A New Pakeha In Town

Photos: Brits invade Australia

thekiwireporter — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:13:00 GMT

Kat, Jake and Amelia visit us in Australia

Brits Australian Adventure

thekiwireporter — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:28:00 GMT

At long last here is my blog about my holiday to Australia

After a bit of a mishap with Kat, Jake and Amelia forgetting the minor purchase of a visa, they managed to get a visa last minute and still make their flight downunder – phew! After a lovely sunny spell, Wellington’s skies decided to open so I left a very wet NZ and arrived in a sunny Australia. Taking the tube from the airport to meet everyone, I always think it weird that they have double decker tubes like in Europe.

After lots of hugs and woop woops Kat, Jake, Amelia and I set off for Bondi Beach while Zoe and Tom slaved it out at work. There was a lot of oooh it is so clean – while I enjoyed the fact that NZ water was a bit warmer (as Sydney had been experiencing storms and we had a long hot spell). Obviously there is no rivalry at all between Zoe, Tom and I in our passion about NZ and OZ! So we walked along the track to Coogie beach which was a 2 hr track to a quieter beach. It was the same walk I took to see the sculptures last time I was in Oz but unfortunately the sculpture installation had finished. After the hot walk we enjoyed a brief dip in the sea before returning to Sydney for dinner with Zoe and Tom at the outdoor Sydney Opera House restaurant. The views were stunning of the harbour which we continued to enjoy on our ferry ride home.

Early starts were a theme of the holiday (I’m not complaining – important to make the most of it) and we set off early on our tour of the Blue Mountains. The tour guide was a typical Aussie though he was a bit obsessed with Australian hip-hop and kept calling us gangsters. In Aussie-style the Blue Mountains are not mountains (hmm NZ has lots of mountains!!!) but it is a high and vast plateau with deep gorges carved into the sandstone. Nothing has been built there because it is sandstone so it remains a vast national park. The tour guide showed us the ‘lesser known’ sites of the park which was much more fun than the tourist trap around the Three Sisters. We saw a vast canyon and had lunch there before a visit to a waterfall. Didn’t see any snakes which I will say is a good thing though we did see a baby huntsman spider.

On Thursday we headed north through the Hunter Valley which is famous for its vineyards. Yet I was kept occupied by a cheese shop, nicking grapes during a wine tasting and a chocolate shop. The others tasted some lovely wines (apparently) in one posh winery then a nicer quirky organic winery with a very passionate barman. It felt strange with us all being together and tasting wines, cheeses and chocolate in Aus and not Europe. After having their fill of wine tasting we stopped at a brewery for lunch before making a detour to the house where Tom grew up. It was the quietest Tom was for the whole trip as we drove down a gravel track to the house his dad built as well as the bus stop which sheltered the ickle tom from the hot sun! After a trip down memory lane for Tom, we continued on to Port Stephans.

We rented a house for 2 nights and it was a lovely place with loads of room (no hot tub unlike in NZ!). After a long day we popped over to the beech then ate cheese and had a BBQ. Friday was our dolphin watching and sand boarding day. We set off to the harbour to catch the dolphin watching boat. As we arrived early we all suddenly wanted to buy a hat and I got persuaded to get one too! So then the hat-gang hopped on board the boat. The bay has a resident pod of dolphins so we were 99% guaranteed of seeing them and we weren’t disappointed. After the excitement of seeing the pod of dolphins we hopped down the slide onto a netting which was dragged behind the boat which was a lot of fun. Then we had barramundi fish and chips for lunch followed by the visit to the dunes. In true Aussie climate, the sun was hot and the dunes made it even hotter. But we all had a lot of fun climbing up the dunes then boarding down. Well once Jake and Kat started believing me that it was easier to run or walk fast up the dune they also enjoyed that bit too! When we had melted enough we then ran back to the sea for swimming and icecream where Amelia got to try the famous Golden Gaytime icecream. Then another BBQ and sleeeeep!

On my last day, Zoe and I woke up early to see the sunrise on the beech which was worth it. Then we headed back to Sydney via a lake so I could catch my flight back to the ‘Eastern Isles’ as Tom calls it!

Kat and Jake headed to Melbourne then went to the barrier reef with Amelia. One day I will head to the barrier reef and I look forward to that holiday. It is great having Australia 3hrs away. Though it was sad to say goodbye to my awesome friends but one thing is clear – we will all have lots of international adventures and this is not the end of our adventures together.

January

thekiwireporter — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:54:00 GMT

Hello and sorry I have not updated my blog for a while.

January started off slowly but with the hot weather I have been able to go for some more walks. I went to Eastbourne and walked out to the lighthouse and some of the lakes in the area which was fun. I saw lots of people out diving and collecting shell fish. The weather has not been all sunshine and we had some pretty bad storms during which we actually had the fire on for 2 evenings so I got to skype a few people and do more of my crocheting. My New Year’s resolution of a photo a day is going quite well too.

Hannah’s Christmas present also arrived and it was the ingredients for a pecan pie which I baked for the first time and it was delicious. My house mates loved it too as pecans are very hard to come-by here. To counter-balance the joy of the pie I have been running regularly and I have persuaded some red cross staff into doing a 7km run in Feb around the harbour which will be fun. I also managed to run to the top of Mt Kaukau which I was very proud of. My spirits were slightly dampened as I lost my necklace on the run so I walked all the way back up and down Mt Kaukau to find it but it was gone.

