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'.

TBR 2017...Bk 17/52: Working Class Boy By Mr Jimmy Barnes

Really enjoyed this book.  This is a 2016 memoir of James Dixon Swan aka Jimmy Barnes.
It tells of of his childhood in Glasgow and in Adelaide. It is a journey through trials and tribulations of immigration, domestic violence, alcoholism, anger and fear.
This certainly was not I expected to read when I picked this up but I was definitely engaged in this memoir.  Thank-you for sharing Jimmy. Very much looking forward to the next book...Working Class Man. Bring it on.

Week 22 & 23: The 2 Big Boys Birthdays//Nannie Darlings 2nd Birthday//Singleville Update

A couple weeks of birthdays in this family.  June 1st...My son turned 22,...EB Games voucher...tick ...happy boy...tick.  Son-in-laws 26th birthday on same day...tattoo voucher...tick...happy boy...tick. We had a family Pot-Luck dinner to celebrate boys birthdays a few days later and we do like to get together at every available chance we can muster. This was our first pot-luck meal and it amazingly well, without a hitch, every person/couple bringing a main and a dessert.
With this fam-bam now all together in one town it seemed only fair to the hosting family that everyone chipped in and man what a great idea it was...the variety of food was amazing (no double ups) and the cost was minimal to each person/couple. And there was even doggie-bags to take home YAY!

NEXT...

Happy 2nd Birthday Nannies Darling xoxo

This lil precious beauty means the world to me. This picture captures her taking time out on her special day eating her ice-block...slow down Baby Girl...time is just going so fast and Nannie can't keep up. 2 years full of wonderful memories, lots of kisses and cuddles, plenty of laughs and good times. I know we have so much more to look forward to. Nannies Darling captivated me right from the start, stole a piece of my heart and I am at her mercy forever...and her handsome 5 week old brother is following suit. I am spellbound by them both now...and also done for lol.

Emerson and Ashton.

So in another subject entirely child-free is my continuing journey in Singleville.  Mentioned in previous posts I am trying to get the hell out of Dodge (Singleville) so to speak. Taking my time but God loves a tryer right?  I go to the local bar for Karaoke Nights and it has been bought to my attention that a certain man has been making eyes at me lol.  So I have spent the last couple of times at Karaoke Night scoping out the scene and have found that he is indeed showing interest from afar. As of Friday just been, I pulled up my big girl panties and I have accomplished the following in regards to this man:

• I found out his name (Randall)
• I have communicated with him
• He has a sense of humor
• I have sat at the same table with him and we had a 'group talk' as such lol

Progress has been made and the communication lines has been opened. Another YAY for me. Slowly but surely...I am a little bit scared that if it goes any slower I will miss out...So hurry up Karaoke Night at the local!!

Movie Review...Miracles From Heaven

What a wee charmer of a movie. Great performances by Jennifier Garnier and Eugenio Derbez and just quietly, Martin Henderson is as handsome as ever. 
When Christy discovers her 10year old daughter Anna has a rare, incurable disease, she  becomes a ferocious advocate for her daughter healing as she searches for a solution.  After Anna has a freak accident climbing a tree with her sister, an extraordinary miracle unfolds in the wake of her dramatic resue that leaves medical specialists mystified, her family restored and their community is inspired. This movie is based on a true story.  3.5 / 5 stars. 

"That's alright Mom.  Not everyone is gonna believe. And that's ok. They'll get there when they get there."- Anna Beam