Summer Sun

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

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