It has been a busy time for us. Kieran had another sleepover at Alex's on Thursday and had a blast, apart from wanting to come home at 8:30 at night. Poor exhausted boy. I asked him to lie down for 30 minutes with bunny and teddy with his eyes shut and voila, he was asleep. Cameron joined him the next night and it all went splendidly. What didn't go so splendidly on thursday was doing the school and kindy run and parking outside the library to watch dumbfounded as the cars front windows majestically descended of their own volition, and would reascend. This was really stressful as leaving the car with the front windows down would be an open invitation to thieves, and likely void the car insurance as well. Cursing I drove the car to Lance Jennings, our awesome mechanic, who had a look. Sadly it appeared to be the switches or computer thing that controls the windows. I then drove the car to Glen Eden auto electrical who ordered some switches for me at $40 each, and promised to have them for me by 2pm. I then drove to kindy where I sat and roased int he car until Cam needed to be collected. My chances of actually getting my much needed work done absolutely shattered. I could have cried. After collecting Cam I drove back out to auto place where they installed the switches and discovered it was a computer issue. I decided to just get the windows raised, so that was an hours work. By this time it was nearly 3pm and Cam's patience was totally eroded. However, after paying out $73 on the car I was on the road again. Yay. On Saturday we headed to Cornwallis beach for the afternoon. I mourned that I forgot my camera because the boys had a blast. Cam dashed straight into the sea on arrival, shrieking with delight while Kieran delicately paddle at the waters edge. I was forced into my costume and the water by boys wanting to be swooped through the water. Afterwards we feasted on afternoon tea and I left at 4:15. The boys raved on about how much they loved the beach until they fell asleep on Waikumete hill. Sunday began with much excitement for the boys as I cooked eggs and bacon for breakfast. I followed this up by slashing a finger on a sharp piece of plastic lurking int he sink. The cut extends to the first joint, and bled profusely. After I got that cleaned up we discovered that Kieran's scooter had been run over by a car and was a total wreck. He was devastated. I was not particularly happy either, as we were taking it with us to England. Were. Oh well. On Labour Day I dragged the boys out for an adventure. We explored the unknown Peninsula, discovering a giant Impatiens bush that the boys happily circle, finding and popping the seeds, then we found a syringa tree with a swing on it. Much excitement ensued. We then strolled past a series of lakes to admire the Auckland CBD and harbour bridge while the boys had morning tea. After that we set out to find the beach. We met with success and the boys scurried across the muddy sand like chatty little crabs. They discovered a felled tree and clambered all over it. Cameron managed to balance as we walked across it informing me "Mummy, I'm so brave!" as he did so. After that we headed off in the direction of home via a copse, a hills, some unknown streets where we identified flowers and trees and then we sighted the mighty impatiens again. We were rained on three times but it didn't dampen our spirits. Once home I fed the starving children and we washed the dog. No news yet on the house, but we need to get it sorted asap as we can't afford to pay $100 night accommodation for Chris when we still have to pay for flights for me and the boys, that we will be reimbursed for later. The boys are very excited about Halloween and cannot wait, counting down the number of sleeps. I have 4 days to do my last assignment in, then need to study for my exam on the 11th because....2 weeks to go!
It has been an absolute whirlwind of activity in these parts, but now I will throw up a quick blog entry. The garage sale went well, but we still had a truckload of stuff we had to dump at the op shop, and a dump run. We cleaned the house like no ones business - slightly hampered by my having a bad fall and wrenching my shoulder and back. The pain was so bad I nearly cried as I tried to sleep. However I am truly blessed in my friends and Jen W came in and helped clean the house. It was immaculate!! We headed out to Te Atatu that night to a delicious meal cooked by Mary, bless her. The next day we drove in and Chris dropped me off to clean while he went back to Te Atatu to collect his other suitcases, as only one fit in the carboot. Some time later the car screeched up outside and Chris flung himself inside in a panic as he had not taken the house keys. He fled back and arrived back just after the airport shuttle. It was literally a case of Chris dragging his cases from the boot, while I dragged the other one from the garage, and flinging himself into the shuttle while K waved goodbye. The landlord arrived sometime later, after I had manage to get rid of a desk and 4 chairs, and signed off on a full bond refund. And so began our time in Te Atatu Peninsula. Te Atatu Peninsula is lovely, there are beaches on all sides, it's riddled with playgrounds, is perfect for walks and has a little town centre. It's also costing me $60 in petrol per week. More if I actually use the car on weekends too. I am pleased to report I no longer fear roundabouts, good given I drive through at least 5 daily now. The house is a little one bedroom one and the boys and I are very comfortable there. The school holidays were hell but life is good now that school is back and the weather has improved. The holidays played merry hob with my studying and assignments as I don't get internet access in the house so have to go to Glen Eden library and try and get time there. However I have submitted my movie script, and have almost finished one major assignment. With three weeks to go all I have left is another major assignment and my exam on November 11th. The packers also packed my ipod cable and phone charger so my phone died a week into the stay. Luckily friends came to the rescue - thanks Shelley and Paula! - and I have the loan of a phone. Things have not gone so well with getting a UK bank account and house. Today, after 5 weeks, we finally got a bank account. We are still trying to sort a house, having needed to get a guarantor. If we don't get this house we will have spent nearly $500 just trying for it. So, I really really hope we get it as we have blown all our savings on Chris staying in short term accommodation for so long. It is amazing how slowly things move in the UK. The weather here is now gorgeous. Kieran and Cameron had sleepovers this weekend as part of Alex's birthday party. They had a blast. I had a blast to, managing to knock out a set of minutes and complete an assignment. I collected them, had lunch with Nicola and Matiu and we visited the Oratia Folk Museum on the way home. It was fabulous. Then I swung over to Barnea Circle where a Massey Library book had been mistakenly delivered and grabbed that. As soon as we got back to Te Atatu we headed over to the beach - Spinnakers Strand - and the boys and I galloped across the mud to the shell reefs and collected shells and a lone coconut before heading back home. I am glad the boys are getting some summer and am planning a trip to Cornwallis in one of my last 2 weekends before the wedding/exam. We have been crossing off the days and the countdown has begun for the UK