Megan - Jetlagged Az |
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
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Pomms arrive!
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Our furniture cometh!
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.
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.
Friday, 9 July 2010
GEEKS-R-US
we were well chuffed to find our first find yesterday, secreted in the reserve just across the road from our house. its amazing as they're hidden all aound you.
this is Jax (Marigolds on in case of touching something alive!!!) opening our first cache. after signing the log to say "you wuz ere" you can then swap small items/trinkets/collectables, before replacing the cache! Cool or wot??
Sunday, 4 July 2010
City Slickers
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Employed!
i wasn't going to apply for a job until Meg and Niall had gone back to the UK at the end of August, so i would be around for them, but i saw the part time practice nurse job advertised in the local free paper, only 25 hours/week, and just 10 mins away.
sounded like a perfect solution to my boredom, and lack of friends and money, etc.. and if the hours were over 3 days, then i would still have lots of time off with the kids.
I applied by sending my CV online, and informed them my Nurse registration should be approved any time soon. They phoned me to come for an interview, and in the mean time, my nurse registration came through!
it was like it was meant to be!. the interview was very relaxed and informal, and the next day, they phoned me to offer the job. the hours will be spread over 3 days, with some flexibility too!
excellent! sign me up!
just waiting now for my annual nurses practice certificate,and i can start working. should only be another week or so!
i cant quite believe it. its perfect! and all happened so fast!