Wanted to introduce you to the new member of the family.
His name is Dexter Thomas and was born on 3rd April. He's a real joy and a good reason to be home
Sue
Friday, 3 April 2009
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
One Day soon
Well I been back over 3 months now and it's not easy to settle for this life as it is.
One day soon I'll look back on my adventure and write a final summary with some extra pics just for me
Sue x
One day soon I'll look back on my adventure and write a final summary with some extra pics just for me
Sue x
Friday, 24 October 2008
Back Home - the realities of life
Hi all - Is anyone reading this now???
Anyway arrived back home at 4 on Tuesday and would you believe it by 6 Ceri and I had a bump in her car. I've travelled thousands of miles without incident and back home for 2 minutes and a scooter driver drove into us - everyone is ok though so not to worry.
|t's been really strange settling back in - there is so much washing and paperwork to catch up on and I can feel that I'm restless to be out and about as soon as possible.
I must say though Dave has looked after the house and car really well, so there's not too much to do on that score.
The next few weeks will be bringing my CV up to date and getting some gainful employment and also making sure I get back in touch with all those people I met along away.
Even with the current economic climate, I have no regrets about taking 6 months off - it's been an amazing adventure and am blessed that I was in a position to be able to do it.
The next blog will probably be the last and I'tt do that over the next few weeks when I've had time to revisit all my notes and photos.
Love to all
Sue. xxxxxxxxxx
Anyway arrived back home at 4 on Tuesday and would you believe it by 6 Ceri and I had a bump in her car. I've travelled thousands of miles without incident and back home for 2 minutes and a scooter driver drove into us - everyone is ok though so not to worry.
|t's been really strange settling back in - there is so much washing and paperwork to catch up on and I can feel that I'm restless to be out and about as soon as possible.
I must say though Dave has looked after the house and car really well, so there's not too much to do on that score.
The next few weeks will be bringing my CV up to date and getting some gainful employment and also making sure I get back in touch with all those people I met along away.
Even with the current economic climate, I have no regrets about taking 6 months off - it's been an amazing adventure and am blessed that I was in a position to be able to do it.
The next blog will probably be the last and I'tt do that over the next few weeks when I've had time to revisit all my notes and photos.
Love to all
Sue. xxxxxxxxxx
Monday, 20 October 2008
Last day in San Francisco
As ever I'm staggered by how quickly the time has gone during the last week.
Yesterday Karen and I went to the Catholic church which was full and with people standing.
Having fulfilled our spiritual needs we met Leslie and her husband Ken for lunch over near where Karen used to live. Brunch here is never small but it was good food and then on to the Yacht club for drinks on the deck which overlooks the Bay and bridges in the distance. It was a beautiful day and we sat and chatted with members of the club - oh how the other half live!!
In the evening Frank, Marisol and her boyfriend Thomas came round and Karen cooked a lovely roast lamb dinner. Lots of wine, bacardi and good company for my last night here in San Francisco.
This morning will be spent packing my rucksack for the last time and figuring out how I'm going to get everything in - I do usually manage it though.
I did have a minor panic when I tried to check my flights online to find that my flight number and flight times didn't match. The number I had was due to fly at 1pm and it was 11am and I hadn't packed. After a few phones cals (with automated voices) I eventually got through to someone who confirmed that I was on the 7.20pm flight so near heart attack avoided. Phew !
So here I am at the end of a fantastic 6 and a half months which have given me so many memorable times and treasured moments.
I am so looking forward to coming home and seeing Ceri,Dave and our Rubes and of course all of my friends, but most of all (and I can share this news with you now) becoming a grandma in March next year - Yes Ceri and Mark are expecting!!
I'd better go and pack now and once I'm back I'll probably do one more blog when I reflect on my trip.
Thank you all so much for following my blog and keeping me company while I've been away.
Take care and love to all
Sue. xxxxxxxxxxxx
Yesterday Karen and I went to the Catholic church which was full and with people standing.
