Be grumpy, she said.

In response to all those emails claiming that I only made myself official photographer to keep out of them myself ... Kitty can be very persuasive - and this photo shoot kept her happy for a good 5 minutes.  I rest my case.

Made it!

Got to and from Philip and Rosemary's successfully. Now back at Rachel's and have the whole house to myself. Not so on Saturday. Hannah and James, 4  children and their dog will be sharing with me and the kids for the night. I think that's the day we are celebrating the Golden Wedding anniversary.

Nanny Thomas - day one duties completed

Kitty and Henry have just been picked up for a sleepover at Rachel's friend Annie's. We filled our day very well, though my "Kissy Monster" innovation and the scavenge hunt may well be my undoing in days to come.  My ears are still ringing and my throat feels raw from all the roaring required to achieve full monster status.  And, as every caring great aunt cum nanny knows, it's always good to hand them over to someone else at the height of excitement and noisyness.

I am very aware that over the next four weeks, there are going to be many more days of sole responsibility during which I may regret today's enthusiasm.

Will phoned during the afternoon and said that the last twenty four hours had been difficult ones, with the news from the specialist being rather heavy.  Evidently Rachel told Philip yesterday, but nothing has been said to me, probably because they need to process it before sharing.  Basically, Rachel is at a crossroads now - her surgery wounds have to heal (and are proving to be unco-operative) before more chemo can be administered ... and without the chemo the cancer has a mind of its own.  

Sarah and Nick arrived in Cirencester this afternoon and shortly I am going to walk to Philip's for a family meal together. I am very familiar with finding my way in Philip's immediate area but it may be interesting finding Rachel's empty house on my return journey in pitch darkness.   I don't think anyone thought that one through when the arrangement was made - and I haven't got enough breadcrumbs to scatter, so that I can find my way back home again either! 

Henry is a delight at three years old.  He has an excellent vocabulary and understanding - most likely due to his granny's input.  So I was somewhat amused today when he was talking about our time at Disney World and seeing Stinkerbell with Peter Pan.  I suspect it was a deliberate play on words.

I sought professional help with the "sending emails" difficulty today - just prior to buying a full green wig for Kitty and Executor's axe for Henry in readiness for Halloween.  It must be very difficult for shopkeepers finding space for that AND Christmas fare - but it's certainly quite big over here with hedges and fences festooned with faux spiderwebs and evil looking plastic (I hope) spiders and carved pumpkins everywhere.   Another reason for looking forward to walking out shortly in pitch darkness!!

Anyway, it seems the iPad cannot be sorted out from here, because the relevant information seems to delete itself outside of New Zealand.  We did try to ring Paradise (now Vodafone) to get the relevant details from Australia ... held on for over 10 minutes and then got cut off.  They suggested I try again from here, but since I don't really know what I need in the first place and the cost of a call would be astronomical (particularly if they cut me off again) I have decided that I will just have to leave it this time and resort to texts at best and silence at worst.  Very sorry about that.  I have always had this problem when I come over here, but generally it can be sorted out. Evidently not any more.   Guess who is going to get a new provider on her return to NZ?

Thank you for the emails. I think this could become a very difficult visit and your support is greatly appreciated.

Cooee - I'm back!

"No jet lag" tablets - or even mind over matter - appears to have worked.  I've impressed myself (at least) by not dozing off into my meals ... but not the longest sleeper at the best of times, I am now tiring of my 2.20 am and 4.30 (today) inbuilt alarm clock.

Hopefully now we're back from France, and I'm settled into Rachel and Will's home and wifi, I can get into a better routine. Today I'm hoping to pop into the shops to attempt sorting out why I can't still send emails.  Receiving them is fine, but even the Australian brilliance of setting up a gmail account so I could communicate back on emails, isn't working here.

Euro Disneyland is h-u-g-e !  I had been to Disneyland (Los Angeles) in the 1970s and my lasting impression had been that it was such a clean and joyful place.  The Paris one is extraordinary.  According to Rosemary, who seems to know most things, it still isn't showing a profit. Admittedly it must employ a huge number of staff but when the gates open at 10am there are already queues of people that take about 20 minutes to just get through the turn stile. (and where we were, there were 10 turn stiles alone.) 

Rachel had orchestrated the four days we were there - from which of the rides we were to do first to what restaurants we would eat in each evening. 

Our hotel was within the Park confines itself (though outside the turnstiles and security X-rays) and we had three rooms between us - I shared with my niece Gabriel and her two boys. The plan had been that she and I would top and tail in one extra large double bed, and the boys (6 and 8) would share the other or we'd have one boy each.  However on my flight over I must have grown an extra head, because for the first time in my life neither child liked, or particularly acknowledged, me - and I got one double bed to myself for the full time we were there. Result!!

