christmas is coming!

Hi everyone,

Christmas is indeed almost upon us and the children are getting very excited. I have been helping at Joe's school with his class and keeping the children's attention is getting harder and harder for the teacher. Term finishes on Thursday until the beginning of February! Santa parades, sausage sizzles, days out, Carol singing in the cathedral (Joe) and generally having fun has kept us all busy - not to mention the shopping! (So I won't!).

There is some evidence of Christmas decorations (and some houses completely over the top) but it is pretty late before it gets dark and so get to see the lights. I must admit to being decoration-free at the moment but may get all the Father Christmas figurines out soon. Bah humbug!!! Some of the higher mountains still have snow but we rely on seeing it, together with robins, on the Christmas cards we receive. Thank you everyone for your cards and messages. I apologise in advance for those cards from me to you that arrive late. I blame the postal service!!

I went on a 2-day trip into the high country last week. Long days on a coach but stunning scenery - very stark and beautiful. The photos were taken on the trip. We were on a 4-wheel drive coach and driving over gravel roads the whole way. The private roads are only open for a few weeks a year and go through an area that most Kiwis have never seen. Molesworth Station is the largest farm in the country - 500,000 acres - and is Crown land, run by a govt. department. In the past there were about 120,000 sheep run on the property but now only 10,000 head of cattle. But don't worry; NZ still has 40 million sheep - give or take a few - so no shortage of lamb chops!

Sarah and I went to a concert last night of Christmas music from around the world, given by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra together with 2 school choirs. There was plenty of audience participation singing the old favourites and we enjoyed ourselves. I have a U3A party tomorrow and lunch with the walking group on Wednesday. I have already had xmas lunch with the WI (twice) so am spared from the cooking a fair bit - can't be bad! Not so good for the waistline but it is almost New Year and time for resolutions!

Ash and India's Grandpa and Grandma have arrived here for a visit so welcome to them and to the friends of Malc and Annie and Sarah and Matt who arrive shortly for a few days. I reckon that's it for this time. A very happy Christmas and my very best wishes for 2009 to you all.

Lots of love Carol xx

nearly summer

Hi Everyone,

Nature is giving its all and the veggies, especially the spinach and lettuce, are growing faster than I can harvest, in spite of late frosts! We are all keeping well and enjoying the sunshine. It is not yet warm enough in the sea for all but very hardy folks (and that does NOT include yours truly!) The beach is still good though.

It has been quite a busy time. All the families have now been here for their first year and I have been in this house for that long too. The time has absolutely flown by. Olive has celebrated her first birthday at the beach with a picnic and she enjoyed a lovely visit from her Grandad and Grannyma, who were here for 3 weeks. Sadly they have gone back to the UK and it is back to keeping in touch with emails, photos and Skype.

Halloween came with a visit from (in order of age to give you a clue) a Ninja accompanied by a Bat, the Grim Reaper and a Spider - all pretty scary(!) but happily sent on their way with some lollies! Firework night came and went with a big bang. The organised display down at Brighton takes place at 9pm - they have to wait until dark, and I missed it this year. Fireworks are only available in the shops for 4 days, so we are spared bangs nightly for weeks on end. I really am a bit of a spoilsport! Bah, humbug!! The shops are gearing up for Christmas but it doesn't have the same feel when the sun is shining. I'm not really trying to make you jealous - much! Most of my shopping is now done so I won't have to fight the crowds in the malls. That doesn't mean that the cards are written and I have a funny feeling ........ Happy Christmas anyway in case I don't get around to it before January.

I hope that you are all keeping well - lots of love to you and yours. It may well be 2009 before I write again; so, A happy new year to you!

A Spring Journey

Hi Everyone!
The photos this time were taken on a short coach trip that I took a couple of weeks ago. We travelled down south, then west, then north and lastly east to get back to Christchurch. Almost a square! The 2nd photo is of the harbour at Oamaru where we saw little blue penguins coming ashore after their day out at sea hunting fish. They are very small, only about 30 cms. Coming up from the beach they were fearful of a seal that had plonked itself down right in their path and whenever the seal moved the penguins rushed back down the slope. They were not in any danger but I suppose that when you are that small it does not pay to take any chances.

Once again the programme hasn't shown all the photos that I had selected so it is pot luck which turns up. There should be 2 photos of lakes - the one with the mountains behind is Wanaka and the other is Lake Dunstan, formed when the Clyde dam was built. The last photo just shows that there is still plenty of snow left! That is the end of your geography lesson for today!! Actually, it was a good trip and my fellow travellers very friendly but as the shuttle bus driver remarked when he dropped me off at home "You are a good bit younger that the rest of them" and he hadn't seen everyone!

