Van-tastic!

Yes - we're finally sorted with our very own little van after lots of trials and tribulations, inluding buying a station wagon and finding out it was a lemon (even after we had a mechanical check) then having to sell it again - what a pain!! Now we've bought a funky little Nissan Vannett off Pam & Mike (Our Petsitting employers). It needed a little bit of work in order to make sure it'd last for the next 12 months, but now it's sorted and we just need to buy some camping gear and make it nice and cosy... just so it looks cool of course while we're staying in our nice, warm lodge!! No, really, we are planning to stay in it....

Our Petsitting job came to an end on Friday when Pam and Mike came back from their Apartment in Oz- which is available to rent by the way! They threw us & Jamie & Kyle (the Canadian couple we've been working with) a 'Thank you Woofers' BBQ on Sunday at their 'Bali Bar', which was really nice - good food, drink and conversation all whilst watching the sun go down... perfect!

Now we have a week staying in the cabin until we move up North to Ahipara and the Endless Summer Lodge, so we're going to make the most of it by seeing as much of Auckland and the surrounding areas as possible in our new wheels. There's a bungy jump set up off Auckland Harbour Bridge on Friday which looks interesting, we might go along and, well..... have a look!! You never know we might be a bit daring.....

Apart from that, all is well in NZ, Matt has a bit of a cold because it is pretty chilly here at the moment, although we are having a few good days and we've been told spring is just around the corner.

You can see more pics from the last couple of weeks here. We've also finally got a new camera sorted thanks to Matt's Mum and Al, so they should be better quality from now on...

Kia Ora...

...from New Zealand!

Well, we got here safe and sound... but raggy and shattered after a 24 hour flight - a stop over is definitely called for next time! Singapore airport looks pretty cool too although we didn't get much time to look round.

When we finally arrived we spent the first night in Auckland, which was suprisingly very British! Our first day was quite busy going to orientation's, sorting bank accounts and phones etc... Incidentally we now have a kiwi phone number - 0064 210 275 2023 - don't forget though, there is a 12 hour time difference - no 3am wake-up calls please!!

Monday night we arrived at Pam & Mike's in Piha in the middle of a storm which was a little bit scary as we are staying in a small cabin on a hill with a tin roof! But as the sun came up the next morning, the view was absolutely amazing - something that no amount of rain could dampen!

The cabin is ace - we have a gas stove, microwave, heater and a TV, which we really weren't expecting - Shortland Street is so addictive! We have running water outside on the veranda for washing up etc... and our toilet facilities are what is known as 'the long drop'!! (i.e. a hole in the ground.)

Tuesday, we met Tim, Anna and Scott (Pam & Mikes, son, daughter and partner) who are all really friendly and helped us settle in loads. For example, pointing us in the direction of the RSA (local pub), which does beer for just over a quid a pint and ace veggie food.

We also met the pets - sheep (Snowy and twins Lulu and Lulu), the dogs (Bossie, Bailey, Roxy and Spike) and cat (Millie), who are all gorgeous, but more about them another day...

We're job sharing with another couple - Jamie and Kyle from Canada who are really nice - they've already got a van sorted so they've helped us out with lifts and advice (they've been here a couple of months already) which, again, all really helps!

We're doing day on day off shifts so managed to do some exploring on Wednesday which was absolutely amazing. We didn't have to go far, just a 10 minute walk down to the beach and then a trail up a hill which took us to a view point that blew us away.

We're in Henderson today - the nearest town and hopefully tomorrow we'll get a car or campervan sorted... Yey - we'll be mobile in NZ!

It's scary to think our first week is already over - there's so much to see and do here and we're already looking forward to the next 51...

To view our pics so far, click here.... oh, and btw... our camera broke nearly as soon as we landed in Auckland, so the pics quality isnt great unfortuantely as we're relying on phone cams for the time being... boo!

our last goodbye...

Well at least until tonight's get together for Big Al's Birthday get together and tomorrow's convoy to the airport!

Sorry, we haven't updated the blog for a while, we've just had so much going on over the last few weeks which has included lots of goodbye meals, curry's and lunchs etc - needless to say, we're feeling a little worn out and very podgy at the moment!

This may be a long one, so be prepared....

I (TB) finished work at CNBC on the 21st July which was a little sad as i've made some great friends there, but as a wise 'young' man called Pip once said 'Don't worry these are the type of friends that you'll have for life.' Parky, Slater Girl and Pretty Polly Perkins - thank you for all the fun girly nights over the last couple of years and for my leaving present- a special edition of the CanCan all about ME... perfect!

My department organised an English tea party for me which was so lovely and very unexpected!! Then a load of us went into Nantwich for a meal at the Crown and on to Nakatcha's for more drinks. Thank you to everyone who came it was much appreciated, I had a great night and I really appreciated all the lovely cards and of course the collection! Which, by-the-way has helped to buy a new camera for our travels.

We took our parent's out for a meal at the Dysart Arms in Bunbury on Sat 22nd to say a big thank you for all their hard work on the house, the leaving party and everything else they've done for us over the last year or so. We booked a mini-bus so we could all relax and have a few drinks and it was a really lovely night which was enhanced by the lovely food and atmosphere at the Dystart. Click here to see more pics.

30th July was the Nantwich Acoustic Festival at Dorfold hall, which Matt's Mum and Al very kindly paid for us all to go. we had a top time and Hayseed Dixie stole the show by far!! Pics of us gradually getting drunker and drunker throughout the day can be seen here....

And finally, we ended the blitz of food, beer, and... well... food... with 2 curries!! One with Matt's Dad and the other with Smackwater Jack (Matt's Band) and partners. Incidentally... to hear Matt warbling and the SWJ boys playing, head over to their band site (www.smackwaterjack.co.uk)

A couple of pics from the band gathering are also available here...

But thats it... we're finally off tomorrow. So, we'd both just like to say a huge thanks to everyone for their lovely cards and well wishes... and we will be back to bore you all with our tales one day :)

Keep watching this spot and we'll speak again from NZ