3 - the magic number

Crikey - 3 months to post a blog update - not quite sure that's what Justin Hall had in mind when he began blogging back in 1994!

Am glad to say that we have lots of good things to tell you about!

Firstly, we are now living in Auckland in a groovy apartment just off Beach Road. We have lots of space and the girls love it! Nina is well and truly up on her feet and almost running (I kid you not!) around the place. There is certainly no slow in her go!

Lillia is enjoying being the early bird and wandering in somewhere after 6am and saying 'Morning time'! Followed quickly by, 'Breakfast'. Lillia seems to have taken on the role of big sister well and is being v good at getting to bed and going to sleep in the bedroom that she now shares with Nina. Though there have been a few comedy moments where Lillia was found in Nina's cot and couldn't get herself out! Plus Nina has been found cocooned in nappies (clean ones I'm glad to say!) that Lillia has posted through the bars of the cot.

Why are we in Auckland? Matt has landed a job in his field. Just like buses he ended up with 3 job offers all at once! So now he's working as contract PM for IAG New Zealand. It's very much like a UK company in a way - and to make it more like home he's met two people (Allan Dornan and Andy Graves) who used to work in Norwich for Norwich Union!!

Matt's been helped out massively by friends who have put him up for a few weeks while the apartment became available - thanks Lisa and Ian & Himali :-) Lillia has particularly enjoyed finding Daddy at Himali's place as she keeps 3 chickens, mainly for talking to and they also lay eggs - perhaps these activities are related. Either which way, Lillia loved talking chicken to them and chasing them around the place.

Since settling in Auckland life has been lots of fun, meeting up with friends, heading out for dinner and exploring new places. Last weekend we headed to Hunua Falls and had a great walk in the rain - 8 wet adults and 6 wet but happy children - funny how the rain doesn't seem to curb their spirits. Think the treat of hot Milo for them was a definite plus!

Fiona’s getting out and about the place during the day and finding the groups that the girls enjoy – Mainly Music, Play Centre and joining up at the local library. Plus visiting brother & sister-in-law; girls really enjoying having cousins nearby to play with.

One other good thing about being in the City of Sails is that the water is never too far away so we plan to take the ferries over to the local islands and have some days out exploring – Rangitoto is a case in point – a volcanic island just waiting to be summitted!

Ahead, September is already a busy month – just the 3 family birthdays and hopefully a trip to the snow :-)

Until next time, enjoy the photos.