Super Nanny to the Rescue

Here are the photos from when I went to help my cousin Deanna when she broke her ankle....

The patient...

The boy - James Jack - (Jimmy Jack) with his granddad - my uncle - Paul

The makings of the gingerbread house I made with Dee at one of her mothers group activities...

The final product - front view

Back view - note the ergonomic windows to allow more light, wood pile, and of course the downpipe and water tank!

Kids these days....

This is a drink which is very popular in Australia at the moment. It is called a Jagerbomb and I can tell you from experience, too many is dangerous...

It consists of a shot of Jagermeister ( a German herb liqueur) and can of Red Bull (an energy drink).

The shot is dropped into the glass of Red Bull...

And then you drink all at once. Now it does not taste great, the shot is not that strong (35%) as far as shots can go, but too many of these and it is the Red Bull which affects you after a while. A group of us had about ten of these one night after working at the pub, and we kept goping until the next night, with only showers to interupt our time...

Wrapped up kebabs

There is a long story which involves Brad, Victoria Station Bus Terminal, late at night and a wrapped up kebab... which made this 'wrapped up' kebab - my first meal back in Australia - all the better

Farewell to the UK for now....

This was my final meal of Bangers and Mash, which I had at my farewell party, held at the Orange Tree Pub. I chose this pub cause they serve Bundy...

Jess, Darren and Sonny all rugged up for my party. We had to be outside because the kids were there

We were the three girls of the Funke household. Selina was the temp nanny before I started, Elaina was the cleaner, and of course me

Last family portrait.

Some of the Hole In the Wall crew who made the effort to say farewell. Some only stayed for an hour before having to dash off, but I was touched by the effort!

These are the guys from the York trip who came to say goodbye. It is amazing how close you can become to people in such a short time

The final farewell to the kids at the airport. I think Annemarie was too tired to realise what was really going on, but the older ones sure did. I can't wait to see them all again. from all reports they have been growing up and developing fast without me, but my influence is still to be seen every now and then...

My English Kinesiologist

This is Devin, the man who helped centre me during my last weeks in London, and gave me the tools to have the strength and courage to come home. I have forgotten some of this during the last few weeks, and I plan on revisiting them again.

I can't wait to see him when I get back. Will also have to look up Lisa my Australian Kinesiologist sooner rather than later.....

Brief Update

Just a little update for those who cant wait for the big one.

I am working at my Local pub on Saturday nights, having a great time bantering with the locals, and of course all the new hot guys and Barbie doll girls.

My friend Brad has become one of the HOT guys, and much to my amusement all the young girls are in love with him. He however, has discovered how great I am - something we have all known for ages - and so all the girls refused to talk to me for the first few weeks I was home as he was spending all his time with me. This did not bother me, and in fact I quite enjoyed the idea of them all being jealous of me, but now they have decided the best way to get his attention back is to become friends with me. This is interesting to say the least, as they are all 18-come-12 and they think I am great. Again another thing we all knew....

I am currently spending a few weeks with my cousin Deanna after she broke her ankle in her son's nursery. I am helping out with the baby and all other chores she usually does whilst her husband and parents are at work. It has been great getting to know each other as adults and reflecting on our respective times in the UK.

Will try to get some photos on soon, having a hard time trying to find the time to think at the moment, but hopefully all should calm down in the new year.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas and a very happy New Year, and I look forward to hearing all about everyone soon.

Latest Update

Well well well well well.

I am home, safe and sound.

Was waiting in line at Heathrow, and it was about half an hour after Nicola and the kids had left me when I saw this brown face walking by. I wondered if it was my friend Tiffany (who was also due to leave the UK the same time as me) and thought I would call out to her, and low and behold it was! So she managed to jump the cue and we did a little catching up, before talking our way into a shorter line.

When we made our way to the front of this line I was faced with a dilemma.

My flight was overbooked and they were looking for volunteers to go on the next day's flight. They were offering GBP400 cash and put you up for the night too!...

But after a little consideration of the height of my emotions at the time, I felt I did not want to hang around for another day, and it is only money right....? That also meant my request of an upgrade was wasted, but the guy did reassure me that if there was to be one at the last minute, I should not be surprised if they offered me one at the gate.

