Four weeks tomorrow we are emigrating to the other side of the world.
We will be leaving behind everything we have ever known to go and live in a country we've never even visited. Dave has never flown before and the furthest I've been is Austria. And the flights are a combination of about 28 hours. What the hell are we doing????????
And there's the small matter of the house still being on the market. We can't rent it out as by the time we've paid all the fees we would be making a loss - so we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed that we get a sale soon.
Our farewell tour started at Nantwich - the last major muster of the year, where I said goodbye to friends that I have known for over 13 years.
Two weeks ago, Blews had a big party at Chirk, the last proper muster of the season, and we had a really good night. But it was really sad leaving a muster and having no idea when we will see everyone again - and with a pretty much empty car having sold most of our kit and camping stuff.
I've sold a lot of our books and some videos/dvds through amazon, so that will help with the relocation fund.
Lou's friend Marianne is buying a load of our furniture so that's one less thing to worry about. The only item of furniture that is coming with us is Nana's table - which will cost more than all the boxes to ship even tho it's only about the size of two of them and quite light, but I want it for sentimental reasons, so I'm prepared to pay the extra.
So mostly we're shipping personal stuff - letters, photos, mementoes, nick nacks, cds and dvds.
I can't believe that in four weeks time my whole world is going to be turned upside down - and I don't even know where to buy milk and bread from. It sounds stupid, but you take for granted that you know that it's cheaper to food shop at Asda that Marks & Spencer, and get clothes from Top Shop rather than Saville Row - I have no freaking idea about stuff like that - it's going to be a big learning curve.
Of all the places I have lived in my life, there is none I will be happier to see the back of than Kirkby in Ashfield!!!!!
Friday, 28 December 2007
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
Sunday, 23 December 2007
Non-alcoholic aftershocks
Well it's now just over 48 hours since the main quake and so far we have had three aftershocks. Two yesterday morning (although I didn't feel them as I stayed up until about half three a.m. Friday morning so I think I was out of it when they happened), and one this morning which I definitely did feel.
The only thing I can liken the aftermath of an earthquake to is travelling on a ferry on a rough crossing, and when you get of the boat you still fill like you're going up and down - only in this case you feel like you're going side to side at the same time.
For all the jokes and jests that have been made, I'm scared. I hope that the worst of it is over, but everytime there's a loud noise I'm petrified it's a new quake coming. I know there's nothing I can do about it, but that's what makes it more scary - it's completely out of my hands and all I can do is pray it's not my time. I know that probably sounds morbid, but we're thousands of miles away from all the people we care about, miles away from everything that is familiar, in an area we are still getting to know, and damnit, it's bloody scary. I'm just thankful that for the main one we were with people that had experienced a quake before otherwise I think I would have lost it.
I'm trying to be philosophical and tell myself that flooding and storms and such like happen in the UK, and thousands of people have been affected through things like that - and considering the magnitude of the quake - we were lucky - the whole town was lucky that it received comparatively little damage in comparison to the strength. But unfortunately, that doesn't make it any less scary when it happens.
I also read in the local paper today - which amazingly is still printing - even though it's in the Central Business District that shed loads of lion's mane jelly fish have washed up on the shore in the last few days as well, so I think my Christmas day paddle/swim is definitely postponed!
But it has been wonderful to read about how local people have pitched in. Diners in restaurants that were hit badly had loads of people that had evacuated turn up the next morning to help tidy up, the library had 80,000 odd books hoofed off the shelves as well as structural damage - and again, loads of people turned up to help with the clean up - that's only a few examples that made it into the paper.
A lot of the shops managed to open today - the damage is more obvious in some than others, but sadly some of the oldest buildings in Gisborne (positively young compared to UK buildings, but even so) have been badly damaged and may have to be pulled down completely.
We were so lucky the quake wasn't further inshore, or strong enough to cause a tsunami - but the experience was bad enough. It's a hard time of the year for some anyway, but I can't even begin to imagine what it is like for those who are displaced from their homes. I'm not trying to be sanctimonious - but we all think it will never happen to us. But sometimes it does, so if you get a minute over the next few days, send a thought/prayer to who or whatever you feel looks after us all (or if you don't believe in anything send them your best wishes) for those people.
