scribbles for scribbles sake

hey long time no look-see.

I have finally found some motivation, I quickly reached for the nearest bit if paper, but knew that I would end up just typing it out later on. So why not transcribe via the medium of the keyboard and screen huh???

Well, it has been a long anticipated week, with so many things happening all at the same time, both Bo and I have hardly had anytime to really take a breathe and it only gets busier as the silly season progresses.

We are trying to sell our house, I am not so sure on how it is going… but we are hopeful. The closed tender was supposed to have closed on my daddy's birthday (November, 25) but our real estate agent has stated that the "market" has been really slow to respond. A sharp contrast to what she was telling us in the beginning - hmmm. However, it is a dynamic position to be in, and it is not like we held out hope that we would get a TRILLION dollars for our house. In the end, we were persuaded to host one more open home last Sunday… with one potential buyer out of it… to later put in a proposal this week. Its Thursday (as I am typing this) and still not heard a peep. Watch this space!

Picture of Oriental Beach, Wellington

Agnes (Bo's elder sister) arrived last Saturday with Wellington putting on the MOST stunning weather I have seen all year. No wind, beautiful sun as we wind down the later ends of Spring. We picked her up from the airport, arriving (me, typically barefoot) and Bo without his wallet.

A little background - you have to understand, it is a great tradition of mine to go missing on the weekend. I am a strong believer that the weekends are mine, so only in extreme cases of EMERGENCY - I am completely uncontactable. I don’t know where my mobile is, don’t reply to emails, NEVER answer the landline and barely hear any knocks at the door. I have just done this routine, since always, I figure that I am around the people that NEED my immediate attention - so there is no need to be distracted by anything else. If you really need to get a hold of me, Bo is always glued to his phone… who knows huh?

So, with my bare foots in toe (all pun intended) Bo, kindly reminded me that I, YES I, had forgotten HIS wallet. With frowning subtilties - "hmmph… sorry of course I did darling". So we parked the car, closest to the terminal gates, which was perfect (as I am known to show my upsidedown frown at the carpark selection of my better half - another story, another time). I quickly realise that, we do not have any money between us to pay for the carpark and that we would probably have to "beg, borrow or steal" to get out of the airport. Alas, Agnes will be here soon and we can borrow money from her… great, welcome to New Zealand, I trust you enjoyed your 27 hours in the air… can we borrow $5 cos Iritana left my wallet at home???

We were about 30mins early, so decided to head to the gate and greet Agnes on her arrival… hey did, I mention that she was flying over from The Netherlands? Oh well, she left Holland, a few days ago and spent a little while in Shanghai before flying into beautiful Aotearoa. Agnes arrived, and she looked stunning as I last remembered her… with the exception of her well pregnant form. With Daddy holding bubba, and amazed that his sister was in country, it wasn’t long before the Dutch supremacy took over. Which is terrific, as Bo speaks very little Dutch and I have to constantly remind to him to keep up bubba's Dutch.

Bo & Iritana with the human on Oriental Parade

We collected Agnes' bags and headed off home, with a quick stop off to Oriental Parade for kaffe.

Sunday arrives, and the open home is on, so we are in a mad dash to get the house to a presentable state, only to return to the kitchen bay window wide open for any cunning begger (quietly think the real estate agent is a MORON) but she did put the alarm on, clap clap! Monday arrives and only one day until the human is ONE.

Birthday Morning

After, baking strawberry and vanilla cupcakes, and one chocolate mudcake… decorating the house with balloons and streamers - our darling human woke up a little earlier. Born at 6:58am, I wanted to wait until then - that is when the REAL celebrations would start. Can I keep that a trend or household tradition to give his presents or BIG mama kisses at 6:58am every 30 November that I am around my human?

Our Human & Mama!!!

Our first SMS is from Aunty Kataraina (my elder sister, also with child and due the same time as Agnes)… we start to take pictures of the human waking up and crawling around on mama and papi's bed. Woohoo 6:58am and I take the first picture and quickly upload to twitter, so the whole world knows that Tuwhakairiora Daniel Engels turned 1 Year TODAY!

We proceed into the lounge with all the balloons, and bubba goes nutts seeing all the balloons. After a quick nappy change, we put dress him in Aunty Babs "Helaas Pindakaas" t-shirt which literally translates into "Unfortunately Peanutbutter" - have to love the Dutch sayings, with a slant!

Helaas PINDAKAAS

Daddy gives bubba, his first present of a push car, which on the box reads "for 1 - 3 year olds" not GIANTS huh? He squeezes into the bike, LOVES it, really does. Then a round of presents from the Engels familia in Holland… he is sooo lucky.

Bubba's toy car from Mama & Papi

Running out of time, we manage to fit in a phonecall from Caylani and Patricia, skype call from them also and a wonderful call from Opa in Gambia. Dishes done, cakes sorted we head out the door to Kohanga for breakfast and karakia. We arrive at Kohanga, spread out the fruit for breakfast to compliment the marmite sandwiches and then bring out the Chocolate Mud Cake with candle. Sounds of "Ra Whanau kia koe" ring out amoungst the small high pitched voices… and then the perfect announciation of Tuwhakairiora, always greets me with warm fuzzies.

Cake shoved into his mouth, nose and hair, yes hair! We clean up bubba, ready for karakia. Typically Ngaati, karakia is quick and effortless with beautiful singing - Agnes is taken aback with emotion, as she watches her nephew engage in waiata-a-ringa. I am struck again, with another round of Happy Birthday filling the halls and marae. We take plenty of photos and videos, prepared to upload them to our anticipated audience!