They did not.

I did however spent the whole time crying on the phone to Selina, which was rather weird seeing there was no emotion at all when I left Australia...

Anywho...

So I cried the time it took us to take off and the time it took us to land in Bangkok. With some half decent food, a few movies and a few hours sleep inbetween.

We were told we could leave the plane if we wanted, or stay on, as there would only be a stop of about an hour, and no time for shopping so I stayed on board. Took a walk around the plane (did you know they get fresh flowers in First class!!!!) and got to know some of the flight crew.

I was seated next to two men who had been in Bangkok for 10 days doing what single men do in Bangkok, and of course I cried again during take off. Then some more food, a few more movies and some more sleep later I discovered my seat was broken and kept tilting itself backwards.

So I mentioned it to one of the flight crew I had made friends with that my seat was broken, and he said he would have to find me another seat for landing as it would not be safe and I jokingly said it was ok with me if he moved me to First class....

Ten minutes later he came back and told me to get my stuff. I said I could just leave it there and come get it later, but he said seeing I was going to the front of the plane, I should take it with me!!!!

And sure enough, I was moved to First Class for the remainder of the flight, and was determined not to cry whilst landing in First Class!

Being at the front of the plane means you get to disembark first, are the first through duty free, the first thru customs and I was not stopped going thru immigration, and my luggage was right in front of my when I got to there!!!

Dad, Matt and Kayo were there to greet me, and then Dad took me back to Matt's place, where Sondrine was waiting for us, as was one of the best hot showers I have ever had!

Spent the day with Dad, had a dinner for Kate's birthday that night. Then back to Young on the Thursday.

Can hear the sun calling me, so will go and catch some of it, and write more about my time since I have been here soon.

Things such as finding I have become the new 'Hot Chick' in town, and all the people who did not even realise I was gone.....

PARTY

Ok, change of plan. My welcome home party which was scheduled for Sat 18th November has to be changed as it is the night of my Uncles 60th Birthday party. I apologise if this inconveniences anyone, but I am sure you understand that my stance is that family comes first.

Now this does not mean that there will not be a party, mearly a change of date.

I will now be having it on Sunday the 19th November. It will be a lunch start, with those family members who have to travel home being fed before they leave.... Others are free to stay as long as they like, with the festivities continuing into the night.

I thought having it on the sunday makes sense sot he family does not have to travel twice, and there are a lot of babies to consider now....

I gather the weather is nice enough to swim, so by all means bring your gear.

Please let us know on

0263823584

if you are coming so we can cater for the day.

Cheers everyone, looking forward to seeing some real sun!

My farewell party is tonight, so off to have my hair cut one last time, and work out what I am going to wear which will keep me warm enough....

Annemaries 4th Birthday Party

THis is all the kids in thier Halloween Fancy dress. Oh, and me of course...

The cake, made by Lynda and Nicola....

Annemarie has always asked me for pink and purple hair, and so I could not resist when I saw the hairspray at Cutter on the day of her party. Here she is bobbing for apples, she did get one, but I am unsure how much help she got from Nicola...

This is Emmy, the little sister of one of Annemaries friends. She also wanted an apple, but found a much easier way to get one whilst the adults were not looking...

The pinjata came from Tescos, and we filled it with chocolate and candy. The kids each had a turn, but they were unable to break it so...

I did it for them. Just as well there was plenty of leftovers, as the children in the neighbourhood later came trick or treating, and we had some goodies to give them...

This is one of the pumkins I carved, this one only took half an hour...

This one took about an hour, but I seem to remember when I carved this one last year, it took much longer. Perhaps no beer or smoke breaks made a difference...

This is a section of the Berlin Wall, which is erected in the kids School. I took this photo on the day of Halloween, and manaed to get a round of applause from the senior class who were in the room behind me....

Maybe because I was dressed like this....

Unemployed and Homeless

Well, it's official, I am unemployed and homeless. I have left the Funke family, and am staying with Charlene and Felix for my remaining days in London.

I have not been well over the last few days, and so I did not get all my stuff packed and ready to leave on time unfortunately, but Nicola was kind enough to let me leave the rest of the stuff till Friday, when I will go and finish whilst the kids are in school.

