update 'tin': "good as gold"

this golden dragon was snapped at a red lantern chinese festival I went along to in chch. 'good as gold' is an incredibly well-used kiwi term I've recently been hearing more and more of.... it means 'thats great'/'no worries'

Well its been AGES since I last sat down and wrote...... hope this posting finds you well and perhaps thawing out a little!?

Summer here is drawing to a close. It turned quite dramatically on March 1st, almost as if someone 'Up There' had simply checked the calendar and flicked a switch from 'Summer' to 'Autumn'... after a couple of days of battering wind and rain and sleet we are back to sunshine but colder mornings and evenings... winter is on its way!! (How weird!)

Anyway, enough about the weather (oh you can take the girl out of Britain but you cant take Britain out of the girl!)

Walking through ChCh city centre one afternoon I came across a japanese windmill installation... pictures dont do it justice, was very eyecatching and strangely enjoyable to walk around!!!

Life had kind of exploded in busyness the past few weeks, I got the part-time job I mentioned last time, hallelujah! it's in an electrical company, about 5 mins walk from the vicarage. All still quite a mystery to me exactly whats what, its pretty technical and everyone seems to be reading their lines from a star trek script...... "you need the SR, whats the IRS on that? Check. OK send me through the Reco and I'll enter it on Orb." (your guess is as good as mine.....) I feel a bit like Julia Roberts in that scene from Notting Hill where she is attempting to learn her lines for a futuristic movie. Anyway I get to wear a funky headset and so that's the important thing!

I'm working mainly with a girl called Shelley who is lovely and funny and married to a dairy farmer but massively allergic to milk which is perhaps rather unfortunate! (love conquers all I suppose- but Mills and Boon aside, it gets her out of the early morning milking round!)

Ive been struck by how much more 'worthy' I feel by having a paid job and a structured day. Its actually really challenged me and made me question where my sense of identity and worth comes from. I treated myself to a coffee the other day on my way to work (OK so I had to wait 10 minutes for it so it wasnt exactly like being back in London but it felt good that I was going somewhere with a coffee in hand looking businesslike! I was greatly enjoying all this until I heard a little voice of the Lord say... "so was waiting on me not enough for you then?!" That bought me down a peg or two anyway.... (but I still enjoyed my Grande Americano (or 'Long Black' as they are called over here!)

Im also in the middle of my census contract which has seen me pounding the streets every evening for the past two weeks. (census night itself was a couple of nights ago so I have finished delivery and started on the collection of forms last night!) I look like an overgrown paper girl on my bike with a big blue (standard issue) satchel.. did I think I would be doing this kind of job at my age?? NO! Is it a big career move?? NO! Am I enjoying it? Immensely!

The training sessions have been enormous fun with a fab team leader, Cliff who has a cracking sense of humour and all the other collectors are so friendly, we have had a lot of laughs! And what a fascinating insight into how Kiwi's live. (once Ive found their front doors which unlike UK doors are not obvious and are often to be found masquarading as a patio door or a laundry room back entrance etc!) Several times Ive found myself clambouring over vegetable patches and the like to get access to the house. most odd- but once Ive found it, Ive loved chatting with the people who are more often than not ready to engage you in a full on chat about england!

The 'Sinsiss' over here is viewed differently than in the UK. It seems to have quite a sense of occasion attached to it even though it is carried out every 5 years. More often than not I have had whole familes come to the door to find out what its all about and its been like something out of the Walton's as they've all stood on the doorstep and beamingly waved me on my way after Ive handed over the forms.

One lady called out after me, "ooh you've got a big job there delivering all those forms to everyone.." Something about the way she said it gave me the impression that she thought I was the only census deliverer for the whole of New Zealand and I was about to turn round and clarify that I wasnt but then thought I wouldnt bother.... after all with the population being as sparse as it is over here that wasnt such a batty idea.... I could probably set off in the morning after a hearty breakfast, do a quick scoot round both islands and still be home in time to catch the six o'clock news.....

There is a new option this year for people to fill out their forms online. I was telling one couple about it on their doorstep and they seemed particularly sure they would fill it in online. "Well you need the paper forms anyway incase you change your mind or it crashes or something".

