Long Weekend

We've got next Monday off so it's going to be a long weekend. Gonna head over to Waiheke Island for the weekend and just lie on the beach with my book.

Culture Shock

... for Grandma that is. Brought her along to a dinner party with 2 other couples. They all greeted her with a kiss and a hug. You should have seen her face. Too funny! Would have taken a photo except that it happened too fast and I was too busy sniggering to myself. ;)

Living Out of a Cardboard Box

At the rate house prices are soaring, that's what will eventually happen to us. I don't think we'll ever be able to afford to move back to Singapore. Sure we can get a resale flat but what in the world are we going to do with Cooper? He's not exactly the most stealth of dogs... he'll probably howl in protest at the thought of not having his own backyard.

Thinking Happy Thoughts.

I tend to be glass-half-empty sort of person and am adamant that this year's off to a crap start so it doesn't bode well. Stephen, on the other hand, is the exact opposite. He's all bright and shiny and looks at the world through rainbow-tinted glasses.

So here's to thinking happy thoughts. (For all you clueless folks out there, it's a scene from Peter Pan.)

[Wendy:] But Peter, how do we get to Neverland?

[Peter:] Fly, of course!

[Wendy:] Fly?

[Peter:]It's easy! You think of a wonderful thought!

[The children:] Any happy little thought?

[Peter:] Uh, huh

[Wendy:] Like toys at Christmas?

[John:] Sleighbells,snow?

[Peter:] Yeah, watch me now, here I go! It's easier than pie.

[Wendy:] He can fly!

[John:] He can fly!
[Michael:] He flew!

I Like.

Tourist Destination: Michael Joseph Savage Memorial

Seveal things I learnt about Grandma: she loves taking photos and then loves admiring herself in the photos after that.

Update on Stephen's Strange Illness

It's gone! He's fine! Tra-la-la! Happy happy!
*megawatt grin*

Tourist Destination: Auckland Harbour and Viaduct

Only one photo here since the rest didn't turn out so well. Made Grandma walk the entire length of the Harbour and Viaduct since she needs the exercise. Let's just say she wasn't too thrilled with all that walking after a while. Doesn't she look a lil' peeved here?!

Tourist Destination: Sky Tower

Did the tourist thing with Grandma and brought her to the Sky Tower for a 360 view of Auckland. True to form, she had to at least buy a keychain before she was willing to leave. Please ask to see the keychain when she's back because she spent half an hour picking it out and another hour at home transfering all her keys onto it!

Babysitting Grandma

We had purrrfect weather over the weekend, with plenty of sunshine and minimal clouds. Well perfect for us that is. Grandma wasn't too impressed. While we tried to catch as much sun as we can (since sunny days in Auckland are few and far between), Grandma was doing her darnest to stay in the shade even though it's 26 degrees outside.

Here's her having ice cream by the beach. That's my hat she's wearing. And my necklace too since she said it matched her top!

Every Sunday all summer along, there are activities lined up in the different parks in Auckland. We headed for Jazz in the Park at the Auckland Domain last Sunday. We brought along our picnic basket and blanket, all ready to enjoy the fantastic weather. Grandma arrived, picked the shadiest spot possible, well away from any sunlight and plonked herself down in her recently purchased $9.95 director chair from Bunnings (which she is extremely pleased with) and there she sat for the next 2 hours. Occasionally commenting on the music and/or the lack of singing. I don't even know how to begin to explain Jazz music to her so I just left her be, hoping that all that strawberries and biscuits will keep her happy.

Hell Week!

To say that this week has been rather eventful is quite an understatement. Well in my opinion at least, since my life here in really boring so every little event has a rather large impact on my otherwise very simple life.

Wednesday

I decided to switch Cooper to a new brand of dog kibble in the morning. I did the switch gradually - 3/4 old food, 1/4 new food. Cooper's stomach, for some reason, did not agree with the new food and he had diarrhea all afternoon. ON MY NEWLY VACUUMED, VERY PRISTINE CARPETS. Bloody hell.

