Waiheke Island _ The Crowd

We visited Waiheke island yesterday, took the car across the ferry which took about 35 minutes. It is a beautiful place you could almost imagine you are on a carribean Island and the weather didn't let us down. It was also Paiges's 15th birthday, we had such a laugh, I laughed all day.

Well I managed to get thru the first half of the holidays, ha ha
I went for my second interview on Thursday and they rung me up within the hour of getting home to offer me the job, pending references. I start on the 16th July when they go back to school, I have 5 weeks off at christmas, great eh! They also offered me more money than originally started with and to go up in 3 months!
Thought we were back in Cornwall this week we have had rain and more rain but 17 degrees crazy eh, also over at New Plymouth they have had Tornedo's destroying loads of houses wiping the roofs from over them. Luckily not reached us!
Took the kids to Wiewera spa today its great as Paige can get us in for nothing, it was lovely sat in a 48 degree spa sitting outside at 6.30 this evening, shame I had a flat white in my hand and not a glass of savvy. The weather news has just come on showing lots of lovely snow down on the South Island, must get down there.

Well the end of an era, the house is no longer ours

Jaden recieved a certificate

For got to mention that Jaden recieved a super worker certificate last Friday at assembly, apparently he is the class IT Technician. We are so proud of the kids they are all beginning to settle. Carly went down the mountains with some friends a couple of weeks ago, to a party to celebrate the start of the skiing season. We would like to get down there ourselves, but have to work around the girls working. Billie-jo is going to a dance hip-hop work -shop tomorrow, she goes every Monday and will do a show in December when Mums over here. I am going to see Gwen Stafani at the end of July and going to take Mum to see Lionel Ritchie In November. Cant wait to see my Mum & Dad, so much to show them and take them to see.

Half term and dont I know it!!!! ha ha

Well its been about 15 weeks here, seems longer actually, we have made some great friends who we meet up every week. I have applied for a job working with ADHD kids and their families, I was called back for a second interview which is this Thursday, its only for 15- 20 hours which suit me fine, and then i can still be around for the children. There are 8 adults and all the children going over to Wieheki Island on Sunday, we leave Auckland and take the car across the ferry, cant wait. It will be Paiges birthday as well I cant believe she will be 15, she has been asked out with so many boys over here, ( Of course she has said no) she is turning into a little stunner and she doesn't really know it, Im treating her to have her hair done on Friday. Carly has been asked out by Gerrard, whose not bad looking, she is going out to dinner with him. Billie-jo has been making her own cards over here and had her own stall at the market last Saturday Mark took her she had to be there for 7 in the morning to set up, she done well, and people have been putting in their order. I shall take her this week as Paige has no soccer as its half term this week. Well i shall update you with pictures of us at the weekend. Nice talking to you today Dawn keep the pictures of Reece coming, speak soon Mum.

Well to finish my weekend off, I did my little stint at the school today and helped the little Darlings with their work. I'm telling them how to spell something and pronouncing it the way we do and they think it's i e a and I'm saying no and they say thats what your saying but its the way I'm saying it bless, any way finished it off by going to a friends house for a drink ( well it was nearly 12) Have I mentioned that I must get a job in my diary, No! well i must. Anyway yes opened a bottle and went for lunch at 12.30 in Takapuna to a japanese restaurant and they cooked our meal in front of us, it was really good, I had steak, fried rice, fresh veg & onions, soup it was so scrummy, mmmmmmm. I'm finding all the nice places to take you Mum when you come over. Great speaking to you just now Mum. Good old Skype eh!!!!
Speak tomorrow. BYE

PINK

Sharon & I also waiting patiently for them to open the door

Paige & Hannah waiting patiently to go in & see PINK

my party

Mandy (From Tavistock) needless to say we got on

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

Well what a weekend!

Family rung me this morning to wish me a happy birthday as i was trying to get the children ready for school and then I had to cut Margaret short and asked her to ring me back after nine as i was running late with the schol run. I was quite emotional aswell! Anyway I cooked Lasagne, Beef in Guiness, Spaghetti Bolinaise, my jamie Oliver bread that went down a treat, lots of people brought lots of other treats and it was a fantastic evening, my first kiwi birthday and many more to come.

We took Paige to stanmore home game (she is now in 1st Division) and watched her play soccer but she lost. She is loving her new job and they feed her there as well. Marks sea fishing was cancelled as it absolutely chucked it down and it rained all day, but luckily it stopped for us to go and see PINK in Auckland, OMG, Sorry Jean but she was better than Robbie. She has to be the best concert I have ever seen, and that beats Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Phil Collins ok may even stevens with Phil Collins. ha ha

This afternoon we took the kids down to the beach where they cycled and we walked from one end of the beach to the other its 3km long. Then went to the surf club for a well deserved drink.

Gaby, Billie-jo, Emma & Paige at the surf club

Gaby & Jaden having a game of pool

Kate, Debbie & I

Debbie & I Saturday night

Paige played on Saturday at home and scored a hat trick, they won 3-0 and she got man of the match. one of her goals were from the half way line.

