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We have enrolled Daniel in an intensive swimming course this week and he’s had two lessons so far. The instructor really pushes him and he’s making good progress. There were some tears today but not enough to deter him from going back. He even said to me after the lesson: “When I grow up I’m…

We had an uninvited visitor this week: a weta (see photo). It was huge and creepy-looking but quite terrified of us. Ben escorted it back outside. Maddie spent the night with us on Thursday much to the delight of Daniel and Elizabeth. Daniel adores her. She fell asleep before him prompting him to tip-toe very…

It’s Oscar’s 1st birthday today. He had a small party with family and cake. I think he liked the cake: Multi-tasking The cousins are presently trying to evict a family of head lice who have decided to squat on their heads. With each mention of the work “nits”, I suddenly find I have a desperate…

Another lovely day yesterday. We took my aunt to the museum, then had lunch in Parnell followed by a  drive along Tamaki Drive to Mission Bay.  Auckland Art Gallery Auckland CBD from the North Shore.  Mount Eden is the green hill to the right. Takapuna beach Outside the museum Auckland Museum Elizabeth Elizabeth again, on…

Elizabeth turned two today. This time two years ago I was just home from hospital after a glorious, completely pain-free and very quick birth. She came into the world two weeks overdue and weighing 3.8kg. Now she runs, jumps, cries, laughs, chats and even sings (in tune too!).  We had a small party for her…

We visited Karekare beach yesterday, a wild and windy beach on the west coast with black sand and lush forest right up to the shore line. Karekare beach is famous for having provided a location for the film The Piano: Source: http://blackclockwork.tumblr.com/post/3104397418 Our photo of the same spot. Unfortunately the piano is no longer there. I…

Yesterday we took my aunt to see Mount Eden, a huge bowl-like volcanic crater.  We last visited the place in September and it was so enjoyable that it has been on my list to see a second time. On our first visit, we walked up from the lower carpark with Ben carrying Elizabeth in a backpack.…

Fabulous Christmas day today. We had lots of wonderful visitors including my sister and so we had a full traditional lunch with turkey for the carnivores and Jamie Oliver’s pistachio nut roast for the vegetarian. The nut roast was delicious.  Ben getting intimate with a bird on Christmas Eve Inspecting Santa stockings on Christmas day…

I got a couple of cool photos of the cousins today.

Ben is home again and my sister arrived with her family today so I’m feeling very happy about the world. What a difference it makes having some family around to talk to. The kids were both so thrilled to have Ben back. Daniel said some sweet things on his return. He was asking Ben why…

My Australian passport is still under my maiden name. I wanted to change it when we first got married but it ended up in the too hard basket. I decided to give it another go this week but it’s proving very difficult. I was not born in Australia so they want to see proof of…

I had to get a urine sample from Zeki this morning. This was easier than I expected, especially when I saw  that he was about to piss on my basil. Mental note: must wash all herbs thoroughly before cooking! The vet is going to test his thyroid function. He still scratches lots but our new…

I had a great sleep last night. Elizabeth didn’t wake until 5am and so I slept the whole night through (if 5am can be considered a civilized time to wake.) Let’s hope she sleeps well again tonight.  My fictitious intruder has vanished as well. I think I got too tired to be bothered conjuring up…

Daniel doesn’t always understand non-verbal communication. If I say to him, “what colour is that car?” and there are four cars in the vicinity, he won’t know which one I’m referring to. That was until this week. While Ben has been away, Daniel has been forced to come on dog walks with me and I…

I’ve not been sleeping all that well recently. I lie awake terrified of earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes and murderous assassins. When I do fall asleep it’s only temporary as Elizabeth wakes me eventually and then I convince myself the murderous assassin is making his way up the stairs to our bedrooms and lie desperate to go…

Daniel has been asking to see Santa for a wee while now and so today I took them both to see the only Santa in the southern hemisphere who is not sweating like a pig: Snowplanet Santa. He made his entrance from the top of the slopes: That’s Santa: red suit, white beard, centre-field Daniel…

The traffic in Auckland is horrendous on days the volcano does not erupt. When it goes, cars will be useless and evacuation will need to be on foot. But where are the hundreds of thousands of evacuees going to sleep? Have they thought about that? There’s no such thing as a volcanic-ash-safe tent. Maybe there’s…

It is really hot today and I have resorted to using a damp face washer to keep myself cool. I don’t understand why people like hot climates. When it’s cold, it’s quite easy to add another layer and presto, you feel warm. But when it’s hot, there’s only so many layers you can take off…

I’m still breastfeeding Elizabeth but would like to wean her in the not-too-distant future. She’ll be two on New Year’s Eve and two is a good age to stop. The World Health Organisation recommends breastfeeding until two or beyond and the first two years of their lives is the most dangerous in terms of childhood…

We have a sandpit! Ben spent the weekend digging: Then it rained and rained and created a pond: This morning I put in the sand and now we have two happy children: It could probably do with a little more sand but they don’t seem to mind.