It was not an emotional thing to leave the family, the younger kids were in bed, I got hugs from the older two, and of course I will see them all at my farewell party, so not really goodbye yet. Think Lynda might be the one who cries the most anyway... She and I became good friends whilst I lived with them, and with Johannes working in Germany for most of this year, I have been the one she has come home to, the one she debriefs with each day, the one giving her advise on outfits (yes, me) and I hope she can find something like that with Nicola.

Had quite a few plans for these days before I fly out, but my health has won out, and I am going to take it easy for a few days before getting it all done.

For now though, I am going to do a little research about getting some money sent home, and how much I should leave here for later.....

Halloween Weekend Mayhem in York

These are some of the photos I took of the weekend, and a few sent to me by others. Will come back and write comments some time I am feeling well enough...

This is one of the sections of walls aroung York. We walked some of them, and with no railing, and being wet and slippery, made for an interesting, mildly frightening morning. When I was packing my bag, I had to choose between water proof shoes and slip proof shoes, unfortunately I went for waterproof....

This is a church, whish if my cloudy brain will allow me to remember, might have been destoyed at the time Henry VIII abolished the Catholic religion so he could divorce his wife. The locals then destroyed the church to use the stones whilst building the city.... Or something like that!

The Hole in The Wall in York, made me feel right at home, shame we did not have time to go in..

This is the costume I made for the Fancy Dress Feast and games in Castle Bolton

Us enjoying our feast

TEAM BOOB - second place winners in the games, but by far the best eam as they gave me credit as a team member even though my illness forced me to stop playing after only the first round!

Someone being creative with me, my costume and a few candles. Quite like the effect, pretty sure it was Selina's handywork.

All of us after the games

These are the girls I knew before the weekend, Kristy, Mel, Selina and myself.

Me, Anna and Selina at the waterfall where Robin Hood and Little John fight in the movie Robin Hood Prince of Thieves

Same movie, only this waterfall is where Kevin Costner was bathing naked when Maid Marion paid him a visit....

Ania and I decided not to go to the last waterfall as it was starting to rain, and I was not well and she kept me company in the lottle pub, warming ourselves in front of the fire whilst the others made the trek, with my camera...

This was about the scariest thing we saw on the Ghost Hunt we went on this evening. Photography by Michael, only man on the trip and only one who was smart enough to drink beer on the hunt, and therefore slightly enjoyed himself!

This is Michael and his fiance Anna, a really cool Kiwi couple (yes they do exist). Anna is an Architect and Michael does something to do with Law and the Film industry. Anyway, awesome couple, really wished I had met them earlier on my stay in England, but as things are, they will still be here when I return next year, so looking forward to keeping in contact with them to renew the friendship then. they are also coming to my farewell party, and looking forward to seeing them again.

Here is Selina trying to concentrate whilst the Archery instructor chats her up. Even with him trying to distract her, she still managed to get the highest score from the women who played!

By the end of the trip we had all had enough of the tour guide Duncan, and decided to get our own back...

And naturally we succeeded!

This cool machine was in a services stop on the highway. For only one pound, you can safely charge your mobile phone for 20 minutes! Was a godsend seeing most of us had not taken chargers with us!

Kew Gardens

I thought taking the kids to Kew Gardens for the day would be a great way for the new nanny Nicola to get to know the kids before Christina and Max flew to Germany for the week. I also wanted to check out the Harvest displays, and thought the kids would enjoy it too.

A replica of how cranberries are harvested. Over 5million cranberries were floated in the lake near Victoria Gate, plus there was a whole display about everything there is to know about cranberries.

The is the main entrance to the Palm House. Inside this massive greenhouse are planted various gardens depicting the different tropical regions of the world. Unfortunately the Frangipani trees were not flowering.

The worlds oldest pot plant.

20 foot pumpkin man, and the kids with Nicola.

This is the herbal remedy hut in the Queen's Garden. There are inscriptions on the walls, books to read, and the herbs planted in the garden all have notes about what they were used for in ancient times. There was also a blank book for you to write your own remedies, to be collated by the staff.

Annemarie, Carl and Christina rolling down the hill just before we left for the day.