getting better & even getting sunnier!

 Weather drying up with Auckland sun out & I'm feeling better today!

Yes, rain rain go away, worked!  

After a rainy month the sun is out ~

just need to get rid of the cool wind.

South Island destinations show higher temperatures than here

so my sister & I looking forward to our holiday tour 

& have started packing our bags, yippee!!

Although I haven't found a medical solution to my stuff here

(Drs unable to diagnose or fix me)

I'm feeling better today, yippee twice!!

Have finished first little baby piece for first baby due May

& off today to buy crafty surprise package for next 2 babies due July.

Keeps me creatively busy, yippee thrice!!!

Yesterday, NZ Anniversary holiday, we went to Downtown Auckland

& joined 1000's of others to NZ Seafood Masterfood Food~ganza.

Had, mussles, pipis, paua, scampi, crayfish, whitebait & 

raw teraki in coconut cream delicacy all presented genuinely by 

Maoris & Islanders, yippee fourth!!!!

A rock concert was playing in next venue & as we oldies walked into wrong ticketing queue,

you could see the young rock enthusiasts giggling amongst themselves at we pensioners trying to get in!

Hey, we did that years ago ~ 

Sweetwaters 3~day Rock Concerts,

Paul McCartney & Wings at Western Springs in NZ

plus Gympie & Tamworth in Australia

Thankgoodness we all remember them!! 

Over & out for today,

allison

 

Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...

So, what's the holiday like?

 So, just what is our holiday like?

Despite being quite pedantic about informing 

Centrelink, Telstra, new Internet Banking setup,

& Travel Insurance about our leaving for New Zealand for a holiday ~ 

far from it ~

everyone one of them has let us down ~

Reminders when we had pre~paid our Accounts,

Centrelink annoyingly sending emails when they know 

I am resting with my Carer for a peaceful change,

Bank annoying by not replying for 11 days (so far)

re me needing to access new Password 

(which I thought I had remembered),

& the notion that OZ & NZ are reciprocal with health services 

is incorrect ~ I've had to pay my way ~ 

(I was born & lived 40 years here) 

~ & if it hadn't been for taking out our own Travel Insurance, not sure where we would be...!

& spent days communicating with incorrect Insurance Company ~ (they have similar names)

~ my fault ~ did that make me mad!!

Perhaps our holiday will start now that the 

weather has cleared after 3 weeks & we can see sunshine!!

 Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...

amendment to my other Blog ~ Quest for Improving our Health

 Apparently laptops in NZ need to Google world~wide to find my

Quest for Improving our Health Blog.

 Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...

Found in every city of the world...

~ FOUND IN EVERY CITY OF THE WORLD ~

 I've visited some of the largest cities of the world, including Auckland, 

and all have their extremely poor & homeless along the streets, 

especially the main streets where a lot of public foot~traffic passes by & also main thoroughfares,
  such as bus & railway stations & airports etc.  

It is so sad & one feels so pitiless just seeing them as you pass by.
I think if most people who have homes gave just a little, even a dollar or two,
these homeless waifs & strays could buy some food with some pride using this money.

I have read some of their stories as these people manage to get back into our world, & really,
often the only difference between them & ourselves can be simple (but imperative) things
such as a divorce or losing a job.  Could be us at anytime. 

Then, could also be the aftermath of a natural disaster such as  
Christchurch's earthquakes, 
Queensland's floods 1 year ago, our bush fires & severe cyclones.

For sure, Auckland's suburbs such as Grey Lynn, near our flash apartment block,
lay the homeless (on a pitiful rug or bit of foam, covered in insulating newspaper)
begging for a little money for food, or whatever.
Surely we can offer just a LITTLE & offer a SMILE to them 

~ they are so very, very thankful of even the recognition of your smile.
 
Then, in oversea's tourist cities, I passed countless 'Mothers with Child' begging for money.
I simply could not pass them, without giving a little in their local currency.
Other members of our tourist group would say that these 'Mothers' begged for an hour or two,
to be replaced by another 'Mother' & sometimes their 'Child' was borrowed
(so therefore personally denying giving any few coins at all).
My answer was, always, if these 'Mothers' had the need to beg at all, they must be needy.
Simple as that.

Also the same applied in China, ~ tourists often stated that the local's leg / feet / hands were cut off,
so they begged for money ~ who are we to judge?
Who are we to dictate to the obvious poor?
~ GIVE A LITTLE ~ GIVE A LOT ~ 
IT's YOUR KARMA & FATE IN YOUR HANDS, TOWARDS YOUR NEXT WORLD!

Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...,

AND babies make three!

 Three babies this year!

After 2 toddler Grandchildren, my sister & husband now has 3 more baby Grandchildren arriving this year.

2 are IVF well~longed for babies, due May & July with pregnancies going well.

1 more little baby, naturally conceived, is also due in July.

How exciting is all this for 2012?   For all families?

I've starting knitting with South Island Alexandra Merino!

Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...

Please click on 'OLDER POSTS' to view posts entered on the Wedding etc.

Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...

The Apartment!

Gorgeous Grey Lynn Apartment

It's wonderfully functional & compact here.  Glad I am here for a couple of months!

The Apartment has 2 terraces, one facing the East & glorious sun rises with wonderful views over Auckland City,  Sky Tower,  Church steeples & City buildings.  Sunny all morning of course.

The other terrace facing West & superb sun sets, Auckland Harbour, Western hills & a glimpse of Eden Park, home of Rugby World Cup.  Sunny all afternoon of course.

Apartment itself, ~ 2 bedrooms both with en~suites, picturesque windows, centred kitchen with huge sit~at breakfast bar, lounge & sep dining.   

My sister has done wonders with her decorative style & personal touches throughout & the outside 'landscaping' or 'terrace~scaping, ~ is an absolute credit to her.  So many functional pots of different shapes & colours with growing plants (veges, fruit & exotic plants), along with hand~painted & tiled table & chairs displayed on either terrace.

Of course, Marion's Christmas Theme was thoughtfully scattered throughout, inside & outside, lights twinkling mimicing modern triangular Christmas Tree shapes.

Highly recommended to be featured in a "Home & Gardens" magazine!

 Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...

Want a sebarstian in~smell~erator?

 Who wants a sebarstian in~smell~erator?

 (My family call it an in~stink~erator!!

We finally settled across the road at my sister & her husbands ~ to relax, get over the many busy days & wish the Honeymoon Couple farewell on to their couple of weeks in Hawaii.

We had of course, been busy trapsing the china, crystal, vases, decorations etc from the Wedding Venue, back to where they belonged, yes, through the rain again....

So, because their gorgeous Grey Lynn Apartment was compact, it had just one sink to serve kitchen, laundry, buckets for watering outside plants etc.

Next day, the in~smell~erator broke 
= the men tried to repair = Nephew Nic tried to repair = 
2 days later we are still operating from a large bowl in sink & no drainage until under~sink pipes were reconnected!! 

Eventually, realised a new one was needed, purchased, & Nic & Murray expertly re~plumbed in, & now we have a new in~not~so~ smelly~sink~erator!! 

PS: I named it the "Sebarstian", because it was...! 

PPS: This page is brown, because the smelly~stink stuff was...!









Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...

Next day..."Gee Gee's" restaurant!

 Next day, Sunday, with the generous compliments of the

Groom's Parents, Linda & Ivan, 

who own the large "Gee Gee's" restaurant in Epsom, 

aptly opposite Alexandra Park's Trotting Racing Track, 

asked all 170 guests to a 'Day After' wonderful function 

welcoming us with drinks & super food, all afternoon.

It was lovely to relax, re~count the wedding high~lights, 

peer at new wedding photos on cameras 

& such modern electronic means etc.

We thank them for their Croation hospitality!

 

Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...

Wedding Reception

 170 Guest Wedding Reception

We guests eventually made our way to Auckland Central in the rain...
 But, firstly, because this occassion was self~catering, it meant momentous handling of china, glassware, linen, not to mention the food & drinks, to be cartered to the Reception Room on the morning of the wedding ~ yes, through the rain...!   (To have hired this venue the day before would have cost, probably double).

Pre~drinks & delicate finger~food fabulous & eventually with Bridal Party arriving, all 170 guests were seated at huge round beautifully set tables.  Food was gorgeous, drinks abundant, speeches & music DJ very suitable for such an occasion!

Loved the hire Photo Booth!   Most guests queued to have impromptu photos taken (masks & intimately disguised head~gear supplied) & then were able to paste selected photos in the 2 Wedding Albums provided, along with their Guests' Comments & Signatures.   
Blog Writer, yes me!, created 1 of the Albums co~ordinating  the wedding Theme, & the books were aptly filled with messages for the Bride & Groom to keep forever & forever.....

