Hi
Another update from the beach - As you will have seen from Bec's post Michael has made the Canterbury top team. A very proud dad as you can imagine. He had a good debut making 34 runs and opening the bowling from one end, finished day with 2 for 15 off seven overs. Otago is 2 for 96 chasing 468. The are playing at the village green so LaLa dropped over with a coffee for Andrew and caught up on news of Haydens job. All the aussie visitors have gone home, it was a busy 4 days, entertaining to say the least. Evidently Paul Smart has handed in his notice, havn't been to work to get update from Kelly, will keep you posted. Don't know ifwe told you that the expected grandchild is a girl, only 8 weeks to go. Andrew sends his love
M&A

This photo was taken on the one of the first few days we were here, it's from swanston st bridge by the flinders st station and you can see our apartment in the background (by the orange building by gemmas big head). Guess it was a sign or something.

Sumner Night

Hi, we out at sumner for dinner. Its been so hot. We headed away from uni at 2.30 and headed for the beach. Faye, Liale and Selina are here. The fair went well on Sunday thanks. Sold quite a bit of stuff. Andrew has been watching Michael playing cricket for the top Canterbury provential team. So Andrew has been there all day. I am staying out at lincoln the night. Saves me going all the way home and back out in the morning. It's got a little colder here now. Faye has been giving me the male talk. Man its funny. She keeps telling me its like buying a new dress. You have to like it straight off and don't leave it in the back of the cupoard. lol! Marion and I just laughed our heads off! Faye says to suss out all the lebonase resturants. She said she might come and check up on you when ma and pa are away.

Well have good night.
Mwah xoxoxoxoxoxox

Phew it's hot today!

Has to be at least 35 I reckon. The wind's hot too, so not much chance of a cool breeze there either.. the fan in the lounge has been going flat-out on High. First time it's actually been used this summer! Haha.

Hayden: Kady's been playing in the car sandpit you guys got her for her first Christmas. I filled it up with water... she loved it and splashed around in it for over an hour, even took a teddy-bear toy for a swim. Poor thing. I took some photos, will load them to the computer and e-mail you them (she's nudey, so probably not a good thing to post on here! Never know who's looking and all). Will do that probably tomorrow, along with some other photos.

Rosie and Becky, was good to see you two yesterday at the fair. Sell much Becky? We had fun, the kids enjoyed it and the kapa haka was really well done.

Hope everyone's well!

Dall & kids

hi guys went to fedaration square today that what the first photo of. The other was one of the photograhers on display there in one the gallerys she does awesome aerial photos of melbourne like this one. to see more go to www. melbournefromtheair.com.au cool photos.

Nearly time to go home.. :(

Hey everyone!
So it's nearly time for us to hop the plane back across the ditch, not looking foward to leaving but feeling more positive about it this time, having a job and all.
Have had fun here..went to Greymouth Friday for the wedding. Had a bucks/hen night on friday just at Phil's dads place, boys downstairs with the pool table and sasuage rolls, girls upstairs with the good food haha.
Wedding was great..meet all the rally's and friends of the Barrow/Lindbom family...was made very welcome and part of the family, included in all the professional photos, and even got called Mrs Barrow twice! Haha!
Have put some photos on .. they are of me and Phil at Shantytown (thats where the wedding was) and the other girl..that's Phil's half brothers girlfriend, Nicky. Oh, and the wedding cake.
The wedding was in the church inside Shantytown, and the after thingie was in the function room/pub...was a great night of dancing, wicked food, free drinks, and a sore head this morning! We then went to a BBQ at the bride's mum's today before we headed back to Christchurch. Funny though, we all stole the kids drinks cos everyone was feeling to seedy for a cold beer! Wine screwed me over, big time. Haha!
Anyway...thats all I have to say. Will report again when we are back in Godl Coast in the warm weather, not that im complaining about the weather here..it's been so much better than christmas, even to the point of me wearing a singlet this morning!
Keep well, Love Claire.

Hi from Ohoka

Great stuff Hayden - with the sale and the promo - perhaps the sleepwalking was a bit of stress - hope the windows were shut tight, being on the 13th floor.
We are still maiking hay - and it is still raining on Freidays (4th in a row) - we managed to get a paddock and a half of hay in the shed by midnight on Thursday night - the other wasn't quite ready to bale - and now it is very wet!!!! Good news is that we are almost finished -Yay:)
Had the gypsies to tea during the week - to s=discuss us joining them on their OE this year. They are leaving here mid-April to go to Morocco,Spain,Italy and Greece - because of our building project this year we can't be away too long so we are joining them in Spain and leaving after Italy - should be fun - Ernie is in charge of Spanish - can say Ole, Ole and thinks he can ask for the men's loo and a sandwich - Joanie says she will stay with him!!!! It is Dave's 60th birthday on 12 May and so that is the reason we are going,to celebrate that with him!!! We will be away from about 6 May to the end of May - and hopefully get back next year to fill in the gaps we miss this year - Melissa is sooo jealous
Melissa and Brianna came on their weekly visit on Wed - and the perfect child is standing now - has bypassed crawling (other than pulling herself along on the floor with her arms) is only interested in the good stuff - pulls herself up to stand and is working out how to get her balance - is fun to watch - and how a kid that young can work out what should be happening beats me - we were in Ezibuy in the arvo and she had pulled herself up to a low shelf and was lwetting go with one hand and then the other and obvioulsy watching how it affected her balance - was hard not to rush and grab her in case she fell - but she didn't.
We had a BBQ tea with Aunty Chris, Dave and the gypsies last night - Dave C is trying to pit both couples against each other in a BBQ cook off - with him and Joanie being the sole judges - and a 50 round competition - how easy to get free meals!!!!! Aunty Chris is doing some bribery - wine and dessert!!!
Have a good weekend - hope you enjoyed Geelong

