Summer Vacation
Hi All!
We’re nearing the end of our Summer holiday in New Zealand. Only two weeks to go and although we’re missing Mark and some warmer temperatures, neither Bran, Pet or I are looking forward to saying goodbye to friends and family again.
We left Muscat over 6 weeks ago, crossing over the Omani border into the UAE near Al Ain, experiencing a sand storm and then a decent down pour. The first time we had seen rain in three months!
Get a load of that wind - Al Ain
A few days were spent in Abu Dhabi, where we celebrated Mark’s birthday, and then we traveled up the coast to Dubai.
The impressive Abu Dhabi corniche
Only an engineer would take a picture of this!
It seemed strange to be saying goodbye to Mark at the airport, and only really hit everyone how far away and how long we were going for at the last minute…much too late for change of heart or plans.
Will they make the 60kg limit? (we weighed in at 62kgs)
New Zealand here we come!
20 odd hours later we touched down in Auckland. Felt just like home immediately, and the smile hasn’t left Brannan’s face since.
2 days after previous shot - some summer vacation!
We’ve kept in touch with Mark almost daily with texts, pxt, email and MSN messenger. Generally each Friday we have a proper catch up either through Skype, or a video conference again using MSN messenger... ah modern technology!
We’ve had a fabulous time traveling around the middle of the North Island in Mum’s kindly lent ‘Nana’ mobile, I would tell you how many kms I’ve put on her car, but Mum reads the blog too! We have been mighty impressed with all the changes in Hamilton and can't believe how much the city has developed in 14 months.
During our holiday we’ve met three babies that have been born to friends in our absence, had sushi countless times, reacquainted ourselves with beloved friends and family, and acted as tourists in our own country. Bran and Pet have enjoyed the company of their nine cousins immensely. Petra has taken great interest in the New Zealand countryside and some Maori legends. I think seeing so much of the world in the last year has given both children a new set of eyes with which to view NZ.
Sushi in Hamilton with fellow sushi fanatics
It only took one quick drive in a car to adjust back to driving on the left hand side. Although I have once thought I was going around a roundabout the wrong way… good job the traffic islands forced me to go clockwise. A few times going around corners I had trouble deciding which side of the road I should be on!!
Whilst out and about the kids have been asked a few times why they're not in school. It makes me smile to hear Petra say in her broadest kiwi accent "we don't live in New Zealand", and then explain further that she lives in Oman... you can see the look on peoples' faces as if to say "Yeah right!"
One objective I had whilst here was to get the kids’ scrapbooks up to date. They diligently (if somewhat relunctantly) kept diaries whilst we were traveling in Asia. However, the 8 months of our life in the UK was just a collection of brochures, tickets and miscellaneous souvenirs thrown in a plastic bag. Luckily, Mum thrives on art and crafts and has happily sat here with the dining table struggling under the weight of our collectibles, glue, scissors, felt pens, and photos. We’re nearly done!
We also bought a house whilst in Hamilton, a bit of risk given that it was entirely on my own inspection, the closest Mark got to the property was a few external photos he saw on the web. We’re just ironing out a few last minute conditions and hopefully everything will be settled before I depart for Oman.
I don’t expect to post again until we get back to Muscat – so take care all. Please note photo album pics to follow!
Hayls
x
At home with Rowland, Molly and Regan
Nicole introducing Jessica
Amanda introducing Sophie
Male Moles: (Back) Adam, Sam, Aaron
(Front) Brannan, Thomas and Connor
Female Moles: (Back) Brooke, Kenya
(Front) Georgia and Petra
Best friends reunited - Petra with Tiana
We’re nearing the end of our Summer holiday in New Zealand. Only two weeks to go and although we’re missing Mark and some warmer temperatures, neither Bran, Pet or I are looking forward to saying goodbye to friends and family again.
We left Muscat over 6 weeks ago, crossing over the Omani border into the UAE near Al Ain, experiencing a sand storm and then a decent down pour. The first time we had seen rain in three months!
Get a load of that wind - Al Ain
A few days were spent in Abu Dhabi, where we celebrated Mark’s birthday, and then we traveled up the coast to Dubai.
The impressive Abu Dhabi corniche
Only an engineer would take a picture of this!
It seemed strange to be saying goodbye to Mark at the airport, and only really hit everyone how far away and how long we were going for at the last minute…much too late for change of heart or plans.
Will they make the 60kg limit? (we weighed in at 62kgs)
New Zealand here we come!
20 odd hours later we touched down in Auckland. Felt just like home immediately, and the smile hasn’t left Brannan’s face since.
2 days after previous shot - some summer vacation!
We’ve kept in touch with Mark almost daily with texts, pxt, email and MSN messenger. Generally each Friday we have a proper catch up either through Skype, or a video conference again using MSN messenger... ah modern technology!
We’ve had a fabulous time traveling around the middle of the North Island in Mum’s kindly lent ‘Nana’ mobile, I would tell you how many kms I’ve put on her car, but Mum reads the blog too! We have been mighty impressed with all the changes in Hamilton and can't believe how much the city has developed in 14 months.
During our holiday we’ve met three babies that have been born to friends in our absence, had sushi countless times, reacquainted ourselves with beloved friends and family, and acted as tourists in our own country. Bran and Pet have enjoyed the company of their nine cousins immensely. Petra has taken great interest in the New Zealand countryside and some Maori legends. I think seeing so much of the world in the last year has given both children a new set of eyes with which to view NZ.
Sushi in Hamilton with fellow sushi fanatics
It only took one quick drive in a car to adjust back to driving on the left hand side. Although I have once thought I was going around a roundabout the wrong way… good job the traffic islands forced me to go clockwise. A few times going around corners I had trouble deciding which side of the road I should be on!!
Whilst out and about the kids have been asked a few times why they're not in school. It makes me smile to hear Petra say in her broadest kiwi accent "we don't live in New Zealand", and then explain further that she lives in Oman... you can see the look on peoples' faces as if to say "Yeah right!"
One objective I had whilst here was to get the kids’ scrapbooks up to date. They diligently (if somewhat relunctantly) kept diaries whilst we were traveling in Asia. However, the 8 months of our life in the UK was just a collection of brochures, tickets and miscellaneous souvenirs thrown in a plastic bag. Luckily, Mum thrives on art and crafts and has happily sat here with the dining table struggling under the weight of our collectibles, glue, scissors, felt pens, and photos. We’re nearly done!
We also bought a house whilst in Hamilton, a bit of risk given that it was entirely on my own inspection, the closest Mark got to the property was a few external photos he saw on the web. We’re just ironing out a few last minute conditions and hopefully everything will be settled before I depart for Oman.
I don’t expect to post again until we get back to Muscat – so take care all. Please note photo album pics to follow!
Hayls
x
At home with Rowland, Molly and Regan
Nicole introducing Jessica
Amanda introducing Sophie
Male Moles: (Back) Adam, Sam, Aaron
(Front) Brannan, Thomas and Connor
Female Moles: (Back) Brooke, Kenya
(Front) Georgia and Petra
Best friends reunited - Petra with Tiana
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