Having fulfilled our spiritual needs we met Leslie and her husband Ken for lunch over near where Karen used to live. Brunch here is never small but it was good food and then on to the Yacht club for drinks on the deck which overlooks the Bay and bridges in the distance. It was a beautiful day and we sat and chatted with members of the club - oh how the other half live!!
In the evening Frank, Marisol and her boyfriend Thomas came round and Karen cooked a lovely roast lamb dinner. Lots of wine, bacardi and good company for my last night here in San Francisco.
This morning will be spent packing my rucksack for the last time and figuring out how I'm going to get everything in - I do usually manage it though.
I did have a minor panic when I tried to check my flights online to find that my flight number and flight times didn't match. The number I had was due to fly at 1pm and it was 11am and I hadn't packed. After a few phones cals (with automated voices) I eventually got through to someone who confirmed that I was on the 7.20pm flight so near heart attack avoided. Phew !
So here I am at the end of a fantastic 6 and a half months which have given me so many memorable times and treasured moments.
I am so looking forward to coming home and seeing Ceri,Dave and our Rubes and of course all of my friends, but most of all (and I can share this news with you now) becoming a grandma in March next year - Yes Ceri and Mark are expecting!!
I'd better go and pack now and once I'm back I'll probably do one more blog when I reflect on my trip.
Thank you all so much for following my blog and keeping me company while I've been away.
Take care and love to all
Sue. xxxxxxxxxxxx
Saturday, 18 October 2008
Luxury at the Ritz
It's Friday and today we met up with TK, one of Karen's friends, and went to the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay for lunch.
It was a lovely drive down along the coast and I couldn't believe how many places were selling hundreds of pumpkins ready for Halloween. They were laid out in the fields and as you came round the corner - that's all you saw, they were in the fields, on the farm buildings, there were huge 'models' of pumpkins - everywhere was orange.
Arrived and the car was taken by the valets to park, we were greeted like royalty and it reminded me of the scene from Pretty Woman when he takes her to his hotel.
We met TK who's really nice and was so interested in my travels and volunteering. We sipped champagne on the terrace and watched the sea breaking on the rocks and a few golfers pottering around the golf course - it was a such a beautiful sunny day too.
The call came to take our table for lunch and we ordered a cheese plate to share as a starter which had lots of cheeses I'd never tasted before, with fruit bread, apricot jam and red wine to wash it down. I had a bacardi cocktail and the waiter, Kasim, was really polite and helpful and had a great sense of humour. Lunch was leisurely with lots of talk and before we knew it, it was going on for 4pm.
We said our goodbyes to TK and Karen took me to La Honda which is Arianna's (Martin's girlfriend) parents house and where Martin filmed a great deal of the Real Gods film. Her mum Toni was there and we sat out on the deck, drinking red wine and enjoying the sun before it was time to go home.
It's been a lovely day.
Hope you're OK mam - see you soon
Love Sue. xx
It was a lovely drive down along the coast and I couldn't believe how many places were selling hundreds of pumpkins ready for Halloween. They were laid out in the fields and as you came round the corner - that's all you saw, they were in the fields, on the farm buildings, there were huge 'models' of pumpkins - everywhere was orange.
Arrived and the car was taken by the valets to park, we were greeted like royalty and it reminded me of the scene from Pretty Woman when he takes her to his hotel.
We met TK who's really nice and was so interested in my travels and volunteering. We sipped champagne on the terrace and watched the sea breaking on the rocks and a few golfers pottering around the golf course - it was a such a beautiful sunny day too.
The call came to take our table for lunch and we ordered a cheese plate to share as a starter which had lots of cheeses I'd never tasted before, with fruit bread, apricot jam and red wine to wash it down. I had a bacardi cocktail and the waiter, Kasim, was really polite and helpful and had a great sense of humour. Lunch was leisurely with lots of talk and before we knew it, it was going on for 4pm.
