Lovely new wardrobe

After Christmas we went camping at Waiotahi - we were lucky to have a cabin for the 1st 2 nights, after which we would transfer to tents. Ben's parents went too and they also had a cabin, except they had theirs for the entire duration. Luckily they did, because as luck would have it, it rained and rained and rained after our first night in the tent, and we ended up spending most of our last day there in the cabin, playing backgammon or poker dice, or doing crossword puzzles or reading. Childcare was shared, but to be honest, Ben's mum took over most of the responsibilities and helped to make it feel like a real holiday! It was a real holiday. I had a little surf in the Pacific on Ben's longboard - I didn't stand up, but still, I caught a couple of waves and managed to get to my knees...also got thrashed by the waves trying to get out again (can't duckdive so well with a longboard!) but Ben was with me the whole time giving advice and an extra shove when it came to takeoff! Good fun, but I couldn't cope for very long with all that paddling, so I called it a day and gave Ben the board back. I also went for a run the next day along the beach for about 2kms (and back) - well... a run/walk/run. Followed by a few lengths in the swimming pool...which felt great. I wasn't worried about the children or what they were doing and I had no house work to think of, or work... it was real 'me' time and I loved it. For once the pool wasn't heated (like everywhere in Rotorua) so it was a real shock to the system when diving in, but that lovely zingy refreshed feeling stayed with me afterwards.

On a trip to Opotiki to get some supplies for dinner, Ben's mum and I treated ourselves to a lovely coffee (and a little something sweet) and browsed a little antique shop that was open. My eyes fell on a large, old wooden wardrobe which I thought was beautiful. Lots of drawer space, some hanging space on both sides and two lovely oval mirrors on the two doors... It was once of those moments where I couldn't leave the shop without wanting to know more about it. (Pretty much the same feeling I got when I bought my Turkish kelim and my Iranian rug.) We went back to the camping site and I drew it for Ben to try and give him an idea of it. Obviously it was hard for him to get excited, but in the end I convinced him to pop in to the shop on our way home the next day. It would be a little bit out of our way, but I felt it was important.

The next day was not without drama of course. Our car battery was COMPLETELY flat, so we had to jump start it with the help of Ben's dad, then drive it closer to the cabin (where we had ALL slept the night to avoid the swampy tent area) to pack it, while it was still raining, Then we headed to Opotiki to have a look at the wardrobe, It couldn't have been worse - rain, lots of traffic, no place to park, 2 kids who wanted to get out of the car and a car that couldn't be switched off in case it wouldn't start again. So I stayed in the (running) car and sent Ben to have a look while amusing the children with songs and stories and explaining to them why we were there. When Ben returned he was not blown away but not anti either, saying he'd trust my decision. So I went back and bought it.

Of course we couldn't pack it in our car - it's a huge thing, and I wasn't sure how to get it back to Rotorua, but all that mattered was getting home, getting our car battery fixed and letting these children out of the car! So off we went.

Three weeks have passed and finally we have got it here. Ben had to drive there (2 hours), pick up a trailer from a friend of his father's, get to the shop, load it, and drive back here (2 hours). We spent all of yesterday wiping it down and rearranging the children's bedroom to get it in. I think I'm going to get a black finger nail and a bruised hand, but that's ok, I am still happy with my choice, Yes it makes the room seem smaller, but now the children have some space to put their clothes, hang their clothes, put their toys and check themselves out in the mirror! We moved the bookcase to a different corner of the room and found a new place for everything and I'm so chuffed! It looks great!

Of course, that great tidy look had lasted all of a 2 hours - the children are rediscovering their toys that have been neatly sorted and can now reach their puzzles and games so they are scattered all over the floor... but it doesn't matter, it's great they are actually playing in their room and not in the lounge! Anyway, I took a photo while everything had a place, so it's good to know it's possible!



The wardrobe.



Our cabin for the first two nights. The cabins in the background where we ended up while it was raining. That's Mia having a 'bath' in the blue tub/bucket.




Ben was on shift for Christmas, hence the uniform.



Our house was rearranged to accommodate 11 people for Christmas dinner. Two of Ben's work mates joined us for dinner.

random thoughts

I'm really impressed with the rubbish collectors here in Rotorua. Our collection day is a Thursday, which this year fell on Christmas day as well as New Years day. I really didn't expect them to collect on these days: I thought it would no doubt be postponed for a couple of days. Nope. Not our guys! They were up bright and early "hooning" (now there's a Kiwi word I've learned) down the street making light and fast work of their Christmas morning and New Years morning collections. And what's more, they seemed cheerful enough. They still waved at the kids.

My Christmas was excellent. It was a first for us to have our family wake up in our own home and find a heap of presents under our own (fake) tree, decorated with our own (as yet sparse) Christmas decorations. The children are at such a brilliant age: they're not expecting fancy or expensive gifts and are just filled with wonder at the joy of receiving ALL these presents! We were also lucky to have Ben's parents spend the night with us to share in the wonderful moments as we all opened our presents. I loved the things I was given, which were all chosen with care and love and some humour too. And it felt great to see the things I had given being enjoyed too. I had a really, really lovely time.

It's always been a bit of a strange time for me - there was never really a tradition in my family for Christmas. I was often with my Dad for the holidays and each year we were treated to a new place, a holiday adventure to the South Coast, or a CRUISE (which I really enjoyed!) or a holiday to Mauritius (quite a few to Mauritius!) which was just fantastic. If I was with my Mom it was sometimes a holiday to Pearly Beach (not often enough - I wish I'd had more) or a family lunch, followed by a quick getaway to the beach! I don't remember having a Christmas tree at our house - did we Mom? I don't remember decorating it. I know there was one in Durban at my Dad's place, but it was always up before I arrived. Anyhow, I'm enjoying it a LOT with my children because it feels like a first for me too. Even packing it up is enjoyable. It's something I did with Joshka, who is the King of packing things away. Making them fit. Taking them out and putting them back. He was my little helper when Mia was away on a play date (and being corrupted by McDonalds).

I took Joshka shopping with me one day and made the mistake of going past a toy section. He was transfixed by everything but picked out a toy (a pony with a doll that can ride it, a bucket and a carrot) which he thought Mia would like. He wouldn't let it go: "For Mia, for Mia!". So I asked him if he wanted to buy it to give to Mia for Christmas, and would he like to help me wrap it? He was very happy with that idea and was an excellent little helper. Mia saw the present on top of the cupboard and tried SO hard to find out what it was but I wouldn't tell her. Instead I let her choose something to buy for Josh. We were in a shoe shop a few days later and Joshka managed to find a pair of Bob the Builder shoes, in the right size and put them on the correct feet and came to show me (proudly). Mia decided she would buy them for Josh. My sweet kids.

Mia was in one of her lovely cuddly moods the other morning and told me: " I love you so much, I could cuddle and kiss you all the way to AFRICA!"
"Wow!" I said.
"I love you so much I could cuddle and kiss you all the way to AUSTRALIA!" she continued.
"Wow, that's FAR Mia" I said, smiling.
"I love you so much I could cuddle and kiss you all the way to..."
PAUSE
"...all the way to...GOD."

I didn't quite know what to say to that, I just wanted to remember it forever. So we DID cuddle and kiss and tickle and giggle.