the world is our oyster

It's Summer Again

2010-12-23T20:22:00.009Z

It's hard to believe we haven't blogged since February! Time has flown by and our lives have been extremely busy.
Sarah D arrived in mid-March and, along with Joan, was here for the big day when we moved into our new home on March 31. The house was nowhere near finished but our holiday home rental was due to end and we had no choice but to take up residence here. Two house moves in 10 weeks was exhausting and we survived the first couple of months in the house with a sofa, beds, microwave, kettle, dishwasher, loo and makeshift bath/shower (in which we also did the washing up. There is a picture of Sarah sitting on the loo seat with a bowl at her feet, doing the washing up, which I am forbidden to post!) Every day began around 7am with crowds of builders invading the house and working around us.

The night we moved in.

The Furries quickly settled into their new surroundings and like us are very happy here.
Lynn returned to the UK in early April to take Joan home and what was meant to be a fleeting visited was prolonged by a week as a result of the volcanic ash cloud.
The house continued to be be completed around us but with winter fast approaching we still had no heating despite everything being in place for central heating, underfloor heating and a gas fire. Needless to say we resorted to electric blankets and were relieved when the gas fire was finally working. As winter drew to a close yes, you've guessed correctly, the underfloor and central heating were functioning.

Sarah enjoyed a busy autumn and winter here, with some fun jobs including modelling and a week at NZ Fashion Week in early spring. She has also proved to be an expert fisherman during trips out in the Bay of Plenty with new friends.

Sarah and Domino enjoy the spring sunshine on our building site!

Maureen and Stuart have visited us from Oz a couple of times since February and as always it is great to spend time with them and enjoy a G&T (or two!!).

In mid-September Lynn was seconded to work in the Emergency Department at Wellington Hospital for 3 months, about 750Km and an hour's flight from here, in order to become a Fellow of the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine. It was a daunting prospect, not least being away from home so much, but it proved to be thoroughly enjoyable, worthwhile and memorable experience. "Windy Wellington" is worthy of its'name and there were a few exciting landings and take-offs!! (There are some great videos on You Tube of planes trying to land there). The 3 months ended a few days ago and it's good to be back in sunny Tauranga. During the Welly time, Andrew and Rosemary were also there and it was lovely, as always, to spend time with them.

In mid-October, Sarah H arrived. She managed to time her arrival at Auckland airport to coincide with the return home of the NZ gold medallists from the Commonwealth Games in India and was surprised to walk into the arrivals hall to be greeted by the media cameras and clapping and cheering Kiwis..........we let her believe it was all for her!!! Like Sarah, Sarah is enjoying NZ life and is working and playing hard before she leaves on her round the world gap year trip.

Sarah and Lynn at the airport.

They did a 12,000feet skydive over Tauranga a few weeks ago and then went to Oz and spent 2 nights with Maureen and Stuart on the Gold Coast before burning the candle at both ends in Sydney. Oh to be young again!

The girls have fun!

Pete and the Barron Knights were here in late October and we, Sarah and Sarah, and Maureen and Stuart thoroughly enjoyed seeing the show and spending some brief but quality time with Pete in Hamilton.

Pete

In mid-November our newest family member arrived...................an accident and definitely not planned as you might appreciate. He is a Curly retriever called Tiki, now almost 5 months old, and as you can see is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.

He and the Furries adore each other, sometimes, and it has been interesting watching their relationships develop. Some of the chases are fun, the best being when Domino chased Tiki and had him hiding behind Sarah for protection. So the house now has 20 paws and 8 feet trailing in an endless amount of mud and dust. Thank goodness we decided on tiles and wood rather than carpets and that the decks are now almost complete.

Tom's business is doing well despite the ongoing recession and he is working ever harder to keep up with demand. The strain of living with 6 women, including the girl Furries, is taking its' toll and Tiki and Tui are great support to him. A holiday beckons.

As the end of 2010 fast approaches, we look back with pride and exhaustion at what we have done................built and moved in to our fabulous new home, worked extremely hard, spent too much money, entertained a lot of people, and had a lot of fun.

2011 is already destined to be much the same. Sarah H leaves on her round the world travels in mid-January and will be back in NZ in June before heading back to the UK and university. Robert arrives the day after Sarah H leaves and we envisage more burning the candle at both ends and plenty of time at the beach. It is almost 2 years since Robert was last here so there will undoubtedly be a lot of catching up conversations late into the night. Karl and Stuart arrive at the end of January for 3 weeks, a long awaited and much anticipated visit. Then there's our holiday? Maureen and Staurt are likely to be here again in the autumn, and with the rugby world cup just around the corner who knows who is likely to be knocking on our door....Frank C maybe? The pool should be finished soon too.

Then of course there is the all important matter of TOM's BIG BIRTHDAY in September and who knows how many visitors that will attract??? We guarantee it will be a great party.

WE HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS

AND

A VERY HAPPY 2011

LYNN and TOM

Time flies!

2010-02-16T00:44:00.007Z

It's hard to believe that autumn is fast approaching and the wonderful summer will soon be over. The last few months have been very busy with work, the house build, moving rental home and entertaining our parents.

We moved to live in a lovely holiday home at Ongare Point, near Katikati, in early January when our last tenancy ended. Despite not seeing the Mount every day we still have a lovely view across to Matakana Island. The house is on an organic fruit farm and we have been treated by the owners to an endless supply of oranges, lemons, apples, avocados, pawpaw, walnuts and ugly fruit (great big oranges).

Tom and Betty, Tom's parents, have just returned to the UK after their holiday with us. The weather was kind to them with temperatures in the mid to high 20's each day and they left refreshed and suntanned.

Joan, Lynn's mum, is staying for a few more weeks and has been exploring the option of retirement villages here..............watch this space for her decision about emigrating to NZ.

Betty and Joan both enjoyed their birthdays here and the 80+ candles on their cakes were a bit of a fire risk! We are both very proud of our parents' achievement in travelling 12,000miles to the other side of the world to be with us in our piece of Paradise.

The social and music calender has been busy and includes seeing Tiki Taane and also Shapeshifter, Lynn Joan and Betty flying by helicopter to White Island, and Lynn and Joan going to the Mission Estate Winery 50th anniversary of Motown concert (for which many thanks to everyone at Swiftshore). We are now looking forward to seeing Michael McDonald and Mick Fleetwood in concert in a couple of weeks, Tahuna Breaks at the Kiwi Festival Carnival, and the Tauranga Easter Jazz Festival.

The house build has had a few hiccoughs which have delayed the completion , all minor in the scheme of things, but things are coming together very fast and we hope for a completion date in late March. The tawa flooring is being laid, the tiling starts in the next few days, the kitchen is being installed today and the balcony balustrade is installed. The house looks wonderful and we are very much looking forward to moving in.

More to follow soon.......................................

Have an Awesome 2010!

2010-01-01T06:48:00.003Z

2010 is already looking very good indeed. Today the temperature reached 33 degrees with clear blue skies all day.

Sun, sea, sand, shellfish, strawberries, shampagne, surfers, swimming, sunshades, sunhats, sauvignon blanc, strolling around the Mount, scrumptious food, sloshed and sitting in the sun- a perfect day!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

WE HOPE 2010 IS A WONDERFUL YEAR FOR YOU ALL

More to follow soon....................................................

Sweet As! Have an awesome Christmas.

2009-12-22T07:48:00.012Z

The weeks have flown by and it's a surprise to realise that we haven't written anything for almost 3 months. We have been very busy and the house build has taken up a lot of our time, which has been both fun and interesting.

After a mild but wet winter and various delays, especially with the windows, completion of the house is about 2 months behind schedule. Today, at long last, the majority of the windows were finally installed and the house has taken on a whole new dimension.

Inside the electrics, plumbing and central heating work is done and the walls are being gibbed. Outside, the stucco work has started and we are trying to find the best colour to paint the house.

Joan arrived from the UK at the beginning of November and had an enjoyable journey via Dubai and Sydney in the expert care of Barbara, our Kiwi friend who had been holidaying in Europe and kindly offered to accommpany her. Joan is enjoying the best that NZ has to offer..........temperatures in the mid-20's, blue skies and the prospect of Christmas Day at the beach. Our sypathies are with those of you who are currently snowed in and freezing in the UK!

Since Joan arrived we have also had visits from Rosemary and Andrew from the UK and Maureen and Stuart from Oz- it was lovely to see them all and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them. We are both gaining weight as everyone loves the local fish and chips and we have been "forced" to indulge in them more than we usually do!

After almost 2 years in NZ we continue to love being here and are very happy.

The Pohutakawas (NZ Christmas Trees) are flowering, the Jacarandas are in full bloom and we are constantly reminded of what a beautiful country we live in. It's awesome!

