auckland_ali wrote:

thanks for that, will do a bit more homework, bit cooler in auckers this am, have overseas postings to do (niece and nephew in Japan) , hate that part go to the p.o. and its just as much as the gift to send!! - but DD has to have pineapple lumps and cadbury crunchie will try and get it in thier one price bag, did it last year and it worked really well!! have a lovely day everyone

Ali, I just spent over $100.00 on postage for OE & in NZ. son sent a list for rashins, berry bliss, forbidden fruit, aero bars, turkish delights. Luckily some were on special. Had to go to 3 different supermarkets. The things u do for luv.

Edited by 510 at 11:42 am, Thu 9 Dec

510 - 2010-12-09 11:41:00

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cookessentials - 2010-12-09 11:45:00

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cookessentials - 2010-12-09 11:47:00

Well done Rae on job promotion. Toady pleased to hear that your new work tasks are going well.
Been busy with elderly 'rally' in hosp & helping hubby with our business. Garden is slowly getting into shape, on 'Sat I went to alfriston market which is held once a month bought a climbing dublin bay rose for $12.50. There was a climber on an arch way that I hated so I soon got rid of that. Jumping for joy at sight of tiny beans & small beaf steak toms, eating lettuce leaves off baby gems. Just got another vegie patch to fork over & I'll be finished out the back.

510 - 2010-12-09 11:52:00

Off to Dunedin in a couple of hours to daughter's graduation leaving all sorts of things undone behind me. It's hard to believe that all those kids who have drifted in and out for beds and meals on their way north are actually dentists now - but lovely to see them all graduating together. They are suddenly realising that having lived in each other's pockets for five years they are now to be spread from Invercargill to Whangarei and not sure whether to be happy or sad. She graduates with distinction so I intend to enjoy a weekend of being a proud parent and worry about the mess in the garden when I get back. Hope everyone has a happy weekend and doesn't work too hard.

greerg - 2010-12-09 13:25:00

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elliehen - 2010-12-09 14:32:00

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elliehen - 2010-12-09 14:35:00

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cookessentials - 2010-12-09 16:34:00

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cookessentials - 2010-12-09 17:07:00

Sorry Charlie and Winnie -it is Thursday - checked with the Dean. He said people begin to arrive an hour before it starts. He was amused by the Vicar of Dibley comparison.

calista - 2010-12-09 19:04:00

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charlieb2 - 2010-12-09 19:25:00

Good morning,
I'm on my way out the door to work but just wanted to say hi :)
I'm so excited - Miss nearly 14 lands at 7.35pm and is here for 3 whole weeks ... woohoo!!!
Can't wait to see her - today is a good day!!!

winnie231 - 2010-12-10 05:22:00

Morning fellow earlybird...

How cool for your 3 week visitor....
I am off for a walk and glad this weeks over... I am shattered but in a good way... winding down to Christmas now with some nice things happening between now and then. Decided against a cycling day on Waiheke on Saturday... mainly because I am out all the next day... I have learnt alot about myself this year and one thing is.... I need down time. Before I got that through the week... now I make sure I get it in the weekend. Have some fairly major news on the family front but will email that through.

Had a fab afternoon off yesterday.. had lunch at Botany with the girls & Ma & Pa and then we went to the movies... Need to Plan a day off for next week as well.

Today looks to be a busy one.... then the weekend... yipppppppeeeeee

Have a great day all
JB

Edited by toadfish at 5:30 am, Fri 10 Dec

toadfish - 2010-12-10 05:29:00

Got up to feel the cat this morning and a whole new 1.5 kg bag of catfood had disappeared! Poor Georgie - no breakfast. So after some thought went back to the room where it had been stored - sure enough it had been knocked onto the floor and a wee nibbling hole had been ripped on the side. Poor Georgie indeed!

The excuse was - well when you got up at 5 am you didn't feed me and I was HUNGRY.

Poor fat'n'fluffy - obviously a neglected cat.

Edited by calista at 6:54 am, Fri 10 Dec

calista - 2010-12-10 06:52:00

PS Ellihen & Greerg (and other "regulars").. don't have your emails but happy to share my personal update... i am username at the i hug place if you want to email me.

toadfish - 2010-12-10 07:00:00

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cookessentials - 2010-12-10 07:17:00

Oh Cooks - my spelling is not the best when I'm cross. It's all Georgie's fault anyway.

Charlie, if you can't make it to the animal service - pop into the Cathedral and see the Angels. They're awesome. (hint - look up).

calista - 2010-12-10 18:40:00

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cookessentials - 2010-12-10 20:55:00

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fisher - 2010-12-10 23:51:00

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cookessentials - 2010-12-11 06:27:00

Morning all,
I have a gorgeous girl stretched out on the futon sofa and it's sooo good to have her here!!!!
She has grown some more, got streaks in her hair and becoming a young woman ... I can't say before my eyes ... but maybe I notice her maturing more because I don't see here every day. I am so proud of her - she has her head screwed on straight, looks on in distain at 'teenage' antics, and is well on her way to becoming a well balanced young person :)
We're moving to Mum's this morning because of my work hours and going to get busy decorating.
Have a fantastic weekend all, Rae xxx

winnie231 - 2010-12-11 06:59:00

OOOooo I have fridge envy! But it's too tall for me to put my microwave on top.

Rae - how exciting. Lovely for both of you.

