This is New Zealand...

ahhh - school holiday love. Two and a half hour drive from home. But I think I could have been in the Cook Islands or Fiji! Typical NZ over hols - half empty camp grounds and slices of paradise like this with few people around... Kai Iwi Lakes. (and no I had never been here before but have been to lots of other places! So many people seem surprised this is my first time visiting here).

Twas the husband's birthday yesterday - very low key to the point that he received a box of scorched almonds and that was it... i walked and walked around a shopping centre with no idea what to get him and then walked home empty handed. He does not mind - he is looking forward to the pair of socks which I will finish knitting for him today. We told the boys that this was the pattern for the year - no gifts but experiences - yep they were horrified! We were only joking. My husband is the most non-materialistic person I know and one of the happiest!

A night with the Finn Family

The Finn Family are some of my favourite New Zealand musicians. Whether solo, as a family, in Crowded House or Split Enz, I love them. I have seen them play multiple times, all around the country over many, many years. They played at Auckland Zoo quite a few weeks ago now. The best thing was the 16 year old seeing them - he was quite literally beside himself at his first ever concert (dang places that are R18 he says!) and has a growing collection of Split Enz vinyl. A very, very cool night. (the other two were totally dis-interested and spent the concert roaming the zoo.)

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday at ours. Roast Lamb with Jamie Oliver gravy. (roast veges in the gravy and strained to serve). Carrot cake. Tea with the gorgeous tea cosie crocheted by Penny. A very low key day - my extended family does zilch Easter stuff - a non-event really. Gets even more low key with us as the boys get older. Cute carrots on the mantle sewn by Tracy. A red blood moon around 12.30am this morning. Photo taken by 16 year old as I had long fallen asleep. Stationery for me from Kikki K in lieu of chocolate as I have finally decided that I do not like chocolate - battled with this since tonsils taken out 2 years ago! Day ending my watching "The Great British Sewing Bee on Your Tube. First time ever watching tv on You Tube. (seriously!). And knitting. Always knitting.

A Good Friday

Hooray for school holidays (and staff leaving. The one that frustrated me and made me cry a week ago at school. A bully gone.)
A Good Friday. Hotcross buns made by the husband. Lots of knitting. And not much else. (An essay to write these hols though and a few days at university too). And negotiations with teens about 1-2 nights away... That is all we want and then they can do what they wish for the rest of the 16 days!

My plans - to finish this cardigan, to write letters, that essay, to lunch at Villa Maria with school friends, cafe visits with two friends to catch up (other school librarians chit chat), plant winter vege garden and not a lot else.
Enjoy those school hols people down under. Any plans for anyone else? Whew - I love hols - they can save me! No book buying though as I have massive piles of new books waiting for me to find time to deal with them at school.
May the Easter Bunny visit too (no chocolate for me thanks.)