"It's Christmas Time....."

Or it was, I am a little late in doing this post but only just found time to do it.

Our eldest niece was up to stay with us a couple of weekends ago for a Touch Tournament, so my Mother-in-Law and I took her to Spreydon Baptist's annual "Christmas Grotto" set up, which by the way is amazingly well done.

At the Entrance - a Light Waterfall

Toy Shop

Race Track

Angel Teds telling the Story of Jesus

McCaw - he didn't particularly like his photo being taken.

A wonderfully put together walk through.

"Needlework..."

I have now finished the second piece of cross-stitch for my dear work-mate.

Before back stitch

All the crossing done

Backstitch complete

Detailed

Both completed

I really enjoyed doing these and am already planning my next piece to start in January.

"George Harrison"

It has been quite a while since I wrote a post, something I have been meaning to but with the rushing runway into Christmas, a working retail Christmas at that, time has gotten away with me.

The title of this post might lead one to think this'll be about The Beatles but in fact it's about a Little Bichon Friese puppy. My father and his wife's new house mate. They bought a Bichon puppy; so in mid-November we went for a wee drive to pick him and take him to Moeraki where his new parents would meet us for lunch, then take him home.

We picked him up from Arundel, Canterbury (near Geraldine), put him in a cat cage and continued on our way south to Moeraki. It was pouring with rain from not long before Oamaru all the way down.


He is rather cute. Traveled really well, only wimpering when he needed the toilet. Pulled over down a side road/street in Makikihi.

Once we had had lunch at Moeraki, the weather was rubbish so didn't go down to the boulders, we let him out to see if he needed toilet, but with the rain and cold he started shaking all over. It was cute, so we wrapped him up in a towel to warm him up.

5 Year Anniversary xoxoxoxoxox

20.10

This past Saturday was Simon and mine's 5 year Anniversary of being together. The best part about it was that the 20th fell on a Saturday, which was the same day of the week as he asked me out. AND it was also Labour weekend when he asked me out. So it made this past weekend extra special.

We had planned a few months ago to go to Hanmer Springs, so I spent all last week hanging out for Saturday to get in the car and head a wee bit up the road. We heard on Friday that it had snowed in Hanmer but that didn't deter us, even the fact that it was a 3 day weekend where many a family would be.

Woke up Saturday to sunshine and warmth. After a brief phone call with the boss at work, we got in the car and headed up to Hanmer Springs. It was a great drive, sunshine, and open ride, also no cops so I enjoyed the straights and passing cars when they were too slow.

We arrived at lunchtime, so parked up and walked down to the Monteith's Brewery Bar, Hanmer for some yummy lunch. Their Ciabatta Garlic Bread was divine, the butter was soaked through to perfection and the right amount of flavour. Just divine. Simon had the open steak sandwich and I had Chicken Breast with salad, absolutely delicious.

My Beautifully Refreshing Jaegemesiter & Red Bull

Simon's Refreshing Monteiths Golden Lager

It was an absolutely gorgeous day to sit out side for lunch.

Then we spent the next couple of hours sitting and soaking in the hot pools. It was just wonderful. Even with all the people that were there it didn't feel to crowded or busy.

Scenery views!!

Could build here, waking up this view would be great!

A lovely afternoon, with a nice drive home, we stopped off at Blockbuster for some DVD's to finish the day off.

With Twinkies for Tea (bought at Martha's Backyard in Auckland

It's been a great 5 years with Simon and I so cant wait to enjoy all the others to come.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Catch Up Time: Our Week in Auckland

During the second half of week 2 of October, Simon, myself, Dad and Step-Mum went up to Auckland to celebrate my Brother's 21st.

We got up early on Thursday 11 and caught our 8am Jetstar flight (thanks to my boss who kindly got up that early to take us to the airport).

Regan met us at the airport and we headed for coffee, to a place in Newmarket, which was conveniently located near the only car dealerships worth going to. Audi, Porsche, Mercedes and of course Ferrari and Maserati.

Aston Martin DB9

A Beautiful Behind

The noise from 

Lamborghini Aventador - Gorgeous

After wandering round some gorgeous scenery, with lunch at Mission Bay, Burger Fuel, in between, we grabbed some groceries from Countdown an headed for where we were to be staying.

We met this wee guy in Mission Bay. A bearded Dragon, native to  Australia,
born in NZ and working as a Mexican. He was rather cute.

With my brother in the Airforce we managed to get a house for the week for basically nothing for the entire week.

