Pat and the boys went out for a morning hunt.

Tim had a quieter later start to his day.

Just as well as he was very very tired and was getting a bit grumpy.

He and Shanni have been pushing themselves to the max for the past week.

She was all packed for camp so was able to relax a bit and read.

Her wee pukeko chick died over night.

She is very pragmatic though.

Sad cuz she really loved the wee critter but okay cuz she knows life and death are synonymous.

She did some baking for herself and also for Tim - he wanted some baking for the mailboat driver.

 

Tim loaded the huge water tank onto the truck and took it over the back.

Pat and the boys went to help install it.

It was quite windy and Tim was very careful to make sure it was tied down - he didn't want it taking off down the hill.

It would be a non stop trip to the tide if it did!

 

I got everything packed into the Terrano and finally packed up my own bags.

I had a lot to get sorted cuz I was leaving home for 10 days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim took Shanni, Pat and his boys out on the boat for a hunting expedition.

I was rather pleased to have a quiet day with just Mahalia at home.

I had only 2 days to recover from town and get ready to leave again.

After Tim left I was doing some stuff in the study and was about to finish and go hop in the spa with my book and enjoy a peaceful soak before I got stuck into the day.

Then all of a sudden Mandy breezed through the door.

She had driven down with 3 of the kids.

I remembered Tim had mentioned she was coming but didn't really know when so it was rather a surprise to see her.

The children wanted to hang out with Mahalia while Mandy went out to work with Noel for a few hours.

They hadn't been there long when Mahalia came back inside holding her rabbit.

She was sobbing.

The dog had somehow opened the cage and killed her rabbit.

It was all very awful.

The dog was shut away in disgrace.

After she had cried a while I popped Zoe into a box and suggested she went out with the kids and fed the lamb.

 

Once they found the lamb it came back with them for a visit!

Crazy critter was chasing Mo around the living room!

When they came back in she was a lot better and was happy to accept Mandy's proposal of a new rabbit - as long as it was a mini lop!

The children all headed off around to see Olly.

Noel came in a picked up Mandy.

I took the chance of finally being all alone and hopped in the spa, then got myself dressed and got on with my day.

I carried all the boxes of curriculum I had inadvertently left behind last week and loaded it into the Terrano.

Got the washing done and then started repacking.

When the children arrived back they had lunch and then Mahalia decided she was ready to bury her rabbit.

Shania helped her.

They buried in in the rock garden and made a lovely area decorated with driftwood.

 

The hunters returned mid arvo.

They didn't get anything - just came home tired.

Noel & Mandy didn't arrive back until much later.

Noel took Perry back to Elaine Bay in the boat and Mandy drove back with the girls.

The day had turned quite fiesty.

I didn't envy them all being out on the water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My first appointment was at 10am so Mahalia & I left the house around 9:30.

Had time to get ourselves a drink then I left her at the library and I headed up the road to my counseling session.

As her appointment as at 11:10am it was quite a tight turnaround for me so we had arranged for her to start walking at 10:50am.

When I came through the lights and headed up Rutherford St I could see her bright pink neon boots crossing the traffic islands way up the road.

They do come in handy at times!

We had a very informative meeting with her orthodontist.

We now have to wait for him to write to ACC and get their go ahead before we start work because there is a small possibility that the tooth she damaged a couple of years ago just might not cooperate with the treatment and then it could become more difficult and much more costly.

We just had to time to zip through town and pick up hot potatoes for her and Sophie and then I took her up the Brook to RDA.

She spent the next 4 hours there with Sophie helping with the horses and the children having a holiday programme.

She loved it.

 

I managed to make it to my appointment at Nelson Beauty and enjoyed an hour there.

After that I had a few things to do so raced to Spotlight to pick up a curtain rail for Mahalia.

Also tried to get the bits I needed to hang Shanni's blinds but they didn't have all I needed and sent me down to Russel's Curtains.

I never go there as have no need so I thought it very fortuitous to find a friend who I haven't seen in many years working there.

It was so good to catch up with Denise - plans for coffee underway

 

Then it was off to do some more things and then meet Nathan in town.

He introduced me to the gelato barrow near Starbucks.

We sat in town and ate gelatoes.

They were delicious.

Then it was time to go meet Mahalia & Sophie.

They had walked halfway so were very happy when I took them to get gelatoes.

I dropped Sophie back home, then we raced off to get groceries.

I suggested Hali go to the library while I did the shopping.

A few mins later she text me to say she needed her library card.

