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Here at last

(35 Posts)
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absent Mon 13-May-13 14:27:00

It's actually just after one o'clock on Tuesday morning here in New Zealand but my body clock hasn't quite adjusted yet. We arrived on Sunday afternoon which seemed weeks, rather than just a couple of days, after leaving the UK. We both woke up at midnight on Sunday and decided on a cup of tea which I flavoured with salt instead of sugar, mislead by the jar on the worktop in the kitchen in the rented house where we are currently living. Mr absent really didn't like that. We then unpacked our four large suitcases and two cabin bags, returning to bed at four in the morning.

The whole adventure still doesn't quite seem real although I expect it will start having some veracity when I go to collect the girls from school on Thursday afternoon and spend the whole of Friday looking after the two youngest - both boys. They were all in "our" house yesterday afternoon for an hour or so playing very noisy games. Little Max sat himself down in the hall and cried when his mum told him it was time to go home. That made me feel very wanted and loved and my promise that he can come here for a sleepover very soon dried the tears. I am rather less sure about the one-year-old who, of course, has no memory of me and is definitely a bit suspicious.

Although it is now approaching winter, it is still very warm - 22 yesterday - and we had our lunch in the garden. It's chilly at night though. Of course, I packed fur-lined boots and sensible shoes - not a single pair of sandals. Not that I am complaining given the horrible weather we have had in the UK for the past year.

Perhaps now that I have caught up with Gransnet I shall be able to return to bed and get some more sleep in the hope of adjusting properly to NZ time.

Goodnight everyone.

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Eloethan Wed 15-May-13 17:41:46

The start of another adventure - it all sounds lovely.

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absent Wed 15-May-13 23:05:03

Those of you who see your grandchildren regularly and, in particular, those who are responsible for regular childcare will probably not be able to understand my massively heightened sense of excitement today. I am going to collect my two granddaughters from school this afternoon, bring them back to "my" house - and we are going to make a carrot cake together that they can take home to share at tea time. Those grannies whose grandchildren live a long way away from them, however, know how much we long to read stories, build sandcastles, push swings and do all the everyday things that grannies take for granted.

P.s. I am going to teach the older one to knit next week. Hurray!

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baubles Wed 15-May-13 23:08:12

That sounds great absent , enjoy every moment.

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merlotgran Wed 15-May-13 23:09:54

It cuts both ways, absent. Your grandchildren have exciting times to look forward to.

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gillybob Wed 15-May-13 23:12:38

Hello Absent I haven't been around for a day or two so missed this thread (until now that is) . I am so pleased that you have arrived in NZ safe and well. Seeing your grandchildren again and sharing the everyday things like picking them up from school is fantastic and I hope you enjoy every minute of your life with them. I can almost taste that carrot cake, did it have frosting too? Lovely to see you back on Gransnet . smile

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Granny23 Thu 16-May-13 00:05:17

Don't know how I managed to miss this thread either - I pounced on the 'Safe Arrival' one, only to discover it was announcing GillyB's new DGD.

Glad YOU have arrived safely and are now firmly ensconsed in the bosom of your family - or are they ensconsed in yours? Plenty of room for them all there grin

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absent Thu 16-May-13 01:36:25

gillybob We are 11 hours ahead of you, so right now it is 12.30 (lunchtime) on Thursday, so we haven't made the cake yet. Yes, it will have cream cheese frosting.

Granny23 grin

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moomin Thu 16-May-13 08:50:18

I can identify with your feelings of excitement absent! I love taking and picking up my eldest DGD from school when I'm visiting NZ - she loves grandma coming to school!

Haven't tried teaching knitting yet, not sure she or I have the patience wink

I'm sure any fleeting doubts about whether you and MrA were doing the right thing have now rightly flown out of the window smile

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soop Thu 16-May-13 11:42:34

Happy days...dear absent flowers

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