xxx Mummy G and EJ

Weekend

hi team how are you all.i have the weekend off. hayden at work so im at home doing washing cleaning and emailing. just went out for coffee with carolyn and also went out for tea with her and her friend tim last night went to this very strange resurant in China town. the service was crap and they kept flicking the lights on and off the food was nice tho so it made it ok but i dont think we will be going back. we finally got our blinds yesterday so i had a good sleep last night because it was actully dark. hayden didnt sleep walk either. it is a bit cooler here today such a nice break from the very hot and humid weather we have been having. tonight we are going to the vodafone arena to watch track cycling ( it is also where they played the australian open tennis) it should be awesome to go to such a huge venue and also to see some of australias best cyclists. Next weekend where are going down to Geelong on the train it apparently takes about an hour and a half the womens world cup is on down there so can watch that and expore somewhere new. hope to catch up with jo kiesanowski from home racing with her american team. tomorrow will be making our normal trip to the market and may also go expolring federation square because we havent been there yet.

SOLD MY FIRST BIKE!!
Yep i sold a fuji team rc or something to that effect along with shoes a helmet pedals and shorts.$ 6000 all up so pretty good way to start. I've also been offered the duty manager's position at another store in chadstone the fashion capital of melbourne apparently. It's further away (15k i think from home) but a train doesn't go too far away from the shop so should be sweet and i can take my bike on the train if need be also. I'll continue training at the shop i've been at for a couple more weeks then i'l start out there. I'l be earning not much less than gemma to so makes me feel a little better bout myself :) had a good day today at work, was only gonna work till 4 but stayed on till 5.30 which was alright. Stil need to learn more about mountain bikes and other bits and pieces but it's been fun. Tomorrow i start at 9 finish 5 and it's spose to be busy in the weekends so should be fun. Catch ya's later we're going out for tea with canadian girl.

Work

Hey just got home from my first day at work, finished earlier than i was gonna cause jason, the manager of the store, had to go somewhere and i had finished reading everything he had given me. Which is all i did today, sat in front of a computer and red through stuff to increase my knowledge of the shop and figure out how to use there computers if someone wants to buy something. That was all i did all day and it actually went really fast which was good, tomorrow i'm gonna be familiarising myself with the store and trying to remember how much things cost. That's about it for now. Oh i didn't sleepwalk last night which was good.

Re Books

Hey Gem! Had a lady ring today about books. She wanted 2 of them. She wanted that really old pocket guide one! And the other human antomy one is really good for my course. Thanks! Toga party went well last night, but boy the 8.30 start with no free blocks until 2.30pm has been a long day!!! Enjoying the week and being out at Lincoln heaps though. We might go to town for one of the boys on my scholarships birthday tonight and we have the hypontist show tomorrow night and head to town afterwards. And next week the serious work begins!!! Well have a wee bit of work to do. Trying to find all my lecture notes on the internet. It is so helpful hehehe. Have a good night.

Luv Becky MWAH xoxoxox

Hey guys

Sorry it's been a while. I haven't got anything new or exciting or anything to post, but Hayden still wants to know, even if it's boring shite. :P

Just been working here, no more Samara though. Kids are good... Liam's enjoying school although he's still being silly now and then and kicking up a fuss over little things. He's lost two more teeth, so he's making good money from the bloody tooth fairy. Kady's.. well... Kady. Still Trouble with a capital T, but really enjoying the lovely weather lately cos it means she can play outside all day. I didn't go to Uncle Erwin's funeral though, as I had to work, but I think it was alright or so Mum and Claire say. Would have brought back stuff from Nathan's funeral for some though.

I've almost finished saving $360 for firewood, yahoo. The next biggie will be paying the tax. Yuck. Although as I've lost my hearing aid and still can't find it after a fortnight (methinks Kady's hidden it somewhere, wouldn't surprise me cos everything else goes missing), so it might be a toss-up between tax and that. Stupid thing.

Hope the weather's alright your way. It's been great here, quite sticky though.. overcast and humid in the mornings then the sun comes out and it's still humid, so very sticky. The flies are driving me barmy too. They don't even move when you swat them.

Hey Hayden, don't fall off those 13 floors on your midnight trips will ya? If you do, at least aim for a canopy or a car to soften the landing. :P (isn't 13 supposed to be a bad luck number? Inteeeereesting..)

Well, best shoot. Kady's being a pain, time for a sleep I'd say. Catch ya around, and yeah, see you when you both get back.