If I don't post before then I'll wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas, and we don't say it often enough, so we both love you and thank you for being our friends and family.
Soppy bit over, I'm going to try and persuade myself that armageddon is not coming and that it okay to go to sleep.
Night all.
The only thing I can liken the aftermath of an earthquake to is travelling on a ferry on a rough crossing, and when you get of the boat you still fill like you're going up and down - only in this case you feel like you're going side to side at the same time.
For all the jokes and jests that have been made, I'm scared. I hope that the worst of it is over, but everytime there's a loud noise I'm petrified it's a new quake coming. I know there's nothing I can do about it, but that's what makes it more scary - it's completely out of my hands and all I can do is pray it's not my time. I know that probably sounds morbid, but we're thousands of miles away from all the people we care about, miles away from everything that is familiar, in an area we are still getting to know, and damnit, it's bloody scary. I'm just thankful that for the main one we were with people that had experienced a quake before otherwise I think I would have lost it.
I'm trying to be philosophical and tell myself that flooding and storms and such like happen in the UK, and thousands of people have been affected through things like that - and considering the magnitude of the quake - we were lucky - the whole town was lucky that it received comparatively little damage in comparison to the strength. But unfortunately, that doesn't make it any less scary when it happens.
I also read in the local paper today - which amazingly is still printing - even though it's in the Central Business District that shed loads of lion's mane jelly fish have washed up on the shore in the last few days as well, so I think my Christmas day paddle/swim is definitely postponed!
But it has been wonderful to read about how local people have pitched in. Diners in restaurants that were hit badly had loads of people that had evacuated turn up the next morning to help tidy up, the library had 80,000 odd books hoofed off the shelves as well as structural damage - and again, loads of people turned up to help with the clean up - that's only a few examples that made it into the paper.
A lot of the shops managed to open today - the damage is more obvious in some than others, but sadly some of the oldest buildings in Gisborne (positively young compared to UK buildings, but even so) have been badly damaged and may have to be pulled down completely.
We were so lucky the quake wasn't further inshore, or strong enough to cause a tsunami - but the experience was bad enough. It's a hard time of the year for some anyway, but I can't even begin to imagine what it is like for those who are displaced from their homes. I'm not trying to be sanctimonious - but we all think it will never happen to us. But sometimes it does, so if you get a minute over the next few days, send a thought/prayer to who or whatever you feel looks after us all (or if you don't believe in anything send them your best wishes) for those people.
If I don't post before then I'll wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas, and we don't say it often enough, so we both love you and thank you for being our friends and family.
Soppy bit over, I'm going to try and persuade myself that armageddon is not coming and that it okay to go to sleep.
Night all.
Thursday, 20 December 2007
Shaking all over
Just a quick post to let you know that we had an earthquake in Gisborne this evening - 20th December 2007 - about an hour and a half ago to be precise (about 8.55pm). It was 6.8 on the Richter scale so I don't know if it will make the news, but we're ok, and as far as we can see in the dark the house is ok as well. Power has been back on about half an hour, but we're ok apart from a stinking headache (shock I think). I'm now paranoid about going to bed, but apparently that's the biggest earthquake they have had in several decades - so hopefully it won't be happening again any time soon.
Anyway, we're ok, but if you can't get hold of us over the next few days, it may be cos there are repairs going on out here, so don't panic.
Anyway, we're ok, but if you can't get hold of us over the next few days, it may be cos there are repairs going on out here, so don't panic.
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
It's raining, it's pouring!
Well to cheer you folks in Blighty up, it has been absolutely peeing it down for the last twenty four hours and isn't forecast to stop for any length of time for a few days - so you may have a cold Christmas and we may be having a wet Christmas (safety tips on barbequing inside anyone? JOKE!)
We went to a carol concert on Sunday night which was just surreal - summer's evening sat on a rug in shorts and t-shirt singing carols - bizzare!
I keep playing carols at home to try and remind myself that it is less that a week 'til Christmas, but it's not sinking in yet.