The summer is in full swing here and on the 11^th I went to music in the botanical gardens which was good fun. There was also a light installation in the gardens which was stunning – see photos.

The second week also included my NZ first aid course. It was a great group and strange being at a first aid course again. The first aid procedures are quite similar here except 3 differences; no breathes before you start chest compressions for child and baby CPR, choking – it is a chest thrust not abdo thrust, and they teach 2 person log roll rather that recommending full 4 person log-roll. It made me miss doing the medical stuff back home and I just hope one day (soon) I can get back into that area again but I will be patient. But at least I am qualified for the basics here now. I am also applying to be a volunteer (non-medical) at the Wellington hospital once a week so that will give me experience in the health care system here.

The second weekend I went walking out to Red Rocks with a friend from NZRC which was great fun in the heat but also the strong winds on the coast. On the way to meeting her in Wellington before the walk, I got a flat tyre on my bike and started walking the rest of the way until another cyclist stopped and repaired my tyre for me for free! The kindness of strangers here is fantastic.

The next day I went walking near Porirua with an interpreter friend. Whilst the weather was not nearly as fun we still had a good time being buffeted by wind and rain.

Last week I had a meeting with at NZRC about being volunteer president of the wellington branch which is very exciting. So I am in the process of being put forward for the interim president at the moment.

The week’s success continued into the weekend as I flew to Christchurch for meetings with Deaf Aotearoa and Magnet. The Friday involved meetings regarding the course I have been asked to be involved in creating. The local Deaf youth leaders arrived at the accommodation in the evening and we had a weekend of planning for the Deaf Youth Camp in April. It was strange to see Christchurch again after the earthquake, and the destruction 2yrs on is still everywhere – see photos. Whole neighbourhoods are deserted and the roads are all bumpy or unsealed. The impact on the Deaf Community, whilst scattering them geographically, has brought them together and are so resilient. We all went to the closing of their deaf club centre which was an emotional event for them all as the historical building with all its memories would be demolished this week. I was honoured to be a part of it.

The youth leaders were so so welcoming and we all had a great weekend together doing planning, eating 5 litres of icecream, a BBQ and swimming in the sea. I am looking forward to seeing them again at the Deaf View 3 conference in March and then at the Deaf Youth Camp in April where I will be working as a trainer!

So things are on the up with the work hunt and the sun is still shining.

Happy 2013

thekiwireporter — Tue, 1 Jan 2013 16:30:00 GMT

This will be a much shorter story!

New Years Eves have normally been spent with friends and family and I have some great memories of some great parties. Last NYE was spent supporting sick and injured people across London - so what was I going to do this year?!

I ended up having a quiet NYE with one of my friends here with good food, and Rapidough board game. We headed up to the top of the hill for a view of the Harbour but the Welly wind meant that fireworks were cancelled but the view was lovely and we saw a few fireworks. Then played Jenga pictionary washed down with a hot choc.

Cycling home in the morning I was able to catch Mum and Dad online in time for London NYE fireworks which I watched on their TV via skype. The celebrations looked fantastic. I think Hannah is in Time Square some where and several of my friends watched the awesome Sydney Harbour celebrations - definitely a good global coverage!

So now it is 2013 and Im sure there will be many new adventures, friends, memories and challenges. I have decided to take a photograph everyday to capture this new year.

2012 has been an amazing times with challenges, new beginnings and some fantastic memories such as the Olympics and Paralympics and Jubilee. Thank you everyone for your support, kindness and great memories

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Photos: 365 in images

thekiwireporter — Tue, 1 Jan 2013 14:28:00 GMT

My 2013 is to take a photo everyday. The photos will be of something interesting, arty or some achievement I have made

Christmas adventure

thekiwireporter — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 16:27:00 GMT

The Christmas road trip/holiday was a jam-packed adventure so I will prepare you for a slightly lengthy story accompanied by a few of the 643 photos I took.

After picking up Sonny our rental car, I found a package waiting for me from the parents. Then picked up the Aussies at midnight. I have to say waiting for someone to arrive makes it very exciting. Then on Sunday after Zoe and Tom enjoyed playing with Charlie the puppy we set off to Rotorua. After a bit of a detour we arrived at Rivendell then swam in the stream below the film site. It was a battle to get us back on the road again so we delayed and ate a picnic on the side of the stream. We arrive in Taupo to a gorgeous sunset and caught a less spectacular fush n’ chops (fish and chips) then joined Genie in Rotorua by 10pm.

