Counting down

This time, a month away, Dear Jordy, your Mama will be BURSTING...you will just about be touching down in Dunedin, and I bet, all you will want to see something fun!!
( you won't know that's me yet,)

so here's your wee bike which I'm sure will make you feel a wee bit at home. It's got wheels after all! It's also got a contraption to magically turn into a scooter too!



And then you'll see your Dad's favourite things. This is a very treasured collection Jordy, saved all these years, especially for you.





Now, I know you're a 2000 something wee boy, so even though your Dad's old favs will be fun, you'll be wanting some bells & whistles, so there's a few toys that friends have been keeping for special occassions ( that's you!) Your Mamma even bought batteries for this collection! When your Daddy was a wee boy battery toys weren't even invented. Well, if they were, I pretended they weren't!




We have been very lucky wee Jordy cos some of my friends think they may have some more children some day, so they have saved their favourite things and wee reap their hourding. Here's a really fun duvet cover and I will put this on Finnie's bed just in case you don't like the cot that's waiting for you.



But, I think you will Jordy. It's really good. Promise. Although it's a wee bit smaller than what you are used to it's very cosey & that's what you need here 'cos you never know what the weather's going to bring. Our temperatures are so much colder than what you are used to.

Anyway, this wee cot will make you feel as "snug as a bug" ( that's an NZ saying )

and we have snuggy pyjamas & hats & boots & jackets too. You will love being wrapped in "layers". That's what we do here to manage the changes in weather. It will be so much fun to introduce you to climate themes. Your Mama is very good at "all weather picnics"

Tell Mummy & Daddy "no worries" ( that's another NZ saying ) we will have it all sorted.

Some of the things here, you will find a bit strange, for sure: Like you will have blankets, & you can go straight outside without going in a lift!!!! yes, you can!!!! & wait till you walk up Mama's hill...that's really wierd.

But some of the things will be exactly the same. Everyone making sure you are getting your "tucker" ( that's another NZ saying)

Here's your throne wee Jordy. It has pride of place. Your Mamma can't imagine right now all the cooking & meals that will go on, but you can be sure they will. And you can watch it all from here so you won't miss out on ' all the going's on" ( that's another NZ saying )

Your Mamma is preparing Xmas Cake.

Your very First cos last year you were too wee... & couldn't even eat big things!

One year perhaps you'll be here to lick the bowl! That's the best bit.

Not long now wee Jordy & Guess What?

The best thing is that Santa knows EXACTLY where to find you..

xxx

Springtime

Well, now that the painting is more or less done it's time to get into Garden mode.

Dunedin Springtime can be Four Seasons In One Day so we have to be extra vigilant in monitoring weather reports if we want to do outside stuff. I remember Dora was perplexed, when she first came to NZ as she couldn't understand why we kiwis were fixated on the weather. Well, she soon became as anal as the rest of us....perched in front of the tele...& calling to me in the kitchen..."Maree, the weather!" What we Southerners learn to do though, is just shrug our shoulders & get on with it.

So, I have begun my planting out for Summer although I am keeping tomato plants inside for just a little longer. The temperatures this November can range from 3 - 20 degrees in one day!

I have been shoveling horse manure into the garden & hopefully this weekend I'll be able to plant out some vegies ( maybe silverbeet, lettuces, rocket, strawberries ) I already have rubarb & radish growing. I'm not really a vegie grower, it's usually pot luck. All my roses are about to burst into flower though. Then I just have to hope that we don't have a huge downpour to spoil the show. I guess that's one of the nice things about gardening here...it keeps you always hoping for the best!

Anyway, I wonder what wee Jordy will think of all our seasons - I can just imagine his little concentration frown as he feels the air. And, I wonder what he'll think of the Lawnmower!!!!

We Begin our Winding Down....

We are nearly over another busy busy year. Exams will soon be over and very soon 20,000 Students will go home for their Mum's & Dad's to look after them...or they will travel to far away places ( with advise & up to date innoculations given )
Dunedin will soon become it's usual Summer Ghost Town.

So, what better way to kick start our quieter times than Melbourne Cup Day.

We decided it would be fun to dress for the occassion

Everybody had turned out in best gear...some more outrageous than others...

Our male Docs especially would have done justice to any Cup Day event!

My ensemble was a very classy piece borrowed from Cousies.

After the race & drinks & pizza we had a quiz night & once again I was in the winning team!

The last round was Kiwiana & I even remembered the main characters on Playschool...( Nick & David's equivalent to Baby Einstein I suppose )

Little Ted

Big Ted

Jemima

Manu

Humpty

How about that.......!

We have a few social times planned over the next few weeks. We work exremely hard and this year has been especially challenging as we successfully managed pandemic situations. We have such a great team it's nice to celebrate & have fun together.