I can't really believe it myself but I have been here a year this weekend! Time certainly flies. We are well into Spring now and the garden is planted (so far) and the veggies are doing what they should. I actually picked some leaves off the lettuce plants yesterday for tea. Tomatoes and more susceptible plants will have to wait a while. I am really enjoying gardening again. One sad note!!! My 2 goldfish have disappeared. Cat? Kingfisher? Who knows? They were there one day and gone the next. Talking of gardens, I went with the WI to visit a daffodil farm. A very nice day - the funny thing was the coach that took us; supplied by a local funeral directors!!! And no, they didn't give out any brochures at the end of the trip or in any way tout for business!

I have been to the theatre again since I last wrote and saw 'The Birthday Boy'. A bitter-sweet comedy. Next week it is off to see '84 Charing Cross Road' the film of which I saw some years ago with Anthony Hopkins. All this gadding about! Good, isn't it? Off this morning for a walk followed by a picnic with a group I join with every week. Not too strenuous either. My shoulder seems to be responding to the physio's exercises so that is good too. So, on that happy note I will finish. All my love, Carol xx

Hooray; Spring is sprung!!

Hi Folks,

The 1st September and officially the first day of spring. The weather seems to believe it too as we have had a beautiful weekend of sunshine and blue skies - after a woeful August full of rain and more rain.

I sit before you, just risen from my bed of pain!!!! Felled down by a sickness bug 2 weeks ago followed by gastric flu last week ...... everyone say 'aahh!!' Recovering now, thankfully, several pounds lighter (and that is not the doctor's fees!) Enough of this maudlin self-pity!!

Quite a busy time since I last put fingers to keyboard - Joe had his 5th birthday! and started big school (see the Simmerson's blog for more). I went to see 'The Miracle Worker', a play about the story of Helen Keller, the deaf & blind girl who was helped to communicate by Annie Sullivan. It was a very moving performance by all the cast. I remember seeing a film way back in the 60s with Anne Bancroft - it must have made an impression as I could remember how the story unfolded.

We had a girls afternoon out (me, Sarah, Kate, Annie and granddaughter India) and went to the ballet. The first time for all of us. The Royal New Zealand Ballet performed 'Romeo and Juliet' - it was wonderful. I lost myself in the whole spectacle. Lots of little girls in the matinee audience, all dressed up! It was in modern dress - not the tutus tha Joe declared with scorn that made it for "girls". I can't get the written word to match the scorn he managed in that one word! But back to the ballet - how the girls danced in those stilettos!!

Had a great talk with friends using Skype. Not quite the same as face to face and the delay can be a bit disconcerting but nice to see you girls! Miss you all. Do keep the emails and letters coming!

The photos this month are from the trip that Ash and I took on the Transalpine across to Arthur's Pass. The train goes on to Greymouth on the West coast but only stops an hour before making the return journey and I understand that there is no much to see. We got off in the middle of the Southern Alps and there is a fair amount of snow there. The road was still open but a little tramp that we were hoping to make was not on as there was too much snow! Even in the village I sank up to my knees as soon as I moved off the cleared areas. We had 4 hours there and we had lunch and Ash created his snowman. It was not cold as the sun was shining down - I did remember to take the sun cream. I felt really overdressed with thermals and jumpers and coats! Still, we had a very good day.

That is about me done for this session - hope you enjoy it. With love Carol xx

still winter!

Hi Everyone,

Well, it is still winter here (hope you folks on the other side of the world are enjoying some well-earned sunshine) while we are braced for a winter storm later today!!! The North Island seems to have had a much worse time of it, weather-wise, since I last wrote with gales and thunderstorms but we have escaped relatively unscathed. It has been cold but that has been mitigated by the brilliant sunshine (until this week). I have seen some daffodils daring to put their heads above the ground and very welcome colour they give.

On to my garden. I am sharing some before and after photos with you; hope that you agree which is which!! The plants have not been taken out of their pots yet, as you can see, but once the spring arrives ......... With any luck, by this time next year they will all be well established. Then I will post some more photos. I am very pleased with the results so far. The garden looks bigger and, hopefully, will be easier to maintain. Still a few more plants to buy to plant in the parts of the garden you can't see. Planning now as to which veggies to plant.

