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After 2 lovely nights in 2 hotel with gallons of hot running water being enjoyed by all we all felt rested. We packed up and the kids and i heade for church. Our small village church was joining another for a family service. We arrived to find a beautiful small wooded church set up on the hillside behind the village. The sun flooded the valley below and the birdsong filled the air. The children enjoyed the service and i the restful surrounds. This week back at home things should really get going. The concrete floors will be polished, hot water restored, and a few beautiful new pieces will arrive. A carved wooden coffee table, a big chest, a stunning cupbored from china fro eva and another from india for elle. Things are coming together and we are all feeling more positive. Also a man from church is going away for the week and leaving me a key so we can use his place and spa pool as we like. I forsee many a happy moment spent in the spa! Sitting out on the deck the weather is changing. A cool breeze is sailing off the sea. Low misty cloud is hovering like a showd over the hill tops and covering the opposite bay in mist. Watching the ever changing weather always sooths my soul.
As my mother would say its not actually suffering. I've reminded my self of that this week as building work progressed but basic needs were cut off. We lost our water supply all together for a couple of days and there is still no hot water or kitchen. The kids were looking very ferrel from having limited bathing facilities, we couldn't even flush the toilet. So i cant say we were suffering but we weren't comfortable. I hadn't slept well all week and the kids had half the beach in their ears. Time out was needed. last night we headed into town and booked into a hotel with a bath. What bliss! We had food that wasn't bbq, could drink water from the tap, the kids enjoyed a real deep hot bath and we all feel more human this morning. Its a wonderful sunny day and everything feels good. I've even broken my own rule and the kids are playing in the play area at macdonalds, while i write this, sip coffee (they do fair trade now!) And tuck into syrup laden hot cakes. Life might get a little bumpy but its still good.
Yesterday was a great day. The pig coop got together for the big move. 400 meters of electric fence was posted, reeled out and charged. We told the kids not too touch but it was too tempting for Evie and hugh who had to learn the hard way. A few different methods were tried and dropped before getting the pigs in the trailer was managed. It the end john would tether them with a dog chain martin would toss a blanket over. One by one pigs in blankets were hurriedly carried squealing with all their might and deposited on the trailer. The boys got busy putting the shelter together . The pigs where then released into there new field with a lot less effort. Lots me snorting and sniffing confirmed their approval as they sorted through the long grass picking out the tasty fat grass shoots. Two were so happy they even took to rolling down the hill. It felt so good to see them with so much room happily getting lost in the jungle me pasture. One more dream come true.
The real work started at the house today. Morning sun flooded though to the kitchen where once a roof had been. The usually still monday morning sea air is filled with the sound of hammers, drills and business. Eagerly we watch their progress hoping they will be even faster than expected and that the gathering clouds hold their loads untill they have passed by.
Living in the caravan while our fire damaged house is sorted is pretty cosy to say the least. There are 2 single beds the girls get and a cot matterse in the floor in the middle for the little man. Take 2 paces from there feet and ur find a rather small double bed for john and i. Its small but it is dry and it is at home. The builders have been doing well and even hope to get us back a week earlier than expected. Just 3 more weeks in the caravan.
This is a weekend me new starts. Jessie, our beloved big white dog has not settled since moving house. So yesterday i took her to a farm out in the country. Its a meat farm with another poodle cross dog. She seemed very happy but it was very difficult. As i left she ran along the fence line following my car stopping at the end watchmi me drive off into the distance and out me sight. I felt terrible but i think its best for her. Fludle's last puppy that was staying with us also went to her new home yesterday. So it was a very sad evening spent at our place as we missed then both. U can see jess cooling off with her new friend under a tree in the photo. On a happyer note. We have a field for our pigs just a few mins walk from our house. Tomorrow we will b taking them up. Getting there will b an adventure all me its own i'm sure.
Friday we were shivering in hail and snow on the hill tops. Today we were melting. There was nothing else that could be done. First thing after school we got ice creams to cool off. The dogs agreed it was hot and couldn't wait to get swimming. Now neither the kids or dogs want to go home. So here i am, sittin on the beach enjoying the evening warm sun, watching the kids jump little waves and hunt crabs. Jessie is chasing sea gulls and demanding sticks be tossed out to sea for her to retrieve. Fludle want to curl up next to me his wet fur cooling my leg. I have lots to do but it all seems unimportant now as giggles skip across the sand causing me to linger in the moment just a little longer.
The Loss Adjuster dealing with the insurence claim after our house fire made me think this week. He said that we were a pleasure to deal with so polite and calm. Someone else said to me i seemed very relaxed with all the upheavel and doubt as to when we can get home. I hadn't really thought about it before but i do feel calm. Dont get me wrong, i want to get back in my house like yesterday. I miss my home. But i cant really get down about it. Firstly i've meet a whole heap me wonderful people who live by me who i didn't know before. I've made new friends because of the fire and, strangly enough, been excepted into the community. I've also had 2 less bedrooms to clean! Its a real pain to have all the work done. But it also means at the end of it they will paint 4 of the rooms in my house and the hallway. While we are out me the house i'm going to get the remaining 3 room's painted too. I also plan to put up all the christmas decorations as a welcome home surprise for the family. So when we get back in it will be all clean, tidy, newly decorated and inviting. Perfect for christmas! I guess in this situation i can see many blessings mixed in with the rough. And the kids are all still smiling.