We said our goodbyes to TK and Karen took me to La Honda which is Arianna's (Martin's girlfriend) parents house and where Martin filmed a great deal of the Real Gods film. Her mum Toni was there and we sat out on the deck, drinking red wine and enjoying the sun before it was time to go home.
It's been a lovely day.
Hope you're OK mam - see you soon
Love Sue. xx
Friday, 17 October 2008
Relaxed days
Well I can't believe it's already Friday and I've had such a relaxing time which is very much appreciated after such a hectic time. I sleep so well here and could easily lie in till midday but I do manage to drag myself out of bed by 8.
I haven't ventured too far here as I can sit on Karen's balcony and take in the lovely views of the city. Karen and I did venture down to pier 39 on Wednesday to see the masses of sea lions there - they are very loud and the aroma is not quite your Chanelle, but it took me back to when I first visited San Francisco.
A lot of time has been spent just catching up with Karen and looking at old photos and just reminiscing. In the evenings Frank has come over and we've had dinner whilst talking about his home country - Nicaragua and looking at ways how we can help this very poor country.
It's been good to be able to pick up the phone too and talk to Rubes, Ceri, Dave and Jeanette without worrying about the credit on my phone. I'll catch you in yet Yas!!
It's great to be able to access the internet without worrying about time or whose looking over your shoulder.
Looking forward to seeing you all when I get home next Tuesday
Love Sue xx
I haven't ventured too far here as I can sit on Karen's balcony and take in the lovely views of the city. Karen and I did venture down to pier 39 on Wednesday to see the masses of sea lions there - they are very loud and the aroma is not quite your Chanelle, but it took me back to when I first visited San Francisco.
A lot of time has been spent just catching up with Karen and looking at old photos and just reminiscing. In the evenings Frank has come over and we've had dinner whilst talking about his home country - Nicaragua and looking at ways how we can help this very poor country.
It's been good to be able to pick up the phone too and talk to Rubes, Ceri, Dave and Jeanette without worrying about the credit on my phone. I'll catch you in yet Yas!!
It's great to be able to access the internet without worrying about time or whose looking over your shoulder.
Looking forward to seeing you all when I get home next Tuesday
Love Sue xx
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
San Francisco - Monday
Flight into San Francisco landed early but apparently the equipment to unload the luggage kept failing so I had to wait ages for my rucksack. (pain in the neck!)
It was strange arriving on the same day and before the time that I left New Zealand considering the flight was 12 hours, I left New Zealand on Monday at 7.30 pm and arrived in SF at 11 am on Monday - really freaky!
Karen was there to meet me and it was so good catching up with familiar faces after such a long time away - missed you being there too Yas. That's not to say I didn't want to see my mam and ceri and dave - it's just Karen Yas and I are the 3 witches....
I met Karen's new man Frank in the evening and we talked about his home country - Nicaragua which sounds like another place I should visit.
Had a lovely bath and washed my hair which I actually dried with a hairdryer - it's surprising what you realise you've missed when you've been away.
Karen's new place is really lovely and bright and has a great view of the city so tomorrow I will probably go for a little walk after a good night's sleep
Love. Sue xx
It was strange arriving on the same day and before the time that I left New Zealand considering the flight was 12 hours, I left New Zealand on Monday at 7.30 pm and arrived in SF at 11 am on Monday - really freaky!
Karen was there to meet me and it was so good catching up with familiar faces after such a long time away - missed you being there too Yas. That's not to say I didn't want to see my mam and ceri and dave - it's just Karen Yas and I are the 3 witches....
I met Karen's new man Frank in the evening and we talked about his home country - Nicaragua which sounds like another place I should visit.
Had a lovely bath and washed my hair which I actually dried with a hairdryer - it's surprising what you realise you've missed when you've been away.
Karen's new place is really lovely and bright and has a great view of the city so tomorrow I will probably go for a little walk after a good night's sleep
Love. Sue xx
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