Temple photos!

Sorry - don't know how to turn the photo round!

Hope you don't damage your necks.

x Sue

A series of firsts.

A Series Of Firsts

First experience of the New Zealand National Anthem
We stood up and listened to it sung first in Maori and then in English – came over all goose bumpy! Hope I can join in one day.
This was at Auckland’s Edwardian Town Hall. Kevin and I attended a Festival of Music consisting of a variety of performances by Primary School Children.
The Hall is a piece of history in itself – built in 1911 it is a replica of the Neues Gewendhaus in Leipzig, Germany, which was unfortunately destroyed by Allied bombing in WWII.
The whole concert was brilliant – from choir singing to an orchestra, to a cool jazz band and then onto Maori Hakka. The whole evening was one I’ll remember for a long time.

I visited a Buddhist Temple. It’s truly beautiful, but not quite finished yet. However, you can still go into the tea rooms and attend a whole variety of classes if the fancy takes you.

I kept seeing it in the distance on my way to the Botany shopping centre. Finally, curiosity taking the better of me, I ventured in and am very glad that I did!
Can’t wait to see it fully completed. The smell of incense took me back to the temples visited whilst living in Hong Kong – especially the Wong Tai Sin Temple down the road from our flat.

Made a fool of myself in the bank!
I made my first deposit there today. Hmmm
With deposit at the ready I inserted my card and followed all instructions dutifully and was given an envelope. I put the money in the envelope and could not for the life of me figure out how it went into the slot facing me. Then time ran out and ACCESS WAS DENIED. Fortunately a kind bank lady came along and pointed out that I was using the wrong slot! Another stupid pom experience from me I’m afraid.

I have joined the Howick library! I took out one book and it is very boring – so I shall venture back again.

Things I have noticed:
The Thursday documentary on Channel 3 is called the Thursday Doco! Don’t ya just love it!
Motorway signs are green.
Road signs are blue.
Sales are called spishells (specials)
By the way – what’s a LAYBY? Keep seeing it in shops and keep forgetting to ask.

I like watching the fishing programmes – I’m storing all knowledge for future fishing experiences.

There’s a range of mountains in the South called the REMARKABLES. I have decided they must have been named by a very upper class intrepid English explorer, who, upon stumbling across them, must have said:
“I say old chap, these mountains are truly remarkable”.
I wonder what they would be called if discovered today? The Wickeds perhaps?
Anyhow, I’m really looking forward to seeing them one day.

Well – Good on yah!

Sue signing off.

Home Sweet Home!

Hi all - here's our home for the next year!

x Sue

What a manic time!

What a manic time!

I’ve done so much since we last spoke, I don’t know where to begin!

I’ve visited a farm (via a new found kiwi friend and her family) near Hamilton and learned about Calf Club, of which my friend was a member as a child (she entered her pet lamb).

Each year, in rural schools around New Zealand, a day is held with one purpose - to encourage children to take an active interest in the welfare and presentation of an animal of their choice for a community day at their school.

I saw a bit about it on TV too – it looked fun. Animals running amok everywhere and kids running after them!

I’ve seen fireworks in the Viaduct – a brilliant free display for all. It was lovely and good to have the company of other new friends too (you know who you are!).

There was one dotty woman there who kept asking us where the fireworks would be – considering we were at the front and facing out to sea, it did seem pretty obvious. Also, there was a security guard telling everyone too. We all clapped heartily at the end of the display – I was well impressed!

Kevin bought a car at Turners Auctions – a very exciting affair! Lots of loud music and stuff to introduce it all. My heart was in my mouth – even though ours was no 47! I desperately tried not to catch anyone’s eye, scratch my nose or stroke my hair.

I am very good at driving from the CBD to Howick now and from Howick to the Botany shopping area. Only took a detour once – ie got lost. I’ve even found a really good Asian/China town area a few mins from Howick with a really big Chinese super market – a bit like Wing Yip in good old Brummy!

I’m getting better at remembering that the windscreen wipers are at the left hand side of the steering wheel and the indicators are on the right. Although under times of stress I have forgotten – so if you see a panic stricken face behind the wheel of a blue Nissan with the wipers going 19 to the dozen in bright sunshine – worry not – tis only me!

Work permit and IRD number have both been applied for. Just have to wait – not too long I hope!

I’ve found somewhere to live, just need to manage now without stuff until the container arrives! We’ll pretend we’re camping for the next few months.