I'm going to a market in Victoria Square full of Egyptian food and stuff. It's a fundraiser for the Coptic church which was totally written off by the earthquake and a/shocks. The Coptic Chuch (as I understand it) is one of the oldest Christian Churches and arose in Egypt. I don't know much about their particular beliefs, but I do know they have been persecuted in Egypt from time to time. There are apparenly enough in Christchurch to support a church.c

calista - 2010-12-11 08:25:00

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fisher - 2010-12-11 11:03:00

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elliehen - 2010-12-11 23:27:00

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freedom2all - 2010-12-11 23:41:00

lol ellie!!!
I had a chuckle about fridges when Pam wrote about hers anyway as I have one of those tiny 'under bench' models (and matching freezer) which are permanently close to empty but as I almost live at the casino or atleast have 2 of my meals a day there ... hardly surprising lol! I have wine - an essential for unwinding and milk which is sometimes within it's use by date ...
Other than that, a couple of sauces and pastes for cooking with ... not that they get used much!
Tragic for a 'foodie' lol!!!

winnie231 - 2010-12-11 23:43:00

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fisher - 2010-12-12 16:49:00

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elliehen - 2010-12-12 17:38:00

I have a french door double fridge that is 900 wide for the fridge so long platters can go straight into it, its a electrolux and I am well pleased with it, loads of drink storage etc. my trip to the po was fun ** read that as NOT ** the 1 kg bag was over by 13 gms so the lady said take out half of the pineapple lumps, so I ended up chewing my way through half a packet, have pre warned dd that its only a small half packet, had I not had the que behind me out of the shop I would have done a pineapple lump by lump weigh in - daughter would have had loads more and I wouldnt have them sitting on my hips.!! present wrapping going well here, its that time of year that you either have serious holes or have brought far too much. I am fairly balanced this year, just have the big gifts for sons and hubby to purchase and done all the stocking fillings are done (not that they are that small either as anyone with teenagers knows!!) had guests for lunch and made a warm chicken salad with corriander dressing, not so sure about the dressing had 1/3 sesame seeds which kinda swelled a bit I thought, nice but not wow if you know what I mean. anyway hope evryone is loving this weather its wonderful.

auckland_ali - 2010-12-12 19:39:00

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cookessentials - 2010-12-12 22:38:00

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fisher - 2010-12-12 23:06:00

Hi Everyone..

My Daughter's Graduation ceremony is this week.. very much looking forward to that.. several others are coming too so there'll be lot's of us there to celebrate with her.. we're all staying at a motel and she'll be with us there too.. a shared early dinner, then all the excitement as she gets ready for her special celebration.. it's taken a lot for her to achieve this, with what amounted to just over 3 months at home here during this year, with health worries.. she's kept up to date by doing correspondence, and even with all that, she's finished her course, passed everything.. and her reward is this week when she Graduates.. then she'll be home until just after New Year..

How lovely Rae to have your Daughter with you.. I'm guessing you'll all, you, your Daughter and your Mum, have a lovely time together.. pretty special to have three generations to spend time together.. precious..

I hope Everyone's Christmas planning is going well.. I made a double batch of meringues last night.. folded coconut through just before placing spoonsful on the trays.. they taste gooood!!!

How is everything there in Christchurch Charlie, Calista and all of you there.. A friend from Melbourne has visited today, after spending a few days in Christchurch.. she was shocked at how much everything is affected.. I hope you're all getting answers and knowing the way forward.. my thoughts are with you all.

Hi Earthangel - thinking of you too - I hope you're ok and have lots of TLC and support there - hugs.

Have a lovely week everyone.

juliewn - 2010-12-13 01:46:00

Sorry for the whinge - feel free to scroll past.

Today I rang up the company that demolished the second chimney to advise them that the EQC had changed their minds (again) so the claim number I had given them was wrong. They were brilliant and helpful (I just didn't want either them or me being suspected of fraud as I had alreasdy claimed for the other chimney).

Them I sent an email to the EQC advising them (again but I hope more clearly) of the discrepancies between the 'Statement of claim' and the Settlement Letter they sent. They had missed two of the item damaged, the ridgeline of the roof and the base of the (first) chimney. The roof is really important as it affects the future watertightness of the house. I'm pointing out the note of danage to the base of the chimney as it should make me eligible for a rebuild, rather than just a relaying of brcks. Ultimately I would settle for being covered for a heatpump.

I don't know if they will respond by email or letter as I have asked (hearing disability) but last time they left a voicemail that only answered half of what I wanted to know, when I finally deciphered what the woman was saying - despite the email request being made then.

I know they are overworked and that a lot of people have more serious worries, but I hope someone answers more clearly.

Edited by calista at 10:33 pm, Mon 13 Dec

calista - 2010-12-13 22:33:00

EarthAngel, I was shocked at the news the Pike River mining company is going into receivership leaving mine workers with a more uncertain future.

I've been thinking of you all on the Coast as the ripple effects will be devastating.

calista - 2010-12-13 22:37:00

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charlieb2 - 2010-12-13 22:55:00

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charlieb2 - 2010-12-13 23:00:00

It's soooo hot - I want to sleep but ... ooof!

winnie231 - 2010-12-13 23:09:00

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charlieb2 - 2010-12-13 23:21:00

Charlie & winnie it was also terribly hot & humid here last night. Had to have a shower about 2am during th night. Our room has a ceiling fan & even with that going it was too b@^*^y hot to sleep.

510 - 2010-12-14 06:56:00

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herika - 2010-12-14 08:25:00

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cookessentials - 2010-12-15 02:50:00

Good morning all,
well after 2 lovely days off and enjoying DD's company - I start my first shift as Bar Supervisor for the Casino tonight at 8pm. Feeling a mixture of excitement and apprehension ... and kicking myself for being awake at 6am!!! It's going to hurt later lol!
Have a lovely day all, xxx

winnie231 - 2010-12-15 07:06:00