LIVE! On location at Roxy Inn

I am currently house/cat sitting at Roxy Inn while Claire and Scott are on their belated honeymoon to Port Douglas, Australia. I am hoping it is slightly warmer for them there than it has been here. I'm enjoying spending quality time with the cats and having them share the bed with me. They are such good company.

Mum was down in Christchurch for a week at the beginning of the month during school holidays, before jetting off to Queenstown for a few days so see her grandies. It was so nice having her here. We had turns at having dinner at each of our houses so it was a bit like 'Come Dine With Me' but without the scoring at the end. Averil, of course, was on school holidays as well so was able to keep Mum entertained during the days which was nice.
On the Saturday we went out to the Raspberry Cafe in Tai Tapu with Scott's Mum, Dad, and Nana for lunch. It was great. Good company, good food, good setting.
As usual it was over all too quickly. But it sounds like Mum had a great time in Queenstown.





I've had quite a few cancellations this month with Intimo parties which has been a shame. There is a nasty flu going around down here and apparently 60% of Christchurch had it a few weeks ago. The hospitals are over flowing and having to send people to other medical institutions to be looked after. I guess it's to be expected around this time of year but the bugs seem to get stronger each year.
I have been asked to partake in a fundraiser tomorrow evening for Springfield School (not the same one as Bart & Lisa go to) so hopefully that might make up for the lost parties. Fingers crossed we get lots of bookings for August and maybe even some sales too.

Saturday is Averil and Eru's moving day. How very exciting!! They are hiring a truck this time to hopefully move all the big stuff in one trip. It should be all done in a few hours. Apologies for getting the suburb wrong in the last update. They are moving to Wainoni. Translation from Maori is 'wet bum'. Ha ha. Best original joke wins a year's free subscription to The Roxy Review!

Cousin Alex has been a bit of a super star of late. He left NZ last Sunday to go and try his luck at trialing for soccer in Poland. Just from his status updates on Facebook it sounds like it has been hard work and, I imagine, a LOT of sign language. Going over to warmer weather would have been a nice break though I am sure. He has travelled with his friend, Jesse, and they had to move from the first place they were assigned due to drug dealers. Sounds like they have a much nicer place now.

I had a little op done on my leg on Wednesday. I had been burnt by a hot water bottle when I was living in Edinburgh and the scar had healed into a wart-like bump on the front middle of my ankle. I HATED it and it would turn purple when the weather was cold. So I had it removed. Now I have a big long scar to replace it! It's early days so I am hoping it will heal nicely. A bit sore though. Luckily I had the cats to look after me post surgery.
The doctor who did the procedure is a plastic surgeon and specialises in breast augmentation. Renee, being a super nurse, had said that he was a real perfectionist and is VERY particular with his work. So that made me feel better - as long as I didn't end up with a breast on my leg!

So, you may or may not remember 2 years ago I was doing Weight Watchers and did ok losing 12 kilos. Then I went for a jaunt overseas and discovered gelato in Italy (Mmmmmm), then I came home and there were earthquakes. My way of dealing with said earthquakes was to sit in bed and eat chocolate for 8 months. SO, understandably the Weight Watchers went out the window and the WEIGHT piled on. Booooo!
It's time to start again and do something about it. Getting up off the couch was the hardest thing but I did it and have been on Optifast for 2 weeks with a total weight loss of 6kilos. Happy dance. Optifast is monitored through my doctors surgery and I go in once a week for weighing, ketone testing (to see how well my fat is burning up), and a blood pressure check. I have two Optifast shakes a day - one for breakfast and one for lunch, and two cups of non-starchy veges for dinner with 1T of olive oil. AND at least two litres of water. It is hard going but I am motivated by the results on the scales.
I have two dresses to choose from for Kathryn's wedding of which neither fits just now. The wedding is in November so gives me plenty of time. I WILL wear one of them!

The great thing about blogspot is that you can see what countries your audience is from. Yesterday I had 17 views from Latvia. Where? I had to look it up. This is what I found:
Latvia i/ˈlætviə/ (Latvian: Latvija), officially the Republic of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas Republika), is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia (border length 343 km), to the south by Lithuania (588 km), to the east by the Russian Federation (276 km), to the southeast by Belarus (141 km),[8] and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden. With 2,070,371 inhabitants[5] and a territory of 64,589 km2 (24,938 sq mi)[9] it is one of the least populous and least densely populated countries of the European Union. The capital of Latvia is Riga. The official language is Latvian and the currency is called Lats (Ls).
So there you go - The Roxy Review goes to Latvia!