Rainbow over Papamoa Hills and Tauranga

We know that 2010 is going to be an exciting and fun year. We will move into our new home very soon, Tom's parents arrive in a few weeks for a 6 week holiday, we have tickets to see more concerts including a huge Motown event (many thanks to the Swiftshore crowd) and Michael McDonald, visits from a number of friends including Pete and Veronica and the Barron Knights, and maybe even some of our families.

Thank you to everyone for keeping in touch with us via email, Skype, letters and phone calls. It's great to hear from you and to hear your news.

HAVE A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS

AND

A WONDERFUL 2010!!

Pohutakawa- New Zealand Xmas Tree

More to follow soon..............don't forget to click on the pictures to see them better..........

Sourcing!

2009-09-27T08:30:00.003+01:00

The house from below.

The house from the side.

The house from the pool!

The upstairs bedroom from

the dining room and lounge

roof.

The view from the upstairs

bedroom.

We are busy sourcing fixtures and furniture- the electrician starts work at the end of the week and the windows will soon be going in.

Don't forget to click on the pictures to blow them up.

More to follow soon................................

40 Tonne Ballerinas in The Kingdom of Tonga

2009-08-30T03:57:00.010+01:00

It was a huge privilege to be in The Kingdom of Tonga with these magnificant humpback whales- mums, babies and their escorts, whose presence in the water is so graceful. The Kingdom of Tonga is one of the few places in the world where it is legal to swim with whales, under highly professional and strictly controlled guidance. We were extremely fortunate to be guided and introduced to the whales by Allan Bowe of Mounu Island, whose passion for whale conservation and protection is inspirational as is his knowlege of the whales themselves.
The pictures and video speak for themselves and we hope you enjoy them. We will treasure the memories of this truly wonderful experience.

More to follow soon......................................................

The moon over Tauranga on 8 August 2009

2009-08-08T09:10:00.008+01:00

More to follow soon............................................

Roos and Views

2009-07-28T08:36:00.008+01:00

We have just returned from a much needed break- we visited Oz to see Maureen and Stuart and had a wonderful time. Their home is beautiful and we were treated to yummy food, great wines (mainly NZ Marlboroughs!), a boat trip in the warmth and sunshine (very welcome after NZ's cold snap), meeting the local wildlife (thankfully no spiders or snakes!) and plenty of laughs. Many thanks to them both for their kindness and hospitality- we look forward to spending time with them again in December when they visit NZ.

Tom enjoyed golf with Stuart at Hope Island and Lynn and Maureen caught up on the news, and all before lunchtime. It was a joy to see kangaroos up close, along with the varied and colourful birds such as honey eaters, lorakeets and pelicans. Sadly we didn't see any koalas although, with all the gum trees around, there is a possibility they were watching us.

In the time we were away the house continued to grow and the floor for the next level is now being done. As you can see from the pictures, the rooms on the main level are well defined and the shape of the house is easily seen:

The roof should be on by the end of August................watch this space!

More to follow soon........................................................................................

A Whirlibird, Bubbling Earth and Timber Framework

2009-07-11T02:36:00.009+01:00

What a month! We haven't stopped and life in NZ continues to be great fun.

The house is growing by the day and, as you can see from the pictures, the timber framework for the main level is in place and the garage roof is taking shape- the fabulous curves where the windows will be have been framed and the next floor will be added in the next couple of weeks. The views from the house continue to amaze us and the sunsets are spectacular! We haven't been there early enough to see the sunrise yet, but there will be plenty of time for that when we move in.

After 4 weeks in Tauranga, Ian left today for the rest of his elective on the ski slopes of South Island. It's been a pleasure spending time with him and meeting the the other medical students who are enjoying their time "down under" in NZ and places like the Cook Islands and Tonga. We have really enjoyed their energy and enthusiasm for adventure and fun.

Last weekend we went to "Maori in the City" in Auckland, a wonderful event showcasing all things Maori including arts and crafts, kai (food), dancing and music, all for free. We sampled it all ( and are now looking for a recipe for 'fry bread' which we will share with you when we find one) and were introduced to a whole new world of music which we loved. The music lovers amongst you should look out for House of Shem, 1814, and Tahuna Breaks.

Yesterday we went by whirlibird to White Island- the whole experience was, in Ian's words, mesmerising. The volcano crater lies below sea level and landing on the "moonscape" was a privilege indeed. Armed with gas masks, which we didn't wear except for the photo (!) we walked amidst steam vents, bubbling mud and eggshell thin earth to reach the crater- the bubbling yellow water in there has a pH of about -0.05, which is hard to imagine. Views of the volcano as we swooped overhead when we took off to leave were breathtaking, and seeing the whole of the Bay of Plenty from what felt like a glass bubble reminded us that we really do live in paradise.

Spring is fast approaching along with some much needed breaks. Next week Tom is going to Sydney to see Natalie play hockey for England. Good luck Natalie!! The week after we are going to Brisbane to see Maureen and Stuart, and at the end of August we are off to Tonga to swim with whales. Joan, Lynn's mum, arrives in late October having been given the all clear to travel to NZ, which is great news.

Thanks for your memories of NZ Sarah- we loved reading them and, needless to say, we look forward to the next chapter too. Pimmsy says sunrise just isn't the same without you!

More to follow soon.........................................and don't forget to click on the pics to see more detail. particularly the rather jaunty angle of Tom's hat!

Builders' Bums and Visitors

2009-06-16T06:56:00.017+01:00

We have had a hectic and extremely enjoyable few weeks.

Sarah and Robert were here for just over 2 weeks and managed to pack in the activities including skydiving (Tom decided not to do a second one!), a sea plane from Lake Rotorua over Mount Tarawera, jetboating, thermal pools, a hangi and a few days in Raratonga (Cook Islands). It was great fun having them here and the time passed all too quickly. The electric blankets proved to be very welcome as the weather wasn't always well behaved for them- thankfully there were some lovely, sunny days mixed in with the rain and overall it wasn't too bad for mid-winter. The house seemed very empty when they left and we look forward to them returning soon to spend time in the new house when it is finished, IN THE SUMMER, when Rob can wear his shorts every day!!

Two days after Sarah and Robert left, 4 medical students from Newcastle arrived. One of them, Ian, is spending a month working in the Emergency Department at Tauranga and the other three are now experiencing healthcare in Tonga. Their energy is infectious and we spent a busy weekend showing Ian our little piece of paradise including more jetboating and a climb up the Mount, followed by the best fish and chips in the world!

Despite several days of storms and torrential rain, the house build is progressing well as the photos below demonstrate. Today the concrete floor on the main level was poured and the garage will be built in the coming days (somewhere dry for the builders to shelter). The steelwork arrives for the main frame this week and our fabulous staircase which leads down to the pool (if we can afford it!) has been made. What do you think to the builders' bums eh?

More to follow soon..............................................

....and don't forget to click on the individual photos to blow them up.

The First Curve

2009-05-09T09:20:00.006+01:00

The end of the week saw the "basement" foundations work finished and the footings for the main floor of the house are about to begin. The garage footings are done and the walls have started. As you can see from the photos the first of the curves on the house is taking shape.
Awesome!

More to follow soon...............................

353 Minden Road

2009-05-03T08:38:00.006+01:00

353 means we are 3530 metres from State Highway 2, which is the main road at the end of Minden Road.

Despite several days of heavy rain when the builders were unable to work, the progress they have made in the last few weeks is fantastic as you can see below. If you click on the individual photos you can see the views much more clearly.

HOW WE HOPE IT WILL LOOK!

The builders are certainly enjoying themselves and it is a pleasure for us to see the pride they have in their work and in the home they are building for us. We are beginning to source things for the house, which is great fun. You would be surprised how many shower heads there are to choose from , let alone types of toilet. LOL.

Sarah and Robert arrive for a two week stay at the end of the month so fingers crossed that the temperature will stay in the high double figures for them. We can confirm that there are enough electric blankets if not!

We went to the top of the Mount today and continue to be amazed by the beauty of where we live.

More to follow soon...........................................

Progress

2009-04-08T02:19:00.010+01:00

March was a very busy month. The building work is now well under way following the completion of what proved to be major excavations and earth moving. The footings are in place and the block work has started so there will soon be a house shape to see.The picture on the left is what the house will look like and the one on the right is where it's at now. We'll leave the rest to your imagination!

Thanks for your message Sarah and, yes, we do have guest space. In fact, the council thought we were building a hotel as the plans had "Guest Suite 1", Guest Suite 2", and "Guest Suite 3" on them and we had to change the wording to "bedrooms" before we were given planning permission. So there is plenty of space for you all, including Rolo if he gets a passport. He may want to discuss the journey in the hold of the plane with the Furries before he embarks on it! We are hoping for lots of the many visits we have been promised by everyone and we look forward to showing people our little piece of Paradise here in the South Pacific Ocean.