After a mixed bag me weather this week from wind to hail, sun to snow, the sun showed up and filled the sky today for the school fair. The kids burned off energy on the bouncy castle, got up some speed on the back me a bike, disguised themselves with face paint, got crazy from eating candy floss, and soaked on the water slide. Hugh won $5 on the water slide for being the best in his age group and celebrated with enough victory slides to get compleatly yet from head to toe. Elizabeth slipped off early for her pottery class. There are about 6 little girls in her class and she is really loving it. For 2 hours every week she gets to let her creative side out and seems to of really fallen in love with the whole process of working with clay. The sun was still shining as we meanered round the bays and through the tunnell to the other side me the hills. We each mounted up and enjoyed our first horse riding lesson together. The kids loved it with each of them even managing a trot. We finished the day off with chips and a walk on the beach before cuddling up to watch a film and seeing as daddy is away all the kids got to sleep in the big bed. All happy, tiered and ready for 2 good sleep.
Recently i have discovered a new way of gently relaxing in the evening. I've spent 2 enjoyable days at a weaving workshop and have been experimenting ever since. This is one me my latest kete, a small flax woven bag. I've also created baskets for our toilet rolls and shoes, smaller ones for toys and flowers for decoration. There is something so rewarding about harvesting for nature around you and creating something you think is special.
One thing i really like about nz is that it has weather. Today we had sun shower giving way to warm clear skies followed by falling temps and hail. Blue skies followed again and more showers. Just before kids bed time i popped round the corner to a neighbours to discover there more interesting weather. I rushed home bundled the kids in the car a moments later snapped todays photo. I love days that have 4 seasons. Kids came home to warm milk with a square me chocolate melted at the bottom and a slowing dancing fire to get warm by. Thankfully this fire was only in the log burner.
Today was sports day. The sun decided not to shine but the clouds did keep their heavy burdens inside. The irks put their best dont forward joining in with various jumps, runs and throws. With john and i as parents it wasn't suprising that they didn't excell but they did give it their all and made me proud. In my day sports day at that age was more egg and spoon, potatoe sac and 3 legs. I feel it was much more fun.
A lady in our community had decided that a get together of neighbours was in need. So this wonderful little lady, annie, organised one! Today many me the bay's residents meet at the reserve for a shared lunch, bbq and fun. Old fashioned games were pulled out and dusted off as happy kids raced egg and spoon in hand, or in pairs as wheel barrows. Even the grown ups got in the swing for some races. Evie won the egg and spoon, hugh a balloon race and i even won second place for best table decoration. The sun shone, the sea glistened, the birds sang and a wonderful vine was had by all. We also now know most of the bay's permanent residence and really feel we belong.
The sun crept over the hill flooding the bay with light and promise of good times a head. At church this morning was a very important moment. The picture above shows elizabeth, who joined with the other children, to be the first to brake the ground and dig out the first few spades me dirt markin the start me something new. This week on that spot the new church buildin will start. Elizabeth seemed to be honoured with the task and dug with all her might. After we got together to dream about the future. What is the church going to do? How will it return to being the focus and life source me the community? There were great ideas and people ready to offer help. Really encouraging!
Last night brought much excitement. While feeding the animals the children discovered a suprise which sparked a small rescue mission. At the bottom of one of the newly dug holes for the fence posts was a small headhog. If had tumbled in and was unable to climb back up the steep sides. A plate of cat food was lowered in a proved a hit. Gardening gloves were slipped on to little hands and the spiky fellow gently lifted from his muddy hole. The children put him in a basket and studyed his spikes seeing how you could stroke with no injury but the other way would delivery a bit me a spiky handful. They noted how if curled up into a tight ball hiding his small furry nose. Finaly they let him go. He went straight to hide under evies pj's before headin for the trees. The children also seem to me devised their now way me debriefing from the fire. As i write this they are playing the house is on fire and seeing how many different ways they can get out of the house and where the best places to meet up outside are. Huey is all ways playing the fire men with sirens drifting across the bay as if races to rescue his sister. Puttin out the fires with blasts from his make belive fireman's hose before making sure all made it out of the house including the cats. I'm not sure how the cats feel about all this rescuing but seem to be enjoying the attention. Lets hope all this practice remains a game and we never have to do it for real again. The builder and workmen have all been to look at the house this week and i hope work will start soon. The roof all offer replacing and about half me the ceilings inside need taking down and replacing. The insurencd will then pay to have all affected areas re decorated. Concent for a new roof needs to go through the council so we are hoping that wont take to long. On the plus side we were going to apply to the council to have a wood burning stove put in as well as grey water recycling and alterations to the front of the house. Its costly to put in for concent but now it will be free to apply as it can all be submitted with the roof application. Wood burning stove come winter will be so homely as well as cost effective and a litte dream for me realised.
