Clocks have gone back now so we are only 11 hours ahead of those of you in the UK. Its early autumn here (my favourite season!) and Im finding it weirder than Christmas in the Sunshine.. .Easter in Autumn (with harvest thrown in for good measure!) Just to confuse me further a snowman popped up in a TV ad the other day. Coming from the UK I associate them with Christmas so for a few moments I couldn't work out what on earth was going in... of course snowman = winter rather than Christmas and winters on its way over here! I cant tell you how excited I am about the snow coming on the mountains, it had practically all melted just as I arrived 6 months ago so have yet to see the mountain vistas in full glory!
So it’s been a while since my last posting… what’s been happening?
The Commonwealth Games have been and gone since I last ‘blogged’ (sounds so elegant doesn’t it!!) I tended to catch it late at night for an hour or so before heading for bed…. So only really caught the cycling and rugby! It was really interesting experiencing a major sports tournament from another country’s viewpoint. I have little idea of how England got on!
These late night glimpses provided a couple of funny moments that for me beautifully summed up Kiwi culture…. First off in the cycling when a Kiwi was in the individual pursuit final against an English guy. The English cyclist gained a fantastic lead but was the kiwi commentator giving up?? Not a chance!! Quite the opposite… “don’t worry, this is not over yet, (as the guy was being lapped for practically the tenth time), as our man has GREAT finish (he was going to need a 3000cc motorbike on standby to have any chance by this point…) I watched and listened in disbelief as the commentator heroically maintained this level of optimism, conceding defeat only when the Englishman had actually crossed the line, got his medal, packed up and gone home. Very cute.
Second ‘Kiwi classic’ came in the rugby. NZ had just beaten England in the final (boo) and, after receiving their gold medals, had headed over to the corner of the stadium where the main NZ supporters contingency were seated, to perform the obligatory Haka. The commentators were incredibly excited about this as anticipation built to the ‘perfect climax’… blah blah blah…
Now bear in mind that the games were being held in Oz (NZ‘s sworn enemy’s- think Scotland V England to the power of ten) and that they held the broadcasting powers of the games… so no prizes for guessing who pulled the plug just as the NZ team drew breath for the first war-cry and cut to a very pleasant round-up of the rugby tournament, returning live to the stadium a nanosecond after the Haka had ended.
So simple but oh how devastatingly effective.
The commentators and studio pundits were in absolute uproar….. and are probably still paying off their fines for inappropriate language in a live broadcast.
Onto my news….
I finished my census contract a few weeks ago, I thoroughly enjoyed it and whilst it was very hard work and difficult to fit in the time for it, I learnt tremendous amounts about the NZ people and was almost sad to finish (though not sad to see the back of the huge blue bag that I hauled around for evenings on end!).
I was blessed with the most amazing evening skies and sunsets as I did my rounds, the skies over Rangiora really are incredible. One night the sky was particularly gorgeous and I was walking along on my round thinking what a waste it was that so many people were holed up inside glued to the TV with their backs to the window and this awesome beauty outside….. the sunset that is, not me ;)“oh! (stopping in my tracks) Well thank you its lovely”
Now I can get quite envious of ladies who have husbands who, when they feel so inclined, can whisk them off to watch the sunset together but then again, how many can say their husband actually went to the trouble of designing and making the sunset for them!? – I can. I felt very romanced then and it came at one of my less glamorous moments, struggling with my huge heavy census bag around the deserted streets!
I was reminded of a verse that I shared as part of my testimony in a talk I did at HTB before I left: Hosea 2:16. I'll leave you to look it up if you want!
Is it enough? Sometimes it’s more than enough and I feel for those who never get to be so intimate with God because other people and things get in the way. But if I’m totally honest most of the time its not anywhere near enough, I yearn for someone I can physically share this experience with: whether it be sharing a private joke about the accents here or talking over how our days were or the difficulties we’re experiencing with the culture differences etc. etc.
Speaking of culture changes…. I’m finding as I’m engaging more and more with kiwi life that I’m coming across more and more things I have no concept of or clue about. I often feel quite confused and it can be quite bewildering and upsetting to be so uncertain about the most basic of things and its exhausting as it’s pretty relentless; some days its seems like everything I try to do or say is done differently over here! I guess its all part of the ‘culture shock’ process and because I’ve chosen and am determined to engage as fully as possible in NZ life, I have to accept it as par for the course!!
Anyway, life has been busy, last posting, I mentioned the Loaf and Fish Café we were running at the Rangiora Showgrounds. This was to be a fundraiser for the Parish – target c. $10,000 as well as a great team builder and community outreach initiative.
Well, didn’t it go well!? The two ladies in charge, Juliet and Janet did us proud, the food was top notch, all homemade, pies, rolls, cakes TO DIE FOR, fresh coffee etc etc, all as good as you would get in a funky London café, and we had about 60 people from the church helping us out over the weekend, I did all the décor then was on the BBQ team for the rest of the weekend, was great fun
On the subject of food, I’m going to have to tuck into some humble pie as last posting I seem to remember poking fun at the notion of a traction engine rally....Well how wrong I was! (again!) What a fantastic weekend. I can’t even begin to describe how fab it was, the photos will give you some idea but won’t capture the smoke, smells and all round fantastic-ness of the 2 days. Before I went, I must confess to not really being sure what a traction engine actually was, but after the weekend I was thrilled whenever I spotted one clomping down the road (more often being tailed by a 4 mile tailback… no actually this is NZ so more like a 4 car tailback(a tailback that length here on the South Island is in with a fighting chance of making the evening news!). As they made their way back to various parts of the country.
