A visit from Leo - Naomi's post

Leo is a lion from my classroom.  He visited me and my family this weekend.  On Friday, Leo, Hannah and I played with the loom bands and Hannah made a mess.  Leo, Hannah and I jumped off Hannah's bed.

On Saturday, my friend Olivia came over and we played.  Olivia's family moved into a new house.  Later Brooklyn and Oliver came to my home and had a play and to have lots of fun.

On Sunday, I went to Imogen's birthday party.  We did a marble race.  We had to hold the spoon carefully to make sure the marble did not fall.  We had a game called 'Suck with a straw and pick up the M&Ms'.  We played on the playground to have a play and to have lots of fun.

I will miss Leo when I go to Canada.

Farewells - Aroha from the Whanau

The official farewells have begun. Friday the staff of St Paul's Collegiate School farewelled Craig.  Craig's colleague and fellow trivia team member, Defyd Williams began with a clever speech entitled the 7 Craig's (a take-off on a rather famous - infamous? - set of sermons by the previous St Paul's Chaplain, based on the 7 Deadly Sins).  Roger Bell then presented Craig with a a beautiful black and white photo of the cross on the top of the chapel with a silver fern shaped jet stream.  Roger had taken the photograph and explained his photograph as a metaphor of Craig's ministry at St Paul's. The photos here do not do it justice as it is stunning.  The Headmaster, Grant Lander, gave a final tribute and Craig was presented with a Waikato rugby jersey, a gift from the St Paul's social club.

Saturday we were farewelled by Ellen's old office team. As some know, it was a difficult transition time for everyone in that office which saw everyone lose their jobs through no faults of their own. The organisation felt it needed to go in a different direction which simply did not include those currently employed. The group has continued to meet and have many great times, with plenty of food, wine and laughs. We have all become very good friends. While Ellen was never formally recognised, the group presented an even more valuable gift of an authentic and truthful tongue-in-cheek "letter of recognition" from this group of friends. They also gave us a wonderful memory of NZ - handmade 'aroha' tiles and a calendar full of typical kiwi scenes. We will miss both the aroha we have felt here from our whanau, as well as the DIY, she'll be right, number 8 wire nature of kiwis in general. Something from which we can all learn !

Sunday we were farewelled by St Stephen's Anglican Church in Tamahere. This was the parish which was so intriguing to us 9 years ago that we decided to make the move. This little parish on the outskirts of Hamilton, NZ is a truly remarkable place filled with the most amazing people from all walks of life.  They embody their mission statement to 'work together to extend God's love to our community and our world'. For the past 10 years, they have run the most amazing monthly market which is known throughout NZ (3rd Saturday of the month, rain or shine).  The community present us with 3 paua (abalone) fantails and a glass plate with a fern. We will miss our little home away from home - the people and the place.

Emma and Hannah in front of the church hall

Naomi with the church in the background

From each of these occasions, as well as more intimate gatherings, we have taken much on board.  We have learned so much from those we have met along the way. We are the same as we've always been, but we are changed hopefully for the better for knowing so many incredible people. We are continually humbled by the comments, cards, and phone calls we receive.

New Zealand Spring?

It's our last New Zealand spring. And really it's nothing to write home about. Hit and miss but mostly cold and raining. Today - it was supposed to be a high of 18 but I'd be surprised if it passed 15 in Hamilton (overnight lows of about 4). The winds and rain from the south is freezing! Tomorrow the forecast is hail.  Milton on the other hand is experiencing similar temperatures according to Environment Canada (14-ish). Although, by the middle of the week it's suppose to be 'light snow' which made our girls rather excited! I'm sure come January the discrepancy between the New Zealand summer and Canadian winter will be rather significant.

We have had some beautiful days. The roses are out everywhere. The cherry trees are finished. It's like winter never existed. Which, in some ways, is part of our dilemma: We're so used to firmly demarcated seasons that the brief, subtropical winter just doesn't seem right! And Christmas in the middle of summer is still strange. I always said I was willing to try and it certainly does have advantages (i.e. swimming at the beach or in the outdoor pool on Christmas Day). But I know I won't be able to grow vegetables, herbs, fruits. Nor have a variety of citrus available outside the door. This is the first year I have not planted my veggie garden.

Today marks 33 until departure from Auckland. Our good friends the Osbornes have volunteered to take us to the airport (not sure they know what they're in for!).

In a few weeks, Murphy our Lab/Shar Pei will be arriving at his new home with a great family who live just north of Hamilton. They have a nice property with a rural outlook and even a cow/bull next door for him to torment. I took him for a visit on the weekend and he, their kids and current dog-temp Zoe got on like a house on fire! I'm sure Murph will be a much loved part of the family and look forward to keeping in touch with them. I know by staying in rural New Zealand, he will have the freedom and attention he is used to which isn't something we can guarantee for him in an urban Canadian city. And he'll be able to maintain his 'brotherhood' with his 'bro' Sam the Golden Retriever (and swims in the river).  We will miss 'both' our boys.

The Park, Pool, Gardens and Trains

Now that our house is empty we need to find things to do outside.  Yesterday Emma performed at a concert while Naomi and Hannah decided to go to Callum Brae Park.

 Afterwards we went for a swim in the St Paul's school pool.  That is one thing we will miss - having access to a large outdoor heated pool for free!  And the climate where you can actually swim outside!

Today we went to Hamilton Gardens to watch the scarecrow exhibit.  Naomi and Hannah got their face painted!  Naomi got a tiger and Hannah got a butterfly on her cheek. We will miss Hamilton Gardens, it is a beautiful place to go in the Spring and Summer and has some great activities for families.

After that we went to Minogue Park to ride on trains run by the Hamilton Model Engineers.  We have lived here for 8 years and just found out about it!  We all had a great time.

Phew - the Container is gone

On Tuesday and Wednesday last week, we had the movers in to pack up all our stuff and cram it into a container, to be sent to Canada.  Of course, that meant the weekend was pretty stressful and we were scrambling around figuring out what to send on the boat, what to keep, and what to throw out!  Overall, I think we did pretty well!  There was not much room left in the container by the end.

Here is the container, all packed up and being driven out of our driveway.

It is pretty scary watching your life drive away in a 20' container.

Now we are 'camping out' in our house for the next 6 weeks with mattresses on the floor and not much else!

Luckily we still have all our electronics and appliances since we they would not work in Canada.