Our days are slowly, or quickly depending on how we look at it, coming to an end here. Wow, that was fast. 6 weeks left and then we will return to the US. What started as a brain child over 15 years ago when I was pregnant with the boys, wanting to give them an experience of living abroad, has turned into way more than this. Now I have unexpectedly found a place I can call home, feel at home, and will work hard to return to as soon as I can. Not sure what the next big venture will be….
Had a terrible bout of stomach flu last week, missed an entire week of work as a result. FIrst time ever I can recall being that sick with such a bug. Yuck!
This past weekend I joined in on yet another Kiwiana, the local Quiz night. This is a popular kiwi fundraising venture, usually for schools looking to raise funds for sports programs or computers or such. I was part of a table of 10, the others from the surf club, and we dressed as a Maori rugby team. In the end, our table did not win, categories like arts and culture, sports, music, news of the world, but we had a great time! And now I can say I've been to a Quiz Night
Had a banner day last Sunday which included hiking to the top of the Mount with Maggie in the AM, a paddle board along the coast with friend Michele, some soccer time with the boys, and then a row with the women from the surf club in the surf row boats at sunset. Noah played touch rugby with our South African mates, scoring his first try, and finally feeling like he has the hang of this new sport. Can't beat a day like that!
With our departure in sight, I am starting to sense some grieving coming on.
A current, in-the-moment list of things i will miss: driving on left side, not worrying I will hit a big animal on the road at night, the kindness of kiwi people, morning tea, Maggie's accent, hearing the waves through my bedroom window, flat whites, hiking the Mount, talking/laughing with work colleagues, riding bike to work over railroad bridge, afternoon tea, the haka, boys stopping in at work for coffee/hot cocoa, surf rowing, feeling safe, sunrise over ocean, heavy pounding rains, turkish food, my drive home from work, our sweet little home 2 blocks from beach, South African friends and their accents, falling into cozy bed with the unicorn and fairy duvet cover (thanks to Jaz!) at day's end.
A morning sunrise sky to inspire!
Once I was feeling somewhat better, I got out for a walk one afternoon last week, some nice shot of the Mount, this one from Leisure Island, watching surfers rip it up at the Main Mount beach.
Same walk but looking south to Rabbit Island from Leisure Island and down the beach towards surf club and Papamoa. Rabbit Island is a bird sanctuary, with some great geology!
And yes another kitten pic, this time he is snuggling under covers with Maggie, could not be happier! Take note of the fairy duvet cover, yes, there are unicorns too!
and here is quiz night. Us in the rugby jerseys and wigs, while others were dressed at Barbie and Kens, surfs, minions, and so on. These are the guys from our table….
And here are the women, looking pretty rough and tough!! Seems I look the goofiest. No comment.
Shar on the top right is a cop, Cara next to her is a midwife, Kate to my right is a physiotherapist (all these are the ladies I have rowed with) and the other two women I did not know before hand. Have to admit, it is a fun way to bring folks together, raise money for the kids, enjoy an evening out and maybe learn a few good trivia facts!
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