I hadn't said anything but Paige went for a job interview last week at Wiwera Thermal Spa and she received a phone call last night to say she has the job, so she is going to be working on Sundays and some days during the holidays, plus she has free meals there. All I need to do now is find Billie-jo & Jaden a job and i will be sorted.

No Crime in NZ- Yeah Right

Carly and three others decided to to go an hour up further North to go surfing, they found a remote beach and went off for hours. Deciding that they had enough they headed back to the car only to find that they had been broken into. They took two ipods, a camera belonging to Tom who is returning to England in about a weeks time whose got about two years of North & South Island photos since he's been here on them. Wait for it Carlys ripcurl jeans with $70 in them her towel, her knickers and her bra. (Ok stop laughing) Whilst sitting there thinking 'what the hell' they watched Dolphins jumping & diving. Carly said after the initial shock wore off they started laughing at Carlys expense cos all she had was what she was standing in. So they headed off and spent the afternoon at the police station making statements. Thats the last we'll see of Carlys knickers i reakon. Saying that I feel quite safe in leaving my front door unlooked and the car parked unlocked, just not on a remote beach. When we went kyacking we left all our gear in the middle of the beach with a towel over it and went off for ages and it was still there.

I had to laugh at this

I sent jaden off to scouts last night with a bag full of recycling things, remembering from the week before that the leader said 'Don't forget boys next week bring one item of recyling' thinking that some may forget I decided to send him off with all sorts. When I dropped him off I explained that jaden has a bag full with him, she looked at me but said nothing. When I picked him up an hour later, I asked Jaden what he built with all the stuff that was taken. 'Oh, we didn't do any sticking Mummy, we had to pick one item of reclycling and go on to the beach to collect any rubbish that was washed up'! Ooops! Moral of this story Don't assume!!!! I'll send Carly with him next week.

jaden in his new speed boat

Carly & Paige fell in the sea

Paige

Whenderholm Reserve on the beach

This is the view from Whenderholm Reserve which is about a 10 minute drive away, apparently this place gets packed on Christmas Day, I best book my spot now ah Mum. We all met up there and got together for a picnic which was a lovely day.

We could't take Billie-jo & Jaden to the beach without them wanting to go in for a paddle. the weather is still gorgeous.

This is Carly & Billie-jo I had Paige doubled up with me, and we swapped and I had Bj and Paige and carly fell in, unfortunately i couldnt get my camera out quick enough

Weekend

We had a lovely weekend. It started with me going out with the girls on Thursday, we went into Whangaporoa and had a meal and got thru 6 bottles between 6 of us ( yes Sharon 6 bottles) She didn't believe us. Friday we went up to Puhoi and met up with Debbie & Alan, Kate & Tom and all the kids and had a few beers. On Saturday we all met at the barn plant and like a convoy off we went to West Auckland and watched Paige play soccer, which by the way she scored yet again. They won 3-2. Then with Sharon & Tony we had lunch which was lovely. On Sunday we went for a bike ride and cycled down to the beach and on the beach and called back to Carly's and had lunch with her. Tomorrow I'm helping in Jadens class. Did I tell you that I have now got my car back, after a while, they found a spider in there and therefore i had to have it fumigated and cleaned, at a cost of $615. Still at least we have it now. By the way we had nothing broken out of our container. Spider man 3 and Pirates of the Carribean 4 is out this week so guess what we wil be doing next weekend. Remember the cinema at home Jean we used to take our little panda bottles with us, and was giggling at the sad bits. Unfortunately I'm not that close to a cinema than I was at Brooklyn, I have to drive to Whangaporoa.

Hannah & paige

Our front room

No you cant have a tea break already

The boys took one hour to unload our container

our stuff being unloaded

Lorry just turning up

This is Billie-jo's new kiwi friend Blake.

Sorry I have not been updating my diary lately. Well we have finally moved into Nickell Place, I cant believe how much stuff we brought, I open a box and go 'O did I really need to bring that'. It feels little like home (except for the weather) we are having such lovely weather despite coming into winter, cant quite get my head around that being in May and that but thats what the guy on the radio tells me. What shall I do for my birthday this year. I dont think it will beat last years. It's great as I can do the dishes and look out from my kitchen window and watch Jaden ride his bike around the island. We have a park very close by too. We have been walking to school from here too it takes about 15-20 mins depending on what mood Jadens in. Paige and Billie-jo have joined a hip -hop dance class and will be putting a show on in December, they seem to be enjoying it. Paige is also enjoying her football infact she scored on Saturday and made a goal needless to say they won. Carly has been offered more hours at work which she is going to take, her plan is to go off travelling. I'm taking them to see Pink at the end of May which I'm so excited about, sad eh!! I'm off out with the girls tomorrow night I have made such lovely friends, who have been here a little longer than us and when I feel down they pick me up. The other day I was doing my shopping and i was sobbing down the isle what a mess was I when I got to the counter, I just kept my head down. It wasn't the fact that I was feeling homesick I had this over whelming feeling and could't hold back the tears.