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xansEverything behind the cuts before "Christmas Week" was written about two weeks ago, before we came to see everybody.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I have an adorable cat. Mildly frustrating at times, but even in her misbehavior she's adorable. Gratch is very strong willed and stubborn. So, sometimes I get acts of defiance. She was attacking the corner of the rug on the living room floor down next to my foot, and I growled her. So, she got up, stalked over to the other side of the carpet, flopped down and delibrately raked it while glaring at me. It's her way of saying, "You have no power over me." The other one was when I was preparing the potatoes for our roast dinner with Chris and Tarns, and she was certain there were food scraps for her involved. She went so far as to jump up on the bench next to me and, naturally, I growled her. She reluctantly abandoned the bench, and promptly went to attack a cardboard box that I couldn't see. Mewed oh so cutely when I came over to investigate.
There are times when preparing her meal, or, hell, OUR meals, and I get an entire song and dance out of her, as she is sure that whatever I'm preparing is for her. Even when it's pancake batter. Half the time she tries to play with the food I do give her, especially if the bits of meat aren't bite-sized pieces.
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It's taken a week for me to feel settled into this place. About four days went by where I simply felt we were staying at a holiday bach near the beach, not that I get to live two blocks from the beach. I can take a walk in the sand EVERY DAY if I want to. Some days I don't, because that sea breeze can carry quite the chill sometimes. The thing that really made me feel at home? Vacuuming. Dishes and laundry are perfectly acceptable holiday chores, but vacuuming has its own level of domesticity that really makes it feel like home. Plus, I'd finally whittled the amount of boxes to two or three, as opposed to most the household.
It was hard, taking days to unpack. But too exhausting to do it in one or two huge chunks. I had to do a room or a couple of boxes at a time. Found things that, damnit, why I did I move them? I should have got rid of them before we moved. Like I burned most of my old school books before we left, and then decided to part with the better half of my uni notes after we got here. The only thing left is to go through my old toys... I plan on washing all my dolls and barbie clothes, and putting them in a box to bring out for when Tarns' girls visit or something. After Alan fixes his old sideboard unit, I'll reserve a couple cupboards with some kids' games, toys, and colouring books.
Where we are is more central to Alan's family, and I'm hoping it will invite more guests. As I branch out, hopefully I'll have some local friends to entertain as well. This place is ideal for it. Like I said, it's two blocks from the beach, but we've also got a HUGE lounge, nice open front veranda and a large back deck which is also great for entertaining. Our kitchen is so roomy, with a cool breakfast bar and dining area. I suppose the bedrooms are a little small for my tastes, being used to the old-style farmhouse bedroom, but then, I suppose the idea is to get OUT of the bedroom and into the house. The smallest bedroom makes an ideal office, while the spare bedroom serves as my toy room and I've got my table in there to play with my legos.
Added to that, we've got the sleep-out in the back yard for guests to stay in. It's got it's own toilet and small vanity, just no shower facilities. But that's still cool, because it gives guests a place to stay that is small and cozy and separate so they can have their privacy. It's large enough for a single bed, dressing table, two seater couch, coffee table, my old 14-inch TV on a stand, and all without tripping over anything. The back yard is a decent size for playing in, and so is the front yard, actually. There's a single garage, currently serving as storage, although we'll whittle some of that down as we fix the broken things and then rearrange things inside. Then it will house the orange beastie that is the honda while Alan gets to drive around the sweet as company car, a toyota prado land cruiser. But also by the garage door is a tap and shower head for washing sand off from the beach before going inside. Pretty cool, huh?
The house itself is really nicely insulated. It can be really warm outside, and the house itself will be quite cool. But also it heats up and holds the heat really well. When we cooked the roast, the house got nice and toasty and stayed warm well into the night. And that's just using the oven! We've got a fireplace, although sadly no free firewood like we had on the farm, but it's not a huge expense. Oh, I should mention the kitchen is fully kitted up with dishwasher and insinkerator as well as plenty of powerpoints for the microwave, fridge, toaster, jug, coffee machine, and my little stereo. At the farm the hot water used to get to a rather uncomfortable almost boiling definitely scalding temperature, which could be unpleasant but was really good for pre-heating the coffee cups... see, ideally, to keep the coffee from going cold too soon, some hot water helps to stop the cup sapping all the heat out. But the hot water just doesn't get as hot, so we usually boil the jug to use that to preheat the cups. Bit of a fussy process, but well worth it for the coffee.
