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.

Orewa's sun-set

Orewa's Sun rise

New House

Well we have found our future house for the next twelve months, its in Orewa. We dont move in until the 5th May, our furniture will be arriving next week and we shall have to store it until the date. I can now relax and not go visiting houses. We went to a BBQ yesterday and met some people some recent immigrants some not so. The kids are still on holiday and they have been meeting up with some school friends or we have been going out. The weather is still warm and sunny which is good for April, mind you i can feel the temperture dropping at night, and my hot water bottle is on the container. No major crisis at the moment, No i want to go back to the UK i'm missing my friends YET, but it really feels like we are on holiday altho we are in a routine.

EASTER WEEKEND, ALSO BILLIE-JO'S
10th BIRTHDAY. WE SPENT GOOD FRIDAY AT TORBAY WHERE WE HAD LUNCH AND WENT FOR A SWIM. SATURDAY WE SPENT THE DAY AT WAIWERA THERMAL SPA RESORT WHERE THE WATER WAS 36-40 DEGREES HOT, LOVELY. ON SUNDAY WE WENT TO CORNWALL STREET TO AN EASTER SHOW (bit like Royal show ground) WE WATCHED OVER THE HEDGE SHOW, CIRCUS, FUNFAIR AND LOTS OF STALLS.

Happy Easter to you all back home, From us all here in sunny New Zealand, ( well it is for the minute) Josh i was looking in our local paper today but nothing for you yet mate i shall continue to look, and who was it i was looking for a rich handsome bachelor man for, well whoever its for i havn't found him as yet. I am still looking for a place to live at the moment and someone decided to put Easter in this weekend and everything has shut down, its how the UK used to be. Its Good Friday today and we have been out for lunch at Torbay beach and sunbathing. We had to go down Penzance St to get there.

Carly what are you doing up a tree?

This is not an Aprils Fools Joke, they dumped tons & tons of snow on the beach and we had professional snow borders here, this was taken 11.30 at night mark & I went out for a drink and walked home via the beach and the snow was still there.

Goat Island

This is at Goat Island, (no its not where there are lots of goats) it's a marine Resevoir.

This is the day i helped out the class at their annual swimming fun day, this is jadens new friend Dylan

Paige in her Orewa College uniform

This was taken 8.45 in the morning just outside
school over looking Orewa beach

Billie-jo & Jaden in their new school uniform
at Orewa Primary

New Week

Tueday-Well been here a week now, Paige started College yesterday altho daunting she made some friends real quick and felt more at ease. She called me after school as she was walking home and said ' Mum, I'm lost and i cant seem to find the right road to go on,' so i had to TRY and find what road she was on and direct her home. Billie-jo and Jaden seem to have settled in fine, BJ came home yesterday and said she has been invited to a friends house next week for AFTERNOON TEA!!! Get you !!! It's her birthday next week she will be 10, god knows what we are going to do, its Marks on Sunday, to be honest both birthdays have been far from mind, I have been down town today looking at long term rental accomodation, so far nothing. I went out today driving for the first time, how scarey! All the roads looked the same. I checked out our local gym and might enroll in some classes, could get used to this lady of leisure mclarky. At the weekend we were invited out for lunch with some friends at Howick and they took us for a spin on their boat (I want one) it was a good day.
Wednesday-We had a look around AUT University today for Carly it's a campus purely for outdoor recreation, it seems very nice, she gave Carly some options so its up to her to decide what she wants to do.
Thursday-I vollunteered today to help at Jaden's outing at the leisure centre, as we have the 2 cars now i followed Mark to Stanmore as he had to go to Auckland to get car insurance. On the way back i thought i shall follow the bus back to school, that's all well and good until i hit the red lights, OMG palpatations as I wave the bus goodbye, but i then began to recognise roads. I shall tell Mark i had no problem getting home.

New Zealand

We landed in NZ Monday 19th, to a beautiful sunny day, we arranged to get picked up and taken to our rented accomodation where we will be staying for 8 weeks. We were greeted by the smell of lilly's and a bottle of champagne in the fridge, also some goodies to keep us going. All i needed at this moment of time is a nice cup of tea. Everything we need is here, Perfect!

Tuesday, we rang the schools for Paige, Billie-jo & Jaden. Had an appt for the Primary school which we thought was a lovely school for them, it was built 12 months ago, so we bought the uniform and they start Thursday.