For his Birthday dinner Regan chose a place called Elevations which was up in the Waitakere Hills, with an amazing view of the city. Meal was pretty good too.

The rest of the week we saw a great deal of the city, Sylvia Park Mall, Albany Mall, New Lynn, the City and Onehunga Dress Smart. We took the train into the city on Monday and all of us went up the Skytower, we got the tourist photos. The best part being when we sent our Step-mother to negotiate with the photo guy on price. He offered all three sets for $75, she said $20 each or no deal. We got them at $20 each.

View of the Harbour Bridge from the Skytower

Looking down through the glass floor you can walk over.
Really is a mind of matter thing.

Regan's 21st was on the Saturday, he's managed to persuade his Bible Group leader to let him have it at his house. The evening was to consist of a BBQ tea followed by 60's movies on a big screen under the stars. The problem was that it poured with rain that day, so they tried to set up a canopy over the deck, but that didn't work. In the end we just chatted about inside and Dad did his "Dad speech".

Regan with his friend setting a frame for a canopy.

Regan in his 60's outfit.

On the Sunday Regan was baptised in the sea at Point Chev.

Regan being baptised.

It was a great week, plenty of shopping between us all. Did stop in at Gucci but still too poor to purchase in there, despite a pair of gorgeous mid-heels stealing my eyes.

If we were ever to move to Auckland, I know we'd spend pretty much every Sunday for a year at least just cruising round getting to know our surroundings.

Father's Day

Today is Father's Day, a day to celebrate one's Father/Dad. I always look forward to thinking of something special to get Dad to say thank you being such an amazing Dad and of course finding the perfect card as well.

Dad, Me & Grandma

Dad did set the bar high, but Simon certainly reaches it!

Up on a tractor with Dad

Dad at Wanaka Warbirds

Dad and I on my Wedding Day

I was always willing to help Dad to wash the car, then I was always willing to drive it for him!

I thank God everyday that I have an amazing Dad!!!

"1st of September - Spring is Here"

L'Hotel, where we had a lovely lunch.

I had the opportunity to have a 3 day weekend this week due to a work colleague who was under the weather earlier in the week. So given it was the first wonderful day of Spring, a fresh new start after the cold of winter, I decided that Simon and I should take a wee drive over the hills and far away.......

Akaroa Wharf where I found my new necklace

Once Simon had finished work this morning and the washing was all on the line we checked the camera was charged, got in the car and drove speedily over to Akaroa for lunch.....

The new necklace I want, waiting for a price in 9 white gold.

View of the Penisula Bays form Hill Top Tavern

Just worth taking a picture

Instead of one photo for the first of Spring it's a few, but it's start to try and accomplish

"Faith, Hope and Love...."

In my wind down time after work/weekends etc I dabble in a bit of needlework - cross stitch to be exact and I thought I would share a little of what I've done. As mentioned in a previous post I said I was working on something but couldn't share because it was intended for someone(s), however those someones have received it so now I can show.

I learnt as a kid how to do cross stitch but hadn't touched it in many years. It wasn't until last year when I really felt the burning desire to pick up a needle and put together a pattern to commemorate our marriage. So I went on the hunt online for the perfect cross-stitch pattern. It surprisingly didn't take long to find one. I found one on ebay that contained my favourite bible verse to associate with our marriage 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain Faith, Hope and Love and the Greatest of these is Love". 

"Faith, Hope & Love"

It took about a week to arrive form England and I had it done within a week (and this was before I started taking them to work to be the grandma sitting n her lunch break doing her needlework). I thoroughly enjoyed doing this piece. It didn't take too long to find a frame for it either in the end, I had thought I would end up having to have a frame made but low and behold I managed to find a simple black frame in the good ol' Warehouse. This piece sits in our mini hall way by our photo albums and looks just beautiful. I'm intending to do a Tatty Teddy one for us too, a couple of bears sitting on a swing.

I made a Tatty Teddy baby one for my friend Kylie's wee bubs last year, Charlie is now one.

My third piece within a year was another wedding one for my Dad, who got married last year on Boxing Day. This one took a little longer to find for him, trying to find one that wasn't too busy or wasn't relevant but then I came across a Tatty Teddy one which looked very gentlemanly. The male teddy in tails tipping his hat to his bride. Very classic.

Bride & Groom

The finished product

Who They Were

The Back all laced up ready for framing

Completed!!

