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Way back in January I made an impulse decision to take advantage
of Singapore Airlines' New Years Sale and booked myself a return flight to Christchurch. I hadn't been planning on returning
home during my two years here, but I decided the deal was good and there was only money to lose! I kept it secret from
everyone for a while then began telling friends - but not my parents! To add to the fun, my sister and I began secretly
planning for my surprise visit home. It was all a lot of fun.
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| Perhaps the last time I'll be in our house? |
I
left on Saturday 3 April, managed to doze a little but basically missed out on Saturday night and then had a full day in Singapore on Sunday. I left the airport and made my way into the town
where I took the tourist bus around the town, got off to wander about, did some shopping in the malls and got ripped off in
Chinatown! I wasn't stressed or rushed at any time
so it was quite pleasant.
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| Andrew and Kimberley |
I
arrived in Dunedin at about 3:30pm on Monday. Kimberley's flatmate Cory picked me up at the airport (no big welcomes when you sneak in, of course!)
and after a short nap at Russell St, it was time for the big surprise. Kimberley had had to tell a few fibs to engineer my arrival. She and her boyfriend Andrew often go home for tea on a Sunday
night but she lied and said she couldn't make it but would come on Monday. She had borrowed the video camera on false
pretences too, so that Andrew was able to film the expression on Mum's face when I walked in the door.
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| My beautiful sister |
The
surprise went marvellously! Unfortunately Dad was in the kitchen and Mum was in the lounge, so in order that Mum didn't
miss out (it was her birthday!) I just walked on past Dad, said hi and gave a wave, then went on into the lounge.
I wish I could have seen Dad's face as it ticked over in his mind. He said he thought Kimberley had brought a friend and, "gosh, she looks like Rochelle"!
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| Me, m' Da, m'a Ma 'n' m' sis |
In
the meantime Mum was sitting down, mouth wide open, staring at me. It seemed liked ages before she exclaimed, "What
are YOU doing here?!" and finally jumped up to give me a big hug. All my witty replies went out the window 'cos I was
laughing and crying so much! On watching the video later it was hard not to notice
that all Mum seemed to be able to say was "Oh my goodness!" and, "When did you get here?"
Both Mum and Dad assured me that it was a great surprise and they didnt mind missing out on the anticipation of my
arrival.
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| The view of the Pacific Ocean from my bedroom window |
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| Sisters |
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| The backyard at home (which, along with the house, has just been sold!) |
I
spent Tuesday and Wednesday getting a haircut, catching up with Justine, the grannies and my cousins and doing some serious
shopping. Things weren't quite as cheap as I had been imagining, but spending
pounds in NZ is always going to be good, so I went a bit wild. I also had a lot
of "kiwi tucker" to get through, so I worked hard at that.
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| Taken from the patio at the back of the house |
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| Me, my Mum and her mum, Noni |
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