The Move Up

Thankfully a really good friend (Hilary) of Craig and Hilary took the kids the day we had the movers come in. It was great to have this support but unfortunately Ann still had to battle a migraine that day which stopped us driving to CHCH that night.

The packers were very slow to move us out. Get the women to pack and the boys to drive I say.

Rained the day we moved out and it rained the day we moved in.

After calling every Motel in Dunedin I finally found a place for us to stay.

We had great friends of ours who put us up on their orchard for 2 nights (and fed us for more) in the Horotane Valley while we waited for the packers who were delayed. So we had a two day wait for our gear to arrive.

As I said, it rained the day we moved in. The power was cut due to "essential maintenance!" Only two places in CHCH were without power that day and we chose one of the two with no power to move into.

Ann hurt her head badly on the car one night on the orchard when it slammed down on to her head - thankfully Ann was not concussed as was a friend of ours in a similar accident a few years ago and was unwell for a very long time.

The weekend after we moved in there was (by valley standards) a solid frost and the water in our pipes froze until 11:30 on Sunday morning. It nearly froze again the next day but I got up early enough to run the water and keep the pipes from freezing a second time.

However, in all of this we have seen God's hand in how he has provided for us. The kids love their school even though it is very large. Samuel came home and said, "two thumbs up Dad!" Alana loves it two but was much more apprehensive. We visited before the kids started at school and when we did their were a couple girls playing netball who said a very cheery, "hello" to us as we arrived.

The grove where we live is amazing. What better way to get to know your neighbours than be in need from the day you arrive with no power, now water and then no washing machine because the pipes in the laundry were installed correctly. People helped with containers of water, loaning the use of their laundry and coming over with a meal.

There are lots of kids for Alana, Samuel and Danielle to play with. there is Will, "my Dad works for the richest man in the world!" His Dad, apparently is the Australasian manager for Microsoft. His sister Bella. Then there is Max who is Samuel's age roughly. And, next door, is Blake who is a little younger and a little shy. They all get out on their bikes, scooters and enjoy riding around. It just takes one to be out and they all helmet up and out they go! It is great to see them so motivated to get out.

We have been going to Grace Vineyard Church for the last 3 weeks. We have not decided on a Church yet. The kids love it and it is certainly a welcoming place. Even Danielle enjoys the creche.

One of the biggest challenges has been to find day care for Danielle. Everything is so booked up. Eventually we managed to get Danielle into Fundamentals on Ferry Road. Not to far from where we are. Danielle enjoys it - just orientating to it at present. Thankfully we have this option. Even though they are not able to give certainty for a Friday, when Ann needs to be sleeping, they have been flexible and accommodating.

We've trammed, biked, been up the Mt Cavendish Gondola 5 times. A 13 month pass costs less that two family tickets - so kind of a no 'brainer' really. Then their is the Organic Vegetarian Cafe that is just a stones throw from our door and oh, the French Bakery at the bottom of the road. Great for all sorts of goodies and for cheap daily deals.

More later about work etc....