Kapiti Island Today 30th November 2012

Kapiti Island Today 6.35pm ...

St Andrews day today! So the weather played homage to that fact! Chilly willy southerly! Brrrrr! Still warmer than Scotland for the time year tough, ha!

Posted with Blogsy

Maisie's First Kindy Trip

Well I think it's fair to say that Darling Daughter had the best day out of all of team Simpson on Wednesday! She had her first Kindy (not really Kindy but its easier to say than Daycare) trip.

The little darlings got to take a trip to Kapiti Coast Airport! A couple of years ago this would probably have been less exciting but it's getting bigger and it's not just little teeny tiny planes flying out of here, there is a slightly bigger Air New Zealand plane that jets up to Auckland now and again!

Maisie was terribly excited I gave her elf hair (its Hobbit crazy here with the world premiere happening down the road in Welly) and two coats (a hoody and a body warmer just in case). As soon as she for to Kindy she told the teachers about her elf hair and two coats, repeatedly! Fine if they knew what she was saying, we don't know what she is saying half the time because of her hybrid accent I don't know how the Kindy teachers understand her!

The idea was for the little darlings to get the bus there and back and see the big plane coming in and taking off again! Maisie thought she was perhaps going on a plane and I was a bit worried she would be disappointed.

I needn't worry for here is the log of what they did ...

Sounds like they had awesome fun! The plane was running late so someone official at the airport took matters into there own hands and entertained the troops!

Not sure I would like to be a passenger after they were in the cockpit!! Who knows what buttons the babes might have pressed!?!?

Needless to say Maisie's favourite part was the lollies!!

Posted with Blogsy

Wordless Wednesday 28th November 2012

Meal Planning Monday 26th November 2012

I got Lovely Hubby to plan the meals this week! Not sure how, at brunch on Sunday I asked home what he wanted and he managed to fill the week. Normally he puts it back to me but he must have been inspired this week (ha! Maybe not when you see what we're having).

In no particular order this week we will be having;

• Pasta, sauce, bacon and asparagus
• Steak, baked tattie and corn on the cob (I think we have spare asparagus so we will have that too)
• Lil' Sis is doing Fajitas for us one night
• Chicken Supreme (mummy's recipe), roast tatties in our magic roast tattie machine and brocolli
• Cheese toasty and soup
• Lentil Dahl
• We have prawns in the freezer, some noodles and all sorts stock ingredients for noodely prawn dishes so between us we will rustle something Asian inspired up

Linking up with the Mela Planning lady herself At Home with Mrs M. Check out my Linky Love page for the link.

Posted with Blogsy

Kapiti Island Today 27th November 2012

Kapiti Island Today 3.30pm ...

It's been a week since my last post, sorry folks! Time has been an issue!

Today's picture of Kapiti Island (as pointed out by my glamorous assistant, while I panicked that she would fall down the cliff that is behind the fence down onto the beach) is taken from Queen Elizabeth Park. I decided against the normal beach after last weeks excitement!

However it wouldn't be a normal trip for The Hound, The Cherubs and I if there wasn't any action/drama!

Rocko had his usual run in with another hound. Nothing new there then!

Maisie had a meltdown! (Don't ask, long day, tired, hot, hungry!)

I had a meltdown! (Don't ask, long day, tired, hot, hungry!)

I nearly slipped and fell ... several times! (Very hilly path, with gravel, and two heavy babies in a buggy! I never said it was a good idea but unfortunately the fecking dog needs walked!)

On the plus side we all had some fresh air, the dog stretched his legs, as did I, we got to see beautiful blue sky's, the sea and the stunning Kapiti Island!

So I suppose one mustn't grumble :)

Posted with Blogsy

Kapiti Island Today 20/11/12

Kapiti Island Today 3.15pm

It's been a sweaty, clammy day. When the sun did come out (on and off) it was hot, hot, hot!

The Cherubs and I took The Hound to the beach to stretch his legs. The tide was high so we just went a little way along, parked up and threw some sticks for The Hound. Archie sat in his pram and thought this was hilarious. Maisie dug in the sand and collected shells. Seeing as it was so warm I dipped my toe in the sea to see if it was warm too. It was! Result! It won't be long till we will be getting our swimming gear on for our trips to the beach!

