30 January 2010
Buying prints
I've had a few enquiries about buying photographic prints. My Etsy store is empty at the moment, but if you would like to order a print the prices are on my store's front page - you can see it here. For images, please see my Flick stream - you can see it here.
Noahism and Grant's home
Noah is the king of "Are we there yet?" in the car on long trips. Last night I was driving to the airport and trying to work out if we'd be there in time in the traffic. I said aloud, "We should be there in about half an hour."
Noah pipes up, "You don't need to tell me that - we're there when we're there."
I had to laugh, especially when ten minutes later he's asking, "When are we there?"
I told him, "Noah, we're there when we're there."
He replied, "Hey! That's what I said to you!"
In the end we were a bit late to fetch Grant, due to horrible traffic, which meant that he was waiting at the quick drop-off zone and I could pick him right up and head home without having to park and go into the terminal. More horrible traffic and all in all I'd been driving for four hours by the time we finally made it.
IT'S SO GOOD TO HAVE HIM HOME!!! He really is my other (better) half. It's always amazing to me that in this whole wide world full of people I could find the one I love so much ... and that he loves me back. It really is a miracle.
Speaking of miracles, we've had 2 viewings in the Preston house this week and both potential buyers want to come back next week for second viewings so here's hoping we sell soon! Our tenants move out in about a week's time.
I wanted to thank everyone who has been praying for us, who has phoned and emailed and commented here on my blog while Grant has been away. I've felt very loved and supported and I'm incredibly grateful.
Noah pipes up, "You don't need to tell me that - we're there when we're there."
I had to laugh, especially when ten minutes later he's asking, "When are we there?"
I told him, "Noah, we're there when we're there."
He replied, "Hey! That's what I said to you!"
In the end we were a bit late to fetch Grant, due to horrible traffic, which meant that he was waiting at the quick drop-off zone and I could pick him right up and head home without having to park and go into the terminal. More horrible traffic and all in all I'd been driving for four hours by the time we finally made it.
IT'S SO GOOD TO HAVE HIM HOME!!! He really is my other (better) half. It's always amazing to me that in this whole wide world full of people I could find the one I love so much ... and that he loves me back. It really is a miracle.
Speaking of miracles, we've had 2 viewings in the Preston house this week and both potential buyers want to come back next week for second viewings so here's hoping we sell soon! Our tenants move out in about a week's time.
I wanted to thank everyone who has been praying for us, who has phoned and emailed and commented here on my blog while Grant has been away. I've felt very loved and supported and I'm incredibly grateful.
29 January 2010
Today's the day
I'll be leaving in about 40 minutes to fetch Grant from the airport. Not a moment too soon - the kids have become more and more unsettled the longer he's been away and Daniel was in tears at school today. Noah has also been moody and emotional. It's made me nervous for how they'll be when he has to go away for 5 months for training once we're in New Zealand.
Of course I've missed Grant like mad and am so excited he'll be home today. At last!
Of course I've missed Grant like mad and am so excited he'll be home today. At last!
27 January 2010
Danielism and Noahism
This morning Daniel said, "Noah's growing up to the point that he's not that cute anymore."
But then this evening he was just enamoured of his little brother and couldn't stop saying how cute he is! And who can blame him when he comes out with things like this:
The other day I was telling Daniel how creative he is (he'd been drawing some amazing pictures) and that he gets that from God, who is also creative and has blessed Daniel with that talent. I was saying how creative God is and how He'd thought up all of the things in the world. Noah pipes up, "Did He put the arms on squirrels?"
How random can you get?!
But then this evening he was just enamoured of his little brother and couldn't stop saying how cute he is! And who can blame him when he comes out with things like this:
The other day I was telling Daniel how creative he is (he'd been drawing some amazing pictures) and that he gets that from God, who is also creative and has blessed Daniel with that talent. I was saying how creative God is and how He'd thought up all of the things in the world. Noah pipes up, "Did He put the arms on squirrels?"
How random can you get?!
26 January 2010
No real news
Grant has passed his computer and typing test and has finally been able to relax a bit. In his words:
"She said all looks fine, just waiting on:
- Maths resit...said I could contact her after 3 months [that's one month fewer than the original 4 months they had said, so that's good!] if I was ready and arrange resit.
- 4 feedback forms from SCOPE from the staff I went out with. One will be from Kyle [my cousin, who he went out on shift with], so I know I will get one good one at least. ha ha
After I pass maths, she will contact my HR to check I have no proceedings against me. And also contact my references at police and Uni.
"She still can't give me any indication for timing, she did say there are quite a few Europeans sitting on the waiting list, but at moment recruitment seem to be taking females and ethnic minorities first, so could be on waiting list for while."
We are rethinking our decision to stay in Pukekohe and he's been exploring Hamilton. It's where we originally wanted to live (Hamilton or closer to Cambridge) but it means a long commute. We're deciding if it's worth it for a year or two. It's a bigger city, more rural area and we'd get more house for our money both renting and buying. I guess it depends on where he will be stationed.
We can't wait for him to get home - only 2 more sleeps! Daniel has been emotional and anxious, and Noah has too - they had to bring him to me in church because he wouldn't stay in Primary and today his teacher had to physically wrestle him off me while he was kicking and screaming. Lovely way to start the day. (Can you tell I am feeling really fed-up?)
I had a lovely visit with my friend Karen on Saturday and today I'm off to visit my friend Rachel in Preston. Thank goodness for friends!
"She said all looks fine, just waiting on:
- Maths resit...said I could contact her after 3 months [that's one month fewer than the original 4 months they had said, so that's good!] if I was ready and arrange resit.
- 4 feedback forms from SCOPE from the staff I went out with. One will be from Kyle [my cousin, who he went out on shift with], so I know I will get one good one at least. ha ha
After I pass maths, she will contact my HR to check I have no proceedings against me. And also contact my references at police and Uni.
"She still can't give me any indication for timing, she did say there are quite a few Europeans sitting on the waiting list, but at moment recruitment seem to be taking females and ethnic minorities first, so could be on waiting list for while."
We are rethinking our decision to stay in Pukekohe and he's been exploring Hamilton. It's where we originally wanted to live (Hamilton or closer to Cambridge) but it means a long commute. We're deciding if it's worth it for a year or two. It's a bigger city, more rural area and we'd get more house for our money both renting and buying. I guess it depends on where he will be stationed.
We can't wait for him to get home - only 2 more sleeps! Daniel has been emotional and anxious, and Noah has too - they had to bring him to me in church because he wouldn't stay in Primary and today his teacher had to physically wrestle him off me while he was kicking and screaming. Lovely way to start the day. (Can you tell I am feeling really fed-up?)
I had a lovely visit with my friend Karen on Saturday and today I'm off to visit my friend Rachel in Preston. Thank goodness for friends!
22 January 2010
Grant update
From his email:
"don't have much time, getting ready to head out for SCOPE [going out on shift with local cops]. the PCT [obstacle course] went well. interview went well. if i am successful with everything then looks like they will give letter with conditional start date. they are being difficult about the driving course, saying i have to do it before i will get letter, have to do it here as the course work is NZ based. [he was previously told he wouldn't have to do it while out in NZ]
"have been phoning around trying to find a course but not looking good, even offered to pay loads but they weren't interested, the alternative is coming out here again just to do a 4 hour driving course. the only alternative is to come back out, which i can't believe they will make me do, if that's the case i might as well redo the maths while i'm out here. here's hoping they will be practical, she also said they have now stopped accepting international police, so i just applied in time! more to worry about hey?"
He has since arranged to do the course, hooray. He has also been out on shift and actually went with my cousin Kyle who is a cop in south Auckland! He had a great time. He said a lot of it is exactly what he's dealing with here (the type of crime, paperwork) but some of it is better (the way things are handled, discretion used).
He said the interview went well. Because the place is being refurbished it took place in a small storage office with workmen working in the hallway. It was quite casual but there was a formal set of questions. His interviewer was a very nice woman.
She didn't ask any of the questions he'd prepared for but luckily he was able to use his prepared examples to answer the questions that she did ask.
He also had to do a 200-question personality questionnaire.
The PCT test: he did really well and finished well under time. They expect you to finish within 2 minutes 40 seconds. The hard core special task force guys have to finish within 2 minutes 12 seconds. Grant did it in 2 minutes 9 seconds! I'm so proud of him. This is what he had to do:
Picture a massive shed with a track inside. He had to push a trailer containing a heavy tyre for a certain length, then pull the tyre out of the trailer and run and place it, run around the track (200m), jump up to a 1m balance beam, walk along in and navigate the 90 degree turn, jump down, run across two lines and do long jump, jump over hurdle platform, zig zag between cones, dive and crawl under two low hurdles, scale a 6 foot metal wall by jumping up and resting your stomach on it then flipping over, run pulling a 75kg "body" drag 10m, run and jump over a high fence.
He said it was extremely tiring!!
On Monday he has to meet with the interviewer again to go through the personality questions and do a typing test and a computer test.
So here's where we are now: he has to wait four months and resit the maths test. Once he's passed that then she'll check his references from his current and past job, and finish putting his file together. If everything is okay then she approves it and sends to her supervisor who approves it, then a job offer letter with a provisional start date will be sent to Grant (oh happy day that will be!)
After that we have to submit our Expression of Interest to Immigration online. It should take around 2 weeks to be selected from the pool and a case worker will be assigned and we will submit our proper application. Hopefully Permanent Residency will be granted within 3-9 months.
