Family time

We are off to Australia tomorrow and we've enjoyed a weekend with all our boys before we go.  We got the two younger ones after school on Friday and F came around for dinner last night.  He always stays and plays cards with us which is always fun except that I lost every game!  Oh well...

Yesterday we took the boys out and about and went up the Sky Tower—not a cheap venture but it was nice to do something a little special before we go away.  Cole spent most of his time here on his Xbox playing with school friends and we were stuck trying to get Charlie off his damn phone (Tiktok grrrrrr, time waster).  Stu suggested getting out the Lego and what do you know... he ended up making things for hours, right until bedtime. 

After we take the boys home we'll concentrate on our final packing.  I find it really hard making the decision about what to wear for the next two weeks.  I know it will be hot so I'm not taking much in the way of warm clothing, just layers.  I bought a really nice new rain jacket the other day from Kmart and also sprayed it with Scotchguard to make it even more waterproof.  

We are pretty excited!  I will be updating here a little bit but mostly I'll be updating on our travel blog which you'll find the link on my sidebar (I think you might need to look at the website version of my blog to see the sidebar). Our only worry now is staying healthy... Cole has a sore throat and my daughter has a bad cold.  Fingers crossed we are fine.

~ Lynda

The boys getting their photo taken before going up the Sky Tower... we didn't buy the 'professional' photos, it's just a tourist trap/souvenir thing that we don't need. 

Stu and Charlie at the observation deck.

Me and Cole - he was mildly terrified up there, he doesn't do heights at all. Look at how tall he's getting!

Yay, actually 'playing' and not on his damn phone.

We watched some of the NRL - F is really into his sport.

Duke, the dog, came to visit too... he loves coming to Nana's house :)

Stu and Charlie playing Lego this morning. Stu is just the best Poppa :)

Next holiday coming up...

Hello everyone.  I'm not sure who reads these days, I've become rather boring but that's life.  We are off on Monday for two weeks to Australia!  We are very excited... we are going on a ten night cruise from Sydney to Port Douglas and the Great Barrier Reef.  We have booked a flight over the reef as well as a glass bottom boat trip. After the cruise we are spending four nights at a beach in Sydney. It should be a fabulous, relaxing holiday and we are really looking forward to it.

Before then we are having all of our boys here - the two youngest to stay and the oldest is coming around on Saturday for dinner and cards.  He (the oldest) is working so hard this year on his second year of University study and we couldn't be more proud of him.

Today I met up with my daughter and we got a pedicure.  It was such a lovely mother/daughter time relaxing and getting pampered.  We then had some lunch and wandered around the shops for awhile.  It's so important that we keep doing these 'girly' things, she really is the most amazing daughter and I often wonder how I managed to produce that beautiful lady.  I love that she has given us three grandsons who we love so very much.  We are so lucky.

I've packed for our holiday and, as usual, I'm sure I've packed more than I need but you never quite know what you'll need right?  I do keep a travel blog so will update that when we are on our way.

~ Lynda

Catch up

I keep forgetting to update this blog because when we travel I'm busy doing my motorhome blog (link on the side bar). I tend to write more personal stuff here and keep the travel one to just that... travel.

My father-in-law reads the travel blog so I don't want him reading my personal stuff!

We are currently at National Park and headed to Ohakune for lunch where we may or may not stay the night... that's the beauty of having a motorhome, we can decide at the time :) We are hanging around this general area until the weather clears so that we can go up the gondola (Sky Waka) on Mt Ruapehu.  The weather should be clear by tomorrow or Friday but no matter, we are happy here anyway.

All is very good in my daughter's world and that makes us very happy.  She is walking most mornings and eating healthier so has lost a little bit of weight which I think is helping with her mental health. She has even started taking more pride in her home and taking each room one by one and sorting stuff out.  I keep out of that side of things and only offer help when I know she won't take offence.  You just can't comment on something being untidy or unclean because that will just make her angry with me and I love my relationship with her much more than I care about how her house looks. She is a great Mum and that and her mental health is all we care about.

Yesterday we went down the Ruakuri Caves at Waitomo. It was pretty freaky but an amazing experience. We spent nearly 2 hours fully underground looking at glowworms, stalactites and a stalagmits (the long white icicle things in caves). We had previously toured the Waitomo glowworm cave so this was a new experience.

Stu's father is causing us more concern so the family is going to get together at Easter and talk about his health and options going forward.  His skin is so thin now that every time he bumps himself it ends up in wounds that need medical attention.  He has just had his fourth wound dressed to at the medical centre after having to use his medical alert button again.  This is the third time he's used this lately.  

He has asked his granddaughter to call on him every morning and night to put his surgical stockings on and off and this is simply unfair on her.  She does live locally but has three children and is pregnant with her fourth. He also is constantly calling her to get groceries and while she says she doesn't mind again, it's not fair on her.

Stu's sister is as useless and tits on a bull with regard to helping (even though she lives nearby).  There is no other family in the area so we will have to rely on some sort of paid help or move him into a care facility.  Family decisions like this are never easy and sadly, it seems to constantly fall of Stu to take the lead which is why we are having a family meeting.

Anyway, we are off for lunch.  It's a cold wintery day but we are enjoying the change in temperature after being so hot!

~ Lynda

At the Ardmore airshow at the weekend

St Patrick's Day Guinness for Stu

The entrance to the Raukuri Cave.  That is a walkway round and round, down and down!

