Fill in the _____ Friday!

This was my last weekend - and will probably be this weekend too. Crochet. Beer. All Blacks. The life.

1. The most selfless thing I've ever done was moving countries to be with the one I love... even though I guess I did it for me as well... I guess that doesn't count as selfless.

2. When it comes to working out I'm hopeless. I'm all for exercise, but don't have the patience for actual workouts. I like to think riding my bike to work everyday, and covering about 125km per week is enough.

3. A woman should always be prepared. Wait. Is that Girl Scouts? Or Cub Scouts?

4. I wish I could fast forward through the moving process. I am learning a lot and am thankful I've been working as a Project Manager for the past couple years, but nevertheless, it's still stressful and nerve-wracking.

5. A best friend is my dearest husband. Seriously, don't know what I'd do without him. We pretty much do everything together, except for craft/girl group of course... But yeah seriously. BHF. Love you babe!

6. I can't get enough of tea at work and The Great New Zealand Songbook. I'm a geek.

7. This weekend I am see above. Watching the Rugby World Cup. GO ALL BLACKS!!!!! Crocheting, cleaning, and probably a little beering with friends... Woohooo!

Have a good weekend!!!

xo

And again... GO ALL BLACKS! 

Jacob answers - "So - why are you moving?"

For the last two or more years I feel like I've been in a holding pattern. Too busy saving money to go out and enjoy myself (too much) and too close to leaving the country to want to commit myself to any bands or outside activities that I'd only have to leave when we finally move to NZ.

Every time I tell an Australian or migrant living here that I'm moving back to NZ - the question is always 'why'. Even when I tell other kiwis this when I'm back there - the question is also 'why'.

Other than the obvious reasons of my family all lives there, we own a house there and quite frankly, I love it there. I also feel like I've given this country a pretty damn good go and I've enjoyed my 12 plus years here to date but the time is simply right. I could go into a vast array of reasons around lifestyle, general attitudes of people and lack of infrastructure for a bulging population that's still increasing rapidly but I won't. I could wax lyrical about being tired of the sheep jokes and 'friendly jibes' I still get despite having always been pretty much void of any descriptive accent, but I won't.

No - for me, along with all those reasons, a large and driving factor for me is the fact that Kiwis are leaving NZ in droves. According to a survey done last month one in eight New Zealanders were considering leaving the country on a long term basis. Now I understand there are plenty of legitimate reasons to up-root yourself and leave a country but there are so many better reasons to stay that I feel it's my time to go back and be a positive example to those jaded kiwis.

Yes - the economy isn't the strongest in the world but then again, neither is the US, yet you wouldn't hear of a single red-blooded American up and leaving their home country simply because the grass is perceptibly greener elsewhere. (Except for my wife, of course.)

We truly don't know how good we've got it in NZ - yes, there are people that are struggling, but the health and welfare systems are still very stable and aren't run by private capitalists - yet - that is.

Sure the welfare payments over here is higher than it is there but here's news to any Kiwis moving after 2001 - you can't go on the welfare for a full two years after landing on these fine shores - the same as immigrants from almost all other western countries around the world.

"At least there's work there" you might say - don't be so sure, Australian recruitment agencies have it down to a fine art of messing you around and making you wait right up until you're about to pack you bags and return home before generously offering you that crappy job you applied for six month previously... if they call at all that is.

"Finding a house will be easy".... yeah right - if you're lucky enough to be able to get out of work to actually attend an 'Open for inspection' (I wouldn't bother going to one unless you had the job already sorted either) then you'll have the priviledge of queuing up with 30 other people most of whom already have their pre-filled in rental applications complete with references (yes, you need those too). There's generally a race to 'inspect' it and then a scramble to grease up the land-agent. Even if you are the first to submit your glowing application (working professionals, both employed, no kids, no pets etc etc) you'll more than likely still get pipped at the post by the owners neighbours sisters nephew who needed somewhere to stay, or someone that offered above the asking rental amount, illegal of course, but done all the time.

OK - I honestly could go on, and I might some other time, but for now - I can't wait to purchase my one way ticket to little old Welly town. More cafe's than you can shake a stick at and nearly everything in walking distance, yes please! -

I do remember getting caught in traffic back there, once, for about 35 minutes, that sure beats sitting on the M1 on a Friday where it literally takes you 45 minutes to travel less than 5kms. The short drive over the hill to Makara beach or inland to the beautiful rolling hills of Martinborough and the Wairarapa. Bring on the 50kph 'breezes' and the horizontal walking position are a small price to pay to be back in the city I love.

