yes Grizzly the shop is going ahead quickly now, the carpet will be exciting, once thats in we are on the home stretch.

Wedding went off really well, weather could have been better but service was just lovely and the reception fantastic, would highly recomend the George to anyone. Got some lovely photos too, will put one on here in a minute , have to save it to TM first . Really looking forward to seeing the professional ones, he was great

suzy59nz - 2012-03-06 17:27:00

http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/25/208810225_full.jp
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http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/74/208810174_full.jp
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http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/93/208810093_full.jp
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suzy59nz - 2012-03-06 17:31:00

http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/15/208810515_full.jp
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this last one really tells you how cold it was, the girls pinched the guys jackets

suzy59nz - 2012-03-06 17:33:00

Funny how the beach has become a popular place for wedding photos, isn't it? All the weddings I know of this year had their photos taken on the beach and look what happens when the weather isn't great.Lol. My son's wedding was the same last year remember, although they went to Waimairi Beach. Friends of theirs turned up at Brighton Beach to have their photos taken in January to find other wedding parties already there. Not like you can book your spot is it?
Your photos are lovely and I love the one of you and K. on Facebook. The perfect Mother-of the- Bride!

grizzly4 - 2012-03-07 07:19:00

It was a lovely day. Well worth the wait and the money ;-) All over now for a few years ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, i hope

Edited by suzy59nz at 10:09 pm, Wed 7 Mar

suzy59nz - 2012-03-07 22:09:00

Don't hold your breath! LOL. We thought that and then S. set the date for her wedding within a year of her brothers! And that's now less than a month away. And no! I still haven't started my dress.
How did you enjoy Ellerslie, yesterday, suzy? I thoroughly enjoyed myself as usual despite the weather. To be expected, I guess, that so many of the designers played with the earthquake aspect. Some I liked, some I didn't.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-08 07:35:00

Goodness me, it's so cold in the mornings this week. I'm really trying not to turn on heaters yet and it's hard to figure out what to wear 'cos it warms up later. What's everyone working on at present? we haven't checked in with our projects recently. Me? I have a baby jacket on the needles but I keep selling baby sox on TM so have to switch to knitting them. I also have another crocheted blanket half done and my UFO is the cross stitch that I haven't picked up since before Christmas. I also have a dress to make to wear to a wedding (LOL) and I need to make a couple of storage bags for the counters of the Giant Connect 4 game at work. And of course I still keep buying things on TM for things I want to do e.g the latest is bookmark aida with the idea of doing some for the shop when it opens. What a joke.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-09 07:49:00

I agree about the weather, cold in the morning and evening, we have had a bad summer this year, can't remember one so bad. We have had the fire going already. I have been trying to finish my UFO's, got two finished on my third now, probably another 3 or 4 in the craft cupboard if i cleaned it out. I'm sooooo bad.

suzy59nz - 2012-03-09 16:41:00

It was veryy cold at the garden show wasn't it Grizzly, typical the day we choose is the worst day weather wise. Yes i thought an over use of earthquake topics, piles of rubble. I did like the one with the steel girder shaped in to the heart, that was done in the earthquake, a bit like the ones outside the fire station from 911. They are talking about that going in to the city sometime. LIked the tornado one too. Then of course there was the food tent ;-)

suzy59nz - 2012-03-09 16:46:00

The Countdown tent? That supermarket chain is really out there now with Ellerslie and Masterchef, isn't it? You see they have the new one in Ferrymead just about demolished now, and heard yesterday they have closed the new one in Northwood for emergency work. How many other buildings are we going into that we shouldn't be, I wonder. Not that I have been into a countdown store since Feb 22, same as Farmers - they are all part of Malls or too big.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-10 11:50:00

i go in to Countdown in Brighton all the time, only just heard about the Northlands one, think thats open again now. Everytime i go for a drive there is another building gone.
Was great getting the paint this morning and dropping it in to the shop, felt like i had achieved something lol. Fingers crossed for a fine dry painting day tomorrow .

suzy59nz - 2012-03-10 17:43:00

It wasn't it the Northlands store it was the new one at Northwood and will be closed for at least a week they reckon. Don't know what major safety work can be done in a week!?
Went to B7's birthday party yesterday and going to son-in-laws birthday breakfast this morning, then have to race home to change into painting gear and get to the shop. Full on day ahead.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-11 08:58:00

Hi girls. Sorry I have been a bit out of sorts lately. I caught an infection. Things getting back to normal now though. Must have been all that excitement in Raro HA HA. Those are really lovely shots of the wedding suzy. Everyone looked stunning. I do intend to pick up my knitting tonight grizzly. I have been mending and ironing and am over that. My daughter has been interviewing Nannies from an agency. I have decided that I need more me time to get up and running again. Ha ha. I will look after Little J for just 2 days a week.

