A quiet night. No Smith Loser Party this year for the adults although Jess & Rachel had friends over, Samyson is there with Carla. I got to play taxi driver and due to miscommunication/pain in the arsedness, I didn't get back home til 9.
Quiet night with wine, chips & dip with Siobhan and now I am watching TV by myself - woo hoo.
Have an issue to sort out with a certain entitled teenager tomorrow - cue temper tanty.
Heaps of fireworks in our area. One advantage of living in an area with lots of Asians, they have the best fireworks :-).
Hopefully this year will be better than last although the big issue will not be resolved until mid April but at least we have a date. Have given up hope common sense will prevail before that, although I do check my email daily in the vain hope.
Not sure what is on the agenda tomorrow, original plan was a walk and a picnic lunch but the weather is turning and after I pick up Samyson, I suspect things may not be pretty so we will play it by ear - may be another lazy quiet day.
Happy 2015!!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Christmas Day 2014
Today was possibly one of the best I can remember. After last years awful time (something had come up a few days before and threw us all for a loop, especially Gary who lost the plot).
This year everyone was happy, looking forward to the day and we were all super organised.We had been invited to the lovely Diet Coke Rocks for lunch but Gary & the kids wanted to have a quiet one with the 4 of us.
Usually kids are the first ones up, this year Gary came up at 7.30 and woke the kids up. Presents were opened and then it was a champagne breakfast with ham & cheese croissants.
Lunch was spit roasted lamb & pork, both from Pokeno, new potatoes, baby carrots and peas, endamame beans with feta & pinenuts and a lemon dressing - YUMM. Dessert (about 3 hours later), brownie, orange curd tarts, cream and salted caramel. Dinner was picking at the leftovers from lunch and last nights Malaysian takeout.
The kids found Gary's old slot car set so that got some air time, then a kite which Samyson attempted to fly up the middle of the road whilst dressed as an elf. Second slot car set didn't work so got disposed of. Family used my cleavage for target practice!!! We played "Battle of the Sexes" which is a really bad, completely unPC sexist board game, it was bloody hilarious. We laughed so much we had tears. A couple of movies, Quartet and I'll Be Home For Christmas ended a fantastic day.
After lunch we has a surprise visit from my friend Janet, she was working (district nurse) and dropped in some Christmas bunting she had made, all because I had mentioned that I really liked it when one of the committee Mums had put pictures of it on Facebook. It was such a surprise and lovely to see her too.
As it is now 12.30, I guess technically the day is over but I want to savour it for just a bit longer.
This year everyone was happy, looking forward to the day and we were all super organised.We had been invited to the lovely Diet Coke Rocks for lunch but Gary & the kids wanted to have a quiet one with the 4 of us.
Usually kids are the first ones up, this year Gary came up at 7.30 and woke the kids up. Presents were opened and then it was a champagne breakfast with ham & cheese croissants.
Lunch was spit roasted lamb & pork, both from Pokeno, new potatoes, baby carrots and peas, endamame beans with feta & pinenuts and a lemon dressing - YUMM. Dessert (about 3 hours later), brownie, orange curd tarts, cream and salted caramel. Dinner was picking at the leftovers from lunch and last nights Malaysian takeout.
The kids found Gary's old slot car set so that got some air time, then a kite which Samyson attempted to fly up the middle of the road whilst dressed as an elf. Second slot car set didn't work so got disposed of. Family used my cleavage for target practice!!! We played "Battle of the Sexes" which is a really bad, completely unPC sexist board game, it was bloody hilarious. We laughed so much we had tears. A couple of movies, Quartet and I'll Be Home For Christmas ended a fantastic day.
After lunch we has a surprise visit from my friend Janet, she was working (district nurse) and dropped in some Christmas bunting she had made, all because I had mentioned that I really liked it when one of the committee Mums had put pictures of it on Facebook. It was such a surprise and lovely to see her too.
As it is now 12.30, I guess technically the day is over but I want to savour it for just a bit longer.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Not Much To Report
Only about half a day of work before I am on holiday.
Siobhan came to deliver one of the insurance company gifts this morning then I dropped her at the mall and she finished off our grocery shopping and walked home (it was only some peas, pine nuts and a couple of other things, not a whole trolley full). She decided she wants to make orange curd tarts for Christmas lunch dessert so she will do that tomorrow.
Fridays charity concert was fun, we had a laugh and Samyson's dancing in one of the songs was hilariously, there were 7 males and they were singing Jingle Bell Rock but totally camped it up. I think Gary just about wet himself.
Janet was telling us about Jesus Christ Superstar which was playing at the same venue, she had seen it and said it was good but it was too rocky for her, Gary said that sounds like it is just up his alley. He also said he had seen the advertising and thought it looked good (first I knew) - so $ 144 later we had tickets for the next night, Saturday - which was closing night. OH MY God - what a show. we both LOVED it. It was fast, rocky and the energy was amazing. The only bit I didn't like was Madeline Sami as King Herod, it was Borat meets any one of her male characters and seemed to be more about her than the show, still, it was only 1 scene.