Sooner or later I believe most Kiwis will come home and those that don't - are welcome to stay away and leave the pristine beauty that is Aotearoa to those of us who appreciate it.

New Zealanders need to be more positive about the country they call home - the only people that can improve it are the ones that live in it and I intend to be one of those people again.

Farewell Australia, I'll miss you - occasionally - I'll visit often and thanks for the last decade or so, it's taught me lots.

What I love...

via designsponge

The belated Holiday Recap

Yeah. I know. Late as usual! We had a lovely week off, hanging around the house, gardening, I did some drawing, J did some baking. Good times. :)

Bruce aka Scrappy Do. He enjoys a good army crawl.

My fancy new cheese board J got me for Xmas! It's stunning, so was the cheese.

Jackal, maybe Nigella? Minus the obvious.

Peanut Butter Brownies and our Christmasy Kitchen. YUM!

Movember Update!!

Hey all,

I meant to post this last week!!! Argh! Anywho.. in continuation of the Movember fantasticness, here is Jackal's new look! Totally minus the beard, with a hint of Mo'! Bring on the handlebars!

If you haven't and you would like to PLEASE DONATE!!!

Here's to counting down the days until the beard is back!

Another Anti-AFL weekend...

Apparently Collingwood won... 

What a gorgeous weekend for a BBQ! And friends, beers, and hanging out in the backyard playing Kubb...

Jackal's action shot

2kg of chicken wings

Timmy getting some cuddle action from Julie

Sleepy Bruce enjoying the sunshine

Bryan & Julie

I think Duncan and Jackal were dancing at this point...

Bruce in the field of play

Marshmallow & a fire calls for...

S'mores & Champagne

Friday night we were able to check out Erin's new Women's Circus venture! It was one of the best one's yet! It's called Ladies Prefer Brunettes (so true) ! It was cheeky funny, very well choreographed and just plain fantastic! I'm not sure when they will be performing it again, but if anyone if interested - below are the details...

So back into another week! Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend and has a happy Monday!!

xo

A lovely warm weekend...

This past weekend was absolutely gorgeous. If you were not in Melbourne, I pity you. In the nicest way possible of course!

We spent the weekend mowing, weeding, fixing bits and pieces around the yard. Saturday late afternoon spent laying on a giant picnic blanket with J and the boys drinking a couple beers. The sun was shining and warm. The air was still slightly cool... It was perfect.

J, T and B. Oh the chaos...

Thursday night I took down my exhibition. It was sort of a relief, but sort of sad. It all went so quick! I'll be posting some of the images here, but will be selling some originals and prints on Etsy. I'll keep you posted!!

In other news... Don't forget that the 13th of October is Ride to Work Day!!! I've signed up and am trying to get some of my co-workers to get on the bandwagon!! It's taken a promise of cupcakes to possibly get some people on board!

Don't forget to sign up and get on your bike! 

Recovery Day 5

Today was my first day out in what feels like years.

I went (without my crutches) with J to Mitre 10, Kiwi Koncern, got a pie and then headed to the nursery to pick up a couple seedlings and to the market for groceries.. Came home and I basically passed out on the couch. Exhausted. I never knew such simple things could really take it out of me.

My nose is looking ok. I have noticed the swelling go down a lot, and Thursday I go in to have the surgeon look it all over. Hopefully after that, I’ll have a bit better time with it all. I hate not being able to smell or taste or anything. I love food. I miss it.

I had a lovely time it all up yesterday. Grossest thing ever… cotton swabs, saline and ewwwww. I won’t go into details…

Tomorrow morning, I head to my GP to have my knee looked at. So hopefully, nothing too awful there. I’ll probably be heading to physio again on a regular basis, but it should be covered, or at least reimbursed by TAC. Fingers crossed.

So anywho, at the nursery, we ended up leaving with seedlings, a fern tree, a new feijoa, and a bay tree. Yeah. Wasn’t expecting that! But all good. J planted everything when we got back. The seedlings are in the aquaponics system, which I think he’s got nailed down now! Well, except for the fish… no fishy-fish as of yet. He has the watering system on a timer, so this will be the first week it will be totally up and running. So happy! Can’t wait to see how it all works!

Anywho, I hope everyone had a good and safe weekend!!

xo

Aquaponics - Part 2

After seeing the Aquaponics system that was installed for a family on Costa's Garden Odyssey, Jacob has been enormously inspired to build his own.

He found some instructions online on how to build one using some new and recycled materials. Every weekend for about a month or so, he has been working like a mad scientist in our shed.

