Oh my goodness!

I think the weather from the UK has followed me to NZ! It's nearly 11am, the sky is pitch black, I've just had to turn the lights on and - you guessed it - it's CHUCKING it down! Very gloomy indeed! Although it is winter here I suppose. Yesterday was a complete contrast - beautiful blue skies and pleasantly warm in the afternoon (about 16 degrees I think). Heigh ho.

Well - it's about time I put some of my UK photos onto this luvverly blog - so here goes.......

My first day was spent out and about in the town I left a year and 8 months ago - Rugby - the home of the game! And here is Pete the bear outside Rugby school, below the statue of William Webb Ellis - the guy who picked up the ball and made a run for it!

And here's Pete in front of the nearby roundabout with the Webb Ellis Cup celebrating England's win and getting ready for this year's World Cup.

We had a lovely time messing around in Rugby ( including my friend and I getting confused in the shopping centre lift, ending up pressing all the buttons by mistake and daughter getting told off by an old man in a wheel chair due to us having to stop at every floor - including going up first instead of going down - oops!).

A few days later, I had a fabbie barbecue with the girlies at M's house (thank you very much for your hopitality - looking forward to seeing you next year). We had a great chin wag and natter and the chocolate trifle was to die for! Hi girls - hope all is well your end!?

The Strongbow is mine - have missed a good English cider!

Hi L! I remember you taking Corrie off me kicking and screaming at Playgroup and telling me to just "Go!"......

Hi M - sorry it's so dark! I also remember when you took Adam off me at the sports centre creche when he was a teeny tiny baby sos I could go off to aerobics! Gosh scary how time flies!

Here are the culprits - tired bro and sis having a relax!

Well, after this lovely catch up, it was off back to mum's for a family get together - during which I was sunburned! It was a really pretty, typical, warm England summer's day.

It was great to catch up and to see everyone. Lovely to see my nephew and neices too.

Next it was off up north to Gateshead to visit our geordie friends Mary, Roy and Andrea. We had a lovely natter in their garden, followed by dinner at one of our fave Indian restaurants (oooommmmm) and then a fabbie shop with them the next day in the Metro Centre!

It was great to see you all again!

Here's the winking eye bridge over the river at night. We visited there after our very BIG Indian meal and methinks there were also lots of gas emitted there too by a certain 4 ladies! Ooops - a bit off task here.....

Anyhoo - I'm getting a bit bored of downloading photos now - so I'll carry on at a later time - it takes blooooomin ages.....

Back in NZ, it has now stopped raining and the sun is starting to peep through the clouds. It is 12.38 and I really must get a shower and do some school work for tomorrow - poops.

NZ is still the same - it was very exciting when we landed cos I saw and understood the whole area below me this time - the views were beautiful! Could see the sparkling sea, Botany shopping centre, Rangitoto Island, Howick, Beachlands and Maraetai - lovely.

The ads on the radio are still quite funny - the latest one to take me by surprise is the one that comes after the traffic news - Something about a non-surgical vasectomy if you don't want a bigger car! Only in NZ eh!

Tara fer noo - more updates later.

Byeeee

x Sue

Shop, shop, shoppity, shop!

Guess what I've been doing!

I've been to Fosse Park and had a fabbie shop in M&S, Wallis, New Look etc etc etc......

Spent lots. Got stuff for other people. Had morning tea and had a generally lovely time.

Everything is just the same really after 1 year and 8 months away - very busy and very crowded!

Going to a barbie tonight - ha! It keeps raining (as you probs know) - but the sunshine in between is very pleasant (all 5 minutes of it). Ne'er mind......

Hopefully, we will be able to get something cooked!

Bros are visiting tomorrow and then it's off to Newcastle on Sunday - woohoooooo!

Gosh - this hol is going past way too quick - I'll be back in NZ before I know it! Hey ho.

Tara

x Sue

Hi everyone!

Short but sweet today - it's been raining heavily in between sunny periods.

Son has gone to Manchester with his friends and daughter has arrived.

Tis mother's birthday tomorrow.

Have spoken to lots of friends on the phone - ready for meet ups.

Have eaten lots of Jaffa Cakes and Shredded Wheat.

Am going to Asda tomorrow.

Jasper Carrott hosts a quiz show called Golden Balls.

Ate loads of cherries yesterday.

Went to bed at 8.30 last night and woke up at 6am - not bad eh?!

Tis 9pm now and I'm not a bit tired! Impressive.

Have eaten lots of yummy Thornton's choccies.

Tara.

x Sue

Helloooo from Engerland!

Hi all

Well - we arrived yesterday - absolutely kna^(&))*__(! at Birmingham airport.

Security was high at every airport we travelled through.

Luckily we landed at Birmingham, which, although under high alert etc etc, was far far better than travelling to Heathrow!

Police were very visible and had guns. Cars were not allowed to come anywhere near the outside of the airport.

However, all was very efficient and we got through very quickly - the hire car pick up was fabbie quick too and we got to mum's not too long after. Just in time for Sunday lunch I would like to add! Roast beef and the works - not until a lovely hot shower first though - 30 odd hours is a long time to wait - poooey! (Couldn't find any showers at Dubai - normally have a shower half way if I can).

We were patted down and frisked at NZ airport and had all luggage checked at each airport in between (even though they were checked when leaving NZ).

I felt that Dubai airport was a bit messy in their security checks though, in that when we were asked to put our belongings through the x-ray, the people queuing up were not controlled and so those behind us just shoved their stuff on and this continued - some of my stuff fell off the belt onto the floor and I've no idea how the people checking the x-ray had near enough any time to look at each item as it moved along.

But heigh ho - we got here safe and sound.

Both of us were falling asleep by about 5 pm! However, Adam stayed awake via heroic efforts until 8pm and I struggled until 8.30pm. Ad slept right through til about 7am - I woke up at 12 until 1 and then finally woke up about 5 - not too bad - hopefully tonight will be better.

It was interesting to see what's been happening on Coronation Street - we're a year behind in NZ - I'll keep quiet though - unless any of you in NZ really want to know of course!

Well tara fer noo - we're off to Rugby in a bit to have a wander around old haunts and take photos for the footie (rugby) fans in NZ.

x Sue