Although we awoke to some lovely sunshine our tour to the volcanic White Island was cancelled so we all created a new thermal adventure plan. We set out for Wai-o-tapu Geothermal park. We rushed to arrive in time for the switching on of the Geyser. The Geyser had a big audience and we all thought why it blew out at the same time every day (10.15am). What is scientifically going on?! So what turns on a Geyser? As 10.15am arrived a guide went up to the Geyser to talk about the history of the area etc. then he turned on the Geyser – with soap! Here is the science part. The cone of the Geyser has a metre or so of cold water keeping the boiling hot water submersed. But the soap (eco-friendly type) breaks the tension and makes a frothy spurt. It does explode naturally but too unpredictable for attracting the tourists. Then we wandered over to the rest of the park and saw some amazing Geothermal waterfalls, lakes, bubbling thundering and popping holes. It was a hot day along with the fragrance of sulphur in the air that we need to go for a chilled out session. I had found out about an increasingly less secret hot water creek called Kerosene Creek. Following some obscure directs backwards we turned onto a dirt track and followed 2.2km to find a few cars parked up. We then got out and went off down a small path through the woods down to a stream which was steaming. We had some good times boiling in the hot water and getting close to a little waterfall and generally having a hot time. Which was good as the rain came and went. Reaching our heating thresholds and feeling like our skin was thoroughly cleansed we headed back to Rotorua for some dinner. In planning for Christmas we had decided to combine elements of our Christmas traditions but also create some of our own. One of our new traditions was to find something free to put in each others’ stockings (or hat). As I was running out of time I asked the barman where we went for dinner for something free and he came back with three Jack Daniels caps! Sweet. After dinner we were ready for another dose of warm water so we went to the hotel and sang some carols in the hot tub. We then watched Home Alone to add to the Christmas spirit.

Christmas Day!

Lovely and sunny. We had a great morning opening presents and stockings and skyping family. Then we headed to Hukka falls parking the car in Taupo. On the walk to the falls we found a massive play area which messed around in for a while then passed a hot spring that we would enjoy on the way back. We walked along the river which was a stunning turquoise colour in the hot sun. I had to eventually swap my Christmas hat for a sun cap after a while. Then arrived at Hukka Falls. On the way back we challenged each other to see how far we could go and bare the cold river water. Then we went to the hot spring which was water about 38’C or more meeting very cold water. So we joined the other people along the line of where the 2 temperatures met and enjoyed finding a limbo of the hot and cold. Then we headed back for a Christmas BBQ of prawns, chicken skewers, salmon and local NZ lamb and couscous followed by melted marshmellows. Though there were a few drops of rain during the BBQ we made up for it with another hot tub.

Boxing day

Today was our Middle-Earth experience. Heading out to Matamata we arrived in Hobbiton. The tour exceeded my expectations and though there was a bit of drizzle we had a great time. The detail of Hobbiton was incredible, proof of Peter Jacksons genius and obsession. He even built extra Hobbit holes to match the Tolkin map even though he never filmed them. 97% of the site is true to the Tolkin vision. The 3% is some trees that couldn’t be cut down, the oak tree that was fake and some other tiny details like some bee hives that couldn’t be real for the risk of allergic tourists! I was glad I didn’t go 7yrs ago as it wasn’t a great tour but now it is great. We all had a quick brew in the Green Dragon which is now a working pub in which you can get some proper hobbit style (not size) food – next time. We then headed to Raibow Springs Park to see lots of native birds such as the flightless parrot the Kakapo, the naughty Kea and the illusive Kiwi. They had a Kiwi couple which we saw in their inside day enclosure. Then to conclude our adventure of Middle-Earth we went to see the 2D version of The Hobbit. We enjoyed the film especially seeing the places we had just visited though I want to see the3D as the start was a bit blurry.

The next day was Tom and Zoe’s adventure with me into Waitomo caves. After lots of nerves from then they came out the other side full of grins :-D After doing the caves in the winter last time it was much better coming out of the caves to warm sunshine.

Our last day was a more chilled day for Genie and I as we left Zoe and Tom to do some extreme sports at Agrodome including Jet boating, skyfall, big swing and sweebing. Genie and I went off in search of a blueberry adventure. Arriving at the blueberry ‘experience’ which was less of an experience and more of a shop with blueberry food and drink tasting. So we had a blueberry icecream then went in search of more adventures ending up at the Agrodome maze which was good fun. Thai Curry, hot tub, sleep.

On Saturday we said goodbye to Genie who decided to stick around the north of the north island. Then we headed home to Wellington. We stopped for another icecream in the town called Bull (see funny photos). Then we stopped over at Zoe’s friend in Upper Hutt for dinner. There house was lovely and they had 5 acres of hillside with stunning views. After our fantastic holiday and seeing this lovely house there were murmurs from Tom about if they found such a house here they would be tempted by a life in NZ!!!!!!!!!!! Hahaha Kiwi Rules! We got home late to a very lonely cat then woke up a few hours later for Tom and Zoe to fly home.

Merry Christmas everyone

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Photos: Christmas Adventure

thekiwireporter — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 10:55:00 GMT

Christmas and summer arrive

thekiwireporter — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:28:00 GMT

Last week began with a positive meeting with Deaf Aotearoa for work possibilities and then a Team Interpreting workshop which was less productive as it was aimed at Spoken Language interpreters who rarely Team interpret. I went to Petone with my friend Carin, then on Thursday I went to a meeting about the vulnerability survey. So really so far not much to report on so this is why I have been slack and grouped 2 weeks into one blog. My next blog will be my Christmas road trip one so it works out well.