I was only just at the entrance of the produce section so she ran into Countdown and through the turnstiles to get the car key from me.

Then without thinking she turned and ran back, forgetting that the turnstiles only go one way.

They caught her across her thighs and I saw her go sailing right over the top of them and land on the other side.

I was horrified, thinking the worst when I saw her land over the other side.

I was picturing her arms being broken again!!

Thankfully she only bruised her legs and damaged her pride.

Poor wee thing - it was very dramatic though!

Then I met up with Kat and spent a long time chatting with her and then Izzie as she breezed through so by the time Mahalia came back I had only made it as far as the other end of the produce section!

We eventually made it through the checkout and then stopped off at Phoebes and cooked up a quick feed and then headed home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The children and I were up early and in town by 8:30am.

We had time to do a couple of jobs before meeting Ross & Andrea at Melrose House for breakfast.

It is a beautiful place to relax and socialise for an hour or so before the busyness of life takes over.

It takes you back 100 years and has a real feeling of yesteryear and timelessness.

My herb tea arrived looking so pretty.
Ross & Azzan tried the passionfruit and lavender lemondades

Mahalia & Azzan by this time were ravenous so made short work of the full breakfasts.

Andrea was thrilled with her very large plate of mushrooms!

I was happy to leave her to enjoy them and I had Eggs Benedict with home smoked salmon and Ross had the same but with bacon instead.

They were THE best!

There was so much salmon on my plate and it was De-licious!

After breakfast Azzan went home with Ross & Andrea so he could have a piano lesson.

 

There was some discussion as to when we could fit Mahalia's piano lesson in as we left.

Mahalia & I headed across town to see her hand physio.

Then as time was flying I headed straight out to Richmond.

On the way Mahalia commented to me, 'shall I have my piano lesson first Mum?'

'First, before what.' I asked.

Then I remembered she was supposed to be at her harp lesson at midday and it was now 12:20pm.

We made a quick call of major apology to Annemieke and rescheduled for 2pm.

Mahalia had great pleasure in telling Annemieke that 'Mum has lost her marbles!'

So I swapped children and headed out to Teapot Valley to take Azzan to camp.

The theme for this camp was 'The Big OE'

When we arrived the hall was set up like an airport and the kids had to wend their way around the check-in tape corridors to the check in counter.

Then they had their passport photos taken.

Then Azzan's team leader took him through 'Security'

I said goodbye then but stayed a few moments longer to watch when I saw the sniffer dog being brought out.

It was so funny.

The dog sniffed Azzan's bag so it was opened up and then as he was zipping it back up again it sniffed a side pocket and the 'guard' opened it to see what contraband was in there.

'Ohhh! Dirty socks!' he exclaimed!

Then they headed through and read the check list of what they were not allowed in their luggage.

I left at that point knowing that Azzan was going to have an awesome camp.

Picked up Mahalia and took her into her harp lesson.

After that she walked up to spend the rest of the day with Sophie so she was happy.

I grabbed a frappaccino and then whizzed back to Richmond to spend the arvo with Ross.

We went through a heap of computer stuff and then spent time going through how our accountancy system works so he could get a handle on it all.

I was there until 7pm.

Raced back into Nelson, picked up Mahalia and zipped through the supermarket and got food for dinner.

Arrived at Phoebe's and made dinner for the three of us and chilled out for the night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim and crew went out mustering in the morning.

Just me and Mahalia at home.

 

It was lovely.

They all arrived back for lunch.

There had been a few mix ups with the boys and their senses of direction but despite that and them ending up in weird places the muster went well.

 

Afterwards Azzan and Dillon got to work and finished his costume for camp.

He is going as a map - Mapp is my mother's maiden name so he thought that was doubly appropriate.

 

We decided to celebrate Azzan's birthday a week early because we would be away for his actual birthday and also I wanted him to have his present so he could take it to camp.

Pat and the boys all came up for dinner.

They bought nachoes and I made a fish dish and coleslaw.

Shanni presented Azzan with his cake for dessert.

We also had jelly and ice cream - his favourites.

He immediately began to through the little cupcakes into his mouth.

There was some hesitation when he discovered they were gluten free but as he had already scoffed quite a few he decided that they weren't that bad after all.

It was a very delicious lemon cake with orange icing.

We gave him his brand new Kathmandu 4 season sleeping bag.

He was very happy with that and gave it an immediate tryout.

Pat and the boys gave him a torch lantern and a large packet of lollies!

He is all ready for camp now.