We’ve opened a bank account – very easy and very friendly people there. Got a switch type card at the counter on the same day! Have now got a credit card too.

Drivers here are a bit manic. Overtaking on all sides of the motorway. People weaving in and out and lanes suddenly disappearing leading to 2 cars vying for 1 space – scary!

I’ve had my first NZ haircut - $25 for a wash, cut and dry. Had it done in Howick as this will be my local area. Very nice South African lady did it. I’ve noticed lots of South African accents in the Howick area.

I had a free facial in the Botany shopping centre whilst waiting to look at rentals – also done by another very nice South African lady. I felt very refreshed whilst looking at the next house! Also being looked at by a young South African couple and their very cute baby!

There will be a Santa Parade down Queen Street next weekend! Another experience to partake of.

There is a giant Santa above Whitcoulls. He is constantly beckoning with his right index finger and winking at anyone who wishes to take notice. Looks a bit perverse to me – have a look if you go by – could just be my warped imagination!

The weather is beautiful and getting warmer by the day.

I’m still eating lots of kiwi fruits - they have now been joined by juicy strawberries and massive blackberries.

That’s it so far – just remember when going on the motorway in NZ to always MERGE LIKE A ZIP!

See ya!

X Sue

Kauri trees. This week I have been mostly.....

This week I have been mostly……..

Eating more kiwi fruits – I’ve upgraded to gold now.
Hunting for the elusive feijoa (am I looking in the wrong season?)
Looking at one of the oldest and biggest trees on earth – 4.65m wide and about 2000 years old – woah! It is the kauri tree. In the kauri museum, we saw 36,000 year old wood from a kauri tree dug up from the swamps – it was still in beautiful condition.
Looking at gum from the kauri tree – carved into all kinds of things from crosses to busts (now, now – you know what I mean). Some of the lumps contained bees, fleas and spiders!
Bravely driving onto a beach, then frantically driving off again due to very soft sand and fast incoming tide.
In the interests of intense scientific research – buying and eating LOADS of choccies etc from Makana choc shop in Kerikeri. Research is still going strong. Prognosis is very good so far. Teeth are still intact. (Macadamia Nut Crunch is DELUSHIOUS).
Watching a suicidal bird playing chicken with cars on the roads (little brown bird with a black head – quite cute, but absolutely mental).
Looking at squashed possums on the roads (did you know that you can buy possum fur nipple warmers here in NZ?)
Discovering that feral pigs (sus scrofa) are ANIMAL PESTS OF THE AUCKLAND REGION. As are possums, ferrets, stoats, weasels and hedgehogs, to name but a few.
Visiting the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. Don’t tell Anthony (one of the Maori entertainers there) that you’re English. Say you’re an Aussie or something!
Driving past Waipu – they’re going to have a Highland Games there soon – surreal!
Missing rugby matches – Kevin went to buy tickets only to discover that the season has just ended! Well, summer is just around the corner. The man in the ticket selling place had a Tesco t-shirt on.
Discovering that Bonfire Night is celebrated here. We’re going to the Viaduct on Saturday to watch the fireworks being set off from a barge in the harbour.
Reading the Time Out magazine – free with the New Zealand Weekend Herald. Here is some interesting info for you pleasure and indulgence:
How many words of 3 or more letters can you make from these 5 (no foreign words and no capitals).
CSAPK
8 = GOOD 9 = IXCILINT 11 = AMAZING
I got 52.
You can win a free funeral worth up to the value of $5000 at the Mexican Café – Dead Right! This is to celebrate the Day of the Dead.
You can buy bargains, if you’re lovers of clutter and dressing up, at the Theatrical Jumble Sale.
Rosita – the NZ Idol winner – is no 1 in the pop charts, ousting Crazy Frog.

Goodnight.
Sue signing off!

Paihia - The Excitor

The Excitor, BOI

Saturday 29th Oct 10.30

All systems are GO!

Sensible clothes? Check.
Sensible shoes? Check.
Warm fleece? Check.
Money? Check.
Camera? Check.
Tena Lady? Check.

