A day in Auckland

The week was pretty uneventful due to Gordon being on night shift and our inability to get up on time in order to go play golf. Gordon always feels like he's neglecting me when he has night shift because he likes to putt around the house doing little projects. It doesn't leave a lot of quality time because he gets home so late. We didn't do anything too exciting. I got our wedding photos developed and put in the order from Creative Memories for my birthday. I'm getting an album and guess what is going in it? Your right, my wedding pictures. Gordon is going to take me out for dinner on my birthday. He actually has night shift on my birthday again but he's promised to take the day off for me. A whole day of Gordon and me!

Good news, I just a call from one of the jobs I applied for. A part-time position at a stationary store either working in their post section or refilling ink. I have an interview with them tomorrow at 11am. This is the first positive response I've gotten from one of the jobs I've applied for. I'm very excited and a bit scared but I can do this. I really hope this works out because I want to be able to start helping out with the bills and everything. Money seems to be a big problem these days and I don't think it will go away until I get some kind of income to help Gordon. Christmas has taken a toll on us but its very important to remember family and friends during the holidays. The spending on groceries is a bit better as well, still find some things in the cart we didn't originally go to the store for but oh well.

I've even made resolutions for Gordon and me for next year. The big one is to pay-off the credit card. I've made a couple of personal ones for myself as well. One of them is to loose weight in preparation for having a baby. They're simple goals and I think that they can be achieved if I work at it. One of my other goals is to finish at least two scrapbooks next year. There are so many to choose from that it can be hard to pick because you want to complete them all. We've been very good with our Christmas shopping by getting it done early. I'm getting ready to ship everything out in two days or so.

Anyways, this weekend was a big one. It was full of lots of traveling. We were attending Gordon's cousin's 21st birthday party in Auckland. We decided to make the effort since they've been so kind to us. We didn't get to leave Bulls until Saturday because Gordon's 3 squadron Christmas function was on Friday. It was a very nice function. It was tucked away in the hills past Marton. The place is used for banquets and functions. They had a beautiful porch and garden area that overlooked all the hills. It made me wish that I had my camera there. They also had some cheap, free beer for all the guys. I just drank orange juice. I got to meet some of Gordon's fellow air men and their partners. It was a good time and we left at about 10:30 because we had an early start on Saturday. There was a nice couple we talked to and they were asking me what Christmas is like in America. Good times all around.

Saturday was the big day with Gordon and me heading out for Bulls at 8am. I drove the first half and it was such a clear and beautiful day on the Desert Road that we had to stop and take some pictures of the mountains in the Tongariro National Park. It was rather windy though and I almost got blown away by the winds! We arrived in Tirau at 12pm, due to us making some stops along the way. We then were off, in the Schofield's car, to Auckland. It was stifling hot in there though and even with the windows down in the back there was no relief. I honestly was sick from the heat. We stopped in a car park for a quick lunch on a picnic table and Gordon got to drive from then on, taking over for Roger. We reached Auckland and dropped Roger off at the house for the party so he could "help". I'm sure he did help though. We got there about 3:30pm. The party wasn't until 7:30pm! Christine and Kylie had to drive to the other side of Auckland to pick-up some bunnies that Kylie was getting.

Gordon and I then got to spend some time together. We decided to go and look at the Auckland flower show which was definitely worthwhile! Free of the heat of the car, we were able to cool down considerably and enjoy ourselves. There were garden exhibits outside and floral sculptures inside the hall area. It was at Alexandra park which is where they have horse racing. We ended-up seeing one of Gordon's cousins, Gavin, and his son, Dylan, which I thought was very funny. It was a nice, relaxing browse at some of the best of New Zealand gardening. It did give me some ideas that I would like to try. On a side note, our veggie garden seems to be doing okay and there are some plants ready to be transplanted. We had two hours of browse time and were pack at our designated pick-up spot. It was a bus stop with a pull-out on the side of a busy road.

We got a call from Kylie saying that they would 20 minutes late. We were wondering what to do for 20 minutes and we decided to go take a look at Cornwall park which was about 50 meters away from us, not far at all. It looked like a nice park to take a stroll in. We caught the tail-end of a cricket game and then took a stroll down the designated path. It's funny because there are sheeps and cattle in the park as well and there are signs to not touch them. The park was beautiful. They had huge trees that you saw kids climbing on and people having picnics. I wish that we could have spent more time there. If I wanted to go to a park everyday it would have to be Cornwall park. Christine and Kylie arrived and we decided that since there was time we would go up One Tree Hill, a part of the park, to look at the view of Auckland. It was a very small, tiny road up there but what a view! Just spending those four hours at the flower show and in the park reminded me why New Zealand was such a fantastic place. I took lots of pictures and they are posted on facebook and myspace if you want to see them. If you give me your email I can also share them with you on snapfish.

We then headed back for the party. It was nice and laidback, it reminded me of a Sunday afternoon gathering. The food was very yummy but when 10pm rolled around I was getting tired and cranky. Gordon could tell because I was being a bit cranky with him, he had a couple of beers and was annoying me with some of the things he was doing and saying. I told him sorry though for being so cranky and unreasonable. We finally got home at 1am and Gordon and I immediately went to bed. We're still in that stage of our lives where we don't like to sleep apart if we're with each other. We ended-up sleeping in the same single bed with me moving every couple of hours due to a part of my body aching and having to reposition. We were able to get some rest though.

Sunday was spent coming home which wasn't bad. I drove from Tirau to Wairou, I think that's how its spelled. Gordon took the last part. We were very tired by the time we arrived at home. Gordon watered the garden while I took care of things in the house. We repeat the same trip next weekend due to Thanksgiving. The Schofields are overjoyed that I want to celebrate Thanksgiving. They can't stop talking about how its a new tradition and stuff. I'll be doing a lot of the cooking since its my tradition that I want to start. This is my first Thanksgiving as a married girl and I want to make the food. Christine is taking care of the chicken/turkey with stuffing. Kylie is making a cake, since my birthday is next Monday. The rest is up to me and I know that I can do it. Gordon will probably help me too. I'll let you know how it goes. It will be nice to have some of my favorite comfort foods there.

It probably will be a bit hard starting this Friday with everyone in the States enjoying Thanksgiving and my first birthday away from my family. I almost started crying on Sunday when I thought about Mom not being able to come and see me next year, even if we paid for the ticket. It made me think that when I do get pregnant she wouldn't be able to come and help me with the baby for a bit. We won't be able to go home for a bit either due to permits and visas and what not. Gordon and I are looking at spending next Christmas in the States, it may be cold but we'll get to be with family! We scrapped October due to how long it will take to get my resident's visa. Grandma Clark says that she's coming to see us in two years, she's saving up her money. Those four hours on Saturday really helped me with my continual adjustment to life in New Zealand. Everything is getting a bit easier and people are reaching out from the church which is really nice. Living in New Zealand is starting to get better because I'm starting to adjust, it looks like my grieving period for the life I had in the US is done.

Everyone enjoy their turkeys and families and friends for me!