I still like this place a lot. Gratch is also pretty pleased, as it has a cat door and we are allowing her inside and out. Now just to train her to go toilet outside instead of in the litter tray... But she is sleeping better through the night, because she is better able to entertain herself during the day. That being said, she's loving that I'm home most of the day, and still wants her cuddles.
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We had Chris and Tarns for tea, along with Tarn's girl Jess and the twins, Bella and Danielle. Have I mentioned I love when people have babies I can hand back any time I like? I mean, the girls are cute and all, and I didn't mind holding (err, damn, I still can't tell them apart) one of them to feed and burp (she didn't puke on me, yay!). But then I'm also really glad she was on Alan's lap when she decided to drop a stinker of a nappy change, and, hey, we just give her to Tarns to wipe down and change. And then if they start crying, hey, give baby back to mama, she knows how to fix it.
I also think I was being very nice to walk Jess down to the beach, where she got to see so many things she never thought she would, such as a pukeko feeding in the estuary, a dead dogfish (with its eyes pecked out and belly swolen, ew) on the beach, some pretty shells, and an unbroken crabshell (that Tarns was most unimpressed with, especially when I ran out to hand to to Jess when she'd left in on the coffeetable). It must be difficult to be her age (eleven or so, I think) and then suddenly have these two babies who get the limelight and are home full-time, unlike her other brother and sister, who spend a lot of the time with their dad. She's asked on to be responsible, and of course she doesn't want to be babysitter a lot, she's got her own things she wants to do. But to get some one-on-one attention, away from babies? (And also give Tarns and Chris a break from at least one child) Yeah, that's cool with me.
I also made her and Tarns really happy, as I went through my old jewellry and passed a whole lot on to them to pick through, and Jess will get first choice on the pieces she likes while also picking some out for her sister. There's a couple pieces even Chris might like, although I'm sure he likes the copy of Serenity and Firefly better. (It is with a bit of trepidation I passed those copies over, as my originals seem to have been misplaced in the move, but it's cheaper now so not hard to replace.)
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Christmas shopping went a lot better than I expected. Mostly regarding stuff for my nieces and nephew. For two hotwheels, a sheet of stickers, a girly tea set, and a friendship bracelet set, all that was just under $18. Savannah's present as probably been the most expensive, because it's a gift basket of goodies that all sort of adds up. Anyway, she should like it, I hope. I managed to find something nice for Ange along with my spare copies of Debt of Bones and Phantom. Some cool little goodies for mum, all that's left is Gary, Dad, Suzy, and my step-sisters. Laura's happy with booze or chocolates, though, and I can probably get away with the same with Carla. I think Rach is in Aus, but I'm not sure. I should probably send something to my brother as well. But I'll email him and ask.
Because of the fuss with the move and all that, Alan and I have put our presents for each other on hold. My present for him is this particular aftershave from the Body Shop that is very nice but will set me back about $50. He is going to pay for my first tattoo, when I find a decent artist who isn't going to charge a whole lot to design and implement it. I know mostly what I want, but I need an artist to really fine tune the work. The tattooist place I saw in Paraparaumu proper looked pretty professional, but was also quite pricey. I'm sure I can find a decent artist at a more reasonable price. With him I'd be looking at somewhere between $200 & $300, and Alan is certain I can get it for much less.
Take this image:
and put it in the centre of this image: 
and that's a beginning idea for what I want.
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Christmas Week
On the 20th, (a Saturday) Alan and I drove up from Paraparaumu to Hamilton. We stopped in Levin to drop the key off to Chris and Tarns so they could feed the cat and stay there near the beach if they so desired, while we were away. Stopped again in Taupo, needing a rest, and Alan got some dress pants and shoes to suit this whole new image as a manager. Then it was up to Rotorua to see my cousin Martin, his wife Jenni and their daughter Eleni.
And oh my goodness is Eleni a handful, or what? She's cute, but desires to be the center of attention. It was still nice to see them, anyway, before getting up to Hamilton.
Sunday the 21st, we went to The Base to do some shopping in the morning, got some items for us and some gifts for other people. Mum and Gary arrived from the States that day, so it was over to my godmum Denise's to visit with them for the latter half of the day. Got the seal of approval on Alan, not that I doubted for a second they would like him. He's adorable.