By the time we left, the only child who was unable to go on the tower of terror, parachute drop, or variety of roller coasters was Henry - and that was only because of height restrictions. So (overkill I admit) Philip, Rosemary and I jostled for pole position with him at the Slinky Dog ride, Dumbo merry go round and assorted similar rides. We often queued for over an hour for a two minute ride without complaint from Henry - but I think both Philip and I realised our folly when we found ourselves sitting up straight and behaving nicely together on one ride, while Henry and Rosemary were in the aeroplane ahead.  After that, I was official photographer of sorts - though I took them on my camera rather than this ipad, so I can't prove my worth at this juncture.

Signing autographs! The books and pens for the five kids were my allotted Rachel task. $120+ thanks. Worth every penny as can be seen.

All of us were taking photographs of everything we did, saw, smelt and ate it seemed and Gabriel is going to make us a shared website for all the photos and she'll make Rachel a photo album over the next couple of weeks.

We tried to send her photos and comments as they happened, but sadly we couldn't get them to go through from France - until we came out from the Chunnel in the train on our return trip. Evidently she was then inundated with texts and emails from us all.

Rachel continues to be in hospital, and there appears to be a timetable for visiting. I saw her that first night but it was late, she was tired and I was jet lagged. I'm not sure when I'll get back to see her again because it's an hour and a half's train ride back into London, not to mention the time it takes to get to and from the station and hospital.

But Kitty and Henry and I get on very well together and today I'm being allowed to look after them for the whole day. Alone! There are 42 stairs in this house - and 3 and a half levels!! Could be fun! That's possibly only because Sarah and Nick (the oldest daughter) arrived from Africa yesterday, spent the day with Rachel and arrive in Cirencester today. The children are then going to a sleep over at a friends house and I shall go across to Philip and Rosemary's for SUPPER  (read "tea").

I'm set up in the guest room at Rachel's - and we're all still hoping that she will get home before I leave.  It's been 10 weeks now, since she first went into hospital - a private one, just off Harley Street ($4000 equivalent a week) where she has her own room - with coloured lights brought in by a friend and an Exercycle in one corner which she is determined to keep using. It certainly proves the worth of medical insurance at times like this.

At that point Henry appeared - 5am - so task aborted. More tonight.

The Eagle has landed

I'm sitting in the London flat, about to have a shower and a cuppa - and then a proper lie down, in the hopes that I might catch two or three hours' sleep before the hoards descend, and that my head might stop spinning in this most odd manner.

Rachel's husband, Will, picked me up at Heathrow and then I scampered along beside him, because at well over 6'0" tall, even a casual stroll for him means a quick trot for me.  We were in the flat within an hour and he's now gone off to work, leaving me to do a wee bit of washing and changing my suitcase over.

Because ... Rachel is sending 11 of us off to Euro Disney tomorrow for three days. Initially she was to come too, but is not well enough yet, but absolutely insists we must continue with her plans.  She continues to amaze me with her generosity and thoughtfulness.  I hope I could be as good spirited in the same situation.  I am going to the hospital this evening to see her before we go.

Just wanted to record that I've got here safely ... Though rather uncomfortably.

Dubai

I have no idea whether this will get through but at just past midnight local time, I've landed AND found the right gate to carry on to London in an hour's time.

For the record I don't enjoy flying any more than I did three days ago.  I was seated beside a very wide (in all directions) man who overflowed similarly ... and snored!!!  And directly in front of me was a swarthy young gent with all the finesse that Dubai locals possess who leaned his seat back into my lap so that I was literally a handspan from the screen.  He was at the bulkhead so had plenty of legroom but within half an hour of take off he disappeared (into Premium economy) and there remained - empty seatback in my lap still - until half an hour before landing.  Actually the purser did notice my plight and returned it to normal about six hours in, so I admit to embellishing it a little!!

I don't sleep properly on flights - even over a period of 14 hours - and despite drifting in and out for most of the time, and taking "no jet lag" tablets, the ground feels as unsteady as Christchurch does at times. 

But safe I am. Confirmed in my belief that flying is for birds and not me ... but looking forward to arriving in Heathrow before too long.  Such fun ... as Miranda's screen mother would say.

 

Rogues' gallery

From left to right - Philly, Will, Ollie, Sam, Charlie, Les, Joe

 ten years later, same photographer

No walking exercise so ...

Email difficulties

Don't ask me  - I don't know the answer.  But for some reason I can receive emails but not send them.  The same thing happened in Greymouth and always happens in UK but of course I forgot about trying to sort it before I left.  It's a "paradise" thing ... It seems none of the other servers have this problem. Botheration.

