City Museum

Just a quick post to let you all know that we're okay and getting on with the boring bits of life. As a result it can be a bit tricky posting messages where we have nothing significant to say. A brief trip to the War museum was both educational and fun. We'll be updating the site in a couple of days so stay tuned!



Yasmin attempts to teach Theo his ACBs. He was took more interest in his hot chocolate - who can blame him.



Making faces from blocks of cut wood proved a winner - for ten minutes at least.



Then, there's dressing up like a Viking - could be a future wedding dress design.



Finally, where would we be without the NZ 'sliver' fern. Yasmin is beginning to adapt to Kiwi life, but still has a long way to go before she can call Nz her home.

Crystal Mountain

Okay, the week in summary. George started work with a fantastic traditional Maori welcome. George gets a chest infection. Theo completes a full week at pre-school and loves it. Yasmin receives two invitations to visit new school friends Anna and Jacqueline, but is still taking time to adjust. Roger gets a heavy cold. Still have to shop, cook, clean, wash, iron and eat. Theo enjoys a full nights' sleep - the first in two weeks. George and Roger join a gym- look forward to those pictures! Yasmin gets to grips with homework. We meet Jo and Craig (Anna's parents). We're still looking for that elusive house to buy. Spurs win away in Europe. The kids have their assessments for ongoing swimming lessons in a warm pool! Roger still complains about being cold. George continues to rave about how fresh & tasty the food is. Talking and seeing our old friends on the web-cam is fantastic, joyful but also evokes feelings of homesickness for our friends and family around the world.

Besides all that, we are getting into the spirit of the quality lifestyle here and we had another wonderful afternoon at Crystal Mountain, with Paul and Sue and their children Tuan and Yen. Suffice to say the smiling pictures below tell their own story.



Theo may not look excited about his first ride, but he rode like a true urban cowboy.



This is also Yasmin's first time on a pony.



Paul keeps his hands well out of the way having just been bitten by the farm pig. Fortunately he didn't cry, but his pride was little wounded. Tuan had no fear of the llama.



You can't beat a train ride to keep the children happy. Paul is a big kid at heart.



Theo aka 'Spiderman' about to learn what it takes to be a superhero on the bungy jump.



Yasmin makes the spin look so easy.



Yen in the middle of a double sommersult.



Tuan has a delicate touch.



Spiderman checks out the competition for Theo's loving attention.



Yasmin has her heart set on owning her own rabbit and as you can see she has the touch.



Happy bunnies with cuddles all around.



Theo backing up the 'train' for another bundle at the end of a slide.



Yen and Yasmin show no fear in reaching new heights on the top of the climbing frame.



These children are happy to make their own entertainment and live the Kiwi life outdoors. They even managed to get the little static wooden train (behind the climbing frame) moving, with a great team effort from the fab four.

Never gets cold - Yeh Right!

There's this myth that it never gets cold in Auckland. Well, having experienced the winds from the south we can say without a doubt that is does get cold. It also isn't helped by the lack of insulation in Kiwi homes, damp room and the odd bit of mould growing in corners of south facing rooms. Consequently, we've been forced to light the wood burner. Needless to say Roger is not a happy bunny. Instead of applying factor 50 he's having to zip up his fleece.



George goes to work on the burner, shame there isn't a back bolier for the central heating (what's that then, a luxury item perhaps?). Well it beats having to wear socks in bed!

First days at school

Yasmin began the week going to hospital and ending the week at her new school. She's recovered from the croup & has new inhalers which really help her asthma. St. Thomas's school is a lovely school with a friendly feel and very good reputation. Yasmin is slowly making friends and getting to grips with entering the school system towards the end of Year 2. Can you believe she will start Year 3 in February after the summer break? Theo will join her in St. Thomas's on his fifth birthday and has already met his teacher and seen his classroom.

For the moment Theo is attending pre-school four afternoons a week. He had his first two afternoons meeting his new friends (who will also go on to the same primary school) and he wasted no time encouraging other children to play some games with him. Such amazing new found confidence - let's hope it lasts.



Yasmin in her uniform complete with brimmed hat and bare feet (unseen).



The school has an outdoor swimming pool which gets plenty of use in the summer term. Is that a shark lurking...?



Yasmin inside class 19. Her teacher Miss Harrison has done a great job in getting the kids to make the room colourful and welcoming.Apparently she's the best Art teacher in the school.



Theo proudly shows off his medal that he won at pre-school for 'best effort' during the sports day. A new preschool teacher, recently arrived from Australia was astounded by the level of sports training at such a young age and said, "No wonder the All Blacks are the best in the world if this is what they learn at pre-school!".



