Grandbaby 1 and 2 and 3 (in development stage)

My Grandies.

Emerson (Nannies Darling) is my sweet lil girl.  I just can't get enough of her. We have a connection that will never be broken. The love that we have for each other, surpasses anything I have felt before. Being the first of the grandbaby tribe...she rules her Nannie.

This baby and I many sleepovers and times together when we were in the same town. About 18months of togetherness before they moved to Auckland.

And this adorable hunk of burning love (Ashton) is my most handsome chunk and he's next in line. He really is such a cheeky boy, with the cheekiest smile. He just loves his Nannie and his Nannie just loves him. He gets on the phone, on video call and we play peek a boo and he thinks its the best game ever.  His chuckle though. Just gosh dang adorable.

This baby and I only had 6 months of togetherness before they moved. We will make more memories when I move to Auckland.

And of course Grandbaby number 3.

We are all awaiting your arrival and we can't wait to shower you with all the kisses and hugs and love that we have in store for you.  I can't wait to create memories with you and have you steal a piece of my heart.

I have just got off the phone with your Mama and I know you are eager to join us but I do send you this message.

Dearest Little One,

Please, as much as we are eager to have you with us now, just hold out for a few more weeks. Continue to grow and be nourished inside your Mama. It really is in your best interests little one to stay where you are, you still have 8 weeks worth of growing and developing to do. We love you and will continue to pray for your safe and on time, arrival.

Love Nannie.

Birthday Vibes for 2018

Joe's Garage

We thought we would give this place a whirl, it has been on my bucket list for the past year...to enjoy my birthday dinner and we weren't disappointed. The meals here were reasonably priced and what we had was definitely enjoyed. Great ambience and customer service at Joe's Garage. Highly recommended. I always enjoy good food and good company and was treated to both this night.

F.B.I Agents for a couple of hours...ok just a little over an hour...unpaid.

1. I would not make a very good agent at all. DO NOT HIRE ME.
2. Totally on the wrong track. And always in the wrong place.
3. Over thinking everything that was a clue and even stuff that weren't clues.
4. We were never going to make it out of the room. I really suck at puzzles.

Inventive puzzle rooms and unique themed escape room challenges are what Escape Artists Dunedin are about.
Whether you are a novice puzzler or a puzzling pro, escape the room games in Dunedin are a great way to challenge the mind and have a lot of fun at the same time.

And that's what me and my lovelies did. I got into the spirit of it, late in the game but we had a lot of laughs along the way. Thanks for taking me there for my birthday adventure guys, can't wait to do another room...now that I know how it works. 

Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards

This is what happens when you randomly entered a competition about free food. I remember it vaguely said some about tagging a friend and win some tickets to a local restaurant. I thought it was 2 tickets to have a meal in their restaurant but it was 2 tickets to this, a prestigious event held at VAULT21.

Quoted from their Facebook page...

"We enjoyed a marvellous dinner by Executive Chef Greg Piner of VAULT 21, matched with Marlborough's Ara Wines. Thank you to Simon Berry, CEO at Whitestone Cheese and Kate Coughlan, editor of NZ Life & Leisure (This NZ Life) for your delightful stories!

A round of applause to our featured producers: Genevieve's, Prodigal Daughter, Turk's Corn Fed Free Range Poultry, The Whole Mix, Clevedon Buffalo, Grass Fed Girls and Homegrown Farm Fresh Meats, Marlborough Garlic Ltd - NZ Garlic & Shallot growers, Whitestone Cheese, and Jennyskitchen"

My friend who I was taking with me, at the last minute, pulled out due to sickness.  Well, me being me...scrolled through my F.B friends and couldn't find a single person person to share this with...so I got my walk on...since I was at work (work in a local mall) and started asking store employees if anyone wanted a free feed and hang out with me for a couple hours...believe it or not I got a taker!! And what a bloody hoot we had! I got to hang with a pretty cool chick (someone that I wouldn't normally hang with) and enjoyed a certainly fantastic spread of deliciousness and that alone makes me wanna try more things like this but in a different environment.

It has now been thrown to the wind.

I'm headed for the City of Sails. Auckland. The date has been set and I am in planning mode. I have about 6 months to get organized to move me, 2 cats and what I am taking with me. I plan on at least one more visit...for the birth of my 3rd grandchild in November and possibly at wee sneaky one at the end of January.

LET THE PLANNING BEGIN - TASK FOR THIS WEEK

• Start with making a list of all the things that I own...furniture, kitchenware, linen, bedroom stuff, etc.

So over the course of the last 3 years, when I moved from Southland to Dunedin...I had to downsize from 3 bedroom house to a one bedroom flat. And again earlier this year, I downsized when I moved from the one bedroom flat into my son and partners home. They were already set up so I only bought my bedroom suite, some linen and towels, some kitchenware and my own personal stuff. 

Son, partner and I teamed up for a year for financial reasons and after that, I was going to head on my next adventure, what ever they may have been.  I didn't know at that stage of the game plan, that Auckland was on the cards yet. I had been thinking about Australia for a year...stay with my brother on the Gold Coast and experience what that part of Australia had to offer me. Apparently that journey is not going to happen yet. 

• Once that list has been written...start a time line for downsizing
• What I want to take with me.
• What I will buy once I'm up there.