Anyways, last Friday was the WIN (Welly Interpreters Network) Christmas Party. I baked about 100 cookies as I had expected a few cookie thieves like back home (but none appeared!!!!) I also had some fun advising mum over the skills of Christmas cookie baking and also cookie thieves. The WIN Christmas party was good fun as a lot of the interpreters I had met already were there. Kiwis can definitely put on a good spread and I have realised the importance of bringing a homemade spread/plate. I saw a great idea on a cooking programme – yes I have time to watch such things!!! So I made edible Christmas crackers – well they weren’t as perfect as intended and I forgot the cranberry jam but they went down well in the end. At the party we ate, did secret santa and played Singstar (first time – it is a karaoke game on PS2 for people not familiar with the tech-game side of life). Secret Santa was also a first for me. It was not a conventional ‘know who you are buying for’ set-up but we all bought a present then put them in the middle. We then spun a bottle to take turns choosing a present. However there was a catch…The first person chooses a present and opens it. The next person then can either decide to open a present or steal the other present! And the game goes on like that. Everyone kept in good spirits and didn’t get too upset so that was good and there were only 8 of us so it didn’t go on for hrs. I ended up, by choice, with a crochet needle and merino wool! Ok so I’m not sure if NZ is turning me into an old woman or my creative side is coming back with all this cooking and now crocheting – make your own decisions. Before I moved here I had no desire to knit or crochet. Yet on arrival in kiwi land I had this desire to give it a go and now I am crocheting by sister her bday present! Also, as you Facebookites saw – I went to a Crafts night at one of my friend’s homes on Wed night! I can see it now – crocheting all my socks and knitting Christmas jumpers!!!! Don’t worry I do have some self-respect/restraint so I won’t get as far as the later – I will have a job to keep me occupied before that happens!

On Sat I went to the beach briefly then went to the Deaf club Christmas party which was fun. Sunday I tried to go for a walk near Eastbourne but ended up walking in the heat of the day through an industrial estate which was not an enjoyable experience. I realised that to access the route I wanted I needed a car! So in a grump and all hot and bothered I got the bus home. But I was determined to not be defeated and went to Mt Kaukau again and found a slightly sheltered rock in the sun and sat and read a bit of my book so that made up for the morning’s failed adventure.

Wednesday I volunteered to do some admin in the Red Cross office which was good keep in contact with people and pass the time. It also allowed me to get a bit more of an understanding of how things work here. Then Wed night I went to my crafts night! I cycled there as it was a lovely evening. Google maps started off being my friend but did tell me a bit of a fib at the amount of ups and downs there were between here and the house. But that is Welly for you and I didn’t mind too much. I meet another expat couple which was fun and I started my crochet. There were some very yummy mince pies and the conversation was fun and interesting but as I tried to count and do the pattern I got a bit preoccupied but it was good fun and I think I will go again. Then Brian and I had a nice night ride home together.

Yesterday was very hot. While the weather man said it was 24’C it felt much hotter. I met a friend and went to Eastbourne – this time by car! This visit was much better. We went to the beach and looked around the town. I also picked up some maps of the walking tracks and found a bus that could take me to the start of the track too! After some paddling, icecream and nosing at the fun looking houses, I headed home. With hope for great weather over Christmas, this hope was dashed as the remnants of the Fiji and Samoan cyclone are forecast to hit us just in time for the 25^th. Also to really rub it in the South Island is predicting sun and the north is left with the rain – we chose the wrong island! But at least it will feel like a proper Christmas ;-) I am sure hot springs are as warm and smelly in the rain as in the sun too!

Tomorrow Tom and Zoe fly in and I do my first ever driving outside the UK!!!!!!!! Kiwis are you nervous?! Then on Sunday the Christmas road trip to Rotorua begins!

Merry Christmas, happy holidays and I wish you all a fun and exciting 2013!!! Oh and it is the 21^st and I am still here so we have some more time for the human race to carry on living.

Photos: Cake Kiwi Hunting and a Rock n' Rolling week

thekiwireporter — Sun, 9 Dec 2012 21:04:00 GMT

Cake, Kiwi hunting and a Rock n’ Rollin week

thekiwireporter — Sun, 9 Dec 2012 20:48:00 GMT

Monday started with the 1yr anniversary of the Emergency Disaster Management Team. As the photos prove we were asked to bring a slice (which means a dessert) and there was definitely a great spread! But before we could indulge in cake we got to look round the new ER lorry. It can be loaded with rest centre kit for 140 people with response kit. Being able to meet the rest of the team was great and everyone was really friendly and welcoming. There was also planning for a mega exercise (practice major incident) in Rotorua which would be at night with lots of ‘surprises’ so that will be an experience in the next few months! We ate cake then the boss gave me a lift half way home. We parked the ER lorry at its home and all the Red Cross drivers that have to back the EEU into Central garage – that is nothing to the garage the lorry has to fit in – thankfully I don’t have a lorry licence lol.

Wednesday was International Volunteer Day so I went to the Civic centre for a morning tea and book release of volunteer stories with one Red Cross staff member. There was yummy food and it was good to talk more about Red Cross possibilities. Apparently I am getting known in the Red Cross here (in positive way)!

Thursday Mandida (Candida and Mat) arrived in rubbish weather. At least it wasn’t the horizontal rain we had earlier in the week but pretty rubbish so that was a shame. Best thing to do on a rainy day is go to Te Papa museum. Mandida had a few cultural and historical queries which I had limited answers for so they found the answers there. They spent a good 2hrs on one floor! Then they went back to their friend in Upper Hutt as that was a better option than staying at mine.