Congratulations!!!

Big congratulations go out to Mr and Mrs Metcalfe who purchased a home yesterday by auction.

Congrats Averil and Eru. It's a three bedroom home with studio in Mairehau (pronounced My-de-ho although a lot of Christchurch folk pronounce it Marry-how). I can't wait to come and have a gander and I look forward to the housewarming!!

The Power Of 'Erbs

So, there's an old wives tale that says if you give someone a parsley plant, pregnancy is not far off. Our massage therapist, Jenny (who has just this year left us to move up to Auckland (boo hiss)) and her husband, Kuni, were trying for a baby and didn't seem to be having much luck. So remembering this tale I bought a little parsley plant for her and gave it to her on my last massage with her.

I got a text a few weeks ago to say that the parsley plant had worked and they are expecting a little baby later on in the year. Hooray!! It will be a gorgeous little baby too, Jenny is a kiwi and Kuni, is Japanese. Kawaii!! (that's 'cute' in Japanese for those who aren't as multi lingual as I am).

Which brings me to my next story. A few months ago Paula and Kazio (Aunty and Uncle) came for a visit. Kazio brought me TWO parsley plants. Suspiciously I asked him if he knew the wives tale and he and Paula both said yes. Ha ha - funny little people. Anyway, both plants have not survived so well and are pretty much dead. Says it all really, doesn't it.

1 + 1 = 3

The biggest news of the month by far is that Claire and Scott are expecting a baby in November. Exciting times for us all. Claire is just starting to get a little bump now (which doesn't even compare to my bump and I haven't even got a baby in there!!)
Averil is hoping for the arrival to be on 27th November - her birthday. And will allow Claire and Scott to call the baby Avery if it's a boy or Averil if it's a girl. Oh, the kindness of sisters.
They are not going to find out the sex so it will be a surprise. I like that stuff. I have a feeling it's of the blue variety BUT I also thought that when Catkin was pregnant with Annabelle. Even when Gavin said she was a girl I wasn't convinced and wanted to ask him to check again!

In other news, Averil and Eru are still madly house hunting in the weekends. Going to open homes left, right, and centre! It's nearly a full time job by the sounds of it! I'm sure the perfect home for them is just waiting for them to find it and then move on in.


I've had a few Intimo parties this month and am still really enjoying it. My new recruit, Jane, is so close to completing her Quick Step ($5000 in sales in 50 days) to recieve her free sample kit. Her last day for qualifying is Thursday 28th June and she has a party out at Woodend. The hostess has said she is expecting 30 ladies to attend so I offered my services to go and help Jane otherwise she will be there forever!! Even if all 30 ladies don't turn up (which happens more often than not) I can answer questions in the lounge while Jane is doing fittings. I REALLY want her to reach her Quick Step goal as much for her as for myself.

I was house sitting out at the mansion in Templeton for 10 days until last Sunday. The first weekend I was there Scottish Jenni from Ngaruawahia came down for the weekend and for the bi-annual Rent-A-Crowd Templeton Pub Crawl. World famous in Templeton! This time we only made it to ONE pub. Ha - not so much of a 'crawl' as a 'sit in'. It was fun with lots of laughs. Everyone stayed the night and Eru cooked breakfast the next morning (bless him). I was on bacon duty though which was easy peasy.

I moved back home on Sunday and before I left I was writing a wee note to Grant and Nicki (the home owners) to welcome them back when there was a knock on the door. It was Barry the neighbour with a young German Sheppard. Barry had been working down the back of his section cutting down trees and had noticed a commotion with the chickens. This stray dog had been having a whale of a time chasing the chooks. He managed to kill 3 and injure 2. It was a nightmare!! There were feathers everywhere. I managed to find the two surviving chooks and made a little hay bed in an old laundry basket for them. The rooster, Johnno, had lost most of his tail feathers and was skulking away down the paddock - afraid to come back.
I had locked the dog in the shed as Grant and Nicki were due home soon and I thought they might like to ring the owners themselves (the dog was registered with phone numbers on it's tag). Not so nice to have to break the news to them after they had just arrived home from a relaxing holiday in Hawaii!!
Nicki sent me a text later that night to say that one of the damaged chickens had survived and will be fine, the other one didn't. Didn't want to know if it was put out of it's misery. The dog's owner lived 1km away. Luckily this time the dog has had a warning and won't be destroyed although I don't like the thought of having to put the dog down, I also don't like the idea of it getting out again and doing the same thing - possibly to a child next time.