Gary finished work today and was going to finish his shopping this afternoon. Hopefully I can convince him and the kids to catch up on the washing & tidy the house tomorrow so I don't have to do anything when I get home.
We were generously invited to Chris H's house for Christmas lunch, I talked to Gary & the kids and they said that they were looking forward to a quiet Christmas day with just the 4 of us. Besides we had already bought most of the food. It was such a lovely offer and we were incredibly thankful.
I will hopefully post from home if I can work out how to do so on my laptop. I think I had logged in under the wrong name.
Siobhan came to deliver one of the insurance company gifts this morning then I dropped her at the mall and she finished off our grocery shopping and walked home (it was only some peas, pine nuts and a couple of other things, not a whole trolley full). She decided she wants to make orange curd tarts for Christmas lunch dessert so she will do that tomorrow.
Fridays charity concert was fun, we had a laugh and Samyson's dancing in one of the songs was hilariously, there were 7 males and they were singing Jingle Bell Rock but totally camped it up. I think Gary just about wet himself.
Janet was telling us about Jesus Christ Superstar which was playing at the same venue, she had seen it and said it was good but it was too rocky for her, Gary said that sounds like it is just up his alley. He also said he had seen the advertising and thought it looked good (first I knew) - so $ 144 later we had tickets for the next night, Saturday - which was closing night. OH MY God - what a show. we both LOVED it. It was fast, rocky and the energy was amazing. The only bit I didn't like was Madeline Sami as King Herod, it was Borat meets any one of her male characters and seemed to be more about her than the show, still, it was only 1 scene.
Gary finished work today and was going to finish his shopping this afternoon. Hopefully I can convince him and the kids to catch up on the washing & tidy the house tomorrow so I don't have to do anything when I get home.
We were generously invited to Chris H's house for Christmas lunch, I talked to Gary & the kids and they said that they were looking forward to a quiet Christmas day with just the 4 of us. Besides we had already bought most of the food. It was such a lovely offer and we were incredibly thankful.
I will hopefully post from home if I can work out how to do so on my laptop. I think I had logged in under the wrong name.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
It's Nearly Christmas
I have almost all my shopping done, literally 4 things left to get.
We went to Pokeno last weekend and got the pork and lamb.
Siobhan put the tree up Saturday.
Samyson did the rest of the decorations during the week.
I have a list of the last few bits to get food wise and will do a big wine shop at Pak n Save this weekend.
Need to send Val's Christmas card and a card to my parents and Pat with their Miller Rd candles.
The while family is in a good place at the moment and looking forward to Christmas.
School is finished for Samyson, he is now a uni student, he got accepted for discretionary entry to AUT to do a Bachelor of Business so he doesn't have to sit year 13. Solves one problem we though we would have next year and he is looking forward to it.
He got a small role in Bare and chorus for Sweeney Todd, I think he is a bit disappointed after being a lead in Next to Normal. Still, he is only young and to be honest, I don't think he put as much effort into his Sweeney Audition as he could have.
He is also in a charity fundraiser tonight, he was originally told he would have a solo and maybe a duet but it would seem everyone was made the same promise and are disappointed to find that it is not so.
Siobhan did really well this year, she came home with a number of certificates acknowledging her efforts in class which was a great boost for her confidence. After declaring that the Little Mermaid was to be her last NYTC show, she got invited to a couple of NYTC cast parties and as most of them are doing Seussical next year - she has decided she wants to do that one now too.
She has been great these holidays and done quote a bit of tidying and cleaning at home for me. She also came into work on Tuesday and did the Christmas cards and helped Ashley with the gift bags or baskets.
Both kids are at Takapuna Beach for an NYTC get together arranged by Chloe I think. Siobhan is loving getting invites to things and not just because Samyson is going. In fact one of the parties she went to, he wasn't even invited as he had not done the last couple of shows.
Work is busy, although to be fair, I don't have a lot to do at the moment, I am on top of everything so that it is clear for when I am away, 24th is my last day and back on 12 or 13 January. I am looking forward to the break and we plan on doing a few family orientated things, Gary wants to go to Rangitoto and we have a 5 course degustation at Number 5 on the 30th.
We went to Pokeno last weekend and got the pork and lamb.
Siobhan put the tree up Saturday.
Samyson did the rest of the decorations during the week.
I have a list of the last few bits to get food wise and will do a big wine shop at Pak n Save this weekend.
Need to send Val's Christmas card and a card to my parents and Pat with their Miller Rd candles.
The while family is in a good place at the moment and looking forward to Christmas.
School is finished for Samyson, he is now a uni student, he got accepted for discretionary entry to AUT to do a Bachelor of Business so he doesn't have to sit year 13. Solves one problem we though we would have next year and he is looking forward to it.
