Mid Winter News

Hello, all

it's a cold and wet Sunday morning, Deon & David have gone out to do a "cashey" - a little private plumbing job on the side and I found myself at a loose end, having cleaned the house yesterday, put a stew in the slow-cooker for a late lunch/early supper and just finished a trashy novel, so I realised I had no more excuses for avoiding the BLOG - that four letter word !

So here's some news - nothing thrilling (or to write home about, ha-ha) but just to keep you all up to date :

My promotion to Rural Sales Rep seems to be justified as I brought my first month's publication in over $10K (it's been sitting at around $6000 for the past year), so I am quite popular around the office, especially with the GM and I even got a personal email from the group Sales Director, congratulating me on a good job - so there *sticks tongue out at self* !!
Our team at work is now called the Foreign Legion, as it consists of me, Marguerite Hugo aka Margo/Blondie/Poppie (you guessed it another Saffer), Chris Tansley-Pom, Yuan Zang-Chinese & Ana Craig-Yugoslavian - just proving New Zealand really is a country of immigrants, hard working, capable and successful immigrants !!


Dressed for Success or Robyn With Heals, Make-up and Yes, It Is A Skirt


Enough about me, David is wonderful - he has had a growth spurt and is just looking like such a big boy and acting like one too - has very strong opinions about most things (don't know where he gets that from), is super clever (again, no idea about that origin) and unbelievably is nearly 4 years old, YES - 4 - I can't believe it either ! At 4 he will start going to morning kindy, 5 days a week, he is very much looking forward to that as he loves kindy and is very eager to start learning " real things" - his words. His friend Lucas started morning kindy in May and David is very jealous and really can't wait to join him. He can count to 20 now, can recognise most numbers to 10 and can read his own name, written anywhere as well a "D for David" & "R for Robyn" - his words again. Again, unbelievably this time next year I will be blogging about him just about to start Big School - but that is just too much to contemplate so will leave it there...





Deon, Deon, Deon - where do I begin - with the biltong he makes in his biltong/beer/brewing room, his dogs - the Big Lug-KD and his new little miss - Missy, the steak&kidney pie or rhubard crumble - he made them both from scratch, being Gordon with prawns on the barbie (dressed the part too), being the Best Dad in World or with the Boat !







I supposse he would have voted for the boat too - the new love of his life, his pride & joy, the last piece of the puzzle that has made his life perfect, not his words, mine but I'm sure it's pretty close to the truth. It really is a great boat, a 14'6" ft Fyran (for those who care about facts), big enough to not be dangerous on the water but small enough for him to launch on his own if needs be, but perfect for going out to cast some lines or perfect for getting to those "secret" places where he can dive for crayfish, scallops, mussels, oysters, paua (perlemoen/abalone) - you getting my drift.....
He got a great deal on Trade Me- bought it from an old man up north who had loved and cared for it and was happy to be "giving" it to somebody who was going to treat it with equal tenderness - she still needs a name - so any suggestions are most welcome, he had always promised to name his first boat after me - but the best we can come up with is ROB' YN THE SEA - but we think the Fishery Officers might take too close a look at that one.....


ok, that's us for winter, spring is soon and with that brings summer which brings, grannies - both have booked their tickets, maternal in October & paternal on Christmas Eve so we are all super excited !!
Until next time
Robyn (Deon & David)

about bloody time !

I know, I know, it's been over 3 months since my last blog but hey, life's busy here in Whangarei.

With working full time now (doing really well & loving it), trying to run a house (not very successfully), having a 3 1/2 (going on 13) year old and lots of friends with weddings, birthdays and bbqs - there's very little time for much of anything else.

Winter has also arrived after a very long, dry summer - we, in fact, were in drought and had water restrictions up until last week but they have since been lifted after good, very heavy downpours.

David is absolutely delightful (full of shit) but delightful - he loves the childcare he is in - it is called PORSE home based childcare and basically he is looked after by two friends of ours, who have their own kids but look after our kid too ! He spends Monday's, Wednesday's & Friday's with Karyn & Casey (2) and Tuesday's & Thursday's with Nicci, Lucas (4), & Alex (2). He goes to Kindy 3 times a week, Mon, Tues & Thurs from 1.30-3.30. He will start kindy 5 days a week 8.30-12.45 when he turns 4. He has blossomed so much since he started kindy & childcare, getting the stimulation and attention the educators give him. Every day he comes home with stories and paintings and creations. The educators also write in a book everyday - what they did that day, david's mood, his favourite thing of the day etc. It is a really wonderful programme and we are so grateful that he happy and settled. Every morning, he says "Mom, where am I going today?" and when i tell him (be it Tues to Nicci, or Friday to Karyn) he throws his little arms in the air and shouts "YAH !, i love going to Nicci (or Karyn)" !!!