makerealbany - 2012-03-11 17:34:00

After a big day painting would you believe I have to rip back all the knitting I did last night. Grrr!

grizzly4 - 2012-03-11 19:03:00

Makerealbany, I hope you are feeling better, sounds nasty.
I don't know where my head was last night, the piece of knitting wasn't even up to where I thought I had made a mistake so of course didn't have to rip any back, thank goodness. I've heard from one of the women painting with me yesterday and she and her husband are very stiff and sore this morning. I. and I are just finding patches of paint in very odd places. We think we have it all off and then find a bit more. It's becoming quite a joke. Unlike Suzy's husband who is the tidiest painter I have met - he was nearly as clean when he left as when he arrived! But he sure did an amazing job on our behalf, would have him back any time. Two of our older ladies were pulling up old lino , so I wonder they are today, I cut her hand quite badly so I found out this morning. The building has been dark green with horrible brown canopies over the windows for years so I knew it would get people's attention once we started painting. It's all white at the moment with a top coat still to be done on the top half and the purple to go on the window frames and shutters and on the frill of the canopies. I can't believe how much we got done without the PD guys who didn't show up. I was really angry to start with but hadr work resolved that for me pretty fast. haha.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-12 07:55:00

TYpo- I meant one of them cut her hand not that I had done it. Sounded awful when I read my message but had already pushed the 'Post message' key. LOL.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-12 07:58:00

Wow we actually have our garage back! We took all the shop stock to someone else's garage in preparation for the stall on Friday, hehe. Now to get my freezer cleared out. One of the programmes at work has stored hundreds of meat patties and sausages in there for an event at the end of term. I've forgotten what I have under it all now!

grizzly4 - 2012-03-13 07:26:00

The shop sounds grand grizzly. You most likely will find a few surprizes in your freezer. I know I always do when I clean my two freezers out. I had a terrible night last night and just when I thought I was coming right. Grrrrrrr. Never mind feeling a bit better tonight.

makerealbany - 2012-03-13 20:13:00

I am surrounded by people at home and work with colds. I am probably doomed but I am keeping my fingers crossed. I have a pile of projects I wanted to get done for the stall on Friday but don't think it's going to happen, just too many other things to do as well. Sigh.And it's hard juggling things I have listed on TM so the closing dates are just before FRiday. I have a few things with a number of watchers that have just closed but if I offer them what's the bet someone accepts the offer on the 3rd day when I thought I was safe taken them to the stall?! It would be Murphy's law, agreed?

grizzly4 - 2012-03-14 07:33:00

Yeah I agree. Ha ha . Had a much better day today even managed to ring Mum and have a complete conversation which was nice for us both.

makerealbany - 2012-03-14 23:08:00

Glad to hear you are on the road to wellness again, makerealbany.
Had a nice lie in this morning...... well till 7 any way. Something went wrong with I.'s truck yesterday and he didn't have to go in till later today once he heard from the mechanic. Very pleasant, but I certainly won't get much done before I go to work myself, especially while I am on here. Haha.
The Women's Group activity yesterday was abstract art on a small canvas in metallic paints. 17 attended and the effect was stunning once they had finished and they were all different.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-15 08:45:00

I had an abstract art workshop for our ladies once. We had 1 hour a week for 6 weeks. I loved it. Off course I had to participate lol. Actually did a bit of gardening today. It was such a lovely day. I am feeling much better now thank goodness. I am not a good patient because I can't just rest unless I can't move. Ha ha.

makerealbany - 2012-03-15 22:32:00

I'm the same way. I am itching to get into my garden, it needs a real tidy up. I will be so pleased when the shop is done but it doesn't feel like there's an end in sight. Full day at Barrington Mall with our stall today, a bit nervous in malls still especially when they keep confirming my fears by closing large numbers of shops - 9 yesterday in Northlands Mall need major strengthening work after further assessment. Thats my local Mall, not that I've ben there since before Christmas.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-16 06:50:00

Oh God, I am so tired! We were all up to 1am this morning. I. and our son went to the stag do and Daughter and DIL with B3 and L4 came over for fish'n'chip tea. We put on a DVD for the boys while we made up the favour boxes for the wedding, then about 10pm we put on the latest Twilight DVD. Everyone went home once the men arrived. Haven't been up that late for ever and it was after a long day on my feet at Barrington Mall. Very successful day all up. Can't say I'm looking forward to an early start painting tomorrow. I wish it was all over, my joints are suffering big time not to mention my garden and my knitting.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-17 19:48:00