Our little happy scene was interrupted when a scary big dog came along and chatted to Rocko. Rocko has small dog syndrome and is known to really annoy dogs bigger than him! Not normally a major concern as the scary big dogs trot off giving Rocko a look of disdain over there shoulder but when I clocked the owner (someone I know to be unsavoury) I started to worry a bit for Rocko and Maisie. Both annoying little creatures dotting around a big dog with a scary owner!

They carried on down the beach but turned back so I attempted to herd my mob back to the car before they reached us! I failed and the other dog caught up to us in the car park. Always a worry regardless of the dog and its owner when one is on the lead and the other is off! In my panic to get to the car I rammed the pram into someone's car. While I backed up Rocko yelped and I screamed! I think my scream scared the other dog off!

I felt really silly but I am cursed with an over active imagination! The other dog was probably harmless BUT knowing the owner I just did not know what the dog had been trained to do!

What a tit I felt! No one batted an eyelid at my scream though thankfully, nor did the people who's car I rammed!!!!!

Like what you see vote for me!

Posted with Blogsy

#Meal Planning Monday 19th November 2012

I'm not feeling very inspired this week. This may reflect in my menu!

On the menu in The Simpson house this week in no particular order;

• Steak, baked potato and corn on the cob. We had this week, we all enjoyed it so much we decided to make it a weekly staple until we get bored of it! Although Lil' Sis' and Lovely Hubby said they would rather just have salad instead of baked potatoes! Crispy water ain't enough for me I'm afraid!
• Mums Chicken Curry. It's my late finish week this week so I made this on Sunday and popped it in the freezer ready to haul out when we fancy it! Clicks here for the recipe.
• Old faithful pasta, pesto and garlic sauce and veg (maybe asparagus if its in supermarket).
• Cheese Toasties, we never got round to having this last week.
• Homemade KFC style wraps, see what I mean here. We were meant to have these last week too but the risotto on last weeks plan lasted two nights and on Saturday we had Thai takeaway.

You may notice 5 meals where there should be 7! I am so uninspired I can't even manage 7 meals! BUT we will not starve! I just remembered we are going out for dinner on Wednesday and Lil' Sis' is rustling something up for us on Monday night!

Maybe I will get inspiration from some other blog meal plans.

Linking up with At Home With Mrs M.

Like what you see vote for me!

Posted with Blogsy

Kapiti Island Today 18th November 2012

Kapiti island Today 5.15pm ...

Apologies to Kapiti today! Both cherubs were sleeping, the sun was out, I put sunblock on and sat outside, the clouds came over! Sorry folks! I have an uncanny way of controlling the weather with my actions, sunblock application and hanging out washing have the biggest impact!!!

By the time I mustered up enough energy to get out to walk the hound there was a stormy looking thing coming in from a south west direction, you can see it to the left of the island in the picture, there was still beautiful blue sky's on the right hand side!

The Hound and I had a typical surreal trip to the beach. Dispute the changeable weather and choppy sea there was a random man in for a swim, a kayaker and a rogue tide, we had plenty beach then all of a sudden I had to jump on a rock as the tide came whooshing up out of the blue!

Like what you see vote for me!

Posted with Blogsy

Silent Sunday 18th November 2012

Posted with Blogsy

Kapiti Island Today 17th November 2012

Drive by for today's photo! Yucky wet horrible day, even Kapiti Island is trying to hide behind the clouds!



Today was very much a sloth day! I did have lots of plans for painting and activities with the babies but none of it was achieved.



I DID managed to skype with my best chum Mummysknee, rehang Darling Daughters Kindy art work, make a batch of corn fritters for Second Born Son, sort some paperwork, get some Christmas shopping ideas and do our U.K tax returns so not an entire waste of a day!



A sloth day is needed now and again, no?

Like what you see vote for me!

Posted with Blogsy

#Saturday is Caption Day 17th November 2012

Such a beautiful child!!!!

Such lovely table manners!!!!

Give us a caption! Go on! You know you want to!

Then go join in or link up too over at Mammasaurus.

Like what you see vote for me!

Posted with Blogsy

Kapiti Island Today 16th November 2012

Kapiti Island Today 6.15pm ...

