Spook went up to show an interest in his work today and didn't come home for 10 hours. It's harder to contact him in THIS country than it would be to contact anyone in Britain. His mobile only receives texts from me (at 50p a shot and not much credit left) and was in his car anyway!! He proved his worth by being down a hole fixing something, Spook style. Not so good for me sitting here, though, not knowing.
Meg went to see her school today and was quite happy with what she saw. Small, and easy to find her way around. An Australian boy starts on the same day, in her class. She insists that she will walk to school on her own (15 mins). Only problem at the moment is finding shoes that meet the requirements of the school, and her feet.
Finn continuing to work on new moves on skateboard.
5 degrees when we got up in the morning and 16 around the middle of the day.
Friday, 10 October 2008
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Calm
Children awakened refreshed and got straight onto the computer to see if anyone had been in touch. Thank goodness they had.
Finn still spending lack of 'Grieg' time by honing skills on his board. Thanks for your reassuring comments Blog John. There is no way Spook will be fighting Finn for the board - he prefers 2 wheels, not 4. Met another neighbour today who says her son is the Top Gun skateboarder of the town. He's 17 and has seen Finn playing around on his board. His father reckoned Finn wasn't quite ready for the ramps they keep round the back of the house, but thought that Beech, their son, might show Finn a trick or two in the summer.
Meg writing loads of letters home already - exactly like myself, when I lived abroad 20 years ago!
Spook met 4 runners when he was out for a run today, so hoped there might be one or two people in town he could get on with. I wonder if he and I will start to follow people around, in a needy/stalkerish sort of way?
Finn still spending lack of 'Grieg' time by honing skills on his board. Thanks for your reassuring comments Blog John. There is no way Spook will be fighting Finn for the board - he prefers 2 wheels, not 4. Met another neighbour today who says her son is the Top Gun skateboarder of the town. He's 17 and has seen Finn playing around on his board. His father reckoned Finn wasn't quite ready for the ramps they keep round the back of the house, but thought that Beech, their son, might show Finn a trick or two in the summer.
Meg writing loads of letters home already - exactly like myself, when I lived abroad 20 years ago!
Spook met 4 runners when he was out for a run today, so hoped there might be one or two people in town he could get on with. I wonder if he and I will start to follow people around, in a needy/stalkerish sort of way?
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
Homesick
5 days in and some painful feelings hit the children tonight. Looking at their Bebo sites online and wanting to respond spontaneously, made them realise how hard it will be. It will take some time to sort out MSN contact and to work out what times friends will be awake at the same time as Meg and Finn are. Finn visited his school today and liked it. Meg bought some new jeans in Queenstown and liked the shopping possibilites down there, though both acknowledged that they wouldn't want to live there, and like Wanaka best. Still, there are no friends here yet. In reality, it will be Spook and I who will struggle to make friends, as he will work in near isolation once things are set up, and I don't HAVE work. We had thought it would be good to have a week to settle in, but the children need school to start, so that they can find out if they will have friends. I am not worried at this stage about making friends. Much more worried about how to help the children through this difficult wee spell. Hard to imagine that they actually want the holidays to end and school to start. The weather is pretty cold and the house particularly so compared to what they're used to. Cold laminate flooring without rugs, and a fire that heats the area immediately in front of it. This is pretty common in NZ, I believe...... and they miss their things.
Finn has been practising skateboard manoeuvres in the car port, but complained because a duck came and pooped in his line of fire. He has trendy new chunky trainers, but they hurt his feet - fashion is not about comfort. Meg has bought a lovely 2nd hand white and pink snowboard, which the man in the shop got all set up for her and he wants her to take it back after she uses it, so he can wax it and protect it for the summer, ready for next season. He's given her a loan of boots for three days. The weather is set to improve on Friday, so we will give the slopes a try then.
Finn has been practising skateboard manoeuvres in the car port, but complained because a duck came and pooped in his line of fire. He has trendy new chunky trainers, but they hurt his feet - fashion is not about comfort. Meg has bought a lovely 2nd hand white and pink snowboard, which the man in the shop got all set up for her and he wants her to take it back after she uses it, so he can wax it and protect it for the summer, ready for next season. He's given her a loan of boots for three days. The weather is set to improve on Friday, so we will give the slopes a try then.
Monday, 6 October 2008
Cold
Yesterday we wandered around in bare feet. Finn began his strategy for fitting in by purchasing a Quicksilver Beany hat and ramming it on his head. Just a wee peek of ginger sticking out below. This gave him great confidence and later in the day, he went into town (2 mins down the road) alone, and strolled through the shops, mentally selecting other items for his new image.