Bj & Jaden started school today they had a lovely time, they both were allowed to take their shoes off and jaden said ' Mum, I didnt have to put them on to go outside' his feet were filthy but he enjoyed his day, Bj has got Mr Ellis and said he is lovely. We visited Orewa College and had an interview that afternoon and Paige starts Monday. We got the uniform and she doesn't like it, tartan green. I think she looks fine, and the fact that they will all look the same.

Still in Singapore

We had breakfast at the zoo, where you could have your pictures taken with the orang-utang and her baby, it was one of the best zoo's i ve ever seen. We took unlimited tram rides and also walked the trail. The orang-utangs were playing freely in the trees. We watched how the polar bear behaved under water and what they do when they are hungry.

We took a night adventure cruise down the river one evening and viewed Singapore by night. We visited a night market, and had a singapore sling at the famous Raffles hotel. We also ate out and had a Chinese but it never went down with the kids.

We visited the Island of Sentosa and saw an amazing underwater world Asias largesr tropical fish oceanarium, you were alowed to touch certain fish. We saw the merlion and listened to how Singapore got its name which is interesting to hear but i wont bore you with that now. We watched an amazing (sorry used that word twice but it was) a magial Sentosa show with fireworks. truelly spectackular.

Singapore

Had breakfast at the zoo

Altho my noodles were disgusting Mark enjoyed his fish soup

Now in Singapore, wow so hot, We got taken to our hotel with a free shuttle, we had to take all our luggage as we were staying more than 24 hours, we felt like the Adams family, I'm sure we looked like it after 12 hours on the plane, good flight anyway. Got checked in, and got a taxi to China Town, where we bought a new camcorder and had some noodles which were disgusting. That evening we went out to the night Safari tour. It's a tropical jungle that comes to alive after dusk. We saw the giraffes, and the rare clouded leopards, the endangered Asian rhinocerous and the fishing cats. We saw a fire show.

Marks and my family saying good-bye x x x

Bishops lorry ready to load up our things

Packed & ready to go

Well Bishops came and packed all our gear, they spent 4 days packing, gosh i never realised we had so much stuff, how on earth are we going to find a house big enough like the one we have to fit all this lot in, AND i threw a lot out AND gave alot away, Honest!! This all seems real now, watching my things being wrapped up. We spent our last day at Margarets & Brians with my Mum & Dad and Marks brother having a BBQ, and some of Nigels homemade wine, mmm. In the evening Mum treated us to our last supper of a chinese. I went into town and had my last drink with the locals and to say goodbye.

Sunday.

I wanted to slip quietly away, but no chance we had to have photographs and some of Paige's friends turned up and everyone was crying, Very emotional. Duncan drove us to London and we stayed in a hotel over night, ready for the morning, for our adventure.

This was a yummy chocolate cake that we won on Valatines eve.

Tickets will be here tomorrow. Whoopi!!
Actually getting nausiusly panically excitedly sh***** myself.
Went on the Singapore web-site to see our hotel and what we have planned for the 5 days of our stay. We are going to see pink dolphins and go to the zoo at night, go on a boat cruise, visit China town have coffee at Raffles. So excited. That should keep us on a high until we start our new life. I visited Mum today and gave her a crash course on the computer and how to send e-mails (bless) she's doing really well, set the web cam up for her so its all system go.

Well we have somewhere to live 8 weeks in a rented accomodation untill our furniture reaches Orewa (hopefully safe and not floating waiting to sink) whilst we are there we shall look for somewhere long term. Still not sold the house yet.

This is Peter, who arranged our party. Thanks Pete, great night !!!!

Well so much for not having a party and slipping quietly away, NO WAY!!
Peter has arranged for us to have a PARTY! Food, music the works. Mind you I'm coming, round to the idea now. Sounds like its gonna be good one, now I cant wait well I can in a way cos it means it would literally be the following week when we shall be going. I have packed all our cases, caught up on all washing including things that's being taken in the container. Hopefully do lots more this week as its half term and I'm off. Well will write more when there is more news.

Mark, Me, peter and Mandy at the Marie Curie Ball

Mandy & I went to a Marie Curie Charity mask Ball at St.Ives. What a fantastic evening I think we got to bed around 3.30 that morning. Mark put in a bid for a guitar and won, so everyone at home wants to learn to play now.

Well today I have handed my notice in, a month today but I'm having half term off, so three weeks left. Gosh I shall be unemployed. My brother in-law called and we have arranged for 11 of us to go bowling down Porth in the half term and have something to eat. This Friday Mark & I have been invited to Tregenna Castle for Marie Curie Charity/Valatine ball evening. Our weekends are filling up with saying our goodbyes. I have sorted us out somewhere to live for eight weeks fully furnished, which then will hopefully give us time to look for somewhere long term.