There is a whole world out there of traction engine enthusiasts, this was the largest rally ever held in the Southern Hemisphere with 80+ engines driven from all parts of NZ (you can walk faster than these things!) The star of the show was transported from Dorset! (pic: left) I was delighted to be rubbing shoulders with countless ‘Ivor the Engine’ drivers, (complete with overall’s smudged faces and caps!) many of whom visited our café and also out in force were ‘Rural-Rangorians galore’ you couldn’t make these people up….. sooo stereotypical its ridiculous! Whilst I was on duty at the café BBQ I had a great vantage point to watch the crowds and couldn’t get over the fact that this is real life, not a theme park (‘Hicksville World’) or a movie set! 
Looking over the area where the traction engines all stood ... for all the world you
felt like you were in the midst of the industrial revolution.
Best part of the weekend came straight after the grand parade at 3.30pm each day. The drivers had been asked not to use their horns during the day because of all the horses around but at 3.30 they were allowed one big blow (so to speak….) Isn’t it funny how the simplest and most innocent things in life can bring so much pleasure!? How much fun was that!!!?? (OK so you really had to be there!).
Back to the café and we raised over $10,000 (hurrah!) but I believe the real benefit came from the church all working as a team on it and the community seeing the church doing something really well, with a lot of smiles.
We only had a few days to draw breath before launching into planning for the Alpha Supper. (it’s called ‘Alpha Dinner’ here, I had to keep correcting myself!) (
www.alpha.co.nz ) It too went really well, Janet and Juliet (Loaf and Fish Café ladies) co-ordinated the food for me so I knew I had to get the décor up to a high standard to match! I missed my old job a lot during this planning, the early morning jaunts to Covent Garden Market with Amanda B to get the flowers, and just knowing where to get the best stuff and where the bargains were, I felt quite incompetent a lot of the time, like I didn’t know anything about anything and it was frustrating!All this aside, the dinner was great, Food was superb, all served on huge white plates from Juliet’s café (a handy lady for an event co-ordinator to have on the team!!). The menu included lemon chicken breasts, Kumara Mash, Hazelnut and Chocolate Meringue etc etc. YUM! We had a lot of no-shows but a number of the guests signed up for the Alpha course. Was strange to glimpse Nicky G on the big screen and see familiar surroundings! Unfortunately I was in a hurry with my camera trying to get snaps before the guests arrived and the photos didn’t come out. Never mind.
Between Loaf and Fish and Alpha Supper I fitted in a trip to Wellington, this was to attend a meeting for ‘Summer Wine’ (New Zealands 'New Wine') a camp in January which takes place in three locations, two on the North Island and one on the south. (I have been asked to ‘co-ordinate’ the South Island one.) Andrew is heading up the team for this.
Its at a very exciting time as there has been a real feeling that time has come when God will be doing new things with this venture and the committee certainly reflects this with a complete overhaul of members. Will keep you updated how this pans out, it’s a big project to get involved in.
Wellington was great, I flew up a day early for the meetings and squeezed in bit of sightseeing, I liked the city the first time I visited it with Rachel back in November but we were only passing through then and so it was good to have time to wander and soak up city-life…. Ahhh felt good! But after a few days there I was ready to head back to the sticks…. Ooh I’m in grave danger of entering into country-bumpkin territory!!!
I was most impressed with the national museum (Te Papa) which is in Wellington, fantastically contemporary, interactive and informative. Though I must admit my favourite display by miles was the one celebrating the national treasure that is- the 'Squashed Possum'. I took a photo as I had to share this with you. Next to this fine exhibit was a full -and must be said gleefully gruesome- low down on exactly what happens to a possum once it has been hit by a car (namely it becomes extremely well-aquainted with the tarmac)
The Beehive: NZ Parliament
Those of us at the meeting who had come from other areas got put up by members of the local churches for the night. After supper before our final session we were advised who we would be staying with…. “Charlotte you are staying with Olive on the Waterfront”.
Staying with Olive-on-the-Waterfront turned out to be just as nice as it sounded. complete with hot water bottle, extra blankets, cup of Milo (Horlicks) pleasant chat and then breakfast with homemade jams in the morning when Olive insisted I sat facing the window so could overlook the fantastic view of … yes, you’ve guessed it, the waterfront. Very good.
Good news before I go is that mum and sister Rachel are coming to visit in May!!! Excellent! Sadly my dad and brother aren’t coming too but it is still great news! Am beginning to plan trips and pray for some accommodation for them whilst they are here!
Anyway, lots of love this Easter from me (and Neve who is snoring contently beside me….)
That’s all for now.
Look forward to hearing all your news!
Charlotte
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