Spook went up to the work site and met other United Group colleagues and came home with a file for homework. A much smaller plant than he is used to. They told him fresh snow was on it's way, and it was like living in the caravan again, listening to the rain falling on the tin roof last night. Snow well down the near hills and felt very like fort William must do right now. The house is cold and it is a warning of what we will need to cope with when winter comes. Meg had breakfast and then ran back to bed before reappearing in Spooks Rab jacket, woolly hat, tights and tracksuit bottoms. Appointments have been made to meet staff at the schools and hopefully we'll manage a day's snow-boarding on Thursday. Spook has bought someone's board, boots and bindings for £60 (on sale outside the petrol garage,) as they are leaving town. That's how things are done here. There is a mass exodus expected next week when the slopes close and people dump stuff they can't take with them, and head off, looking for another winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
Spook went up to the work site and met other United Group colleagues and came home with a file for homework. A much smaller plant than he is used to. They told him fresh snow was on it's way, and it was like living in the caravan again, listening to the rain falling on the tin roof last night. Snow well down the near hills and felt very like fort William must do right now. The house is cold and it is a warning of what we will need to cope with when winter comes. Meg had breakfast and then ran back to bed before reappearing in Spooks Rab jacket, woolly hat, tights and tracksuit bottoms. Appointments have been made to meet staff at the schools and hopefully we'll manage a day's snow-boarding on Thursday. Spook has bought someone's board, boots and bindings for £60 (on sale outside the petrol garage,) as they are leaving town. That's how things are done here. There is a mass exodus expected next week when the slopes close and people dump stuff they can't take with them, and head off, looking for another winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
Sunday, 5 October 2008
Arrival
Met by Spook's new Boss. Within 30mins he had been handed the key to the Ute and directed to the hotel in Wanaka. We have a car for two weeks to help us settle in, but Steve (the boss) borrowed it to go snowboarding. We observed our 1st bungy jump 20mins up the road - don't think I'll be doing that! The hotel has floor to ceiling/wall to wall window with views onto the lake and over to the Mount Aspiring National Park. Steve called by later on his mountain bike to remind us to put everything on the tab.
We went and had a sneaky look at our new house, peering in the windows. Looks quite compact but comfortable, with a small yard. Met the neighbour, who had been keeping a close eye on us. Stu and Coleen, who are English and Australian and have lived here for 30 years. They are late 60's and he weeds the creek that runs through their garden. Wanaka seems to be for the young dudes and the retired. From the nerves I have suffered so far, I think I am more likely to be found hanging out at the bowling green with Stu and Coleen, or learning Bridge, than seeking out anything that makes my heart beat too fast.
Finn experienced his first difficulty today. 3 kids on skateboards commented as they scooted by "orange shoes and orange hair - minger". Pretty unsettling for him as he is no longer surrounded by loving friends. Do think that the big bluebottle sunglasses he insists on wearing, do not help his image. I am now in the unusual position of having to take him out tomorrow and buy branded clumpy trainers, baggy jeans, skateboard, and trendy cap. We will need to put him through his paces at the skatepark while everyone else is sleeping to see if we can get him up to speed. He mumbled sadly ' I sometimes wish I didn't have orange hair'.
We'll make them wish they ALL had orange hair!
We went and had a sneaky look at our new house, peering in the windows. Looks quite compact but comfortable, with a small yard. Met the neighbour, who had been keeping a close eye on us. Stu and Coleen, who are English and Australian and have lived here for 30 years. They are late 60's and he weeds the creek that runs through their garden. Wanaka seems to be for the young dudes and the retired. From the nerves I have suffered so far, I think I am more likely to be found hanging out at the bowling green with Stu and Coleen, or learning Bridge, than seeking out anything that makes my heart beat too fast.
Finn experienced his first difficulty today. 3 kids on skateboards commented as they scooted by "orange shoes and orange hair - minger". Pretty unsettling for him as he is no longer surrounded by loving friends. Do think that the big bluebottle sunglasses he insists on wearing, do not help his image. I am now in the unusual position of having to take him out tomorrow and buy branded clumpy trainers, baggy jeans, skateboard, and trendy cap. We will need to put him through his paces at the skatepark while everyone else is sleeping to see if we can get him up to speed. He mumbled sadly ' I sometimes wish I didn't have orange hair'.
We'll make them wish they ALL had orange hair!