So at this stage, if everything goes well, we are looking to move there in around a year's time. Dang 4 month delay for the maths test!! That sets us back but it can't be helped - I am grateful that they are letting him resit it so I can be patient for the extra 4 months.
I have to say that I am so proud of Grant for all he's done. I know it's been immensely stressful over there as he's doing everything, getting to appointments on time and in a strange place, meeting people and now even working as well. He is a super star and we miss him madly and can't wait for him to be home next Thursday but I am so grateful for all he's doing to make our family's dreams a reality!!
"don't have much time, getting ready to head out for SCOPE [going out on shift with local cops]. the PCT [obstacle course] went well. interview went well. if i am successful with everything then looks like they will give letter with conditional start date. they are being difficult about the driving course, saying i have to do it before i will get letter, have to do it here as the course work is NZ based. [he was previously told he wouldn't have to do it while out in NZ]
"have been phoning around trying to find a course but not looking good, even offered to pay loads but they weren't interested, the alternative is coming out here again just to do a 4 hour driving course. the only alternative is to come back out, which i can't believe they will make me do, if that's the case i might as well redo the maths while i'm out here. here's hoping they will be practical, she also said they have now stopped accepting international police, so i just applied in time! more to worry about hey?"
He has since arranged to do the course, hooray. He has also been out on shift and actually went with my cousin Kyle who is a cop in south Auckland! He had a great time. He said a lot of it is exactly what he's dealing with here (the type of crime, paperwork) but some of it is better (the way things are handled, discretion used).
He said the interview went well. Because the place is being refurbished it took place in a small storage office with workmen working in the hallway. It was quite casual but there was a formal set of questions. His interviewer was a very nice woman.
She didn't ask any of the questions he'd prepared for but luckily he was able to use his prepared examples to answer the questions that she did ask.
He also had to do a 200-question personality questionnaire.
The PCT test: he did really well and finished well under time. They expect you to finish within 2 minutes 40 seconds. The hard core special task force guys have to finish within 2 minutes 12 seconds. Grant did it in 2 minutes 9 seconds! I'm so proud of him. This is what he had to do:
Picture a massive shed with a track inside. He had to push a trailer containing a heavy tyre for a certain length, then pull the tyre out of the trailer and run and place it, run around the track (200m), jump up to a 1m balance beam, walk along in and navigate the 90 degree turn, jump down, run across two lines and do long jump, jump over hurdle platform, zig zag between cones, dive and crawl under two low hurdles, scale a 6 foot metal wall by jumping up and resting your stomach on it then flipping over, run pulling a 75kg "body" drag 10m, run and jump over a high fence.
He said it was extremely tiring!!
On Monday he has to meet with the interviewer again to go through the personality questions and do a typing test and a computer test.
So here's where we are now: he has to wait four months and resit the maths test. Once he's passed that then she'll check his references from his current and past job, and finish putting his file together. If everything is okay then she approves it and sends to her supervisor who approves it, then a job offer letter with a provisional start date will be sent to Grant (oh happy day that will be!)
After that we have to submit our Expression of Interest to Immigration online. It should take around 2 weeks to be selected from the pool and a case worker will be assigned and we will submit our proper application. Hopefully Permanent Residency will be granted within 3-9 months.
So at this stage, if everything goes well, we are looking to move there in around a year's time. Dang 4 month delay for the maths test!! That sets us back but it can't be helped - I am grateful that they are letting him resit it so I can be patient for the extra 4 months.
I have to say that I am so proud of Grant for all he's done. I know it's been immensely stressful over there as he's doing everything, getting to appointments on time and in a strange place, meeting people and now even working as well. He is a super star and we miss him madly and can't wait for him to be home next Thursday but I am so grateful for all he's doing to make our family's dreams a reality!!
19 January 2010
Funny book
As you know, I have two little boys. Now, I'm sure you also know that little boys love potty humour. So it was with great glee that we borrowed this book from the library:
It is hilarious. I had to share it here. So, here goes:
The Great Dog Bottom Swap
The day had arrived for the Dogs' Summer Ball.
All the dogs in the world were lined up at the hall,
Where a sign on the door said, "Now please be so kind
As to keep your coat on but remove your behind.
Please hang up your bottom on one of the pegs
And remember, no growling or cocking of legs."
So as they went in - every dog, pooch and pup -
They took off their bottoms and hung them all up.
Hundreds and hundreds of little pink 'o's
All neatly arranged in methodical rows.
[Isn't this picture funny? Click to enlarge.]
What a feast the dogs had at the ball on that night!
The table was quite a magnificent sight.
They dined on fresh giblets and dog-biscuit stew
With slippers and old dug-up sheep bones to chew.
Then doggy-choc ices all creamy and brown
And fresh puddle-watter to wash it all down.
When the poodles had cleared all the food bowls away
It was time for some fun form the dogs' cabaret.
The pekes did a song in ridiculous hats,
And a labrador told a rude joke about cats.
Then Coco the Conjurer got a huge laugh
By pretending to saw a dalmatian in half.
"And now," Coco said, to great woofs of applause,
"It's time for the dancing, so up on your paws!"
"Look at us!" said an over-excited young hound
As he whisked a fox terrier clear off the ground.
"Watch out!" cried a sensible boxer named Clive
As the hound and the terrier started to jive.
They swirled and they twirled ever faster and faster
Until - oh dogastrophe! what a disaster!
The twirling was more than the afghan could handle -
He suddenly tripped and knocked over a candle,
Which fell on the curtains, which promptly caught fire
(Being old and quiet cheap), sending flames ever higher.
Some dogs broke the rule that forbade hind-leg-cocking
But the fire soon spread with a speed that was shocking.
"Don't panic!" barked Clive in a great fit of passion.
"Let's all try to leave in an orderly fashion!"
But that was an order they chose to ignore
As they scurried and scuttled like heck for the door.
As the last dog shot out of the hall with a bark
The lights all went phut! and the whole place went dark.
"Wait a minute!" said Clive to the panicking mutts.
"Our bottoms! Our bottoms! We must save our butts!"
So into the cloakroom they bumbled and tumbled
And soon all the bottoms were hopelessly jumbled
As every dog grabbed the first bottom they saw
And fled the great fire with a bum in their paw.
Luckily every dog got out alive
And no one was caught by the fire except clive
And some others whose tails had been singed all away
(Which is why all those dogs have no tails to this day).
And all the dogs' bottoms were rescued as well.
But because of the darkness no doggy could tell
Whose bottom was whose in the panic and scrum
So each dog went home with another dog's bum.
And ever since then when a pair of dogs meet
In the park or the playground, the woods or the street,
Each dog gives the other dog's bottom a sniff
To see if it has the particular whiff
Of the bottom they lost on the night of the ball
When the dogs hung their bums on the hooks in the hall.
It is hilarious. I had to share it here. So, here goes:
The Great Dog Bottom Swap
The day had arrived for the Dogs' Summer Ball.
All the dogs in the world were lined up at the hall,
Where a sign on the door said, "Now please be so kind
As to keep your coat on but remove your behind.
Please hang up your bottom on one of the pegs
And remember, no growling or cocking of legs."
So as they went in - every dog, pooch and pup -
They took off their bottoms and hung them all up.
Hundreds and hundreds of little pink 'o's
All neatly arranged in methodical rows.
[Isn't this picture funny? Click to enlarge.]
What a feast the dogs had at the ball on that night!
The table was quite a magnificent sight.
They dined on fresh giblets and dog-biscuit stew
With slippers and old dug-up sheep bones to chew.
Then doggy-choc ices all creamy and brown
And fresh puddle-watter to wash it all down.
When the poodles had cleared all the food bowls away
It was time for some fun form the dogs' cabaret.
The pekes did a song in ridiculous hats,
And a labrador told a rude joke about cats.
Then Coco the Conjurer got a huge laugh
By pretending to saw a dalmatian in half.
"And now," Coco said, to great woofs of applause,
"It's time for the dancing, so up on your paws!"
"Look at us!" said an over-excited young hound
As he whisked a fox terrier clear off the ground.
"Watch out!" cried a sensible boxer named Clive
As the hound and the terrier started to jive.
They swirled and they twirled ever faster and faster
Until - oh dogastrophe! what a disaster!
The twirling was more than the afghan could handle -
He suddenly tripped and knocked over a candle,
Which fell on the curtains, which promptly caught fire
(Being old and quiet cheap), sending flames ever higher.
Some dogs broke the rule that forbade hind-leg-cocking
But the fire soon spread with a speed that was shocking.
"Don't panic!" barked Clive in a great fit of passion.
"Let's all try to leave in an orderly fashion!"
But that was an order they chose to ignore
As they scurried and scuttled like heck for the door.
As the last dog shot out of the hall with a bark
The lights all went phut! and the whole place went dark.
"Wait a minute!" said Clive to the panicking mutts.
"Our bottoms! Our bottoms! We must save our butts!"
So into the cloakroom they bumbled and tumbled
And soon all the bottoms were hopelessly jumbled
As every dog grabbed the first bottom they saw
And fled the great fire with a bum in their paw.
Luckily every dog got out alive
And no one was caught by the fire except clive
And some others whose tails had been singed all away
(Which is why all those dogs have no tails to this day).
And all the dogs' bottoms were rescued as well.
But because of the darkness no doggy could tell
Whose bottom was whose in the panic and scrum
So each dog went home with another dog's bum.
