We took a little drive..........

We took a little 4 day drive all the way down to Queenstown and back. 

We drove home via Arthur's Pass so that Hadley could see the Kea, one of his favourite birds.

They are the world's only mountain parrot and they like to say hello when you visit the look out on your drive.  

Hadley said they look soft and fluffy! 

One week on............

What a busy first week!

Cleaning our rental property to a liveable state, shopping for the little things that you forget you will need and generally trying to feel "at home".

Hadley is crying out for company though.  He has his friends at home, his cousins, his sisters, and his best friend Jack, as well as his best feline friend Felix.  He said today, I need to meet some kids!  It is actually quite exciting as a mother of a child on the spectrum, to hear those words!  But don't worry we are sorted!  We have Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday covered for next week!

We have joined the library, the video shop and bought a car!

And we think our little home is starting to look just perfect!

School work may have been put to one side for one week, but Hadley has learnt to feed the chickens and fish.  He has written his Felix a postcard and has taken out 18 books from the library, all are non-fiction.  He has been reading about New Zealand birds, and Wetas, and Dolphins and Whales.

He has helped me design some new products I am working on for an upcoming craft market and he has done some fun New Zealand puzzles and word finds.  He has learnt about Hops and visited New Zealand's oldest pub and New Zealand's smallest pub.  He has picked fruit from the trees and we have started to plan our veggie garden.

All in all, not a bad week of schooling really!

6 Sleeps!

6 sleeps!  Yes only 6 sleeps!  

It seems the excitement has been replaced by anxiety and an over-whelming feeling of sadness.

I think sometimes the thought of something is much better than the reality.  

My reality is leaving behind my gorgeous girls.  I will miss their smiles, their laughter and their company.  I will also miss watching them spend time with their little brother.  I love to watch the love between my children.  They are incredibly close and their bond is beautiful. 

Hadley told me he is going to miss everyone, and that makes me feel sad.  I know he will miss playing with his three beautiful cousins and his two sisters.  He will of course, miss his beloved cat Felix.  Felix has been sleeping in our suitcases and when I close them he sleeps on top.  He has abandoned my soft bed for a hard suitcase.  

It is a strange feeling to be looking forward to a new adventure but at the same time feeling pangs of sadness.  

So It Begins

Yes we like to travel.  If you know us, or have us on your Facebook list, you know we like to travel.  We are addicted to travel.  We are not one of those, let's plan it kind of travellers.  We are those, let's plan, then change our plans, and then plan, and the when we get there, let's scrap all our plans, and start again, kind of people.

In our 10 years as a family, we have travelled to New Zealand 13 times, or it is 14?  Lost count really!

We have also travelled to Europe 3 times (all during winter as we are not only addicted to travel, but to snow as well).  Ok the only snow addict is probably me!  We have been to the US twice, New Caledonia, parts of Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and probably a few more places that I have forgotten to include.  We have travelled as a family of 6, we have even managed to travel as a couple minus all 4 children.  Some of our older children have also travelled independently during this time  - we have travelled a lot!  Our 8 year old is so well travelled, he travels like George Clooney in the movie, Up in the Air.

Now we are about to embark on our biggest adventure of all - we decided in a split second, to take over the lease of a house near Nelson in New Zealand for at least 6 months.  It may seem like a quick, even rash decision to many, but it has been a long time planning in my mind!  Ever since I looked down over Queenstown almost 9 years ago, I knew I wanted to live in New Zealand.  I was just waiting for a sign!  That sign came in the way of a post in a New Zealand home schooling page - someone wanting a family to take over their lease and if willing, to look after their animals.   I saw the post in the morning and we had made our final decision before night fall.

We home school, so that problem solved!  We have an online business, so can work from anywhere, and my 3 adult children are now independent.  Our son is on the Spectrum and surprisingly is so excited too, although we are only allowed to call it a long holiday, that keeps any anxiety at bay.

We will be the surrogate parents of 2 dogs, some chickens, a rooster and 3 gold fish for 6 months.  The house is a short drive from the beach and Rabbit Island.  There are views of snow capped mountains and plenty of space to run around.

We have less than 5 weeks to pack, to clean, to organise!  Follow us on our adventure, home schooling on the go, discovering new places and faces and new skills!

 Our favourite saying - the whole world is your classroom.