We both continue to work hard, too hard perhaps, but have managed to fit some other things in. We did a tandem skydive from 10,000 feet a few weeks ago which was amazing (Lynn) and terrifying and amazing (Tom), with sensational views over Tauranga, the Mount and the Pacific Ocean.

A couple of weeks ago we swam with dolphins, which was a huge privilege. Actually, they swam with us as we were towed along at 5 knots by the boat as we held on to a swim bar. It was breathtaking (not easy when you are wearing a mask and snorkel!!) as they swam around us being very curious. They are beautiful to see. The sea was completely flat, and with clear blue sky overhead it was a wonderful day to experience nature at its very best. Tom tried his hand at sailing the boat and we negotiated the harbour entrance without mishap. Thankfully Butler, the captain, brought us into the marina!!

We have had glorious weather this summer and so far autumn is shaping up well despite Tom feeling the cold when it was 20 degrees this morning. What whimps we're becoming-it's doubtful if we could cope with snow ever again!

Lynn is doing a course in Maori Traditional Medicine and Tom continues to master the art of fly-fishing. We are off to Oz later in the year to see Maureen and Stuart, then to Tonga to swim with whales..............life is very good indeed!

More to follow soon...........................................................

Excavations

2009-03-08T08:46:00.004Z

On Monday 2 March the excavations for the house began and the diggers arrived in style. Tons of clay and soil have been dug out and moved around the plot and the shape on which the house will stand has started to take shape. We have resisted the temptation to hijack the diggers and have a go ourselves! Friday brought torrential rain and the excavations had to stop, but with good weather forecast for the coming week it will be all systems go again tomorrow.

More to follow soon.............................

Building a home and having fun

2009-02-27T08:11:00.010Z

Yes! It's happening!! The house build started this week, on Tuesday 24 February to be exact. So far the site has been cleared of the mass of gorse that had grown since we bought the land and the outline of the house has been marked with bright pink spray paint. The excavations start next week so watch this space to see the house grow.

So far 2009 has been fun. Maureen and Stuart came to stay from Oz for almost a week during which we packed in sightseeing, a boat trip on the Coromandel, golf, a jet boat ride, a walk to the top of the Mount, plenty of laughs and some excellent wine and a few G+T's.

Since then we have seen Simply Red at Villa Maria Winery in Auckland, Billy Connolly in Rotorua and the Kapa Haka championships in Tauranga. Who said NZ is behind the times? We don't think so!!

More to follow soon...................................................................

Happy 2009!

2009-01-02T05:23:00.008Z

We have been in NZ for a year now and have loved every minute of it- no regrets about the move at all.

It's been a busy year and we haven't written on the blogsite for a long time.

Lynn returned to the UK for a month in September when her mum was ill- thankfully Joan is doing well and we hope to get her out to Tauranga around her 80th birthday in February.

Tom's business is going well despite the world economy crisis so fingers crossed for a successful 2009.

The house plans have been finalised and planning permission is awaited- hopefully the build will start in mid to late January.

Christmas and New Year in the sun were very different and most of you perhaps know that we had a barbecue on Christmas Day........ham and crayfish.......and it was fantastic.

Thank you to everyone, family and friends alike, for keeping in touch by email and on Skype over the last year. It has meant so much to us both. We love to hear from you all so please keep it up in 2009.

Attached are some pics from 2008.

Happy 2009 to you all and we will put something on the blog and some pics every few months.

Aroha

Lynn and Tom

Tui in his bandage after a fight with a possum (we aren't sure who the winner was).

Christmas Day barbecue- our first!

Barbecue at Teresa and Derek's house.

Tauranga ED Xmas photo

Tui

2008-07-13T10:51:00.008+01:00

We have a new Furry called Tui!

Around the time that Billy died we spotted a grey oriental (perhaps Siamese?) looking tomcat with big yellow eyes hanging around. Over the weeks he got bolder and bolder in getting into the kitchen to steal cat food and we realised he was a stray. We have searched for his owner without success so last week we formally adopted him. We called him Bobble at first, because he was an intact tomcat with big!! bobbles. He is now "bobbleless" so we decided on the name Tui because he has such a loud voice, just like NZ's tui birds. Like the birds he also has a white bit on his chest. The girl Furries are still a bit wary of him but overall they seem ok about him being around.

We had a lovely email from Louise, who looked after Billy before he became a Furry- when Billy moved on from her house to live at Stragglethorpe, a grey cat appearred in her garden. Louise's theory is that Billy sends a grey cat to replace him, believing a grey cat isn't as handsome as him. Who knows? Anyway, we are very pleased Billy sent us Tui. Like Billy, Tui will be very loved and cared for and we think Billy knew that.

Life remains fun and is busy for both or us. The house plans are coming along well and we look forward to the building work starting. It is the equivalent of January in the UK here and we spent this afternoon on the beach. With clear blue skies and a temperature of 16 degrees it was more like summer.

More to follow soonish..............................................................................................

Singing, Dancing and the Haka

2008-06-22T09:23:00.007+01:00

We Poms aren't doing too well on the sporting front are we? Two All Black victories in a week together with a NZ cricket team win to level the series. Oh well!
We went to the local bar to watch the first of the All Black v England games, one of us being a complete traitor and wearing a NZ rugby shirt. Surrounded by Maoris and Pakehas we cheered with the best of them, challenged the refereeing (yes Ray! the Welsh referee was definitely on the side of the All Blacks), and loved seeing the Haka performed.

The All Blacks' Haka is a war Haka or Peruperu and has traditionally been the Ka Mate Haka. More recently they introduced a new Haka, the Kapo o Pango, with its' throat slitting gesture at the end! We're told it isn't really a throat slit but a Maori sign for drawing vital energy into the heart and lungs! There are many other types of Haka, some performed by women, and they are used for greeting people, dance, celebrations and important occassions.

Last night we saw West Side Story, a production by Tauranga Boys and Tauranga Girls Colleges and it was a joy to watch. We were amazed by the professionalism of the cast, the set and the choreography and it was hard to believe we weren't at a West End show. Two stars stood out and are names to watch out for. Shannon Evison is a remarkably talented 15 year old actress with a great voice and personality that combined to thrill the audience with a memorable performance as Anita. Chase Douglas is without doubt one of the best young tenors we have heard and his performance as Tony was worthy of Broadway and the West End.

Life is good and we have passed the shortest day so we are fast approaching spring!

More to follow soon....................................................................

Discovering the Bliss of an Electric Blanket

2008-06-05T07:06:00.006+01:00

When we arrived in our rented home at the end of December 07, the temperature was 28 degrees and the electric blankets on the beds left us somewhat bemused. They were all carefully folded and packed away without a second thought until about 3 weeks ago when the evening temperatures fell to the chilly side of 10 degrees after 17-18 degrees in the daytime. With no central heating, and only a log fire and electric heaters for warmth, getting undressed and leaping into a cold bed was decidely uninviting .

In a moment of sheer genious Tom remembered the electric blankets! Not just any old electric blankets, but ones made of sheepskin with dual controls and a booster for added bliss. So now we toast with the tips of our noses poking out from under the duvet into the cold night air. The windows stay wide open and and we are snug in our new found nest!! The vet surgery sells electric blankets for cats too, but as you can see Megan has her own way of keeping warm.

Getting out of bed the next morning isn't so easy and involves a mad dash into a hot shower followed by a bowl of porridge. So, we are almost Kiwis and no longer soft.

We can hear some of you saying "Forget the visit to NZ!" Please be assured that when we build the house it will have lovely warm central heating and you won't be cold if you are here in winter. The great treat will be the sheepskin electric blanket waiting for you on your bed so that you too can enjoy the bliss.

Life is busy and we are very happy living and working here.

More to follow soon............................................

A Sunday Drive

2008-05-18T06:19:00.011+01:00

The last few weeks have been busy with work and play. Tom went to Christchurch for a few days for a business meeting and has taken up fly fishing. About 50 of us helped at a "Ground Force" type day for one of the Emergency Department nurses who is ill and in 2 days the outside of her house was painted and the garden landscaped. We have also partied, had long walks on the beach, visited Auckland for a day, and met the architect to see the first drawings of the house.

Today we set off early to visit Wai-o-Tapo, the geothermal area between Rotorua and Taupo, and saw our first NZ frost. The inland temperature was much cooler than in Tauranga, but the sun eventually broke through and we have enjoyed clear blue skies all day and about 12 degrees (17 degrees in Tauranga). Wai-o-Tapu means Sacred Waters and is within the Taupo volcanic area. The entire area is covered with volcanic craters, boiling mud pools, and lakes and pools of hot and bubbling water.

