Moving on

I can't believe that in two sleeps time, we'll be moving. Out of this little place, in which so many good memories were made. I think I will always look back on this place with a fondness.

I'm sure lots of people wondered how we managed to live, all four of us in such small surroundings. But it was perfect for the season we were in. It was the first place (not counting the very first year of our marriage) that was just ours. We've flatted, lived with both sides of the family, house-sat and even boarded way back before the kidlets came along, just to get us through while Mr Samoa studied.

This was the place I laboured (a little too long at home, I must add. I nearly gave birth in the car!) with Smiley, walking up and down in the lounge. The place Smiley has spent his whole life so far, and the place he learned to sit, crawl and walk. The place Turbo came home to after his first day at kindergarten.

The little back garden was a haven in the Summer, decked out with a trampoline, sandpit and paddling pool, and big leafy trees to shelter under.

We've made friends with the many neighbours who have come and gone. We're not going far though. In fact, our new three bedroom house is a short walk out our back gate, down the driveway, through the landlord's back gate, up his driveway and there it is! So close we can actually walk some of the lighter stuff over when we move.

I love that we don't have to reacquaint our ourselves with the area or move the kids' kindy/daycare.

When we first moved in, we promised ourselves this was just for six months. Six months came and went. Then we said we'd move when Smiley became mobile because two kids really was too much living here. Smiley crawled then walked and still we stayed, making adjustments as things changed.


I've been cleaning like a maniac these past few days, and have a war wound to show for it. The corners of alumium framed windows are so sharp! A bloody (in the literal sense!) head wound. Ok, not that much blood but it did break the skin and it's bruised. So not kid-safe! And who knew clean windows, outside and inside, could look so nice. Just in time for the next people to enjoy.

I'm not sure when the internet will be up and running, but hope to back soon.

Two lunchboxes

Last night I packed not one, but two lunchboxes. And right now I am at home, kid free. Turbo is at kindy. And it's Smiley's first day at a home-based day care which he's going to attend for two mornings each week.

He didn't even cry when I said goodbye to him!

And so here I am with time on my hands. Lovely!

Well actually I'm supposed to be working. My friend and I have set up a small business contracting administrative support to other small businesses. But as we have only prospective clients at the moment, there is no work to do.

Plenty of packing and cleaning for next week's move though....which I'll get into soon. If you know me well, you'll know I can't do nothing for very long.

I'll leave you with some gorgeous pics of some family time we spent at the beach last weekend. New Zealand is truly beautiful!

A doggy adventure

I had an adventure with a dog recently. He lives next door. And last week, I found him on top of our recycle bin. Barking and keeping Turbo from going to sleep.

Don't mess with a mother trying to get her kid to sleep. Seriously.

He had somehow climbed the fence, still tied to his rope on the other side of the fence, and was barking woefully at me as he stood on top of the bin in the pouring rain. Darn.

I'm not one to just leave an animal in that kind of situation.

So I approached him cautiously, (also not one to underestimate dogs) and unhooked the rope on his collar, which was twisted around the fence, and pushed him back over....really scared while doing all this by the way. 

Once safely in his yard, he then bolted out of his gate, which apparently he can get out of, and down the driveway!!!!!!!

Who keeps a dog in a yard with a gate they can get out of?!

Picture me, running after him, in the pouring rain, no shoes on, calling his name.

Hmmpf. So not funny.

Every time I got near him, he bolted. "What a fun game", he was thinking.

I went home, trying to think of what I was going to tell the neighbour, praying hard that he would come back.

Ten minutes (and one frantic call to Mr Samoa) later, he reappeared near the front door.

Feigning a sickly sweet voice, I invited him, muddy paws and all, into our lounge.

He looked delighted with the offer and bounded in.

Smiley went berserk, crying in terror.

I grabbed his collar (the dog's, not Smiley's) and marched him through the back door, through my yard, into his, clipped his rope back on, and marched out, chuffed with myself for being so decisive and brave

...but not so chuffed at the wet dog smell now emanating from my hands and clothes.

Later that day, the barking began again. He'd done it again.

You know what I did this time?

Gave him a bowl of water and some bread on top of the bin! Which he refused.

This time, your owner can sort you out, buddy.

Which she didn't have to do as the dog showed me that he could climb back over all by himself!

The owner was greatly embarrassed to hear of my adventures. And she's been taking the dog to work with her ever since!

Here he is, outside his yard, showing us how he can get out, despite his owner's recycle bin propped against the gate. He's a little scary looking, right?

What am I complaining about?

I am grateful for posts like these that put things in perspective. Especially if you're a mother, please read it.

I've been feeling dissatisfied lately. Not quite happy with my lot. I don't know why I've been feeling this way. I think my eyes may be on the wrong things. On the natural instead of on the heavenly. I've been wanting...things. Nicer things than the ones I've got. An easier ride. Been dwelling on regrets. But when I read posts like the above one, I realise (again!) how insignificant all the things I think and worry about are.

Here's a little excerpt from the blog:
"I have never had to discuss the two day journey that was made walking to the hospital. The fistula I developed after the heartbreaking four day labour and stillborn birth. I've never had to think about getting through labour on my own, no doctor, midwife or even someone remotely qualified to help. I've never given birth in a camp or walked across a war zone and had a bullet that was three inches away from my womb removed, like a woman in Afghanistan did late last year."


Turbo's birth was long and hard. Without medical intervention, one or both of us would have died. The umbilical cord was around his neck and so he couldn't put his chin down to progress down the birth canal. Because of this, he was also a little distressed, and his heart rate was fluctuating quite a lot. Eventually after trying many different things, they managed to suction him out, one and a half days after when my labour started.

But he was healthy, apart from a tender and misshapen head, and full of beans.

Check out the cone head!

So today I choose to put things in perspective and be grateful. And tomorrow, and the day after, I will do my best to make that same choice, as many times as it takes to start feeling that way again.

The day we'll never forget

A very big day tomorrow

It is almost here. The day we dreamed of for five long years. The day we talked about celebrating and rejoicing in.

Mr Samoa graduates tomorrow!

Funny, now it's almost upon us, there hasn't been much celebrating or rejoicing so far. Is it part of the human spirit to forget the pain and trials so quickly and move on?

We're planning a party, but only after we move into our new place in four weeks time. And we've booked  a babysitter for this Saturday so at least I made sure we'd be doing some celebrating.

But I can't wait for tomorrow. To watch Mr Samoa, the very first person in his family to get a degree, to walk down Queen Street, decked out in his regalia, proudly wearing an emerald green sash. And then at 4.30pm I'll watch him walk across the stage and collect his certificate.

Mr Samoa you are the best! I am so proud of you, that despite the frequent obstacles, pitfalls and disappointments, you chose not to give up. It was all worth it.

And yes, Mr Samoa is VERY grateful for my support : )

Photos to come in the next few days