New Background

Well a big thank you to Jo for customising my blog - I love my new look. Just wish I was in that scene right now. Got visitors coming today from NZ and my boiler decides to stop working - no hot water or heating - plumber on to it as I write this fingers crossed its just the pilot light!

Anyway only 9 weeks till my daughter goes to NZ for her holiday and 22 weeks 2 days for us!

Friends

Well just back from visiting my friend in Montrose, I do have more than one friend but this one has been around a long time and is the one who knows me best! Made the journey myself this time as she is going through a difficult patch and really needed a shoulder to cry on. We went for a long walk with the promise of a strawberry tart at the end! Not sure I helped but at least she was able to talk for Scotland and didn't have to explain herself to me so I think it was useful to her. We had a glorious sunny day and think I have caught the sun.

Came home to discover my daughter had spent the day on her own. Felt sorry for her as I thought she was to have company but it didn't work out that way. She did put it to good use though and did some studying. She now has only 2 exams to go. Sure she will do well. Proud of her anyway.

Hubby was working so he was taken care of. Countdown under 23 weeks now!

Drowning x 2

Well this weekend I have been fortunate enough to drown twice. Let me explain. Sunday my daughter and I were off to M & D's Theme Park with the Guide Unit I help at. The sun shone but boy did it get cold when you were wet through. Nikki - some of you will know her and Lins decided I needed an initiation in to the Guide Unit which involved going on the Log Flume (wet ride) at least six times and not stopping until you were wet through walking as though you had wet yourself - that would have been preferrable it would have been warm! Fortunately being a good guider I had a complete change of clothes with me and spent the rest of the day comfortable. A good day was had by all with the promise of another visit before the end of the year!

Having just returned home after a lovely snooze on the bus it was time to do a quick change and on to my swimming lessons! Didn't go particularly well - too tired. Getting better at the back crawl as for the front crawl I will beat it eventually it is all going fine until I have to breath! However my daughter has promised to take my swimming again this week for more practice - GREAT!

Countdown to NZ - 23 weeks and 3 days!

Treading Water

Well just treading water waiting now. Keeping an eye on the exchange rate. Took my daughter to get some of her holiday funds changed - had a grin from ear to ear that day. She has now finished school only her exams to do and a school trip hard to believe my baby has grown up so fast where have the years gone. I am grateful that we are still friends and on talking terms so much easier I am sure there will be storms ahead yet but am so very proud of her.

Swimming lessons this week felt like week one putting it down to experience but my daughter is now taking me for lessons during the week she reckons she can teach me better! We shall see.

Was in charge of the Guide unit this week I help at scary but actually went really well the girls really behaved themselves and were brilliant even if one of them painted the walls with vomit - all part of the job. I am fortunate to be part of a brilliant team. Hoping to make contact with a guide unit whilst in NZ just waiting to hear from them via email nearer the time. Not long till my friends from NZ arrive can't wait to hear the accent again. Ok sure I have bored everyone with mentioning NZ over and over again.

Jigsaw complete

Well the last piece of the jigsaw fell into place today. The last accommodation I tried to book finally got back to me and that is now done. Only have to count the days and start packing. Had my friend from NZ on the phone they have a great deal across there where they pay $10 and can phone anywhere all weekend for as long or as often as they like so we were on the phone for just over an hour. Wish they would do the same here! She was moaning about the price of petrol until I told her how much it was over here!

Just back from my swimming lesson - I can swim but I am desperate to learn the front crawl it looks so effortless when everyone else does it! I just look awful. It sounds so easy when the instructor says "relax and remember to breath" as well as use your legs do your arms don't do this and don't do that. Fortunately we have a great bunch all learning together we are a mixed bunch but good fun and we have the pool to ourselves. Once I crack this swimming technique my next challenge will be a musical instrument.

I love ceilidh dancing and would love to play the accordian its finding the time and money to do it but one day!

The Beginning

My friend Nikki introduced me to Blogs. Decided it would be a good idea as myself and my wonderful husband have planned a trip to NZ later this year and if you don't know about it then you must be the only one in the world not to know! I have been annoying everyone since we decided to go. What with booking flights first and then arranging car hire and accommodation.

I have been lucky enough to visit NZ on two previous occasions one of which we got married a truly wonderful experience. I feel as though I am truly prepared for our trip this time. The count down is on 26 weeks today!

Seems like I have a mountain to climb before then, my daughter is in her final year at school and about to sit her exams, she has a trip to Norway with the school and is off to NZ herself in the summer, she plans to sit her driving test too - who would be a mother! Actually its not that bad. She has a lovely boyfriend at the moment and is maturing nicely. I have friends from NZ coming to stay at the end of the month so its all go.