Strangely, the toilets amenities block was outside down the back of the Venue, & we guests had to madly run with supplied umbrellas through pouring rain...   But, 'twas the most difficult for the Bride with her trailing silk organza train... & her attendants trying to get Victoria back inside looking radiant ~ which, she certainly did look, all night long!

A fabulous Wedding for all to remember...







Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...

Addition to Attendants' garments

Forgot to add that Page Boy Zac wore a delightful 2 piece 'suit' made & designed by Marion, in Donna Karren linen & looked very handsome!

Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...

THE SPECTACULAR WEDDING!

 OUR SPECTACULAR  LEBANESE / CROATION  WEDDING   7 January 2012

Victoria & Anthony's 170 guest / 12 bridal party wedding was a gorgeous affair.

Their colour theme was Ivory & Sage Green ~ hence this colour scheme!  
They had 3 bridesmaids, 1 best man, 2 groomsmen, 1 junior bridesmaid, 2 flower girls & 1 page boy & themselves!


Weather rained, but somehow the photographer & video team made it look like a fine day!!


Weather poured & blew like crazy leading up to the wedding, & we 'helpers on the wedding team' managed to pick flowers & greenery, carry upstairs to 3rd floor apartment, arrange on windy balcony & get back downstairs in now tall watered glass vases in cars/vans high enough to take!  Quite a feat in the gustery conditions!   
But stunning flower arrangements looked gorgeous in Church  (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church) & Reception  (Hopetoun Alpha, Auckland Central).

So bride absolutely romantically swathed in ivory silk organza over ivory satin beautifully finished by her mother's apt redesign.  Strapless closely fitted bodice, swathed with organza folds & trimmed over to one side with delicate frills of the silk organza.  Huge gathered skirt layering behind to gorgeously trailing long train & also caught up towards one hip with frills & organza handmade flowers. 
Centre back of the wedding gown delicately cross~laced in tapered shaped opening.
Our romantic bride wore family heirlook pearls & earrings & designer shoes.

Bride's Attendants wore individually styled soft sage~green draped knee length dresses & pale beige high wedged shoes.  The tiny flower girls wore the ivory silk organza layered & frilled dresses with matching bows in hair & carried decorated single~bloom flowers.  Each carried a heart~shaped cushion (for wedding rings) (Page Boy 3 year old Zac), a decorated basket & Victoria's fabric hanging bag, (1 year old Lola & 2 year old Melika) all tiny relations of Bride & Groom.

Needless to say, Marion had a huge hand in designing, making & altering all bridal garments & accessories.




Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...

Flying International!

 Complications flying Australia ~ New Zealand ~

I have flown around the world ~ Oz ~ Singapore ~ London ~ Europe ~ Israel ~ Egypt ~ Dubai ~ but seemed to have had more difficulties on this short flight than those above!!


First was the loong 90 minute wait at Gold Coast including Murray having to line~up 3 times with his 5' golf clubs bag.  Airline counter, paying overweight $100 counter & oversized baggage counter!!  (Stress!)


As the airline didn't have enough Immigration cards we had to find & fill in at NZ end (more stress).  
We queued for Duty Free goods & came in with 12 bottles of booze (well, we are in NZ for month/s!), queued for Overseas Currency Exchange, & finally, being last to get through Customs, clear ordinary baggage, that oversized golf bag (again!) department ~ then, final Customs counter wanted to see Murray's golf shoes.  It took him 3 suitcases to actually find his spotlessly clean golf shoes, but they still wanted to have a look.  Why he opened my case & threw lingerie around, I don't know.
My sister, Marion & my nephew were waiting, patiently, for us to come through & fortunately had their 2 cars waiting for us to take us 'home'.  Rain didn't help proceedings.  Car park ticketing & boom bars not working, didn't help us either!!
But, we had arrived in Auckland city for our adventure, settled in West End Quality Inn & then across the road to meet family waiting at my sister's apartment in Grey Lynn.

Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...

January 2012 updates coming soon!

 Hi everyone interested in my Blogs.

Happy New Year 2012!

I'm in New Zealand & will be starting my travelling Blogs, 

probably tomorrow &

full of fascinating stuff we have experienced so far.

Getting through Customs, rain for past week but did not spoil our huge family wedding,

2 birthdays & 2 wedding anniversaries & 3 babies arriving 2012.

Continuing the creation of AllisonWonderland'z saga...