We're on our way

Well the flights are now booked and we 're leaving 12th March, stopping off at Singapore and getting to Auckland on the 19th. OMG! Still have no where to live but what the heck!! Bishops the removal men are coming the 4 5 6 7th March so we will have to rely on takeaways or nice friends, eh Jeanie G! Feeling myself getting stressed, wot with work and trying to pack and organise things and helping my buddy Jean to set up a web page that is proving more dificult as time goes by. She has started a balloon business, and today I helped her dress a chocolate shop window up ( I know I could be packing) seeing as its Valatine Day soon. It was fun and we had a laugh, think i shall go round there tonight and open a bottle with her, shall miss you, you ole bugga!
We had Pete & Mandy and the children stay last weekend Pete said he would do us a curry and bring it over to us later on, so Mandy & I fed the children and opened a bottle of vino at the same time. By the time Pete came at 7.30 we were on our second bottle, (this brings back memorys) hastily adding without the curry, he forgot! So we ordered a chinese and went out for a drink locally, by the time we got it and returned home, I didnt feel like eating and i was a lillte worse for wear.

Cleaning up

We are looking at rented properties now and left our details with them. Rang Orewa school and was greeted by someone who deals with international children. She gave us her email to let her know of the kids ages. I sorted out Jadens and Billie-jo's clothes and was quite ruthless with them. I know someone who will have them, as with the toys, I gave them away. I will sort out more and give to the local play group. Had a tidy up down in the cellar at the weekend, and took loads of stuff to the tip. Gave my Dad some odds and ends. Sorted the shed out and cleaned the BBQ (will definitely need that) and dismantled the garden furniture, ready to be packed.

Mum & Dad

My favouite in-laws

YIPPEE

23.01.07
Recieved some fantastic news yesterday, Diane rang to tell me that Amelia VO has just rang her to tell her that we have got our Permament Residence Visa'a which means we can now live in NZ. Couldn't concentrate at work rest of the day, OMG!!! This is for real, now the emotions have all started again, well they didn't leave really. I ask myself for the 100000000000th time Am i doing the right thing? Damn it yes, we can always come back! We have decided on going mid March, the girls cant wait to get out there. I will hand my notice in at the beginning of Feb, that will be scarey I have been working there for years.

Happy new year everyone!!!

Just found out that our VO (Visa Officer), You start talking slang when you get to this stage, has gone on holiday, so still waiting. We cant book flights, cant organise the furniture to be moved, I cant serve my notice at work, just sit and wait until she returns from her holiday, as if christmas wasn't long enough! It will be a mad rush towards the end and I will be more stressed out than I am now and it will be ME who needs a holiday. So until I know anything more It's back to work & school.

Mark & I in Barcelona

Anita, Mandy and I in Barcelona for our 4oth birthday

This is a picture of us horse riding in the mountains.

The boys surprised us with this holiday, it was fantastic.

This is Paige and I at Marks christmas party. Was a great evening.

Mark & I

Marks Christmas party

Myself & mark Carly Paige Billie-jo and Jaden

My Mum 60th birthday

Update so far

The Officer who has been allocated our case has been in touch to say that the Doctor who did our medicals put down the wrong date on Marks form so that had to go back to him for him to re-date it, also they needed confirmation from marks work for how long he has been working for the company and how many hours he works. This now holds things up longer and we probably wont know now until after Christmas if we have been successful. This stage is awful. Just waiting, waiting!!! Anyway we have had a weekend at St.Ives and stayed at Tregenna Castle hotel for Marks Christmas party. We took all the children because of it hoping to be our last one here. They loved it. We have had Carly's 18th birthday, and I'm still getting over that, we went skating, I now know how Bambi felt. My Mum turned 60 this year so we all got together and had a meal out, the following weekend Jaden my son turned 5 and he wanted a party so I had to organise that in record time. In between going shopping for pressies, O and I dont break up from work til Wednesday. Will put some pics for you to see. So the next time I will be writing will be next year, God that sounds weird. Its count down now to Christmas Day. Merry Christmas everyone who reads this. All the best to you all in 2007.

House for Sale

23.10.06
Spent most of today tidying up as we are having a valuer around this afternoon to see how much the house is worth. It will then go on the market next week, now things are happening I'm getting nervous and excited, just cant believe that we are doing this. Told my friend Jean yesterday and she cried. OMG. What have I done!

Will get back to you and let you know how things go.

To view the house click on to the link site below.

My House