And we’re off…..to ride the EXCITOR!!!!!
One and a half hours upon the 54 knot powerboat racer.
Woohooooooo
Waterproofs are on – bright red and very fetching for my figure.
Life jackets are given out and safety video watched.
Life jackets operation explained – “Please DO NOT touch the yellow plastic tag, it is very SENSITIVE”.
Twenty-eight pairs of hands immediately move to the vicinity of the yellow tag.
Hurry up….. I can’t bear it. Oh the anticipation….
“Sit at the front if you want more fun” we’re told.
I do.
The front seats are like sitting on a horse.
I do my belt up real tight and assume the position.
Ready….
And we’re off…very slowly across the bay to Russell (like the slowest slow thing you’ve ever had the misfortune to go slowly on) – we need to pick up further passengers. DOH!!!!!
Anticipation builds.
We’re out to sea! The swells are up to 2 metres or more today.
Rain splashing me. Sea splashing me. Sea water everywhere. Totally soaked. WICKEEEEEED!!!!!
Over the humped back bridge at top speed – over and over and over again. And again. YEEEEEHAAAA!
We’re airborne! CRASH! We’re not!
At the hole in the rock, the engine calms down to a mere mutter as we float towards the hole on very choppy water.
Woah! A FIN! It’s a shark! A bloody great shark feeding off the fish shoal. As are millions of sea birds.
Through the hole and into the Cathedral Cave. Yodelling briefly crosses my mind.
And we’re out the other side!
There’s a woman’s face in the rock staring forlornly out to sea.
Aaaaand, we’re off again.
It’s bloody freezing, the rain is a thousand pinpricks on my face – but I DON’T CARE!
This is sssooooo coooool.
One word to describe this?
Bloomin marvellous!
Kev’s word?
Thrills!
On board songs played for our delight include:
Raindrops keep falling on my head.
Eye of the tiger
We will rock you
What a wonderful world
Mrs Robinson (eh?!)
I’m looking forward to coming back soon. I want to swim with the dolphins next.
Tarah!
X from Sue.

Further intrepid adventures!

Hi all!
Beaches
Black sand, gold sand, fine sand, soft sand.
Sand that sparkles in the sun as though it contains glitter.
Sand that contains tiny purple cockle-like shells.
I visited Karekare Beach where The Piano was filmed. It was empty - just like the film - no piano anywhere though.
In fact I visited a few of the western beaches today - much wilder than the eastern beaches! hite horses. Surfers.
Did have a very fleeting urge to run around wildly enjoying the emptiness, but fortunately managed to contain myself and walk sedately and later on lie down on the warm sand.
The sun was very strong today - factor 35 for pale and interesting me!
Also - anorak time - did you know that black sand has a high iron content and is therefore magnetic!
Waitakere Ranges
Saw one of the world's heaviest insects here today (at the visitors centre). They definately looked heavy, but wasn't about to try them out though.
Geckos are bright green and can re-grow their tails.
The stick insects were very stick like hmmmmm.
Fantabulistic views of the rainforest on the ranges - so many shades of green and a very strange bird call too. A bit like someone blowing through a metal tube.
Pampas grass is everywhere, even growing from the cliff sides!
Buddlias are outlawed plants!
Supermarkets
Have sampled 3 so far.
Food Town - our very first virgin shop in NZ! Spent some time oohing and aahing at stuff that's different and stuff that's the same! Got some 'sorry for you, you saddo tourist'smiles.
New World - visited the one in Devonport. Made a bit of a fool of myself here. I decided to buy some loose products - ie bag them myself. However, did not realise that I had to label them with a number and turned up at the till with two unnumbered bags - as you would in the UK. On being asked the numbers - I muttered apologies and dashed off with the said bag (meanwhile a queue was forming). I couldn't find a pen in my hysteria and used a berol handwriting pen which promptly rubbed straight off the bag. So, being rather inventive, I wrote the numbers on my hand. On getting to the till, I gave the numbers (v. red faced by now with an onlooking and observant queue behind me - making notes about stupid poms). The girl then asked which number was which! I didn't have a clue.
I don't think I'll be going in the Devonport New World for a while.....
By the way the kiwi fruits and mangos are delicious here.
Pak and Save - Just like Macro in the UK. Very big and lots of variety and much cheaper than the others.
Good news everyone - my stomach seems better - Kevin was calling me the new Weapon of Mass Destruction for a while.
Sky Tower
Fab.Good short film on entry.
The views are amazing. There are machines that you can use to zoom in and out onto objects you are viewing. Lots of interactive fun for me and Kevin there!
We watched people jumping off the Tower past our window. We enjoyed this so much that we went to the coffee lounge and sat down with a cuppa to watch.
After people jumped, they would dangle outside the windows for a while before they finally fell.
I gave one lady a jolly wave as she dangeld before me.
I also demonstrated that in order to enjoy the experience to the full, one should put one's arms outwards and not hold onto the rope so tightly. Unfortunately she fell before an answer was forthcoming.
I experienced traffic cutting across us today - they have the right of way over here. Well done Kevin for such good reflexes!
Bits and bobs
I watched the Kumars at no 42 last night - with Jo Brand and Esther Rantzen.
There is a kiwi programme here very similar to Question of Sport and Have I Got News For You. Not sure what they're talking about yet though.
Kevin likes the Green Lipped Mussels.
Tuna fish in tins come in millions of 'flavours'- with this, that and the other.
You can eat the roots of cabbage trees if you so wish.
You can also use their trunks as chimneys if you feel the inclination - European settlers did this because the wood is hollow and doesn't burn very well.
Woman and women are both pronounced as woman.
Wh is pronounced as F.
Here endeth the lesson.
Byeee.
Love from Suexxxxxxxx

