In Hayes, London

Well it isnt as if I have a routine yet other than having an afternoon nap due to getting up to early in the mornings still. Had a good chat with Lucy and Nick even got my phone working now so it is internet compatable still learning how to use it though.

Rolo is awesome, so funny, had some lovely cuddles with him, going to get a photo of us both on here today.  On Monday night Rolo tried to nick me naan bread it was so funny to see him creep up slowly whilst I was typing away his nose came up I saw him out of the corner of my eye started to lift the plate and the bread was gone.....lol.  Nick and Lucy took the bread off him and chucked it in the bin.........ruddy hilarious at the time though his mournful look is classic.

Was up in the high street of Hayes with Nick yesterday, where we organised my cell phone, also got 3 steak pies and 3 fresh cream doughnuts......came to just under $14 NZ...... (7 quid) bloody hell they were so god damn cheap it is daft, do that in NZ and is cost over $20.

Today....ohhhh Hallows Eve....yay, dont really celebrate it in New Zealand so much think it is something to do with it been summer...lol it dont get dark till 9pm.  Went and discovered the Lombardy shopping mall, had a coffee at Costa's was rather nice, huge cups too, then of to discover Sainsbury's. I am going to make cottage pie for tea, bought the ingredients oh and some real Edam cheese..scrummy.

Just going to sort some photos to put on here..........so meanwhile enjoy the read.

 

Hayes Fruit and Veg shop.so bright and colourful

 

Rolo decided to see how comfy my bed was.

A close up, isnt he adorable

 

Me and Rolo on the back doorstep

There photos were taken on the 1st and 2nd November 2012.  Rolo has a wicked tail, knocked over my orange juice, nicked the bread rolls, looked very mournful at my chicken sandwich, he is soooo wonderful and a great cuddle.  Paul can I have one..............hehehehe

Rolos antics are just devine.

Arrived in London

OMG I have arrived in London, I still cant believe that I am here, it is 9c and cloudy, Lucy picked me up from heathrow with a wonderful sighn that said ROTO......in bright green, I finally managed to read it once my eyes adjusted.

The 2nd leg of my flight was horrid, not he flight its self more the..I didnt feel well part, couldnt sleep unlike the young lady behind me who snuggled in and conked out for 8 straight hours.....bloody amazing considering all the noise.  I didnt eat for nearly 12 hours or more other than snacking on crackers.  Tried to sleep, bloody uncomfortable though apparently I did get some, hope I didnt snore....lol.

Managed to have a bit of breakfast at some ungodly hour, they had run out of Hash browns and only had noodles left............ohhhh please at that time in the morning I dont think so, luckily there were some cornflakes and fruit too.

The plane landed early at about 6.55am.  For the very first time I bypassed the queues at customs with my epassport, was awesome.  Got though ok, got luggage and Lucy found me.  Now at her house had cuppa tea x 2 and some toast a cuddle with Rolo the dog.

Got on the internet....obviously.........let family in NZ know i had arrived safe and sound and other folkes who needed to know too.

So with eyes wide open I will bugger off and finish knitting a scarf for Lucy........oh yeah i bought my wool with me......lol.

Bye for now

Changi Airport, Singapore

According to New Zealand time it is Mondy 29th of October and 1.46am.  In actual fact is is gone 8pm on the 27th, seems i am going backwards in time.....how quirly is that..lol 

Anyway after a nearly 10 hour flight from Auckland I arrived here safe and sound.  They certainly feed you well on Singapore Airlines.....wow. Lots of snacks, two meals  the first was chicken and rice...and bugger that chilli was bloody hot and the second was beef and rice, there was plenty to drink to. It was rather nosiey flight though with quite a bit of turbulance.  I watched two and a bit movies.  Ice Age, the Continent Split, it was rather good, though couldnt get subtitles to work and couldnt wear headfones either.......blah.  Also watched Brave and most of Lormax..or whatever it was called, we landed just as we were getting to the end of the film.........oppps.

Didnt really sleep, got lots of smiles with Oxford at sustoms and the flight attendants who were also really cool.

The shops here in the transit lounge area are wow..........Sony, Pandora, Ralf Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger etc etc. At present I am sat by the Koi Pond, it has huge goldfish, nearly carp I think really. Here I am typing this and chatting to Susan in the UK, not sure is anyone else is about at the moment.  I also need to check my emails so I will cya all laters, will add fotos once i have taken some.......

Bye for now...

 

Oxford having a rest on the plane to Singapore

 

The gardens at Changi Airport, Singapore

 

This is where the huge goldfish were

 

One of the bright and colourful shops that i thought my kids would enjoy

The Adventure Begins

The adventure begins

We left home at 10am on the 27^th October to spend some time up town my husbands and kids. Frist stop was at the hairdressers to see if my 2^nd daughter could do some work experience during her school hols then off to Nando’s for a coffee, was delicious and we even managed to get a photos taken. Next we spent a nice hour by the lake front, taking more photos for my mother in the UK.

