New Zealand the land of the long white MALL...

Me and my girl...

 So I have been in Auckland for the last week.  We came over for Milly to be seen by Greenlane Hospital for her eyes and it is also Grandad's ninety third birthday.  I thought I could hit a few malls at the same time; seven I thought... I only managed four before I had filled my suitcase! And no it is not all for me.

Grandad turns 93!

Grandad put on a little shout at his village, there were lots of ladies!  

Grandad, mum and his LADIES!

The funny thing was we, the ladies were left and the men went and sat at a table that women are not welcome... Stone age !?


We celebrated with a lunch at ma and pa's on Saturday too...

A birthday lunch...

A birthday tale..."It was this big!"

My beautiful niece and sister-in-law Marilyn!

And yet again my little brother had me screaming and Milly had to save me... Bully!

Hot day in Auckland!

 Then it was time for some real fun...

Yep I am a dick!

A bit bored now! Ho Hum...

The week has not at all gone as I had planned but it has been fantastic catching up with family and friends.  
A big thank you to Christine too for your kind words too meant a lot.  xox


Much love all xox

Ya 'avin a larf....

I was waiting in the car this morning as husband went to the market to buy the fruit and vege.  Trying to entertain the little ones, but I was soon the one being entertained...


A lot of the retail cars are the same makes and models.  Like they buy a shipment of the same car but, in different colours; some hard top and some convertibles.  The number plate is the thing that gives it away that it is a rental RA or RB = Rental.

 There a lot of Nissan March's they are small but roomy and as I say they do range in colour.  What I was watching this morning is something I am sure happens all the time... Two tourists keys in hand, puzzled faces walking backwards and forwards in front of me.  Looking at the many silver March's that were parked along the road side.  They would look at a number plate and then a land mark, back at the number plates and so on... hahaha I know cruel to laugh at the misfortune of others but hey hahahahhahahahahhahahahahahaha. I wonder if the rental company had decided to realise only the silver cars out!

Lucky ours was bright blue!

Then I saw this sign....

Ruddy Kids...

Dear sweet 'chicken'...

George came in the house this arvo hands on hips and no pants on, sauntering after his father who was holding the little darlings pants and was quick stepping it to the bathroom.  I am sure the neighbours heard me groan; thinking he had a bout of the 'runs'.  How wrong was I! 
'George do you need to do poos?' I hear husband ask.
'No'...
'Have you done poos?'
'Yes'...
This is where I step in and ask the now obvious question...
'Did you do poos outside George?'
'YES!'
'George you are NOT a dog!'
My dear sweet boys reply to this was -
'No I know, I'm a chicken ... see broc -broc -broc a doodle doo'


He was marched back out to the area he 'chicken scratched' in and as we reached the tree he turned to me with his finger to his pursed lips and said,
'Sssssh!'  What did he think was going to happen, a giant s**t surprise!?


As I walked back to the house after cleaning up his mess I could hear Milly from her bed "George poo in the toilet!" At least the un-toilet trained one knows where to poo I guess.  Now, if only she would sleep as she is meant to!


As I sit down to my cuppa and a Bookface update Josh runs down the hall and face slams into the wall... he is not the smartest at the moment either!


Lord give me strength...


Much love xox

Toilet Paper...

When we were on the move to Rarotonga we were advised to ship toilet paper.  I shipped over almost three months worth which of course I then had to store!  I couldn't understand why I needed to have brought all this toilet paper as it was not badly priced in the super market... Up until last week when I picked up a twelve pack and when I went to pay I was surprised at the near $13 price tag.  I had it removed from the bill and will wait till it is back to the regular eight dollars or we run to low !??!

The 'new' gold ?!

It is crazy to think back home husband had a favourite brand of the stuff and if I didn't buy that there would be disapointment.  Now it is just the average brand and if you don't like it, don't eat or S#@* somewhere else! 

Oh dear....

I went out tonight and this is what I came home to....

Oh dear...

Tropic fever has hit an all time high...

Much love x

WTF... Safe and secure in your own home!

Everyone who knows me knows how much I dislike unpleasant language... 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------//////--------------- Sorry I don't know what happened there, maybe the computer knows when the person using it is lying?! But I could have used a few on some kids today...


This afternoon I am sorting through my sewing bits and bobs when I look up and there are three boys walking through our back yard. I called out; as I knew one of the lads as he had come over looking for Josh one Sunday.  When we told him Josh was at a mates place this kid sat and played in the lounge with George for a couple of hours.  They said they were just cutting through so I let it be.  


After about five minutes I had a funny feeling, so I went down to Josh's room and when I opened the door this boy was standing on Joshua's bed and another was jumping out the window!  Needless to say I was fuming, I let rip and probably sounded like an old fish wife.  Tearing strips off these two boys, I snatched what ever was in the boys hand as they stood there still fill with bravado.  I never did use any 'unpleasant language' but I am sure fear eventually struck them as there was a couple of misted eyes.  


The audacity of one boy, the one who had jumped out the window already said "But he said he can come in your house". 
To this I mentioned the fact that, "I have a front door so if he was to come in to my house then he should use it!"  
Clearly the boy was not ready to let the fact go that it was okay to be in sons room as he went on to say more, "oh but..."
Well I was well and truly wound up then and said "That if there was anything missing I would pay a visit to their homes and make a call to the police!" 
A meek "Sorry" fell from the boys mouth.  


The boy still stuck in the room with me high tailed it out the back door very quickly as soon as mad it clear he was no longer welcome.  I believe the third lad that was standing at the gate was thinking, "Whew, so glad that wasn't me!"


When you think that your home is safe and secure you realise that even here there is a need to take precautions. Also it is a shame that the state of Joshua's room makes it hard for me to know whether there is anything missing!

The state of his wardrobe!

There is a sign on our gate now...


BEWARE OF THE JANINE SHE BITES!


Much love x

Crazy is as crazy does...

Crazy is as crazy does...

So some would say I am crazy already and I may just have added to that thought...


Since moving here I have noticed the huge amount of rubbish that litters the roads.  It is quiet disheartening to see an island paradise treated so very poorly! At home we recycle as much as possible and we can use either of two fire pits to burn rubbish.  We only burn paper and green waste that can not be composted, but many burn a lot of  items that 'we' have over the years in NZ been informed as not only bad for the environment but for our own health too; plastics, polystyrene etc.  I have heard there is talk of restricting items burnt on these pits but I am unsure as to the full details of this or if it is simply a rumour.


Anyway back to 'the crazy', I have taken to making; purses, little bags for ipods, and sling bags.  To list just some of the selection.  Originally had been making these out of island material until...

'Bits and bobs' purse

Pencil case

Selection of 'Island' purses & pencil case

Shoulder purse

Coin purse

A friend lent me a book on how to make a wallet using plastic bags!  Well I tried the wallet and was not happy with the finished product.  So using the same concept but my original purse pattern (if you can call it a pattern as I don't actually use one).  I set about making recycled purses, these are a few that I have to date...

Selection of 'breakfast ceral' purses

My lovely assistant... Wearing the shoulder bag

Inside shoulder bag with pocket.

Selection

Inside purse with a card pocket

Do not be surprised if you receive one of these as a birthday or Christmas present. As due to regulations we are not allowed to sell at the markets and now have quite the supply.  But I get these crazy ideas and until I get them out of my system, I am restless!  Coupled with the fact that at times you do have to find things to keep you busy and out of the sun!


To be able to keep up with the ideas I have; as there is still more rumblings in my brain, I put a notice out to all the classrooms at school.  I now have a great source of bags coming in from the kids at school so as I can keep my 'crazy' artistic juices flowing!


Much love xox