The Champagne Pool is the largest of the pools and is 65 metres wide and 62 metres deep- the surface temperature is 74 degrees C, and the bubbles are formed by carbon dioxide. Water from the pool overflow into an area called the Artist's Palate and the cooling waters expose minerals to the atmosphere which dry in a variety of colours. The colours are seen throughout Wai-o-Tapo and, for example, antimony is orange, sulphur is yellow, iron-oxide is red and ferrous salts are green. The resulting colour contrasts are lovely to see.
The Lady Knox Geyser, pronounced guyzer and not geezer, erupts every day at 10.15 as a result of soap being put into its' water. At the beginning of the 20th century, the geothermal area was an open prison and the prisoners worked clearing the area and planting it with native bush and Kanuka and Manuka (tea tree, named by Captain Cook who made a tea like drink from it). They used the hot water at the geyser to wash clothes and discovered by accident that soap caused it to erupt up to 20m metres high. Biodegradable soap is now used!

Enjoy the video and think of Wai-o-Tapo when you next drink champagne!

More to follow soon.....................................................................................

ANZAC Day

2008-04-27T02:42:00.009+01:00

"...They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we shall remember them."

ANZAC Day is commemorated by New Zealanders and Australians on 25 April each year. ANZAC refers to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who joined the Allied Forces in World War 1 and on 25 April 1915 made a dawn landing at Gallipoli in Turkey. Over the next 8 months, more than 10,000 ANZACs lost their lives in the battle that followed. Over 18,000 New Zealanders died in WW1 and over 42,000 were injured- these are staggering figures if one is reminded that the total population of NZ was just over 1 million at that time and 103,000 of them joined the Allies and supported Britain.

We decided to drive to the Mount for the dawn service, a drive of about 15km, and left home at 05.15am. We were surprised by the volume of traffic at this time of day given that it was a public holiday and we realised that they were all going to the service. At the Mount a parking space was difficult to find and people of all ages, from babies in their buggies to war veterans made their way to the dunes by the cenitaph. We estimated at least 2,000 people were there and despite the number of people all we could hear was the surf rolling in as we waited for the service to begin.

At exactly 06.00 the sound of bagpipes accompanied the veterans' march to the cenitaph. The service unfolded against a backdrop of yet another spectacular sunrise over the Pacific Ocean and as day broke and The Last Post was played, 2 war planes (Sixty-Two B17 bombers we think) emerged over the sea and flew overhead. It was a moving occasion, reminiscent of the many silences we have observed in the UK on Remembrance Day and similar occasions, and a reminder that freedom is precious. It is that freedom which has allowed us to travel the world and to come to NZ to live and work. We hope you enjoy the video.

More to follow soon......................................................................

Pukekos

2008-04-20T11:50:00.005+01:00

Pukekos, also known as New Zealand Swamp Hens, filled the verges on our drive back from Whitianga early this morning. With their iridescent blue-back feathers, white undertails, red beaks and orange-red legs they are very distinctive and replicas can found in craft and gift shops.

Whitianga is in the north of the Coromandel Peninsula, about 2 hours from Tauranga, and the home of our Italian friends Margherita and Giorgio. Last night was Margherita's birthday party and it was lovely to see them and their family again. Their home, Villa Toscana, is a beautiful place high on the hillside overlooking Mercury Bay and brings all things Italian to NZ. We had a great evening and stayed the night at Villa Toscana Lodge, where we had originally stayed during our visit to NZ in January 07.

The scenery in Coromandel Peninsula is a stunning mix of native bush, forested hillsides and white beaches. Pampas grass, called Toi Toi by the Maoris grows everywhere and its' colours range from cream through to pink.

Tom now has his car, the weather remains good after torrential rain early last week, though it is cooler in the evenings, and life is Sweet As!

More to follow soon.................................................

Swimming without dolphins

2008-04-11T08:16:00.008+01:00

The autumn weather remains lovely, with temperatures around 21 degrees and clear blue skies. Perfect weather for a trip to see dolphins and hopefully to swim with them. As we boarded the sailing boat this morning, the captain agreed that the conditions were perfect and off we sailed. Out on the Pacific Ocean the view of the Mount and Tauranga, with the backdrop of the Kaimai Hills, was stunning. The sea was calm, visibility excellent and we were able to see the smoke from White Island Volcano.
Excitement mounted as we approached hundreds of sea birds on the water- a sure sign of fish and therefore dolphins. Guess what? Not a dolphin in sight!! The day continued in the same way and the elusive dolphins were nowhere to be seen despite covering miles of ocean in the Bay of Plenty (or not so plenty where dolphins are concerned!) One theory is that when Orca whales are around the dolphins hide but sadly we didn't spot an Orca either. Oh well. We had a lovely day and despite the absent dolphins we can go on another trip whenever we like to make up for it and we won't have to pay.
As we sailed back into Tauranga Harbour, 3 paragliders were flying around the peak of the Mount. We saw a couple of them when we were at the top of the Mount recently and were very impressed by their skill as they swooped around finding the thermals. They are quite daring too as they often come very close to the rocks during their turns.

Our belongings arrived last week and Tom's car is ready for collection tomorrow. The evenings are dark at about 19.00 as our clocks went back last week- the sunrises are as beautiful and colourful as ever. We are hoping to meet our architect in the next week or so to see his initial design plans for our house. Tom's business plans are developing well and his hard work is coming to fruition.

More to follow soon.................................................

Where are our belongings?

2008-03-31T09:00:00.006+01:00

Tom's car arrived in NZ on 16 February and our belongings arrived on 19 March and none of them have reached us yet! Everything is checked, scrubbed and decontaminated to ensure the biosecurity of NZ. As autumn starts to make its presence felt we are hopeful that some warmer clothes will arrive soon. Mind you, it's still over 21 degrees each day but with some rain and overcast skies.

Tom passed his college course last week and is now busy setting up his new business and learning Kiwi business-speak. "Sweet as" and "awesome" will simply not be enough!

We did a bit more touring of the area yesterday and discovered Wairere Falls in the Kaimai Hills. We intend to follow the footpath to the top, four hours round trip, if the weather is good next weekend and if our belongings arrive with our walking shoes etc.

The house isn't the same without Billy around and we all miss him so much. Pimms often looks for him in the bedroom he made his own and clearly doesn't understand why she can't find her friend. The dynamics between the 3 girl Furries have definitely changed and Pimms and Megan often rub noses. Perhaps Megan realises that Pimms needs to be comforted?

More to follow soon..............................................................

Billy

2008-03-21T00:42:00.015Z

Billy, the oldest of The Furries, died yesterday at the age of 13 after a short illness. He had spent almost 3 months in New Zealand and he was happy here, stretched out purring in the warmth and sunshine.

He was a gorgeous cat, handsome according to Tom, with huge furry pugs, distinguished hairy ears, great big long whiskers, huge beaming eyes, and bushy tail that complimented his shaggy, shiny coat. His purr was extremely loud, as was his meow, and his presence always majestic and graceful.

We are grateful to everyone at Vet Care Tauranga and especially to Kathleen, the very kind and caring vet, who treated Billy with the compassion and dignity he deserved during his illness and at the time of his death. We will never forget the support given to us at such a heartbreaking time.

So now we are 5 and we all miss him terribly. Megan, Domino and Pimms clearly know something is wrong and that he is no longer with us and we are all having extra cuddles and tickles to help us through this extremely sad time.

Billy will stay in our hearts forever. We feel privileged that he shared his furry purry life with us. We have great memories of him- the bites he delivered to those who invaded his personal space, cat flap banging in the middle of the night, his loud demands for food, his love for Pimms, and his passion for catnip chocolates are just a few.

We also have some fab pics of him and the other Furries and we hope you enjoy the ones here.

Thank you Billy!

The Strand

2008-03-16T05:44:00.005Z

Part of the fun of starting a new life in another country is making new friends. Yesterday we spent the afternoon on the Strand in the fun company of Tina and Ollie, two doctors who certainly know how to enjoy life.
The Strand? It's in downtown Tauranga next to the water and has a row of restaurant bars with outdoor tables and parasols. What better way to spend Saturday afternoon than in the sun at the Horny Bull Cafe, enjoying great conversation, eating fries and wedges, enjoying a glass of SB, learning more about Tauranga and NZ and sharing experiences of overseas travel.

Next weekend (Easter) sees Tauranga hosting a jazz festival and on both Saturday and Sundayafternoon there will be open air jazz on the Strand.

