Thursday, December 31, 2009

Why men are like buses


Phew! Finished at last. I've been reading Just in Time to be Too Late - Why men are like buses. It's not that it was hard book to read, quite the opposite really. It's just that I had Steve breathing down my back as I read it. Each time I put it down he would pick it up so we were reading it simultaneously. Many of you will know that I am a S-L-O-W reader - it can take me months to get through a book. Steve is, well, the opposite, yet I was determined to finish this book before him which, despite having a head-start, I only just managed to do.

It's a good read if you want to know what it's really like to be a man in the 21st century. Written with humour and wit. If you don't really care about the male perspective then you may prefer Can We Help it if We're Fabulous? And other thoughts on being a woman which is about being a female. I haven't started this one yet as I am saving it for our week holiday at Mt Maunganui.

Steve has declared that he probably won't bother reading the latter. I guess he thinks he knows all he needs to know about women. Maybe we'll still be needing the relationship counselling afterall...

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Getting to know you


For the Stevens family, the past few days have meant sleeping in, eating, reading, playing, skate boarding and blogging. With the occasional trip to the beach.

And now Steve can say that he has actually read my blog. Of course I had to prompt and prod him for feedback. I think generally he thinks it's 'good'. Why use ten words when one will do? He also said that he's learnt more about me from reading my blog. I quickly suggested that he write a blog so we can really get to know each other. Think of the money we could save on relationship counselling.


A few days ago I confessed to using the DVD player in the car to keep the kids quiet. Of course this has come full circle and they now want to turn it on when we've got a five minute journey to the next suburb. We, being good parents, laid down the law and told them that wasn't going to happen. After some vocal protesting which we firmly ignored, they got the message. Today, after a trip to the library, Steve and I thought it would be nice to stop for a coffee on the way home. More protesting ensued. Again, being the good parents that we are, we let them sit in the car across the road, windows down, looking at books. We enjoyed a quiet coffee.


Note: It wasn't a hot day, the windows were open, and we had a good view of the car across the road from the cafe :)

Monday, December 28, 2009

A Boxing Day tradition


It seems the Aussie tradition of heading to the beach on Boxing Day exists for Kiwis too. After lunch we took a short drive to Mirawai. The girls and I had a pleasant afternoon on the black sand - the girls played 'cat' games on the large rock in the middle of Maori Bay and I got engrossed in Just in Time to be Too Late - Why men are like buses which Steve gave me for Christmas. Steve disappeared in the waves and we didn't see him for some time. Some things never change.


The following day we ventured further north but were a little slow leaving the house and before we knew it were crawling alongside hundreds of others on the highway. It was a bit like the traffic jams you get heading up to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane, minus the blazing heat. Did I mention we've got a DVD player in the car? Before we got it I used to make snide remarks about parents who would stoop so low. Well, it seems it is not beneath us and never did we imagine it would be such a hit - the kids like it too. We didn't hear a single complaint. The only whinging was when we actually reached the destination (Pakiri) and turned it off!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Begin with coffee, end with coffee


Hopefully you all received our Christmas letter. The girls were really looking forward to a visit from Santa and he did not disappoint. I was reminding them just yesterday that it is never to late to start being good.

Before I could start preparing breakfast I had my obligatory two cups of coffee and another thrown in because, well, it's Christmas! We had waffles with mango, strawberries, bananas and mascapone. It's the first time we've actually had to pay for mangoes - ever!


With some inspiration from Maggie Beer, I am baking a turkey with apple and prune stuffing. I got a free-range, corn-fed turkey from the local butcher and in return gave him all the money in my Christmas account. I only hope I do it justice. The butcher said the secret to the perfect turkey is a good butcher and an excellent chef. Well, he's done his bit, now the pressure is on!

Note: The pic above shows Steve attempt at looking 'festive'. I think those shorts have been around longer than me! Nice clashing Steve.


We are sticking to a good ol' Aussie pavlova for dessert because everybody here loves it. Did you know that the Kiwi's claim the pav' is theirs? To be honest, we Aussies are notorious for adopting anything the Kiwis do well as ours, so there could be some truth in that. I will research and get back to you!


I hope you enjoy the Christmas music selection - it really is hard to find 'good' Christmas music.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Friday, December 18, 2009

Softies


Yesterday the girls and I made some softies. The girls drew their designs and picked the fabric from left over bits and pieces I've kept over the years. I made the pattern pieces and did all the cutting and sewing. The girls then stuffed them. We had lots of fun telling each other to "Get stuffed!". I was inspired by some of the cute things I've been looking at on other blogs and the local craft markets. I think they're not too bad for a first attempt.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Acronyms


OK, I've been told I'm a bit slack with my posts - sorry.

I found these little letters at the Crafternoon Tea market last weekend. Using the first letters of the names of our family members we can come up with some cute ones:
STARE, DREAM (using Dad and Mum), SMEAR (not so cute).

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Mad Men


I've put Mad Men back on my list of favourite things to look at on the web. I love, love, love it!

I have Seasons 1 and 2 on DVD and was only half way through S2 when I discovered Season 3 was screening on telly in NZ. Who would have though the Kiwis would be ahead of the Aussies?! Actually I don't know where you are up to in Oz, maybe S3 is finished but in case it's not I won't spoil it for you, just to say that the episode I watched the other night was a bit weird, even by MM standards. Clue: take a look at Joan Harris' blood stained dress above!

Friday, December 4, 2009

Happy Jandal Day


A jandal is a thong of course and today is National Jandal Day here in NZ. The idea is to raise money for Surf Life Saving. And the forcast is for nice jandal weather, yipppee!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Today is your birthday, they're smoking cigars


Actually, it's my birthday. Let's just say I'm thirty-something. I love this old Sugarcubes song. I don't hear it very often but when I do it gives me goosebumps. Don't know why. Not a huge fan of Bjork - liked some of her earlier stuff when she first went solo.

The pic above is the necklace Steve and the girls gave me. Sweet. Below are the other handmade things the girls gave me.




Counting down, and up


  • Today is the first day of summer. It feels more like spring in this part of the world, but I'm not complaining.

  • Only two days till my birthday (and Ari's) (and plenty of others of course).

  • And twenty-four sl[sh]eeps till Christmas.