Our CUTEness eating his muffin!!!

We pack the human up, and head out for the rest of birthday awesomeness, a quick fill up at the petrol station, conveniently located next to Rosalie. We indulge in the "Kiosk" Chicken and Bacon pie… and if you havent had one yet, you are truly missing out. I unfortunately have to head back into work, but a big day planned with Daddy and Agnes.

Human, takes a nap on the motorway to work… and I bid my farewells and join in via twitter on their celebrations. A trip to the Zoo, feeding the giraffes, meeting "Tahi" the one legged Kiwi and then a quick dip in Island Bay before lunch at the Bach. After such a long day, my working day had ended and Daddy agrees to pick me up on their way home - the human is as we I had previously left him, exhausted and asleep. I believe it was a wonderful day to celebrate his birthday!

We are now heading into the weekend, where we have my family (and friends) birthday and our Antenatal birthday! Good times ahead, I best not forget to pick up the cake on Friday!

the randomness of it all - my dear :)

OMG, has it just been one of those days... that starts off rather unentertaining and as the day progresses - the sequence of events that get you through seem to AMAZE the bejeebers out of ya!

This morning was the same as usual, struggle to sleep, tossing and turning (wondering if the baby is still breathing) and finally the Nanny is doing her job and taking care of our boy. Always good to wake up to that beautiful smile, he was fed, dressed and ready to go to Kohanga. Unfortunately, I had slept in, hoping that I would be at work at 8am... but managed to get on the bus at that time.

I get to the bus stop, wishing a bus would turn up (YAY the 91 arrived), it stopped raining, things were going well. Are you as selective as I am, when choosing a seat in the bus, do you almost put your judgemental 'first impressions' hat on... or do you profile like I do, and have a preference of the lucky recipient of having the honour of sitting next to you.

Step 1: Get to the front of the cue, taking in exception for the elderly, parents with children, mobility impared people... you get my drift.

Step 2: Confidently have my snapper card ready (and loaded) for efficient entrance

Step 3: Scout for empty two seaters, preferable on the left hand side (facing forward) to get a view of the harbour, all fingers crossed - the window seat is mine!

Step 4: In failing that, I try to find someone that is NOT sitting halfway on the other chair... and preferably not a male. I say that lightly, because - I dont know what it is about men, but they tend sit with their legs wide apart if still riding that horse (no pun intended).

Step 5: I find my victim, I mean my seat and hope that this person doesnt smell, playing incredibly loud music, or start cuddling up to me in their sleepy journey to work.

argh... going off track here - but I got off the bus, and noticed the old woman with the collection bucket for daffodil day. I have been waiting for this day to come around for a while, as I love to support the New Zealand Cancer Society and any research they do. I reach into my bag, grab out a couple of dollars and get one of those pin on daffodils… and then I notice Wholly Bagels (great… starving) I get into the store, ready to order, but I cant find my freaking wallet - WTF? I manic around the place searcing for it, because seriously it is only about 10 meters and 10 seconds from when I had it in my hot little hand - until the great disappearing act! Needless to say, I frumped (is that even a word?) back to work - and began to unload on my collegues. I was hoping somebody would hand in my wallet saving me from having to cancel all my cards in there - but I thought I should really get onto cancelling them immediately, only to hang up from Kiwibank… and have the branch shop in Manners Mall advise that someone had handed my wallet in!

nb: insert scenes of me doing a happy dance, and fiercly waving my hands in the air… occur here>>>

Then told that I cant reverse the cancellations, so what am I able to do know Kiwibank? What else could I do but Twitter my frustrations away! I find that I get more of a response this way… and consensus that I am NOT loosing my mind. There are always helpful people, willing to tweet back helpful hints and tricks.

The day got even better, as I discover my F'N!!! Aupair/Nanny has packed her bags after two weeks of being in the country… enough for now - will update you on that venture later.

hmmm

What do you do?

I am usually procrastinating and dont feel like thinking with so much intensity, and I reach for the nearest pen and paper and begin to scribble my thoughts away. Not that I would have anything useful to say, or any ground-breaking or dramatic events. I just like to see my own handwriting.

My dad had very nice handwriting and I have always tried to emulate him in nearly everyway. A great pen also helps. You will learn much about me, and get used to the many flashbacks and 'remember when's'. I will attempt to reign my thoughts in and give some overall perspective... but it will be a little trial and error in the beginning until I learn how to better express my thoughts. I do often feel that there are far too many 'alter ego's' fighting for the mic up there (in the old noggin).

This blog will be a regular portal into the life, love and happenings of a nearly 30-year old mother of a gorgeous baby boy, on her second engagement about to sell her family home of 30 plus years... and so on!!! Join me in this epic journey as we travel through what is like being me... watching them!

I have managed to make it home ok, in time to have a bit of a play with the human, geeze, you know... if you have a pretty rough day - all it takes is a smile from that boy of mine... and the whole world is right again.

We had the chat to our Nanny/Au Pair - and hopefully we are on the right path. We have an au pair from the Czech Republic, to initially help out with the pick up/drop off, night feeds, general house cleaning. So far, not going so well, as our Nanny seems to have bailed on the night feeds which seem to be the most integral part of her being here - as baby goes to Kohanga during the day. Argh, none of that is really important, just really a side issue that has been dealt with (for the mean time) and our Nanny is going to see if she can handle the nights again... not really holding my breath, but what this space.

Also note, I will try and not go into too much detail about work and some common people - as not to incriminate myself... anyways, that is just plain mean, and stoopid!

I am at home now... trying to think of something or a topic for my next post, ciao ciao