"sure, but we will definitely do it online"

"well you never know, with 3 million people trying to get online at once, its bound to crash and (warming to my theme) in England things like this always go horribly wrong when they are piloted. blah blah blah"

"well I hope this one doesnt because Im the project manager for it"

"Right-i-o"

So its been off to the office each morning and 'census-ing' each evening and in between Ive been doing church bits and pieces... theres an Alpha Supper coming up and also the main parish 2006 fundraiser, which I'm on the team for. We are setting up as a cafe at the Annual Steam Traction Fair at that happenin' venue.... the Rangiora showgrounds in a couple of weeks. The advertising proudly boasts its the "biggest steam traction event in the southern hemisphere!!!" (dont think its fighting off much competition though....) and crowds of 10,000 people are expected each day. Whatever floats your boat I suppose.

Anyway the cafe idea is a great one as the ladies in charge are keen to make it all really good quality (fresh foods and coffees etc) and Im really pleased to be able to help out (designing the 'look and feel' of the venue and front-of-house managing during the event- will be hard work for everyone involved but Im really looking forward to it- working on these things as a team can be really fun!)

So what else have I been up to since I last wrote??? Well have had the opportunity to go along to a few summer events in and around the city. Photo is of an outdoor production of Cyranno de Bergerac.. I went along with Emma and Natalie and it was great, although we were slightly puzzled as to why the lead role (a handsome young man) kept referring to his awful appearance and of course his nose when he was clearly the best looking guy in the cast.... all was revealed at the end of the performance when as the applause died down the actor asked the audience if any one had seen his fake nose which was lost that morning!!! aha!! the lady in front of us turned and muttered something about spending the whole play thinking it was supposed to be a minimalist production where the audience had to use their imagination!

Ive also got along to a couple of sporting events and have been pleased to dicover that Canterbury is the 'Arsenal/Chelsea/Man U* (*delete as you see fit) of NZ in that they are the team to beat.

We witnessed Canterbury Crusaders win again Otago at the Jade Stadium.... I went with 'Din' and 'Imma', and Neil and Natalie from church and a few of 'Imma's' workmates, Before the players came out they had a load of crusading knights on horseback appear through a fake-fort entrance and do a few laps of the ground to some suitably stirring music, waving their toy swords around etc.... It was all complete hype of course and I dont usually fall for such nonsense but one couldnt help but get slightly caught up in it all...

We were especially taken with the promo the bar was running that night, a free hat when Tui Beer was purchased. They were ENORMOUS!!! (the hats not the beers) Big enough to pick up satellite signals from space if tilted in the right direction....

Emma in her Tui Hat.... she was successfully able to provide welcome shade from the evening sun for practically the whole of the west terrace...

Also Ive been keen to sample some kiwi cricket and Peter & Chris, a couple from church called to ask if I wanted to join them one sunday afternoon to watch the final of the state championships (Canterbury v the Central States). well this was such a fab day.. for $10 (approx 4 pounds sterling) we had an afternoon in the sunshine sitting on the grass mounds avec picnic watching Canterbury cruise home to yet another victory.. (ps cricket fans amongst you may be interested to note it was it was Chris Cairns' final domestic game!).

I was most amused though that the biggest cheer of the day was reserved for the interval when the MC announced Australia (playing Sri Lanka at home) were 0-2 and then a couple of minutes later the guy practically started choking with excitement as he gleefully announced Sri Lanka had just taken another wicket and so the Aussies were 10-3!! You'd have thought that New Zealand had just won the Rugby World Cup judging by the volume and passion of the cheer that went round!! (Oz came back and won but that hardly got a mention on the news later that night!!)

Other news.... caught up with Jarrod one sat in ChCh. was great to see him! Also very briefly saw Nerida (an ex-office mate from HTB) at a womens conference I popped into, didnt get much of a chance to chat as she was in the worship team but lovely to see her and she is looking blooming in the latter stages of pregnancy!