The family continues well - a few coughs and colds though. They have just finished 2 weeks of school holidays and have been very busy. I have been to the theatre to see 'Arsenic and Old Lace'. A very good production in a lovely theatre - not too big, and the action fairly zipped along - a very enjoyable evening. Next month I am going to see 'The Miracle Worker' - the story of Helen Keller. We are also having a girls afternoon out and (a first for us all) are going to the ballet to see 'Romeo and Juliet'. The only girl in the family not going is Olive so Daddy will look after her. Have also been to see 'Kung Fu Panda' with Joe and Ben - their first time at the cinema!

I am very pleased with myself as yesterday I passed my driving test - just the written test in order to get a NZ licence. I was a little apprehensive - it is some years since a took one and there were no written tests in those days!!! I only got one question wrong and you are allowed three. I have also renewed my UK passport and have had the NZ visa updated.

Before I finish - thank you to all of you who keep in touch with email and letter. Hope that I have not repeated myself too much. We all of us appreciate the contact. Love to you all, until next time. Carol xx

There's snow on them thar hills!!

Hi Everyone, An extra episode for you all. We have had a right mixture of weather the last couple of days. Forgive me for writing about the weather but I have lived in the UK for most of my life!!

Friday was very windy but warm and it was a little daunting lying in bed that night and listening to the gusts of wind. Saturday started off warm and Ash and I went out to breakfast. A real treat for both of us (pancakes I'm afraid) - but the temperature dropped early afternoon from about 15C to 3C. Then it rained, sleeted and snowed!

Sarah and Matt arrived as the first flurries began and Joe ran round and round the car shouting "snow, snow" at the top of his voice, then as Ben was released from his car seat he joined him in both noise and motion. We ought to be able to capture all that energy for future use!! It could solve the energy crisis at a stroke!

This morning I awoke to brilliant sunshine as you can see from the 2 photos. The snow here at sea level had disappeared and the nearby Port Hills were covered in snow. By midday most of that had disappeared in the warmth of the sun, but there is still some of the white stuff on the higher peaks as you can see from the 2nd photo (I hope). The mountains, being that much higher have kept their snowy covering and the top picture is along the beach to Kaikoura, where I went swimming with dolphins on my first visit. The mountains are very close to the sea there and you can just about see the snow over the glare of the sun and sea. It is about 3 hours away by car.

The dog walkers were out in force (all 6 of them) by the time I finished my walk. The sea was glassy flat and calm but there were still a couple of intrepid surfers out there trying to catch a good wave. Hope you are enjoying a good summer, those of you in the Northern hemisphere - your longest and our shortest days soon. Much love Carol xx

winter wonderland

Hi everyone,

I'm not sure when the official start of winter is but the nights have been more than chilly lately. Temperatures nearing freezing point have, however, been tempered by almost a fortnight of calm, sunny days. As you can see from the 1st photo (Corsair Bay), the sea has been like a mill pond.

We have had a few birthdays in the immediate family since I last put fingers to keyboard: Sarah, Kate and Ben, as well as many more among the wider family and friends. Many happy returns to you all!! Ben has all the gravitas required of a young man of 2 years (with a grown up haircut too!)

I went with Sarah, Matt, Joe and Ben up to Mount Hutt where the photo of me on the sledge was taken. That wasn't snow we were on but ice and it was a car park but fun for us all anyway. Joe had the idea (put into his head by Matt I believe) of stuffing ice down necks and into boots but, luckily for us, found other pursuits quickly. Those whoi know me well will remember how I do not like heights. Well, I have to tell you that the journey down the mountain was worse than the journey up - but not by much. I cast no blame on the driver,of course - I might want him to drive me another time! However, I can't see myself EVER driving up a mountain and my little car would not like it at all!!!!

I hope that by the next time I write that the garden will have been transformed. I have been busy buying plants and am looking forward to the planting. It will all be very informal and, I hope, easily maintained. I will be taking photos. The emphasis is to be on native plants with a few exotics thrown in - it is all very exciting!

There may be an extra post when this one is finished if one of the photos has disappeared but my fingers are crossed (and that is why I have had to correct so many mistakes - the screen is absolutely covered with Tippex!!! Ho ho!

Well, all good things come to an end they say (and no-one said that this was good) so I will wish you all adieu for the moment.
With love Carol xxxx

Autumnal musings from NZ

Well everyone, it is April already and the weather has been kind(!) enough to give us newcomers a reminder that winter will follow. No daffodils for us this month. A few chilly mornings and the clocks going back this weekend have made us look out the woollies and fleeces in the wardrobe. (The sun hasn't completely deserted us though and when it shines it is very warm) I could do without the wind that has been blowing recently as it always seen to be against me when I am on the bike! Paranoia reigns supreme!