He got a small role in Bare and chorus for Sweeney Todd, I think he is a bit disappointed after being a lead in Next to Normal. Still, he is only young and to be honest, I don't think he put as much effort into his Sweeney Audition as he could have.
He is also in a charity fundraiser tonight, he was originally told he would have a solo and maybe a duet but it would seem everyone was made the same promise and are disappointed to find that it is not so.
Siobhan did really well this year, she came home with a number of certificates acknowledging her efforts in class which was a great boost for her confidence. After declaring that the Little Mermaid was to be her last NYTC show, she got invited to a couple of NYTC cast parties and as most of them are doing Seussical next year - she has decided she wants to do that one now too.
She has been great these holidays and done quote a bit of tidying and cleaning at home for me. She also came into work on Tuesday and did the Christmas cards and helped Ashley with the gift bags or baskets.
Both kids are at Takapuna Beach for an NYTC get together arranged by Chloe I think. Siobhan is loving getting invites to things and not just because Samyson is going. In fact one of the parties she went to, he wasn't even invited as he had not done the last couple of shows.
Work is busy, although to be fair, I don't have a lot to do at the moment, I am on top of everything so that it is clear for when I am away, 24th is my last day and back on 12 or 13 January. I am looking forward to the break and we plan on doing a few family orientated things, Gary wants to go to Rangitoto and we have a 5 course degustation at Number 5 on the 30th.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Well I am a crap Blogger
Forgive me Blog, it has been many months since my last post.
Quite a lot has happened as you can imagine.
Samyson:
Mamma Mia was a great success, Samyson loved every minute of it and made a heap of great friends.
He went to Disneyland and performed there with Funky Feet Dance school.
He auditioned and got a role in Next to Normal which has just finished its season. Only 6 in the cast.
He has been asked to audition for Sweeney Todd.
Applied for Discretionary entry to AUT and was accepted so he is off to Uni next year, instead of doing year 13, to do a Bachelor of Business and Arts.
Siobhan:
Was selected to participate in Project K. Was told a few days before they go off on a 3 week camp where they tramped, kayaked and biked. Was the best thing to happen for her, she came back happier, heaps of confidence.
As per of Project K she has a mentor for 12 months, her Mentor Natasha is lovely and has been helping with her maths, comes to see her in shows.
She decided to do NYTC's Little Mermaid, show week in 2 weeks - the same time as her bloody exams!
She is doing better at school, she works so hard to achieve. She got second in Food Tech for her Orange Curd tart.
Gary finally did something positive about his sky high blood pressure, we changed his diet and he goes out walking most nights and has cut down on his drinking - not enough but working on that one still. He is much better to live with - the kids refer to him as "New Dad". He is less angry, more fun to be around.
An issue that arose just before last Christmas is still ongoing. I keep hoping common sense and truth will prevail bit instead it looks like a court hearing will be involved, probably not until February. $ 40,000 for a lawyer just because of someone else's lies.
I should post more often so I can look back and see what has been going on.
Off to a Seafood Cooking class tonight with Doris - looking forward to that.
Whole family is going to Avenue Q tomorrow and then to Ruthless next week. Busy times :-)
Quite a lot has happened as you can imagine.
Samyson:
Mamma Mia was a great success, Samyson loved every minute of it and made a heap of great friends.
He went to Disneyland and performed there with Funky Feet Dance school.
He auditioned and got a role in Next to Normal which has just finished its season. Only 6 in the cast.
He has been asked to audition for Sweeney Todd.
Applied for Discretionary entry to AUT and was accepted so he is off to Uni next year, instead of doing year 13, to do a Bachelor of Business and Arts.
Siobhan:
Was selected to participate in Project K. Was told a few days before they go off on a 3 week camp where they tramped, kayaked and biked. Was the best thing to happen for her, she came back happier, heaps of confidence.
As per of Project K she has a mentor for 12 months, her Mentor Natasha is lovely and has been helping with her maths, comes to see her in shows.
She decided to do NYTC's Little Mermaid, show week in 2 weeks - the same time as her bloody exams!
She is doing better at school, she works so hard to achieve. She got second in Food Tech for her Orange Curd tart.
Gary finally did something positive about his sky high blood pressure, we changed his diet and he goes out walking most nights and has cut down on his drinking - not enough but working on that one still. He is much better to live with - the kids refer to him as "New Dad". He is less angry, more fun to be around.
An issue that arose just before last Christmas is still ongoing. I keep hoping common sense and truth will prevail bit instead it looks like a court hearing will be involved, probably not until February. $ 40,000 for a lawyer just because of someone else's lies.
I should post more often so I can look back and see what has been going on.
Off to a Seafood Cooking class tonight with Doris - looking forward to that.
Whole family is going to Avenue Q tomorrow and then to Ruthless next week. Busy times :-)
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