We're in New Zealand

Monday morning we arrived back in New Zealand - although an uneventful (we were on time on both legs) it was a very long trip. We arrived at Heathrow on Saturday afternoon quite early (after scraping ice off the car window for what we hope is the last time) and read the newspaper in the lounge (found out that fellow kiwis had bought 6000 copies of a cd for their dogs - apparently the enjoyment is from watching your dog wagging its tail and getting excited while you sit in silence - is this really the country we call home?). We stood for an hour or so in transit in the US then were told to 'come on down to the gate if we want to board the plane' in a very broad American accent (it sounded like an invitation to a barn dance). There's no place like home - does that sound familiar? As I walked the streets of Wellington I felt like skipping along just like Dorothy did on the yellow brick road. So what is so good about Wellington. Well...
The weather - we can't always say that - but this summer has been described by most people I talk to as the best in a very long time. If the brown hills are anything to go by then it has been warm for quite a few weeks and we certainly enjoyed the high 20's as we explored old haunts and sat outside chatting and drinking coffee or eating dinners. The natural beauty...

...'There's something about the harbour' - I wandered around the harbour enjoying the different moods of the sea, watching people relaxing in the sea, on the beach, in canoes or just cruising the wharves on foot or roller blades. Waitangi Park is a different place than 9 months before with the flaxes, plants and trees all beginning to be established. There's something for everyone - a place to picnic, buy coffee, swim in the sea, skateboard. There's also all those interesting poems to read and some more information on the history of boats and people than before.
...and 'there's something about the hills' -we parked the car in our usual car park up the Wadestown Hill more than once and wandered down through Wadestown into town with the cicadas in full tune. We wandered up Mount Kaukau (fairly effortlessly compared to pre-cycle days) and enjoyed the view with the ships coming in, the planes flying over, the trains and cars moving below us. And enjoyed wandering over the fields in Eketehuna.

'There's something about this city of ours' ...I think it is all the special people we know - our family and our friends. We so enjoyed meeting up with our family and friends, going to our clubs and for long walks. On reflection, we had a holiday doing all the things we would have done 1 year ago as a normal part of our lives. It has reinforced what we already knew, it takes a long time to make precious relationships and in a new country we can't expect it to happen quickly. Sharon's party was great - Macs Brewery is a good venue, with fairy lights on the ceiling and we decorated the room with lots of photos of Sharon, a slide show and lots of balloons. It was a special time meeting our friends again - those that had supported us as a family and it reminded me of all the holidays and fun times we had with friends over the last 21 years. Harry ended up night clubbing at Boogie Wonderland after the party. I took Mike and his friend home and Harry went to collect Aaron's car from Reading Carpark. It closed at 2.00 so he went night clubbing with the others until he could get hold of me to come and collect him (all I could say is next time take enough money for a taxi - but actually I was quite envious cos I can't remember the last time I went clubbing).

And we knew where to go - we didn't need a map!! It is so liberating to drive knowing instinctively that to get to Karori, or Paekakariki, or Eketehuna you turn this corner and go around this roundabout and to walk around the shops knowing that Farmers is here, Kirks is there and the supermarket is where you last left it!! We can meet up with friends outside Chicago, or parliament and we don't need detailed explanations of how to find the venue. We enjoyed the kiwi food - what did we miss in England - barbeques, sausages and crisp fish and chips - we haven't overdosed really (just a few slices of bread with sausages and onions coated in tomato sauce and mustard when we passed the fund raisers by the supermarkets) and a couple of lots of fish and chips (plus potato fritters, spring and curry rolls and pineapple fritters) on the beach. Oh and Harry missed the Marmite (we bought some back - we almost had to pay excess baggage!!). We think we will buy a barbeque when we return and introduce the kiwi bbq to those in England. But there are a few things the same as in England

• jet lag - it doesn't matter where we are it seems to make us tired - sleep longer and later and a few days where the energy levels are a bit lower


• the dentist - they're painful in any country but more expensive in England (but it is good having free GP visits)


• the news - all papers seem to have the same amount of crime, politics, economics, good, sad and bad news - though Harry enjoyed the Dominion Post crossword once again and sudokos seem to be more difficult in NZ


• enjoying taking photos - we didn't have many of Wellington but now have heaps. I've tried to take lots from different perspectives so that we remember more views than just those of Oriental Bay. One thing I regret is that I wanted one photo of all my friends with Sharon and Michael from the party - but on the night forgot to organise it (too busy talking I suspect).


• the wind - yes Bristol has had some but probably not as frequently as our Windy Wellington.

Thanks to all of you special people who made our holiday one to remember and also make Wellington our home. It's a pity that we missed seeing some of you.