Here at last

Happy days...dear absent

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

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

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

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

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 .

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

That sounds great absent , enjoy every moment.

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!

The start of another adventure - it all sounds lovely.

It is amazing to think you are at last starting your new life in NZ absent. It sounds wonderful. Relax and enjoy it, it's what all your hard work has been for!

So glad you are there safe and sound, absent. I have been out of touch in wildest Italy with anno, but we are now back in France.
I wish I could be in Richmond too!

I am now more or less on New Zealand time, although I was up about an hour earlier this morning than usual. I have also sorted out where the sugar bowl is kept - a source of relief to Mr absent as he is the one with a sweet tooth. I think today - this is Wednesday morning - I shall go swimming. For the last couple of months I was so busy redecorating the house and organising the move that I never had time to get to the gym and pool and I do miss them. Also, there is a distinct sensation of tightness of the waist band which needs addressing.

The house we are renting for the first three months belongs to a church and missionary community. They use it for R and R for their missionaries when they return home from abroad and also rent it out for holiday lets to raise some money for their work. It is astonishingly well stocked with loads of towels and bed linen and supplies pretty much all needs from an ironing board to a sandwich toaster. There is an attractive garden, plus a vegetable garden. I picked a courgette for Monday's chicken casserole. There are four orange trees - a bit different from Darlington.

In spite of being such a godless couple, we have been made very welcome and now that some money has been transferred from my UK bank account to my NZ one, I can at last pay the rent for this month!

Yeehah! New life good vibes, absent. (with sugar)

Pleased you are safely on NZ soil and getting stuck in quickly to the thrust of family life there! Hope you have established a few days for just you! hope the body clock gets onto NZ time soon,

Glad you have arrived safely, enjoy your new life in NZ

Welcome to your new life, Absent, I am sure you will love it.

Happy daze! How fabulous for you absent to be in the midst of your family and to know it is for good this time

Good to hear you have arrived safe and sound and have been immediately propelled into Granny duties Look forward to hearing your NZ news over the months to come.

It's strange to think that you're so far away but still 'with us'. Isn't the internet great . Glad you've arrived safely.

Have a blast, absent! Must be wonderful to be with your family again.

Great news absent. may the adventures begin

It's so good to be able to talk to you just the same as if you were still here, absent! Enjoy all of this new way of life - a complete turnaround, but with the added joy of being able to watch the wee ones grow. xxx

Glad you've arrived safely absent.

Happy to hear from you, absent - I've been thinking about you a lot. Enjoy the sunshine, the differences, and your lovely DGC. And virtually, you are still among us. (((hugs)))

Glad you will still be with us absent