House full of boxes

My stuff arrived on Wednesday! Who knew that a truck load of cardboard boxes could be so exciting. So far I have located sheets, towels, tea towels, bread & butter plates, bowls, half my doonas, two pillows, a small fraction of my coffee mugs and wine glasses, all my cake tins and all my shoes. No pegs, dinner plates, table cloths, cutlery or clock radio. Yet. The extra good news is that MAF (Ministry of Ag & Fisheries) does not want to fumigate or insinerate any of the things tthey inspected and they all arrive tomorrow.


Yesterday it rained most of the day so I got a fair amount done but today is fabulous and I am sitting on the balcony with my back to all the mess inside. This is the view. Well I'd better go and hang the washing out then get stuck into more unpacking. I might put my dining table back together so I have another flat surface to stack things on while I decide where they go.

Yesterday was a big day

The girls arrived and I discovered I am now the proud owner of two international standard pet carriers. Yes, those beautiful blue and safety orange creations are all mine - now sporting extremely well stuck on evidence of their travels including one hilarious sticker that has them identified at dogs. This was the only option as the other picutres were fish, birds or turtles. Makes you wonder how they would transport fish in a cage with very large breathing holes.

They spent the first hour doing circles of the house sniffing out all the corners and ended up in my wardrobe, I suspect because it's dark and quiet.

They don't seem to be showing any ill effects. In fact it has been business as usual today, I was woken at some shocking time with a demand for breakfast and we have spent most of the day lying around in the sun. As you can see Jess is enjoying herself, McDuff is jammed in a corner which I guess feels safer as there is nothing to hide under.

The other thing that happened was I got the internet connected at home so I'm now good to go with the blogging and not having to worry about doing it on work time.

Some special kiwi things

As promised here are some special kiwi things


Feijoa Smoothie bought in Christchurch airport


Think about what goes down the drain


Baby chocolate fish (a small school)


Lemon & Paeroa! World famous in NZ since ages ago

Those of you who know me really well will not the lack of Hokey Pokey ice cream and Shrewsbury biscuites. I'm trying not to overdose on all my favourite things, saving some for later now that I can have them ANY TIME I LIKE!

I survived Week 1

Really, I did a lot of stuff. I have...

Rented a house
Connected gas, electricity, phone & internet although phone & internet aren't working yet
Got myself a NZ mobile phone number
Heard my container arrives next Monday (yeah!)
Done my Council familiarisation tour
Had at least 2 meeting every day
Been to my first christmas function
Given mum & dad a v quick tour of the town

Not bad as first weeks go

I have been collecting photos of distinctly kiwi objects and as soon as I'm connected at home I'll be posting those as well as some of the house and most importantly the view - I can see the sea!

Surviving Day 1

I'm back at my desk (briefly) at the start of Day 2 so, yes I survivied Day 1. It went really well. I have a whole week of meetings scheduled with people from all over the organisation so hopefully I'll start to get a feel for how it all fits together.

Oh and I have rented a house! Lovely 2 bedroom place with views out over the sea from living, dining and main bedroom plus a fantastic big verandah at the back. It's walking distance to work as well which is great, means I don't have to worry about not getting any exercise.

Moving day (the girls)

Little do they know it by they are about to meet two Beagles from Kew.

The girls are now safely with Jetpets enjoying a few days in a kitty hotel while I slave away cleaning the house and trying to squash everything into one suitcase before I leave on Sunday.

Hopefully Vinnies will have come today to take away the old sofas and tomorrow my futon mattress goes next door to be transformed into sofa cushions. Isn't recycling a wonderful thing!

Fighting global warming

As of 10am this morning I no longer own a car. I have one on loan for a couple of days but after that I will be doing my bit to reduce my carbon footprint. Walking to work for a few weeks in NZ should more than make up for the fuel burned to get me there. Or is that just wishful thinking?

It's quite odd actually, I keep looking out the window and having a small panic because I can't see it then realise it hasn't been nicked, just gone to a new home.