I was aiming for a 6.15am shot. Up and dressed by 6.01am but as I picked up the car keys the heavens opened! I AM NOT THAT HARDCORE (yet)!


Heavens emptied the sky's were blue after work. Lovely Hubby is feeling a bit poorly so I left him with the kids and The Hound and I headed to Queen Elizabeth park. It's been a while since we (The Hound and I) have been running here. Lots of options inland track, coastal track, along the beach. All apart from the beach are hilly so it is potentially pretty hardcore! The picture was taken from the coastal track, a wee gap in the flora and fauna! A poop halfway round from The Hound gave me a break. No one likes to run hard with a bag full of shit flapping about in there hands!


The Hound is so funny he goes crazy on the way out, way ahead, sniffing out who knows what BUT on the way back he was the most faithful (tired) beast trotting along next to me. SO cute :). Although he does negate the cuteness by bathing in a stage to puddle half way round!!!!!

Like what you see vote for me!

Posted with Blogsy

A - Z of Aoteoroa; B

Is for BACH, BEACH and BARE FEET ...

BACH! A 'holiday home' here in N.Z. Pronounced batch! Back in the day almost everyone had a Bach they went to for weekends and holidays. Not necessarily flash but near the beach or near the lake. Reminds me of a 'but n Ben' in Scotland. In the current 'financial climate' not everyone can afford a Bach. In fact lots of the rentals in our area were once upon a time Bach's.

BEACH! Long skinny island!?! Bound to be a beach near by wherever you are! Beach life is part and parcel of Kiwi life. City life or rural!! When we discussed our around the world move it was initially Oz we were planning on! I had one pre requisite... I wanted to live in Home and Away not Neighbours. Well here we are not in Oz but in Home and Away New Zealand. Mayhap not as hot but beach life nonetheless! With the bonus of no snakes and less scary spiders!

BARE FEET! Not sure about the rest of the world but I know my U.K readers! If you were to see someone walking down the street with bear feet you would raise your eyebrows and think hippie or some such thing. Bring that attitude to N.Z and your gonna have tired eyebrows. These Kiwis are pretty laid back. Such a welcome change! Shoes are optional pretty much where ever you are.

Posted with Blogsy

Kapiti Island Today 14th November 2012

Kapiti Island today 6.25pm ...

The forecast this week was pretty poor. We have been spoilt lately with the lovely weather. Sunday was to be the beginning of hideous rain BUT Sunday was as far as it went.

However despite the lovely weather today is our first day at the beach!

Tonight I decided to dust down our baby carrier! A bit fairer than Lovely Hubby pushing both Cherubs along in the double buggy (its the wrong height for me I tell you). I took the boy on my back and he took the girl in the pram. Although we swapped half way! Maaaaaaan our boy is heavy!

Archie Boy was casual as ever given it was a potentially exciting new mode of transport for him! If not a bit confused by the fact that he wasn't in the buggy! Ha! He was blathering away and flapping his wings before long though.

I thought Maisie Boo would be tired but she enjoyed getting out and pushing the pram herself (bit safer when the pram is empty). It turned into a game on the way back. Soooo funny I was the baby/Maisie and Maisie was the mummy. 'Mummy' wanted me to get in the buggy so of course I obliged but surprise surprise my big ass was never getting in that baby shaped space. Boy did 'Mummy' laugh! So cute. I as 'the baby' had to hold on to the lead of the pram and hold 'Mummy's' hand while crossing the road. Such a cute age. I reckon it's probably a good learning point, the role reversal, a chance for Maisie to realise why I nag her so much sometimes. Even when we got home she got her self dressed for bed, put her dirty washing in the washing basket and tidied her shoes away WITHOUT BEING ASKED ... Soooooooo Cute :)

Like what you see vote for me!

Posted with Blogsy

Wordless Wednesday 14th November 2012

How Not To Do Orange Segment Rainbow Jelly

This is what was meant to have been served up at Darling Daughters Care Bear Rainbow 3rd Birthday party;

Looks pretty cool what could go wrong?

Oh yeah I could get involved! Ignoramous moi!



To see how to do it properly click here.

How to avoid being a dick (sorry for naughty word but best descrption) like me and making a hash of it!

