Dumplings!

When I moved to NZ people kept asking me did I miss Melbourne.  Apart from people what I missed most was dumplings.  Now, thanks to the information sharing network at work I have found them, very close and very quick so easily do-able during a lunch break.  So last Thursday I went to try them out.  They don't look like much but they taste fabulous and have fixed my craving for a little while.

A Little Something

I haven't done much exploring around the neighbourhood but yesterday I found a wonderful shop that does cupcakes.  Red velvet with sparkle on the icing and a beautiful sugar rose.  Yum.

I'm also loving the Metlink (public transport) Christmas advertising; BUSter and the TRAINdeer spreading the word about holiday schedules.

Settling In

We are settling in.  After a couple of nights on the tiles, returning in the wee small hours, Poppy now seems happy to hang around the house.  Huia is still regularly sleeping off the exhaustion of chasing blowflies and getting amongst the unpacking.

Downsizing

I am still unpacking and probably will be for a little while yet.  Part of the reason for this is time but a big part is that my new place is smaller than my old one, particularly the kitchen.  This is pretty much the whole thing with the exception of a tall pantry cupboard you can see the edge of on the left.

A lot of careful packing of cupboards is in progress and I have even (shock!, horror!) put some things aside to donate to a charity shop.  If you are eagle eyed you will see that this hasn't stopped the early preparation stages of Christmas Cake.

Week One

I've survived my first week at work.  It started with a Whakatau to welcome me into the library and it was wonderful to have friends and family there.  It finished with cake, or more correctly cakes, sent by a friend in New Plymouth. Internet shopping is an amazing thing.

In between is was exhausting but interesting, learning new processes and meeting people.  I've found a good place to get salad at lunch and not ended up on the wrong bus yet.

At the end of my street

If you turn right from my place you get to Jackson St and a wonderful array of cafes, restaurants and shops.  If you turn left you see this...

So although I can't see the sea from my house any more I am still close and it only takes a couple of minutes to get to this...

Mostly Sane

Knowing you have your marbles is a very important thing, especially in times of great change when you can feel like you have lost them.  I found mine yesterday so despite how it might feel, I know I have all my marbles.

 I'm unpacking slowly and steadily with a little 'help' from Huia.  Poppy comes out occasionally to check on progress and then disappears again, quite wisely I think.

Then it's time for a nap because all this 'work' is very tiring.