Monday is St Patrick's Day and the Emerald Isle people among you will be pleased to learn that St Patrick is not forgotten in NZ- among the many events is a best dressed leprechaun contest. Frank C, we will be thinking of you- have a great day and a hangover to be proud of!!

Despite it being early Autumn the weather remains hot and sunny- clear blue skies and 28 degrees.

Tom starts a 2 week college course tomorrow in preparation for setting up a business of his own. We still have only one car as the customs people have yet to release Tom's car for a spin on the open road.

More to follow soon..............................

Boogie Boarding

2008-03-10T05:27:00.010Z

This is us riding the Mount Maunganui surf on our boogie boards earlier today! Wow! Ok.......you're right........it's not us, but it soon could be.

Despite it being early Autumn here the weather is still blue skies and 23-24 degrees every day. This afternoon we went to buy our boogie boards. Tom decided that like every budding surfer he may want to stand up so a bumper board, with 3 fins and an ankle strap, was for him rather than a boogie board. Did he stand up on it?.......NO!!! Did Lynn manage to ride the waves spreadeagled on her bright yellow (chosen as a contrast to the chilli red mini) boogie board?.....NO!!! Despite that, it was fantastic fun- the sea was like a warm bath, the surf was ideal for beginners, and as we were dunked and thrown about we understood yet again why we chose to move to this fabulous place.

We looked the part in our trendy board shorts bought for us by the Swiftshore crowd. The beach is vast and we certainly weren't the oldest people in the water. The best bit is that nobody laughs as they are all struggling to look super dooper cool too.

We arrived home exhausted and with grazed knees. We enjoyed the rush hour drive home with the boards sticking out of the mini. People were clearly surprised to see the two of us and not two trendy, bronzed and beautiful babes!

All that exercise left us starving hungry so Tom's prawn and scallop pasta dinner, washed down by yet another fab Sauvignon Blanc, was just what the doctor (Lynn) ordered.

An awesome day indeed........................sweet as!

More to follow soon................................................................................

The Alligator Pear

2008-02-26T08:30:00.009Z

We have written a great deal about the fantastic view from our home but so far we haven't mentioned that the valley below us is a major producer of alligator pears, better known as avocados.
In fact, the Bay of Plenty is responsible for more than half of NZ's avocado crop. Why our interest in avocados all of a sudden? Well... there are some avocado trees on the steep garden that slopes away from the lawn and yesterday we decided to pick some- the garden is a mass of plants and trees and getting to the avocado trees is somewhat hazardous ( we have the scratches and cuts to prove it!).Tom impersonated Tarzan as he shimmied up the dense trees to pick the avocados which hide under huge green leaves, and Lynn risked a serious head injury trying to catch them as they were dropped down from at least 5 metres. Neither of us were keen on the idea of being airlifted out with injuries that we would not be able to describe as "Sweet as".

So..what do you know about avocados, or alligator pears? We bet you didn't know that the name comes from the Aztec word "ahuacati" which roughly translates to "green testicle". For centuries they were believed to induce sexual prowess and weren't bought by those wishing to hold on to a respectable reputation. Thankfully we don't need to buy them so no worries about our reputation! There are other good reasons to eat them too- they have the highest fibre content of any fruit, contain monounsaturated rather than saturated fats, have large amounts of vitamin B, and contain no cholesterol.

What can you do with them apart from serve them with prawns and make gaucamole? Apparantly they make excellent ice cream too, can be mashed with lemon or lime juice and frozen ready for when you can't find any ripe ones, made into a pie to serve with cream, used in the production of oil for cooking and made into a whole range of skin care products.

So as we continue to be captivated by the view of the Pacific Ocean, Mount Maunganui and Tauranga itself we have started to include the lush green alligator pear orchards in the valley below. The Bay of Plenty??? Definitely!!! and we haven't even mentioned the Kiwi fruits yet.

More to follow soon........................................................................

Rod the Mod in Auckland

2008-02-20T07:03:00.004Z

Wow! Our supposedly last minute, not very good seats were so near the stage we could almost touch him. Not that Tom was keen to but Lynn and Jan were eager and ready! At times he seemed to be singing just to the frenzied females in our group of 3, then we realised that Penny Lancaster was sitting just below us. Oh well................!

We didn't manage to catch a signed football unfortunately. That was made up for by him singing all of his greats hits in that fantastic 63 year old raspy voice. Yet again we knew all the words of every song which is surprising when we can't remember our phone number most days. Anyway, we sang along with the best of them ( all 8,000 or so in fact) and bopped til we dropped. Champagne moments? That sexy bum and the way he wiggles it (Lynn and Jan, not Tom), the long blond hair of PL (Tom, not Lynn and Jan), the incredible voices of the 3 backing singers and Rod the Mod as a first class performer (all of us). Best songs? Difficult to choose but Downtown Train, Father and Son and This Old Heart of Mine were high on the list.

"If you think I'm sexy...............come on sugar let me know". Yes Rod, you are sexy! (Lynn and Jan xx)

More to follow soon..............................................................

The Barron Knights in Tauranga

2008-02-16T08:17:00.004Z

A lot of you are too young to remember the Barron Knights. Thank goodness we are old enough! Formed in 1960, they remain one of the very few bands to have toured with both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Paul McCartney sang his early plans for Hey Jude to them at Abbey Road, and their contibution to the world of live music has been phenomenal.

Last night they performed in Tauranga and we were treated to great seats by Pete Langford, one of the founder members of the band. The performance was memorable indeed- a mix of comedy, serious harmony and brilliant guitar playing. Their tour continues in the UK later in 2008 and we recommend that you buy tickets. The William Tell Overture played on 3 guitars is an experience not to be missed, as is Pete playing flamenco using a plectrum ( apparantly something you don't do, but he does with a passion and flare that sends shivers along your spine).

Earlier in the week we had dinner with Pete and his lovely, funny wife Veronica. What great fun we had sharing passions about live music, a great love of NZ, gardening and all things AbFab!! We hope they will return to NZ soon for a proper holiday so we can spend more time with them.Many thanks to them both for 2 fun packed evenings, filled with laughter and shared interests. Pete...........don't forget!!......Michael McDonald on his UK tour in the spring/summer..........you are our representatives.

What next? Rod the Mod on Tuesday in Auckland, Jools Holland and the inspirational Ruby Turner in March and James Blunt in April. Life in NZ behind the times eh?..........we don't think so!!!!!

More to follow soon...............................................................................

Mauao

2008-02-03T07:56:00.000Z

Today we walked to the top of Mauao, better know as Mount Maunganui. We have seen it in many different and beautiful lights from Pride Rock, but today it was at its very best. Mauoa stands tall at 232 metres and for some inexplicable reason we decided to get to the top via the steepest of the many pathways! One of us puffed a bit and we will leave you to guess which one.

The walk was through subtropical bush with fantastic views across the harbour, Matakana Island, Tauranga, and Mount Maunganui beach towards Papamoa beach. At the summit, the 360 degree view of the paradise we have chosen for our home was both beautiful and breathtaking and we were able to see the smoke from the crater of White Island in the distance. We asked someone at the top to take our photo, which he did after saying "Of course......no problem......sweet as!"Mauao is steeped in history. The scientific community believes it was formed as a result of volcanic activity but we prefer the Maori legend........unrequited love drove an un-named hill (now called Mauao) to ask the fairy people (the patupaiarehe) to haul him overland and into the sea. With the first rays of the sun the fairies fled, leaving Mauao paralysed where he stands today, caught by the dawn as the sun rises over the Pacific Ocean. Mauao was later renamed Maunganui, "the big hill".

There are many pohutukawa trees (New Zealand Christmas trees) growing on Mauao and we are looking forward to seeing them in their full colour glory next Christmas. On future climbs of Mauao we may be lucky enough to see dolphins, which are frequently seen close to the shore, the occasional shark and blue penguins which come onto the rocks for shelter in the winter.

Lifestyle? Definitely!

More to follow soon..............................................................................

A Sunny Day in Te Puna

2008-02-02T04:10:00.000Z

We don't want to rub it in but as the Brits amongst you continue to freeze in the gales and snow, our warmth and sunshine are forecast to last until at least the end of March! Water shortages and drought are likely so Tom is hastily cleaning and filling the spa in the garden before a hosepipe ban is imposed. Lynn is supervising from a semi-reclined position on a sunbed. It's a tough life!

The chilli red mini now sports a fun new number plate.

