Date Night

With the kids away for the night at camp, gary & I decided we would go to a movie & out for dinner. I can't remember the last time we went to the movies.

After searching through the Entertainment Book, we decided to go to the Backyard Bar in Northcote for dinner. We shared a plate of Salt & Pepper squid which was really lovely & tender and then we both had lamb cutlets, again lovely food, perfectly cooked.

After dinner we went to see Grown Ups, it is a comedy with Adam Sandler, Chris Rock etc, a fair few laughs and just what we felt like, nothing too heavy.

Off home, a couple of drinks & off to bed, it was a really nice evening, Gary even won me a soft toy in one of those claw machines at teh movie theatre - just like a real date :-)

Nice afternoon with my girl

The kids had rehearsal yesterday and Samyson wasn't finishing until 7pm so I picked Siobhan up and we went to MOTAT, we were hoping for a ride on the new double decker tram but we kept missing it. We did get a ride on the steam train & a trip from MOTAT 2 to MOTAT 1 on 2 of the other trams. It was fun just to hang out for a couple of hours. She comes out with some of the funniest things and has a big grin on her face.

When we got home she had to pack her bag for camp. About half way through she got all stroppy because she decided she could not fit everything. Khan from next door came over in the middle of her meltdown, he asked what was wrong and I told him, he just said "I can help with that" and proceeded to help her get all her stuff together & pack her suitcase - what a cool kid. They then spent about an hour playing with the fallen tree (including erecting some sort of stick art in the corner) and then played a couple of board games before Khan had to go home.

They are at Carolanns kids holiday overnight camp for the next 2 days, Samyson & Taryn are team leaders. They were late for camp because I forgot to change the time on the DVD player in my room, I was an hour out and it was not until I was sitting smugly in the lounge thinking that it was 8am & we should be leaving in a few minutes and we were all ready that I looked up and saw it was 9am - mad panic to get them out of the house & into the car.

Gary & I are going out, hopefully to a movie & dinner if we can find something we both want to see. The kids are back tomorrow & I have Wednesday off to spend with them, not sure what we will do, it depends on the weather but if it is a nice day I think we will go somewhere for a bit of a hike.

Lady gaga is in the house!!

Last night was the Glenfield Intermediate School talent contest.

Samyson was in a lyp sync group with 3 others. They were doing the Lady gaga/Beyonce song Telephone.

I know he put a fair bit of effort into it especially his costume because it was an expensive trip to Save Mart.

He was also MC for the night with 2 other girls. so his act was last.

Anyway, cue music and then onstage comes my son dressed in platform boots, leopard skin tights a fur top & hat completed with a blond wig. It was a fantastic performance he worked the stage & the room (even going off the stage and playing up to the judges) everyone cheered when they finished.

He stayed in character for the final MC part then the judges came back with their decision - HE WON!!!!! You should have seen the look on his face, talk about shock, he did not think he could because he was also MC and only entered as a bit of a laugh.

Unfortunately I do not have any photos so I have asked him to get some of his friends to email some to him.

Earthquake

Well today has been interesting.

I woke up at just before 7am hearing a text on my phone - seriously who the hell sends me a tect at that time on a Saturday. Turns out it was Ian, my boss - telling me there was an earthquake in Christchurch & that Rosinsa place was a mess. I jumped onto the internet & realised it was not good.

Tried to call Mum & Dad, Dad's cell went to answerphone, tried Mum (don't know why she never has it on), sent a text. No reply.

The bloody earthquake was reported as a 7.4 - I work in insurance - that is NOT GOOD!!!!!

Finally had a text from Dad, they are OK, no damage except a bit of porcelain. Suggested he not go to golf & Mum not go to work - the reply ... "get real".

Phoned them and sounds like they were really lucky. They have power & phone, a couple of minor ornaments broken, Don & Sancho & King Tut are all OK (they are the expensive ones). Told Mum NOT to go to work, Civil Defence were telling people to stay home & the people she works for treat the staff like crap at the best of times and she is too old to be going in there picking stock up off the floor & resiting shelving.

Watching the news on TV and it was completely devastating. Ian managed to get hold of the Ovendens (cracks in walls & chimney destroyed in Tai Tapu) and the Prestidges in Darfield - they live at the epi centre but all Bruce had was a few cracked tiles!! We have let the EQC & the insurance companies know & convinced Rosina to stay at home & keep it secure.

Texted Stephan & Paul, both OK, Gary rang Stephan later & all they had was a couple of pictures down, Paul had no damage.

Watching it all unfold over the day our families were so lucky, I am so grateful but really feel for those who have suffered so much loss and destruction. Watching the news the property damage I can cope with but I get a bit teary watching the personal stories.

End of day - Mum did not go to work (and her Boss actually phoned to check they were OK & will get his son to make sure shop all OK before she has to go back to work), Dad played golf - had to go to the local pub for the after match drink because the clubhouse was closed - can't keep a good golfer down.

The kids are taking it OK, Siobhan wants to ring Bayley & Michaela tomorrow to make sure they are OK, as far as I know they are with Kim over the weekend so I will give Paul a call tomorrow to see when the kids can talk to them.