Two More Sleeps!

Tonight I put my Jordy TV to bed as soon, very soon, I'll be seeing my wee Grandson in the flesh! If it hadn't been for the wonderful Camel Diaries I would be imagining Jordy as the little soul that I left last September but thanks to all the wee stories & pictures I feel I've almost been with him as he's grown these last 10months. Of course wee Jordy won't know me...but that's OK I'm already imagining that "daddy frown" he's going to give me...& then after a wee while, he'll be thinking "Oh goodie...another person who thinks I'm the bees knees!"
So out comes my trusty red case again. What a traveller I've become!! Who would have thought!
Have had a lovely day today & everythings gone well. The weather has been balmy....almost spring like, just perfect for doing all those last minute chores like washing. And it won't be such a contrast to Sing weather..( it's been 2 - 4 degrees for a week!!!!!!!!!)
And it's been a "good luck day" too -
Got a warrent for the car ( always a relief! )
Found my "Muttonbird" CD which I thought was gone forever when I cleaned out car!!
Tonight's my last night here as am flying up to CHCH tomorrow just in case there's frost & ice on the roads in the morn & it's nice not to have to get up at 4a.m as I usually do on this trip. ( Listen to me, big time traveller!! So as everyone's arriving in town for The All Blacks Vs France - I'll be leaving for exotic Singapore.
I can spend a relaxing afternoon at the Hotel which is just a few minutes drive from airport. AND it's got a swimming pool - might be too cold though, might just have to wait for Sing Swim Time. Jordy will show me his big splashes. Oh well, I can do some holiday reading as there won't be much of that going on with wee boy on the go! Can't wait!!! Dora can read all her books while me & Jordy hang out.
OK that's it...gotta go and paint my nails!! Next time I sign in it will be from Jordy's house!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Margaret

Another 21st for Margaret
Good company, much laughter & yummy Turkish food.

Funny how we have celebrated decades & decades of birthdays together but don't seem to get any older at all!

Hmmm.....we didn't get to be Nurses but we did end up working in Health, as does Celia, and we do still love dressing up!

A Winter morning Visit to the Movies.

Second only to "Jordy TV" this little French movie is my favourite so far this year.
It's theme is redemption, courage, empathy, & family. Kirsten Scott Thomas is AMAZING as a woman trying to regain her broken life. Her poise & somber elegance is perfectly matched by her younger sister's freshness & liveliness (Elisa Zylberstein ) The two sisters' lives were shattered 15 years before and the love & quiet respect that they give to each other is profoundly portayed.
All the actors are wonderful in this film...esp old Grandpa, and Juliette's little niece ( whose confidence & delightful spontaneity reminded me of DIL - or how she might have been as a little girl )
Emotional & beautiful to watch.
Highly recommended...see it if you can.

A Perfect Sunday

It was another glorious day today, reaching 27 degrees!!!! We are supposedly coming in to winter...it is such a bonus to have the lovely weather continue.

After my usual walk to Ross Creek, I loaded up the car with pea straw and had a great time bedding the garden down for the winter ( if it ever comes! )

Then off to relax for the rest of the day..

Celia & I had a lovely lunch at Cafe Rue. There are so many places to "cafe" in here now & I've hardly been to any of them. As my wee Grandson seems to be a real Cafe Boy already I've a lot of catching up to do. So I am researching for his visits here & have quite a few places ready to go. As well as Cafes - The Dunedin Chinese Gardens is definately on the list of Must Dos.

The Gardens commemorate the contribution Chinese people have made, and continue to make to Dunedin history, culture & ongoing prosperity. They took over 8 years to make ( prefabricated in Shanghai ) and Celia & I picked a perfect day to visit. With the bright blue sky & warm gentle breeze we really felt in holiday mode.

The young man at the entrance was in Chinese Silk costume & I was dying to tell him how my wee Grandson had a suit exactly the same ( did he want to see a photo !) but I refrained -PROMISE! Celia knows me very well cos she knew exactly what was at the tip of my tongue! hee hee.

We could just imagine how Jordy will have such a wonderful time here giving us the run around. There are little bridges & granite mountains to climb & 2 wee boys were having a wonderful time in a little "hideout cave"

Like all Chinese Gardens it is a very peaceful serene place to spend time. Celia & I both bought a years pass. It will be beautiful in all weathers. Celia commented on how lovely it will be in the mist & it will be sureal to go in the twighlight. The Gardens are a wonderful asset for Dunedin and a credit to everyone involved.