"Sweet as" sums everything up:

The weather is "Sweet as"
Work is "Sweet as"
NZ, Te Puna and Tauranga are all "Sweet as"
Driving round with the roof down is "Sweet as"
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wines are "Sweet as"
Finding Heinz tomato ketchup in the supermarket was "Sweet as" (the Kiwi version just isn't the same)
Not watching TV at all since we got here is "Sweet as"
Seeing the Pacific Ocean every day is "Sweet as"
Seeing the Kamai Hills every day is "Sweet as"
Watching the Furries bask in the sunshine and warmth is "Sweet as"
The sunrise and sunset from our home are "Sweet as" (and usually awesome too)
The Hakuna Matata philosophy is "Sweet as"

Have a great time in the snow if it's arrived where you are!

More to follow soon....................................................................

Awesome New Zealand is Sweet As.

2008-01-26T00:46:00.000Z

After almost a month we have no regrets at all about our move to NZ and Tauranga! We were looking for a lifestyle change and it's "awesome" to have found it.

"Awesome" is a much used word here and seems to apply to just about anything. "I'm sorry to tell you you've broken a bone" is met with "Awesome", as is "Thank you", "Hello" and any comment about the weather, NZ and Tauranga.

Another favourite is "Sweet as", which seems to be a substitute for "Awesome" as well as having it's own uses. "Is that ok?", "Are you ok?", "I'll see you later" are all met with "Sweet as".

We still haven't mastered the accent and understanding people on the phone is difficult at times- the letters "a" and "e" sound like "i" so the cats are kits, the place KatiKati (just up the road from here) sounds like KittyKitty, and we'll leave you to imagine what pest sounds like!

Earlier this week we had 2 days of torrential rain as Tropical Cyclone Funa hit the country. It was very humid and hot (>25 degrees) and we lost our fabulous view as our heads were in the clouds.

When the rain left we were back to clear blue skies- "Sweet as"! The full moon has been spectacular over the ocean and when it rises it provides a flame red backdrop to Tauranga- "Awesome"! We are looking forward to a partial eclipse in about 10 days.

Thanks for all your emails and other communications- we love hearing from you all as well as seeing a few of you on Skype.

More to follow soon.................................................................

The Police in Wellington

2008-01-18T04:12:00.000Z

Thank goodness we are middle-aged rockers and recognised the importance of the reunion of The Police and their worldwide tour. Even more thanks to Elaine and the gang for getting tickets not far from the stage with a perfect view of the whole performance.
What a concert!! The passion of Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland for their music shone through which added to our enjoyment. Their brilliance as musicians was beyond question, even after all these years. As ever, Sting's magnificent voice had everyone singing along and dedododo dedadada and yyyyeho were the order of the night. Champagne moments were many and included Walking on the Moon, Roxanne and especially Every Breath You Take.

We bopped until we dropped, sang until we were hoarse and were proud to know the words of every single song. So... middle aged? yes! but we have still got all our marbles.
We decided to fly from Tauranga to Wellington and enjoyed a really scenic flight from which we saw Lake Taupo and Mount Ruapehu, which still has snow on top of it despit NZ temperatures of at least 25 at the moment. Wellington, the windy city, was just that.....windy!!! We hired a car and drove back overnight and managed the 520Km in 7 hours. We were too exhausted to play our air guitars when we got back but we will jump around on Pride Rock and play them this evening as the sun goes down. Hakuna Matata!!
Talking of guitars, Sting's guitar must have been his original Police one as it was so worn and had almost no varnish left on it.
Sting has the brightest blue eyes in case you girls out there haven't noticed (an observation by Lynn and not Tom!) Gaynor..........we know you said you might never speak to us again if we went to see The Police but please do so that we can tell you more about the concert and Lynn can discuss his Fab blue eyes with you. The tour is almost over but perhaps you have time to get tickets for Tokyo? Is Tokyo far from Hong Kong?!
More to follow soon.............................................yyyyeho.

Skype

2008-01-16T22:38:00.001Z

What a pleasure it has been to communicate with people on Skype.
Our first contact was with the Swiftshore crowd in Gorran Haven. Little Tom.......what funny faces you pull! Little Sarah.......we weren't surprised that your face kept popping up in front of everyone else! It's such a chore being gorgeously fabulous isn't it?
Today, Tom's mum was successful in getting up and running with Skype. Her patience and tenacity are remarkable indeed and it was great to share her excitement and that of Tom Snr in our first video contact with them.
So, get Skyping all of you as we'd love to see you all.
More to follow soon.........................................................................we are off to see The Police in Wellington tonight.

Sun, Sand and Surf

2008-01-13T09:41:00.000Z

It's been a beautiful day with clear blue skies and a temperature of around 28. We went for a long walk on the beach and enjoyed the surf and white sands.
We have decided to buy body boards and wet suits as the body boarding looked so much fun. Wetsuits? we hear you say- well, despite the outside air temperature the Pacific Ocean was cold even to paddle in and don't forget that we are middle aged, though young at heart. Let's not forget either that we are not complete whimps as we did brave the English Channel on Boxing Day, all in the name of charity!! (if you don't believe us please watch the video clip on the earlier blog for evidence).
On Thursday we are going to Wellington to see The Police...........thank you Elaine and all at Swiftshore!
Rod the mod Stewart is appearing in Auckland in February and as some of you know Lynn thinks he is definitely sexy so tickets are being sought.
The Barron Knights are appearing in Tauranga at the end of February- another must in view of the association of band member Peter with Woburn Golf Club.
More to follow soon...........................................

Paradise Found

2008-01-11T08:31:00.000Z

After almost 2 weeks we are still sitting on Pride Rock each day and taking in the fantastic views. We really feel that we have found paradise, a word we have heard used many times to describe NZ and, more recently, Tauranga. Definitely Hakuna Matata is the order of the day here!!!!!!
It's been a busy week. Lynn started work last Monday and is really enjoying the job. The Emergency Department is very friendly and welcoming and working without mention of government targets and NHS politics is a great pleasure.
We spent 2 very enjoyable evenings earlier in the week with Andrew and Rosemary- we are trying to persaude them to buy the plot of land next to the one we have bought. Hopefully the UK weather on their return from NZ yesterday will persaude them to think seriously about coming back to NZ!
We now have Broadband and a home phone number and you should have received our new contact details. We are also on Skype so please let us know if you are too- it will be fun to see you as well as talk to you. We have received so many messages wishing us well and we are very grateful to you all for keeping in touch with us. David.......when that lone pigeon and the pond life get too much for you, why not try the ED in Tauranga for a change?!
More to follow soon.........................................................

Pride Rock

2008-01-05T05:04:00.001Z

We have now been in New Zealand for almost a week and our dream has come true! We feel very comfortable and at home here and have no regrets about our decision.
The past week has been very busy and interesting and we have enjoyed glorious weather since we arrived.
We spent our final couple of hours in the UK in the Virgin Club Lounge at Heathrow, as guests of Julie and Chris who we met last year on safari in South Africa . By pure coincidence they were flying to Dehli at just about the same time as our flight to NZ. Drinking bubbles with them and sharing travel experiences and plans with people who have a similar outlook to life and travel was the perfect end to our time in the UK.

Our Air NZ flights came up to expectations although we had a bit of a shock when we checked in and were told that our baggage was 71 Kg overweight- at 33 UK Pounds per Kg that meant we faced a bill of over 2000 pounds. Ugh!!! We managed to sort out the cases and sent the 71Kg with another company and at 250 UK Pounds it was cheap!
We were met at Auckland Airport by a fab Chilli red convertible mini- wow!

The Furries arrived 24 hours later and thankfully seemed none the worse for their journey- Airpets Oceanic (Willowslea Kennels near Heathrow) were fantastic and we are grateful to them for the care they gave not only to the Furries, but also to the anxious owner. They seem to love their new home and within 24 hours were exploring the garden and establishing their territory.

There is a huge flat rock in our garden and it provides a great vantage point from which to take in the amazing view from our new home, across Tauranga and the Mount and out to the Pacific Ocean. The six of us have spent some time sitting on the rock and taking in the view. So, we have called it Pride Rock- you will recall that we enjoyed The Lion King very much!

We are proud to be here and proud of the decision we made to experience life in NZ.
More to follow soon....................................................

Stuffed, Drunk and Stupid

2007-12-27T11:57:00.000Z

What a Christmas! We have been treated to many wonderful things. Christmas dinner was a gastronomic delight, with numerous types of roasted and stuffed birds- turkey, quail, partridge, goose, duck and wood pigeon, not forgetting the pork, with chestnut stuffing, orange stuffing and

all the trimings. All washed down by Cloudy Bay.

On Boxing Day we had a dip in the sea in aid of charity- the rules were that you couldn't wear a wetsuit and had to be totally immersed. So on the count of five, about 30 people (stupid?) and 10 dogs ran like crazy, amid much screaming and wailing, and we were in!!!!

