Chat for those living in New Zealand

[Shells]

Hi everyone. Thought I might start up a new chat topic as our other ones seem to have fizzled out, especially with Christmas/holidays etc. And I think maybe there are some new faces around too.

I've got lots I'd like to chat about.
Isn't it great that school is going back .
Are you worried about how the recession will affect NZ?
Why did I go camping with a one year old? and other stories from the holidays.
And it would be good to hear everyone's news really.

So, just to get the ball rolling. I'm Shells, I am a Kiwi but lived in London for 18! years. Came back 2 years ago with English DH and 2 DSs (7 and 4), and now have DD who is 13 months.

Hi whuneedsleep
I don't think I've seen SMA here but others may correct me. The main ones we have are Heinz, S26, Karicare and there are some others only available at pharmacies. S26 is made by Wyeth - its just possible that its SMA in disguise??

You should be OK travelling with a 5 mo - much easier that age than older. Try and make sure you're guaranteed a bassinet and your DC will probably sleep more than you do.

How was the sleepover Sibble? I keep promising DS1 that he can have one, but haven't quite committed to when...
Hello Mrs JC. How old are your two now? Paekakariki beach is fab isn't it. We contemplated living there at one stage, but too much commuting.
Spoke to my sister in Melbourne yesterday. It was 46 degrees. Eek. Not nice.

shells I am slightly traumatised . ds1 has had friends sleep before but just 1 or 2 and it has been fine but in larger numbers some kind of pack mentality seems to have set in. Maybe it's a boy thing but they seem to be incapable of doing anything without arguing, fighting, wrestling and don't even get me started on the volume. I think the neighbours might be traumatised too.

I lost the plot at about midnight and swapped some around and they've still been up since 6am. dh has gone out for the day - I told him to go, he's extremely traumatised!!! Havn't heard from any parents and didn't arrange a pick up time so who knows when they will go. At least we have the pool, they've been in there for the past 2 hours. The noise is easier outside than in.........

At least it's only once a year. I could never be a teacher!

Hang in there! Hope they're all gone now. Is it too early for wine? I shouldn't think so....

How to tell that your 2 year old been watching too many Australian cartoons....

dd has been a bit obsessed lately about her 'bits'. I think it's a boy/girl twin thing (and ds in the way of most men I know does not leave his willy alone). So she keeps asking ds has a willy, what does dd have? We went with the generic bottom for while, but then I thought why on earth are we so squeamish about the female anatomy, asserted my feminist principles and told her it was called a clitoris. I then heard a little voice from the bathroom - dd was pointing to her undercarriage and showing ds where her 'platypus' is .

Hope everyone is surviving this heat. It's all a bit much for my Celtic genes and I am sequestered inside!

lol at platypus

5pm and the last one has just gone. Have just poured myself a glass of wine before I cook dinner. ds2 crashed about 2 hours ago so need to wake him as I have a very strong suspicion I will be in bed before 9pm!!!

Am mentally bracing myself for tomorrow - ds2 has swimming lessons at 10 then I'm ferrying ds1 and some of his class (probably same boys) to their swimming inter-school activity, supervising until 2 then ferrying them back to the school.

Better only have one glass . Sometimes I truly think life was easier when I worked .

hello
am completely freaked out, had to rescue DD from drowning at teh beach today. She was paddling in the rock pools, as were masses of other children, and she just went under, as quickly as you like. I ran straight in (DH said he'd never seen me move to fast), still holding mobile phone and with handbag on, and fished her out. The sand just dropped away - there must be a huge hole there, my feet suddenly couldn't touch the bottom either.

It was terrifying and I feel SICK.I can see why so many people drown here, if I hadn't been watching and right by here (as TBH I always am by water, thank goodness) she could have been gone, just like that.

anyway. I don't think they have SMA here. 5 mths a top age to travel IMO - bassinet, lots of sleep and milk, and I don't suppose s/he'll want to move about in the plane which is perfection!

mrsjc that is my worst nightmare, ds is almost fearless now with the water and I can not seem to drill into him how quickly it can go from fun to trouble!!! We have just got back from Kairaki Beach out near Kaiapoi where it was absolutely devine and ds was a star. We came back a day early as I was having a bit of trouble sleeping in the caravan, the bed not quite big enough for gigantic bump!! We had friends with a 2 year old with us and I told ds J was too little to go in the water past his ankles and that ds had to show him where to stay to be safe...he was brilliant (adults were there too but it did stop ds from wanting to hurtle neck deep into the water.

Have only done sleepovers for friends who have needed an overnight break so only 1 extra child and that has been enough to turn me grey as ds and said added extra like to sleep in together and keep whole house up till all hours with arguments and merriment.

Mrs JC, poor you. You must be very shaken. Thank goodness for your vigilance. I did put DS (very young) in swimming pool once without floaties (forgot) and he promptly sunk and I jumped in with all my clothes on to rescue him! It was funny afterwards, but definitely not funny at the time.
Was it at Sumner? I remember the tides/sand etc. being very moveable there. Big hugs for DD tonight.

