A Mad Couple of Months...

A short, sharp February but packed with excitement!

February went by in a blur with both of us now working. Feb 14th was spent at the local bistro "Cornershop Bistro" where we generally pigged out and then walked the dog, half-cut, along the esplanade at midnight! We discovered Villa Maria - our new fav NZ red wine!

And we discovered Monteiths "Summer Ale" - a fab beer that we just can't get enough of. Hmm, beginning to see why February went by in a blur!

BUT - during the shortest month of the year we also managed to find and buy a house AND get our ITA (Invitation to Apply for residency) submitted.

We don't move into the house until 1st April (yeah yeah, get the April Fools jokes out of the way!) which seems AGES away. It's a "quirky" house - lots of rimu (wood) and lots of space - 3 double beds, quarter acre garden, cathedral ceilings upstairs, and lovely wooden terrace outside. I won't depress you all in the UK with the price ;-) Oh, and did I mention it's 2 roads back from the Pacific Coast and one of the best beaches on the South Island?

I am sure more Monteiths will ease the waiting!!

Urban Surf Chick!

Well, I have a little job-ette!

I'll be working part-time at Urban Surf here in Sumner with my friend Jo, who owns the shop! She came to me the other day asking if I'd like to work with her! Would I? Of course! We get on very well and have known each other since day two of arriving in New Zealand as we had to raid her shop for fleeces due to the unseasonably cold weather!

Can't wait to start on Wednesday (9th Feb)... can take the dog with me too if I like and it's literally round the corner!

I remember the days sat in an office in London dreaming of living somewhere hot and working in a dive shack or shop... well, here I am (ok, the hot weather won't last ALL year but you can't have everything!).

Oh and the staff discount will come in handy!!

How to Speak Kiwi

Some light relief, and for those coming over, practice makes perfect!!

Milbun - Capital of Victoria
Peck - To fill a suitcase
Pissed aside - Chemical which kills insects
Pigs - For hanging out washing
Pug - Large animal with curly tail
Nin tin dough - Computer game
Munner stroney - Soup
Min - Male of the species
Mess Kara - Eye makeup
McKennock - Person who fixes cars
Mere - Mayor
Leather - Foam produced from soap
Lift - Departed
Kiri Pecker - Famous Australian businessman
Kittle crusps - Potato chips
Ken's - Cairns
Jumbo - Pet name for someone called Jim
Jungle Bills - Christmas Carol
Inner me - Enemy
Guess - Vapour
Fush - Marine creatures
Fitter cheney - Type of pasta
Ever cardeau - Avocado
Fear hear - Blonde
Ear - Mix of nitrogen and oxygen
Ear roebucks - Exercise at gym
Duffy cult - Not easy
Amejen - Visualise
Day old chuck - Very young poultry
Bug hut - Popular recording
Bun button - Been bitten by an insect
Beard - A place to sleep
Chully bin - Esky
Sucks peck - Half a dozen beers
Ear New Zealand - An extinct airline
Beers - Large savage animals found in U.S. forests
One doze - Well known computer program
Sex - One less than seven
Iggs ecktly - Precisely
Beggage chucken - Place to leave your luggage at the earport