Monday found Alan and I spending pretty much the entire day in town doing yet more shopping. Again, a certain amount was for us and the rest on gifts for others. But that meant that apart from some chocolate and booze for my step-sisters, we were pretty much all set. Tuesday was lunch and a walk around the Hamilton Gardens with my mum's cousin Mary and her husband, although it was so warm and I'd had a huge glass of juice that I didn't actually eat anything. Wednesday was last minute runs to the supermarket for this and that to help Denise prepare a Christmas eve roast and Christmas day lunch (both of which we were going to).
In the afternoon on Christmas day, after all the food (and beer) sent most everyone into a siesta, Alan and I relaxed at Dad and Suzy's for a bit before we all went off to my step-sister Carla's place for dessert. And to drink bubbly and play pool. It was a good time and my presents were quite welcome (and I got some lovely things in return). But all in all, it was a pretty full on week. And this, after having just moved a week before that? Well, I'll tell ya, I almost wish I'd agreed to come home with Alan on Boxing Day.
Because of work, Alan had to be back to work the weekend after boxing day, but since I am unemployed, it's to stay and keep on visiting for me. So... I saw![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
pandoras_evil_t on Monday, and then again on Boxing Day. She's pregnant, btw, and congrats to her although I'll happily throttle the potential daddy. His first suggestion was abortion, and while I fully support women having that choice, I know that's never been an option for Ange. Shame on him for proposing the idea.
The 27th I was pretty tired and exhausted and I think I managed to veg out most of the day. Just sorted through Christmas decorations for ones I wanted or were mine anyway, as Dad and Suzy are trying to pare down the collection and then build a new one together. Fine by me. Was planning on meeting up with a friend, but forgot, and he didn't get back from Auckland until late, so we decided to meet up on Sunday instead. And that was cool.
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New Years Week
Monday the 29th, I joined up with Mum and Gary and we headed down to Rotorua for a(nother) visit with Martin and Jenni. Stayed in a nice motel with spa and mineral pools and all that. Drove around the government gardens for a bit but got out to walk around Kuirau Park. I ended up with slight cramps in my legs, because I got quite tense as we neared some of the hot pools... I could just feel how thin the earth's crust was, and it freaked me out in a most primeval fashion.
The next day it was off to Napier to stay with my mum's cousin Kathleen and her husband. Alan and I had visited them briefly when we were up there last February. Trouble was, my memory was hazy on street names, so I was pretty shoddy in helping to direct mum to their place, even though I knew of a shorter way. Doesn't matter, we found it in the end. And then various family members showed up for a bbq, so yet more socializing. The nice thing was that Don and Kathleen have a swimming pool, and when we arrived I was all hot and sticky and a quick dip in that was great for refreshing me.
Wednesday, it was with some trepidation I went along with mum and Gary to spend an hour in Napier before going off to see yet more relatives. What can I say? It's been travelling and visiting and, oh, yeah, several days with my darling now... I'm deep in homesick territory. Anyway, did manage to find a nice top at Pagani, and helped mum pick out a nightie, and then it was to cousin Christine's. She's a lovely woman, except that she's been living on her own for too long and is deeply set in her ways. Hence, us going to see her instead of her driving over to see us.
Anyway. Hot and sticky, but we go into the shops part of her one horse town, eat at the local pub/restaurant. And get dragged to shops. Well, I'd been pretty good, not spending much since a boxing day, keeping tight on my purse strings... but, in this store, I almost immediately found this jewellery box that screamed "TAKE ME HOME!" It's beautiful. Looks like ivory, with flowers around the outside and, on the top in more flowers, is this fairy looking out at me. Gorgeous amount of detail. Was $45, which I expected, and more, actually, but that price to me was reasonable. Especially when I remembered everying in store was 20-30% off. Wandered for a bit, flirting with the idea, and found these cheeky looking, pointy-eared goblin figurines. Thing is, Alan has a couple that perch on top of the mirror on my duchess and look down at us. Same style. So I got another one for him. Plus the fairy box. Altogether cost me $45.90. Not bad, eh?
Now, what I think we should have done was, visit this other cousin in the same town, drop of Christine, and be on our merry. Not so. It was visit this other cousin, and then, because neither was perticularly chatty enough for mum's liking, back to Christine's for more chat. *sigh* Did I mention it was hot and sticky? We had to stop in the supermarket in Hastings on our way back because Gary wanted a couple of things and I needed a top-up for my phone, and that was just... too much. Too many people, too much shopping and visiting and travelling... I was done. When we got back to Don and Kathleen's, I curled up in a chair with my book and produced this aura of "fuck off" for a while. Sufficiently calmed down after a while, I was able to join mum and Kathleen to go into town and watch the fireworks at midnight, and listen to the bagpipes.
