Hello long-neglected blog readers! Many apologies for such a long absence. Who knew I could keep quiet that long?
It's been nearly a month so lots to catch up on...
My mom and dad came to visit us for a couple weeks so there was lots going on then! We drove up to Rotorua to meet them as they bused down from Auckland. The main reason to visit Rotorua (aside from its lovely sulfurous smell) was to Zorb. My mom was keen to check that off her NZ must-do list! So we stayed 2 nights up there and did all the adventure touring we could handle! We also placed fifth in the local pub quiz night!
On our way from Rotorua to New Plymouth we stopped over to tour the Waitomo caves and marvel at the millions of glow worms that live in them. Then it was due south to show them our home. Though, not for very long because the next morning my parents and I hit the road again around 6am the next morning. First up was a jet boat tour up the Whanganui River complete with a hike to see the Bridge to Nowhere - literally, a bridge built in the 30's for a growing town that soon was hit by a major flood and then the government just left the settlement to go to ruins. So this lovely concrete bridge was hardly used and then abandoned. After that day trip we went to the mountain town of Ohakune to do some mountain biking. It's certainly quiet in the summer given that it's a winter sports area but it's a cute place. Two nights there so that dad and I could ride a 3-4 hr trail and then mom and dad did the Mountain Rd track the next day.
Finally it was into New Plymouth for a proper stay. We had a BBQ so they could meet our adopted NZ family and then we kayaked around the coast here. An afternoon at the cricket and some cruising around town and up to Mt. Taranaki and it was already time for them to head home! A whirlwind adventure with lots of fun and some quality time with the family! :)
They flew back to Vancouver on March 15th after catching a taping of 7 Days - our much loved Friday night comedy news show. I don't know if there was more than a spittle of rain while they were here. In fact most of the North Island technically is in a drought. We finally got some rain this weekend but most farmers are really hurting after non-stop sunshine since almost November!
It's been slower at the hospital for the last couple weeks so I've decided to put some time into developing my virtual assisting business. It looks like I might have a part-time contract with the hospital for the next 8 weeks which lines up perfectly with us heading back to BC in June for a couple weddings. Also, since it's going to be 20 hours per week it still gives me time to do VA work and try to get that growing!
Of course there are tons of household projects calling us as well. We have finally unpacked everything now after picking up some shelving the last couple weeks at garage sales. The one item that will finish off the settling-in is a dining table and chairs. We haven't had a proper sit down meal (ie. not sitting on the couch!) in weeks! (Sometimes we sat at our outdoor patio table but it was usually too hot at the dinner hour with sun blazing at such an angle as to miss the umbrella.) So once that's here it will start to feel normal. Then not to mention doing a little redecorating! But we might save that for winter when it's too rainy to do as much outside!
We've been working on the yard a bit, getting it into some order and it's time to get a winter garden started. So next weekend we'll plant that I hope. I spent a whole day last week weeding and pruning one side of our house that has vines all growing along the fence.
The big immigration paperwork left to do is the permanent residency application. We've got kind of 2 more documents needed that we're waiting on but we hope to send that off this week or next week at the latest - it's getting down to the wire, the deadline is mid-April! We definitely thought we'd have had it in but delays happen so we're not panicked.
Then, phew! Time to relax... !? Hopefully. Between work and home we've been all systems go since before December it feels like. Sure we've had a couple brief reprieves but overall the trend has been too much!! So it's kind of a lucky thing that I got a cold on Thursday which guaranteed little activity on this 4 day long weekend. We puttered around and did go for Easter dinner at a friend's place (where Dustin won the bb-shooting contest!) but I also did a lot of napping and got some things going with my sewing machine. One of the fun things about this house - having a room where I can leave projects out instead of packing everything up every time. So I hope to get into a bit of sewing and more card making. I have some curtains I'm hemming to put up in the back rooms first!
We may have another visitor in a couple weeks, Dustin's mate Luke and there's talk of another visitor in July so lots on the go! We are still in the works of planning our trip to BC in June - we just can't resist the opportunity to take a detour before or after the weddings since we'll already be out of NZ. So it's the details of where and when that are taking time to sort out before we can book our flights.
So watch this space and I'll let you know when we may be in your neck of the woods. If you get in early we might get a chance to visit with you! So get in touch if you're interested - we'll have a limited time in the Lower Mainland but will try our best to see people.
For now it's a lazy holiday Monday so I guess it's about time to shower since it's almost noon! But not before one more Easter egg... (thanks to the social club at Dustin's work we got a big basket of sugary, chocolaty goods!)
It's been nearly a month so lots to catch up on...