I had a weekend up in Warkworth last month. After spending two nights with Kathryn (thanks Aunty Kitty!!) and going to the Intimo Showcase, I caught the bus up to Warkworth on the Friday morning. I spent the day with Kristine and William and LOVED it. William is 9 months old now and is just gorgeous! So placid and content. And cuddly.


I had talked Mum into having an Intimo party and it was a huge success. Nice to catch up with some of the ladies from Mum's last party too. And to see lovely A Mary! Kathryn came up on the Saturday and stayed the night up there too which was nice. As usual it was over all too quickly and I was heading back to Chch too soon.

We had snow!! Early June which is very early for snow. Nice, but very cold. The factory was closed on the Wednesday at 11am and we had a late start on the Thursday at 9.30am. Even starting late was scary driving to work - skidding and sliding around. Did not like that at all, at all.

We had a girls weekend in Hanmer Springs a the beginning of June. Claire, Averil, Renee, Me, and 4 other of Renee's friends. One of the girls, Lou, is with a guy whose family own a holiday home up there. Just perfect for the 8 of us. It was just after the snow so we had to park down on the road and walk up the driveway as it was too icy to try and drive up. Once inside we cranked up the fire and stayed in all night drinking wine, eating nibbles and generally talking rubbish. It was fantastic! I felt really relaxed the next day.

Well I started writing this over a week ago! Must finish here and add some photos tonight so I can publish it. Hope you are all well!

Find A Twenty, Pick It Up.........

Because it took me SO long to get time to write the last update (rubarb & cabbages – I can hear the mumbling) I have to update again with all the other NON-wedding related happenings of late.Get comfy and make yourself a nice cup of tea. Here goes…..

Mr & Mrs Metcalfe have started house hunting. Their lease at Rochester St runs until October so they have plenty of time to find the perfect place for them. They have a small checklist of important things they would like in their new house (bath, fireplace, granny flat or studio a plus!) so have been open-homing lots lately. Houses seem to be selling quickly at the moment in Christchurch - which surprised me after the last few years we’ve had – which unfortunately seems to be driving the prices up a little. Not so great for the buyer.
A few weeks ago we all (Averil, Eru, Claire, Scott, and me) went to an open home along Seddon St at number 7 – just two doors down from me. Now, that would have been perfect! It didn’t quite have everything they wanted though.

My very first new recruit with Intimo launched her business on May 9th. I felt like a nervous mother waiting up for the text to let me know how it all went. Jane has been doing well and is enjoying her new venture. It’s been a learning curve for us both.Sponsoring someone else has given much more confidence in my own business – maybe I DO know what I’m talking about? And it has made me revisit the basics again which has helped me remember why I started doing this in the first place. It’s so nice to see others succeed when you knew they could do it.

One of my 50 Things To Do Before I Reach 50 was to sponsor a child. I decided when recruiting became a reality that for every recruit I sponsor I am also going to sponsor a child. Last week I jumped online and am now the proud sponsor of Elizabeth Nyamanzunzo from Luangwa Area – Chikonwelelo in Zambia. Elizabeth is 11 years old and, due to lack of skills, her parents are peasant farmers and only make around $300 per year which isn’t enough to support their family. Thanks to Jane and Intimo, Elizabeth will have a brighter future. It feels really rewarding to be able to help someone in need.

Last week I took Monday off work to support Averil at the Motor Vehicle Tribunal Hearing she had with Nigel Thompson from Nigel Thompson Motors Ltd. For those who don’t know, a quick rundown may be required. Basically, Averil and Eru bought a car last year from Nigel Thompson Motors Ltd. As well as being a car salesman, Nigel Thompson is a little Portuguese knife (refer back to ‘Lessons Learnt In Portugal’ blog entry July 2010 if you are not sure what this means). The car, a Peugeot, never really worked properly since the day they bought it and they went back and forth trying to get it fixed and having a less than welcoming response from NigeThe Knife. Long story short, he was a rude knife so, after Averil had been MORE than patient she decided to try the Motor Vehicle Tribunal to get some sort of resolution. Unfortunately, after submitting both arguments, the case has been dismissed BUT the fact that Nigel Thompson had to go to the Motor Vehicle Tribunal is a little win in itself. So now, the car needs to be fixed and sold on. After the hearing Averil got a very nice email (a complete turn around!) from Nigel offering an olive branch and help to sell the car if that is what Averil wants. So something good may have come out of it after all. I’m just glad it’s over now as it was a very stressful time for both Averil and Eru.