Thursday, though, mum was all for a liesurely trip up to Hamilton, which meant stopping at this and that souvenir shop, and y'know, c'mon I just wanna get home and calm the fuck down. I'd managed through time and distance to forget mum's style of shopping. Me, I either shop with a definite goal in mind, or, when I browse, I pass by at a reasonable speed, and decide quickly if I want something I like or not. Mum, on the other hand, even if she's after something in particular, looks at everything and just takes that much longer to make her purchases. Not my style at all.
I'm half-glad for these two days in Hamilton where I'm under no pressure to do anything or be anywhere until this evening. But also? I just really, really want to be home. I have to bite my tongue when Dad and Suzy joke about taking a liesurely trip down to Paraparaumu. I will be tempted to resorting to whining. Zomg. Just get me home already. I miss my man, and I miss my cat, and my coffee machine, and my home.
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General loot acquired over the last two weeks... (given and bought)
-beachfeet shoes for beach walking
-some gorgeous madden girl high heels unlike anything I own, 'cause they're pretty
-tye dye dress, summery top, ruby necklace, bras, and I forget what other little goodies from mum... oh, she bought a nice aoteroa t-shirt when we were in taupo
-corsety top
-four t-shirts with amusing pictures
-red dress figurine neclace holder from Alan
-towel and body butter from Denise
-oily skin treatment creme from Laura and Savannah
-smelly toiletry stuff from Rachel
-various dvds... Band of Brothers, season ten of SG-1 and the two movies, By Any Means (another miniseries with Charley Boorman), Short Circuit, Run Lola Run, Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny
-the fairy jewellery box
-two lego sets, one of dwarf and orcs, the other star wars, from Alan...
...and that's where I forget what else there is. Eh, well. It's been a very up and down kind of year. And a stressful last month. Can't wait for home and some peace.
ETA: Okay, how could I forget the gin?pandoras_evil_t gave me gin. Yay!
Fin.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I have an adorable cat. Mildly frustrating at times, but even in her misbehavior she's adorable. Gratch is very strong willed and stubborn. So, sometimes I get acts of defiance. She was attacking the corner of the rug on the living room floor down next to my foot, and I growled her. So, she got up, stalked over to the other side of the carpet, flopped down and delibrately raked it while glaring at me. It's her way of saying, "You have no power over me." The other one was when I was preparing the potatoes for our roast dinner with Chris and Tarns, and she was certain there were food scraps for her involved. She went so far as to jump up on the bench next to me and, naturally, I growled her. She reluctantly abandoned the bench, and promptly went to attack a cardboard box that I couldn't see. Mewed oh so cutely when I came over to investigate.
There are times when preparing her meal, or, hell, OUR meals, and I get an entire song and dance out of her, as she is sure that whatever I'm preparing is for her. Even when it's pancake batter. Half the time she tries to play with the food I do give her, especially if the bits of meat aren't bite-sized pieces.
------
It's taken a week for me to feel settled into this place. About four days went by where I simply felt we were staying at a holiday bach near the beach, not that I get to live two blocks from the beach. I can take a walk in the sand EVERY DAY if I want to. Some days I don't, because that sea breeze can carry quite the chill sometimes. The thing that really made me feel at home? Vacuuming. Dishes and laundry are perfectly acceptable holiday chores, but vacuuming has its own level of domesticity that really makes it feel like home. Plus, I'd finally whittled the amount of boxes to two or three, as opposed to most the household.
It was hard, taking days to unpack. But too exhausting to do it in one or two huge chunks. I had to do a room or a couple of boxes at a time. Found things that, damnit, why I did I move them? I should have got rid of them before we moved. Like I burned most of my old school books before we left, and then decided to part with the better half of my uni notes after we got here. The only thing left is to go through my old toys... I plan on washing all my dolls and barbie clothes, and putting them in a box to bring out for when Tarns' girls visit or something. After Alan fixes his old sideboard unit, I'll reserve a couple cupboards with some kids' games, toys, and colouring books.