Saturday, 4 October 2008
The Journey
Very sad to say final goodbyes at airport, but got a wee bit excited on plane. Easy flight to London. Immediately struck by how friendly people were. I thought London wasn't? Next stage exciting because we had all these movies and music to listen to. bit of a problem when I was watching Sex In The City and there were naked people frolicking about - I felt as though I was watching dirty movies and everyone could see me doing so. Saw stewardess coming with coffee and panicked. Managed to freeze frame on man's naked bum just as she asked me what I'd like!!
Children's eyes began to stare in their heads when afternoon tea arrived around 3am. Los Angeles customs a bit intimidating. Elderly lady put us through our paces and was wearing a gun.
Next stage to Auckland seemed shockingly long. Everyone managed a bit of a sleep, but when we crossed the equator, with 7 hours flying time left, the plane dropped so suddenly and sharply with turbulence that would have satisfied an adrenaline junky. Everyone yelped and I tried to reassure Finn that this was perfectly normal, whilst mentally preparing myself for holding onto two children as we free-falled through the air, hopefully landing on a bit of fuselage and tried not to think of what sharks may lurk down there in the never-ending sea. It really did feel as though some damage must have been done to the plane.
Auckland was immediately warm and welcoming. The pilot spoke in a warm and friendly tone as he told us that we would have a smooth beginning to the flight but should expect turbulence as we got closer to Queenstown. 120km winds, but nice at ground level. We rocked about at the beginning of the flight and I gripped the seat, staring straight ahead as I imagined the even worse approach to Queenstown. He asked the flight attendants to sit down early as winds were up to 180kms. Having survived thus far, it seemed a shame to die when we were so close to our destination. After some intense anticipation on my part, where I could no longer offer reassurance to the children (who didn't looked remotely bothered,) we floated down to ground level as smooth as a bird coming in to land. Stunning. I had come all this way to have the life scared out of me, only to have the easiest landing ever. I think they make things up just to keep living on the edge. Spooks new boss did tell him that they'd re-directed a plane earlier, and last week he'd come in with one wing pointing at the runway, the other up in the sky, so the plane had just shot back up and returned to Christchurch without landing.
Welcome to New Zealand.
Children's eyes began to stare in their heads when afternoon tea arrived around 3am. Los Angeles customs a bit intimidating. Elderly lady put us through our paces and was wearing a gun.
Next stage to Auckland seemed shockingly long. Everyone managed a bit of a sleep, but when we crossed the equator, with 7 hours flying time left, the plane dropped so suddenly and sharply with turbulence that would have satisfied an adrenaline junky. Everyone yelped and I tried to reassure Finn that this was perfectly normal, whilst mentally preparing myself for holding onto two children as we free-falled through the air, hopefully landing on a bit of fuselage and tried not to think of what sharks may lurk down there in the never-ending sea. It really did feel as though some damage must have been done to the plane.
Auckland was immediately warm and welcoming. The pilot spoke in a warm and friendly tone as he told us that we would have a smooth beginning to the flight but should expect turbulence as we got closer to Queenstown. 120km winds, but nice at ground level. We rocked about at the beginning of the flight and I gripped the seat, staring straight ahead as I imagined the even worse approach to Queenstown. He asked the flight attendants to sit down early as winds were up to 180kms. Having survived thus far, it seemed a shame to die when we were so close to our destination. After some intense anticipation on my part, where I could no longer offer reassurance to the children (who didn't looked remotely bothered,) we floated down to ground level as smooth as a bird coming in to land. Stunning. I had come all this way to have the life scared out of me, only to have the easiest landing ever. I think they make things up just to keep living on the edge. Spooks new boss did tell him that they'd re-directed a plane earlier, and last week he'd come in with one wing pointing at the runway, the other up in the sky, so the plane had just shot back up and returned to Christchurch without landing.
Welcome to New Zealand.
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
Nearly there - not yet
It's been a funny couple of days. Running around crazy, friends helping us pull it all together. In fact, we probably wouldn't have managed without them. And then so many calling in to say goodbye, intensifying the sadness that we haven't spent much time with different friends. The children SEEM to be taking it all in their stride. It doesn't feel like we are leaving everything behind tomorrow morning, or that we tucked the kids into bed for the last time in those beds for two years. I hear that Wanaka is an amazing and great place to live, but so is this. Presumably in a different kind of way. I walked up the High Street today and still thought 'I like this place'. There is a real chill in the air now, and fesh snow on the hill since yesterday. A dusting. The house is in pretty good order by our standards, but goodness knows what rotting things will unearth themselves to the new lodgers as time goes by.
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