Just when I thought the day can't get worse than me on my hands and knees trying to clean dried up dog poop off my carpet, Stephen tells me that his throat has been hurting him for days and that he's going to the doctor. 20 minutes later, Stephen calls from the doctor and said that they're referring him to the local hospital's A&E! Whoa! And here I thought he just had a sore throat and was being overly paranoid.

That was the start of a very long night. I took Grandma to A&E with me but had to drop her off home after I found out that they'll be admitting him. Took a quick shower and went back to the hospital. The doctors can't figure out what's wrong with him, plus he couldn't eat so they decided to put him on a drip and keep him in the hospital for the night.

I only got to bed that night at 2am.

Thursday

Woke up at 6:30am in order to catch the doctors on their rounds so that I can find out exactly what they are planning to do to my poor husband. Doc came around at 8am, said that he'll be seeing Stephen in about 15 minutes. That 15 minutes stretched to a 3 hour wait.

Basically the entire day was spent waiting around, going for tests, waiting some more for the doctors to figure out how to use certain equipment so that they can stick it down Stephen's throat, and finally more waiting.

2:30pm.

Had to rush home to let the carpet cleaners in since I couldn't for the life of me remove coagulated dog poop off my carpet so I had to call in the professionals.

Stephen finally was discharged. The doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with him, even after sticking multiple scopes up his nose and down his throat, so they decided to discharge him and send him on his way! Geez.

5pm

Grandma started getting really bored because she couldn't move from the couch as the carpet was still drying so I had to take her shopping. Thank God for little things that it was a Thursday so at least there was late night shopping. Grandma bought a small purse and I bought a hat.

Finally sank into bed at 11:30pm last night.

Grandma was happy with her little purchase.

I was completely exhausted after 2 full-on days.

And we still have no idea what is wrong with Stephen.

Going to get a second opinion next week. Wish us luck.

Adventure List

I was browsing through the NZ Herald this morning and chanced upon an article where they ranked the top 10 adventures that one has to before one hits the big 3-0. They've got some pretty good suggestions and there are several on the lists that I've been meaning to do for the longest time. I figured I can work my way down the list over the next few years.

Travel Adventures before 30:

1. Visit the Pyramids in Egypt

2. Party (all night) in Vegas

3. Do your big OE in London (this doesn't really apply since I'm way too old for OEs)

4. Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (would love to try this out except that I'll probably have to start training months in advance and probably try Mount Kota Kinabalu first before the Inca Trail.)

5. Koh Phangan Full Moon Party (Stephen claims that we almost did this one but we arrived in Koh Phangan a couple of days late. Well, almost just isn't good enough. We'll have to head back to Thailand for this.)

6. Do a road trip through the USA (not too keen on this but if I ever run out of ideas, this will do.)

7. Tour Europe (Done this partially since I've backpacked Western Europe. I'll have to head onto Eastern Europe the next time.)

8. See the Big 5 in Africa (I've turned my sights towards Africa lately after getting to know some South Africans and hearing them rave on and on about how gorgeous their country is.)

9. Party in Rio de Janeiro (Have always wanted to check out Brazil. I'd better do this soon before I get too old to party.)

10. Discover New Zealand (Yes!)

A New Year Wish

Here is a New Year's wish from Gaiman to his readers that I really like.

"...I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you'll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you'll make something that didn't exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind."

A New Year

2010 did not kick off how I expected it to but no matter, it'll get better. I've decided to take on a more positive outlook towards life and will try to quit worrying so damn much. So here's to a good year ahead and in light of my new mantra, I've decided to make some New Year resolutions.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

1. Make the most of what is left of my time here in NZ
(Don't ask me where and when we're leaving because I have no idea. It'll be some time this year but god only knows.)

2. Don't go to bed angry

3. Find Grandma a home... somehow.