And ever since then when a pair of dogs meet
In the park or the playground, the woods or the street,
Each dog gives the other dog's bottom a sniff
To see if it has the particular whiff
Of the bottom they lost on the night of the ball
When the dogs hung their bums on the hooks in the hall.
18 January 2010
He passed the PAT!
Grant's email:
"I arrived about 1 and half hours early just to make sure I got there. That's been one of the stressful things about this trip is making sure you get to the different testing venues, because there is always the chance there will be an accident on the motorway or something and then I would miss the test, and it's not just a case of re-booking, I get one shot at these tests. So that's why I get there so early, but still things can happen.
"The test was done on a large carpark of a horse racing place about 20 min drive from where I'm staying. They put 4 cones in a rectangle, marking a 400m course and we had to run it 6 times, I know I failed my maths but that means I ran 2.4 km. There was about 20 of us (3 being female) and depending on our ages had to do the run within different times. I had to do it under 11:30.
"Amanda's friend who recently did the run gave me a great tip, to write down the lap times on my hand so that you can keep pace. So this morning I worked them out on the calculator and wrote the 6 lap times of: 1:55, 3:50, 5:45, 7:40, 9:35, 11:30 on my hand. While we were sitting waiting for the testing to start, I overheard one of the applicants talking to another one and saying: the course is 600m and you have to run it 4 times. So with a few minutes left before we start there I am trying to work out the 4 lap times frantically in my head, it was like sitting the maths test all over again. I worked them out and wrote them on my hand only to hear the instructor confirm that I was correct the first time and the applicant was talking nonsense.
"The heat was awful and was about 25 degrees, and compared to the 5 degrees I have been training in, it was not at all easy. The instructor first got us to warm up which first included a jog once around the course, then some stretches then some more running. I wasn't impressed, lol, I needed to save all my energy for the run and here the instructor was making me use it up on the warming exercises.
"So just struggled through one lap at a time and managed to come in at 11:13, which is under my required time. The 3 females came in last but they do get allocated more time, but I think one of them still did not make it in time. I think the quickest time was by one of the youngsters at 09:50.
"With hardly any rest they set up a measuring board and we each took turns to do the vertical jump. They first measure the point to where your fingers touch when stretched above you and then have to jump and touch 48cm above that point. I found this one easier than when I have been practicing, and touched above the required 48cm.
"Again with hardly any rest it was straight into the pushups, I was required to do 34 but they like you to carry on to see how much you can do, so I managed to do 40. The females had to do 28 but all 3 of them only managed to do about 16, so they all failed the day. I did feel sorry for them cause they aren't naturally build like guys with upper body strength.
"It was then into 2 lines waiting for the squeeze test using a special device that you squeeze and the needle moves to display your squeezing strength. You have to do both hands and the total for the two readings added together has be be more than 95. So when it was my turn I did my right hand and had a quick look and it was 55, which I was pleased with but then the chap in the line next to me who was waiting for his turn fainted and all the instructors rushed over to help him. So when that was all over the instructor came back to me and said he couldn't remember my score and told me to redo it even though I told him it was 55. So I redid my right hand and this time only managed 53. Then onto my left hand which was 42, which meant the total was bang on 95, which is a fail! I was stressing now because I knew I would have passed if they had taken my first reading of 55. Anyway they do give you another chance at it and I had to sit out till the end. I was really stressing because I didn't want to fail the whole day just because my little skinny wrists weren't strong enough.
"So I did it again, and did 54 with my right wrist and then did my left wrist. As I was squeezing he was saying: more, more, need to do more to pass, and I was squeezing as hard as I possibly could and thinking that I was going to fail. Couldn't squeeze any harder and stopped and thought I had failed, but I think the guy's maths was as poor as mine cause the other guy who was writing down the scores confirmed it was actually a pass cause I had got 42 on my left hand again, meaning I had just scraped through with 96.
"I'm sure I've aged loads this trip with all the stress, I'm going to come back with grey hair, or none at all.
"Before the training starts I will have to do all this again cause the test only lasts for 2 months, so I will have to buy something to squeeze to improve my wrist strength, cause scraping through is not nice.
"So next is the obstacle course and interview on Thursday!! The instructor says the obstacle course is an easier test than today's so at least the worst is over."
So that's another hurdle passed! He also said that the instructors told him that applicants aren't put onto the training centre waiting list on a first-come-first-served basis, but each case is assessed and they are placed accordingly. So we are hoping that the fact that we are coming from abroad means he will get a start date on the job offer and won't have to go on the waiting list. Time will tell.
"I arrived about 1 and half hours early just to make sure I got there. That's been one of the stressful things about this trip is making sure you get to the different testing venues, because there is always the chance there will be an accident on the motorway or something and then I would miss the test, and it's not just a case of re-booking, I get one shot at these tests. So that's why I get there so early, but still things can happen.
"The test was done on a large carpark of a horse racing place about 20 min drive from where I'm staying. They put 4 cones in a rectangle, marking a 400m course and we had to run it 6 times, I know I failed my maths but that means I ran 2.4 km. There was about 20 of us (3 being female) and depending on our ages had to do the run within different times. I had to do it under 11:30.
"Amanda's friend who recently did the run gave me a great tip, to write down the lap times on my hand so that you can keep pace. So this morning I worked them out on the calculator and wrote the 6 lap times of: 1:55, 3:50, 5:45, 7:40, 9:35, 11:30 on my hand. While we were sitting waiting for the testing to start, I overheard one of the applicants talking to another one and saying: the course is 600m and you have to run it 4 times. So with a few minutes left before we start there I am trying to work out the 4 lap times frantically in my head, it was like sitting the maths test all over again. I worked them out and wrote them on my hand only to hear the instructor confirm that I was correct the first time and the applicant was talking nonsense.
"The heat was awful and was about 25 degrees, and compared to the 5 degrees I have been training in, it was not at all easy. The instructor first got us to warm up which first included a jog once around the course, then some stretches then some more running. I wasn't impressed, lol, I needed to save all my energy for the run and here the instructor was making me use it up on the warming exercises.
"So just struggled through one lap at a time and managed to come in at 11:13, which is under my required time. The 3 females came in last but they do get allocated more time, but I think one of them still did not make it in time. I think the quickest time was by one of the youngsters at 09:50.
"With hardly any rest they set up a measuring board and we each took turns to do the vertical jump. They first measure the point to where your fingers touch when stretched above you and then have to jump and touch 48cm above that point. I found this one easier than when I have been practicing, and touched above the required 48cm.
"Again with hardly any rest it was straight into the pushups, I was required to do 34 but they like you to carry on to see how much you can do, so I managed to do 40. The females had to do 28 but all 3 of them only managed to do about 16, so they all failed the day. I did feel sorry for them cause they aren't naturally build like guys with upper body strength.
"It was then into 2 lines waiting for the squeeze test using a special device that you squeeze and the needle moves to display your squeezing strength. You have to do both hands and the total for the two readings added together has be be more than 95. So when it was my turn I did my right hand and had a quick look and it was 55, which I was pleased with but then the chap in the line next to me who was waiting for his turn fainted and all the instructors rushed over to help him. So when that was all over the instructor came back to me and said he couldn't remember my score and told me to redo it even though I told him it was 55. So I redid my right hand and this time only managed 53. Then onto my left hand which was 42, which meant the total was bang on 95, which is a fail! I was stressing now because I knew I would have passed if they had taken my first reading of 55. Anyway they do give you another chance at it and I had to sit out till the end. I was really stressing because I didn't want to fail the whole day just because my little skinny wrists weren't strong enough.
"So I did it again, and did 54 with my right wrist and then did my left wrist. As I was squeezing he was saying: more, more, need to do more to pass, and I was squeezing as hard as I possibly could and thinking that I was going to fail. Couldn't squeeze any harder and stopped and thought I had failed, but I think the guy's maths was as poor as mine cause the other guy who was writing down the scores confirmed it was actually a pass cause I had got 42 on my left hand again, meaning I had just scraped through with 96.
"I'm sure I've aged loads this trip with all the stress, I'm going to come back with grey hair, or none at all.
"Before the training starts I will have to do all this again cause the test only lasts for 2 months, so I will have to buy something to squeeze to improve my wrist strength, cause scraping through is not nice.
"So next is the obstacle course and interview on Thursday!! The instructor says the obstacle course is an easier test than today's so at least the worst is over."
So that's another hurdle passed! He also said that the instructors told him that applicants aren't put onto the training centre waiting list on a first-come-first-served basis, but each case is assessed and they are placed accordingly. So we are hoping that the fact that we are coming from abroad means he will get a start date on the job offer and won't have to go on the waiting list. Time will tell.
Pukekohe again
Grant took another trip to Pukekohe, spending the day with Nic, who I "met" online through her blog. She has been beyond helpful - thanks, Nic, for all you have done for us! Grant's and photos email below:
"was a good day at pukekohe, got to their house just after 10am and they drove me around puke and all the little towns around puke, came back for lunch and then they drove me around more. went to waikato river and saw some wakeboarding, and also went to race track and watched some motorbikes racing (it was a club day, so free to enter).
"the river was great too and will be good if we can afford a small boat of sorts, paul says you can launch the boat and just stop off along the river for a picnic etc and have a stretch of river all to yourself for water skiing etc.
"the surrounding towns are more rural and some of them don't have an actual town centre, just houses and a primary school, they both said the rural schools are v good and that would be an option for us, the school will just be smaller than the ones in puke. all the surrounding towns are only 5 min drive from puke, paul grew up in buckland and went to school there.
