Awesome April & Marvelous May

Granny Deanna left us in mid April after a wonderful 7 weeks ! The tearful farewell at Auckland Airport was made bitter sweet by the surpise arrival of Jean & Quinton (Deanna's cousins) to also bid her farewell.

David is really thriving and growing but is also being a real "terrible two" - he has thrown a 17 minute temper tantrum and become quite bossy (wonder where he gets that from).

He has relinquished his necessity for his dummy (except for sleeping) which some of you know is a very big step and is weeing and pooing in the potty & toilet on a regular basis but not quite yet fully "potty trained" but we getting there.

The weather has turned, it's frigging cold, but hey, it's New Zealand. But it does not stop the boys fishing and it's a great reason to light the fire and snuggle on the couch.

I am also learning the art of slow cooking, Deanna very generously purchased us a slow cooker while she was here and I have made a few roast chickens, a lamb stew and a beef stew which have been gorgeous. What a pleasure to fill the pot at 9am with a whole lot of raw goodies and open the pot again at 6pm with a delicious cooked meal. The Noodlese comment is "supper is lishious & yummy, mom" !

We have also had a couple of unpleasent incidents this month :

David and I have had lice, yes, I know, yuck - we did not have lice at private school ;), so it's my first time, but we seem to have got rid of them (we hope) with an old kiwi remedy - suffocate the buggers with tea tree and glad wrap !

and..... i poisoned David & Deon, not fatally, but did an incredibly stupid thing by spraying insect killer instead of spray & cook on a baking tray, baked some pizzas for them which they preceeded to eat until the penny dropped and i realised what i had done - the sheer panic and horror that I went thru until the very cool & collected woman on the poison hotline told me to calm down and not worry and that the spray is far more harmful to bugs than humans. David was more upset that i snatched his supper away from him and he could not understand why he could not eat his pizza. Deon was slightly more horrified and felt rather queasy (the only side effect) for about a day. Of course, we can laugh about it now, especially Dave & Kathryn.

Last week was Deon's birthday, we had a huge party with all our wonderful friends & all the kids in attendance, the Saffrican men took a lot of stick from the Kiwis about the length of time it took to make the coals and cook the meat, whilst freezing their asses off in the bitter New Zealand winter. They of course, just crank up the gas BBQ and sausages are ready in no-time, but eventually we had real braaied meat the good ol' South African way.

The entire party had been planned around a Froggatt idea, which i was party to:
Kathryn "baked" Deon a chocolate cake, and when they arrived with the cake, Deon was thrilled and said "i haven't had a birthday cake since i was 9". Watch the video below to see what happened when Deon "cut" the cake .....
(sorry for the poor video quality)

The parties never stop here in Whangarei, last night was Kathryn's annual mid winter xmas bash, she has been hosting these nearly every year for the past 18 for a group of friends that met in auckland when they all lived there in a cul-de-sac in the 80's.

the dress code was smart, the table was decorated, the music rocked and the drinks flowed !

Deon cooked the wonderful curry that was enjoyed by all and he received a loud "Buy-a-Donkey" (you work that one out) from Kathryn. She also went to the all the trouble of getting everyone a xmas gift - most in jest but it's the thought that counts, right ?

We feel very priviledged and honoured to be included this year !

The Froggatts

so when we decided to come live in New Zealand, i made a decision that i would not only have Saffrican friends and that we would definately need to have Kiwi friends - careful what you wish for :)

enter the froggatts :

• husband/ father - norman david - dave to his friends
  
• wife / mother - katherine
• daughter - Ashlee - aged 9
• son - Logan - aged 7
  

Deon works with Dave and they really hit it off so after they invited us for BBQ at their house late last year our lives have become intricately entwined : from numerous parties at each other's houses, Deon & Dave fishing together most weekends, to camping, weekends in auckland and the past easter weekend on their friends' farm just out of town.
Ashlee and David are best of mates, she adores him and he is crazy about her and she is the best mom's helper i can find
David idolises Logan and his best mate TK as any little boy would look up to bigger boys
Katherine is the life & soul of any party and a superb cook, she makes a mean seafood salad and has been known to drop off pots of hot & spicy pumpkin soup just when needed.
they are true Kiwi's, real people and good friends !


Katherine's Birthday Party in their garage


Ashlee reading to David





The Easter weekend on the farm, Deon & Dave went fishing and all the kids hunted (and found) easter eggs in the chicken coops.


The 1st BBQ at their house, David learnt to make another Kiwi tradition - Pavlova


Me & Katherine - party at our house


Camping


BBQ at our house, TK, Logan, Noodle & Ashlee Kathrine, Georgie (TK's Nanna) & Mike (TK's pop)


David hanging with the Boyz


David playing "Shop" with Ashlee - note the Credit Card machine

Starring David Jake aka The Noodle

some video fun !
Mum, press play ;)

David Dancing with Ashley & Granny Deanna

David Counting to Ten (really)

David Laughing with Granny Deanna

Granny Deanna

Granny Deanna's arrival was much anticipated last Saturday and a couple hours before she and her cousin's were due to arrive, David came to me and said, "Mommy, I am shy..." - I think he was just forewarning us that he might be a bit hesitant with his affections on her arrival.... which happened while I was still in the shower (bad timing on my part and good timing for those who drove up north) ! So this is all heresay but apparently David clutched onto Deon's legs when he saw his granny for the first time in nearly 5 months, climbed into his Dad's arms and held onto him for a couple seconds but then launched himself on the ground and swiftly into his granny's arms and flung his little arms around her neck and would not let go !!!
As he would say "i member you now ganny"
Deon had prepared a feast for lunch and we all sat down to roast chicken and vegetables after David had warmed up to the guests and was on top form.

