A Good Day's Night

Have nearly been up for 24 hours!!! Got up at 4.20am to get last girls ready for us to take to the airport. The boys arrived up at 5am and 10 mins later we were off with the workmate at the wheel of the bus. For a moment I thought I was back home (but I never clicked my heels Dorothy!! and this certainly is not Texas LOL). It was a pea-soup FOG!!!!! Not good when you go for over 1/2 hour on dirt road or tarseal without any WHITE PAINT MARKINGS!!!! One depends on red glow in the dark bits and white glow in the dark bits on the few and far between markers on the side of the road to find one's way (the markers are only on bends and awkward bits of the road!!!) At least when we reached the main road, there was the odd road train with lights and white markings all the way then almost peak hour traffic as we neared Geraldton with their lights on(about 10 vehicles LOL). We made it to the airport with HEAPS of time to spare (7am) as the flights did not leave until 8.45am. The kids were so excited to be going as none of them got home at half term. We got lots of hugs and then they were on their way.

We decided a stop at Maccas was the next priority once we had seen all of the kids board the plane. That done, a quick trip to the Post Office and then after an even quicker look at a local clothes shop, the workmate and I headed to the Woolworths Mall. I needed to get night attire for camping and so bought some track pants and some pjs, plus two polar fleece jumpers as they were on super special at $10 each. Then came the groceries... three trolleys fulled to the brim later... - well we are feeding 7 people for nearly two weeks,- the workmate fetched the bus from Maccas carpark, pulled up outside the mall and about 15 mins after that, we had everything stashed on the bus ready to head out of town to the camping shop. Tried a place called BCF (I think - boating, camping and fishing?) and bought a blow up mattress and a nuclear fall out orange coloured rain jacket (so I can be spotted in the bush should I lose my voice and not be able to be heard LOL)and a short sleeve shirt that was on special. I looked at a therma-rest thingie - 1/2" sponge type stuff between me and the ground ....hmmmmm. Hence the blow up air mattress (double for maximum comfort as a single would have meant lying in a coffin positon every night to fit LOL.

We quickly went to Rangers again after that as their thermal under gear was cheaper and bought another set. We got asked where we were going and when told, the woman behind the counter said, I wonder if you will hear DINGO's during the night? After my eyebrows had shot up to my scalp in puzzlement at the word DINGO - I was told that yes I would here them but they would be more scared of me than the other way around - oh yeah!!! The only positive thing is the children we are taking with us are all beyond babyhood heh, heh. (The Aussies are still a little defensive and sensative about their baby taking, dingo, beasts). The salesperson and the workmate then hastened to tell me I was not likely to see one, just hear them from afar. Watch this space.

After Rangers, it was back to town as we had to go to Target on the way home. Found some Ben 10 shorty pjs for the grandson and will put them away for his birthday. We finally got out of Gton at 4pm and drove home through pouring rain with a spectacular burst of lightening happening half way home. This place is becoming more and more like the Waikato as winter cracks on!!!. It is quite exciting to see how high the wheat has grown in just over a week. The paddocks are looking lush and the growth is about 6'' plus in places. There is also a large area on the way back covered in yellow flowers - no not gorse, but canola. It is grown as a crop here and has an unusual smell which I am told becomes quite unpleasant at harvest time. It is interesting to see what ends up as oil or margerine, growing as a crop here.

It was a marathon unpacking the bus, and thanks to the foresight of the workmate, most of what we bought is already packed in plastic containers (large storage type) ready for camping. We then had about an hour to get ready for the staff do tonight which consisted of a pot luck dinner. My contribution was two platters of nibbles and 2 and a bit ltrs of mulled wine. We had a great array of food and the last person went home at 2.30am. One of the staff bought up his guitar and amp and after a suitable time of grazing and general chatter, he kicked off with some songs. When they had dried up, the keen and hearty took over the Play Station from the kids (who had left by then) and Sing Star (Kareoke competitions) took over with lots of laughs as it is not as easy as it seems. Modestly I report, I rocked again on the Legends disc!! was passable on the Party disc and we didnt even go there with the Pop disc as I barely recognise anyone singing the songs on that one. Got to Superstar level doing Black Sabbath, Paranoid, and the Monkees - "I'm a believer" LOL I will skip lightly over the fact that I have several years on most of the other participants.