Friday I went to meet Mandida in Upper Hutt and after they experienced some navigation hiccups we stumbled upon a café that was amazing. It was a smallish café which was packed and after some reorganisation we sat and ate a great lunch. The weather had improved slightly but with the threat of rain later. We then joined a family friend and went walking up in Kaitoke Regional Park along some of the locations filmed in the Hobbit and Rings Trilogy. This included some fun being elves in Rivendell! The weather held for some good fun and then ended in an icecream. We went back to their friend’s and had dinner and the heavens opened. This was not so good for our next adventure – night tour of Zealander hunting for a Kiwi bird sighting. However, by the time we arrive at Zealander the rain had stopped. We arrived with time to spare so we were able to get an extra look at the info centre before the rest of the tour group arrived. Kiwis are nocturnal if you didn’t know and rare to spot in the wild. Zealander is a pest-free bird sanctuary up one of Wellington’s valleys. To have such a sanctuary in Wellington is great. There were 12 people on the tour so not too big so that was hopeful. We set off at 8.30pm to experience the evening chorus and saw some lovely native birds. We each had a red light torch as the darkness came in and we wandered through the forest. We were taught what the Kiwi sounded like so we could listen out then started our hunt. The rangers were great in describing the different characters of the kiwi in the park. As we hunted, we saw some amazing glow worms, lots of birds, baby weta (big bugs that aren’t too pleasant), frogs, lizards, eels and fish. We heard one Kiwi very very close but unfortunately didn’t get a sighting. But hearing the Kiwi called ‘flip-flop’ was great and the overall experience was fun and interesting. Overall though the Mandida visit was short and wet it was good fun.

On arriving home Friday night about midnight I got home to some drunken housemates, went to bed but was doing some computer stuff. I had heard a bit of running about then got a knock on the door with the news of my house mate having being in a car accident at the end of the road. Thankfully no one was hurt and driver was dealt with by the officers, so got to bed about 2.30am. I had a workshop on Sat so aimed to wake up at 7.20. Not sure whether my alarm or the quake woke me but it is a bit of a shock to wake up hear something that sounds like a lorry going past then put your feet on the floor and it is vibrating like a gym vibrating board! Thankfully it didn’t last more than 30sec in total and turned out to be 2 quakes in one at 5.8 rictor scale and originated under the North Island. Apparently it was quite deep. If it was a shallow quake we wouldn’t have felt it apparently. Oh and then the toilet flooded!

So after an eventful night and morning I set off in the sunshine to a Deafblind awareness workshop. I met some more interpreters and some I had already met. The workshop was great with 2 inspiring Deafblind guests.

Sunday was a HOT sunny day and after a morning on the computer doing some work I got stir crazy so after a suggestion of the Santa parade and fair I went into Welly. I missed what looked like a great parade so went to Waitangi Park fair. It turned out to be a family fate so childless I felt a bit out of place but then stumbled into some Deaf friends and ended up chilling out with them in the sun. An end to an eventful week :-)

Photos: Middle of Middle Earth

thekiwireporter — Sat, 1 Dec 2012 21:02:00 GMT

Hobbits and bicycles

News from the Middle of Middle Earth

thekiwireporter — Sat, 1 Dec 2012 20:58:00 GMT

This week has been the hottest since I arrived and has seen the mania of The Hobbit and a new arrival to my life!

On Wednesday I did some filming, had a massage! Then I strolled into the city centre to see if I could get a glimpse of The Hobbit parade. On the way I felt obliged to stop and donate some money to charity in exchange for Strawberries and icecream – the hardest sponsorship I have ever made! I eat my icecream happy in the knowledge of being able to help people by eating icecream under a Christmas tree in the heat listening to carols! Suitably refreshed I went to Courtney Place which is the street the red carpet ran along. As I went, I heard people saying ‘Bro did you see how packed Courtney Place is now!’ so I didn’t hold out much hope for seeing stars. But unlike London, obviously, the crowds were barely one person deep along the fence of the red carpet. I found a spot at the start of the red carpet and be-friended some Brits that were travelling. They said they would hold my place while I had a quick noisey up the rest of the route. It was a great party atmosphere with loads of Hobbits dancing and so many Gandalfs I could feel the magic ;-) The cinema which was screening the film normally looks a little run down but it was a fantastic sight-seeing them creating a Bag End entrance to the theatre. I also popped into the small Hobbit village but some things were good but not that special unless you had a few hundred $ to spend on a ‘real’ elvish cloak!

As I got back to the spot the crowd was only 2-3 people deep! I can deal with this type of big event. An hr before the stars arrived it did get more busy. The crowds were entertained by Hobbits dancing, music, free hobbit hats (see photo) and autograph sheets , then seeing the nervous TV presenters prepping for all the interviews – I did feel for them as I knew the names of maybe 4 people there! Then the cars started arriving and it was mad – like being in the mosh pit while trying to get autographs and photographs. Peter Jackson was the first to arrive and he had his interview in front of us! I took A LOT of photos – well … I’ve never been a punter at one of these things so wanted to play the part! To be honest I really didn’t know who a lot of them were but had looked at a few hobbit images beforehand so recognised a few faces. Im sure the screams for more people will be louder next year when people recognise the actors!

All round a very fun time and the weather was brilliant and hot – luckily for the hobbit hat it kept everyone shaded – very good preparedness!