Dall & kids.

we have finally defeated technology

Hi Gemma & Hayden.
Wow, we are now bloggers. Since you have left there has all sorts of things happened. Uncle Dave managed to "write off" the Trooper and the Boat on his way to south Westland. Luckily, he, Hayden and Bryan Simpson (other passsenger) were unhurt. We are now in the process of looking and trying out new vehicles. We have an eye on a 4WD Kia and test drove one on Monday night. Certainly lovely to ride in and a little more comfortable than the Trooper. Sounds like you two are having a great time in Melbourne. Great to hear you have a job is your chosen vocation Hayden. I have just handed in my notice to retire from school at 29th June which is the end of term 2 this year. Really looking forward to it as we will leave for Perth approx 4 July and return at the end of August, hopefully missing the cold NZ winter and lapping up the warm Perth weather. We will call and see you guys either the way there or the way back or maybe both. Just have to fine tune our dates with Ryan and Dee. Uncle Dave, Hayden and Bryan S went up to the boat once they got over their accident. Had a great time going out and around into the Pelorous Sounds and catching a couple of huge blue cod just before Cape Jackson. They had 5 days up there and came home looking like Maori's with brown, brown faces and white around their eyes from their sun glasses. We have new neighbours moved into the house next door. The one that was on the market. The couple are from Australia, not sure which part, and have children, not sure how many. The guy is 6ft 8 at least. As he walks down the path at the back of their place, the fence only comes up to his shoulders. I said to Dave that maybe he is an import for a basketball team. He certainly could do a few slam dunks, no problems at all. Apparently the have not got their belongs, furniture etc, as it is still sitting on the docks in a container. Are going over later to see if they need to borrow anything in the meantime. We have had lots of hot weather here lately, although quite chilly once the sun goes down and heavy dews in the morning. If really does feel like Autumn is here and don't know when we had summer. Well its great to blog you and really neat to read all that you guys are doing over there and what a lovely appartment you have. Thats all for now, but shall be in contact again soon. Big hug to you both and take care. Love Aunty Chris & Uncle Dave.

from 5 Montrose Grds, Rangiora (New guys on the block)

Hi Gemma & Hayden. Just testing at the moment. Am I being a blogger or am I a tosser. Love Aunty Chris. PS Will send an up to date one later.

bad sleep

hi guys thanks for writing it is exciting each time we go on there and there is something new. CLAIRE- you will have to put a picture on here of you and Phil glamed up in your wedding clothes -hope it goes well. hope uncle Erwin's funeral was ok that you got to catch up with all the family and not to sad. MARRION- we dont have fox or austar its too expensive just yet. say hello to Faye for me tomorrow i have talked to her a couple of times since i have been here. so kelly and paul are both staying the same as last year- i thought that would happen. AUNTY CHRIS - hello i know that you are reading the blog but dont know how to write yet. we are looking into getting skype- have no idea how it works yet or how much it costs but hayden downloaded something to do with it - we also need to get a web cam. then i will beable to talk to you on there. BECKY - for you who always moans about how much you hate science.. i think that you will find that atomony is science! use my nursing book though it will be helpful. have you had any calls about the books you advertised for me?
last night my first night with my own patients was very easy they gave me one discharge and 3 pre-op patients that you dont have to do alot for the. ward was quite so good. tonight though could be a differnt story as all those pre-op patients will have had surgery this am. hayden has just gone out to his new work to hand in his contract and things before he starts tomorrow.
on HAYDEN he has been sooo anoying at night for the last 5 nights or so he has slept walked every night! he starts sleep talking the climbs out of bed and puts his shorts on or something hehe. i tell him the hop back into bed and he does without waking up. he does believe me that it is happening. i am getting the worst sleeps though because after he wakes me up it is hot and hard to get back to sleep and i think all night i am slepping with one ear open waiting for him to do it!!!!!! i have no idea why he is doing it so if anyone has any ideas of how to stop him tell me. Ashley ( haydens brother) used to do it when he was little so maybe it runs in the family. hehe alright going to go make me something to take to work for tea now.
Love from gemma.

Hey Kids!

Hey guys!!

I am now offically a uni student. Yahoo. . . I think! I stayed out at lincoln with lisa on monday night as we had orrentation drinks. Wasn't really a big night but enjoyable all the same. Am loving the classed I am taking. The anotomy one is pretty hard out but glad in yesterdays lecture I could understand the scotish lady and had acutally heard some of the words she used today. I'm taking two other rec papers and a food nutrition one which is quite interesting. Its really cool as our lectures only have around 40 people in them and one with 70. We have the toga party tonight. So I have to go sheet shopping on my way to uni!!! Last night we had Lisa ans Shane for tea. Shane is from the Mount and is on my scholarship by next door neighbours with Lisa in the Halls. So she has adopted him as a brother. And boy does he remind me a lot of you hadyen. Just some of his quick comments! I don't start uni tilll 2.40 on Wednesdays and only have 1 lecture. And on Thursdays I'm finished by 1.30pm. So my timetable not to bad. And it's good being able to go to the gym over there when you have some free time. Im enjoying meeting lots of new people. It was sooo helpful to meet all our scholarship people before hand because it means you know a good base of people all ready. Lincoln is Rugby short Central. I rekon you could go in overals and you wouldn't even get a sideways look. Georgia moved into the Halls last weekend so know car pulling with her. Don't think anything else exciting is happening in my life. . . . (YES HAYDEN, my boring life!) So have a good day. I'm going to go back to bed and do some work.
Luv Yah's
Becky xoxoxoxox

From Turiwhaia Road

Hi in Melbourne,
Today Paul Bex and I have been to Jack Granger's funeral Caught up with Deb, Kate and Ben and Karli Hopkins. She said she had a good 21st birthday on Saturday and like yours things got going until about 11.00 and then everybody headed to town. Bens leg is looking better but still not alot of movement but Physio is helping and he's off to Nelson tomorrow to quote on a couple of jobs.
Bex and Lisa are here now and off to touch. They have brought another guy called Shane home as well to play and have a home cooked meal so will have a BBQ when they arrive back as it is a warm night here again.
Nana and Grandpop enjoyed talking to you last night and they have your phone number now and you never know they could give you a ring at some stage.