The good news is that having had a couple of companies being interested, but not being quick off the mark with interviews, I was offered the job that I was interviewed for last week, to start in the New Year, which is good as there are still bills to pay in the UK as the house sale hasn't gone through yet - keep getting told that there are no problems, it's just the mortgage company for the purchasers has a backlog and only works two days a week, but it's still slightly disconcerting that things haven't completed yet. This will be the first time in my working life that I won't spend anything on commuting - it's ten mins walk down the road.
It's going to be strange not seeing everyone at Christmas this year, although we'll try and catch up with as many people as possible via email/messenger/skype/carrier pigeon as possible.
We went to Napier at the weekend and went to Marineland - which sounds impressive, but it's not, but I did get to hold a penguin and have my photo taken so that was quite groovy.
There is the option to swim with their one dolphin, but you're basically only allowed in their tank, you're not allowed to touch it, so I figured that I would rather wait and swim with them in the wild. That may be a late Christmas present with my first pay check.
We've been invited to a big Maori family gathering between Christmas and New Year, so I'm looking forward to that and intimidated by it in equal measures - there will be about 50 of one of Dave's colleagues family there - no pressure!
Hope that you're all keeping well and that the cold isn't causing too many problems.
Get emailing, people!!!!!!
We went to a carol concert on Sunday night which was just surreal - summer's evening sat on a rug in shorts and t-shirt singing carols - bizzare!
I keep playing carols at home to try and remind myself that it is less that a week 'til Christmas, but it's not sinking in yet.
The good news is that having had a couple of companies being interested, but not being quick off the mark with interviews, I was offered the job that I was interviewed for last week, to start in the New Year, which is good as there are still bills to pay in the UK as the house sale hasn't gone through yet - keep getting told that there are no problems, it's just the mortgage company for the purchasers has a backlog and only works two days a week, but it's still slightly disconcerting that things haven't completed yet. This will be the first time in my working life that I won't spend anything on commuting - it's ten mins walk down the road.
It's going to be strange not seeing everyone at Christmas this year, although we'll try and catch up with as many people as possible via email/messenger/skype/carrier pigeon as possible.
We went to Napier at the weekend and went to Marineland - which sounds impressive, but it's not, but I did get to hold a penguin and have my photo taken so that was quite groovy.
There is the option to swim with their one dolphin, but you're basically only allowed in their tank, you're not allowed to touch it, so I figured that I would rather wait and swim with them in the wild. That may be a late Christmas present with my first pay check.
We've been invited to a big Maori family gathering between Christmas and New Year, so I'm looking forward to that and intimidated by it in equal measures - there will be about 50 of one of Dave's colleagues family there - no pressure!
Hope that you're all keeping well and that the cold isn't causing too many problems.
Get emailing, people!!!!!!
Sunday, 16 December 2007
Kiwi Lyrics
Heard these this evening and they made me smile so I thought I would share them:
Quick Translation - Ute: Utility vehicle (truck), Singlet - sleeveless t shirt, Thongs - (also known as Jandles) - flip flops
Kiwi Jingle Bells
Dashing through the bush, in a rusty Holden Ute,
Kicking up the dust, Turkey in the boot,
Kids are by my side, singing Christmas songs,
It's Summer time and I am in my singlet, shorts and thongs.
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in New Zealand on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.
Engine's getting hot; We better stop for ice
Put it in the chiller to keep the beer just nice.
All the family's here, sitting by the pool,
Christmas Day the Kiwi way, by the barbecue.
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in New Zealand on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.
Come the afternoon, Grandpa has a doze,
The kids and Uncle Bruce, are swimming in their clothes.
The time comes 'round to go, we take the family snap,
Pack the car and all shoot through, before the washing up.
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in New Zealand on a scorching summers day,
Hey!Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.
Quick Translation - Ute: Utility vehicle (truck), Singlet - sleeveless t shirt, Thongs - (also known as Jandles) - flip flops
Kiwi Jingle Bells
Dashing through the bush, in a rusty Holden Ute,
Kicking up the dust, Turkey in the boot,
Kids are by my side, singing Christmas songs,
It's Summer time and I am in my singlet, shorts and thongs.