No April Fool japes but I wii give you Joe's joke of the moment.

How do you get 6 donkeys into a fire engine?
Don't know, I think I hear you say.
2 in the front, 2 in the back and 2 on the top saying eehhaw, eehhaw!!!
I didn't say it was good now, did I? (I laughed)

The photo of Joe with the rat lantern was our outing to the Chinese lantern festival to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Sarah and I took the boys and it rained but that did not stop Joe's enthusiasm for the Kung Fu exhibition that he pronounced as "totally awesome!!" Among other things he wants to start Karate when he is 5 yrs. The other photos this month show Ash driving the go-cart (dreadful to think that he will be able to apply for a licence to drive a car when he is 15 years old.) Don't know exactly how the system works, yet! India looks a picture in her sari, standing in their garden and Ben and Olive share a pose on the carpet. Ben is chattering away 20 to the dozen these days and Olive can't wait to be on the move. They both know that they are 'cute'.

The children haven't finished the school term yet - another couple of weeks to go but they had some time off for Easter and all the family gathered here on Good Friday for lunch and an early Easter egg hunt. I made it easy for the 'grownups' as they didn't have to search to enjoy the chocolate. Spoilt rotten!! It was great for me to meet with Wynn and Colin (from Lavenham) over Easter. I hadn't realised just how lovely it was to see a familiar face.

I have been busy 'joining' things and have been to the WI and U3A and latterly a walking group - nothing too strenuous but pleasant company and a way to explore the area. Sarah and Matt took me to the hot springs at Hanmer - lovely! and with Roy, Kate and Sarah I went to see Jack Johnson
perform. It was a great show and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I even recognised a few of the songs!!! He comes from Hawaii and plays guitar. You will have to look him up if you haven't heard of him. I hadn't until Sarah lent me a CD
a couple of years ago.

My shoulder continues to improve but it is a long job. I think the acupuncture is helping too. The course of treatment is due to finish next week but I may be able to extend it. Mostly I think that I have to be patient and allow time to complete the healing. Annie celebrated her birthday in March and the children sang Happy Birthday to her in Maori! Well done to all of them.

Almost time to finish this 'episode' but I have to thank all of you who have kept in touch over the months that I have been here. It is always good to switch on the computer and find emails from family and friends. I know that we all appreciate it. Haven't a clue how many read these blogs but hope that you enjoy them. Do leave a comment if you have a moment.

Take care everyone, best wishes from us all. Love Carol xx

change of season

Hi Everyone; March already! And according to the calendar we are now officially in Autumn! (Spring for you folks reading this in the Northern Hemisphere of course) We have had a fair amount of rain this last couple of days with more promised - my washing is still hanging out from Friday! Hopefully the precipitation will help the farmers suffering from the effects of the drought. Me, being selfish, can't wait for the next high to roll in.

Enough of the weather. (At least for a moment) February saw Sarah and Matt moving into their new home. One box of 'stuff' still missing and a fair amount of breakages - mostly small things but annoying just the same. They are literally 'down the road', nearer the sea and one of our favourite cafes. Ben and Joe are happy to have all their toys around them (again literally!!) and Joe astounded us all by learning to ride his bike without stabilizers in 2 minutes flat - no running beside him holding the saddle! Video on their blog.

The Jacob family are getting involved in the local community. India is doing her gymnastics and Rainbows while Ash is about to start Cubs and his guitar lessons. He has had his 9th birthday this week. Before we know it he will be a teenager! Roy and I have had our birthdays too this month - in summer for the first time!! Katherine has got the vegetable garden ready for autumn planting and we are all enjoying the potatoes that were already there.

Annie, Malc and Olive are welcoming friends from the UK this weekend. I don't want to think about the trip with a 3 yr old!! But welcome anyway to Chris, Jo and Dillon and hope they enjoy NZ. Olive is 4 months this weekend - turning over already and sitting for a few moments at a time. I think she will be like her Mum and get on the move early. Annie crawled at 5 months.

The photos this time are from our trip last weekend to Lake Tekapo - about 300kms SW. We were very lucky and saw the lake in all its glory - it really is turquoise. The blue lake is close by (both in the bottom picture) and I hope that you can see the difference in colour. The top photo is a small creek that Joe and Ben waded in just off the blue lake - Alexandrina. We all immersed ourselves in the hot springs in Tekapo although more hardy members of the family did swim in the much, much colder waters of the lake itself. We rented 2 houses next door to each other and apart from thinking that the high winds during the Saturday night were going to blow us into the lake the weather was glorious. We drove to the top of Mount John to get a good view and saw the top of Mount Cook Aoraki, covered in snow, peeping over the nearer mountains.