"the rural towns that they say are good are: buckland, bombay, patumahoe, puni, mauku, harrisville ... so all of these have a primary school and the older kids will go to puke high school, a lot of the rural primary schools go to year 8, which means they wont need to go to an intermediate school for 2 years.
"another rural town is taukau, but the primary school is not good, the rent will be cheaper but not such a good area, when we drove through taukau they were both surprised cause there was new shopping centre build and they said the whole area seems to have improved, so not as bad as they remembered.
"pukekohe is growing v quickly with new housing developments everywhere and new massive grocery store opening, so all the surrounding towns are also improving as more people move into the area. they showed me the bad areas in puke, and the houses themselves aren't bad, maybe a bit run down, but you can see the people who live there aren't the most desirable, the chapel is in a bad area, there are some really nice big houses around puke too which cost aroud 1 million. they said the houses in their road go for around 500 thousand.
"i took photos and loads of video, have included 2 pics of what it looks like between puke and other small towns...just farmland, v pretty and spacious. left around 4pm."
This picture of the neighbours playing tennis in the road reminds me of my youth in Cape Town:
"was a good day at pukekohe, got to their house just after 10am and they drove me around puke and all the little towns around puke, came back for lunch and then they drove me around more. went to waikato river and saw some wakeboarding, and also went to race track and watched some motorbikes racing (it was a club day, so free to enter).
"the river was great too and will be good if we can afford a small boat of sorts, paul says you can launch the boat and just stop off along the river for a picnic etc and have a stretch of river all to yourself for water skiing etc.
"the surrounding towns are more rural and some of them don't have an actual town centre, just houses and a primary school, they both said the rural schools are v good and that would be an option for us, the school will just be smaller than the ones in puke. all the surrounding towns are only 5 min drive from puke, paul grew up in buckland and went to school there.
"the rural towns that they say are good are: buckland, bombay, patumahoe, puni, mauku, harrisville ... so all of these have a primary school and the older kids will go to puke high school, a lot of the rural primary schools go to year 8, which means they wont need to go to an intermediate school for 2 years.
"another rural town is taukau, but the primary school is not good, the rent will be cheaper but not such a good area, when we drove through taukau they were both surprised cause there was new shopping centre build and they said the whole area seems to have improved, so not as bad as they remembered.
"pukekohe is growing v quickly with new housing developments everywhere and new massive grocery store opening, so all the surrounding towns are also improving as more people move into the area. they showed me the bad areas in puke, and the houses themselves aren't bad, maybe a bit run down, but you can see the people who live there aren't the most desirable, the chapel is in a bad area, there are some really nice big houses around puke too which cost aroud 1 million. they said the houses in their road go for around 500 thousand.
"i took photos and loads of video, have included 2 pics of what it looks like between puke and other small towns...just farmland, v pretty and spacious. left around 4pm."
This picture of the neighbours playing tennis in the road reminds me of my youth in Cape Town:
17 January 2010
NZ update
Over in NZ they treat overseas applicants as new recruits. They would require Grant to attend their training centre in Wellington for 5 months (residential) once we move over. However, the information we've had is that there is currently a waiting list for the courses and that the next four intakes are full so they are not putting a start date on the job offer.
This means that when applying for Permanent Residency it may not be treated as a genuine job offer, causing difficulties in getting PR. It also means that even if we do get PR we will have no job to go to, until Grant's name comes up on the waiting list.
As you can imagine, this has stressed us out big time. They have also been quite unhelpful with Grant, he said he feels like he's a nuisance and they can't be bothered with him. Last night Grant and I were chatting online and we were both feeling really discouraged and down. My cousin Mandy (who lives on the South Island) was very cheering when she emailed me, saying:
"Guy and I do have our PR. We are well versed in the process having helped my parents, my brother, my sister and Guy's sister through it.
"After submitting our EOI [Expression of Interest], it took 2 weeks to get picked from the pool. This seems to be a fairly consistant time frame. After that, it took 3 months to get our PR. It was not an easy process. There was a lot of back and forth, but we finally got it! Guy's sister also took about 3 months. My parents' PR took 6 months as did Kyle's [her brother, who is a cop in South Auckland]. My sister had some job issues, and she still doesn't have her PR after over a year!
"In our experience, provided you meet the minimum points requirements, medical requirements and the primary applicant has a job offer, you will not have any problems obtaining PR. The police force is an approved overseas recruiter, which just means that if you have a job with them, your application has good bias with immigration and are bound to get a speeding pick from the pool and PR.
"Guy's sister only had 130 points [we have 135], was picked from the pool in 2 weeks, and had her PR within 3 months. NZ suffers from serious brain-drain and are in desperate need of more cops, especially in South Auckland. You guys are a shoe in!
"Hope Grant hears from the powers-that-be soon! I read your blog every day to see how things are going. We know how dreadful the UK is for children. I am positive everything will go smoothly (well, as smoothly as is possible) and that we will see you guys here soon.
"I have just spoken to Kyle, and he feels that he can lend Grant a hand and offer some advice and encouragement. He says that Grant has his numbers. He is on leave at the moment, so has some time to spend with him if needs be.
"I am going to ask Guy to send you a message regarding PR applications etc. When he was working in football/soccer, he did a lot of immigration for the players that they recruited from overseas and so has a lot of insight into the process.
"Praying for a miracle!"
Well, I felt a lot better after reading that, so thank you Mandy! Grant emailed:
"had a bit of a better day today, v nice to talk to you earlier. i went to 2 local beaches today, only about half an hour each time cause it was v hot again, about 30 deg, slathered myself with sun cream, but missed a few spots which are a bit pink now.
"there are loads of places that you can park around here and walk to a beach and you can choose if you want a quiet or busy beach. of course it was a busy saturday so the busy beach was quite busy, both beaches are within 10 min drive from the house.
"1st beach i went to in morning was quiet and 2nd was busy as you can see in the photos. the sea water was chilly but pleasant, much warmer than the SA beaches. after 2nd beach went to pak n save and bought groceries for the week, and a few treats. everyone is in shorts, t-shirts and jandles (sloppies), it's great.
"also spoke to kyle on the phone and feel a bit better about the whole police thing, i'm invited for supper at theirs on tuesday.
"he says he failed the english part and had to redo it when he was going through the process, he doesn't think he had to wait 4 months, he seems to remember they let him do it sooner. he also says that they treat you as if you are a nuisance until you have passed everything and then they treat you better, they also never reply or contact you and he thinks it's part of the process to see how committed you are and if you are bothered chasing them. that's exactly how i felt, but he says i need to keep pestering through the whole process, like i did when i was chasing for my results, it shows you are keen. i suppose they have hundreds of applicants and many who just fall away cause they aren't that keen and can't be bothered chasing.
"he says that when he went through training they had 80 people per wing (4 wings a year) but now they have 40 per wing, so you never know, if they have loads waiting again they might increase the wing size and the waiting list will drop.
"got home and had mussels for a starter, i've been seeing these live mussels in all the supermarkets in the fish section, with water spraying on them to keep them alive, so finally bought a few to try, they weren't bad, not the best i've had.
"also sometimes laugh to myself with some of the words they pronounce here. there's an advert on radio selling tinting for your car windows. says: the darkest legal tint you can buy....the way they pronounce tint is 'tent' and then when the coyles were packing for the camping trip they packed their tent...which they pronounce 'tint'. also they pronounce pear as if you are saying beer but with a 'p'."
So we'll see. All we can do is continue taking it one step at a time and hang on tight on this emotional roller coaster.
This means that when applying for Permanent Residency it may not be treated as a genuine job offer, causing difficulties in getting PR. It also means that even if we do get PR we will have no job to go to, until Grant's name comes up on the waiting list.
As you can imagine, this has stressed us out big time. They have also been quite unhelpful with Grant, he said he feels like he's a nuisance and they can't be bothered with him. Last night Grant and I were chatting online and we were both feeling really discouraged and down. My cousin Mandy (who lives on the South Island) was very cheering when she emailed me, saying:
"Guy and I do have our PR. We are well versed in the process having helped my parents, my brother, my sister and Guy's sister through it.
"After submitting our EOI [Expression of Interest], it took 2 weeks to get picked from the pool. This seems to be a fairly consistant time frame. After that, it took 3 months to get our PR. It was not an easy process. There was a lot of back and forth, but we finally got it! Guy's sister also took about 3 months. My parents' PR took 6 months as did Kyle's [her brother, who is a cop in South Auckland]. My sister had some job issues, and she still doesn't have her PR after over a year!
"In our experience, provided you meet the minimum points requirements, medical requirements and the primary applicant has a job offer, you will not have any problems obtaining PR. The police force is an approved overseas recruiter, which just means that if you have a job with them, your application has good bias with immigration and are bound to get a speeding pick from the pool and PR.
"Guy's sister only had 130 points [we have 135], was picked from the pool in 2 weeks, and had her PR within 3 months. NZ suffers from serious brain-drain and are in desperate need of more cops, especially in South Auckland. You guys are a shoe in!
"Hope Grant hears from the powers-that-be soon! I read your blog every day to see how things are going. We know how dreadful the UK is for children. I am positive everything will go smoothly (well, as smoothly as is possible) and that we will see you guys here soon.
"I have just spoken to Kyle, and he feels that he can lend Grant a hand and offer some advice and encouragement. He says that Grant has his numbers. He is on leave at the moment, so has some time to spend with him if needs be.