Where we are is more central to Alan's family, and I'm hoping it will invite more guests. As I branch out, hopefully I'll have some local friends to entertain as well. This place is ideal for it. Like I said, it's two blocks from the beach, but we've also got a HUGE lounge, nice open front veranda and a large back deck which is also great for entertaining. Our kitchen is so roomy, with a cool breakfast bar and dining area. I suppose the bedrooms are a little small for my tastes, being used to the old-style farmhouse bedroom, but then, I suppose the idea is to get OUT of the bedroom and into the house. The smallest bedroom makes an ideal office, while the spare bedroom serves as my toy room and I've got my table in there to play with my legos.
Added to that, we've got the sleep-out in the back yard for guests to stay in. It's got it's own toilet and small vanity, just no shower facilities. But that's still cool, because it gives guests a place to stay that is small and cozy and separate so they can have their privacy. It's large enough for a single bed, dressing table, two seater couch, coffee table, my old 14-inch TV on a stand, and all without tripping over anything. The back yard is a decent size for playing in, and so is the front yard, actually. There's a single garage, currently serving as storage, although we'll whittle some of that down as we fix the broken things and then rearrange things inside. Then it will house the orange beastie that is the honda while Alan gets to drive around the sweet as company car, a toyota prado land cruiser. But also by the garage door is a tap and shower head for washing sand off from the beach before going inside. Pretty cool, huh?
The house itself is really nicely insulated. It can be really warm outside, and the house itself will be quite cool. But also it heats up and holds the heat really well. When we cooked the roast, the house got nice and toasty and stayed warm well into the night. And that's just using the oven! We've got a fireplace, although sadly no free firewood like we had on the farm, but it's not a huge expense. Oh, I should mention the kitchen is fully kitted up with dishwasher and insinkerator as well as plenty of powerpoints for the microwave, fridge, toaster, jug, coffee machine, and my little stereo. At the farm the hot water used to get to a rather uncomfortable almost boiling definitely scalding temperature, which could be unpleasant but was really good for pre-heating the coffee cups... see, ideally, to keep the coffee from going cold too soon, some hot water helps to stop the cup sapping all the heat out. But the hot water just doesn't get as hot, so we usually boil the jug to use that to preheat the cups. Bit of a fussy process, but well worth it for the coffee.
I still like this place a lot. Gratch is also pretty pleased, as it has a cat door and we are allowing her inside and out. Now just to train her to go toilet outside instead of in the litter tray... But she is sleeping better through the night, because she is better able to entertain herself during the day. That being said, she's loving that I'm home most of the day, and still wants her cuddles.
------
We had Chris and Tarns for tea, along with Tarn's girl Jess and the twins, Bella and Danielle. Have I mentioned I love when people have babies I can hand back any time I like? I mean, the girls are cute and all, and I didn't mind holding (err, damn, I still can't tell them apart) one of them to feed and burp (she didn't puke on me, yay!). But then I'm also really glad she was on Alan's lap when she decided to drop a stinker of a nappy change, and, hey, we just give her to Tarns to wipe down and change. And then if they start crying, hey, give baby back to mama, she knows how to fix it.
I also think I was being very nice to walk Jess down to the beach, where she got to see so many things she never thought she would, such as a pukeko feeding in the estuary, a dead dogfish (with its eyes pecked out and belly swolen, ew) on the beach, some pretty shells, and an unbroken crabshell (that Tarns was most unimpressed with, especially when I ran out to hand to to Jess when she'd left in on the coffeetable). It must be difficult to be her age (eleven or so, I think) and then suddenly have these two babies who get the limelight and are home full-time, unlike her other brother and sister, who spend a lot of the time with their dad. She's asked on to be responsible, and of course she doesn't want to be babysitter a lot, she's got her own things she wants to do. But to get some one-on-one attention, away from babies? (And also give Tarns and Chris a break from at least one child) Yeah, that's cool with me.
I also made her and Tarns really happy, as I went through my old jewellry and passed a whole lot on to them to pick through, and Jess will get first choice on the pieces she likes while also picking some out for her sister. There's a couple pieces even Chris might like, although I'm sure he likes the copy of Serenity and Firefly better. (It is with a bit of trepidation I passed those copies over, as my originals seem to have been misplaced in the move, but it's cheaper now so not hard to replace.)
