Not a case of the guilts

Hi Hayden and Gemma - don't think you have shamed me into writing Hayden - I am writing to wish Gems a HAPPY BIRTHDAY for Thursday
Your Mum and Dad will be there now Hayden so you won't feel so hard done by ??????
You maybe right about old people not wanting to see that movie - after all we just went ot see "Who wants to live to be a 100 (one who is 99) at the Court Theatre - was very funny - about 4 old men in a Rest Home - we must be sick to laugh about our not too distant future.
Our house is still progressing in fits and starts - the painter is due to start tomorrow - and that should then seem as if we are on the final countdown - although there is still the man to do the schist fireplace (and that won't be until the week after next) - the plumbing to finish - the drains to be dug - the power to be connected - and the phone - and the tiles and showers - and the carpets and blinds - and it seems as if there is always a day or 2 delay between each sub-contractor - I keep saying 2 mths to be on the safe side -
Gemma we took Nana to see Doug last week - and went shopping with her first and had lunch - it was the first time I had seen him since the stroke - and it seems as if he has a long way to go - but then I don't know how quickly he could improve - you would know better than me. She seemed to enjoy her day out and I called her again on Sunday just to see how the rest of the week had been - and he hadn't been too well on Sunday and they had done tests just to see exactly what was happening - I think they may have just wanted to keep on top of his health - what with the winter flus around etc.
Becks seems to be looking after herself on her own - a big change from a couple of years ago - and that is so good.
We had Brianna to visit today, for the afternoon while Melissa did some shopping - certainly keeps me on my feet - never sits still - what happened to the kids who sat quietly and played with toys - I ask!!!!! Did your Mum tell you that Melissa is pregnant again - due 12th March - so that will keeep her busy!!!!
wemrntoasfjewdr0one wotnsther - Hayden this is Ernie typing you a note on that thing that sits in front of him that you call a keyboard - and he doesn't have athritis :)
Anyway - have a great day tomorrow Gems - hope you like the BIG PRESENTS that Hayden has brought for you?????? and enjoy the visit from his parents (the in-laws) - hope to catch you when you are home at the end of the month
Lovexxxxx Mummy G and Ernie

kia ora

hello is there anyone out there? this is a blog, a blog is something that you write messages on so people can look and see what you have been doing, now i know it's all very new to a lot of you but the computer has been around for a while now and its not hard to punch in a few letters on the keyboard so lets get writing.

Not much new news. Rosie and paul and marion and andrew have gone wherever they're going and i hope they have fun and bring me back something good :)

We went to a Festival of NZ at fed square last saturday. Havn't seen so many maori and polys in one place since the tuahiwi fair. Was pretty good actually and i had a drink of L&P which was good goooood. Also had a hot dog which seemed to be a highlight of gems day for some reason.

Think gems works going alright although the asian invasion has been hard to get used to. My works been alright, a lot of negative comments and emails from the mangment/higher people about my shop. I've pretty much told them that my role isn't manager although they seem to expect me to do everything. I really don't think they have any idea of the work i've put into the shop. Although i did get a pay rise which is good and makes me feel a bit more appreciated. New manager starts on monday can't wait to offload all the negativeness onto him. Going away in a couple of weeks after mum and dad come over. We're going for a romantical weekend for 2 at rosebud/mornington peninsula to hopefully relax if gem lets me. Also taking ma and pa to soccer game between oz and argentina, who have named all of their top players, and for those of you that arn't into soccer argentina are about the 3rd best team in the world. Will be a huge event.

Oh well hope someone out there reads this or else i spent all this effort on nothing. And come on i know some of you are suffering from oldness and arthritis and oldness but the thing with the letters on it in front of you is a keyboard that if you put it to it's proper use will write stuff on the screen.

