The start of something...good?

Ahh, its time for me to get all confused again about what year I have to write down when putting the date on things. I do like the start of the New Year for the most part. It kinda makes me sad because I have to wait a whole year until my birthday comes around again, hehe. The New Year was lots of fun though with Gordon and I making some resolutions, which will be at the end of this post.

Well, since we got back the day before New Year's Eve, Gordon and I didn't have much planned for celebrating our first New Year's together. There was a party being hosted by one of his friends and he was saying he could probably get himself invited but it wasn't such a big deal to me so we didn't bother with it. We spent New Years at home, that's right just me and him together. Gordon ended the year with a round of golf while I stayed home trying to write my previous blog but not finding the right words to exactly capture my Christmas holidays. I ended up catching up on all the shows that I recorded while we were away. It was mostly "Powerpuff Girls" episodes, yes I watch them. I also attacked the zucchini plant, we're in an on-going battle but I will prove victorious! We took a swim at the base pool for my portion of exercise and then we did some grocery shopping because we were in dire need of fresh food. We spent the rest of the evening relaxing and chilling. I'm kinda hoping that our year will be like our evening, no big worries. There was a party happening next door so we knew when New Year's had come and shared our first kiss of 2009.

The next day, Gordon asked whether I wanted to go to the beach or on a picnic in some gardens at Wanganui. We opted for the picnic in the gardens and made our way to Wanganui which is about the same distance away as Palmerston North, just in the opposite direction. The name of the gardens were called Victoria and it had a huge lake in the middle of it called Virginia. Gordon and I were ready for our picnic with our blanket and sandwiches and even some fruit. The one thing we weren't prepared for was the ducks! The water fowl on the lake must be very used to people feeding them because as soon as we sat down we were surrounded! I had to spend some of the lunch time chasing them away. There was one duck who was trying to get very cosy with us and bit Gordon's shoes and my purse! But we did enjoy ourselves and we even got in a little reading time. I saw one of the native birds in the little marsh edges of the lake called Pukekoes. They have this long, stick legs that help them to not sink in the mud and they look so funny running around. We saw a mamma getting bits of bread and taking it back to its baby to eat, aww. My first meal of the New Year consisted of mac'n'cheese with zucchini, carrots and sliced hot dog. I know, I'm such a gourmand, hehe.

The day before we left, Gordon decided to mow the lawns. It took him about half a day because we have so much grass to take care of. I spent some of the time deleting shows I recorded and watched. I also spent some time getting my pots taken care of. I replanted my little rose shrub and gerbera daisy, both gifts, into bigger pots to give them room to grow and also our little rogue pumpkin plant. That inspired Gordon to make a trip to Mitre 10 so we could get his tomato plants and some garden things. I needed some more potting soil for my pots and seed mix to make my flower seeds grown. I decided to start from scratch with my seedling flowers because they had spent so long in those little containers. Guess I'm not cut-out to use yogurt cartons as flower pots. We got some edging for the side garden Gordon is making me as well as the soils, tomato food and plants. I also got my alstromeria plant that Gordon had promised to get me. We came back and Gordon worked on the tomatoes while I worked on potting my alstromeria. It's going to be so beautiful when it blooms! After our big day in the garden we went for another swim at the base pool and then had dinner later.

That Saturday was our big trip to New Plymouth to see the festival of lights at Pukekura park. We had rain all the way from Bulls to New Plymouth and when we got to the holiday park it looked like it was just starting to clear up. Gordon also made a couple of stops to check-out golf courses on the way. Gordon and I went to the City Centre, they spell center differently here, to have a bite to eat and look at the shops. Something remarkable happened there, I wasn't moved to buy anything! I saw a sweet hand-held mandoline as well as an apple slicer/corer that I would absolutely love but knew that we need to save our money and pay-off that darn credit card! We went back to the holiday park to have a bit of a rest before we went to go have dinner and then go to the park. We found a curry place close to the park and had some good curry as well as naan. When we got to the park we had tons of time to waste so Gordon and I checked out all the park had to offer. There's the main bridge on the lake that was sponsored by a man in the 1800's that Gordon took my picture on. I read later that the said man was found drowned underneath the bridge later, a bit grim. We were too late to go and enjoy the little zoo they had in the park but we walked up the huge hill to it anyways and saw a mamma duck with her babies on the side of the steep hill. They have a huge amphitheatre type area that is used for concerts and things, kinda like the concert area at the Rio Grande Zoo. Gordon and I explored every square inch of that the park and took a rest in the kids play area. They had some concerts going on for the festival. One was with a group called "The Mermaids" and they sang 80's, 90's and now hits. I recognized most of the songs! The other was a type of folksy group called "Pink Champagne". It was lots of fun.