NZ so far......

This is all I have seen, heard and noticed about NZ so far.
People spend lots of time cleaning their dicks (decks). Lots of sweeping and sanding etc.
Sweets are called lollies.
Last week was NZ fission week (fashion).
Hoons are boy racers - they whizz around in souped up cars.
The main (very modern) city cinema shows very few movies on week day evenings. Not enought people go mid week. Kev was in shock!
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (Oz) had its first millionaire this week.
Politicians swear on TV - bladdy this and bladdy that.
Asian means oriental mainly here - 1 in 4 is Asian in Auckland.
Sharks and rays swum in the Kelly Tarlton Aquarium.
There are lots of English programmes on the telly. I watched the Royal Variety Show yesterday - how sad is that?
Michael Barrymore lives here.
There are boats everywhere - everyone seems to have something to go on the water.
Most schools have swumming pools.
Most ads on TV are v. hard sell and boring.
I've been to Warehouse - "Where everyone gets a bargain!"
I can do Kiwi 1 to 10 - wun, tyoo, three, fawer, foive, sex, sivin, ayt, noin, tin!
Maori art is beautiful.
God channel is on every morning - from America.
Cars are sold on one of the other channels every morning.
Coronation Street is 6-9 months behind. I think I'll tell everyone that Shelley leaves him at the altar.
I still can't understand everything people say and I really need to stop nodding like a moron and to actually ask what they said.
I like vegemite!
Tomato sauce and baked beans have an after taste of cloves.
Kids learn the Hakka at school - how cool is that?!
There is an ad on TV about Christian burials.
You can cross the road diagonally at crossroads - exciting at first and lots of fun - but we're quite blase about it now.
Cars have the right of way when turning right, they're allowed to cut across you.
I take it back - NZ Cadbury's is good - it's Oz Cadbury's that is naff.
The steak is delicious and cheap.
My stomach is still not used to NZ - getting there.
There's only one poisonous creature here - a spider - white something or other - but is hardly ever seen - fine by me.
Export Gold Beer tastes good.
Wine is cheap.
There's hardly any football on TV. Fan bloody tastic. Loads of rugby, cricket, nitball, fushing at the mo plus some bowling.
Chinese food is glorious and cheap. I've also eaten lots of sushi - chicken teriyaki sushi is good - I've eaten HEAPS (kiwis say this word a lot).
I love the thick green fruity drink with spirulina - probably why I have a dodgy stomach. It could be a help for constipation for all I know.
The fush and chups in Devonport are delicious. (2pounds 30 pence a portion), it was so big that I couldn’t finish it.
I have visited Birkenhead by ferry.
I've heard loads of Brit accents and a few American.
I've seen filming in Auckland Zoo - they were filming the monkeys - Kevin was standing casually in the background by the giant tortoises. You may yet see him on the Travel Channel on Sky in UK!
There was a great film in the Maritime Museum about the first immigrants to NZ - the Maori.
The beaches are beautiful with their tall palm trees and cabbage trees on the edge.
Lawns are full of buttercups and daisies.
Soft spread butter is NOT! Beware.
Things still to do: Go out into the countryside (picking up a car on Weds)
See the Harlem Gospel Choir
See a live rugby match
Visit the Auckland Museum (on a rainy day)
Get a job!
See ya!
Love from Suexxxxxxxx