Went to Aunty Chris's this afternoon to get her sorted with Blog but she was at the Gym so will try again tomorrow.

Cricket isn't going to well here today Aussie made 340 something and we are now 41 for 4 so not looking good. Hayden don't start talking to the Aussis about NZ winning cricket just yet.
Gemma, hope your first day on your own has gone well, we know you will have handled it.
Hayden enjoy your last day tomorrow as the house partner and all the best for Thursday
Love to you both RPB

Hello
Sounds like you have had great weather. Good news about your job Hayden, hope the hours are better. How far do you have to travel. We had a weekend in Gisborne for Andrew's newphews 21st. Good catch up for Andrew with the NI rellies and a good party on the Saturday night. Had a good look around and drove further up the coast to Tolga Bay for a look. Faye is coming over on Thursday for a family birthday party, so she will be pleased to hear all about your apartment and jobs etc. Lyall and Selena! are also coming. Michael has been doing really well at cricket over the last few weeks. Did you give a bit of stick about the cricket wins to NZ. Guess you won't know people well enough yet to judge if you can wind them up. Of course they always get back at some stage, but makes for good trans tasman rivalry. Coast to Coast was another good weekend for Sumner. We had a bit of a drama last week with the man 5 doors down (65 year old) stabbing his wife. We had ring seats. Weather has improved here a bit so hopefully it will be warm at the weekend or the Aussies will freeze. Andrew wants to know if you have fox or ausstar yet. I don't know if I told you or not that Kelly has decided not to come back to work fulltime. Good for the twins. She is going to continue to do the 2 afternoons a week though. Gordon has taken on the position as a permanent. Andrew says hi
Take care
Love from Marion and Andrew

Back in the cold again!

Hey everyone.
Claire here..am on mum and dad's account. Hope all is good, sounds like you guys are having a fun time exploring your new home and making friends.
I'm in Chch again at the moment, I arrived late on the 10th and Phil came over on the 15th. Has been very cold here..but Saturday, Sunday and today have been nice...bringing out the shorts but still not warm enough for a singlet (like I wear day or night, everyday at home lol). We seem to have been busy, never having a break. We went to town on Thursday and Friday with my and Phil's mates and I took Phil out for lunch on Thursday for a late Valentines Day suprise then on Saturday we decided to go to Greymouth for the night for Phil's brothers birthday, he had a big 18th party so that was cool. A very late (drunken) night, and then an early morning with a 3 hour drive home..so as you can guess it was early to bed for us last night.
Mum hasn't been very well the last few days..very unwell actually. She ended up going to the duty doctor who thinks that she has a bowel infection, so pretty much she's been in bed all weekend, only getting up to vomit or take one of the 3 pain killers she is on. She's had some blood tests and some other ones today..so hopefully that will tell her the outcome. She is sure it's not her bowel though, because whenever she eats she gets really bad cramps to the point of vomiting, so she thinks it's something to do with her stomach.
The kids are good..Kady is in to absolutley everything! And Liam..he's enjoying school and is still addicted to that bludy playstation! HAve seen them heaps since i've been here it's been great. Phil and I took them to QE2 on Friday then to the pool and playground at Pines Beach yesterday, Kady loooooves the water!
We are going to go to Hanmer tomorrow, then I will go to Uncle Irwins funeral on Wed (i'm guessing mum told you about him? - well he passed away on Friday morning, he is Trents grandad. Poor Auntie Audrey, and poor Rex!) Then we will be off to Greymouth on Friday for a few drinks at Phil's dad's before the wedding Friday arvo - Phil and I are looking pretty good all dressed up in our clothes! Then we go home next Tuesday afternoon..and both back to work Wednesday. I think i've decided to take the job at the childcare center, and also study by corrospondence..instead of the aged care job. It does mean less pay, but also means no weekend work and set hours each week, that are gaurenteed to be mine.
Anyway..going to go and find something for dinner for us and ma and pa. Dad is doing a race next weekend, its a relay race he's doing with Tim Webb and somebody else and it starts midnight Friday and they do a relay to Nelson which he is looking foward to. Then they have a prize giving and stuff on the Sunday. Mum is going to drive there and bring him home.
Congragulations on the job Hayd. Hope it works out well. Sorry about the death Gem, but you will soon learn to cope with your emotions like I had to working with aged care.
Love Claire xoxo

hello -is anyone else there?

hi guys what you all been up to its my sunday today overcast here today but warm. yestderday was very hot 40 degrees not a cloud in the sky and hot northly wind we went out to st kilda beach it was very nice sunbathing and swimming. we came home and it was very hot air con was so good ...that was until it broke down. so v. hot night last night i didnt have the best sleep suprisingly. friday night we went over the river from our place to southbank to the chinese new years celebrations. quite a big thing - lots of preformances, food, market type stalls and fire works. hayden says and i agree; can someone else other than us write something we know you are all looking at it. he says he knows you lead boring lives but we still want to know. happy birthday grandpop. have a nice lunch and dinner wish i could be there. ill see you all in 38 days love from gemma and hayden xxxxx