"I am going to ask Guy to send you a message regarding PR applications etc. When he was working in football/soccer, he did a lot of immigration for the players that they recruited from overseas and so has a lot of insight into the process.
"Praying for a miracle!"
Well, I felt a lot better after reading that, so thank you Mandy! Grant emailed:
"had a bit of a better day today, v nice to talk to you earlier. i went to 2 local beaches today, only about half an hour each time cause it was v hot again, about 30 deg, slathered myself with sun cream, but missed a few spots which are a bit pink now.
"there are loads of places that you can park around here and walk to a beach and you can choose if you want a quiet or busy beach. of course it was a busy saturday so the busy beach was quite busy, both beaches are within 10 min drive from the house.
"1st beach i went to in morning was quiet and 2nd was busy as you can see in the photos. the sea water was chilly but pleasant, much warmer than the SA beaches. after 2nd beach went to pak n save and bought groceries for the week, and a few treats. everyone is in shorts, t-shirts and jandles (sloppies), it's great.
"also spoke to kyle on the phone and feel a bit better about the whole police thing, i'm invited for supper at theirs on tuesday.
"he says he failed the english part and had to redo it when he was going through the process, he doesn't think he had to wait 4 months, he seems to remember they let him do it sooner. he also says that they treat you as if you are a nuisance until you have passed everything and then they treat you better, they also never reply or contact you and he thinks it's part of the process to see how committed you are and if you are bothered chasing them. that's exactly how i felt, but he says i need to keep pestering through the whole process, like i did when i was chasing for my results, it shows you are keen. i suppose they have hundreds of applicants and many who just fall away cause they aren't that keen and can't be bothered chasing.
"he says that when he went through training they had 80 people per wing (4 wings a year) but now they have 40 per wing, so you never know, if they have loads waiting again they might increase the wing size and the waiting list will drop.
"got home and had mussels for a starter, i've been seeing these live mussels in all the supermarkets in the fish section, with water spraying on them to keep them alive, so finally bought a few to try, they weren't bad, not the best i've had.
"also sometimes laugh to myself with some of the words they pronounce here. there's an advert on radio selling tinting for your car windows. says: the darkest legal tint you can buy....the way they pronounce tint is 'tent' and then when the coyles were packing for the camping trip they packed their tent...which they pronounce 'tint'. also they pronounce pear as if you are saying beer but with a 'p'."
So we'll see. All we can do is continue taking it one step at a time and hang on tight on this emotional roller coaster.
16 January 2010
Jar to lamp
All this talk of New Zealand has probably driven most of my usual readers away, so here's a post that gets back to the usual kind of thing I share here - a decorating / craft project.
Remember my beautiful big glass jar I got at a car boot sale?
If you recall, I had a green one too that was cracked.
Well, it broke so my plans of turning it into a lamp were foiled. So I decided to turn the clear one into a lamp with a bulb fitting that I took out of another lamp. But first I needed a lampshade. I found this one at a local store - pictured here with the plastic still on it.
They didn't have white and the beige got kind of lost in the corner in the living room where the lamp would stand so I covered it with white fabric and added some brown and white ribbon (a little uneven here because I hadn't glued it all the way around yet):
I then attached the lamp bulb fitting and simply rested the lampshade cage in the opening of the jar / vase. I added a little masking tape to the wires so that it wouldn't wobble around:
Here's how it looks unlit, with Christmas ornaments inside the jar:
When it's lit you can see the lampshade texture and the ornaments glimmered:
I've since removed the ornaments, of course, and started adding beautiful beach stones but I need to get more. In the autumn I can fill it with small pinecones or acorns or even leaves. I love it!
Remember my beautiful big glass jar I got at a car boot sale?
If you recall, I had a green one too that was cracked.
Well, it broke so my plans of turning it into a lamp were foiled. So I decided to turn the clear one into a lamp with a bulb fitting that I took out of another lamp. But first I needed a lampshade. I found this one at a local store - pictured here with the plastic still on it.
They didn't have white and the beige got kind of lost in the corner in the living room where the lamp would stand so I covered it with white fabric and added some brown and white ribbon (a little uneven here because I hadn't glued it all the way around yet):
I then attached the lamp bulb fitting and simply rested the lampshade cage in the opening of the jar / vase. I added a little masking tape to the wires so that it wouldn't wobble around:
Here's how it looks unlit, with Christmas ornaments inside the jar:
When it's lit you can see the lampshade texture and the ornaments glimmered:
I've since removed the ornaments, of course, and started adding beautiful beach stones but I need to get more. In the autumn I can fill it with small pinecones or acorns or even leaves. I love it!
NZ emigration checklist
Plenty of things to do! I have to take things one at a time or I feel overwhelmed. As you can see, we've hardly checked off anything! This is mainly stuff that will happen after getting Permanent Residency - there's a whole other checklist for that!!
House
Get house valued and find an estate agent or other means of selling - Preston
Get house valued and find an estate agent or other means of selling – St Anne's
Prepare house for sale - Preston
Prepare house for sale – St Anne's
Sell house – Preston
Sell house – St Anne's
Note final meter readings when moving out
Furniture
Arrange packing and shipping. Get at least 3x quotes. Don't forget local companies.
Arrange storage on the other side (preferably included with shipping)
Get rid of furniture and items that we're not taking with us
Pack
Make a total inventory of all of your stuff; take pictures of everything in case you can't remember what it all is
Return borrowed things to whom they belong
Reclaim items that have been lent out
Dismantle furniture that can be flat-packed
Clean and dry everything that may otherwise suffer from mildew during shipping (fridge/freezer/washing machine)
Find out which things won't work in NZ (washing machines?)
Be prepared to pay GST/bond if you haven't got residency status
Accommodation in UK
Arrange flat to stay in
Arrange removals to flat
Change address
Once we are about to embark stop bills
- Council tax and get rebate
- House insurance and get rebate
- Electricity, Gas, Water, Phone
- Car insurance and get rebate
- Mobile phone contracts
- ISP
Sell car
Health
Dental check-up
If you're with an NHS dentist, book an appointment for a years time to stay registered, and don't forget to cancel it if you stay in NZ
Eye test
Get any immunisations for NZ
Make sure children's jabs are up to date
UK Tax etc
Contact DWAP about Tax credits, Child benefit, Income tax
Find out your tax/benefits position if you return to the UK
Paperwork
Get passport style photos
Check passports are up to date
Obtain copies of birth certificates (unabridged versions with parents names for visas)
References from banks (you will need proof that you are good payers)
References from employers
Proof of employment experience
Proof of no claims bonus on car and house insurance
Certificates of qualifications
Driving License
Medical records
Dental records
Air travel tickets
Make 2x copies of everything and leave 1x with family/friends or mail ahead to family/friends
Arrange for police checks
Get a will written when you get to NZ, to apply under NZ law. Use the lawyer conveyancing your property purchase.
CV
Accommodation details for NZ
Bank account details
List of NZ contacts
Get a diary to note when you must do things etc
Travel
Sort shipping company
Book Flights
Find out what you can put in the hold for nothing
Ask for special migrant allowance
Travel insurance
Sort out how to get to airport (taxi mini bus)
Things to take
3 & 5 amp fuses - they are difficult to get in NZ because the plugs don't have them.
Mobile phones - make sure mobile works in NZ
Money
Open an account with a foreign exchange company (like HiFX or xeTrade). You can also use banks like ASB.
Sort out where to invest the proceeds of the house sale (onshore or offshore). You must open accounts while still in the UK.
Bank Accounts
Change address with bank
Close all UK bank accounts
Open NZ bank account
Make sure you can pay off bills on-line
Communications
Buy a laptop in the UK and set it up
Get ISP independent email account such as gmail
Get email addresses for everyone you can
Arrange for mail to be forwarded (your local post office has a form)
Give your details to family and friends
Have a leaving party
Choose your preferred NZ region
Get IRD number for everyone (get this while still in the UK)
Living in NZ
Study 'To let' sections of local papers
View properties to rent and choose one
Arrange freighted goods to be delivered to property
Get internet set up
Car rental for first few weeks
Car purchase and check credit history
Car insurance
Driving test within 12 months for NZ driving license
Get separate personal injury/accident insurance
Arrange for your phone to be connected
Choose an electricity supplier and get connected
Contents insurance for when your stuff arrives
Registering your car, you need your passport or you'll have to do it at the post office!
Choose a school and enrol kids
Buy uniforms and school supplies
Health in NZ
Health insurance for NZ ?
Register with doctor ?
Locate hospitals
Enrol kids at the local School Dental Clinic for regular checkups
House
Get house valued and find an estate agent or other means of selling – St Anne's
Sell house – Preston
Sell house – St Anne's
Note final meter readings when moving out
Furniture
Arrange packing and shipping. Get at least 3x quotes. Don't forget local companies.
Arrange storage on the other side (preferably included with shipping)
Get rid of furniture and items that we're not taking with us
Pack
Make a total inventory of all of your stuff; take pictures of everything in case you can't remember what it all is
Return borrowed things to whom they belong
Reclaim items that have been lent out
Dismantle furniture that can be flat-packed
Clean and dry everything that may otherwise suffer from mildew during shipping (fridge/freezer/washing machine)
Find out which things won't work in NZ (washing machines?)