Thats all for now..... sorry a bit of a 'skimming the surface' type of update this time... lots more has been happening both good and not so! but my minds gone kind of blank.. think its tiredness! Anyway will write again soon with more piccies etc

cx

update nine: dastardly and muttley

(...ooh and brett)

Earlier this week we headed out to Arthur's Pass, a National Park where the road passes over the Southern Alps leading from Christchurch to the West Coast. Its stunning, the photos can attempt to do the talking.

Monday was Waitangi Day in New Zealand- A National holiday commemorating the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, between Maori hapa and the NZ Government. Bank Holiday weekend traditions are very similar over here- it rains, but on the day itself it cleared, which was good news for us and our trip!

The best bit of the day was climbing up the side of the Devil's Punchbowl waterfall, we reached the viewing platform via lots of steps (unusual for a NZ tramping trail..more like the National Trust!) and were greeted with approx 10 Japanese tourists and approx 100 camera's. (We witnessed them taking snaps of their group with the photographer's back to the stunning waterfall, they would have captured a lovely backdrop of the fencing and the bushes.) In a bid to escape them, we hopped over the fence and carried on further up and over the rocks to the main waterfall pool, was so exhillarating to feel the spray and taste the water fresh off the mountains!!

A few days later I was still suffering from leg-ache (disproportionate to the climb we did) - I was chatting to Neil and Natalie, one of the English couples from church, about the trip...

"Do your legs hurt??" asked Neil

"Why yes actually they do!!"

"Ahh (nodding sagely) its because we get used to no stairs over here".

and its true, I would estimate 90% of buildings here are single storey and stairs simply don't feature in daily life! Its like one giant retirement village in the sun!

Also last weekend.... Rangiora Showground played host to 'Muscle Car Madness'. Yes the name really does say it all. I took one look at the ad in the local paper and shuddered, but after hearing Andrew (a car fanatic) and the boy's (car fanatics in the making) planning a visit I couldn't help but be a little bit intrigued , after all, if nothing else I could always add it to my growing list of 'Experiences-that-I Never-In-A-Milion-Years-Thought-I-Would-Be-Seen-Dead-At-Let Alone-Thoroughly-Enjoy". Knightsbridge?? that's on the Planet Zog isnt it!?

So off we went on Sunday afternoon, as we approached the showground we could hear and smell the rubber from the 'burn out' area (never did quite work out what this was, all I could make of it was a huge, baying crowd whooping at a succession of min (men) in their cars as they revved the engines and apply the brakes until they broke. (and you can stop rolling your eyes at my comments, all you male readers!!)

After that we began wading our way through the thick testosterone to look around the cars, and I must confess, this was a real eye opener, many of these were absolute works of art. I couldn't perhaps appreciate the engine size or whatever but what colours and lines! - Stunning! Its a cliche but they certainly dont make them like they used to!

The showground was obviously also playing host that weekend to the National Convention of Brett's (for newer readers please refer to Update 3). I managed to snap one of them leaving at the end of the day. (SEE: I'M NOT EXAGGERATING!!!!)

Driving around Rangiora that weekend was a surreal experience, kind of like being in a cartoon world, every car in five was not quite as it should be!! It was as if Wacky Races had come to town...("Muttley!!! Get me out of this crrrream puff you dum-dum!!!")

Speaking of Brett.... it's Valentine's Day this week, don't know about you guys but Im planning a romantic candlelit evening in.... playing solitaire. which reminds me, I must inform Chelsea Post Office Sorting Depot that they don't need to bother getting in the extra supply of reinforced delivery bags this year. You think I'm kidding?? If I had a penny for every Valentines card I ever got, by now I would have... well, a couple of pence.

Never mind, theres always good old mum (Im mean not-so-old!) who sent me a parcel today with amongst other goodies, a valentine's chocolate heart in. One of these years she won't have to bother!! sigh. (or to quote the legendary 'Muttley'; "snckn-fstn-mckn-snckn-wawa-grr")

I must say, as with Christmas, you just don't get the relentless marketing circus over here that you do in the UK and its quite refreshing! Although we did get a 'Valentine's Day Special Offer's' promo leaflet from the local pharmacy in our mailbox which I was intrigued to note included many creative gift ideas for romantic gestures; such as 'De-Worm' ('eliminates intestinal threadworm with one single-dose tablet') and 'Prioderm' ('for the treatment of headlice') Hmmm maybe Im not missing out on so much after all!

