Kia Ora

Kia Ora

Interesting facts.

NZ. or Aotearoa In Maori, means 'The Land of the long white cloud'. It is quite a young country, geologically active, with tectonic faults and volcanoes, glaciers and rivers constantly building and eroding land. It consists of many islands, the main ones being the North and South island. It used to be part of one land mass, Gondwana, and split off 80 million years ago, taking with it its unique plants and bird life. The first Eastern Polynesian settlers arrived 750 years ago, and the first Europeans to settle arrived in 1769 after discovery by James Cook.

As it is a long thin country, there are several climates and micro climates within, from sub tropical in the North and temperate (similar to UK) in the South. The total population is around 4.2 million ( UK has nearly 63 million) of which 1 million are based in Auckland. Auckalnd also known as the 'The city of sails' (due to a high proportion of boat ownership) is the biggest city, though not the capital, which is Wellinton. Auckland’s weather is warm/hot long summers with mild and wet winters. (average annual sunshine hours= 2050. Manchester=1200 hrs) and (annual average rain=1240mm. Manchester=810mm!) most rain falling as heavy tropical showers in the winter months of June-July

Thursday 15 July 2010

Our furniture cometh!

Excitement and anticipation as our container was scheduled to arrive on Thursday. It sailed into Auckland on Monday, and all forms had been filled out ready for the quarantine inspection on the Thursday afternoon.


We declared out garden furniture, bikes, vacuum cleaner and camping equipment, and identified which boxes they were in as they had to be put to one side for the MAF inspectors to open and assess. If not up to scratch, they could be destroyed, fumigated or confiscated along with a hefty fine! So we were a little nervous to say the least.
                                                                                   
                                                                                        oops wrong container                                                                                                                           

The Pickford boys arrived on time and we all watched as the driver skilfully reversed the container down our (very) narrow drive. Took a nice foto as they unlocked the doors as the Gaffa the realised it was the WRONG container. This was not our stuff!

What numpty did not check this one and only simple but essential thing??? The driver quickly set off back to port to collect the right one, and an hour later, we were back in business!


                     Thats better!












All belongings present and correct and only one casualty- the back of an IKEA bookcase was a bit damaged. Nothing that a bit of gaffer tape and some carefully placed books cannot hide! The MAF inspector came and was impressed with our nice clean stuff. She said it was a pleasure after having “a few crappy ones today...including an especially manky lawnmower full of old grass clippings”
So at last our house feels like a home.

   do we need so many glasses    
Its kind of weird seeing your old and familiar belongings suddenly arrive on the other side of the world... like a faithful little puppy! And it was bliss to sleep in our own bed, and have more than 2 cups, plates and cutlery foruse.
                                                                                                       looks familiar!
The house is still cardboard city and we have a fair few more boxes to open... its a bit like Christmas, not knowing what’s inside the wrappings- and sometimes disappointment thinking..”why on earth did we bring that rubbish!” but all in all, our stuff looks great in this house. Its a similar style- modern and nicely decorated, as our old one.


So whenever any of you fancy a trip over here, there will always be a nice warm bed for you!

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