I finally got rid of Young Male Flatmate too. Thank GOODNESS. After I came back from Claire & Scott’s wedding YMF was up in Auckland training for his new job. Originally he had been going up there for a month of training and had decided to move out before going, but then it turned out that the training was only for one week so, being the nice person that I am, told him to worry about moving when he got back from Auckland to save any stress he might endure. Ha – won’t be doing THAT again. When he got back from Auckland he resumed position on the couch and made no attempt to start looking for somewhere else to live – thinking he had right up until May 21st before he had to move out. He was rude to my visitors, had attitude when I asked him to do anything (twice I asked him to clear up HIS 3 day old mess) and I was generally not liking living with him. I was spending a LOT of time around at Roxy Inn or Rochester Street just to keep away. Averil and Claire talked me into having a talk with him so, after being coached by them all morning one Saturday, I went home to confront the beast…. Except he wasn’t home. Shock horror! He had actually got OFF the couch….. but he’d left the tv on which was another annoying habit of his.When he came back I asked him if he had started looking for somewhere else to live. He said he hadn’t. I said it was probably best if he found someone asap. He said ok. Easy. The next day he told me he had found a place and was moving the next weekend!! I held off on my happy dance, knowing that these things can sometimes be performed prematurely. When he brought up the subject of paying the difference in rent I said that if he was out on the Saturday he wouldn’t owe me any extra. Well, he moved out at 11pm on the Saturday night!! Really? Who does that??
I am loving going home now to my own little place. All mess is MY mess and I am in full control of the remote…. Unless Claire and Scott come over, then Scott gets the remote while Claire and I chatter. Fair exchange.

Oh yeah, I had a birthday too. I turned 38. If I whisper it it doesn’t seem so old! Averil organised a surprise day of fun for me – bless her! We started with pedicures with 4 other friends meeting us at the mall. Then we went out to Waipara to The Mudhouse Winery for lunch. The sun was out so we were able to sit outside and eat our lunch. Then back to mine, where two other friends were waiting, for a yummy carrot birthday cake. Mmmmmmm…. That night was Eion McInnes’ 60th so we went along to that and had a really good time.

Averil and I went on another whirlwind adventure to Queenstown on Saturday for the night after getting cheap flights earlier in the year. Such fun! We were there for less than 24 hours so had to make every minute count. Gavin and the girls picked us up from the airport, and within minutes were both chattering away like we were old friends. Um… well, we are! Annabelle brought out her china tea set when we got back to the house and we had a tea party. Catkin had made us real cups of tea while Annabelle made us pretend cups of tea adding imaginary salt, pepper, sugar and milk. Hmmmmm interesting.Hazel is as gorgeous as ever and follows Annabelle around trying to copy everything she does. Bless. Although she doesn’t seem to have any fear and twice jumped off the couch, missing the beanbag she had been aiming for, landing on the floor, crying, then getting back up and doing it again. Oh to be that resilient.
Catkin (always the BEST hostess) made a brilliant dinner and dessert and made us feel so welcome, as always. If Sister-In-Laws were flowers, I’d pick her.

We went for a big walk to St Joseph’s School yesterday morning to the Book Fair. On the loooooong walk there I found $20 on the road. Thank YOU! Then back home for a quick cuppa before heading back to the airport and home again.

Yee Haw!!

Hi. It’s me. Danielle. Remember?

So sorry to all you readers (all two of you) for the delay in updating. Blogspot has gone and ‘updated’ – which is taking me twice as long to find my way around! I’m not a fan of change.
I’ll see at the end if I can work out how to upload photos…. hmmmmmm I could be some time.

Anyway, let’s go back to after the last update. Claire and I were about to head North for the wedding. Scott left Christchurch on Wednesday 11th April early early to drive up with his nephew, and groomsman, Trent. On the way through Blenheim they stopped and picked up MORE wine from Lance at his work. Result!

Scott and Trent made it up to Warkworth on Thursday afternoon which was pretty good going having stopped for the night on the way.

Claire and I flew up to Auckland, also on the 11th. Gavin came down and picked us up from the airport so it was nice to catch up with him on the journey back to Mum and Dad’s. The Southern Barts had been in Warkworth since Good Friday as there was a Mahurangi College reunion on Easter weekend. I couldn’t go up both weekends so Claire and Scott’s wedding won by a whisker. Quite a large whisker.