David opening his present from Aunty Gen - a monkey he promptly named Lewis

Sunday morning, in bed with Granny reading the new book from Cousin Jean

Sunday at Ocean Beach - showing Granny the beauty of Northland

more sunday - and more beautiful spots

Granny has fitted right into our weekly schedule, starting with swimming lessons on Monday, shopping Tuesday, Playcentre Wednesday, shopping Thursday and Playcentre Friday !

Me and The Noodle in the Pool at swimming lessons and Granny and The Noodle at Playcentre, blowing bubbles

It is really wonderful to have her here with us, she is spoiling us rotten and David is loving having his Granny here !!! We are so grateful and thankful to Jean & Quinton Dace who made this happen and can't thank them enough !

David's talking has also escalated recently and here are a few of the beauts we have had this week (some of the humour is "lost in translation" but anyway):

• he was sitting on the couch with no nappy on (potting training) with his hands near his rear end and he suddenly looked at me and said "mommy, air come out mine bum"
• his granny was showing him pictures of some African animals and he points to a snake and says "no snakes in Nu Zea-and"
• I told him we needed to leave Playcentre and go home and he answered back with "no go home, never ever !"
  
• and the best - his granny was feeding him some avo and suddenly he stops dead, looks at her and says "member, ganny, house in Ape Town, me younger" I kid you not, he's 2 years old, for goodness sake, how the hell does he know he was younger !!!!!!!

Today (Friday 6 March) is Deanna's birthday so she is taking us out for supper ;)
more soon
love to all

Waitangi Weekend

it's sunday night and we are all glowing with happiness because we have had the most wonderful weekend ! Friday was a holiday in NZ - Waitangi Day - go to this link to read all about it

Click here for information about Waitangi Day.

Deon's American friend, Ted, who working in Iraq at the moment, arrived on Friday morning to stay for a week so we decided to introduce him to all our friends here (and we owed everybody & ourselves a good party). We also got another visitor from Auckland, Sean Mayock, who is "my brother and sister's brother but not my brother" - for those who can't work it out, don't worry about it.... Sean and I have not really seen each for nearly 20 years after growing up together in PE, so i was really looking forward to connecting with him again after all this time.

So Deon marinated 4.5kgs of ribs, borrowed the big braai from Duane, Ted went booze shopping and the party was on !!
Our guests were Ted, Sean, Duane & Karyn with 6 year old Brent and 18month old Casey, Pieter & Renette with 1 year old Ryan (Jordan was with his grandparents for the night), Stephen & Lisa with 9 year old Sara-Lee & 6 year old Amber, and our Kiwi friends Dave & Katherine with 9 year old Ashleigh and 6 year old Logan !!! Yup - lots of kids which of course David loved, especially all the girls !

some of the girls hanging out in David's room

Katherine & Renette & the Men - early evening at the braai

Everybody brought a salad and lots more meat and as usual Deon did a brilliant braai so the food was superb, the drinks flowed steadily and we had the most wonderful party !

me & sean

The welcome but very short-lived rain sent some indoors (around midnight) and because of the stupid layout of our house, the deck is off the main bedroom, the festivities carried on in there for a bit but it did not stop some of us (no names mentioned, ok - me) from sliding on the kids' slippy slide at 1am - yes, i hang my head in shame and ache in places i did not know i had muscles but hell, it was fun !! and, thank goodness, there are no foto's...

the men the bedroom

yes, i know the focus is soft but I didn't actually take the pics and there was a smudge on the lens.....

i think everybody left around 2am but we are not really sure - IT WAS A GREAT PARTY !

anyway, david and saturday dawned bright and too early for us with hangovers but we managed to pull ourselves out of bed and spent the morning chatting and catching up - it was super hot !a we had an early lunch on the deck of leftovers - sean then spent the afternoon educating ted on the nuances of 7's rugby while me, deon & the noodle took a much needed nap !
Deon never re-surfaced so me and the noodle, Sean & Ted spent the evening in front of the telly watching the rugby 7's tournament that was being played in Wellington and yes, Sean of course was overjoyed with England's final seconds' victory !!
Sunday morning, Deon & Ted went fishing with Dave on his boat - very early - 6am and were home by 11am with 4 big snappers

it was another magnificent day here in Whangarei - hot & humid ! Sean left soon after the guys got back as he had a long drive back to auckland and then Deon took Ted to town to do some shopping.
the day just got hotter and hotter and after lunch and a sleep, we all went down to the beach for a swim - it was after 4pm and still stinking hot !! but the pacific ocean did it's job and we cooled down - Thank Goodness !
we got home and deon made a fire to cook the fish which were magnificent - nothing better than fresh fish on the braai ! While sitting on the deck as the air eventually cooled ted could not stop telling us what a wonderful life we have here and yes, we do !
It is a priviledge for us to be here, in this beautiful country, where our lives have changed beyond imagination and expectation, where our child is happy and safe and his future is limitless, where we can spend weekends like this one with good friends and family, where deon can go fishing whenever the urge takes him, where i have time for myself and my family and where we now call home.