Long walks on the beach, glorious sunshine, very special presents, and a much needed rest have made this a Christmas to remember, thanks to the Swiftshore residents and guests and to the many friends who have contacted us.

Soon we are off to see Sarah and Robert in Tring.

More to follow soon...................................................

Exhausted!

2007-12-24T14:17:00.000Z

The last 10 days have been so busy that we haven't had time to write anything. So much has happened and the time has whizzed by.
Just over a week ago, Richard hosted a great party for us at his very beautiful home, a former village jail. As well as the excellent company, we were treated to a magnificent homemade buffet
and a tour of the cells!!

Most of our house furniture was collected the same day, which left us with 2 chairs, a bed and a TV- hakuna matata! Home comfort and a ready supply of food and bubbly beverages were supplied by Stuart and Karl until we left the house yesterday. Their hospitality has been, as always, exceptional.
We visited NZ House to collect our visas at the start of the week and also enjoyed meeting Michelle, the boss of the agency who arranged Lynn's Tauranga job, for lunch. What a lovely, bubbly person she is and we highly recommend her to those docs among you who are thinking of looking for a job overseas.
Tom's car set off on its voyage to NZ and our belongings began their voyage the following day. The Furries left for the cattery near Heathrow, amidst much howling and tears ( Megan and Lynn) - thankfully they have settled there ok, with Megan and Domino sharing a "suite" and Pimms and Billy sharing another. Pimms and Billy have apparantly become great friends and now sleep side by side. So.... hakuna matata!.
Yesterday we went to see Tom's parents in Blackpool and it was lovely to also see May, Natalie, Lizzie, both Davids, Emily (whose mince pies went down a treat), Jennifer (whose infectious laugh filled the day!), Chrissie and Carolyn- another very special and memorable send off, with more great food and fun. We set up a laptop and Skype for Tom's parents and Natalie is now teaching them how to use it. Then, late yesterday evening, we travelled to spend Christmas with Lynn's family in Cornwall- we arrived exhausted soon after midnight.
So, its now time to relax and enjoy Christmas! We hope you all have a fab Christmas and a very relaxing time- in particular, hakuna matata!
More to follow soon........................................

Hakuna Matata

2007-12-13T20:57:00.000Z

It's been a busy week made very tiring by us being less than bundles of health- unfortunately, we haven't been able to do everything we had planned to do.

Grace, Ray and Jane gave us a thoroughly enjoyable day when we visited them in South Wales and saying goodbye to such kind and caring people, whose friendship and support has been second to none, was not easy.

As part of a visit to London, Sarah D. treated us to "The Lion King" at the Lyceum. What a show! and if you haven't seen it yet, you really should. We loved every minute of it- the set and scene changes were stunning, bringing back memories of our time on safari in South Africa last year, the African music and singing were superb, and the characters were great fun.

Two characters in particular stole our hearts, as they have thousands of other children........... the meercat, Timon, and the warthog, Pumbaa.

Their song is Hakuna Matata and it goes like this:
Hakuna Matata!
What a wonderful phrase
Hakuna Matata!
Ain't no passing crazy

It means no worries
For the rest of your days
It's our problem free philosophy
Hakuna Matata!................

Hakuna Matata is now our philosophy too! It is a Swahili term and apparantly used as a greeting. The next 2 weeks are even busier but eh?.............no worries!

Busy Times

2007-12-07T23:23:00.000Z

We have spent time over the last week with our parents, organising Broadband in preparation for Skype and it is good to know that we will all be able to see as well as hear each other when we are in NZ.

We have been both moved and overwhelmed by the number of people who have arranged send off events for us- some are still to happen- and it has been a wonderful opportunity to catch up with people and say farewell. Last night we were treated to a fab evening by the Emergency Medicine trainees and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, with Christmas food, pink champagne, and great conversation!

The surveyor inspected the house today and hopefully the sale will progress smoothly. We continue to pack, sort and discard things but there still seems a lot to do in the time we have left in the UK. Three weeks from now we will be on our way to NZ.

So much will happen next week- more farewells, including a trip to South Wales, 2 parties, a surprise event on Wednesday, haircuts and highlights (Lynn not Tom!!!) and a mass removal of furniture from the house at the end of the week.

Sunday Lunch

2007-12-02T21:20:00.000Z

Today we were invited to a yummy Sunday lunch with Jo, Demas, Elsa and Charlie. Rosemary, Andrew and Frank joined us along with 2 Coffey juniors, Ceilan and Nevin (both the image of Frank). Enduring friendships like these are very special indeed and we know they will survive our move to the other side of the planet. We will be seeing Rosemary and Andrew again soon, in Tauranga, during their visit to NZ and we are looking forward to showing them Lot 5 Minden Road.

A busy week lies ahead- cat poo samples to be collected (any suggestions about how to achieve this will be gratefully accepted!) and sent to the lab for analysis as part of the Furry immigration process, more sorting and packing, a car boot sale and another farewell dinner with friends and colleagues.

Countdown

2007-12-01T17:05:00.000Z

It is now less than a month before we leave the UK. So much has happened in the 2 weeks since we arrived back from our holiday- one house sold (phew!), farewell meals, Xmas shopping and much packing and sorting. There is a lot more to be done but we know it will all fall into place as the days go by.
Liv and Pete called to say goodbye today and we enjoyed cream cakes and tea- it was lovely to see them and we very much hope they will make it to NZ for a visit soon.

There are a lot of people still to say goodbye to, laptops to be set up with Skype in order to keep in touch and see as well as talk to people, and Furries to be prepared for their long journey.

Lot 5 Minden Road

2007-11-24T15:08:00.000Z

We have been back in the UK for almost a week and time is passing very quickly towards our move to NZ on 28 December. The cold, wet days have had us yearning for the warmth and sunshine we enjoyed on our holiday.

The location of our rental home in Tauranga, and the view, are both wonderful and we were able to explore the surrounding area during our week there. We came across one and a quarter acres of land for sale, Lot 5 Minden Road, with stunning 360 degrees of the Kamai Mountains, Tauranga Harbour, Mount Maunganui and the Pacific Ocean beyond. Guess what? We are in the process of buying it and we will build a house there during the coming year!

More to follow soon...................................................

A Few Thoughts

2007-11-20T06:09:00.000Z

Three weeks of fun, new and exciting experiences, confirming our decision to move to New Zealand is absolutely right, and meeting so many lovely people from around the world- we feel privileged and would like to share some thoughts and champagne moments with you.

The hotel in Bangkok left a "thought" in our room each day we were there and we hope they inspire you, as they did us:
12.11.07 "Walk on a rainbow trail; walk on a trail of song, and all about you will be beauty. There is a way out of every dark mist, over a rainbow trail" (Navajo Song)

13.11.07 "There are many ways of breaking a heart. Stories were full of hearts broken by love, but what really broke a heart was taking away its dream- whatever that dream might be" (Pearl Buck 1892-1973)

14.11.07 "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" (Theodore Roosevelt 1858-1919)

We each have our champagne moments, some of them shared ones, and here are just a few:
The sheer beauty of Bora Bora- we will never forget it.
Swimming with sharks and stingrays.
New Zealand.
The view from our rental house in Te Puna.
Italy in Whitianga, and especially Giorgio's home-made cheese!
The dignity of the Thai people, exemplified by Sak.
The Wai, the Thai greeting.
Hong Kong at night, viewed from the water.

We arrived back in the UK to rain, snow and cold and were collected from Heathrow by Karl. The Furries purred a great deal when we arrived home and say they have been very loved and cared for by Rachael.

It is less than 6 weeks before we leave for NZ again, and there is a lot to do in that time! We will keep you up to date and also add some photos to our blogs over the next few days. Please keep adding your comments, which we enjoy reading.

More to follow soon............................................................

A Brilliant Last Day

2007-11-17T14:02:00.000Z

Hong Kong has exhausted us! We have walked miles, experienced the city from the Star Ferry, a junkboat tour of the harbour at night including the laser show, a bus to The Peak, and from the MTR metro. The city is staggering for its size, the height of the buildings, the magnificent views, the sheer variety of cuisines, the friendly people, and the unbelievable cleanliness (no graffiti anywhere).
We have had a wonderful time with Gaynor and Atholl, and their lovely friends Holly, Michael and baby William. Gaynor, you are an expert tour guide and we couldn't have asked for a better finale than the Thai/Malaysian meal tonight, outdoors at a table on a serious slope (how many times did the beer nearly slide off the edge?)..........what a meal!!
So we are now heading back to the hotel to pack. It's an early start tomorrow and we have been warned that we may freeze when we reach the UK. It was a comfortable 25C today in HK with clear blue skies.
We have many lasting memories of three fun packed weeks and feel lucky to have experienced so much in such a short time.
We also have some thoughts to share with you all, to follow soon.............