It was lovely being in Warkworth. The two mini Barts were just delicious. Hazel running all around and Annabelle talking up a storm. Loved it! They had an endless supply of Aunties to read and play with them. It didn’t take too long for us to cotton on to Annabelle – if one Aunty didn’t give her the answer she wanted she would go to the next one. Ha ha. Smart cookie!

The day of Claire and Scott's wedding was amazing - beautiful sunshine and blue skies. Amelia, Claire and I went to the hairdressers at 9am for our hair and make up. Averil came down at 11.30am with snacks and drinks for us to keep fueled up. Then back to Hill Street to get our glad rags on.
Our bridesmaid dresses had only just arrived on Friday morning after a LOT of phone calls to the courier company. The dresses were not the correct colour (they were supposed to be grey but were more an eggshell blue) and they were without sashes. Luckily the guys outfits were matched to the dark purple lizzianthus in the bouquet and NOT the grey dressses.

Claire looked gorgeous! Her dress fit her like a glove and she looked relaxed, happy, and radiant. She was so excited all morning - just as a bride should be on the day of her wedding.
Arriving at the church as quite nerve wracking – even for an experienced bridesmaid like me! The wee flowergirls, Annabelle and Lucy, were waiting out the front with their parents ready to get the show on the road!

Monsignor Tonks walked down the aisle first, then, when he had made it to the front, Annabelle and I held hands and walked down together, followed by Amelia and Lucy, and then Claire and Dad.
Scott looked as pleased as punch!
Annabelle was so good and stayed standing up the front with me throughout the whole service.

After the service we had some photos taken around the garden of the hall, then off down to the bridge, band rotunda, and in front of the old Puhoi pub. The photographer did an amazing job and made it all very relaxed. He got some great candid shots of guests too.

The evening was lots of fun. Starting with speeches which were heartfelt, short and sweet. Dinner was supplied by the Spit Roast Company and was delicious. Annabelle sat up next to me for the entire meal – she had a starter of peanut butter sandwiches to keep her going until the main was served. She was such a good girl.

After dinner, and the cutting of the AMAZING cake (made with love by Amelia), the dancing began. It all started very restrained but after a wee while (and a few more wines) the barn dancing, knee smacking, hoe dancing began. Such fun!!

Claire and Scott got picked up at midnight by a limousine courtesy of Mum and Dad. And the rest of the riff raff got picked up by the shuttle bus and driven back to Warkworth. It was a long but super fun day and night.

The next day, after cleaning up the hall, we had a bbq at Mum and Dad’s which was nice to reminisce over the previous nights antics. I think most people had an earlyish night as a lot of people were returning home the following day.

Claire and Scott left Warkworth on Wednesday for the drive South, taking their time and enjoying married life, returning to Christchurch on the Saturday.

The Power Of Three

April is shaping up to be a good month! This week alone has been the best week ever.
First of all YMF has decided to move out. Yippeee!
A wise woman once told me how to deal with males. You plant the seed and let THEM come to the conclusion you want with them thinking THEY have made the decision all by themselves. So YMF has a new job starting on 16th April and is being sent up to Auckland for a month of training. When he first moved in and asked why it was only a 3 month rental I told a little bitty white lie and said I had friends coming in May. (Yes, I know lying is NEVER good but it will give me something to tell at my next confession!) So I brought up the moving out date and HE decided to move out before he goes up North to save from paying rent while he's not here. Exactly the result I was aiming for! The countdown is on. Less than two weeks to go.

Secondly I had an Autumn Release Intimo party with another of the consultants on Sunday. We had about 10 ladies come along - most of them familiar with Intimo - and had a really great afternoon. I even got my first recruit who is launching her business in May. Yay!! I am SO excited. Jane has been a great customer and hostess of mine since I launched last year and realised that, being in love with the Intimo range, becoming a consultant was the next obvious step.

Thirdly, I got an email from one of my besties, Rachael Svenson, last week to say that she is planning a trip down to Christchurch in August/September of this year. Her and her husband Dean decided that once a year they are each going to have a weekend - Dean to Masterton (where he's from) for a boys weekend, and Rachael to Christchurch for a girls weekend. We are going to try and talk Krissy in to coming down too. Fun times! Always big belly laughs when we all get together.

There's only 9 sleeps until Claire and Scott's wedding now. Exciting! Claire and I fly up to Warkworth on Wednesday afternoon. I am SO looking forward to going. It's going to be a busy time but I have no doubt it will be fantastic.

And the cherry on the top: I checked my lotto ticket from last week at the mall on Thursday night and got a shock to see that I had won $101 dollars! Cha-ching!