Other news...

Well I have a job! Praise God! It's not exactly a massive career move but that was never the plan by coming here! The NZ census is happening in March and I am one of the army of census collectors! It's a glorified paper round but its good money and I am employed for a month thats fab! I also had an agency phone me today with the possiblilty of an ongoing temporary part-time (mornings only) admin position in a local electrical company so hope to hear about that this week, on paper it sounds perfect with afternoons free to do church work but also a regular and adequate wage coming in..something I must admit that I miss! we'll see! Thank you so much for your prayers on this matter!

I had a lovely day last Saturday with Jessica, Emma. we ended up all going out together with the parents and spent the morning at the swimming pool and playpark in the ChCh botanical gardens then out for a drive to a few of the bays around the city (Lyttleton and Sumner for those of you who know the area!) Spending time with the girls is an absolute joy and their dad and step mum (Alan and Glenda) are lovely too.

Highlight of the day was chatting to a fisherman at Lyttleton who happened to catch a baby shark whilst we were there... never held a shark before (OK so only a baby one but I won't tell the grand kids that!).

Jessica and Emma had drawn me some pictures and Jessica had written a note on her's saying thankyou for having the 'funes' (sic) times she's ever had. We've only been to the park really so that says a lot about her life hey? heartbreaking. They have so little and been through so much but are the most joyous, lovely children I know!

Tomorrow night I'm joining up with the English Posse from church to go and watch the first of the Super 12 Rugby games at the Jade Stadium in ChCh.(kind of like the UEFA Cup but rugby not football and Southern not Northern hemisphere teams... (so come to think of it, absolutely nothing like the UEFA!!) Anyway, should be fun! ('Come on the Crusaders!!!' (just got to find out what colour they play in... oooh yuk, I sound like a total girl about sport, that will never do.)

Had a lovely treat this morning as mum,dad and sis rachel skyped me (called over the internet!) and they had managed to hook up their webcam so got to see them for the first time in months!!! was horrified how much they've aged.. (JUST KIDDING they looked great really!!!) Was very funny as they got quite camera-shy so I spent half the conversation looking at Dad's right ear, the top of Mum's head and Rachels shoulder, all was not lost though as I had a great view of Rachel's wardrobe door. (was wondering how that was getting on)

Seriously though, isn't technology wonderful!? I can sit at a wi-fi laptop, completely not plugged in and see my family the other side of the planet and hear them (and get a view via an intricate set up involving all the mirrors in the house of their new bathroom!) A guy at church (Peter) who moved here over 20 years ago said that in his first year here, to call his parents on Christmas Day he had to book a telephone call weeks in advance and if he missed the phone when the operator rang he had missed his chance!! Times have changed!

its getting late, think thats it for now...
write soon!- as always, love getting your news!

c
x

update eight: foolin' around

'The Fool' statue in Christchurch... very applicable this week, as the city has been playing host to the International Busker's Festival... 10 days of street entertainment; all day - everyday - all over the city centre...

I spent 2 day's at the festival, one with Andrew and Christine where we saw "Mario Queen of the Circus....' he turned out to be a german juggler with a ludicrous moustache, whose act was set to the soundtrack of Queen hits with a Grand Finale of crowdsurfing to 'We Are the Champions....' yes, I totally agree, it sounds ridiculous, and how on earth do they dream up these routines!? but I have to say, it worked!!

My second trip was an afternoon on my own, a perfect day with the sun shining, crowds out in force (for NZ!!) and a great load of acts going on all over the place.

My favourite bit about the day was the fact that you could actually see! If a similar event was held in London you would not have a hope of getting within half a mile of the act and you would most likely be spending your day examining in great detail, the backs of the heads of the people in front of you.

Whilst the quietness and lack of people issue here takes some getting used to, particularly after having lived in very central London prior to coming here, it has fantastic benefits for these kinds of events.

Without the crowds you dont get the stress and adding the sun into the equation means you end up with a formula of top quality enjoyment!