At last it is time for the bus to Auckland, omg am I really doing this, huge hugs to them all, I will miss them so much. The trip to Auckland was uneventful however I seem to lose track of my cousin who was picking me up, we found each other an hour later at McDonald’s, I had to get online to my eldest daughter to ring my cousin……..what a palaver. From there we went to pick up Cathy my cousins partner then on to a BBQ, more photos.

Stayed overnight at my Andrews (cousin), lovely apartment they have in the city centre. A nice sleep too, I gave Cathy a scarf I had knitted as a thank you for having me.

It is now the 28^th and Andrew has just dropped me off at the Airport, huge place to say the least, though I haven’t got lost yet, got a great food court here not many people around yet, I have to go through departure gate in another hour and fifteen minutes, I managed to get seats by the aisle due to my hearing, phew what a great lady the check in lady was to do that for me.

 

Me and my family, our last coffee before I caught the bus to Auckland.

 

My darlings at the playground Lakefront Rotorua

 

Black Swans

 

Huggles

 

Me and Oxford bear, he certainly got a few smiles as i went through the various customs

 

Last pic of my beautiful family from the bus, look at those smiles

 

My cousin who i stayed with in Auckland.

 

Bon Voyage

Well I think I have everything I need packed, just the last minute things that need to go in on the day of departure which just happens to be tomorrow at noon.

Got my bus ticket, air ticket and passport......just been told not to forget myself.....lol.

I have had my goodbyes with my friends, coffee and lunch on Thursday, a few surprises too, it was great arriving at Nando's just after 10am and leaving at 1pm with another friend for a back massage, that evening I was give some flowers and some roses chocolates by my eldest daughter, such a thoughtful gesture and all because she loves me.

Today me and my husband caught up with my aunt and uncle, it is going to be strange not been with them all this christmas, however the thought of another winter christmas possibly with snow after 20 years plus of summer ones is just wonderful, I would love to build some snowmen for my kids to see.

Next zip up the cases, enjoy the family this evening and off to the bus tomorrow, my cousin will be picking me up in Auckland, where I will stay over with them, I will try and put some photographs on tommorrow of me leaving and arriving in the various places....Oh and not to forget the chippies....or crisps as they call them in the UK.  I do hope I dont fall over the different types of English again like I did in 2008 yeah it was funny....

NZ     Pants means Trousers                   UK     In some areas it means knicker or undies
NZ     Lollies                                           UK     Sweeties, apparently Lollies are those things on a stick
NZ     Chippies                                        UK    Crisps. A chippie is the fish and chip shop
NZ    A slice of toast                               UK     A round of toast

The list just goes on.

Right time to get out of here, will blog again once I get to Auckland, cya....

24th October.....getting nervous

It it s gorgeous day today, a clear azure blue sky and a -1c temp.  I am wrapped up in a blanket sitting on the couch whilst I get my nerves under control.  I cant imagine been nervous after allI have done this a few times before, starting to wonder it is because of all those crash investigations I loved to watch on tv.........lol.

We had a brilliant day yesterday celebrating my baby daughter Anastasia's 10th birthday, she surrounds us with love even though I am sure she partied hard in Heaven.  I feel like I can relax now with going to the Uk thing is there is still a.....OMG......feeling, why am I doing this, can I leave my lovely family behind and miss all their celebrations.

Of course the answer if yes, we have Skype so we can chat, there will be plenty of photos and though I will miss everyone including my friends, this is something that I have to do for myself, I look forward to surprising my parents, hoping to get a picture of them when they finally see me.

My suitcase is nearly ready, at present it has more ontopof it than it has inside, all my winter woolies (as my mum used to call them) waiting to be folded, along with my wool......If I have not mentioned it before I have been busy knitting scarves for all my very good friends in the Uk, all colours, all different.  I also now have my travel pillow which is sheer bliss to use.

Still no photos will start them on the day I leave for Auckland.

Time for breakfast, out and about once more today, a few things still need doing to make sure I am all ready.......just wish we coudl find the adaptor for my cell phone....sigh.

Take care folks

A week to go

Well I finally started to pack my suitcase, got to make sure that I don't wear what I want to take with me, so who's clothes can I steal lol.

Yesterday I was up town with my man, managed toget my  wash kit sorted, just the the applicable clear bag for customs now, lucky me knows where to get them cheap.  I have my adaptor, things are moving along including the earth.  Had a few biggish tremors in this area, not that I have felt any I tend to get told these things after the fact, anyearth movement I feel is generally a truck going past........lol

Anyway I have my suitcase nearly sorted, need to find my on flight case and decide what in need in that.  I bus up to Auckland in a week, so the excitment is mounting.

On Tuesday next week we will be celebrating our baby daughters 10th birthday, she was only with us for three and a half months, the memories are still strong, the love still abounds for her, she was a real cutie.  Loves you Anastasia.

