The end is nigh

Where does the time go? In the time since Bandit has left us (settled in well, loves his new owners and loves nibbling on the other cat, Rascal's tail) we have packed up everything we want to store and Chris and his cousin Roger drove up to Kerikeri. We then sorted through all our possessions listed it all on TradeMe, sold some stuff and prepared for the garage sale tomorrow morning. With my usual brilliance I scheduled this for daylight savings. Chris was 'thrilled' when he realised it was an even earlier start than he expected. Tomorrow the buyer for the car collects it and pays us, the buyer for the table collects it and hopefully the garage will be a bit emptier tomorrow afternoon. Packers came in this morning to whisk the loungesuite off to Wellington so this house is a bit colder and echoey than before. The fridge is collected on Tuesday, we clean the house, get the carpets washed and then Chris leaves for the airport on Wednesday and then it's all on! It will be really real when we walk out of here, leaving our keys behind :) The boys are dealing with the upheaval like chanps. I went to the end of term assembly as Kieran was presenting on his lion diorama. He seized the microphone when it came past and did a great job imparting info on lions :) I was well impressed. Hoping tomorrow goes well. If we make $300 on the garage sale I will be happy!

Bye bye Bandit

I have been extremely stressed over the last few weeks. Trying to get passports sorted, the $4000 visas for the boys, selling the car, sorting our stuff into what's going to the UK and what needs to be packed was doing my head in. But the real worry was Bandit. I have been desperately trying to rehome my darling ever since we found that his lungs were toast, and getting more and more worried as very few people presented themselves, all of which had at least one other pet - not ideal for Bandit, who is not a fan of fellow felines. We prepared both boys by talking about how Bandit was going to go have a holiday on a farm while we were in England and they both thought this was a fantastic idea.
So today Chris and the boys raced up to Kerikeri at the ungodly hour of 7am while I got ready to head into Henderson for my last Playcentre course 2 sessions. I tucked Bandit into the hot water cupboard and tucked a pillowcase over him so he was snuggly and warm. I finished early as I needed to get back for Caroline who was coming to see Bandit. It bucketed down as I dashed homewards, stopping only to buy a tin of tuna. Got in and gave B snuggles then the potential owners arrived and fell in love with him at first sight. And I watched him get loaded into a car and be driven away.
I know it needed to be done, and I know he will be happy there, but I am so sad, and feeling so guilty for giving away my baby right now.
Bandit, I love you so very much. Ever since we brought you home as a 10 week old kitten, with your magnolia thieving, and dressing gown cuddles and trashing the decorations on the christmas tree you have brought joy, and occasionally exasperation into our lives. There never was a better cat, and I already miss you desperately. I hope with all my heart that you forget us quickly and fall in love with your new owners.

Fathers Day and the first day of Spring

'Twas the first day of Spring today. Father's day seemed to begin unreasonably early. I had whipped the boys into a froth of anticipation the previous evening so cannot say I was surprised :) They came charging in at the crack of dawn to give Chris "big daddy cuddles" then tore off to collect his father's day t-shirts. Kieran gave Chris a tee with a lazy Dalek on it and Cameron gave him one with the Tardis dangling from Firefly. Chris sprang from the bed and hustled downstairs on being informed that Kieran wanted to cook him breakfast in bed and instead the boys and Chris made buttermilk pancakes. It was hilarious watching them all whisking up a storm. It was a gorgeous sunny day so we hung out at the playgroup soaking up the sun before going home and boxing up the books. A mere 3 hours later (I bet you think I'm kidding!!) we had finished! A roast chicken dinner was cooked by the man of the hour, then he popped out food shopping and we finished the evening with pumpkin pie. A glorious warm sunny Spring morning and the Father's Day part of it wasn't too shabby either :)