Good thing about running out of bread is I can have hot cross buns for breakfast. Hehe.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-18 07:11:00

B*#%# when you live with paranoia you still have to get up early when you don't feel well! Good grief. I have really bad vertigo this morning and it's making me feel really ill. Hope it passes soon as I have so much work to get done at work and a shop meeting. Haven't this for at least a year and I'm never sure whether it's to do with an oncoming cold or something I have done to my neck. The only thing I have done different is using a long handled paint roller yesterday but it was only for a short time as the Periodic Detention guys kept taking over the jobs I started. They were a great crew and I enjoyed working with them. Apparently some of them were pretty hard core gang members but you would never have known. Some had no idea what to do with a paint brush so they learned some great skills over 7 hours and a couple said they really enjoyed it and hadn't thought about getting a job doing that sort of work. By the time they left they all knew where to bring their wives and girlfriends for their baby wear. Heehee. Out of 10 guys there was only one moaner.... about getting paint on his good jeans, about it being too hot, about him being a painter by trade and we weren't doing it right and him all of 19 with a world of experience! There was another professional painter on the crew and he got stuck into the finer detail of our purple contrast. It looks so good.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-19 06:57:00

Yahoo. The date has been st! The Purple Patch will reopen on 10 April!!!!

grizzly4 - 2012-03-19 20:06:00

hI Girls coping the best we can. My daughter and the kids are devastated. Little K is so like his daddy. Everytime I look at him I think of him growing up without his daddy and it breaks my heart. My grandson who nearly died at Xmas asked me what the hell we ever did to have so many tragedies. S was his rock. Everyone is fast asleep all worn out after the endless hours of hoping and praying he would be alright. He will be brought home from Indonesia later this week.

makerealbany - 2012-03-19 23:43:00

???????!!!!!!!!! What on earth has happened, makerealbany?

grizzly4 - 2012-03-20 07:06:00

???????????????????????? omg , what has happend

suzy59nz - 2012-03-20 13:36:00

Thanks, Smartgirl. My thoughts are with you and your family, Makerealbany.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-21 07:26:00

mine to Makerealbany, stay strong,thinking of you all

suzy59nz - 2012-03-21 19:49:00

I cannot believe tradesmen these days! I set up a plumber for yesterday afternoon and carpet to be laid today. Straight forward don't you think? Not a chance..... plumber forgot to write down the address of the shop and werote my contact number down wrong so it wasn't till I rang to find out why he hadn't arrived did I get it sorted. As for the carpet.... the salesman forgot not one but two appointments on the last 2 sundays to do the final measurements. He finally arrived on Tuesday and then I got a phone call yesterday to say they didn't have enough of the carpet we had chosen! We had the choice of waiting a week or changing the colour!!! My recommendation is don't use Dominion if you live in Christchurch.Shocking service.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-22 07:29:00

How are you and your family, makerealbany. I am thinking of you. Hopefully you have him back home with you by now.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-23 06:30:00

I have today off work. Yay, although it's hard to walk away from my desk when I have so much work on. I. had an early start this morning so I was up early as well. I'm off to sort out shop fittings today with another committee member and I guess we will drop in to see the new carpet. Not sure if they finished the job yesterday. I am going to make a formal complaint to the company this morning.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-23 06:33:00

Had S's bridal brunch this morning for family women not going to the hen's night tonight. It was lovely at Sweethearts at Berryfields and a great way to start the day.
Thinking of you daily, makerealbany and of your family.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-24 20:42:00

Carpet in. Shop fittings going in topday.....

grizzly4 - 2012-03-25 08:45:00

Hi. S's funeral was Friday and the last Indian ceremony tonight. We held it together as a family but you can imagine what it was like. I am at home tonight for the first time in 8 days. Don't know how long for but S my other SIL flys out tomorrow and my son W flew back from Dubai and has to go back there on Tuesday. I cannot decribe the probelms associated with our two different cultural beliefs trying to compromise all through this last week but it was sheer hell. My daughter is shattered but said she wanted to spend the night at home with just her children. I know that feeling. I will miss that beautiful man. We argued at times but we got over it very rapidly as all good families do. He was a very strong influence in our family. Had a heart of gold and would help anyone and I do mean anyone. He was a loving husband, father, stepfather, son, uncle and brother. My grandson C who was sick at Xmas gave a lovely speech at the funeral. S would have been so proud of him. He was his Dad for 10 years and C is 18 now. Lots of people asked for a copy of his speech. They could not believe he was only 18. I was proud of his big brother and his sister as they all had specific things to do at different times. It was a huge funeral and friends and family came from everywhere. T's house is full of flowers and all sorts of things. All their neighbours supported us in many ways. We are really grateful for all the love shown. I am in need of sleep. My family have been sleeping for only a few hours and then someone was up making a cuppa and we would sit and talk then someone else would get up and so on. I think I am raving!!!!!!!!Nite

makerealbany - 2012-03-25 22:56:00

You sound so tired and so sad, makerealbany. You have had such a difficult 12 months worrying over individual family members. I hope you got a good nights sleep in your own bed.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-26 07:07:00

