Hello from the sunny Hawkes Bay!

[Aliya]

Finally online!

It's been a difficult but fun two weeks but we have now traversed the snowy capped mountains from Auckland to the Hawkes Bay and are having a blast. It is cold but sunny and the food and clear air and cheap but excellent wine is fab. The girls have done really well, MsA2 lost the plot last night but after their first full day at pre-school they came home happy and knackered . Now asleep. Thank Dog.

The Beags and The Evil Ginger Thing and dear XH arrive tomorrow and MrA is making the killer 12 hour return trip to get them while I feed out horses and play housewife. Our house isnt finished yet and we are staying in a fully self contained dear little cottage for $50 a night. The cold was challenging but has been allievated by my sniffing out the sales at KMart and buying two 7 plate oil heaters for $39, crispy warm tonight. The girls are loving their zoo theme hotties.

The next few weeks entail me water blasting and painting the house, us gathering our horses together and finishing the inside. Oh and look for a job for me. Somewhere.

But just wanted to say hi and to say THANK YOU for being so great for the past 10 years, I loved being in Sing but happy to be back here xx

[Scrummy Mummy]

Glad it's all going well A.

Very quiet here without you!

[Spike]

Good to see your happy post Aliya. Sounds idyllic

[Pinklepurr]

Fantastic, Spike, you are right, it does sound Idyllic. Crazy and manic and full of things happening, but idyllic.

So glad you made it there and things are working out for you.

[Lili Von Shtupp]

Have fun sprucing up the homestead, A. My last trip back to the states I was overwhelmed by a sense of space - wide open space. Big sky. Fresh air and the smell of trees and lakes. The girls have so much to look forward to. Congratulations again for all things new in your life.

[Addadude]

We'll miss you Madam A.

[Bender]

Happy to read that things are working out well for you all!

[Tack]

Sounds lovely A. I wish you all the best for a fab future.

[Aliya]

Oh you're not getting rid of me!

Huge market here for decent nappies. Mamy Poko, come to NZ! I have never in my life seen such a crap selection and quality of nappies and pull ups as I have seen here. NZ should be ashamed of itself.

Question for the Laydees, how does one get your kids to pre-school in time lol. Both mornings we have been late. Convincing children that timeframes are important seems to be a task way beyond my ken

[Morrolan]

eh? have you left Singapore?

how does one get your kids to pre-school in time?

by getting up earlier?

[Fat Bob]

By getting the maids to get them up earlier? Oh, maids are more difficult to come by in NZ....

[slinky]

Yep, going to have to get up earlier, I'm afraid

Glad you're all safe, sound and happy!

[Lili Von Shtupp]

I'm afraid M's right on that one. Get up earlier.

Once you establish a morning routine then you know when you can sleep in a bit. It's a whole new set up there so give it time

[Pinklepurr]

They are not in a routine yet, give them a chance! Hmmm, but er yes, in the meantime get up earlier.


Edit: I just realised that Lili and I posted pretty much the same thing at the same time, so we must be right!!

[Morrolan]

I'm afraid M's right on that one.

nothing to be scared of, you know...

[Aliya]

I'm not the problem, they are, they have always slept in until 7.30am

[Fat Bob]

Lazy little buggers, though I must say, I blame the parents.....

[daffodil]

Hey Ms A - great to hear the move has gone well for you and your posse

I'm looking forward to keeping updated re the progress of the renovations etc - bear in mind my room needs to be ready in time for the RWC next year. Like my eggs well done for brekkie and my bubbly well chilled (but you already know that)!

[Aliya]

Its OK Blob I talked at them this morning from 7am to wake them up early

So far the most terrifying thing about NZ is DAYTIME TV. Argggghhhhh.

Daff, of course darlink, all will be sorted, you have even have your own dear little horsie with a tray on its back to carry the bubbly around after you...

The Beagles and the Evil Ginger Thing and Xiao Hei landed today, we thought we wouldnt get him out of Singapore but the vet in Sing knew that he just had fight injuries and was not ill so she signed him off, we just need to keep him inside and stuffed with food to get him back into health. What a little fighter.

Just found out where THE best vineyard is in the Hawkes Bay, will keep you posted. Loving $10 bottles of wine!

[Pinklepurr]

Aw,that is so good to hear that all the family has now arrived! Better keep them all nice and warm to acclimatise.

Daytime TV??? You have time to watch day time TV??? I thought you had other important things to do?

[Fat Bob]

Its OK Blob I talked at them this morning from 7am to wake them up early

And for most people, you talking at them makes them fall asleep.

[Scrummy Mummy]

A, who did you use for cat shipping? How much of it did they do for you, and was it expensive?

Just getting quotes now, scary!

[Aliya]

Well its a long story and we didnt use one of the pet movers but a guy who does all the paperwork and gets the cages for you. SEnd me an email and we can tell you all about it. You can do it yourself, we learnt the hard way and happy to pass onto you all we now now x

[daffodil]

Still watching re-runs of Shortland Street ?

[Pinklepurr]

We used Mitchville (same as Kooky I think? ) and they were very good, everything processed quickly and efficiently and they kept us up to date on how it was all going as well. They spent time with the cats as well at our place when they dropped off the travel cages and when they picked them up. Quarantine at this end said it was all well handled as well. Not cheap that is for sure, but none of them are. Quarantine will be your biggest expense I think, since you will have to have all of them there for a month.