Living with the Kiwis: Clock in the Merc

I realized on my way to yoga this morning that I'd completely forgotten to do a blog for yesterday! Oops! I'd planned on it, but then just ended up getting sidetracked online I guess and going to sleep! So I'm sorry if you were expecting it and were disappointed! Just a funny fact, while driving back from The Costume Shoppe yesterday morning I realized the Merc does have an analog clock on the dashboard! It all seemed so foreign, I never realized it was there! Since the stereo is newer, and there was no clock around it, I kind of just assumed it didn't have one, but surprise! There really is one there and it was set to the correct time as well! Good to know, I don't need to check my watch while driving! It is almost as old as me! 1989...so not the set up I'm used to seeing in a car! It still runs surprisingly well and even traveled all the way over here from England!

The rest of yesterday went pretty well, I managed to have a little afternoon nap after sorting out my halloween costume. I went with vampire because it was the cheapest...only had to purchase fangs and blood, and can dress in normal clothes, although I did get some shoes...but I don't consider that as part of the costume costs because they will be worn again and again! I went for a run in the afternoon, seeing as it was another beautiful day, and then yoga at 6. Today ran similarly starting with yoga in the morning, some wandering around Auckland while waiting for the ferry, discovering some new side streets and cafes and shops, and then a run later this afternoon. I managed to map myself out a route that's exactly 5k (according to google maps) so hopefully will get back into some sort of routine! At least I've done 2 days in a row now! Tonight the family had a take away dinner on Cheltenham beach/park because the weather was so nice. Seems like half of Devonport had the same idea! There were tons of families and kids running everywhere!

When we came home Libby called for me saying she had something for me, she'd checked the mail and was eager to see what was inside my package! A nice little Halloween candle from Grandma, she never misses a Holiday! (Thanks :) ) I also enjoyed how the candle was accompanied by a mummy card and articles about "The Kringle Candle Story" when the candle was made right in Bernardston, MA! Also recognized Mike and his dad, from when I met him in Amherst, cruising around in his bright orange Lamborghini! However, it did inspire many questions from Libby...why does it smell like that? Why did you get it? What is the wax? Why doesn't it come out of the there? I tried to explain to her how at home I'd use it to put inside of a carved pumpkin to make it glow and show the design in the dark. As they've never really done that here, it was an especially difficult concept for her to grasp. I'm not convinced she actually understood what I was describing to her. In fact, I think it seemed so surreal that she just gave up trying to understand. She was like, so is it food?? Because they sell lots of pumpkin in the grocery store, already cut open and in pieces, kind of like we do watermelon sometimes, so really that's her only experience with pumpkin and she LOVES it! I'll definitely have to make a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving...not that it will be celebrated, especially not with a turkey (Julia doesn't eat birds)! Can you please send that (your recipe) next Grandma??

I've hung my dolphin pendant in my window finally (just got some sticky hooks yesterday) and my photo montage that Susan sent me! I like that it's given my room a bit more life! I've also taken some photos of the new driveway all completed, although the surrounding landscaping/new grass isn't quite fnished/grown yet.