WHERE'S BEST TO LIVE IN NZ ETC :PART 6!!!

[AngryBeaver]

Wow! Part 6...got to be a record.

MN Towers, where's our prize?!

Yep - in that section of shops over by the Warehouse.

Ok, I need to share. Apologies if this is rambling, but it has been entertaining me all weekend and have had no one to share it with...

Religion is a very finely balanced issue in our house. I am (semi-lapsed primarily due to various scandals) Catholic. DH is strongly anti- organised religion (mainly due to his Mum - more of that later). We have over the years reached a balance that works for us, although it scandalises some of my more religious friends.

MIL is a member of one of the many independent Christian churches (I can't think of a better way to describe it) and is quite narrow mindedly Christian (to the extent of telling someone's widow that the man would not have been in a better place because he didn't repent before death She also had issues with the idea of DH marrying a catholic although nothing was ever said directly to me). We try to ignore the worst of it & not allow it influence DC too much.

On practically her first trip up to see us she gave DD1 a children's bible. (No issue there - although slight issue at her insistence on reading the crucifixion story to a 4 year old).

DD is now learning to read. For the first time ever she has picked up a book and wanted to try to read it. Of all the early reader books we have around the place, which is the one she picked up... yep, the bible (which hadn't been hidden away or anything)

I've spent the weekend in hysterics watching DH as he tries to encourage the reading while simultaneously not react to all the bible stories. It's very entertaining and should get even more so when MIL arrives on Saturday for the weekend .

(This is in addition to the school teaching them Kumbyah to sing at assembly - poor DH who thought by being here there'd be no religion in school )

Vvv- I find DD loses her books very easily .

Lolly- any news/progress?

I've had a super lazy weekend while DH has had some proper time with DD. We even went out for dinner!

That's funny vvv, I've just got off Skype with my dad who wants to know why DD isn't in Sunday school, and what am I doing about her religious education? It's tricky because what I really really realllllllly want to say to him is that it's none of his business. But instead I told him that as we haven't actually decided where we are living yet, I will wait until we can join a chruch / congregation properly. Which is a big fat lie. What is so ironic is that my dad is considered the black sheep of the family because he is the only one who isn't actively in the church as a minister or whatever.

As you all know, they are supposed to be coming to live with us in the near future and I realise I am going to have to tackle this at some point......argh.

And yes, lolly! What news? I am living vicariously through you!

I know I'll probably be sick of it after 2 weeks but I'm really enjoying not having to get the dcs out of the house for 8.40.

We're making choc chip cookies and watching Tom and Jerry, it's great.

lollystix any news on the house?

AB I've been meaning to ask how you feel about Waiheke now you've been there a month or so. Are you feeling settled in? Do you prefer it to your previous location?

Religion, always an interesting one with families.

Well the retreat was great. Fantastic food - Nici Wickes (TV chef) did the catering, alot of restorative yoga, meditation, gentle 'flow' yoga, minimal chanting, some out of my comfort zone things (holding hands and walking in friendship circles and sharing feelings - I'm not very touchy feely). Not strict, we had chicken Friday, the rest was vegetarian and most people took a bottle of wine for Saturday night. After dinner on Saturday we watched a DVD - yogawoman. Managed to get a beach walk in between sun and showers and read heaps of my book. No work, phone, internet and study. I have come back quite chilled ready for the school holidays. DH and the boys had tidied the house and cooked dinner . Need to go away more I think

Good luck Justa. I found that by week 2 I had bedtime sorted. So we've stuck with that system now DH is back. I do bedtime and DD is asleep a lot earlier. DH has taken over cooking. I'll let you know how it goes!

Plan sounds good. When ds1 was 0-2 years dh worked away most of the week. I used to find it hard when he came back as we had our own routine. Over the years his trips away have decreased so he's rarely away now and I love the nights when he's out and we do our own thing but my boys are older. I remember it being hard with bedtimes and juggling.

Yeah, it's the monotony that I find hard.

Frik- get out in that kayak immediately! Reports of 30 Orca in your harbour! (Care of Project Jonah's facebook updates.)

littlest - yes, I suspect the book may have to go temporarily missing for DH's sanity, but it's so lovely to see her voluntarily struggling through reading something and be so delighted that she's got it, that neither of us can quite bring ourselves to make it disappear.

And, not to go to far down the religious discussion (I'm Irish, I should know better!), but I'd really love a little book of 'nice' bible stories for her. I think 5 is a little young for Cain & Abel, Solomon or the Crucifixion. But maybe that's just me.

And justa - yes to the idea of a plan. I have one of those and DH will be around! Although DD1 has already scuppered part of it. Friday was meant to be DD1 & Mum time, you know: haircut, cinema, lunch - DD2 will be at crèche. DD1 has begged to go to the school holiday club instead

I'll have to move it to next week instead. I never said I manage to plan for BOTH weeks

Sibble - retreat sounds absolutely awesome. Am hugely jealous.

Frik - did you see the orca???

Didn't see the orcas!! By the time I read it on here it was dark outside!

We are on our way to Auckland! DH has a meeting this morning in penrose. i was wondering if anyone knows somewhere kid friendly for me and DD to hang out while we wait? i will have the car. Am actually really excited about seeing Auckland :-)

Hmm, Penrose is quite industrial. But 5 or 10 mins drive away is Cornwall Park which is lovely. Huge park, has a kids playground etc At the of edge of the park is the Stardome Observatory which will have school holiday activities on.

Cornwall Park sprung to mind as well. You have Ambury Park in the opposite direction. Not sure which would be closest, both are great, but Cornwall Park possibly easier to find?

Yes, Ambury is great too, working farm in a regional park. Cornwall park would be better if it rains as you could go into the observatory. Sunny at the mo but a few dark clouds around.

The playground at Cornwall Park is pretty amazing- it has a train station and everything!

Penrose is next to Mount Wellington which has Sylvia Park if you need anything you can't get in the BOP. Or it's quite close to St Heliers, Mission Bay - 15 mins - if you fancy checking out places to live ;-)

Don't know a thing about houses over here so not even going to try and give advice. Good Luck to all that are looking though. Hopefully that'll be us in 2 ish years.

justa does ds3 need any bottoms? Ds1 has grown out of a few of cotton joggers. I'm happy to hand them over if you want? They are all in good nick, only bought them just before we got here in October (from tesco nonetheless but he's just had a sudden growth and they are Hal way up his calves now.

Hope you had a good time in Auckland frik I may have to try out Cornwall park too. Always looking for new places to visit.

Back to my last post, in England dp and I had already agreed to give Home Ed a try as we both thought the starting age there was just too young (ds1 would be just starting now) Bit different here as the starting age is higher, and so dp really wants them to start school, but the closer it's getting to having to look at schools the more I'm wobbling. Already had this great HE plan in my head and not quite sure I want to change that now. Still going to look at Browns Bay anyway, as not going to rule anything out.

Hope it's going ok for you justa Bit different to just be thrown in to it unexpectedly. Did I read that the school are sending you work for ds1 or are you having to do it yourself?

I also think option C will be best. Expensive outlay but once it's paid, it's paid and you will see the benefits straight away.

Off work all week except for 1-4pm Anzac Day. Anyone free for coffee? I won't forget this time, I bought me a diary!