The cave entrance.

Another week

We have been home for a few days and all jobs have been done.  We even got our bi-fold doors fixed after trying with a couple of other companies with no success.  We have not been able to open these doors for years!  We'd almost given up on getting them fixed and thought we'd have to get an entirely new set of doors installed (this is what one company told us). 

Other jobs include a haircut for me, a skin check for Stu (all good, thank goodness) and general seeing the boys and spending some time with my daughter.  It was lovely today, we got together for a Kmart shopping run—years ago we used to do this nearly every week but I love that we still get together like that now.

My daughter is doing well at the moment and is looking great and losing a bit of weight.  She goes for a long walk every morning and is looking after herself—I've noticed a positive change in her attitude and well being lately which makes me happy.

On Friday we are off to a caravan and motorhome show in Auckland and then will be going to stay at Ardmore airport for the 'Warbirds on Parade' on Sunday (air show).  We are going to stay there early (at the NZMCA park there) to make sure we get a spot as it is usually full for that event.

After that we plan on driving down to Mt Ruapehu to go on the Sky Waka which is a gondola that goes way up the mountain.  From there we'll probably track back up the island and need to be back about a week later.  We have our Australian cruise at the end of the month and I need to get home to prepare for that.

So that's all the news :)

~ Lynda

Our 'newly opened' bi-fold doors looking toward the yard.

And looking back towards the house.  It's just fantastic to be able to open up the lounge again!

Away again for a few days

We are away in the motorhome for a few nights, just over in Kaiaua so not far away.  It is one of our favourite getaway spots for when we don't have much time.

Yesterday we went to the funeral of F's grandfather and it was definitely more a celebration of his life which is what everyone wanted.  What an amazing life he had... the risks he took, the thousands of people he made happy along the way and the wonderful family he had.

One poem that was read out really resonated with me.  It was called 'You start dying slowly' and while it's been around for years, I hadn't heard it.

You Start Dying Slowly

You start dying slowly
if you do not travel,
if you do not read,
If you do not listen to the sounds of life,
If you do not appreciate yourself.

You start dying slowly
When you kill your self-esteem;
When you do not let others help you.

You start dying slowly
If you become a slave of your habits,
Walking everyday on the same paths…
If you do not change your routine,
If you do not wear different colours
Or you do not speak to those you don’t know.

You start dying slowly
If you avoid to feel passion
And their turbulent emotions;
Those which make your eyes glisten
And your heart beat fast.

You start dying slowly
If you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job, or with your love,
If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain,
If you do not go after a dream,
If you do not allow yourself, 
At least once in your lifetime,
To run away from sensible advice…

I think I've ticked more than a few boxes on that poem but it's a reminder that we need to keep enjoying life, being a bit crazy and doing what you enjoy while you can!

****************

Today Stu and I went for a good bike ride from here to Miranda (26 km).  My thoughts on my ability to ride and enjoyment of riding are mixed.  Firstly, the trail we rode is only Grade 1 which means the easiest.  For me it's a mix of elation (that I can ride) and failure that I can't ride better.  Let me explain... I am NOT a confident rider and I see loads of other women my age with much better riding skills than myself.  I'm great riding wide trails with good surfaces but rubbish when there is a risk of skidding off or encountering tight corners or narrow bridges etc. 

I get an adrenaline rush more due to fear than fun but perhaps it is from the satisfaction that I'm actually doing it?  Seriously, as I ride along I have such a mix of emotions.  I know my limits and would never attempt more difficult trails—I've tried and ended up crying. My darling riding companion (Stu) is so patient with me and always looks back to make sure I managed a difficult part.  I like him to ride in front usually so that he can scout out the path for me. 

So there you are, I did the ride today and came back in one piece with the satisfaction that at 68 years of age I can still ride.  By the way, yes we have ebikes but trust me, it's still exercise!

My handsome grandson, we love that boy so much.

A proud Poppa and his boy :)

Me, my daughter and F - I find it difficult seeing photos of myself these days but that's life, I'm not a spring chicken anymore.

One of the stops on our ride today.

Half way, ready to ride back.

Cows along the way :)

Weekly catch up

I've been continuing on with my exercycling.  I'm also doing some weights for my arms.  I've figured out that if I put the exercycle directly under our airconditioning outlet I can keep cook while I exercise.  Some days I do 30 mins, others only 20.  I'm not worrying about any of that, it's more about just doing something.

Tomorrow we have the funeral or "celebration of life" for F's grandfather.  It will be really big so we'll be going early because F is handing out the funeral leaflet things (whatever they are called!)

After that Stu and I hope to get away in the motorhome for a couple of days.  We have to be back home by Sunday so I think we are planning on heading to a cycle trail alongside the Waikato River.  

We had the boys over the weekend and Stu, being the fantastic Poppa that he is, took Charlie to the Zoo.  I stayed home because Cole didn't want to go—he'd bought a refurbished XBox out of his savings and was rather keen to stay home to play on that.  

Not much else other than keeping up with world news.  It's getting pretty disturbing.  No wonder I waste my time watching mindless TV like 'Married at First Sight' and 'Love is Blind'!

~ Lynda

A very happy boy with his new XBox

And a very happy Charlie looking at his favourite animals the Giraffes!