Piata Taylor

More good news

I had my interview today at the bike shop, it's called goldcross bicycles and there are 9 stores i think in victoria. It's a family bike shop so doesn't have the top end stuff but means theres a good range of equipment. The interview itself wasn't really formal at all, its hot here today so i just wore shorts and a t-shirt, talked to the guy and he offered me a job, he'd already done 2 hours of interviews and couldn't be bothered doing anymore he said. He kinda offered me the duty manager position which sounds good but a lot of responsibility. I start next thursday and will only be doing a few days a week until some people leave. So hopefully by the time they leave i'm trained up enough and may stil get the chance to be the duty manager. So it's gonna be a tight couple of weeks until i get more hours but it'l be fun.
Catch yas

Nurse Gemma

hi guys how are you all. wohoo we have finally got internet set up at our place - the super fast broadband. yay and our phone line is now fixed so all calls emails and blogs welcome and excitedly received. i got my first pay yesterday yay. it was awesome to realise that the money i got was for working only one week! i did a weekend day which you get time and a half for and also 3 afternoons which you get a $19 shift allowance for so pay was good while for me it was anyway. yesterday i experienced my first death as a nurse - although i am on an oncology ward patients are not really meant to die there as we are an 'acute' hospital- but is does still happen. i was looking after her with my buudy nurse when she passed away it even surprised us we thought she had til the morning. what upset me the most was seeing the family so upset and yes i did have a little cry. all better now though it was good to get it out at the time. the staff were all soo good to me telling me to take a break have tea and let me go home early. today they all were checking that i was ok and letting me know that they were there for support or a chat if i needed. i am quite liking having hayden at home to do some jobs while i am at work. he has got an interview tomorrow though - for a bike shop -and some other jobs to explore if that doesnt come through. was quite hot here today and thunder and lightening expected tonight still ahs only rainned once the whole time we ahve been here tho . two days to go of my seven day stint then two days off so might go to the beach or exploring the city.
hi to everyone and welcome mummy gail and ernie to the blog. love you all from Gemma

Hi from the newest blogger

Hi Gemma and Hayden - Bex has just sent me the link so we can talk to you both, and so I hope this works - Ernie is cutting more hay so it is lousy weather (of course) - well not quite raining but may as well be. Had dinner with your folks last night to get some low down on Greece and Italy and packs etc - yummy pork chops - sorry you couldn't be there to enjoy!!!!! Will talk more later and send a cute photo of the KID when I work out how to do so. The appt looks cosy - and the view not too bad. xxxooo Mummy G

Hey All

Weel it has been a busy week. The Coast 2 Coast was a lot of fun. The early morning starts wern'e that bad at 4 and 5am! Its very werid being in a traffic jam in the middle of nowhere at 5 am though! Mark and Kate did very well even though Mark struggled with stich the whole way thropugh the mountain run. After getting next to no sleep I was out to Lincoln. It was great to meet all the people in my scholarship and all the sports ones to. We went out to the high ropes course at South New Brighton which was great fun. A lot like the Boyle but in big trees. Hadn't even been there 48 hours and we were at the pub into the jugs of beer. Suprise suprise!!! Went back out for registratioin on Wednesday. Was like being shunted around a sheep pen. And waiting in lines for a good hour!!! All up it took around 3 1/2 hours to registar. Got some really good course advice though and I'm now taking a intro to tourism paper, just for something different! Have interesting hours with 4 to 5 hour gaps in the middle of my day on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Lisa is enjoying out there. My scholarship isn't to intense. I have to gain at least 100 points and pass all my paper to retain it next year. And you get 20 points for just going back with the liason team to your old school! Also got a gym membership. Only $70 for the year. So other than that I'm making the most of my last days off. Will be stayung out there a bit next week with orientation and the first week of lectures. Georgia has decided she is going to live in the halls though. So no car pulling, but oh well!
Sounds like you guys having been having a very eventful time. And cool to hear you have been out biking. Hope everything else is going well. Will chat soon.
Love and Hugs
Becky xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

NEWS FLASH!! NEWS FLASH!!!

hey i know it's only been a day since i last posted but thought some people may be interested in knowing my bike and I have just completed our 1st hour and a half on the streets of melbourne. Rode along beach road which is quite stunning (the houses, beaches and girls on the beach, whoops did i say that). Anyway quite an achievement and i even caught someone! he was biggish, had hairy legs and was oldish(49 or so rosie) but all the same. Till next time(which hopefully i can talk about having a job) catch yas.