The start of the system

It's been, as he puts it, a lesson in trial and error. But it's in the testing phase finally! Testing in essence is the point where we've been dumping in water and just seeing if there are any leaks. And of course, there are some minor ones. But nothing massive which is a plus!

Getting there! About half way done at this point.

After a few trips to the random hydroponics places and the largest aquarium shop I've ever seen – the progress looks good!

So, Jacob's mad scientist skills are totally paying off! Soon we will have yummy plants and eventually yummy home grown fish!

*autumn loveliness

The nice cool air, the changing of the leaves, it's all to perfect...

Walks down the laneways on Sunday afternoons...

Sleepy, sunny boys...

Yummy Fish and Chips in the Park...

Handsome Bruce waiting for a chip. Or a fish. Or anything that may fall on the ground.

Hoover boy aka Garbage Guts. That's our Bruce.

And one more good thing about autumn...
Harvesting things from the garden.
This is only part of the peppers and capsicum that decided to randomly grow.. Love it!

*everthing you've ever wanted to know... day 12

Day 01 — Your favourite song

Day 02 — Your favourite movie

Day 03 — Your favourite television programme

Day 04 — Your favorite book (of all time)

Day 05 — Your favorite quote

Day 06 — Whatever tickles your fancy

Day 07 — A photo that makes you happy

Day 08 — A photo that makes you angry/sad

Day 09 — A photo you took

Day 10 — A photo of you taken over ten years ago

Day 11 — A photo of you taken recently

Day 12 — Whatever tickles your fancy

 

Waking up on a Sunday morning after a big Saturday night and having your husband say ...

 

"Pancakes in an hour? Do you need another coffee?"  

 

photo via  

 

How can you NOT love him!?

 

 

Day 13 — A fictional book

Day 14 — A non-fictional book

Day 15 — A fanfic

Day 16 — A song that makes you cry (or nearly)

Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)

Day 18 — Whatever tickles your fancy

Day 19 — A talent of yours

Day 20 — A hobby of yours

Day 21 — A recipe

Day 22 — A website

Day 23 — A YouTube video

Day 24 — Whatever tickles your fancy

Day 25 — Your day, in great detail

Day 26 — Your week, in great detail

Day 27 — This month, in great detail

Day 28 — This year, in great detail

Day 29 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days

Day 30 — Whatever tickles your fancy

*everything you've ever wanted to know... day 11

Day 01 — Your favourite song

Day 02 — Your favourite movie

Day 03 — Your favourite television programme

Day 04 — Your favorite book (of all time)

Day 05 — Your favorite quote

Day 06 — Whatever tickles your fancy

Day 07 — A photo that makes you happy

Day 08 — A photo that makes you angry/sad

Day 09 — A photo you took

Day 10 — A photo of you taken over ten years ago

Day 11 — A photo of you taken recently

 Is this really the most recent pic of me? From Christmas?!??!

Day 12 — Whatever tickles your fancy

Day 13 — A fictional book

Day 14 — A non-fictional book

Day 15 — A fanfic

Day 16 — A song that makes you cry (or nearly)

Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)

Day 18 — Whatever tickles your fancy

Day 19 — A talent of yours

Day 20 — A hobby of yours

Day 21 — A recipe

Day 22 — A website

Day 23 — A YouTube video

Day 24 — Whatever tickles your fancy

Day 25 — Your day, in great detail

Day 26 — Your week, in great detail

Day 27 — This month, in great detail

Day 28 — This year, in great detail

Day 29 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days

Day 30 — Whatever tickles your fancy

*everything you've ever wanted to know... day 06

Day 01 — Your favourite song 

Day 02 — Your favourite movie

Day 03 — Your favourite television programme

Day 04 — Your favorite book (of all time)
Day 05 — Your favorite quote

Day 06 — Whatever tickles your fancy

Really?  

It would have to be this guy...

I love my hubby. 

He's a hippie at heart and has a heart of gold. 

Love you baby!!

Day 07 — A photo that makes you happy
Day 08 — A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 09 — A photo you took
Day 10 — A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11 — A photo of you taken recently
Day 12 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 13 — A fictional book
Day 14 — A non-fictional book
Day 15 — A fanfic
Day 16 — A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 19 — A talent of yours
Day 20 — A hobby of yours
Day 21 — A recipe
Day 22 — A website
Day 23 — A YouTube video
Day 24 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 25 — Your day, in great detail
Day 26 — Your week, in great detail
Day 27 — This month, in great detail
Day 28 — This year, in great detail
Day 29 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 — Whatever tickles your fancy