Deon is also very happy and settled ;) his job is going really well, he has been working on big projects - the local rugby stadium being upgraded for RWC 2011 NEC, a water purification & clarifying works at the huge diary farm Fonterra and is really being recognised for his ability and work ethic.

Unbelievably I am good at sales, who knew ? After only 3 months I have had a promotion - they are moving me from the features dept (telesales) to a ROP (run of paper) rep - with the sole responsibility of breathing life into and making a success of a special rural publication called The Rural Advocate - it has been losing money for a while now and they believe I can turn it around - I'm not so sure, what the hell do I know about cows but they see something in me and reckon i can do it !!! I am petrified but there is an increase, company phone and use of company car so a-rural I will go :))

will end with some photos ....

much love to you all from us all



at Bayley's Beach (Easter) KD the dog

i
At Kelly Tarlton Marine World with Ted in Auckland





At Andrew & Sherri's Wedding Mother's Day Bfast 1st Day of Kindy

Fabulous February

WOW - we have had quite a month so far !

On the 2nd David started Kindy - Kindergarten - he goes on a Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 1.30-3.30 - he enjoys it a lot and was quite happy for me to leave him there and come back and fetch him - well most days, sometimes we had some tears but all in all he settled in really well and even has a few friends there from our time at Playcentre

AND

also on the 2nd WE GOT OUR PERMANENT RESIDENCY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Had an email to tell us to check our status online and it said APPROVED - it was a spectacular moment and our joy was beyond explanation ! Our passports have been sent to Immigration and we expect them back any day now with those wonderful blue stickers in them - which says we are HERE TO STAY !
And in 5 years we will be Citizens and be getting our very own KIWI passports !!

AND

I got a JOB !!!!! ok, ok, to all you who said i would be bored as a stay-at-home mom (you all know who you are), you were right - i do need to do something, don't get me wrong, i loved being home with David for the past 20 odd months but it was TIME - so i did it !!

i applied for a LOT of jobs but in the end i got the one i WANTED !! I am officially a Features Sales Consultant at Northern Publishing - you can check out the ad i responded to here

i am thrilled and feeling extremely motivated and excited - i start tomorrow, Wed the 17th !
David will be going to home based childcare at our friend Karyn for 3 days a week and to another friend, Nicki (who has 2 boys) for the other days - we have had a couple "dry runs" and he seems quite happy and settled with them both - does nothing for my Jewish guilt about abandoning our child but i am sure i will get over it ;)

well, that's it for now - will let you know how we all get on in our new routine and will also catch up after Ted upcoming visit (again) and our friend's andrew & sherri's wedding

love and miss you all

quick catchup

seems as if it's been years since i last blogged and suppose it was.
so a quick catch up of things of (i)relevance
school holidays are STILL on - 7 weeks - the powers that be have completely lost their marbles and as my friend Renette said "bet they don't have kids" but it has brought in a little bit more income as i have been looking after some friend's kids - some days having 5 of them !!

we had a lovely xmas/new year - david loved xmas morning, when he woke up and saw his gifts under the tree and said, with wide eyed wonder : "i nearly had a heart attack because look, santa was here"
we spent lots of time on the beach,boating, deon diving and fishing - i even went out one day on the Froggatt's boat and loved it !! I caught the first and biggest fish - what fun !!
had an impromtu new years party at our place - was great fun and everybody was out of here by 12.30 :))
david has reached some important milestones - he does not wear a nappy at all - not even at night - he wees before going to bed and most nights we hear the pitter patter of little feet to the bathroom and then a very loud waterfall of little boys' ablutions around 5am and then gets back into bed for another hour so... AND he put his dummy in the recycle bin a week ago and has only had one night of asking for it but has finally accepted it has gone - HOORAY !!!
otherwise, hope you all well and happy
much love to you all



xmas morning


Boxing Day - with Marnitz & Hirst Families





evening fishing with the Froggatt's - deon had to fight this stingray for over 15 minutes


i am officially a fish wife - loved it !


New Years at our place - Andrew, Duane, Steven & Deon and Lisa, me, Karyn & Sherri - good friends, good times !




a lovely day spent with the Froggatt's at Limestone Island