Exciting weekend

Hi everyone. We had an interesting weekend as some may have heard, on sat night we were a bit bored so decided we would go to the casino, we got our good clothes on (gemma had a new dress she bought), and headed out the door to the lift. We pressed the button but nothing happened it didn't light up like it normally does, then we heard people talking from the fire exit stairway. After a bit of hesitation, because if you go out you can't go back in, i went down to find out what was going on while gemma waited there so i could get back in. We met up with a fireman and he said that the sprinklers had gone off on the 15th floor by the sauna. I went down the bottom and tried to find out more but then realised i couldn't get back into the stairway to get back up so waited down there for a while till someone came out. Meanwhile gemma had managed to get the key stuck in the door and despite hers and the firemans and our next door neighbours efforts couldn't get it out. I got back up there and with a couple of turns of the key it was out! decided not to go to casino so instead we helped them clean up some of the water on the 15th floor, some of the water had leaked onto the 14th floor and even into a room on our floor, the sauna etc is on the otherside of the building so it didn't cause us any problems but we decided it's probably a good time to get our contents insurance sorted. The next day we went to the markets and when we retuned the fire trucks were back, not sure what had happened this time but we got up on the lift cause our neighbour had the key to make it go. Overall pretty exciting weekend had by all. i'm currently looking into a couple of job possibilities our new friend carolyn's friend tim might be able to get me a job at the hotel he works at just carrying bags etc which would be good for a while, also gemmas new friend from work's sister is working at foxtel on the phones and apparently they're after people to so there's a couple of possibilities without really looking for them, till then though i'm doing all the housework and crap at home. Think that's about it from me i'm sure gemma will have something to talk about.

hello from Cridland St
We have been kinda busy lately with work and Canterbury champs and practicing riding the tandem etc. We went to the old fashioned Mandeville picnic on Waitangi Day for a while. went to see a neat old fashioned movie at Lizzy Bee's too called Praire Home Companion about a radio show that performs live in a theatre but is broadcast at the same time to vast parts of the states over the air waves. Had dinner at 1 restaurant in Kaiapoi before the movie and then dessert and coffee after it at the 3 cows. Went to Waikuku Beach Hall for Nicks 18th birthday last night before picking Claire up at 11pm. Emma had organised a surprise party for him so we were waiting inside with hundreds of those party popper things with strings poised ready to pop them at him when he walked in the door. He was surprised cos he thought he was coming to help Lyn and Heather to do the catering for the Wooden Bowling Clubs social dinner and was there under duress. SimonCroll was meant to be doing the 2 day coast to coast and went over Thursday for it but ended up being rushed to Greymouth hospital with appendicitious( whoops, cant spell) so came back friday night to be operated in CHch hospital. Liam has had 3 great days at school. Has a male teacher:Jeff Hertnon who is right into computer technology.there are only a few year3's in his class, most are year4's. All the year 3&4's are mixed there this year and are streamed; his class is the top one apparently- any way he is buzzing and back to the keen happy kid he was year before last. Came home proudly telling us friday night he had a surprise for us- he can now swim breast stroke. Kady is still as busy as ever- sleeping in a bed(most of the time) and now starting to use more words meaningfully. we have a friendly hedgehog who visits us and eats all the cats food and then leaves us a wee present on the door step. I think we may have to help him take a holiday and set up camp down near the river. am still running and biking. Next time we are talking to you get Gary to tell you a funny story about Adam at the champs. Funny for others but not so for adam. good luck with the job hunting Hayd this week. Your job sounds a challenge Gemma:I'm sure you will handle it though.

hi guys as you can see we are now settled into the apartment and have mostly everything we need the t.v just arrived this am. the pantry is full so dont worry mum we are eating well. i am at the internet cafe under our apartment and guess who i see when i come in ... GLEN SCOTT omg in a place with 4 million people we end up a the same internet cafe. we are gettin our own internet set up hopefully this week broadband with unlimited usage that runs at 1500 speed hehe makes our 33 at home look like a joke so then i can spend all my time on there... if i want to. also if a parcel does not fit in our box the post leave a card and we go down to the post shop to collect it. so fell free to spend us any thing big. hayden has now finished his work trail and has decided not to stay on the 12 hour days dont allow him to do anything else and he wants to get on his bike so the job hunt begins again for him. went out for tea at an italian place on lygon st last night the bigest lot and yummist lot of pasta for $10... we are definatly going back there! got lamb chops out for tea tonight. went to the bar just round the coner on the way home and watched england bet oz wohoo. overcast here again today so are plans of going to the beach are on hold instead going to the shops the get and aerial cable and some plastic storage containers. hope all of you are well. love from gemma and hayden.

more photos

the beach people

Hi Gemma and Hayden
Gemma sounds like your job is going great and really pleased to hear you are not worn out with all the new things you have learn and take in. Will be nice to get your first pay packet. Hayden you will be missing all the sport on tele, will you sign up for Fox!! Andrew said his team is still in front in the English league. Sumner will be busy Saturday with the Coast to Coast, also the first super 14 game at Jade. The streets will be busy. The girls (rosie,marion,molly,jilll,carole and pauline) are off to lunch tomorrow at Langdale. Rosie and I will meet P&A in the city around 6 for a cruise and a meal. Went to the twins 1st birthday and naming on Sunday. All very nice and went to clockwork as you can imagine.
Have a great weekend.
M&A

hi

hi team
well its now my weekend i have just finished my morning shift after a short change feeling suprising good. learning lots and have got alot to learn everything is different over here from drugs to the equpiment that we use. get my first pay next week. wohoo i cant wait! . the apartment is looking good we need a t.v and hopfully we will sort that tomorrow or on saturday. still waiting to have a clean up and maybe get the t.v in before we send you the updated photos of the place. we are stil waiting to get the blinds put up looking like next week at this stage. mum i made friends with the man and lady that live next door an put in the word about you renting the apartment out around xmas next year. his is two bedroom so that could be good. i rang nana and grandpop before i came down here... i think nana was excited! (cute). we got our 1st mail yest thanks for the letters that we recived from nz.

c u later going to send some more emails love from gemma.