That's very disturbing MrsJC. Glad it all turned out okay.

OMG that must have left you shaking for hours. Makes me think I should make a bigger effort to get DD2 swimming earlier than DD1 who still wouldn't put her face in at almost 5. Soooo important in NZ isn't it?

Have promised DD2 a sleepover for her 7th bbirthday. However have restricted to 3 friends only so shouldn't be quite so bad [hopeful emoticon]. Only problem now is she's having terrible problems deciding which 3 friends - but I'm going to stand firm!

How scary, MrsJC. Hope your dd is OK.

Buzzy - you ARE planning well in advance for DD2s birthday - no? I'm impressed!

mrs jc how very scary for you. children and water scare the pants off me. my two are made to watch piha rescue so hopefully they understand when I say come here I mean come here. Works with ds1 but ds2 is a bit too young and still just runs with wild abandon into the surf and leaps off the edge of hte pool. I now put his arm bands on before we go through the gate just in case. He has sunk a few times too!

btw how's everybody coping with the heat. I know I shouldn't really be complaining it's mild compared to Melbourne and surrounds but it's hot. 35 yesterday and have been fighting for shade all day at ds1's outdoor inter-school swimming. I might need to invest in a fan if it stays hot.

Thank God you were watching at the right moment, MrsJC. It happens unbelievably quickly. I nearly drowned as a toddler; we were visiting friends who lived on the harbour, mum said she took her eye off me for half a second and in the time I slipped out of the house, went through the garden and was found standing waist-deep in the water.

Sorry to crash your thread, but buy a parasol, Sibble. I have a lovely UV-proof one with a very chic Japanese print and it's wonderful. It's a thing I learned from living in Hong Kong - everyone in Asia uses them and I'm always amazed you don't see more of them about in the heat in Australia and NZ. The other heat trick our neighbour used to do was freeze wet flannels and wear them under her hat while she was gardening.

Coping with the heat by going to the local beaches a lot - seem to always get a breeze there. We've just got back from Cornwallis and it was lovely.

I have been known to sit fully clothed in dd's paddling pool though, especially after a long walk with the dog, while pushing dd in the pram.

Shells - its not me who's planning well in advance its DD and I've been forced to respond!! She's been planning since about November and that WAS ridiculous but at least now we can count weeks in single figures...my fault really for not having a party for DD2 as that could have distracted her momentarily.

Hi Ninedragons, nice to see you!! How's life in Oz treating you? Last I think I saw you on MN you were still PG in Shanghai? I guess you now post to the Ozzie threads!

Isn't it so awful about the fires in Vic. I have a friend who's family live in that area, I really hope they're OK for her sake.

Hi Ninedragons, thanks for the tip. I will keep my eye out for one. There are heaps of Asian shops here in Auckland so shouldn't be a problem. Whilst I really have nothing to complain about compared to those in Oz, the humidity is unreal! I can only liken it to being in Hong Kong etc...at its worst. I've had 2 showers and changed clothes twice so far today (don't tell dh we're on tank water and he's already rationing us). I'm stripping the beds every morning etc etc....

I hate to be a caricature but I must be soooo English I can't stop moaning and talking about the weather . Dh from his airconditioned office and car can't see what the problem is!

Checked while I was in Pak n Save and they had SMA formula, didn't look at it too closely so not sure if it is same as what you are looking for or not. Hope this helps.

You're right yawningmonster they do! SMA made by Wyeth like S26 so amazingly I was right about that! So if you're still reading this whuneedsleep you can rest easier

How are you Aucklanders coping with the heat? Sounds hideous. I have to say it is blimmin freezing in Wellington today. I sent DS2 to Kindy in a t-shirt and am feeling very embarrassed/bad mother!

Actually, although yesterday was apparently the hottest day ever in Auckland, I didn't think it was particularly hotter than it has been all week. It was very hot at my house, even with all windows/doors open but we went to the beach and there was quite a strong breeze there - I thought it was less hot than other days!

It's been v humid all week though, hard to sleep at night with the heat and the mozzies. Today definitely cooler. Just been to the beach (again!) and there were mums telling their kids not to go swimming as it was too cold.

Off to a bach in Matapouri (just north of Whangerei) for 6 days tomorrow, with the in-laws.

That sounds nice Whatshesaid. What do you do about mozzies? Does DD get bitten? We get a few at night and I keep thinking I must plaster the DC in repellent, but keep forgetting to buy it.
Isn't the weather bizarre. It has been muggy and grey here all week but last 2 days cold and wet and windy. I want to put the heater on!

I can't believe yesterday was the hottest day ever up in Auckland!
it's farking freezing here. a low of 7 tonight and a 'high' of 13 tomorrow. 13!!! it's February FFS