Well Folks, that is it for another month, so with all my love and best wishes to you, take care and do keep in touch. Carol xx

Feb. continued

Only a day later but I have found the photos so am striking while the iron is hot. For you doubting Thomases - the proof that 'Surfin Nana' is a reality. Well, maybe not surfing as I doubt that I could manage to stand up and anyway, I have a fear of heights!!! I do find it a lot of fun and it seems as though the rest of the family agrees with me.

This is the month when I am going to start 'joining' things. I feel the need to widen my horizons. I start a Tai Chi class next week - not the same discipline as before in Sudbury so I will have to concentrate and learn the new moves. I am hoping to go to Maori classes. The language is used a lot on radio and television and I reckon it would be good to be able to understand and also to pronounce. There is U3A that I will check out and the WI.

I was invited to watch a day at the World Bowls Championships held here in Christchurch and enjoyed it. I knew nothing about the game before I went (and it is questionable how much I know now) but it was a good day. Not sure if I want to take it up though.

Katherine, Roy, Ash and India have moved into their new home in Tuahiwi - about 25 minutes drive from me. A lovely rural property with rather too much grass for my liking but I can understand their wanting it. After all, the Groton garden wasn't exactly small. The children were so excited to see all their belongings in their new rooms! School tomorrow!

Sarah, Matt, Joe and Ben take possession of their new house at the end of this week and all their goods and chattels will be delivered on the following Monday. They will be pleased to get out of rented accommodation and to have their own things around them. Joe is enjoying Kindergarten and Ben is chattering away - not all of it understood by me yet.

Annie and Malc are still losing out on sleep but Olive is a joy and is beginning to grab at toys held near her. There is a lovely video on their blog - all smiles and giggles.

Well, that's it folks. More next month. I will continue to enjoy the summer with the added bonus that the grass is not growing! Just as well as I haven't got a lawnmower yet! Take care, all my love Carol xx

February

February already! It has been a busy month - busy enjoying the sunny weather (sorry all you folks in the Northern hemisphere but your time will come).

There were a couple of sandcastle competitions on New Brighton beach and the family did good!! A racing car in the first comp. came in the first three but the pirate ship got first prize. Sarah and Katherine especially did lots of preparation making the spars and sails and ship's wheel and treasure chest. The kids all dressed up with eye patches and cutlasses. Last week there was a kite festival (see picture on the right that doesn't really do it justice. There were dozens and the constant wind came in useful for once).

I did manage to get all the family in one place and more or less ready to 'watch the birdie'. You can see the best of the bunch. It is impossible to get everyone to look in your direction and not pull a face! I really need to get a few lessons in this blogging - I have lost a couple of photos again. Never mind, next time.

I have at last found out how my spa works so now can indulge myself whenever I like. It wasn't that difficult but the people I bought the house from were not very accurate in the instructions that they gave me so I got in the experts. The grandchildren like it (and so do their parents). There is a lot of splashing when they get in. I have been in the sea boogie boarding a few times this month. Proof was in the photos that have been mislaid so I will find them and do another short blog in a few days.

Hopefully, you will get to read this then check out the rest of the family blogs. Do leave a message to let us know you have been looking. My very best wishes to you all. Carol xx

Happy new year

My best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2008. I can't believe that I have been here in New Zealand for nearly 3 months already but the camera and the calendar don't lie. Speaking of cameras, you will see that I have posted some photos in this blog - my new house, Olive at 8 weeks and Ash, India and Joe trying out their boogie boards and wet suits safely on dry land. They tried them out in the sea a couple of hours later..
I went in for a dip myself and it was not as cold as last year. We have
had some lovely weather, and have to keep well covered in sun cream.
Not really trying to make all you in the Northern hemisphere jealous!!!!
We will, of course get our comeuppance while you are all basking in the
sun in your summer. It still feels rather strange to be celebrating this
holiday in the sun, and knowing that the new year for us brings autumn
and winter. First, though, us winter birthday types are looking forward
to being outside and maybe having a barbeque.
Whoops! have lost one of the photos so should probably finish while I am still marginally ahead, and leave the rest until another day.. I will get a photo of Ben in the next batch. All my love Carol xx