Thursday welcomed the new arrival – Brian! Though I am always keen to take the unwanted 2^nd hand bikes, there are NO 2^nd hand bike stores here due to expensive licencing issues, so the only place for used bikes is on websites like Gumtree etc. but nothing was of interest. I am not a ‘roady’ (road bike) and not a confident ‘mounty’ (mountain bike) so was looking for a hybrid/cross-trail bike which I have to say was a mission – curse my neutrality! After much deliberation and searching I finally bought a bike! Brian is a mountain bike with thinner wheels so I can hope that one day I will have the confidence to go down the tracks around Welly but also get about town and the tarmac hills! I want to thank the leaving presents from City Lit and NDCS for contributing to being able to get Brian. I went for a little ride today and found out how close some towns really are so this is going to be useful. A lot of people cycle on the motorway here on the hard shoulder which makes me shiver. I will not be doing this but need to learn some of the routes alongside the main roads so can get out to the big mountains and to Lower Hutt etc. The weather has got windy here– well ok gale force – so will probably wait till Monday to try the route into Wellington which is either on pavement beside main road or a nice hilly windy road and so I will choose the later!

Next week Candida and Matt come to town so will look forward to some fun times with them.

Noho ora mai rā, nā Abi

A month in NZ

thekiwireporter — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 15:29:00 GMT

It is a month into my stay here.

The start of the week kicked off with a meeting with the Red Cross Emergency Disaster Management team, which, as some of you saw, was a successful meeting and am part of the team now (see 'Boiler suit' story). Then on Thurs I met with some people for the vulnerability study at NZRC. It is going to be interesting getting involved in the survey because it will involve sociological research techniques so that will be a good experience :-S

Friday I aimed to just check out how to run up to Mt Kaukau near the house and ended up carrying on for the rest of the afternoon. It was about 1hr walk from the house to the top. From the top on one side was Wellington Harbour and the other was green rolling farmland down to the coast with the South Island mountains and coastline in the background. The Welly wind was nice and strong on the ridge which was fun and only saw 3 cyclists the whole afternoon. I decided to bail out of the skyline walk at Karori and down through the Botanical gardens and a bus home.

Yesterday I went to observe some interpreters in a first aid session for a Deaf group delivered by a Johnny. So though I don’t want to criticise without fully checking the first aid protocols here there were a few moments of biting my lip and sitting on my hands and I was glad that I stayed as an observer and not said about volunteering with BRC otherwise it would have been more awkward. After a week of going ahh over deciding over career choices, being a first aid trainer is really appealing.

Then after the training I was invited to go to the Deaf club rugby team auction fundraiser. My volunteer habit kicked in and I ended up interpreting the evening! Apart from the odd ‘£’ slip and a few checks it all went pretty well and was good fun. I also ended up with a camping stove and a tool set because I felt bad that no one was bidding at the start.

The boiler suit

thekiwireporter — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 18:13:00 GMT

On Monday I went to the Wellington region NZRC emergency disaster management team meeting. Firstly it was definitely a mission in true red cross base style. An 1 1/2hr 2 buses and a train later I arrived at the centre in Paraparamu (aka Pram). They share the site with a Civil Defence ops base and a dog pound! Luckily they only meet once a month so not too crazy commitment and will be quicker when I get a car. Also there isn’t much happening over the summer as it is their ‘quiet’ time! I know summer – and the opposite of busy!!!

I was welcomed enthusiastically to the team night with the team doing some rope knotting practice before the training got started – I was glad I remembered some knots from climbing. Within the first 15min I was given a rope and the boiler/squad suit (see photos)! They were shocked we wore white shirts but I can see pros and cons to both workwear choices. Apparently everyone wears the suit every team night too! So I was over the moon to find out the training was a Working with Other Services/major incident session ;-) but was interesting to see the differences and I stopped trying to find the UK equivalent of different things as it is all delegated slightly differently. Also they (well at least the NZRC) don’t have Bronze, Silver or Gold roles. Sounds like there will be some interesting incidents as well as exercises to come. Also Mt Ruapehu has started coughing up a bit of the hot stuff so we are all wondering when the big spew will come – don’t worry I live miles away from the volcano and have my dust mask ready if the ash cloud heads down south ;-)

Only 4 of the team were at the meeting out of the 14 (including me) which they apologised over but I said that numbers get that low in London too. So yes that is 14 volunteers for the whole region below Wanganui! The thing is that the Civil Defence are big stuff here for ER and then St Johns and Welly Free ambulance are there for the medical stuff. So NZRC are really there for ground rescue and welfare.

After Christchurch’s big shake, the international guys decided NZRC needed a bit more support and funded 6 ER vehicles and Wellington region gets one. Basically from what I get it is a lorry sized equipment unit. At the moment they have a ute with a trailer with equipment for a 50 person survivor reception centre. You would think that the new vehicle would be based with the EDMT team but no it will be in Porirua along with some of the international stores. The thing is that along with the team based 1hr from Welly, in a big quake there is a hillside that will decide to slide into the sea blocking Pram from the south so any team would have to be flown or shipped to Welly! But as I said before we wouldn’t be the first responders. So I would be the only one near the equipment (rings a bell again?) but the team won’t be there lol.

