59 days and counting

Yikes, the clock is winding down on our NZ adventure. Our hearts are so divided on this upcoming move. There is so much we will miss about NZ but Manitoba is home! And speaking of home, we bought one this week. Yep, sight unseen - save for about 2 minutes of video shot by one of Don's nieces, and about 10 pictures. We are back in the Charleswood area, as it's where
we are most familiar with and puts us in striking distance of lots of our family. We had compiled a list of 'wishes' when we started sending our forces out looking at houses, as one does when buying a new one, and I think we did quite well. We got a bungalow with huge family friendly basement, big kitchen, sunroom and attached garage. It's a dated house, with it's feet firmly planted in the 70's, but as our videographer said 'it's got great bones'. We will take possession in mid July, though we land at the beginning of June, so we will be couch surfing for a few weeks. So plans are definitely advancing!

In one of the weird quirks of fate, the day after we learned we had bought the house (up against 5 other offers!) my parents accompanied their friends into Winnipeg on a completely separate matter. And as they would, they decided to stop off to check out the outside of our new purchase. And wouldn't you know it, while they were idling at the curb, someone looked out the window of the house. Well, johnny on the spot, my dad was out of the car, up and steps, and introduced himself as the father of the woman who bought the house. So he, and everyone else, was invited to tour the premises. Only my parents!

With that major obstacle out of the way, we are definitely positioned to make the absolute most out of our remaining time here. About 4 wks ago I returned from my awesome 5 day road trip with my girlfriend Sharon. We headed up to the 'far north' of NZ, which is very different from Canada's far north - lots of warm, azure water, unbelievably twisty roads, sand dunes and a lighthouse at the end of the road, literally. We were blessed with incredible weather and though Sharon likely lost some years off her life with me in the drivers seat, we shared some awesome food and forged some great memories.

A little more recently, Don had the 'joy' of attending Connor's year 5/6 2 night camp. The multiple day camping trip is very much a facet of the kiwi educational system - much like it used to be for many of us growing up. It seems that kids go out every year starting in year 5, so this was Connor's second go around. The school called Don this year and asked him to come as there weren't enough parent volunteers. He rather felt obligated to go. He also now knows WHY there weren't enough volunteers. First of all it was rather like a forced labour camp for the parents. Up early, feeding and organizing and cleaning up after 90 kids and accompanying them on all the activities (lots and lots and lots of walking). The other reason was the kids themselves - a lot of them were not, shall we say, very positive in their attitudes. Don said the 'screw you' look in some of the kids' eyes was enough to make his hand twitch in his desire to slap it off. And the girls were just as horrible as the boys. The only bright spot was that Don got to see Connor interacting with his peers and with his very small group of friends, and realized that in spite of all Connor's challenges, he's a great kid and so are his friends. Don came back looking like a beaten and exhausted shadow of his former self and I'm still not convinced he's completely recovered. Connor described the whole experience as 'great'.

Last weekend we decided to throw all caution to the wind and attend the annual Balloon Fest night glow show over in Hamilton, which is about 90 minutes from us. It says a lot about the kiwi psyche regarding distance that many people asked if we would stay the night after the show was done at 9 pm. Ummm . . . no. Anyways, Balloon Fest is a huge event and we knew it would be thronged with people. What happens during the evening event is that about 13 or so balloons are inflated if a very small area when it's dark, and then they fire up to music, while tethered on the ground, for about 45 minutes. Quite lovely. About 80 000 were there with us! The best part of the whole evening was the brief but spectacular (Connor's word) fireworks show. It was so well timed to the music and lit up the whole sky. The kids had never been that close to fireworks before and we were all super impressed.

The weather here has been, for the most part, stunning. Clear skies, warm above 20 degree temps, yet fall is definitely in the air; very cool in the morning and the sun has that annoying and hard to drive with slant! Today we decided to take advantage of the continued great weather and we drove over to Rotorura and rented mountain bikes (well Don just loaded his into the van and brought it with us!) and we rode the biking paths thru their famous Redwood forest. It was heavenly. The kids and I were on our own for a bit while Don went off and enjoyed himself unfettered from the slowpokes that are the rest of the family, but he met up with us again and he and Connor set off at a break neck pace down some paths. Connor was definitely in his element, whooping it up as he zipped along behind his papa. Aidan however, is our risk adverse kid, and used the bottom of his shoes a lot to brake his way down the smallest of inclines. My major challenge was to not run into the back of him as he stopped, yet again, to walk his way up or down a hill. I think everyone, besides Don, ended up with a serious case of bicycle bum - but the kids have asked to go again, so it was definitely a hit.

Tomorrow we will be endeavoring to fill up the suitcases a little more - yes the suitcases HAVE come out! We are slowing starting to sell of bits and pieces that we don't need, hoping to simplify things as our time here draws to a close. The next big plan that we have is for Don and I to head out to Wellington the first weekend in May, sans children, to enjoy the sites and sounds of that city on our own.

We think of you all and are excited to know that we will be with you soon to enjoy some summer drinks around the bbq!!

love the McLeods