Happy New Year!!

Well 2010 is almost over and I had only just gotten used to saying twenty 10 instead of 2000 and 10. Apparently 2010 uses less syllable's and sounds cooler so I've been practising all year but now a dilemma...is 2011 twenty 11 or 2000 and 11, which sounds better. I'm sure it will be up for discussion somewhere. Just hope someone tells me.

Today has been spent mainly outside in the pool or shade trying to keep cool in the 30 something heat. We are off to a family bbq tonight minus one husband who has absonded to the beach with a mate for a few days. He would rather be 50 odd ks away than attend a Morris family BBQ LOL! No not really....well maybe really but he also never misses a chance to get to the beach. It was a dilemma for him though he had three groups of mates arrive with different invites so he had to choose.

Western with his cousins, Madison, Tama and Grace.

I've been spending the last few evenings gardening after tea, I have put compost in all my gardens under the eaves of the house where it is bone dry and replanted drought tolerant plants to fill in the gaps between the roses. I  planted lavenders, and lavateras along with more federation daisies. I've also pruned all my roses so hopefully I can get a second flowering this season and planted  three more shrubs in the native garden. Neil got in on the act and mowed the lawns and weed sprayed the property. So I'm feeling quite happy and grounded with all my gardens looking tidy and looked after for a change.I shouldn't be so hard on myself, I do manage the gardens quite well considering all the roses I planted!

Meet one of the garden friends, he's part of the second batch of caterpillars we have fed, the first lot were last seen crawling along the fence to escape a four year old!

So what does the first day of the New Year hold for me...doing battle with my sons to take the Christmas tree down, hanging up the new calendars, getting my new diary up to speed with birthdays and meeting dates, and hopefully that leaves some time to finally get the scrap booking stuff out for the Christmas layouts.
My kitchen table has been covered in Lego these last few days, I've finally completed this castle that Western inherited from his cousin Aidan.....

This took several days to sort the pieces and then complete.

I love the little bits like this glow in the dark ghostie.

On a sad note my Aunty Judy and her husband in Kaiapoi have just been notified that their house needs to be bulldozed because of damage from the Sept earthquakes. They are devastated as you would be and my thoughts are with them as they start the new year with the enormous challenge ahead of them. I hope those damn earthquakes stop for them soon, my other Aunty is under so much strain with the fear of living with the aftershocks she keeps a packed bag beside her bed at all times.

Happy New Year everybody and lets hope the next year is better than the last!