On a side note – I am worried about loosing the clinical experience so looked into ambulance work. The national ambulance is run by St Johns and a call out for an ambulance is $200/>£100 a time which is covered by ACC insurance but still…!!! However Welly is unique by having Wellington Free Ambulance which is what it says on the tin. So my preference would be to join them but visa stuff seems to be a bit of a barrier for that one. So the only other option would be the Johnnys but reluctant from my house mates comments. We shall see – will find something :-)

Auckland (Tāmaki) Land of 48 (dormant) volcanoes

thekiwireporter — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:27:00 GMT

Having booked a professional development (PD) workshop and then realising that it was going to be held in Auckland, My visit north was brought forward. So after booking the $30 (£18ish) flight and coach back, I persuaded Hannah's friends Louise and Giles to let me crash at theirs for a few days.

Met a lovely Israli on the flight up which made the 1hr flight fly by very quickly. As I arrived late Louise and I chatted for a bit then off to bed. On the Wednesday, as I had nothing to do I went to Rangitoto island which is a 30min ferry over to the islands off the shore of Auckland. As it was a late start I didnt see the full extent of the island but I got to the summit and down before the last ferry home. Rangitoto got rudely shuved out of the earth 600yrs ago in the crazy volcanic activity of the area. Welly shakes, Auckland spews lava but the difference is all the volcanoes around Auckland are claimed to be dormant - less exciting? - I will let you guys decide! Anyways...so the shore line looks like dug-up tarmac and the ecosystems are all a bit sckewed with plants that should grow on trees growing on the floor and alpine plants at sea level and Mangroves in arid soils - exciting stuff if you are a ecologist but also interesting and pretty for the average punter too :-) On the way back I met a German lady who was having a bit of home-sick/travelling overload so I said she would enjoy Welly and gave her the facebook invite.

Thursday I had a meeting at Magnet - the Youth section of Deaf Aotearoa which was great and a pretty successful meeting too - so fingers and toes crossed please everyone! In the evening was the workshop with SLIANZ (association of sign langugage interpreters) at the Marae (meeting house) at Kelston Deaf Edcuation centre. We had the pōwhiri ceremony (welcome into the Marae) in sign language then some kia (food which I helped prepare) then some Maori sign language tutoring. I have to admit I got about 70% of the language part - NZSL, Maori spoken and sign language all at once was fun as the sign for morning is like ASL (sunrising) but they used it frequently at one point where the word morning just was out of context - later I was told it was the sign for Gisbourne - a lot of place name confusion. Another time asking what a Maori word meant - nope it was also a place name - yay the fun of learning the Maori and NZSL for places across NZ.

Friday was a bit of a lazy day. Had to sought a lot of shipping crazy paperwork and other stuff. But went to the Domain to have a look round. I had actually visited all the green space in Auckland on my holiday last time! As I found out, the petrol is less refined here in NZ so even less good on the old lungs. So my desire to stroll the streets was also reduced. In the evening Louise and Giles go to regular board game evenings - new experience and concept for me - so they invited me along and was good fun staying up late playing a board game :-)

Saturday we got up late after a late night playing board games - yes yes I know Im such a dirty stop out and I should calm down a bit!!! Anyways - the weather didnt help persuade us to go for a walk but we eventually left and headed to the Waiatarua national park. We followed an old pipe line through the bush and the rain cleared enough to get some views of the coast though we did get a tad soaked. We drove instead to Piha and ate a sandwich with steamed views from the car of Lions Rock (which you can climb) and Nunns Rock (which Im sure you could too but with a bit more rope). As Genevieve was in town I met up with her for a hot choc on the way back which was good fun. She will also be joining us for some of our Christmas trip.

Sunday was spent reading a good chunk of my book and watching beautiful scenery on the coach home (12hrs). The only disappointment was that Mt Ruapehu was shrowded in cloud which was a shame. And now back in Welly is a good feeling. I am feeling a tad of the home-like feeling with coming back to Welly :-)

In a rating of whether Welly was the right choice to set up sticks compared to Auckland I am 100% sure I made the right choice! The trip was great but lets leave it as a place to visit :-) Next comparison is to Christchurch soon which I reckon will be more of a contender.

Note to self...dont go food shopping if you are in a bit of a grump (due to hunger) and have people pack your bags at the check-out - they got it all wrong and had to help them repack it! - Im so not used to people packing for me!

Photos: Auckland times

thekiwireporter — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:48:00 GMT

Mt Holsworth tramp

thekiwireporter — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:14:00 GMT

Setting off to the Mt Holsworth in the Tararua Range we knew we were in for a great hot day and it was. The trek went through different types of forest from lush ferns and Rimu trees to corkscrew-like trees some sharp alpine grasses to the summit. It felt like I walked through several scenes of the Lord of the Rings - so don't spend lots of money on guided lord of the rings landscape tours if you visit - it is at your feet. We passed 2 of the well equipt huts and brilliant view all the way. I started at a good normal pace but half way up last year's interrupted exercise and the move hit home and the second half was shockingly slow but well worth it. The intensity of the sun was noticable as though I drank lots as normal for a hot day, I was v thirsty and could easily have drunk 3ltr for a day hike. We stayed on the summit 30min eating and admiring the view but I felt the wind pick up so suggested we head down. That turned out to be a good idea as we headed down the gusts built up and we felt bad for those ending up to the summit with a blustery suprise ahead of them! We then drove back and stopped at Petone for fish and chips on the beech. It is great here with the selection of different local fish in the Chippy. So fish and chips and a ginger beer on the beech - not bad eh?! As we got to the beech though, the clouds flooded into the Welly harbour and whilst we watched it pour in Welly we managed to finish our dinner before it hit us. So a great day all in all!