The playground and fields has a fantastic view of the sea and Rangitoto in the distance. Very inspiring. Priceless piece of real estate with that sea view.

We've moved again...

We've moved again to a four bedroom home near to St Thomas' primary school. It's a lovely home where we will be based for at least six months. We're hoping Yasmin can start school on Monday and Theo shortly afterwards. Now we have the chance to be a settled again and get back to doing 'normal' things like washing, cleaning and cooking.



George trying out the kitchen with the aid of some new and borrrowed utensils.



The kids in front of the new TV - where else whould they be?



This is where the blog get's updated. Note the cardboard box being used as a makeshift table.



So here is the pool. Everyone is excited, even Roger is thinking of stripping off and learning to swim properly.



George showing us the extraordinary length of her tail.

Bits and Bobs

Whilst it's easy to post things of interest, sometimes you can take pictures of non-specific events and not know if others really want to know about them. So here is a collection of pictures that we've taken over the past few weeks that give a sense of our adventure without any specific reference.

Some of you have asked how you can post comments on the 'blog'. You need to register by clicking on the 'blog' icon and give yourselves a suitable 'blog' name so that we can recognise you, but retain some annonymity if you wish. Alternatively you can email us. We do like your comments it's more like a conversation with you. Hope this helps.




Whose eye is this?



Does anybody know what this flower is called?



You may have wondering how we've been getting about in Auckland. Fortunatley Hanafiah and Matthew have been very kind in lending us their car. It's a Toyota Camary automatic. Everyone here drive auto's so I think we're about to join the crowd when we finally get our wheels.



Bobby was born in Jamaica and is a former boxer. He tells me he spent time in the ring with Henry Cooper and was a model. I wasn't about to argue. He's been living in NZ for nearly twenty years. I've got a feeling we'll be seeing more of Bobby.



This is a fish made from shells the kids found on Kohimarama beach just outside our apartment.



Yasmin and Roger playing kites on top of Mount Wellington.



We originally looked for a place 'out west' and nearly became 'westies' and as part of our research we attended a fund raising event for the local kindergarten in Waitekere Township. It was a bit like a spring fair in the UK. On this occasion the kids took a ride in a fire engine.Theo looking rather apprehensive - perhaps he thinks he's going to put out a real fire.



Yasmin feeling confident as the fire engine gets ready to depart.



If we had decided to move to Waitakere township Roger would have become a volunteer firefighter. He wouldn't have lasted long with his asthma.

What a suprise!

There are some things that you have to put down to fate. When we were last in NZ over two years ago we spent a few days on Waiheke Island. During one of those days we met a family (Paul, Sue, Tuan and Yen) on the beach and played some games. It was a great day, the children loved it and our pictures were a fond reminder of that special day.

Two weeks after our arrival in Auckland we go to Okahu park and Roger spots a face in the playground he thinks he recognises. Paul also sees a face he's seen before and the two men approach each other with increasing recognition. It's only when the children point at each other that everything falls into place. Paul and his family have only been to Waiheke Island once and met us there, they have only been to Okahu park once and again we meet. Some things were just meant to be. Obviously we couldn't believe it and soon arranged to hang out together,whilst Yas is still puzzled by the saying 'it's a small world'.

We had a great day and thanks to Paul and Sue for a fantastic lunch, great company and kind generosity. The children had a fantastic time, the start of great friendships. Keep an eye out for more posts featuring all the family.



Paul, Roger, Sue and George with Yen in front. Despite the two year gap, it felt like we'd all known each other for years.



'If the shoe fits...' Timmy the cat was quite at home taking a nap inside Theo's shoe. Yes he really has put both paws inside.



Theo getting all camera shy as Yen looks on.



Tuan just chilling before lunch.



Roger takes his guard as he faces an onslaught from Paul's off spin - he was dismissed for four runs.



Yen is head over heels with joy as Yasmin gives her tummy a tickle.



Tuan leading the way in the impromtu long jump competition.



Yasmin takes one giant leap and beats her personal best.

Ordinary Day

One of the objectives of this blog is to give you an idea of what an 'ordinary' day is like for us in Auckland. Set out below is just a few random shots from the odd day when we did very little of interest.



Shopping is a past time none of us particulary enjoy, but it's a necessary activity. Here, some of us are getting down to some serious purchases.



The Urban Cowbow - Roger models his new Jacaru hat to help keep the sun at bay.



During a boring grown up meeting, the kids found the boardroom and set about reorganising the company structure - fortunately all the Directors agreed these targets were achievable, particulary more smiling faces.



Theo, the wannabe prince, sits watching his extra large TV, (no not the plug in radiator, the TV is just off camera).