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in New Zealand on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.
Engine's getting hot; We better stop for ice
Put it in the chiller to keep the beer just nice.
All the family's here, sitting by the pool,
Christmas Day the Kiwi way, by the barbecue.
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in New Zealand on a scorching summers day, Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.
Come the afternoon, Grandpa has a doze,
The kids and Uncle Bruce, are swimming in their clothes.
The time comes 'round to go, we take the family snap,
Pack the car and all shoot through, before the washing up.
Oh! Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
Christmas in New Zealand on a scorching summers day,
Hey!Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas time is beaut!,
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusty Holden Ute.
Thursday, 6 December 2007
Saturday, 1 December 2007
It's all back to front, can we have Christmas in June please?
Here's some pics of dave learning to control the kite on Wednesday (when, incidentally it was absolutely blowing a gale and peeing it down - just to make you feel better)
We'll it's the first of December here and I feel about as festive as a calippo ice cream (and you can't get them out here - sob!). It just doesn't feel right it being hot in December! I think we might have to have a second Christmas in June so that we can eat all the Christmassy things - and see some frost at the very least! - Well, the queen has two birthdays!
Sadly, I don't think our stuff is going to be here for Christmas which is sad because all our pictures, photos etc are in there, together with our Christmas decorations.
Apparently they have competitions out here to see who can decorate their house the most and the money goes to charity, so that's quite good.
They seem to be quite into supporting charities out here, which is cool - Breast cancer month is really well publicised out here, with loads of special things on sale - and they have "Movember" which is when, for the whole of November men grow moustaches and then have them shaved off at the end of the month to raise money for male cancers. Everyone I've seen seems to favour the "Gringo" moustache which has been quite funny to see!
Dave has been learning to kite surf - I was going to have a go too, but seeing how much he got hoofed around, just learning on land, I think I'll give it a miss other wise me and the hospital might be getting re-aquainted! Have put a few pics on - although it's quite difficult to get a close up and get both Dave and the kite in at the same time.
Think I will have to stick to normal surfing, certainly until my back's a bit stronger, but to be fair I'm a happy bunny just arsing around on boogie board - caught one wave just right on Sunday and went all the way into the shallows. Also, caught a wave wrong, got tipped forwards and got smacked on the head with my board, so that was quite funny (well it wasn't at the time as I was snorting sea water, but it must have looked quite amusing.) Yes, I know, it's so unlike me to have silly accidents :)
There are so many things that I want to have a go at, but will have to wait a bit as they all cost money and we've still got things to buy for the house - but that's okay, we've got plenty of time.
Went we went to Midway beach last weekend I saw some people horse trekking on the beach, which is something I've always wanted to do, so will have to give that a go.
Today there is a small gypsy fair in town, so will have to go & have a look up there as the first one we went to had such beautifu stuff there. There is also a Christmas parade, so I think we're going to meet up with Jo from Dave's work as she is going with her kids (also makes us look less stupid if it's a purely kids thing!)
The one thing about Gisborne is that is doesn't really have a centre, because there it's a block system, there's the main road, Gladstone Road, which runs through the middle, but there's no centre as such. There's the clock, which is kind of in the middle of the town, but traffic goes through there, so I don't know if they have a big Christmas tree up anyway - saw one on a roof of a shop, but that's it.
Apparently the population of Gisborne doubles over Christmas and New year -everyone comes for the beaches and because it's the first "city" to see the new year. There is a massive event called Rhythm & Vines at new year, where you pay for a ticket and you get transported around all the vineyards in the area, and there's a big music festival at one of the vineyards in the evening - sounds good to me, think we are going to go.
It's strange seeing the different shop opening hours - most shops are only open til about 2pm on Saturday, but then big places like the warehouse are open 8am-8pm seven days a week - so no sunday trading hours.
Any after a day of on and off heavy showers yesterday (yes, I know, you're all feeling so sorry for us!), I'm going to make the most of the sunshine today, so I will write more later.
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