My mission is to get fitter though so I will be running a lot more and I am definitely keeping to my plan of 1 hike a week :-) The run this morning resulted in a bit of a drenched Abigail by the time I got home but guess what it is sunny now! Typical.

Sunday morning I got up and dressed relatively early to skype the NDCS Social! It was great seeing everyone (even though most people's faces were blurred i recognised most people). Thanks to the wonderful Andy I got to watch the award ceremony and thank you Rachel for my award which was a nice suprise. There were some incredible costumes too and the fab Fletch's sign singing was awesome as ever despite the broken connection. It was hard watching and not being there but life is good here so it didnt get me going online to book a ticket home - sorry nice try NDCS!

The other excitement (well you wont think so) but I now have shelves, chest of drawers and vaccumed the whole house today so it feels good! Mum has also been a legend and my stuff will be sailing to me tomorrow!

Off to Auckland tomorrow :-)

Settling in

thekiwireporter — Fri, 9 Nov 2012 19:16:00 GMT

Hey Bros (yes I am referring to girls and guys - I got very confused to but it is a gender neutral phrase)

Whilst my life is currently half as mad busy as it was a month ago there seems to be a lot to report on since the last story.

Two weeks into living in Wellington I have moved into my more permanent rented house - not bad going though I thought it took an age. Maybe I am just impatient to get settled. I am now living with 4 Kiwis, a cat called Douglds and a new arrival today of Charlie the black labrador puppy! It is in one of Wellington's suburbs so between a 30-45min bus, 1hr hilly cycle (apparently though with no bike I have not had the joy yet) or a 20ishmin drive. Hmm maybe a bit too much detail. Bus journeys are fun as something always happens. Today the vehicle radio broadcast to the passengers general chatter between the drivers and control had lost track of about 10 buses. Also if you dont thank the driver loudly when you leave the bus it looks rude - how friendly is that!

But it has a garden and there is a garden shop 2min walk from the house so though I am rationing plants there will be some veg planted soon! 10 min walk to supermarket (don't mind not having the luxury of sainsburys downstairs) or 20min walk to town. It may be occupied by people that are less tidy than I am but the house is lovely and has potential.

So this week has been Move Week. I said goodbye and thank you to Helen and Trish who I had been staying with and am sure we will keep in touch. I cooked them a nice meal feeling a bit of pressure after they watched Come Dine With Me. I went for a walk along the Orongaronga track which was beautiful and there are lots of walks in the area so will visit again Im sure. Then I had a few constructive days shadowing interpreters in high level meetings which was good to identify BSL and NZ sign language (NZSL) differences and general ways of the world. Met the CEO of Deaf Aotearoa (the national deaf association like the BDA) which was good for networking and potential work. Then I finally got in touch with NZ Red Cross and had an induction and went to a Branch meeting. A lot of things are different with NZRC as would be expected and so there is a lot to adjust to and not sure what I will be involved in but they seem very welcoming. I am hoping to go to the Emergency Disaster Team meeting Monday though it takes 1hr 15min on the bus to get there (40min drive)! So if you have read the blog on Earthquakes then you can understand the raised eye brow at the nearest ER NZRC response is based nearly 1hr away. Having 6 operations bases in London is a luxury!

Today I carried some shelves through town and did some IKEA style DIY so now room starting to feel better (luckily the room came with the bed!)

Off on a day hike tomorrow up Mt Holsworth which Im hoping to be amazing so expect a few more photos to come.

Hei konā mai

Photos: Settling in

thekiwireporter — Fri, 9 Nov 2012 18:16:00 GMT

Few more photos

Is it our Fault

thekiwireporter — Fri, 2 Nov 2012 13:55:00 GMT

So is it our fault is the current earthquake resiliance scheme across NZ and last night I got my lesson on earthquake resiliance.

The landscape of continuous hills and endless bays creates a landscape that from above looks like crinkled paper. This may be a sign of the tectonic activity so prevalent in the area. The warnings of blue signs directing you to the hills should be another reminder. The history of Wellington is shaped by changes to the landscapes changing from the Austrailan plate burying itself below the Pacific plate at 4cm a year. But 'thankfully' the plates belwo Wellington mainly shift sideways which reduces Tsunami risk. Yes I said BELOW Wellington. Directly below the capital's streets is a nic big fault line. The City's water suppy crosses the fault 5times! But dont worry there is only 10% chance of the BIG ONE happening any time soon. Lets just ignore the many other smaller fault lines in the area shall we!

The meeting did however reassure me that the Council and civil defence departments are doing everything to minimise the risk. Also the community preparedness is very interesting and I may have a nose-poke at getting some volunteer work with them. The main message was be self/community reliant cos help wont come that soon. Flowing water will take a month to repair, there are only 2 roads out of the capital (hmm compared to London or even to Christchurch) so the main source of aid will be from sea or helicopter. So stock up and grow your own because apparently there is no contingency food supply.

Hehe - not worried yet I hope?!

The buildings here are much more resiliant and learning lots from Christchurch. When I get a place I will make sure I am all prepared to reduce risk etc.

I know it all sounds big and scary but the resilience is there and the awareness etc unlike in some countries. I am trying to avoid houses on hills though in my house hunting! The tectonic activity also means amazing Southern Alps for skiing and hot springs for bathing!

HUGS!