Happy Birthday David

Recognise the look of serious concentration! You were just a little older than wee Jordy is now.

Have a WONDERFUL day!

Finnigan's Catch

The best thing about computers is that even though we're all so far away from each other we can keep in touch with just a touch of a button...

This is what my two favourite wee boys did:

Finnie had an AMAZING time at Hawea ..look at this little fisherman..

Here he is with 2 Salmon, no less & his Dad tells me Finn caught the BIG ONE!

Eat your hearts out Nick & David, you never managed such a catch! But perhaps Finn will help you out & give you some pointers on your next visit home.

Well done Finnie!!!


This is what wee JR did... ( taken from Dora's blog )

1. Sprouted a little tooth on his bottom gum

2. Pulled himself to standing in his cot, and against various pieces of furniture

3. Started babbling and talking throughout the day - he can say "dadada", "tatata", "mamama", "gagaga", "wawawa", "bababa", and he uses these interchangeably throughout the day. From once a silent baby, he is now a regular little talk show host wannabe. This happened almost overnight!

4. Become a lot more personable and is more interested in other humans

!5. Developed leg muscles in a big way! He walked on the entire balance beam at Gymboree (while supported by Granddad), and can even stand by himself for a heart-stopping moment in the bath.


D&D also took JR on his first "overseas" holiday to Malacca...( I am sure he would have had to use his Passport here & can't wait to see the stamp ) Finn, Malacca is in Malaysia - see if it's on your globe.

D&D also took JR to Singapore's famous ZOO. It was such a HIT they stayed for 5 hours!!! He Loved it so much his Mum & Dad are going to buy a Family Yearly Pass. Hey Finnie, you & me will go there with him one day eh. Bet he didn't go into the BIG BLACK BAT part!

And hey Finnie: Wee JR can't catch the BIG ONE yet eh...so much to look forward to. You will show your wee cousie how Southern Man does the big outdoors one day soon!

P.S. Tell your Mum that her wee Great Nephew LOVES shopping & always has his eye out for a bargain!

"It's All Right Here"

Well...the beautiful weather continued right through the long weekend allowing the - stay - at homes to enjoy Dunedin at it's finest. Managed to do a huge clean up in the garden and still have lots of time to be out and about enjoying the days.

Traditionally, Easter is about family & I miss my family very very much, especially on the long weekends. It's great that Cousie Celia is another stay-at-home these hols & we could hangout together. Celia also spends a lot of walking time at Ross Creek but usually we go at different times and tracks to each other so it was nice to do the walk together.
And when the sun went down ( about 6:30ish now that Daylight Saving's finished ) there was still my books & movies to keep me entertained:

"The Reader" ...I didn't read any revues but my interpretation is a really thought provoking "coming of age" theme...a young boy's first love doesn't quite change the course of his life but the relationship will have a profound effect on him, haunting him for the rest of his life. Well worth it.

"Prague" - WONDERFUL , the very watchable Mads Mikkelsen & beautiful Prague all in one movie &

"Paris" - the very beautiful Juliette Binoche ( even wearing the most dowdy clothes & hairstyle of any French Woman I have yet seen, she still manages to look amazing ) & Romain Duris (who is all grown up now but still portrays, what I can only describe as a "sohisticated innocence" that he managed in "Spanish Apartment" & "Russian Dolls") both star in a beautiful movie set in the magic that is Paris. All the movies set in Paris are wonderful, but this one will join my Best Movie List. It is about Seizing The Day but I won't say anymore cos You just HAVE to see it. And, I recognised the Paris of my memories - an extra bonus!!! Rave Rave Rave!!!

And when all movied out "Shantaram" has kept me riveted. It's a real dinkam page turner, not the plot, although it does have a "whatever's going to happen next" thriller enthrallment...it's the characters that are compelling. All the more so because the story & the people are real. I have had this copy sitting on my shelf for a wee while now, it was given to me by friends who have had to return to England for life saving Cancer treatment that Oliver can't get here, so the book is a special one in a personal regard too. I am so glad I picked it up!

So...that's Easter over for another year...and not ONE Easter Egg eaten, Oh Dear, how SAD is that!

But hey! Only two more days & it's the weekend again!!!!

Yehhhh!