So good to hear from you makereal. S is going to leave a huge gap in your heart. The old saying is true, only the good die young. You must feel like you have been through the ringer. I have been so worried about you. I can only imagine the cultural differences. Take care of yourself now. Lots of love, Jo

smartgirl - 2012-03-26 07:11:00

Grizzly and suzy, your new shop sounds wonderful. You have had to do so much work though to get it to this stage. You will have to show us pics before it opens. Roll on opening day. Our PP recently relocated to a new shop but I think it is a lot smaller and you can hardly move in it. My grandson who lives with me is moving to Aus to live with his mum so that is really great for the both. I will miss him but I am really happy for him. He goes on Thursday morning.

smartgirl - 2012-03-26 07:16:00

It is amazing what a good nights sleep will do. New Nanny starts tomorrow so I am training her. Ha ha. Hope you are feeling better smartgirl. Thanks for the support girls. Off to bed early tonight again lol. My grandson from Christchurch is here until Thursday and then I will be back to little old me. What bliss ha ha. Yes you will miss your grandson smartgirl but there is a lot to be said for occassional solitude. You will enjoy it trust me.

makerealbany - 2012-03-26 23:03:00

A little peace and quiet can be very healing, can't it? LOL. I gave myself a bit of a wakeup call yesterday when I checked my diary. This morning is my only free morning between now and the wedding to get this damn dress done!!!! Really stressed now. I also have to find time to go to a hairdresser and the doctor before then for a new prescription. I knew it would all catch up on me in the end. To make matters worse the windows of the shop were etched on Saturday night and one wall tagged in silver paint on Sunday night! It's heart breaking and very defeating.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-27 07:13:00

Well! Wasn't a very successful day, I have to say. Sigh. Sewing was interrupted as my new reel of black cotton was missing so had to go get more. Now I'm finding the fabric is so light to work with it's feeding itself down into the hole where the needle goes everytime I start a row of stitching. All I got done was the fabric cut out and the side seams stitched on the bodice and bodice lining before going to work. Sigh again.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-27 19:26:00

Morning! And it's another day.....which for me includes the Women's Group which is doing an Easter Card activity with a tutor this morning, funding applications and picking up a wee shelving unit for my window displays in the shop. Currently working on a fairisle cardy order for TM in two tone pinks. Haven't used that combination before and it's quite effective.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-28 06:57:00

went and took pics of the tagging and wiendow etching at the shop today, was going to go paint over it tonight after work, but got held up doing something, so i will go tomorrow before work and paint it out, little buggers i would tag them if i cought them.
Looking forward to getting stock in and the shop open, been a long time coming .

suzy59nz - 2012-03-28 18:14:00

Looks as if we are all running in circles. Between dashing up to the beach and training the new nanny I am not sure if I am Arthur or Martha. My daughter has heaps of the usual legal probelms to deal with and it is all too much too soon and the bloody phones never stop ringing. Why don't people just stop and think for a bloody minute or month. What idiot rings at breakfast, lunch and tea time. They all know she has a nearly 3 year old. Honestly. Little buggers spoiling the new shop!!! I know when our new fence was tagged I was furious. Hope you got that sewing sorted grizzly. I would not even attempt sewing at the moment I would sew up the wrong sides or something equally stupid.Lol.

makerealbany - 2012-03-28 23:12:00

Who's to say I'm not going to do that?! TRying to fit in an hour before work each morning which means sewing at 8am or earlier. My current problem is trying to place shoulder straps in the right place to cover bra straps when the back can't be elasticated till after you have done the straps! Of course once you put in the elastic the straps will be in a different place. It is truly doing my head in!

grizzly4 - 2012-03-29 07:14:00

Moved on to next dress dilemma!LOL. Bodice of top is gathered by a loop of fabric to make bra shape and thought I might stitch some bling to the front of the loop but also had idea that a chunky black necklace would look good and now I can't decide which to go for. Starting the long skirt side seams this morning then doing a stall at a retirement home, then a shop meeting before I start work. Might get there just after lunch. Lucky the boss is away today. LOL.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-30 07:14:00

It was a long hard day yesterday. I really want to get out in the garden today before rain or family arrive but dress comes first.

grizzly4 - 2012-03-31 09:42:00