We spent the day wandering around the shopping Mall yesterday and I can't get over all the Christmas decorations, wrappers and trees that are everywhere. Philly tells me that they've been in the shops for the past two or three weeks.   Thankfully there was no canned Christmas music being played but the supply of chocolate advent calendars had already dwindled and the wrapping paper displays were clearly emptying fast.  So I added to their sales and all the boys can now spend December tending their acne with the introduction of a daily chocolate.

Today Ollie and I have a hot date for lunch - he's home on study leave for his final external exams that he's already half way through.  He towers above me and it seems odd seeing this big man driving his siblings to school now, when it was only yesterday that I could look down to speak to him.

The next one down, Charlie is only a year behind him - learning to drive but, very involved in Air Cadets with a career in the Airforce uppermost in his mind, more interested in flying fighter planes. He's a bright cookie and leaves home at 6.30am to further his mathematical skills at special, before-school classes for advanced students.

They, all five boys, are a credit to their parents and firm friends with one another.  All have a wide variety of interests and sports involvement and seem fond enough of their godmother to freely give goodnight and goodbye kisses. Perhaps the scavenger hunt with "body part" sweets at each destination help a little for the younger ones!  Who said bribery didn't work?

Only 3 more sleeps until I arrive in the UK.  I'd planned on it being cold there but hadn't expected it to be so cold here. The boys assure me that's something to be grateful for - snakes only come out in warm weather.  It doesn't stop me keeping one eye open at all times though ... Just in case.

It's been one of those days!

There I was, quietly minding my own business with five hours before takeoff - when my mobile rang and a foreign voice advised me that my flight had been cancelled.  Great start.  Evidently the plane didn't come over from Sydney because of engine problems but eventually, after three attempts to get me away, I was transferred from Emirates and flew over with Air New Zealand, arriving half an hour before originally planned. Not pleasant at the time but all's well that ends well.

Julie dropped everything to take me to the airport and coached me in the art of handling the situation. Clearly it worked, because I didn't have to resort to tears once - or furious determination.  Indeed so pleasant was I, that I made friends with a nice young couple who actually had to PAY for tickets similar to my final replacements and a young German couple who both had dreadlocks and were surprised that they kept getting singled out for special X-rays everywhere they went.

I've had a lovely time with the family tonight.  Philly had done a roast chicken so already the 6.7kg weight loss is in serious trouble since I was the only one who would eat the skin! It would have been rude not to, I felt.  5 young lads/men are noisy bedfellows, so it's been a riotous evening.  But it was lovely how easily I was accepted and slotted back into their family group.  They, like me, have no other relations in the the Southern Hemisphere so it's always lovely to get together.

I'd planned on doing quite a bit of walking while I'm here but that's also gone out the window!  Five boys in a family are never going to be able to keep the secret that there had been a snake on their decking last week, but it was now dead on the roadside outside their house.  I fear I'm paranoid about such things, so am sleeping with the windows shut in my bedroom tonight even though it's on the first floor.  The time is probably about right for all its friends and family to appear for his funeral and I'd really rather not be part of the gathering.

So at 10.29 pm local time (past midnight at home) I'll push the "done" button and look forward to sending a less catastrophic message next time.

Rachel

Title explanation.

My third  niece Hannah, produced my second great niece (or 4th great in total) on Christmas Day, a few years ago.  The family phoned to tell me the news and her sister, Emilia was given the phone and told to say "happy Christmas Great Aunt Susan Mary" by her doting aunt, Rachel. So at two years old, she spoke my most memorable of all Christmas greetings, "Happy Kissmas Great Arse Mary".

My family is far too polite to remember or ever admit the phrase - and my friends are all far too polite to look up a blog of that name. And so it is great Rs for the title - but we, know the truth, don't we!

It's just 2 weeks until I leave for the UK ... Via Australia (Sydney) where 5 of my 8 god children live. They are also the only relations I have in the Southern Hemisphere  - my cousin Gina's daughter Philly, husband Les and their five gorgeous boys. I'll be there four days and then it's off via Dubai, arriving at Heathrow at 6am on Friday 24th.

Before then, Chalkie remains my constant companion while his owner Julie and her mother rent accommodation during the family home's earthquake repairs.  I definitely got the best deal out of that - and I shall miss my little shadow when he goes home.

This trip will be solely devoted to my immediate family.  I have written to all my relations and friends explaining that I will be there and suggesting that if they have the chance, they might like to come across for a cuppa or meal ... But it's a long way from most of them so I'm not expecting too many of them to get there.

I'll be home again 29th November. Just in time for the Christmas madness and bustle. Eat your heart out ... MY Christmas shopping, such as it is, is purchased and wrapped, awaiting my return.