Hong Kong Again

2007-11-15T16:16:00.000Z

We arrived back in Hong Kong this evening and within 40 minutes of reaching the hotel we headed off for a gastronomic delight with Gaynor and Atholl. As they were recently in Bangkok too, it was fun to share our experiences particularly about the nightlife and the tuk tuks.
Tomorrow involves seeing the sights together with a night time harbour cruise to see the light show, of Guiness Book of Records fame.
These final few days are flying by and we will soon be back in the UK- please warn us if we need snow chains for the car, or similar protection against the cold weather, as we have been extremely warm for the past weeks. We are looking forward to adding some photos to the blogs when we return, as we didn't master how to do it during the holiday.
More to follow.............but not much more........

A Tuk Tuk in Bangkok

2007-11-14T09:35:00.000Z

Thanks to our good friend and host Phil, and to a gracious Thai gentleman called Sak (our chauffeur arranged by Phil), our 2 days in Bangkok have been memorable indeed. We didnt meet Sak til the morning after our arrival, so arrived at our hotel in a Tuk Tuk looking rather windswept among the limos and chauffeurs.

We have eaten Thai food (very expensive at US$4 for 4 people!), enjoyed the unbelievable shopping, ridden the skytrain and underground, visited Kandhanaburi and one of the war memorial cemetries, and the Bridge over the River Kwae.

How humbling to know that everyone who lost their lives (115,000 people) building the Burma-Siam railway died without a shot being fired, from starvation, disease and mistreatment. Moving indeed and an inspiration to watch the film again and reflect on the history.

Our hotel has the world's highest outdoor grill bar and at 59 floors high it is a bit of a leg wobbler! We haven't spent much time there- a rapidly gulped glass of (expensive) vino!
We also had a taster of Bangkok's famous night life and we will tell you more when we see you.
Back to HK tomorrow and more time with Gaynor.
More to follow.................................

Hong Kong Without a Suitcase

2007-11-12T04:06:00.000Z

We reached HK this morning after yet another great flight with Air New Zealand, only to find we had a suitcase missing. What a wonderful excuse for shopping we can hear you all say! Whose suitcase? Initially Tom was excited about buying new things until it became clear that shopaholic Lynn's case was the missing one. Before the shops had even opened the case had been found and delivered to the hotel.....very sad!
Leaving NZ yesterday was sad.
So now we are off to meet Gaynor and Atholl for lunch. Not the champagne lunch you may have read about in the comments, as sadly that was yesterday. The skyscrapers in HK have to be seen to be believed. This evening we fly to Bangkok for 3 nights which is very exciting.
More to follow soon...........................

A Sunny Day in Tauranga

2007-11-09T02:29:00.000Z

Two days of clear blue skies and lovely warm weather. Wonderful, and it's only spring here, with Xmas preparations in full swing. We haven't climbed the mount yet!

Tomorrow we are visiting Whitianga and the Italian friends we met earlier this year, then on Sunday it's off to HongKong then on to Bangkok before we return home.
More to follow soon.............................

The Chilli Red Mini

2007-11-07T02:54:00.000Z

The day in Auckland yesterday was miserable at first, with torrential rain. It got better though! It continued to rain but the interview was over by mid morning (outcome awaited) and we bought a Chilli Red Mini Cooper Convertible which is automatic and gorgeous (Lynn's baby).
We have met our neighbours Joop, Annet and Tim and have been made very welcome by them. Everyone is extremely friendly here and we feel very at home- we are now able to pronounce Tauranga properly.... Towrronga! get practicing all you visitors.
The Pacific surf is exhilarating and there are so many people in the sea at the moment.
More to follow.............................................

Bonfire night in Auckland

2007-11-05T09:21:00.000Z

Forget organised bonfire parties. Every driveway and garden and street corner has fireworks, with a couple thrown under the car for good measure.
Tauranga A&E is fab- relaxed and friendly with a great atmosphere and very welcoming. We have explored retail therapy in tauranga and it is good. We are still mesmerised by the ever changing view from our house, depending on the time of day, sunshine and the height of the clouds. Sometimes the clouds are below us, so our heads are definitely not in them!
Mount Maunganui Golf Club is very good and the membership is reasonably cheap so NZ golfers watch out!!
Exploring buying a Mini Cabriolet tomorrow...........very chic.............very fun...........not good for hairstyles.
Thanks for your comments which we have really enjoyed reading.
More to follow after tomorrow's interview.............................

Tauranga

2007-11-03T05:00:00.000Z

We reached Tauranga 24 hours ago and after a dash from Auckland we managed to pick up the keys for the house we are renting, 21 Dawn View Place, Te Puna. It was advertised as "Love a spectacular view?" and what a spectacular view it has, across the bay towards Mount Maunganui with the hills in the background. The Furries will love the gardens which has many trees and fab plants and shrubs. The area is beautiful and the weather is typical of a very good UK summer (it's late spring here).
We have explored the area today and have seen from the outside some of the for sale properties we have looked at on the internet before our travels- some of them are truly stunning.
We have no doubt at all that we have made the right decision to move to NZ, though we haven't yet mastered the accent!
More to follow soon...................we have a very busy week to come, with a trip back to Auckland for an interview, a visit to Tauranga Hospital to meet new colleagues, lots more relaxing and soaking up the view, and if we feel energetic we may even "climb" Mount Maunganui!

Tahiti

2007-11-01T03:12:00.000Z

Tahiti and traffic jams- like us, you would probably think No! Well, gridlock it is- so much traffic in Papeete, the main town, that we could have walked there quicker. The great bit was the bus, or rather truck, with air conditioning (no windows), an emergency exit ( gate at the back) and seating for 42 (sideways benches). Personal space nil but great fun.

Overall a relaxing day, without spending much during the retail therapy- there are flowers everywhere, of all colours, sizes and varieties. Where do they put them all?- apart from in their

hair, behind their ears and round their necks?

It's been a wonderful experience, including tropical rain while we were sunbathing.
NZ tomorrow......................................

Tahiti

2007-10-31T05:08:00.000Z

We have just arrived in Tahiti after almost 4 days in Bora Bora, which were unforgettable. Yes! we survived the sharks and the stingrays- swimming with them was incredible and exhilarating and something we will never forget. Retail therapy tomorrow and more relaxing in the sun. What a life! Then it's on to NZ and Tauranga on Friday, to get the keys for our new home there.
Thanks to everyone who has posted comments for us- we have really enjoyed reading them.

Bora Bora

2007-10-28T21:37:00.000Z

We arrived here 24 hours ago after great journeys with Air New Zealand and Air Tahiti Nui.

Nothing we have read or seen about Bora Bora truly captures the paradise that it is. The colours defy description- azure, emerald, torquoise and the deepest warmest blues are our poor attempts at defining the colours.

We watched the sunrise at 05.15 this morning then went snorkelling to the Coral Garden before breakfast at 08.30. Tomorrow we are going swimming with rays and sharks so we are hoping they are vegetarians! It's very hot here so we are off back into the sea.
More to follow soon..............

The adventure begins tomorrow

2007-10-25T21:08:00.000+01:00

This time tomorrow we will be high above the Atlantic, en route to LA then Tahiti and Bora Bora. We haven't packed yet so tomorrow morning will be a bit frenetic.

Our dear friend Karl is chauffeuring us to Heathrow and Rachael will be "Furry sitting" while we are away. Billy is currently asleep on Rachael's bed so it will be nice and warm for her by tomorrow night!When the UK clocks go back an hour at the weekend, and it's dark at teatime, we will be snorkelling in the sunshine.

More to follow soon....................................

Introducing The Furries

2007-10-21T11:10:00.000+01:00

For those of you who haven't met The Furries, here they are, clockwise from top left:
Domino and Megan (sisters), Billy and Pimms.

AOTEAROA or "The Land of the Long White Cloud"

2007-10-20T13:47:00.000+01:00

On Friday 26 October 2007, two middle aged youngsters will set off on a 3 week round the world trip. Yes! that's us..... Lynn and Tom.

Our trip will take us to Bora Bora, Tahiti, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Bangkok- all part of the much bigger picture of a lifestyle change. At the end of December 2007 we (including the Furries) are moving to Tauranga, New Zealand to live and work by the Pacific Ocean.Tauranga is on the east coast of North Island, about 2 hours from Auckland, in the Western Bay of Plenty. It is also reasonably close to Cloudy Bay, as the wine connoisseurs amongst you will know.

Exciting times lie ahead so, if you watch this space, we will enjoy sharing them with you!

PS This is not our yacht unfortunately...........................but who knows?..........one day perhaps?