Five on Friday

I'm hooking up with Amy again this week.

1. It has been a nothing week. Nothing much done especially around university study. I'm just getting more and more stressed. I am so whacked after school and stuff that happens during the day, I can't be bothered with much.
2. 8 more weeks and 2 days for the long 6-7-8 week break. I know. I'm sad. I need a big break from my job I think...
3. Then I realized the crazy finishing dates for the end of the school year for 4 of us - Nov 10; Dec 4; Dec 5; Dec 15. Different schools, different finishing dates. Of course the mother finishes on the last date. Welcome to New Zealand where every school has a choice. The early date is due to Cambridge school exams finishing that early! The kid only has a 2 hour prize giving on Dec 4 after that. Then we'll all go back to school on different dates in 2016 starting from around January 23/24/25 or so to the first week of February.
4. I've knitted a lot this week. A pair of socks and 2 hats started and completed.
5. I really need a shake up basically! That is all. xo

A 24 hour sock

I finished the first sock in under 24 hours and am already onto the next sock. I am trying to have 2 study days before school starts, but it is such a nice pottering day instead... I always like to get everything ship-shape before the new school term, as school takes over my life. Term 4 is a hard one for any school librarian around stocktake/getting material returned (1400 overdue from last term still...sigh!) etc.

Love how the stripes have worked - of course the next one will be slightly different... I'm thinking there is going to be a lot of wool left over - it is "scheepjes invicta colour" and is Dutch (not german as I thought!).

Thank you for all the lovely comments lately too - loving them!

Five on Friday

Today I am linking up with Amy over at Love Made My Home.
one - tulips - my favourite flower in one of my favourite colours (yellow being the other colour)

 Two - found under the bed while doing a tidy up. The platter is from Morris and James and was a gift from my parents a long time ago. I have no idea why it was put under the bed, but had been looking for it and was really puzzled it was not in a cupboard...

Three - a 8km bike ride this afternoon in an area of Auckland we never go to. One of many areas booming with multiple new houses going up. The youngest said all the houses looked the same, and said that none of them had any character and that he would never live anywhere like this ever. Kiddo I hate to tell you, but I'm not sure you will ever be able to afford any house in this city when you are older....

Four - a sock started last night and it might even be finished tonight.... After a few days of knitting frustration (finding something that I can knit without looking at basically!), its another basic sock but with fab German wool. First time ever knitting with German wool - love it and the self striping nature of it.

Five - Noro wool. I thought people raved about it - bought this in Sydney or Melbourne a year or two back... I'm not a fan. It cost an arm and a leg too - tried a sock and another wrap, but no. Don't think we go together well - rather disappointed.

Two more days of school holidays - I'm not ready at all for school...

Zealana Knit-a-long and Spooky Giveaway Winners

Only a few more days of school hols left - I already do not want to go back to work!
While *attempting* to cram stuff into my head, I have knitted the Cocoknits Everyday Wrap in just 3 or so days. Zealana is having a knit-a-long if you want to take part.

it is basic easy quick knitting, but really neat sewing it up to get a diagonal. You could wear it lots of different ways I'm guessing. Knitted with the new Zealana Cosi sock wool, it is divine. Good to have something off the needles so fast and something actually achieved these school hols too.

The winners of the Spooky Giveaway are Melanie (I have your address ;) ) and Linny. I'll post them off sometime next week.

Christchurch 3

A few more pictures from the Christchurch city centre -

lots of construction work going on. But also lots of empty space where buildings were before the earthquakes, lots more car parks, shops/businesses with the date on when they were checked/cleared by emergency teams from around the world, lots of boarded up windows and still buildings needing to be demolished.
I'm not even sure, from looking at photos taken on previous visits, if I could really match up anything from corner to corner, as the landscape is constantly changing.
More pics to come.

books, books, books

I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself. I cycled a few kilometers up the road to the "village" post office instead of going to the super local (100 metres walk away) post office. The local post office is in a big shopping centre and I am trying ever so hard not to buy STUFF I just do NOT need.... the temptation of an entire shopping mall can be hard..
All winter I have been trying to spend less (well the post office is doing well, but letters, postcards and parcels always cheer someone else up don't they?) - the winter wardrobe buys consisted of a NZ made pair of tights, 2 merino jerseys, a decent bag and a pair of sandals. Pretty good for me.
The boys do need some clothing possibly, but they never complain or really even ask for it :)

I did however buy books in Christchurch last week. One always needs new books. And Christchurch needs help with their local economy after the earthquakes. And I still have quite a lot of money to spend for school on library books.

I came home with this lot - yeah - it was not surprising that the Air New Zealand lady was looking at me when I was attempting to lift my bag up onto the convey-about thingy.

There are some real gems in this lot. If you have young children and do not know Oliver Jeffers picture books, get to a local bookshop pronto! I highly recommend The day the crayons Quit and the subsequent sequel above The Day the Crayons came home. My absolute favourite is Stuck and the Hueys and subsequent Huey titles. Book is so divine, that I have ordered another copy for myself.
Joy Cowley and Kate de Goldi (NZ authors) both have new ones out - I read the new Cowley one on the plane home and it is brilliant.
Quite funny I had to go all the way to Christchurch to find Gagana Samoan language readers!
I could esily fly to Christchurch and buy books every few months - I recommend Scorpio books and The Children's Bookshop there.

100th post of 2015 giveaway

It's my 100th post for 2015, so I'll do a giveaway!

A heart shaped soap bought in Gisborne in January (I bought a pile of them as love them!),
a Skinfood (NZ brand which I adore) exfoliating scrub (with aloe and almond) and a dishcloth or make up remover cloth made by yours truly.

Open worldwide - just make sure  I can contact you via your blog/e-mail. Closing date October 15. Leave a comment below.