Home again

I can't believe that we are home again.  What an amazing 10 days away.

We spent sat/sun/monday visiting Rotoura,  Taupo and Hamilton, and it was freezing. Minus 2 both mornings with frosts! We loved the drive and the scenery, and were amazed at the beautiful green countryside. We spent half a day visiting a Maori village and saw thermal pools, bubbling mud and the geyers, all wonderful memories of my own from a childhood visit.  We also rode a gondola and saw amazing views of Rotura and the lake.  We rode a luge down!!  The kids swam in a thermal pool in freezing outside conditions - crazy I say!  We visited the Huka Falls, and loved the botanical gardens in Hamilton, a definate highlight for Dion and myself.

We spent thelast day  in Auckland with Nigel and Carolyn, and headed out of NZ  at 7.30 am this morning.  I couldn't sleep, and have been up since 11.30 pm australian time.  The flight back was good, as was our travel back to toowoomba, though it is hard to get used to brown grass again!   Our cat and dog were very pleased to see us.

Once again, thanks so much to Nigel and Carolyn for helping us visit, and for allowing us to spend this precious time with you both.  A privilege.

Whanau - family (farno)

We have spent alot of time sitting in the whanau room whilst at the hospital.  I really want to tell the story of the lady I met last friday.  Her sister was in one of the rooms in the last stages of breast cancer.  She had been fighting it for the last 9 years, and sadly passed away on saturday afternoon.  She had just spent a month in Australia with her three daughters.  The sister of the dying lady just wanted to talk, and was saying how she was unsure what she was supposed to do in the situation. She was torn between wanting to spend as much time as possible with her beloved sister, and trying to facilitate everything else going on around her.   They were waiting for her parents to fly in from South Africa, but sadly she died before they arrived.  As a 'sister' myself, it was a very confronting conversation, and makes me appreciate mine all the more for all the things she does (like doing our school washing whilst we were away!! - thanks!)

We also met some other amazing people in the blood ward:   Mark who has been battleing leukemia for over a year and his lovely wife Jane, 'the lady with the glittery hat' as Maggie called her, the homework 'helpers' (all patients) and the many family members of patients who we spent time with.

Whanau or family has never been so important.  Being part of a family, and appreciating them for all that they do - the good and  the bad is a must.  And never, ever taking them for granted.   Imparting this concept to my kids is vital. 

We are so grateful for the time spent with Nigel and Carolyn, and for the time that the kids have spent visiting with their NZ grandad.  We have tried to be as open and honest with the kids as possible, so this week has added new words to their vocabulary!!! as well as a new understanding of life and death.

Tenakawa or hello or greetings

Have had a good last few days.  Yesterday we caught a ferry over to Devonport and climbed Mt Victoria.  What absolutely amazing views, I still can't believe how green everthing is. Also went to The Auckland Public Library which was three floors of amazing!!!!  I think our library has a much bigger collection but just not the physical spaces that only enhance the collections. After lunch we were back at the hospital and Nigel was up for a walk around the ward on some metal crutches.  So far no hideous side effects from the chemo, just some nausea. 

This morning we caught a bus to the museum and spent a few hours walking around.  I was amazed by the kids.  They were so uninterested in all the static displays, and yet as soon as the displays became interactive, I couldn't drag them away!  Very interesting statement on kids that are born with a mouse in their hands!  They especially loved the volcano display and the hands on oceans areas.

They have given Nigel a walking frame with a seat built in, and he has been hooning around the ward.  The nurses have told him to slow down!!  The kids are doing some homework and I am about to go and do some more uni readings. 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Kia-ora

Don't you just love technology?  My father in law has a new lap top, and I've taken over for my tech fix!

The above photo is of the kids doing a lap around the ward with their Grandad Nigel.  He is trying to go for a walk once or twice a day.  The difference in his colour now compared to last week is amazing.  The chemo was put off until yesterday, and they administered 3 different kinds one after another over the whole day.  Very amazing to think that they use hideous drugs to kill off hideous diseases.  The chemo went very well(very emotional to watch though) and Nigel is feeling very well, no side effects as yet.

Today we took the kids for a walk around Auckaland City and went up the Skytower.  Beautiful views.  My favourite so far has been One Tree Hill.  I am definately showing my age when I say I am reminded of the U2 song of the same name!!  Unfortunately there is no tree there anymore as it was vandalised and had to be taken out!!  Can you believe that?

Well, had better go and do some uni readings so I can try and keep up.  It is much better doing all the readings without being on the forums to get stressed out by all the postings!!

Thanks for all the kind wishes of good health towards my father in law.  So far so good.  Thanks for stopping by.

The D List - does not include 'doing' facebook!

I haven't read a book for ages that I have enjoyed so much.  I laughed, cried, and commiserated with Jackie, the main character as she learns to live and love.   It's also a book about blogging and the power of words.  Definately worth a read.  I must admit that I found it as I was working in the returns room at my library.  Pretty good perks I say!  I read the first page and was totally hooked.

Today is D day in our house - doing stuff in order to go away tomorrow.  Doing things like washing, ironing, packing, taking the cat to the cattery, charging the billion and one gadgets that we all own, freaking out wondering if I've remembered everything.... the list is endless.

Am hoping to get to the Auckland Public Library so I can check some emails, do some uni postings and check my facebook (not that I'm addicted or anything).  Many thanks for all the well wishes for good health to my Father in law.  He started chemo on wednesday, so everyone is just taking one day at a time.  As one of the customers in the library stated when asked how she was, 'every day not underground is a good one!'

Land of the Long White Cloud...

The last two weeks in our house have just been crazy. My father in law collapsed in New Zealand, and we have had to suddenly organise a trip across the Tasman. Our major hassle has been acquiring our passports, of which I now possess three out of the four! My very wonderful dad is on a train as I write picking up our fourth passport from the Department in Brisbane.

The kids will have to take school work with them, and I'll be taking all my uni work. I will also have to try and conquer my facebook addiction as we'll have no computer or internet access for the time we're away. (maybe Liam and I can sneak into an internet cafe for a WOW/facebook fix!)

We are going to try and spend time at the hospital mixed with a bit of sightseeing. Will post some photos of our time away when I get home.

See ya, and thanks for taking the time to read!

New Fabric....new quilt?

Oh my goodness!  I haven't been inside a quilt shop for awhile, but was picking up a BOM today from Precious Time and this fabric 'layer cake' just jumped right out at me!  Can you believe it - coffee fabric?  It is part of a new range by Moda called 'Bistro', and will be widely available in September/October.  Hmmm, can I wait that long?  The photo doesn't really do it justice, beautiful limes, creams, turqouises, chocolates and caramels.  Yum!