Christchurch has just launched its Summertime events programme and it includes such delights as open air theatre productions in the park, a family kite flying day at the beach and an evenings classical fireworks show - all absolutely free and all things that you know you can go to and you dont have to arrive 3 weeks in advance 'cos the crowds are too big etc etc. As my friend Jarrod would say in his understated way......."Very good."

Also this week.... the family and I were invited to a BBQ lunch by Piers, a guy from church. I was expecting a gentile lunch on the patio type of affair and even considered slipping on a sundress as it was a fine day... so was greatly surprised (and relieved that the sundress had stayed in my wardrobe!) as Andrew announced "we're here!" as we pulled up into a field in the middle of nowhere, only to find Piers and his son cooking up what looked like half the contents of the local zoo over a brick furnace affair in the surroundings of a very well-equipped 'scout' camp... complete with everything (yes even the kitchen sink.... they actually had 2!) all they were missing were their woggles! Anyway it turns out that they regularly spend the summer months camping out on a piece of land on the farm they used to own.

We had a great time, it was so stereotypically rural Kiwi I cant even begin to tell you... kind of like stepping into a living museum of NZ life. We were joined for lunch by Roger (the present farm owner) he was Kiwi-Man personified. After lunch he disappeared off back to work on his quad bike complete with trailer (and obligatory dog) , leaving behind only a cloud of dust and his mobile phone (I was strangely disappointed he had a mobile phone...)

I can only describe the experience by equating it to going to France and sitting down to a lunch of frogs legs and l'escargots' in a cafe in Provence, overlooking vineyards, hosted by a frenchman sporting a stripey jumper and a beret with a string of onions around his neck joined later by his similarly attired 'ami' called Jean-Paul, who turns up on a bicycle with wicker basket on the front full of baguettes and garlic.

Josh's 'catch of the day'

hmm... something a bit fishy about this...

The afternoon took on a slightly surreal edge as we were invited to play croquet.... all very english, except for the fact that the croquet 'lawn' boasted several mounds that could seriously rival Everest. Croquet 'Kiwi-Style'!

Simeon's uphill struggle on the croquet lawn

(just like to take this opportunity to point out that I beat both boys!)

That's been one of the best things about living with a family over here.. You get the real Kiwi lifestyle, and thats something I was really keen to experience when I came over. I dont want to be a long-term tourist or view NZ from the confines of an english community which is quite easy to do here. The Allan- John's have been so great at including me in so much as 'one of the family' and I've learnt loads from all of them and had so many authentic experiences-quite priceless!

This week Ive had a few low patches, just a couple of times when things have got to me, and I just cant keep going! I feel sometimes like Im in a perspex box here, and I can't 'buy into' the NZ lifestyle that I can see and love as much as I would like to due to numerous constraints. We were singing an old hymn the other day at church and one of the lines was something about being empty-handed, it really made me gulp as thats how I feel over here. (Im not in so many ways but when I compare myself to friends and others my age I can't help but feel like I dont have very much!!)

Thats all worldly desires though and the low patches do pass. At the end of the day I can survive without my own house, a husband and family, healthy bank balance, funky clothes, blah blah blah! All things I want so much but God knows what I NEED and He is providing on a day-to-day basis and that's what Ive promised to trust in, so why am I surprised and frustrated when thats what life is like!? Having said that I know that God is an abundant God who gives over and above (like the trip away Rachel and I experienced) and this is just a season (just dont know how long that season is going to be and right now though and it seems like eternity!)

Anyway so I pulled myself together after one afternoon of wallowing and took myself round to Jissica and Imma's (I mean Jessica and Emma's) to say Hi and to see if they wanted to come out and play later this week, ended up staying for 2 cups of tea and a long chat with their dad and stepmum and am taking the girl's out this saturday and going back to tea with the whole family!! Excellent!

Another plus point this week was meeting Bridget, she is a pastor at one of the churches in Rangiora and a friend of Christine and Andrew. Christine and I popped in (just to say helllo!) one evening and we ended up staying for a couple of hours. Bridget is fab, she is in her early fifties and single (phew!! another one of our endangered species in Rangiora!) and she's one of those people you come away from spending time with feeling really good about life and I really hope to see more of her now we've met!

So thats my news this week. Look forward to hearing yours!

lots of love

cx