Catchya

Hayden & Gems(although she didnt have any input into this)

Hello my peeps

Hi everyone, gems been very lazy and hasn't been bothered blogging, i would have but have been really really busy doing stuff. We also didn't have the net for a week cause i broke the modem, the on/off swith stuffed up not long after we got it and finally gave up so i wiggled it about a bit too much and managed to wriggle it right off the switch board thing. anyway enough of the excuses. We not been doing much just working and sleeping, went to the melbourne museum on saturday, its huge and we were there for about 4.5-5 hours and didn't see it all. Then we went out for tea in camberwell, just a few mins walk from my work. I had been there once with work mates and it was amazing. Its called sophia's and its italian and a small pasta is $9-$10 and weighs a tonne. We got a pasta meal for 2 that was 3 pastas of our choice and cost $28 but we had to take well over half home with us cause it was too big. they have gelati ice cream for $5 thats about 1.5L of ice cream and would feed 4 people. Definately a place to see, was also packed, it has three levels the bottom one and the middle one were full prob bout 150-200 people in each and then the top one is a function room.
Went to the movies yesterday saw a funny movie called i now pronounce you chuck and larry definately worth a look(maybe not for the older readers though as its a new age type movie that only people under 30 will understand.
weathers sposed to be nice for the next week up towards 20 each day! hope the trip plans out well oh and i found a watch that i liked at melbourne museum. Its called a halo watch and is a circle with no screen but when you press 2 buttons on the side 2 leds light up to show the time, its awesome but i'd say its expensive as its part of an inventors type thing at the museum.
anyway i'm sick of rambling on
Gemma now new ward going well same kind of surgerys but not as major which means a faster pace as bigger through put of patients. This ward has a very differnent routine to the last as well - it is a bit more old fashioned in the way they do some things and the way the hierachy operates..
Whats happening soon- going to the exihibition centre sale that dad brought so much stuff at when we were on holiday here last year on saturday and maybe going to the sweet treats expo after that... it sounds decedent. sunday i am going out with the nursing girls for one of there birthdays. jan and gary will be here on the 11 of september and for my birthday. The week starting the 17th of sept i have a week of annual leave so spend the beginning of the week with jan and gary. The end of the week hayden and i plan to go on a road trip down to morington penisulia and phillp island for 3-4 days. Ok thats all for now we will try to update this blog more often sorry we have got so slack.
love from Gemma and Hayden xxxx

The Beach People

Surprise - Surprise, we have finally gotten around to blogging. Trip preparation has take precidence. Not long now until we take off, bags out and lots out on the bed ready for packing. Can't wait to get on the plane. Lots to do at work before we go so will be a busy 3 weeks.

Good to catch up with Hayden when in NZ. Hope all is well with you both and no winter ailments. We have had great weather for the last 3 days up to 17 degrees, so hopefully you got it as well.

McAlpines news - Alison is leaving Manufacturing, they are going to live in Tauranga near her grand-daughter. The Mega store is progressing well, hopefully opening on the 19th November. Lots of planning still to be done with stocking and staffing.

I will attach a couple of pictures of Sophia, not really recent, she is now smiling heaps and making lots of baby noises. Grandad smitten.

Just been talking to R&P, Bec had a good win today.

Take care

Love M&A

Your new bedroom

Have attached photos of the house on the bedroom side- one of which you can use when you are home - the "lovely" bricks will be covered with plaster - the colour of "double double thorndon cream"!!!

The fireplace and batte are in next week - and the gib the week after.

I hope you got hold of Aunty Chris - we have had an email to say they are back in Darwin and the cell ph reception has clicked back in.

Aunty Chris's phone number

Hi Gemma and hayden - good to see/hear from you both this weekend
As promised here is Aunty Chris's cell ph number in Oz - she got a new sim card there i think - it is 0061 447 027 837 - I think they are back in Perth later this week - if you don't have any luck there or finding Ryan's ph number - I could get that off Melissa.
I will send you some house photos this week - have to resize them first - the windows and doors are in - inside and out - and the blocklayer s finished today - we also had the electrician and plumber in today - the fireplace in next Monday - and next Tuesday the batts are in - followed fairly closely by the gib men - when I send the photo I will mark your bedroom!!!!
Your Mum and Dad made a good decision not to go ballooning today - it poured all night and was cold this am but did clear this arvo.
Talk to you later Mummy G and EJ

I know my hair grows fast...

But this is just ridiculous! Second pic was taken last Sunday, three days after the surgery. First was taken tonight, nine days post-surgery. No wonder I need my hair cut every time I blink! (order of pics got a bit muddled around in the upload)

Dall