Arborists and washing machines

About two weeks ago my washing machine broke down quite catastrophically. It involved large crashes, bangs and the smell of melting rubber. There really was no coming back from that for my poor overworked washer.

So panicking somewhat at the thought of coping with the mountain of clothes my lot produce daily we went online and immediately ordered a new washer and separate dryer. Unfortunately we would have been better off going into a store as it took a good two and a half weeks for my, clearly in demand, machine to arrive.

Thankfully yesterday two lovely delivery men braved my noisy yappy dog and manoeuvred the new washer and dryer down our narrow staircases to the laundry room. I have never been so happy to see any white goods before! Lovely though the lady in our local laundromat is, I hate the idea of anybody but me washing my pants and socks. The weekly visit to wash the sacks of clothing we produce was getting me down as I was terrified that one of us would drop a bag and my undergarments would be displayed to the whole of the town!

The other drama that occurred this week was the discovery that one of the tallest trees in our garden had been toppled by the strong winds over last weekend. I only discovered it had fallen last Sunday when the dog started manically barking at something in the garden. I followed him out to see what was going on and found I could no longer go into the bottom of the garden as the way was now blocked by an enormous tree.

I don't really understand why we didn't hear it fall as it must have made quite a racket. It took a branch off a neighbouring tree as it went and is now resting on top of next doors pergola and our joining fence.

We have a lovely Arborist from Paekakariki coming on Tuesday to gradually take it down. He described how he is going to abseil down from the two tall trees still upright and slowly cut down the fallen tree from the top so that it doesn't do any further damage to next doors garden structures.

It should be really interesting to watch so I'm going to pop home from work and see if I can take some pictures of him in action.

Almost there!

It has been a couple of weeks of feeling like we are constantly "almost there". Life is once again full on and the weeks have wizzed past in a blur of school runs, busy days at work and bouts of annoying illness. 

We are now, thankfully only a few days away from a much needed end of term holiday. Spring is beginning to arrive and we have seen glimpses of the summer sun and spent the odd sunny few hours in just t-shirts and sunglasses. We have all had the flu and it is still stubbenly refusing to leave us completely meaning that he girls are still slightly snuffly and pale looking when I pick them up from school.

However we have had one very good piece of news this term. We have finally had an offer on our house in the UK. Like many expats when we moved to NZ over four years ago we rented out our UK house. And like many people who bought when we did, our rent failed to cover our mortgage. So over the past few years we have had to send money back to the UK to cover the shortfall on our mortgage. As well as paying rent over here!

So six months ago when be brought our house in NZ, we very bravely decided to kick out our UK tennants and put the house on the market. We have then had months of worry whilst paying two mortgages. Well finally we have had an offer and accepted it! Yippee! Lets hope it all goes smoothly from now on.

I have spoken to many expats who have been in similar positions to us. I do not know what the best solution is. Some have been renting out their property for years and an unlucky few have had theirs on the market for years. With the recent change in mortgage rules over here it is very handy to be able to sell your UK property and come over with a decent deposit otherwise you will have trouble (as some of our friends have) even getting on the property ladder here at all.

I am just grateful that we secured our home when we did. It is so great to be in a house we own and can alter to our own somewhat individual taste. Hence the latest addition to our household. This is Bob the elephant.