-------
Christmas shopping went a lot better than I expected. Mostly regarding stuff for my nieces and nephew. For two hotwheels, a sheet of stickers, a girly tea set, and a friendship bracelet set, all that was just under $18. Savannah's present as probably been the most expensive, because it's a gift basket of goodies that all sort of adds up. Anyway, she should like it, I hope. I managed to find something nice for Ange along with my spare copies of Debt of Bones and Phantom. Some cool little goodies for mum, all that's left is Gary, Dad, Suzy, and my step-sisters. Laura's happy with booze or chocolates, though, and I can probably get away with the same with Carla. I think Rach is in Aus, but I'm not sure. I should probably send something to my brother as well. But I'll email him and ask.
Because of the fuss with the move and all that, Alan and I have put our presents for each other on hold. My present for him is this particular aftershave from the Body Shop that is very nice but will set me back about $50. He is going to pay for my first tattoo, when I find a decent artist who isn't going to charge a whole lot to design and implement it. I know mostly what I want, but I need an artist to really fine tune the work. The tattooist place I saw in Paraparaumu proper looked pretty professional, but was also quite pricey. I'm sure I can find a decent artist at a more reasonable price. With him I'd be looking at somewhere between $200 & $300, and Alan is certain I can get it for much less.
Take this image:
and put it in the centre of this image: and that's a beginning idea for what I want.-------
Christmas Week
On the 20th, (a Saturday) Alan and I drove up from Paraparaumu to Hamilton. We stopped in Levin to drop the key off to Chris and Tarns so they could feed the cat and stay there near the beach if they so desired, while we were away. Stopped again in Taupo, needing a rest, and Alan got some dress pants and shoes to suit this whole new image as a manager. Then it was up to Rotorua to see my cousin Martin, his wife Jenni and their daughter Eleni.
And oh my goodness is Eleni a handful, or what? She's cute, but desires to be the center of attention. It was still nice to see them, anyway, before getting up to Hamilton.
Sunday the 21st, we went to The Base to do some shopping in the morning, got some items for us and some gifts for other people. Mum and Gary arrived from the States that day, so it was over to my godmum Denise's to visit with them for the latter half of the day. Got the seal of approval on Alan, not that I doubted for a second they would like him. He's adorable.
Monday found Alan and I spending pretty much the entire day in town doing yet more shopping. Again, a certain amount was for us and the rest on gifts for others. But that meant that apart from some chocolate and booze for my step-sisters, we were pretty much all set. Tuesday was lunch and a walk around the Hamilton Gardens with my mum's cousin Mary and her husband, although it was so warm and I'd had a huge glass of juice that I didn't actually eat anything. Wednesday was last minute runs to the supermarket for this and that to help Denise prepare a Christmas eve roast and Christmas day lunch (both of which we were going to).
In the afternoon on Christmas day, after all the food (and beer) sent most everyone into a siesta, Alan and I relaxed at Dad and Suzy's for a bit before we all went off to my step-sister Carla's place for dessert. And to drink bubbly and play pool. It was a good time and my presents were quite welcome (and I got some lovely things in return). But all in all, it was a pretty full on week. And this, after having just moved a week before that? Well, I'll tell ya, I almost wish I'd agreed to come home with Alan on Boxing Day.
Because of work, Alan had to be back to work the weekend after boxing day, but since I am unemployed, it's to stay and keep on visiting for me. So... I saw
pandoras_evil_t on Monday, and then again on Boxing Day. She's pregnant, btw, and congrats to her although I'll happily throttle the potential daddy. His first suggestion was abortion, and while I fully support women having that choice, I know that's never been an option for Ange. Shame on him for proposing the idea. The 27th I was pretty tired and exhausted and I think I managed to veg out most of the day. Just sorted through Christmas decorations for ones I wanted or were mine anyway, as Dad and Suzy are trying to pare down the collection and then build a new one together. Fine by me. Was planning on meeting up with a friend, but forgot, and he didn't get back from Auckland until late, so we decided to meet up on Sunday instead. And that was cool.
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New Years Week
Monday the 29th, I joined up with Mum and Gary and we headed down to Rotorua for a(nother) visit with Martin and Jenni. Stayed in a nice motel with spa and mineral pools and all that. Drove around the government gardens for a bit but got out to walk around Kuirau Park. I ended up with slight cramps in my legs, because I got quite tense as we neared some of the hot pools... I could just feel how thin the earth's crust was, and it freaked me out in a most primeval fashion.
