Home for awhile

We had a nice time away in the motorhome but are now back home for a few weeks.  We have courier deliveries to look out for and other odd jobs to catch up on - not to mention prepping for Christmas.

I have finished all of the albums for everyone but when they were delivered I was unhappy with a fault in the covers.  I contacted the company and they are all going to be reprinted for free - now I'll have double the amount of albums but will be much happier to see them printed correctly.  The spines of all of them were off centre so that they came over to the front cover.  I'm sure anyone else getting them like that might not notice but as I've dealt with the company for years, I know how they should look.

We have both boys here for the weekend which is lovely (but tiring).  They just love coming here and it's a joy to have them in our lives because I know that too soon they will be grown and off doing their own thing.  

We are off in two weeks for Stu's family Christmas over in Whitianga but this time we're staying in a motel and not taking the motorhome.  It's turning out to be an expensive weekend given that we have to buy for ALL the kids (nieces and nephews) plus buy secret Santa gifts, play for the motel and supply food.  It used to be a cheap event back in the day because we stayed at our beach house, there were only about eight presents to buy and we didn't need to contribute as much food etc.  Now there are 14 kids to buy for!  All up this little event is costing us over $1,000!  Yep, I shit you not.  To be fair that is for six of us going but wow, just wow!

Anyway, it is what it is.  

~ Lynda

 

Family business

We are currently over at Whitianga because Stu's father needed some help yesterday and tomorrow Stu has to go to the bank with him to become a signing authority on his bank accounts.

There were loads of family around yesterday and it was a lovely time but today just us and yes, his father got cranky with me again.  I don't know if he tries to make me explode or just likes to rile me up but my goodness he tried his best today.  Smart arse comments were fired at me for hours but in the end I just excused myself and went to the motorhome.

He was on and on all night  "Don't you know how to work a microwave?", "You could have heated the dinner up more", "Why do you want lights on? (the room was dark)", "why don't you turn that light on?, why did you put that one on?"... bloody hell... 

Anyway, we leave tomorrow and yes, I know he is very old and quite frankly he is very frail now and I think going down hill pretty fast.  I make many concessions for that and for Stu's sake.  We have spent the weekend helping him with all kinds of jobs and I understand how frustrating it must be for him.

Thank goodness no more week long family holidays have been organised, I've already said I wouldn't go and after today I know it would be bad for me.

I have finished all of the photo albums I was making - five in all.  Thank goodness that job is done!

~ Lynda

This is the sign for the Coromandel Independent Living Trust but come on, could they not have found a better name?  I was rather tempted to switch the I and the L around :)

Putting up the Christmas lights - Stu, his brother and nephew.

The Christmas tree, decorated by Stu's nephew.

Great day out

Yesterday we had a lovely lunch out with my daughter, Fletcher and Cole.  Cole was off school as he was a little unwell but perked up by lunch time so joined us.  He was very excited while at the restaurant to see a few Warriors players come in (Warriors are the NZ rugby league team who play in the Australian NRL competition).  One of his absolute favourites was among them and I was going to take him up to get a photo but sadly they left shortly after.  Cole's face though was priceless... he was blushing and fan boying them... very cute. 

Then last night Stu and I went to the local live theatre "The Dolphin Theatre" to see a play called "Joyful and Truimphant". It was really, really good and we were both very impressed!  Everything about the night was wonderful from walking into the lobby which was set up with a bar and tables and chairs to relax before the show to the show itself.  The acting was superb and way beyond our expectation for a local drama group.  We will go back for their next production in the new year!

I've been sorting through all of my clothes for the summer season.  I've tossed several items and now only have clothes I will actually wear in my wardrobe.  I'm pleased to say that all of my clothes from last year (and the year before) still fit well.  With the new items I've added I'm pretty well set for summer now.

We have Cole staying here for the weekend—he may as well stay because he is often on facetime with Stu anyway.  

We will be off away again next week sometime and aim to be in Whitianga next weekend to help with Christmas light installation at his Dad's house.  No doubt we'll spend some time up around Coromandel again so that will be enjoyable.  

I've now started the photo albums and can do them anywhere while on the road as long as there is a decent wifi speed.  

~ Lynda

This and that

We got home on Sunday and have just been doing odd jobs around the place since then.  I've also been out shopping and bought a couple of new tops for summer.  It is not my favourite thing to do, my boobs have become too big again although not nearly as big as before my breast reduction (in 2007).  Clothing is now very 'mature' looking on me due to my fatter tummy etc.  I know I just need to suck it up and realise that I do actually look that way now.

I look around at most other women my age and I see much the same figure and myself but it's just a lack of acceptance on my part.  I don't think too much about weight loss these days, it's just too hard.  I have a enough clothes now for going into the summer and if I spot something else I'll get it.  

Tomorrow we are having a lunch out—my daughter, Fletcher, Stu and I. It's kind of a belated birthday outing for Stu and Fletcher.  Tomorrow night Stu and I are off to the local drama group to a show.  In all the time we've lived in this area, we've never gone to one of these shows but they are apparently excellent so hopefully we'll enjoy it. 

I am now fully immersed in the photo albums I make for everyone for Christmas.  It's a massive job and I was only going to do one for the two younger boys but it now seems I will need to do more.  It really is a difficult job though to firstly get all the photos from everyone, collate them, edit them (brightness, colour, crop etc), design the albums online and then select the right photos for each page layout.  The only reason I do this is that the boys love them... what's a Nana to do?

So that's me for the foreseeable future, making photo albums!

~ Lynda

Fabulous time

We are having a great time away.  We left Cambridge and have stayed most of the time at Ohope Beach and Matata (just north of Whakatane).

The weather has been great (so far) and I'm gradually working on a tan.  I figure if I'm out in the sun for a little bit here and there I'll get some colour on me!  

We plan on getting back home by Monday and will stay home for awhile after that—I have lots to get on with. 

My daughter is down in Wellington at the moment and is staying with my son.  They are both attending their cousin's wedding.  I love that she will be spending time with family down there... it's not 'my' family though but the family of my ex.

Tomorrow is Stu's birthday... he will be 59 and yes, much younger than me, but he really doesn't seem to notice or mind.  I do feel the pressure of being older at times, but perhaps he is keeping me younger :)

~ Lynda

 

Enjoying some sun at the Matata.

Our park for four nights.  It's a lovely camp and so friendly.

Happy 'pre' birthday dinner to Stu.

Great weekend

We have had a fantastic time at our motorhome meetup in Cambridge!  There are around 34 vans here and all of the owners have been so friendly and helpful.  We have given loads of our experienced advice to newbies and also learned more from others.  

The man in the motorhome next door is also a NZMCA Certifier which was a real stroke of luck because every caravan and motorhome in the country has to be recertified by next June (as per new Government freedom camping regulations).  He came and carried out our certification and also a few others here and we were so grateful (plus bought him a bottle of rum). 

Last night everyone attended a meal at the clubhouse restaurant and my goodness, there were so many interesting people!  We thought we were well travelled but speaking to others yesterday and last night we were blown away by where people had lived and travelled to overseas.  It has certainly inspired us to get overseas again for another big trip in a year or so!

Cole has been facetiming us quite a bit over the weekend.  He loves to just talk and talk to Stu about tech stuff and I love that Stu listens and actually takes the time to talk to him.  It really is just lovely and I love that Cole knows he has a 'safe space' to chat whenever he wants.  

Anyway off to somewhere else today... not sure where yet.

~ Lynda

Looking out over the racecourse from the restaurant.

All the vans lined up :)