Kia Ora

My first blog in a week as it has been just normal day to day stuff but see what you think and Merry Xmas to everyone..

Monday 8th December-Sunday 14th December 2008

This last week seems to have gone faster than the previous four,and it started with Mel getting a call to attend the first phase of testing for a job as a probation officer which was great news and to be sure we knew where we had to go we took a ride out to find the place.Mel spent the afternoon preparing for Tuesday and I just did what I could which generally involved preparing dinner and staying out of the way.

Tuesday started out like any other with muesli and checking emails,we knew after yesterday that the ride to Manurewa would take around 30 minutes but got a shock when we joined the motorway to find it at a standstill!!!

Both of us had an eye on the clock and the next 70 minutes were pretty tense but luckily we had given ourselves extra time and arrived with 10 minutes to spare.Mel went off and I took myself off to get groceries.A couple of hours later the Mel emerged looking pleased with herself and told me all about the test,and all we could do was sit and wait for news of whether she had progressed to the next stage.

That same afternoon got really manic as Mel took calls on her cell phone and one was the probation serviceoffering her an interview but there was a twist as it wasn't for the one she had just been tested for which confused us for a minute but it seemed that the city office wanted to interview her before the other people.Everything was moving quickly.

Now you will be able to tell how rock and roll we are as we spent Wednesday hunting down meringue cases so I could make up "Eton mess" to take to a BBQ on Sunday that we had been invited to.Mel did some last minute prep work and I took myself off for a walk and bumped into a guy who used to promote a band that I follow back in the UK which just shows how small this world is!!!

AC/DC started our Thursday off for us and time went nowhere and by 8.15 we were on the ferry and on our way to the city for Mels interview,as usual we were extra early and had time to grab a coffee but the tea I had came in such a huge cup Mel had to leave me drinking it so off she went again and i explore the side streets of the city.It was while looking around I spotted the perfect Xmas present for her and had to buy the slippers and they fit well.

Mel tells me wearing them is like walking on kittens,I am wondering what sort of lady i am married to if she goes walking on kittens!! It was going to be a long weekend because we wouldn't find out about the job till early next week so it was now a waiting game. Although she has a couple more interviews lined up next week

Now Friday came and went but both of us wee looking forward to Saturday evening and the Coca Cola party in the park,a free concert at Auckland Domain with carols and singing.We are still getting used to the outdoor thing and turned up at the concert with our rucksack and a bottle of wine with plastic glasses but were totally outdone by just about everyone else.People had rugs and tubs of food also eskys full of cold beer and wine,it looked like some had been there all day so we vowed to make a better effort next time we went to an outdoor event!!!

The singing was great and dusk started to creep in which made the stage lighting look really good,there was about 150,000 people there and we thought it wise to leave a bit early to miss the rush and it was a wise idea,which meant we got back to Devonport to see the city lit up and all the fireworks going off.Mel was also convinced that the moon was a lot lower in the sky here than back home but I wasn't sure although it did seem brighter...

I spent Sunday morning whipping cream up for the Eton MEss dessert and it took that long I just had time for a shower before we had to leave for the BBQ.It was at distant relatives of Mel's grandad and we were made to feel really welcome and had a great afternoon,the company was good and the food super.My dessert got a few funny looks from kids but went down OK i think. We got a tour of their amazing house which had more gadgets than James Bond and also great views of the city.Before we knew it people had swapped presents and were leaving so that's exactly what we did and I drove us back to Devonport as it started to get dark.

Fingers crossed for Mel we will let you know what happens.

Lots of Love

M & M

xx