When I move to Auckland...I will be living with my first born, partner and grandbabies. When the lease for their current house finishes we will be moving into a bigger house. There are so many choices in Auckland of styles of houses for extended and or larger families. I am sure we will find one that suits. 

So yes, after much thought and deliberation, conversations, coffee, chocolate and tears (and the odd cream cake)...Auckland here I come!!! Let this journey begin.

Photo Booth Memories.

January 2018

I have decide I love photo booths and when the opportunity arises to use one again...I'm taking it and dragging the nearest people with me in it.

What an absolute hoot, and what a great set of pics we ended up with. When I look at this series of pics, I can't help but grin. I'm pretty sure this is Take Number 3. These were taken on my first visit to Auckland in a games parlour we discovered one afternoon whilst taking the kids out for a walk. We had so much fun that afternoon...we won so many lollies and tickets...had so many laughs...the competitive streak came out in some but great memories were made and high scores left behind to be beaten.

Ashton, 8months old and Emerson 2y7months old

When these guys left to go to Auckland in November '17...it hurt like nothing I'd ever felt before.  I was all for them doing their thing, they were moving for work reasons but man was I unprepared for them not being just around the corner. I missed them like no tomorrows.  I am sooo pleased technology is what it is these days because it really helped take the edge off not being able to hold and kiss my Grandbabies.  It is the 'physical' side of things that gets to me. I have daily or every 2nd daily yarns with them and to be honest I rely on these to get me through to when I can hold them again.

So these trips are what fills up my tanks until the next time we're together making more memories.

~Auckland Vibes~

With my eldest, her partner and the Grandbabies in Auckland...It was inevitable that Auckland should come calling for me. The question is...do I heed this calling? With my elderly (Don't EVER tell her I called her that!) Mommie living up those ways as well...it is pretty clear that Auckland is to be the next stop off on my journey, I call life.
In the 10 months that my darlings have been up there, I have visited this city twice and with each visit the draw to Auckland became stronger. I didn't think that I would like it and its fast pace but it really has grown on me. I am intrigued by the City of Sails and am keen to explore more of this vibrant place.

To be honest there is only a couple things that will make me tear up and I will struggle with when the time comes to move on...leaving my youngest and his fiancé behind for now is the biggest one. It hurts my heart when I am separated from my babies, even if they are adults.
Also moving away again from my dearest friend of 17 years...me and her have been to hell and back at different stages of our lives and have always had each others back. Even as we speak, she is going through a rough patch, which is drawing us even closer together. But technology will help us fill in the time, in between visits.

Everything else...can be said goodbye too and I'll be fine with. Yes, I do believe that its time to move on. I have done it a few times now on my own...gosh I'm nearly a pro at it.
I look forward to the thrill of living in a new city, exploring new places, finding a new job, getting into my social groove, finding new haunts, meeting new people and making some new friends. I am so excited for these new adventures.
Seeing my grandbabies regularly and being able to be a 'physical' part of their everyday lives is a big draw card too.
Did I mention my eldest is working on Grandbaby Number 3 and he's due in November? Oh my gosh!! I just can't wait for his arrival.
One more reason for heading North, is my Mommie is getting older and frailer now and my plan is to get a place and have her move in with me so I can look after her when the time is right.

And who knows? Maybe Mister Right will be at this pit-stop in my journey.

Yes...Fast Forward to 14 months later...

A lot has changed. And a lot has stayed the same. 14 months you say...

I wonder if anyone still does this blogging anymore...blogging almost feels like an 'old school' way of communicating now.

TUESDAY 21ST AUGUST - Current mind-frame and update on my life's lessons.

It has taken awhile BUT I have finally jumped back on the 'walking' band wagon and it is really doing me the world of good.
Today is Day Number 26 of a little thing I like to call 'Get your walk on' and I hit the pavements at least 4 times a week. For me this is a realistic goal, what with my work schedule and it is winter here at the moment and its still dark after I finish work and before I start.
I am also on a self-discovery mission and trying to get myself into a better frame of mind, body and soul. Trying to include The Law of Attraction in my everyday life, living each day with intention and positivity. Some days are harder than others. And some days life just rolls along.

Following along the path of injecting happy, positive thoughts and actions in my everyday life...I came across a passage of reading last week that was about and had a dragonfly in the background of the picture.

'The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and change in perspective of self realization; and the kind of change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life'.

I thought, that's a symbol for me. The dragonfly represents exactly what I am doing in my life now. I must get myself something to do with a dragonfly.
What happened next, I am pretty sure it was the Law of Attraction coming into effect.

I run into a friend in town this weekend and had commented on her jewellery. It was a owl necklace and a 'Snap Button' piece. I had said that I have always like that type of jewellery and that another friend of mine had given me a 'button' a few years back to start my collection...I never got round to starting that collection. So I had this 'button' but no way to wear it. I said I should really get onto that as there was some really nice pieces and 'buttons' out now. End of conversation.
Today my daughter-in-law handed me a packet and said that she and my friend had run into each other at her place of work and asked her to pass it on...It was a 'snap button' necklace...in the shape of a dragonfly. I still cant believe it. Totally amazed. I'm pretty confident in saying that it was the Law of Attraction coming into play there.

The piece without 'snap button'.