Will catch up with all my friends and family next week that I am leaving behind including my aunt who just found out I was going overseas.........ooppps, thank goodness she rang me first coz my parents still dont know that I am going to surprise them.

Be back later xx

10 days to go

I just can't believe I have only 10 days until I catch a bus to Auckland.  I booked the ticket last night, need to really start thining about packing my suitcases.  I will be staying with my couisn over night....Thanks Andrew......then on with the adventure.

I am looking forward to flying out to Singapore, never been there before. I do wish that I could have done a tour of the city though, sadly my flight gets in to late for that, maybe on the way back home again.

I will be taking Oxford Bear with me, yes he is mine, I will put a photo of him on here, we both like to travel and I am sure he is looking forward to meeting up with his Kiwi cousin Tedford in the Uk.  Tedford belongs to my niece.  Got a lot of smiles last time with Oxford, going through customs was great fun.

I have had a lot of comments asking how my husband will cope with me been away.  Well lets just say he is the most amazing husband one could ask for, he told me last night that he was looking forward to the adventure and have a blast with the kids.  Yes I will miss them all, however I need to do this for myself and my parents, who know when or if i will see them again of this surprise trip.

Still need to organise the surprise part, where and when.  I am so looking forward to the looks on my parents face as well as my sisters.  None of them know that I will be spending Christmas with them.  This is going to be so much fun.

Thanks for reading my blog. x

Other Stuff

Well time seems to have slowed again.  My first list is on my computer, things I still need to buy, like a neck cushion, a plug adaptor....sigh.

Next is the list of things I will be taking with me! Here is hoping I remember everything.  The school holidays are over once more, kids all back at school and then this coming weekend we have Labour Day, I am hoping to take some family photos of us all for my mother, she never seems to have enough photos of her Kiwi Grandkids.

The weather has turned good again though still cold, I expect it will be much colder in the Uk eventually, white christmas would be awesome. 

I tell you it is really strange having a Summer Christmas, BBQ at the beach, six week school holidays over jsut about before they have begun, it is strange though most enjoyable.  Some families still do the roast, though not many do a turkey.

First thing is staying in London and been able to go to the Archives, I have a Plaisted brickwall to bring down, and hopefully I will be able to solve it whilst I am there, I am looking forward to been able to dig more into my family history as well, will make sure I get to some of the places I didnt last time.  I would love to visit Warwick Castle where John du Plessis was 12th Earl in the 1200's, somewhere a long the line he is a relative to most of the Plaisted's in the world today.  I would also like to visit Castle Coombe and a few other places in the area. There is a Plaisted Church too, I think that is in Wiltshire, that is a must see, apparently only open once a week.

With all that to do, and books to write I will be in bliss land, I will miss my family muchly though I am pleased that I will be able to skype them this time round, isnt technology brilliant.

Time to go get some formatting done for someone else.

xx

Do I really need a new suitcase?

15 days until I leave!!

Well I have started to gather a few things together, found the suitcase I used last time I was in the UK in 2008, a two wheeler, I think I may just take that unless we get a good sale before I leave New Zealand behind.   My husband thinks I should have a 4 wheeler suitcase to make life a bit easier, what a wonderful man he is. I can always look out for one of those whilst I am in the UK anyway.

I keep been told that I will be missed, tis a strange feeling, a nice warm feeling.  I know my family will miss me, as I will miss them, never realised how many others would though.  I am getting excited at meeting new friends, or is that old ones since I have been speaking to them all for a couple of years online.

Shopping to still be done for last minute things.
Plug Adaptor
Neck Pillow
Gifts

Hummm what else!!

Anyone know anything about Singapore Airport, apparently it has a wonderful transit area with lots of things to do and see, I am really looking forward to that too.

Thanks for listening to my rambles.

The Excitement is growing

Well here I am still sitting on my sofa at home surrounded in family, music and love.  In exactly 19 days I will be in London, the excitement is certainly growing, not that I am anywhere near ready yet, still plenty of shopping to do, a bus to book to take me to Auckland where with a bit of luck I will be staying with my cousin over night.

First I will need to buy a new suitcase, then to pack.  What to pack, a few winter clothes to be sure, decent footware.......not that I have any really. Gifts for all my family and friends, of course my laptop and camera too, cant forget them or how will I be able to blog everyone.  Looking forward to skyping my adorable family.

The best part of this trip is surprising my parents a week before christmas, not sure where I will surprise them yet, still working on that.  My other surprise is for Annie from Ireland so please dont let on. My friend Lucy is organising a Rootschat meeting at Kew, which is where I hope to surprise Annie as well as meet a lot of other chatters who have become my friends.

The worst part is leaving my husband and kids behind, they are fantastic, love them to bits and this will be my first Christmas without them I will also probably  miss all their birthdays next year, shame on me...........well no not really because it is was my husbands idea that I should do this.  I appreciate him more than words can say.  Thank you Paul.