• Expect waste. Leftover jelly, dudd orange shells, off cuts from the finished product.
• Give yourself plenty of time to let the jellies set. If I just did the original plan the jelly would have set better and I would have been able to do each colour one after the other and just chuck out the spare jelly. I do not like food waste so I decided (way too late) to do a big bowl of rainbow jelly to use up the spare jelly. This meant that I had to do one colour at a time allowing each one to set before doing the next one. I was setting an alarm to make the next colour so I would finish all the colours in time for the party. I actually had to get up in the middle of the night (see told you dick) to fit them all in.
• Use an electric device to hollow out the oranges like I did but don't go crazy and hollow out too much. I was trying to get all the orange out so I was left with a white shell to get best background for the coloured jelly to show up on (so anal, so very, very anal). I ended up with a hole in the first one. If I looked at the picture of the good ones closer I would have seen that they have some orange left in.
• Buy extra oranges so you can make a few mistakes.
• DON'T use the freezer to speed up setting of jelly. I googled it and found mixed reviews. I can tell you it doesn't work!
• Use a sharp knife when cutting the jelly filled orange, obvious I know but just saying!
• Make sure you have an appropriate dish to serve. I had to use two (of the dishes my friend lent me) dishes. I actually ditched one of the colours because it was such a mess. Just as well really as I didn't have the room!

I probably set my expectations a bit high! Especially as I had never even made jelly before let alone practiced the dish and was really underprepared! Regardless my guests were impressed. Hopefully genuinley impressed!

I originally got the idea from this awesome facebook page Mama's Style, check it out, some cool ideas.

Posted with Blogsy

Kapiti Island Today 12th November 2012

Kapiti Island today 6.35am ..

Starting the week as I mean to go on out and about at the crack of dawn! Hound walked and exercise done by 7am! Intention as ever was to run but with Mother Nature blowing a gale in my face on the run out forget it! We managed a rather pathetic 19 minutes and 2.2 km! Nonetheless the thought was there! However it didn't help the sole destruction when I weighed in and I had put yet more weight on *sigh*. Never been this heavy without being preggers! What IS the point in starvation and exercise if weight is still being gained????????

Posted with Blogsy

Meal Planning Monday 12th November 2012

This week I am on the early finishes at work so there isn't such a stress to be super organised but I've still tried to pick simple and hopefully a little healthy.

Dusting of a few old faithfuls this week. Two in fact, both of which are Lovely Hubby specials. He is an awesome cook but not the healthiest cook! Will need to up the exercise this week to balance it out!

Again I've not really planned what days we are having what but one way or another we will be eating ...

• spicy butternut squash (pumpkin in our case) soup from last weeks Meal Plan. We didn't get round to having this as the Chick Peaans Butternut Squash (pumpkin in our case) lasted two nights.
• fillet steak, baked potato and corn on the cob. Expiry date dependent if there is a nice night this week this could be a barbecue meal! The forecast is not promising though
• Old faithful no. 1; Home made KFC style wraps. Lovely Hubby invented this when he was living here on his own. Clever boy! Some frozen breaded chicken chopped in a wrap, garnished with tomatoes, cucumber, cheese, jalapeños, sour cream, salsa and/or anything else you fancy. Yummers. I made him make this so many times when I moved over that he got sick of it but I wreckon it's been a year!
• Garlic prawns with jasmine rice and brocolli. The other week when we had spicy prawns I had baked potato with it and lovely hubby had rice. Whatta mistaka to maka! He par boiled the brocolli then fried it off in sesame oil. He then popped the cooked rice in with the brocolli and added a spot or three of sweet chilli sauce. Jealous!!!! So this is what we will be having with our prawns.
• Lentil Dahl. Easy, simple and healthy.
• Old faithful no.2; mushroom risotto. Lovely Hubby invented this after the first series of Hells Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay. They made mushroom risotto on the show, I expressed an interest in the dish and Lovely hubby went to work and came up with my fave dish! One of the courses in my last supper menu! Risotto rice, porcini mushrooms, asparagus, bacon, rocket, Parmesan, butter, wine put together in only a way Lovely Hubby knows how!
• Cheese Toasties.

Linking up with At Home With Mrs M.

Posted with Blogsy

#Silent Sunday 11th November 2012

Posted with Blogsy