Pics of Billy & Tiger (next doors cat that spends most of her time at our house!)

Photos from Te Papa Museum, Wellington

Time Flies

Time flies when you’re on the other side of the world!! I can’t believe we’ve been here ten months already.

What have we learned?

• Gisborne has beautiful, clean, un-crowded beaches
• New Zealand schools are colourful and full of art works
• Small town mentality exists all over the world
• “Deal to it” means deal with it but emphatically!
• Going to the supermarket in your pajama bottoms & a jumper is an acceptable thing to do at the weekend (well in Gisborne anyway)
• Calling someone “Cuz” does not necessarily mean you are related to them, but you might be – and if you are this does not necessarily mean they are your cousin
• Kiwis have big families, especially those of Maori and Pacific Island descent – they have strong women!!!!!
• It’s just as difficult to get money back from the Inland Revenue out here as it is in the UK
• Watties is NOT the same as Heinz even though it has the same branding – nothing beats Heinz tomato ketchup and baked beans!
• You can’t get a “proper” curry in NZ
• No TV License costs
• No water rates for domestic dwellings
• If you move to the other side of the world half of your friends decide to get pregnant/engaged/married!
• Hang all your washing inside out in the summer, otherwise it gets sun bleached really quickly
• New Zealand is green because when it rains, it RAINS. Lots.
• Chips (fries) are called chips. But so are crisps.
• Woolworths is a supermarket
• You can rent your house out for shed loads of money in Gisborne over the Christmas period!!!!
• BBC Olympics coverage kicks TV NZ’s arse
• The Kiwi basketball team is called the Tall Blacks.
• Junior rugby league is called the small blacks
• You can get calippos in New Zealand!!!!!!!!
• Aoteraroha! is a comedy festival, not a mis-spelling on New Zealand in Maori (Aotearoa )
• If someone invites you to a Hungi, no-one is going to die, it's a way of cooking food!
• "Bring a plate", does not literally mean bring a plate, it means bring a food or drink contribution to the meal
• Split Endz is a band, not just a hair condition