a week as a result of the volcanic ash cloud.
The house continued to be be completed around us but with winter fast approaching we still had no heating despite everything being in place for central heating, underfloor heating and a gas fire. Needless to say we resorted to electric blankets and were relieved when the gas fire was finally working. As winter drew to a close yes, you've guessed correctly, the underfloor and central heating were functioning.

Sarah enjoyed a busy autumn and winter here, with some fun jobs including modelling and a week at NZ Fashion Week in early spring. She has also proved to be an expert fisherman during trips out in the Bay of Plenty with new friends.

Sarah and Domino enjoy the spring sunshine on our building site!

Maureen and Stuart have visited us from Oz a couple of times since February and as always it is great to spend time with them and enjoy a G&T (or two!!).

In mid-September Lynn was seconded to work in the Emergency Department at Wellington Hospital for 3 months, about 750Km and an hour's flight from here, in order to become a Fellow of the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine. It was a daunting prospect, not least being away from home so much, but it proved to be thoroughly enjoyable, worthwhile and memorable experience. "Windy Wellington" is worthy of its'name and there were a few exciting landings and take-offs!! (There are some great videos on You Tube of planes trying to land there). The 3 months ended a few days ago and it's good to be back in sunny Tauranga. During the Welly time, Andrew and Rosemary were also there and it was lovely, as always, to spend time with them.

In mid-October, Sarah H arrived. She managed to time her arrival at Auckland airport to coincide with the return home of the NZ gold medallists from the Commonwealth Games in India and was surprised to walk into the arrivals hall to be greeted by the media cameras and clapping and cheering Kiwis..........we let her believe it was all for her!!! Like Sarah, Sarah is enjoying NZ life and is working and playing hard before she leaves on her round the world gap year trip.

Sarah and Lynn at the airport.

They did a 12,000feet skydive over Tauranga a few weeks ago and then went to Oz and spent 2 nights with Maureen and Stuart on the Gold Coast before burning the candle at both ends in Sydney. Oh to be young again!

The girls have fun!

Pete and the Barron Knights were here in late October and we, Sarah and Sarah, and Maureen and Stuart thoroughly enjoyed seeing the show and spending some brief but quality time with Pete in Hamilton.

Pete

In mid-November our newest family member arrived...................an accident and definitely not planned as you might appreciate. He is a Curly retriever called Tiki, now almost 5 months old, and as you can see is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.

He and the Furries adore each other, sometimes, and it has been interesting watching their relationships develop. Some of the chases are fun, the best being when Domino chased Tiki and had him hiding behind Sarah for protection. So the house now has 20 paws and 8 feet trailing in an endless amount of mud and dust. Thank goodness we decided on tiles and wood rather than carpets and that the decks are now almost complete.

Tom's business is doing well despite the ongoing recession and he is working ever harder to keep up with demand. The strain of living with 6 women, including the girl Furries, is taking its' toll and Tiki and Tui are great support to him. A holiday beckons.

As the end of 2010 fast approaches, we look back with pride and exhaustion at what we have done................built and moved in to our fabulous new home, worked extremely hard, spent too much money, entertained a lot of people, and had a lot of fun.

2011 is already destined to be much the same. Sarah H leaves on her round the world travels in mid-January and will be back in NZ in June before heading back to the UK and university. Robert arrives the day after Sarah H leaves and we envisage more burning the candle at both ends and plenty of time at the beach. It is almost 2 years since Robert was last here so there will undoubtedly be a lot of catching up conversations late into the night. Karl and Stuart arrive at the end of January for 3 weeks, a long awaited and much anticipated visit. Then there's our holiday? Maureen and Staurt are likely to be here again in the autumn, and with the rugby world cup just around the corner who knows who is likely to be knocking on our door....Frank C maybe? The pool should be finished soon too.

Then of course there is the all important matter of TOM's BIG BIRTHDAY in September and who knows how many visitors that will attract??? We guarantee it will be a great party.

WE HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS

AND

A VERY HAPPY 2011

LYNN and TOM

XX