I'm now working on a couple of Japanese pieces for my dear friend at work. I'm nearly completed the first one, a samurai, with some very striking and bright colours.

Here is the beginning of the samurai's coat/jacket/wrap thing, it has like 4 different shades of red and pink in it, which made for fun when trying to determine how many red squares in I was or was it circles. The two yellows were slightly more straightforward but it was fun to maneuvre round with.

Hee he has sleeves and his skirt part is started, which is easier as it's just black and grey.

I've now finished him and working on the surrounding features and then it'll be time to do the backstitch to make it all more defined. Looking forward to the finish product and getting started on the next one.





I've enjoyed dong these pieces and look forward to doing more, but only with significance, I'm not going to do them for the sake of doing them. Bonus of my work friend giving me two to do, gives me an outlet. :)

Till next time......

Quick Trip Round the Block

A childhood euphemism for when Dad decided it was a bit of a dull afternoon and therefore it was time for a drive.


This past weekend was Simon's birthday so I decided, as he hadn't been to visit, to take him over to the coast for a round trip. We headed out Saturday morning  with cloudy skies but by the time we got further west and headed into Arthur's Pass the sun was shinning bright. Simon got to see snow for the first time on his birthday. The mountains were beautifully covered with snow heading into the Pass and by the time we stopped in Arthur's it was freezing but the sun was shinning bright.

In the Arthur's Pass just before the Viaduct

We stopped just pass the Viaduct at a stopover and took some photos, a Kea came and started drinking the snow. As we were about to leave we heard this thump and he'd landed on our driver's side rear view mirror, just sat there chilling. Took a couple of snap shots and even after we started the car he didn't seem too phased. It was two cars pulling up that distracted and him realising that we weren't going to pay him any more attention for him to hop off.

This cheeky Kea landed by our car where we stopped on the other side of the Viaduct.

We were about to leave when we heard a thump and Cheeky Kea had landed on  our rear view mirror.

We drove down to Hokitika for some lunch and meet the Tasman Sea. A thought of going to Shantytown popped in but didn't have enough time to enjoy it before it would close for the day, so on the list to do next time we nip over. We headed up to Greymouth and checked into our hotel, which was really nice, heat pump, separate bed room, no bath but the shower was nice and big. Simon opened some more presents and then we went to a nice Pizza place for tea and then Speight's Ale House for dessert. Spent the rest of the evening watching Last Chance Chawners which was hilarious.

Sunday morning was breakfast at McDonalds and picked up some glasses from Monteith's brewery (the tour is on the list for next time too), then headed north for Westport. Stopped at the Pancake rocks and wondered round the loop. Absolutely great weather the entire weekend. Loved it. So still on the coast. For the middle of winter, couldn't have asked for a better weekend.

Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

Stopped in Westport for lunch, had a lovely platter, which was devine. Then round to the seal colony at Cape Foulwind. Plenty of them lazing about on the rocks and driftwood, such the life. After the seals we headed inland towards Reefton and into the Lewis Pass. Next destination for the day was Maruia Springs.

Struck more snow as we got to Reefton and onto Springs Junction. The trees looked gorgeous in the afternoon sun with their sprinkling of snow that looked like they'd been dusted with icing sugar. Breathtaking.

Trees in the Lewis Pass

While the Lewis was a lot more snow and icier than the Arthur's it was still a fairly peasant drive through and just before dusk we reached our final destination before home, "Maruia Springs", which I hadn't heard of until last Weds and it became a must to go. So in freezing cold weather we were soaking a 40 degree natural hot pool in our togs, snow right up to the rocks surrounding the hot pool. Absolutely gorgeous. And we've made it a must to go there for a couple of nights within the next year. It was so peaceful and quiet, we didn't want to leave and I would've quite happily stayed the night if Simon didn't have to be at work the next morning. While Hanmer Springs is fun and more things to do. I definitely prefer Maruia, for its peace and quiet, no cell phone reception, just lovely. I love the idea of escaping there for a couple of nights, reading a book, a wee stroll down the road, soaking in the pools and just relaxing. I want to go back this weekend just thinking about it.

Maruia Springs Hot Pools

After Maruia, we continued through the Lewis in the dark, roads still slightly icy but quite alright. A full moon and stars shinning in the sky. We stopped in Culvenden for some fish and chips, stopped on the side of the road to eat them, as to cold sit on a park bench. And we were home by 9.30.

An absolutely wonderful weekend spent together, with good weather, great car to drive and beautiful God made scenery. Just perfect!!!!