Have locked the place down, am wide awake but am going to head to bed, it will be 4am by the time I hit the pillow . Should have a good nights sleep. Am staying up at school tonight because the staff do was up in girl's boarding so it's easier than trekking back in the dark and cold to my abode. Will finish tidying up after the girls tomorrow so we can come back from holiday with everything straight. It's 3.30am and all's well.

Last Sleep!!

Am back up at work tonight to get up at 4.30am to be on the bus at 5am to take the last lot of kids to the airport in Geraldton. There was a muck up with the bookings so they have had an extra day at school today. The workmate is driving the bus in and I am going to keep her company.

Have had a very lazy time of it as I did not go to town yesterday after all. No need to go as it turned out (after I had raced up here by 8.30am) as everyone is sorting themselves out for vegies etc over the next two weeks! It would have been nice to know the day before but such is life. Went and had coffee at the workmates and watched a DVD about a dog team in the Antartic - based on a true story when they were abandoned and the guy who ran them as a team turned everything upside down to get back to them. Went home and made scones for lunch with soup and settled down to watch 'For the Boys' with Bette Middler and James Caan. I am totally having a DVD pig -out at the moment but as I still do not have TV it is the next best thing. I threw a minor tantrum when I was woken out of a sleep at 6pm (drug induced by the cold medication) to be told either my workmate or I were needed for this mornings run into town (the men did it instead..)and then as I was awake, I brought up the key to the cleaning cupboard that had somehow found its way into my bag and helped with the clean up that was in progress and to say goodbye to the girls who went today. The drugs have been brilliant for my headcold - one more day and I should be fine.

Had another slow day today - did not move until 10.30am - almost an unheard of luxury, and then did more tidying of lounge, sorting of paperwork and packed for tonight. I am told there is more rain heading here over the weekend. Once I have been shopping tomorrow, I will be fine with that. Have books, more DVD's, and a heater - what more could I want :).

The workmate has been to town today and the car/wagon now has a roof rack for the impending journey. I am told there are temperatures in the 30's where we are going (during the day) so need to think of two seasons re clothing as I believe it still gets cold at night. I think the first night we may be camping in the wild so to speak - will revisit that thought tomorrow. I have misplaced our itinery and will have to get another copy so I can keep you properly informed. Am charging up the camera batteries and clearing current photos off. Will also have to do the same to the video camera and see if I can remember how to use it.

Looked after the workmate's two boys this afternoon. Played a game of Buzz which I eventually won (they are 8 and 10)though they had me on the ropes at one stage. Longevity pays off when there are questions of general knowledge LOL. We also had a quick round of Sing Star which I again scored top points - a little unfair as I picked 'Legends' though again one song was very close. Luckily they got picked up before we changed to something more modern where I would have got trounced. You have to take the wins where you can LOL as these guys take no prisoners in Buzz where there is rounds you can lose points to the winner - that is always my most dyslexic round.

Great to get emails today from those of you reading this blog but not leaving the footprint of a comment LOL. It helps to know who these ravings of mine are reaching. Will respond by email, hopefully before the end of the weekend.

Shall We Dance?

Have had a bit of a movie marathon in the last two days. Watched the updated version of 'The King and I' yesterday and loved it. Chow yun-Fat (I hope I have remembered his name properly) who plays the King, I thought was brilliant in the part, though Jodie Foster was a bit of stretch as the English teacher. Today, being my day off, after leaping out of bed at the crack of 9.30am, cleaning my bedroom and a shelf in the wardrobe, putting two loads of washing on the line, and having lunch sorted, I sat back on the couch and watched 'John Q' with Denzel Washington - another excellent movie I thought, about a family whose son needs a heart transplant with a swipe at the American health system, followed by 'A Night atthe Museum" (I think that is the title, which kind of says it all) - the story about a Dad who is mostly unemployed needing to impress his son, who gets a job in a museum as a nightwatchman and everything comes to life at night. Ben Stiller plays the Dad with cameos played by Dick Van Dyck, Mickey Rooney and Robin Williams. A bit hokey but watchable in a background to quilting kind of way.