My mom and dad came to visit us for a couple weeks so there was lots going on then! We drove up to Rotorua to meet them as they bused down from Auckland. The main reason to visit Rotorua (aside from its lovely sulfurous smell) was to Zorb. My mom was keen to check that off her NZ must-do list! So we stayed 2 nights up there and did all the adventure touring we could handle! We also placed fifth in the local pub quiz night!
 |
| Ever heard of Shweebing? Neither had we but it's a full on cycling battle! |
 |
| And then there was Shwooping... |
 |
| And of course Zorbing! |
On our way from Rotorua to New Plymouth we stopped over to tour the Waitomo caves and marvel at the millions of glow worms that live in them. Then it was due south to show them our home. Though, not for very long because the next morning my parents and I hit the road again around 6am the next morning. First up was a jet boat tour up the Whanganui River complete with a hike to see the Bridge to Nowhere - literally, a bridge built in the 30's for a growing town that soon was hit by a major flood and then the government just left the settlement to go to ruins. So this lovely concrete bridge was hardly used and then abandoned. After that day trip we went to the mountain town of Ohakune to do some mountain biking. It's certainly quiet in the summer given that it's a winter sports area but it's a cute place. Two nights there so that dad and I could ride a 3-4 hr trail and then mom and dad did the Mountain Rd track the next day.
Finally it was into New Plymouth for a proper stay. We had a BBQ so they could meet our adopted NZ family and then we kayaked around the coast here. An afternoon at the cricket and some cruising around town and up to Mt. Taranaki and it was already time for them to head home! A whirlwind adventure with lots of fun and some quality time with the family! :)
They flew back to Vancouver on March 15th after catching a taping of 7 Days - our much loved Friday night comedy news show. I don't know if there was more than a spittle of rain while they were here. In fact most of the North Island technically is in a drought. We finally got some rain this weekend but most farmers are really hurting after non-stop sunshine since almost November!
It's been slower at the hospital for the last couple weeks so I've decided to put some time into developing my virtual assisting business. It looks like I might have a part-time contract with the hospital for the next 8 weeks which lines up perfectly with us heading back to BC in June for a couple weddings. Also, since it's going to be 20 hours per week it still gives me time to do VA work and try to get that growing!
Of course there are tons of household projects calling us as well. We have finally unpacked everything now after picking up some shelving the last couple weeks at garage sales. The one item that will finish off the settling-in is a dining table and chairs. We haven't had a proper sit down meal (ie. not sitting on the couch!) in weeks! (Sometimes we sat at our outdoor patio table but it was usually too hot at the dinner hour with sun blazing at such an angle as to miss the umbrella.) So once that's here it will start to feel normal. Then not to mention doing a little redecorating! But we might save that for winter when it's too rainy to do as much outside!
We've been working on the yard a bit, getting it into some order and it's time to get a winter garden started. So next weekend we'll plant that I hope. I spent a whole day last week weeding and pruning one side of our house that has vines all growing along the fence.
The big immigration paperwork left to do is the permanent residency application. We've got kind of 2 more documents needed that we're waiting on but we hope to send that off this week or next week at the latest - it's getting down to the wire, the deadline is mid-April! We definitely thought we'd have had it in but delays happen so we're not panicked.
Then, phew! Time to relax... !? Hopefully. Between work and home we've been all systems go since before December it feels like. Sure we've had a couple brief reprieves but overall the trend has been too much!! So it's kind of a lucky thing that I got a cold on Thursday which guaranteed little activity on this 4 day long weekend. We puttered around and did go for Easter dinner at a friend's place (where Dustin won the bb-shooting contest!) but I also did a lot of napping and got some things going with my sewing machine. One of the fun things about this house - having a room where I can leave projects out instead of packing everything up every time. So I hope to get into a bit of sewing and more card making. I have some curtains I'm hemming to put up in the back rooms first!
We may have another visitor in a couple weeks, Dustin's mate Luke and there's talk of another visitor in July so lots on the go! We are still in the works of planning our trip to BC in June - we just can't resist the opportunity to take a detour before or after the weddings since we'll already be out of NZ. So it's the details of where and when that are taking time to sort out before we can book our flights.
So watch this space and I'll let you know when we may be in your neck of the woods. If you get in early we might get a chance to visit with you! So get in touch if you're interested - we'll have a limited time in the Lower Mainland but will try our best to see people.
For now it's a lazy holiday Monday so I guess it's about time to shower since it's almost noon! But not before one more Easter egg... (thanks to the social club at Dustin's work we got a big basket of sugary, chocolaty goods!)
wow! your parents look great! looks like they've been keeping active over there on Vancouver Island :-)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you all had a lovely visit. And, Aubrey, Brad and I are very excited to see you guys in June!