Be prepared to pay GST/bond if you haven't got residency status
Accommodation in UK
Arrange flat to stay in
Arrange removals to flat
Change address
Once we are about to embark stop bills
- Council tax and get rebate
- House insurance and get rebate
- Electricity, Gas, Water, Phone
- Car insurance and get rebate
- Mobile phone contracts
- ISP
Sell car
Health
Dental check-up
If you're with an NHS dentist, book an appointment for a years time to stay registered, and don't forget to cancel it if you stay in NZ
Eye test
Get any immunisations for NZ
Make sure children's jabs are up to date
UK Tax etc
Contact DWAP about Tax credits, Child benefit, Income tax
Find out your tax/benefits position if you return to the UK
Paperwork
Get passport style photos
References from banks (you will need proof that you are good payers)
References from employers
Proof of no claims bonus on car and house insurance
Certificates of qualifications
Medical records
Dental records
Air travel tickets
Make 2x copies of everything and leave 1x with family/friends or mail ahead to family/friends
Get a will written when you get to NZ, to apply under NZ law. Use the lawyer conveyancing your property purchase.
Accommodation details for NZ
Bank account details
List of NZ contacts
Get a diary to note when you must do things etc
Travel
Sort shipping company
Book Flights
Find out what you can put in the hold for nothing
Ask for special migrant allowance
Travel insurance
Sort out how to get to airport (taxi mini bus)
Things to take
3 & 5 amp fuses - they are difficult to get in NZ because the plugs don't have them.
Mobile phones - make sure mobile works in NZ
Money
Open an account with a foreign exchange company (like HiFX or xeTrade). You can also use banks like ASB.
Sort out where to invest the proceeds of the house sale (onshore or offshore). You must open accounts while still in the UK.
Bank Accounts
Change address with bank
Close all UK bank accounts
Open NZ bank account
Make sure you can pay off bills on-line
Communications
Buy a laptop in the UK and set it up
Arrange for mail to be forwarded (your local post office has a form)
Give your details to family and friends
Have a leaving party
Get IRD number for everyone (get this while still in the UK)
Living in NZ
Study 'To let' sections of local papers
View properties to rent and choose one
Arrange freighted goods to be delivered to property
Get internet set up
Car rental for first few weeks
Car purchase and check credit history
Car insurance
Driving test within 12 months for NZ driving license
Get separate personal injury/accident insurance
Arrange for your phone to be connected
Choose an electricity supplier and get connected
Contents insurance for when your stuff arrives
Registering your car, you need your passport or you'll have to do it at the post office!
Choose a school and enrol kids
Buy uniforms and school supplies
Health in NZ
Health insurance for NZ ?
Register with doctor ?
Locate hospitals
Enrol kids at the local School Dental Clinic for regular checkups
What Noah said to me this morning
"I know that you always help me to do things I can't do myself, and that's why I always love you."
Awww!
Awww!
15 January 2010
News, finally!
After being on tenterhooks all day again I did actually manage to sleep - except when woken by Noah in the early hours. He is ill with fever and stuffy nose.
I had my mobile phone next to the bed, expecting Grant's call and was puzzled when I woke up this morning, having received no phone call still. Turns out he'd tried phoning on the house phone (ringer is always off on the upstairs phone) and left a message, as well as emailed the following:
"i tried ringing you, obviously deep asleep. i failed the maths but i am able to do the rest of the testing whilst i am here, thank goodness ... and then i will be able to do the maths in england after i wait the required 4 months (she said it could cost a couple of hundred pounds, as they have to pay for someone to supervise the test).
"next problem is that this new lady i am speaking to, Jacinda, who is my recruitment specialist says i will have to complete the 4 hour defensive driving before i can be put on the waiting list for training, so i will need to try and do it while i am here, but just doing a quick check on internet now, it seems like most courses only start in feb, will have to ring around next week. it's about a 4 hour course and is only theory based and consists of:
* Searching (eye scanning)
* Assessing (hazard identification)
* Reducing risk (risk management)
"The frustrating thing is that I did all that in my 2 week driving course in the police.
"so i have my physical test on monday evening. obstacle course thursday morning then interview after. then she is still booking me on scope (out on patrol) hopefully thu, fri, sat, sun."
I had my mobile phone next to the bed, expecting Grant's call and was puzzled when I woke up this morning, having received no phone call still. Turns out he'd tried phoning on the house phone (ringer is always off on the upstairs phone) and left a message, as well as emailed the following:
"i tried ringing you, obviously deep asleep. i failed the maths but i am able to do the rest of the testing whilst i am here, thank goodness ... and then i will be able to do the maths in england after i wait the required 4 months (she said it could cost a couple of hundred pounds, as they have to pay for someone to supervise the test).
"next problem is that this new lady i am speaking to, Jacinda, who is my recruitment specialist says i will have to complete the 4 hour defensive driving before i can be put on the waiting list for training, so i will need to try and do it while i am here, but just doing a quick check on internet now, it seems like most courses only start in feb, will have to ring around next week. it's about a 4 hour course and is only theory based and consists of:
* Searching (eye scanning)
* Assessing (hazard identification)
* Reducing risk (risk management)
"The frustrating thing is that I did all that in my 2 week driving course in the police.
"so i have my physical test on monday evening. obstacle course thursday morning then interview after. then she is still booking me on scope (out on patrol) hopefully thu, fri, sat, sun."
Noah's taking strain
The school phoned me today and asked me to fetch Noah. He had a pain in his side and was very clingy and weepy. He was so pitiful when I picked him up and cried miserably the whole way home. When we got home I just sat and cuddled him for ages and talked to him. I made sure he knew Daddy was coming home and that he were okay. He said he was missing Daddy and feeling lonely when he thinks of him. Poor guy, I've been so stressed and carrying on with everything that needs doing that I haven't taken the time to make sure he's okay and understands what's going on.
He said that's why he didn't want to speak to Grant on Skype this morning, it upset him because he misses him too much. He was better after we talked and was quite cheerful but just now he said he had a pain in his stomach. Poor mite, I'm sure it's just anxiety. It will be so good when we are all together again.
He said that's why he didn't want to speak to Grant on Skype this morning, it upset him because he misses him too much. He was better after we talked and was quite cheerful but just now he said he had a pain in his stomach. Poor mite, I'm sure it's just anxiety. It will be so good when we are all together again.
14 January 2010
Still no news
Poor Grant is taking strain. We still haven't heard anything. He emailed:
"this stress is doing me no good, can't believe i have heard nothing, it's like living in a nightmare. i called michelle numerous times but goes to voicemail, did leave her a message. also emailed her, had no reply yet. just feels like i've been ignored.
"did my first day of first aid which was fine, quite interesting actually, but keep thinking "am i just wasting my time?"
Michelle finally emailed him back and said:
"Hi Grant,
Your Selection Specialist is Jacinda Watkin but she is out of the office today. She will give you a call tomorrow morning to advise of your results.
Apologies for the delay!
Kind regards,
Michelle"
So another day of waiting!
"this stress is doing me no good, can't believe i have heard nothing, it's like living in a nightmare. i called michelle numerous times but goes to voicemail, did leave her a message. also emailed her, had no reply yet. just feels like i've been ignored.
"did my first day of first aid which was fine, quite interesting actually, but keep thinking "am i just wasting my time?"
Michelle finally emailed him back and said:
"Hi Grant,
Your Selection Specialist is Jacinda Watkin but she is out of the office today. She will give you a call tomorrow morning to advise of your results.
Apologies for the delay!
Kind regards,
Michelle"
So another day of waiting!
Couldn't do it
Pathetic, all I managed was reading for half an hour and a light doze for 45 minutes and then I had to get up. Just couldn't spend the day in bed, as tempting as it sounds in theory! I have to clean my house, that will be far more soothing. Actually I don't feel as down as I did this morning, I guess the little nap helped.
Anyhoo, here's Grant's updates from yesterday:
"was waiting in anticipation the whole day with butterflies in my stomach only to not receive a call.
Anyhoo, here's Grant's updates from yesterday:
"was waiting in anticipation the whole day with butterflies in my stomach only to not receive a call.
"amanda spoke to her friend tonight and she said they called her on the second day after she did her testing, so hopefully i get a call tomorrow. just frustrating that they said it would be today.
"saw some great things again today, but had other things on my mind so couldn't enjoy it as much as i should. drove to west coast to 'piha' through quite a foresty wildernessy route, with houses dotted around in the forest. once you get out of aukland surrounds there is much less traffic.
"piha beach has black sand but is soft like normal white sand, so quite cool, also the sand stays warm cause it's black, climbed up the rock that sticks up between the two beaches.
"then in afternoon drove to pukekohe [the town we've chosen to live in], about 45 min drive. was cool to get away from traffic, pukekohe town centre was good with a good selection of shops, has a 'pak and save' and also 'countdown' which is another large and cheap supermarket. didn't find the pak and save but went into the countdown which i would say is a bit larger than the sainsburys in st annes. drove past the chapel.
"got a take away at 'noodle canteen' which had chinese food with noodles in a box, only managed half and brought other half back, cost $9.50.
"some of the outside of the shops feel a bit run down, but when i drove around in the suburbs i got a feeling that it was growing and saw quite a few new developments with loads of new houses. also drove 10 min out of town to Bombay, which i really liked, quite a small town with a school but only a short 10 min drive to puke for shopping.
"haven't seen any charity shops. on a side note every town seems to have a 2 dollar shop, similar to our pound shops, but the quality of the goods here is mostly rubbish.
"the roads outside the towns are single carriageway with passing sections and the speed limit is the same as the motorway (100 km/h), which is v good and there is hardly any traffic.