I had taken to the couch to do some of the aforementioned quilting and also because I have a lurking cough/cold. Am writing this after taking coldrex night and day tablets to try and knock it on the head so to speak. I was given them up at the workmate's place when I had dinner tonight. My contribution to dinner this week was minimal - a packet of chocolate and raspberry Tim Tams only bought for the noblest of reasons (hem hem), the packet was pink which caught my eye in the shop, and I think by buying then I have donated some money to breast cancer.

The WMH had made a toe tingling/heart warming, vegetable/bacon chowder followed by chicken and vegetable wraps. I helped by chopping and slicing raw vegies for the wraps and we all felt extremely virtuous by the end of those two courses. A small pause and then some caramel self-saucing pudding. I even had a herbal tea (with my choccy biscuits)!!!!! so all food groups covered.

It was of course the final of Australia you've got Talent tonight and it was a great show. The winner was a young 15 yr old lad, self taught, who played his guitar brilliantly, the second place going to a 12 yr old lad who sang and played guitar and I would say, both will go far. The WMH and I picked the winners so felt very pleased with ourselves and then went on to pick the 1/4 finalists in the choir contest that followed. I do think if the Pukekohe/Waiuku lot entered this contest, they would walk away with the prize, no contest - what we saw tonight was good, but the performance I saw last year with the above choir singing Christmas songs and the Messiah - were better.

Have had two goes tonight (1/2 hour later) at downloading photos - it would seem the hamsters are too tired to turn the wheels this evening - will try again tomorrow perhaps. I love the reliability of the connection out here!

At this stage I will be off to Gton tomorrow for the vegie run and whatever else needs doing, trying to slip in some more pre-camping spending. I have to get a therma-rest to put under my sleeping bag - it is about the size of a postage stamp and is designed to keep a warm layer next to your body, under your sleeping bag. Will do investigations and keep you posted LOL. I think I have caught my cough/cold from being cold to the bone twice and from getting wet twice over the weekend. Am sitting with my little heater on cremate at the moment so am doing nicely now LOL.

Clearing out the shelf in my wardrobe today I came across a pile of NZ business cards, coins, etc from the last hols. For those heading to Wellington at anytime, or currently living there, I have several places to mention: Should you need a hair cut, I can heartily recommend Jean Jacques hair design, 160 Lambton Quay. I was desperate for a cut when last in Wtgn and they fitted me in at late notice. Jolene did my hair, giving me a very professional and thoroughly unpushy list of products that she had used when she had finished the job, with two small free samples to take away. I do not recall fainting at the cost so it must have been comparable with Hamilton prices. The other bonus was the coffee - they have a machine that will do professional standard flat whites, capuccinos, etc etc. My coffee came with chocolate coffe beans as well. I will certainly go back there again when next in Wellington.

Should you be a tea drinker - then the tea emporium (my description)is a definite must, look at -www.tleaft.co.nz - its on the corner of Lambton Quay and a street I forget - I think there is a magazine store next to it and its on the same side of the road as Kirkaldie and Staines (family - see Laura for directions). I am a novice tea drinker and I found the staff very helpful in guiding me through the different sorts of tea they had. There were two teas to taste the day I was there and I came away with a lemon flavoured green tea that was delicious, light and fresh to drink, an apple tea - also can recommend, and my favourite - a rose flavoured green tea that had a cherry taste. You can also buy any tea making implement you might require. I do like to patrionise places where you get great service without having your arm twisted to purchase anything and both the above fit that category. My other always visit place is Abracadabra ( I think I may have mentioned this before) - a Middle Eastern type cafe just off Cuba Mall.

Now I have done my little commercials LOl I will sign off and let the Night tablet of the day and night lot, do its work.