The next day it was off to Napier to stay with my mum's cousin Kathleen and her husband. Alan and I had visited them briefly when we were up there last February. Trouble was, my memory was hazy on street names, so I was pretty shoddy in helping to direct mum to their place, even though I knew of a shorter way. Doesn't matter, we found it in the end. And then various family members showed up for a bbq, so yet more socializing. The nice thing was that Don and Kathleen have a swimming pool, and when we arrived I was all hot and sticky and a quick dip in that was great for refreshing me.
Wednesday, it was with some trepidation I went along with mum and Gary to spend an hour in Napier before going off to see yet more relatives. What can I say? It's been travelling and visiting and, oh, yeah, several days with my darling now... I'm deep in homesick territory. Anyway, did manage to find a nice top at Pagani, and helped mum pick out a nightie, and then it was to cousin Christine's. She's a lovely woman, except that she's been living on her own for too long and is deeply set in her ways. Hence, us going to see her instead of her driving over to see us.
Anyway. Hot and sticky, but we go into the shops part of her one horse town, eat at the local pub/restaurant. And get dragged to shops. Well, I'd been pretty good, not spending much since a boxing day, keeping tight on my purse strings... but, in this store, I almost immediately found this jewellery box that screamed "TAKE ME HOME!" It's beautiful. Looks like ivory, with flowers around the outside and, on the top in more flowers, is this fairy looking out at me. Gorgeous amount of detail. Was $45, which I expected, and more, actually, but that price to me was reasonable. Especially when I remembered everying in store was 20-30% off. Wandered for a bit, flirting with the idea, and found these cheeky looking, pointy-eared goblin figurines. Thing is, Alan has a couple that perch on top of the mirror on my duchess and look down at us. Same style. So I got another one for him. Plus the fairy box. Altogether cost me $45.90. Not bad, eh?
Now, what I think we should have done was, visit this other cousin in the same town, drop of Christine, and be on our merry. Not so. It was visit this other cousin, and then, because neither was perticularly chatty enough for mum's liking, back to Christine's for more chat. *sigh* Did I mention it was hot and sticky? We had to stop in the supermarket in Hastings on our way back because Gary wanted a couple of things and I needed a top-up for my phone, and that was just... too much. Too many people, too much shopping and visiting and travelling... I was done. When we got back to Don and Kathleen's, I curled up in a chair with my book and produced this aura of "fuck off" for a while. Sufficiently calmed down after a while, I was able to join mum and Kathleen to go into town and watch the fireworks at midnight, and listen to the bagpipes.
Thursday, though, mum was all for a liesurely trip up to Hamilton, which meant stopping at this and that souvenir shop, and y'know, c'mon I just wanna get home and calm the fuck down. I'd managed through time and distance to forget mum's style of shopping. Me, I either shop with a definite goal in mind, or, when I browse, I pass by at a reasonable speed, and decide quickly if I want something I like or not. Mum, on the other hand, even if she's after something in particular, looks at everything and just takes that much longer to make her purchases. Not my style at all.
I'm half-glad for these two days in Hamilton where I'm under no pressure to do anything or be anywhere until this evening. But also? I just really, really want to be home. I have to bite my tongue when Dad and Suzy joke about taking a liesurely trip down to Paraparaumu. I will be tempted to resorting to whining. Zomg. Just get me home already. I miss my man, and I miss my cat, and my coffee machine, and my home.
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General loot acquired over the last two weeks... (given and bought)
-beachfeet shoes for beach walking
-some gorgeous madden girl high heels unlike anything I own, 'cause they're pretty
-tye dye dress, summery top, ruby necklace, bras, and I forget what other little goodies from mum... oh, she bought a nice aoteroa t-shirt when we were in taupo
-corsety top
-four t-shirts with amusing pictures
-red dress figurine neclace holder from Alan
-towel and body butter from Denise
-oily skin treatment creme from Laura and Savannah
-smelly toiletry stuff from Rachel
-various dvds... Band of Brothers, season ten of SG-1 and the two movies, By Any Means (another miniseries with Charley Boorman), Short Circuit, Run Lola Run, Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny
-the fairy jewellery box
-two lego sets, one of dwarf and orcs, the other star wars, from Alan...
...and that's where I forget what else there is. Eh, well. It's been a very up and down kind of year. And a stressful last month. Can't wait for home and some peace.
ETA: Okay, how could I forget the gin?
pandoras_evil_t gave me gin. Yay!Fin.