Hey Gem & Hayd,

Hope all is going well. Was nice to chat to you both over the last couple of days. I'm just waiting for Kate to arrive so we can rock over to the coast. A lovely day here now that the cloud has gone. Kate and I went shopping this morning and have bright pink matching outfits with pink cowgirl hats to crew in. It is goin to be an enjoyable time. We even got bright pink toweling hoodies and we got it all from supre which is really weried for me and kate. $10 an item!!! We did look in cotton on but none in hte right size. So here is hopping we have nice weather. Have a good weekend. Propbaly wont get time to blog till after lincoln. So will chat Tuesday, but will txt ya 2!!

Luvs and Hugs
Becky xoxoxoxoxox

Hi to you both,

Happy Birthday Hayden, hope you have had a enjoyable day. You're been a bit shorted changed as you don't get a holiday on your birthday in Aussie. Your apartment looks great, hope you are enjoying the shopping getting all your bits and pieces. Our tramping in Nelson Lakes was quiet taxing, but great view from 1800 metres and awesome weather. Paul and I both have sore legs from coming down steep ridges to the lakes but still had fun. I have put a photo on of us on the tops. Today we travelled home through the Rainbow Valley, Molesworth and back to Hanmer Spring. Amazing country back in there and now know where the Rainbow Rage Bike race goes. Back to school for me tomorrow.

Gemma, Hope your second day as a paid nurse has gone well, I thought of you all day yesterday on your first day wondering how you found it all.

Bex says hi, she painted the hall over the last couple of days and is now crewing with Kate Hopewell for Mark OConnell in the Coast to Coast. They leave here on Thursday and will stay with them until they come in on Saturday. We will all go to Summer on Saturday to watch them and also Tomo from dad's work.

Love from all at Turiwhaia Road, oxoxo

1st paid day as a NURSE!

hi team wow it feels exciting to know that i am now on the payroll as a nurse. today was just an oritentation day so got spoken to by alot of people from the hospital and various unions etc. i have a far better understanding now of whats going on with the compulsary superanuation and tax free salary that they have for us over here. met some really nice nursing girls and the two that are on my ward seem good two. tomorrow i am on my ward (oncology) for the first day so should be exciting. i am on an afternoon shift so get the morning to sort out more house stuff...shift times are way better over here i finish at 10pm on a afternoon over here compared with 11.15pm at home. haydens birthday tomorrow ... not that we are going to get to see that much of each other with him going to work so early and me getting home late :( ...we will go out for t later in the week to celebrate.
glad every one likes the look of our apartment .. we really like it and are settling in well aircon was great to come home to today in the 38-40degree temp. we will post some more pictures once we have had a tidy up. i cooked us fresh calimari for tea tonight that we got at the markets yesterday.... soo good. markets were so chaotic yesterday when we went since it was a sunday alot of yelling from the stall holders pushing by the crowds and smells from the fish and garbage etc... remembering i am a little country girl after all.
cricket yesterday was great mcg bigger than i had imagened 48 000 in attendance only 1/2-3/4 full (because the soccer semi final was also on last night at the telstra dome also 47000 in attendance). very hot down in the bottom teir so had to move up to the very top in shade alot of kiwis there but still far out numbered by the ausies who get right into it all turning out in the team gear or wearing green and yellow. mexican wave banned ... yer right... it happened about 10 times and went on for ages each time. about 50 though did get evicted for throwing things which stupidly included blow up beach balls!

hope you are all well and that you are having nice weather to Love from Gemma and Hayden XXX

Hi from Geddis Street

Hello,

Hope you enjoyed the cricket. We looked for you but couldn't see you. Good luck with your work. We are thinking of you today. We like the view of the appartment. (I have just shown Nana & Grandpop the photos on the blog) Rang Angela last night for her birthday adn gave us the good news that her and Barry are engaged. Barry proposed at the rugby 7's infront of 35 thousand!!! Went down on his knees!!! It evidently caused a lot of fun. We have been for a walk each day but this morning we went to the west end of the street. It is a lovely day here today. 25 degrees on the thermometer outside the dinning room window. Nana has been thinking of us two girls as she has been picking beans. I guess you will miss not having nice fresh beans at home. We have sent a card for Hayden. Hope he has a good day tomorrow.

All the best. Love and Hugs
Nana and Granpop
xoxoxoxoxox

Wow!

Hey Gem & Hayd. The flat loks really good. Mum looked yesterday but couldn't quite sign in to write a blog. Since there only the two of you it looks a really good size while your both busy working.

Well the wedding. There are some photos to follow which I kinda took myself last night when I got home as my camera batteries I found out where flat when I got there. It was kind of patchy and over cast day. So was quite good. The picinic basket when down well. Everyone thought I was a relation of the lockheads with curly hair and Julie's wee girl even called me mum on accident! Teresa looked lovely. It was a great night at the winery but I didn't realise how small Canterbury House was on the inside. Some of teresa and bretts's friends live an hour and a half out of melbourne and the have two gorgeous children age 8 and 6. When I come over they are going to come up to the city and visit. So thats cool. I even got mistaken as their mother last night!!! I dont think anyone could knida work out where I fitted in. lol You gota love weddings. We having a few afternoon drinks round at there house today.