At about 8:30 the lights in the park come on and Gordon and I explored the park all over again! We tried in vain to find this infamous water wheel but it wasn't until the end of the evening that we stumbled upon it! The lights were so beautiful and pretty everywhere, it made me feel lucky to be with Gordon sharing that moment. I told him that we should make New Plymouth our family tradition, if we're going to be staying in New Zealand for awhile why not? Gordon always talks about his family trips and things so I think its time we make some traditions of our own that we can share with our children.

The next day, on the way back to Bulls, we stopped for a round of golf at Stratford. We also were able to see Mt. Egmont/Taranaki since the low front had finally moved out. I didn't take a picture but I will next time. I only walked with Gordon for 9 holes and then spent the rest of the time reading my book and knitting. Its tough to be around Gordon when he gets upset when he doesn't play a shot right. Just as I'm too hard on my self-image, Gordon is too hard on himself with golf. We all have our vices that we need to work on. It was a nice trip home and I ended-up taking a nap on the way. It was a nice trip to New Plymouth, now I can see why it was picked as the best place to live in the world! We'll definitely have to go back to enjoy it all over again with more time as well.

We spent Monday, after Gordon got off work, doing garden things while there was still daylight. I got another zucchini. I now have some recipes to use them for like oven chips and breads so baking will be had one of these days of the week. I seeded some trays with five types of flowers; I have five more that need to be done today. Gordon worked on putting down the weed mat down for the side garden and then filled it with alternate layers of compost and dirt. It's a good thing too because my bulbs definitely need to be transplanted soon, they are sprouting beautifully. We then watched the news while we ate dinner and spent most of the evening with the tv off and just talking. It was a good day.

Still no news on the job front. I was almost brave enough to apply for a job at a local cafe yesterday but I chickened out at the last minute. Building up courage to walk into a place and inquire about jobs seems so scary to me. Then I ask myself, would I be happy doing something like that for a part of my life? I mean, money is money right but if you're not happy with what you are doing then it generally can show through your demeanor. At least I have my gardening, it makes me feel peaceful and my cares float away while I'm taking care of something else. Gardening definitely makes me feel rooted here. There's a great saying from a book I have about moving that says "Bloom where you're planted" and it definitely feels like I'm starting to bloom, despite lack of a job. I think that all couples go through a time of financial unrest, its only the really organized supercouples who don't get caught in the trap. It's only making us stronger as a couple though and not breaking us apart. Which always reaffirms my belief that Gordon and I were meant to be together all along.

We'll see what the future holds and Gordon and I are trying to sell stuff we don't need on Trademe. I've even started thinking about selling some of my tea sets to see if we can get some extra money. I mean, what if my girls really don't care for tea sets and I don't really have a place to put them right now? We'll see though, I'm definitely not selling my princess dolls or snow globes! I'll find a place for them if I have to make bookcases myself!

Anyways, I hope that everyone has made some kind of resolution for the New Year. Some people say that resolutions are useless and they make you feel bad when you don't complete them or fall off the wagon. I like to think of them as goals, objectives your trying to reach to make yourself or someone else feel better. So, here are my resolutions for the New Year:
1) Have passport and SS changed to my married name! (Lazy girl, hehe)
2) Lose some weight before having a baby
3) Be as fit as possible to have a baby
4) Get at least 2 scrapbooks finished
5) Visit home
I also have some resolutions for Gordon and me:
1) Pay off the credit card!!! (I'm going to get it paid off, mark my words!)
2) Try and pay the GE bill off early (Think of the interest we'll save)
3) Live within our means (I'm slowly getting there)
4) Work on having a baby! (Gordon is starting to dream about babies too)
5) Improve our green thumb
6) Learn to make nutritious, economic meals (even if it is just sausages and mash)
Everyone have a great week and enjoy the pictures!