"from bombay it is a 20 min drive to south manakau [where he'll be working], and from pukekohe it's 25 min, and the times i will be traveling will mean v little traffic.
"i drove back today leaving pukekohe and heading north on motorway around 18:00 and even though it was rush hour the traffic was fine until you get nearer aukland city and then it gets v busy, but still keeps moving all the time.
"that's all for now, gutted i didn't hear today, gonna go do the first aid tomorrow and keep my phone on and hopefully will get a call, if i haven't heard by 4pm i'm going to give michelle a call."
Piha
Pukekohe
One of the schools
Grant labeled this one "Twins"
"saw some great things again today, but had other things on my mind so couldn't enjoy it as much as i should. drove to west coast to 'piha' through quite a foresty wildernessy route, with houses dotted around in the forest. once you get out of aukland surrounds there is much less traffic.
"piha beach has black sand but is soft like normal white sand, so quite cool, also the sand stays warm cause it's black, climbed up the rock that sticks up between the two beaches.
"then in afternoon drove to pukekohe [the town we've chosen to live in], about 45 min drive. was cool to get away from traffic, pukekohe town centre was good with a good selection of shops, has a 'pak and save' and also 'countdown' which is another large and cheap supermarket. didn't find the pak and save but went into the countdown which i would say is a bit larger than the sainsburys in st annes. drove past the chapel.
"got a take away at 'noodle canteen' which had chinese food with noodles in a box, only managed half and brought other half back, cost $9.50.
"some of the outside of the shops feel a bit run down, but when i drove around in the suburbs i got a feeling that it was growing and saw quite a few new developments with loads of new houses. also drove 10 min out of town to Bombay, which i really liked, quite a small town with a school but only a short 10 min drive to puke for shopping.
"haven't seen any charity shops. on a side note every town seems to have a 2 dollar shop, similar to our pound shops, but the quality of the goods here is mostly rubbish.
"the roads outside the towns are single carriageway with passing sections and the speed limit is the same as the motorway (100 km/h), which is v good and there is hardly any traffic.
"from bombay it is a 20 min drive to south manakau [where he'll be working], and from pukekohe it's 25 min, and the times i will be traveling will mean v little traffic.
"i drove back today leaving pukekohe and heading north on motorway around 18:00 and even though it was rush hour the traffic was fine until you get nearer aukland city and then it gets v busy, but still keeps moving all the time.
"that's all for now, gutted i didn't hear today, gonna go do the first aid tomorrow and keep my phone on and hopefully will get a call, if i haven't heard by 4pm i'm going to give michelle a call."
Piha
Pukekohe
One of the schools
Grant labeled this one "Twins"
13 January 2010
Ugh
Yesterday the roads were still clear and I drove to Clitheroe for an appointment and got some more groceries at Sainsbury's. I didn't sleep very well last night as I'd asked Grant to phone me as soon as he got his test results. At 5am I gave up tossing and turning and went downstairs for a bit, then back to bed to doze for an hour before getting up. He didn't get his results, so it will be tomorrow before we hear.
There was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth when I looked out the window just before taking the kids to school and saw ... MORE SNOWING!
NOOOOOOOOO!!!
I'm feeling really fed up and as soon as I've finished my breakfast I'm going back to bed to read until I fall asleep. Mama's takin' a mental health day.
There was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth when I looked out the window just before taking the kids to school and saw ... MORE SNOWING!
NOOOOOOOOO!!!
I'm feeling really fed up and as soon as I've finished my breakfast I'm going back to bed to read until I fall asleep. Mama's takin' a mental health day.
12 January 2010
Grant's day yesterday
From his email:
"today i did the crappy testing in the morning then got back home and we went grocery shopping at a large mall in Albany, it felt like tygervalley or century city [big malls in Cape Town], and next to it was a 'pak and save' which feels a bit warehousey, similar to makro but only with groceries.
"pak and save seems cheaper and these are some of the prices that we paid (prices in dollars):
"the pics i will send are taken from north head and you can see mount victoria in one of them
As a comparison, the bold prices are what we pay here. The exchange rate is just over $2 for every £1.
mayo lite 380ml - 3.30 - 480ml is 90p
"today i did the crappy testing in the morning then got back home and we went grocery shopping at a large mall in Albany, it felt like tygervalley or century city [big malls in Cape Town], and next to it was a 'pak and save' which feels a bit warehousey, similar to makro but only with groceries.
"i bought the ingredients for the supper i cooked tonight which was chicken broccoli and cheese cake, the chicken broccoli came out well but the cheese cake was a bit of a flop, i used too much biscuit base and the top was just runny and didn't taste as good as when you make it, must have been one of the ingredients that are not as good as in UK.
"pak and save seems cheaper and these are some of the prices that we paid (prices in dollars):
mayo lite 380ml - $3.30
tin mushroom soup - $2.05
lamb neck chops - $6.99 / kg
broccolli - $1.69
chicken breast - $18.99 / kg
mince - $9.99 / kg
"we got back for about and hour then drove about 15 min away to see the two volcanoes that are nearby, 'north head' and 'mount victoria'. it was good to take my mind off the police thing for a while and the views were stunning, there was old cannons to see and tunnels where they kept all the ammunition.
"what is so nice is that it's all free, there was hardly anyone else up there, there was parking, the parking was free, the weather was great, and that's all.
"the pics i will send are taken from north head and you can see mount victoria in one of them
from the top you can see all around and see aukland city and one of the pics you can see mount victoria.
As a comparison, the bold prices are what we pay here. The exchange rate is just over $2 for every £1.
mayo lite 380ml - 3.30 - 480ml is 90p
tin mushroom soup - 2.05 - 52p
lamb neck chops - 6.99 / kg - £11.68 / kg
broccoli - 1.69 - 75p
chicken breast - 18.99 / kg - £6.68 for value pack (not v nice) / £10.98 for regular
mince - 9.99 / kg - £4.40 - £5.76 / kg, depending on pack size
Getting out
Hooray, the roads have mostly defrosted around here! I've never been so excited to go grocery shopping in my life. We've not left the house (except for school) for almost a week and I was starting to go a bit crazy.
Grant said the academic tests went okay today, except for the maths which were quite difficult and a very short amount of time was allowed, so he's worrying about that. We'll know tomorrow if he's passed or not.
Grant said the academic tests went okay today, except for the maths which were quite difficult and a very short amount of time was allowed, so he's worrying about that. We'll know tomorrow if he's passed or not.
Treacherous
Last night I looked out the window and saw that the snow looked like it had started to melt. Hooray! This morning a glance outside confirmed that it has melted in patches and it had been raining a little.
I was so excited. I though I could get some groceries delivered or even go to the supermarket myself. (Clearly I am suffering from extreme cabin fever to consider doing grocery shopping in the flesh rather than online!) I could attend the two appointments I have been shuffling forward, unable to attend. I could visit friends, they could come and visit me.
And then I stepped outside.
Do you know what happens when you pour water over ice? It creates the slickest, most treacherous surface known to man. There are cars skidding in my road and getting stuck on kerbs. I had to hang onto Noah with a death grip on the way to school, and just as well because he kept slipping. Daniel had to walk right next to the wall in case he slipped (my other hand was full of Noah's school bag and lunchbox so I couldn't hold onto him too.) I nearly fell a couple of times on the way back, complete with cartoon-light windmilling arms.
So the lockdown continues and we won't be going anywhere. I feel really isolated, not seeing antoher adult for days on end, but I am so grateful for the friends and family who have been phoning and checking on me and offering some conversation and a listening ear. I honestly feel so very supported and blessed.
I spoke to Grant briefly this morning, he sounded almost drunk he was so tired. He has the academic tests tomorrow so I hope he has a good night's sleep. Here's a bit from his email:
"we stood outside on the entrance steps as the whole place is being renovated and has only a few offices open, so i asked her about when the interview would be and she said that due to the building being repaired they might not be able to fit the interview in while i'm out here, and could i come back another time to complete it...so i obviously said...um no!
I was so excited. I though I could get some groceries delivered or even go to the supermarket myself. (Clearly I am suffering from extreme cabin fever to consider doing grocery shopping in the flesh rather than online!) I could attend the two appointments I have been shuffling forward, unable to attend. I could visit friends, they could come and visit me.
And then I stepped outside.
Do you know what happens when you pour water over ice? It creates the slickest, most treacherous surface known to man. There are cars skidding in my road and getting stuck on kerbs. I had to hang onto Noah with a death grip on the way to school, and just as well because he kept slipping. Daniel had to walk right next to the wall in case he slipped (my other hand was full of Noah's school bag and lunchbox so I couldn't hold onto him too.) I nearly fell a couple of times on the way back, complete with cartoon-light windmilling arms.
So the lockdown continues and we won't be going anywhere. I feel really isolated, not seeing antoher adult for days on end, but I am so grateful for the friends and family who have been phoning and checking on me and offering some conversation and a listening ear. I honestly feel so very supported and blessed.
I spoke to Grant briefly this morning, he sounded almost drunk he was so tired. He has the academic tests tomorrow so I hope he has a good night's sleep. Here's a bit from his email:
"we stood outside on the entrance steps as the whole place is being renovated and has only a few offices open, so i asked her about when the interview would be and she said that due to the building being repaired they might not be able to fit the interview in while i'm out here, and could i come back another time to complete it...so i obviously said...um no!
"anyway she said that if i pass the academic testing tomorrow morning she will then go speak to her boss to see if they can arrange for the interview at another location."