Well hope you are having a great weekend. The cricket today should be a great game altough I rekon Oz threw that last game. Good to hear your job going alrite hayd. Good Luck at work tomorrow gemma. Im sure it will go just fine. very exciting.

Luvs and Hugs

Becly xoxoxox

Kia ora

Hey.
Nice place ya's have got..nice and wee, not much vaccuming unlike our bludy house! Haha!
God that picture down there of Kady..with that grin..kinda scary!
Hayd: Phil said to say that the rialto building where it says it's the tallest, the Q1 in Surfers that Phil did the steel structal on is the tallest in the world..but they are all bludy tall compared to little old New Zealand! Rialto is 2nd aparently? :D
Hope things are going well and your setteling in. Sent you a pressie for your birthday Hayden..hopefully should arrive Tuesday. Things good here, meet up with Laura Howard and Tim (her boyfriend) last night and went out for the night which was good. They are seeing Cindy Gasgoyne tomorrow for dinner too.
We are off to a Waitangi Day Celebration tomorrow in the hope of getting some griffins chocolate chippies..and maybe a hangi!
Have a good weekend everyone.
Love Claire and Phil.

Nice place!

So, do you guys want to swap with me? You can live here with the kids and I'll live THERE!

Hope that dishwasher works well (unlike mine)... it'd be handy, with those long days. Just bung the dishes in and you're off. Lucky you eh Hayden? I don't think anyone will ever forget you complaining about having to unload the dishwasher though. :P

Glad to hear things are going well. Place looks great... love the view!

Photos of 1308/8 downie st (our new home)

The View from the balcony, yarra river
rialto tower(tallest residential block in world?)

Our kithchen, minus our new fridge Our lounge there is now a tv table in that

just pretend it's there in that big gap. there corner.

Hello everyone, my day at work was litterally that, i started at 715 had a bit of a look around the office, got told some stuff then we had a quick meeting where there was one of the originals from the company tell everyone how to sell stuff and he had a couple of flashbacks to when he was starting out, long story short he's quite a funny man that swears a lot and has red hair. At 9 we left the office for thomastown where we tried selling stuff to businesses door to door, few mixed feelings from the people we saw. After lunch we stopped at a hall that was full of old italian people, sold 7 knife sets to them and they joked about only wanting 1 knife so they could kill someone with it, we didn't know whether to believe them or not. Carried on selling stuff till about 5 then went back to the office and dropped everything off somewhere throughout the day a had to try and sell some things at an adult shop which was interesting as our main product was 3 warner bros scooby doo books, needless to say i din't have any luck there although i probably spent more time in that shop than any others. Got hame at 630, a long long day and it was hot and i only sold 4 things which apparently was better than most the managers did on there first day. guy thats my leader is called steve, we get on really well he's only same age as me and after a year at this company is ready to open his own business. the job itself is alright but hours arn't. we'l see what happens. We're getting settled into our apartment got fridge and washing machine today, still missing a tv so it feels a bit lonely at the moment. thinks that's about it for now so till next time.

Photos of the kids - last week of Jan. Hope this works!

Hey all!

Tis Dall here in case you haven't guessed, haha. We're all good here but I tell you, I so can't wait for school to start back on Wednesday!

Hope you lot are doing well. How'd the move go, Hayden and Gemma? Liam got your postcard today, was good. Thanks!

I'm going to upload photos of the kids taken yesterday so will figure out to post them on here.

Dall

The Beach People

Hi to all, welcome to new bloggers
What an eventful day for Bexs and Rosie, hope you enjoyed the experience. Gemma hope you had a good shop at IKea, very exciting. All the best Hayden with the trial. Andrew says catch a 48 on Sunday to the cricket. You will need something more than a NZ flag for us to see you, every Kiwi will have one. Looking forward to seeing pics of flat. Really hot in Rangiora today.
Waiting for Lala Maaacleod to post her first blog. Have you updated her Bec.
Cheers M&A

Hey Everyone!

Well mum and I just went to take the car to town for a warrent and service. Was mean to take about an hour. But not going to be ready until around 3 pm so muma dn I had to bus home from the other side of town. Was quiet a funny morning.
Nana and Grandpop are well. Mum going to take nana shopping this afternoon. Mum took nana for her check up the other day and she also had a CAT scan. Then they all stopped for lunch at Harringtons. So all good there.
What time do you get into the flat tomorrow? I still haven't managed to get a hold of skye I have txt her and rung her twice! I know she has been working a lot!
Russell Hall is coming for dinner tonight, so that should be nice. I have work and teresas wedding rehersal. Not long till the wedding. Lynette still fixing my dress and I have to make some jewls and still have no idea what colour!
Well have a nice day everyone! Happy IKEA shopping and hope Hayd's day goes well at work.

Love Becky and Rosie xoxoxox

Hey everyone!!

Hey.
This thing is pretty cool. Hope things are going well Hayd and Gem. Hey mum and dad. And hey Olivers!!
Hayd and Gem: hot at 25degees? Usuually when I drop Phil off at work at 6am, its already OVER 25 degrees here! Phew! Weather is getting very hot!
I'm going back to Chch next Saturday for Phil's dad's wedding. Looking foward to it!
Love Claire.