How ridiculous. He's been in contact with her for months, arranging everything. Oh well, if he can't have his interview while he's over there I guess they'll have to do it by phone later.
So this weird limbo feeling continues, stuck in the house for days on end and waiting to hear tidbits from Grant.
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us!
How ridiculous. He's been in contact with her for months, arranging everything. Oh well, if he can't have his interview while he's over there I guess they'll have to do it by phone later.
So this weird limbo feeling continues, stuck in the house for days on end and waiting to hear tidbits from Grant.
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us!
11 January 2010
First test passed
Emails from Grant:
"I passed the swim test!! just gave it my all and swum it in 42 seconds, (had to do it below 54).then treading water for 5 min was quite difficult cause i was tired from the swim, but managed. and duck dive for brick was v easy.
I had remarked that everything sounds very expensive there, he said:
"i'm obviously just buying what i see and not shopping smart, amanda says she waits for specials and then stocks up on an item. plus we don't buy beef steak over in uk cause too expensive, so will be same here, but wanted to taste nz beef, and its better than uk beef. but we are spoilt in uk for clothes i think, cause we have the cheaper options like tesco and matalan."
"I passed the swim test!! just gave it my all and swum it in 42 seconds, (had to do it below 54).then treading water for 5 min was quite difficult cause i was tired from the swim, but managed. and duck dive for brick was v easy.
i keep waking every 2 hours for some reason, oh well.
meeting michelle from recruiting today at 3 to show all my certificates and get the low down on the rest of the testing."
"i'm obviously just buying what i see and not shopping smart, amanda says she waits for specials and then stocks up on an item. plus we don't buy beef steak over in uk cause too expensive, so will be same here, but wanted to taste nz beef, and its better than uk beef. but we are spoilt in uk for clothes i think, cause we have the cheaper options like tesco and matalan."
Another email from Grant
I spoke to Grant on Skype for a bit yesterday. He says it is so laid back and casual there, it reminds him of Cape Town. (For those who don't know, we both lived in Cape Town pretty much all our lives until we came over to the UK ten years ago). Everyone has been really casual and friendly. He also said it's very multi-cultural.
He emailed this morning - here are some excerpts:
"been another hot day, and MY BAG ARRIVED!!
"woke up around 8 and went to devonport (about 10min drive) in search of chemist. devonport is also near beach (as is everywhere) and just sat for half an hour at beach front while i waited for chemist to open, bought flixonase which was 24 dollars, yikes! things seem about the same price or more expensive here.
He emailed this morning - here are some excerpts:
"been another hot day, and MY BAG ARRIVED!!
"woke up around 8 and went to devonport (about 10min drive) in search of chemist. devonport is also near beach (as is everywhere) and just sat for half an hour at beach front while i waited for chemist to open, bought flixonase which was 24 dollars, yikes! things seem about the same price or more expensive here.
"also went to large supermarket called 'new world' and bought bbq and salad stuff, came to 50 dollars, also yikes! bought boerewors sausages [South African sausages] for 12 dollars, which was same price for all other sausages and bought 2 packs of beef, got a lettuce tomato cucumber and potatoes and a mixed drink.
"got back home and was reading for 10min when there was knock at door and i thought they were home but it was the delivery guy with by bag...
"had a lekker braai [bbq] and then went looking for jeans, cause the ones i bought are the wrong ones, anyway the choice for the cheaper ones is not good and there were none in my size, cheap ones were 35 dollars and went up to 90 dollars. def more choice for clothes in uk and also cheaper in uk, also bought a sim card and am using amanda's old phone. the sim was 30 dollars and i bought 20 dollars credit.
"went to taranaki boat ramp and beach for a look and saw all the vehicles parked with trailers, must have been about 20 of them and 18 were 4x4 and 2 were not, quite a lot of people on beach and swimming and lots of boats coming and going,
"they have 2 cars here and only use the 2nd one on weekends when taking kids to sport and also took both cars to camping, so he says most of time the 2nd car is not used, so he says we can use their 2nd car when we first get here if we want, until we buy our own."
9 January 2010
He's there at last!
I woke up at 1:45am and couldn't sleep. I came downstairs to check if Grant had arrived yet and emailed but no message. I managed to get back to sleep and must have fallen deeply asleep enough that I missed his call at 2:55am! He was phoning because he couldn't find our friends' address on the sat nav and wanted some help finding where they were. He eventually figured out that he was looking for their street in Takapuna but it's in Belmont. (Our friends are away until Monday.) When I got up this morning there were a couple of emails from him. He said:
"I made it eventually. Will email longer tonight once I have had a lie down. First gonna go find shops to buy something to eat.
"I made it eventually. Will email longer tonight once I have had a lie down. First gonna go find shops to buy something to eat.
"I didn't have much luck with the whole journey as you know and it got worse cause my bag didn't show up. Probably got lost when I changed flights. They are going to keep looking and ring me if it turns up, they gave me 130 dollars so that I could buy essentials to keep me going. So first thing I went from collecting the car to a large store right next to the airport called 'The Warehouse' and bought shorts, 3 t-shirts, socks undies and toiletries. Dunno what I will do if it's still missing next week.
"It's lovely here, feels very much like Cape Town, and it's 20 degrees which feels quite hot for me coming from freezing. Off to the shops and a nap."
And then a bit later, 8:15pm there:
"sorry can't stay awake, will have to do long email when i wake up.
And then a bit later, 8:15pm there:
"sorry can't stay awake, will have to do long email when i wake up.
went to the shops for some grocery stuff then got a chinese take away.
it feels a bit like the shops when we were in spain, nothing big...or even as if you are in gansbaai [small coastal town in SA], got that sea resort feel to it and most people in sloppies [flip-flops], shorts and t shirt.
night night"
I'm so glad he arrived there safely but I just knew his bags wouldn't. UGH!! Hopefully they'll turn up soon.
I'm so glad he arrived there safely but I just knew his bags wouldn't. UGH!! Hopefully they'll turn up soon.
Grant update
Grant just emailed and texted me from Hong Kong airport where he has another layover and free WiFi. We managed to have a nice chat on Skype - we are so blessed with modern technology! It's 12:45 here and I've just finished my lunch ... it's 8:30pm where he is.He sounded so tired. He literally didn't know what day it is because of the time zones and hours of travel.
He said that when he was re-routed via Tokyo and Hong Kong he was switched from KLM (which he said was rubbish, didn't even have individual screens on the seats) to Cathay Pacific which has been awesome. He loved the Japanese meal they were served.
When he got to Tokyo airport there was a man standing there with a sign "Mr Grant Morris" - Grant said he felt like James Bond because this guy was like, "There's a bus waiting here for you. Go to Terminal 2, find Exit 60, then proceed to gate X." They went outside and there is a huge empty bus waiting just for Grant! He was very grateful for all of the precise instructions because otherwise he would never have found his way. There was apparently an automatic sky train involved as well. But he got to the next destination safely and that's when he rang me.
He said he's slept a little, maybe 4 hours on and off. On his original flight plan he would be arriving in about 5 hours and he said it would be okay, not too brutal, if he only had another few hours to go, but the fact that he now still faces a 10h45min flight is a killer.
Poor guy, I can't believe I had a day at home, picked up the kids, we had supper, went to bed, slept through the night, been busy with chores this morning ... and he still isn't even there yet because it's quite literally on the opposite end of the earth from us. It's just crazy.
He said that when he was re-routed via Tokyo and Hong Kong he was switched from KLM (which he said was rubbish, didn't even have individual screens on the seats) to Cathay Pacific which has been awesome. He loved the Japanese meal they were served.
When he got to Tokyo airport there was a man standing there with a sign "Mr Grant Morris" - Grant said he felt like James Bond because this guy was like, "There's a bus waiting here for you. Go to Terminal 2, find Exit 60, then proceed to gate X." They went outside and there is a huge empty bus waiting just for Grant! He was very grateful for all of the precise instructions because otherwise he would never have found his way. There was apparently an automatic sky train involved as well. But he got to the next destination safely and that's when he rang me.
He said he's slept a little, maybe 4 hours on and off. On his original flight plan he would be arriving in about 5 hours and he said it would be okay, not too brutal, if he only had another few hours to go, but the fact that he now still faces a 10h45min flight is a killer.
Poor guy, I can't believe I had a day at home, picked up the kids, we had supper, went to bed, slept through the night, been busy with chores this morning ... and he still isn't even there yet because it's quite literally on the opposite end of the earth from us. It's just crazy.
8 January 2010
Our snowy beach walk on Wednesday
Warning: LOTS of pictures.
Daniel making a snow angel:
The pond, frozen over:
The dunes and sea grasses:
High tide line:
The sea left the snow strangely ball-shaped:
The sea water left in the sand froze into strips of ice:
Ice skating:
Ice skating in his police boots, which he wore because they're waterproof and he doesn't have wellies:
I love the snowballs formed by the sea:
The ice on the road:
What? The ice cream kiosk is closed? What if I wanted to buy an ice cream??
The kiddie paddling pool:
Daniel making a snow angel:
The pond, frozen over:
The dunes and sea grasses:
High tide line:
The sea left the snow strangely ball-shaped:
The sea water left in the sand froze into strips of ice:
Ice skating:
Ice skating in his police boots, which he wore because they're waterproof and he doesn't have wellies:
I love the snowballs formed by the sea:
The ice on the road:
What? The ice cream kiosk is closed? What if I wanted to buy an ice cream??
The kiddie paddling pool:
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