A Further Up-date

A Sharpei for an Andrex puppy?

What’s that all about, lol

I was changing a toilet roll the other day like you do at the house where we are staying and there on the packet called (Purex) not Andrex but the “mascot” is a wrinkly puppy Sharpei, it seemed odd to me.

The cars here are amazing and I have been fortunate to have had the use of one when needed, but the classics I have been seeing on the roads have been mind blowing, they just seem not to have rusted I have seen two amazing examples of Morris Minors, not flash or anything just wonderfully preserved.

I have seen a few of the old Rovers that look like rockets, and Zephyrs amongst other makes.

Nissan and Toyota are very popular makes over here and Ford, not so many BMW’s a few Mercedes, the model names are quite different from home as they are imports, when I can remember I will write some down for the lads and put them in my next update.

The water does not have lime in it either, when you fill up the kettle its lovely and clean which is good I suppose for other household items like washing machines and dishwashers which everyone seems to have.

The kids have mobile phones and are seen constantly walking talking texting and bopping to downloaded tunes.

In that respect the youth are just like home so that’s comforting, they have their hair all colours and dress rebelliously which amusing that they fail to see the conformity in that.

The Samoan’s are keen on tattoos and that is part of their culture, not like home where they look like they don’t belong.

We saw a Maori lady in a restaurant with the full facial chin tattoos, and we though, ok if that’s what you want, then she had gone and dyed her beautiful dark hair bleached blonde which of course does not work and just looks orange……..yuk

Fashion is not very important to the natives here much, but on the news the other day there was a report of a recent fashion show, which apparently looked set to crash due to financial difficulties with sponsorship, Vodafone is very big over here for mobiles and they apparently were the sponsors but pulled out.

Home is so different we rarely even get informed about the financial side of the operation except for the obvious endorsment contracts if you are into labels which i am not.

The weather took a turn and we had some rain in the last few days which was very much needed and well received, the temperature dropped a little and the heavier clothes came out, I thought summer was over for good and then the sun came out again today and was cracking the flags it’s certainly going to be interesting when Summer is over and Autumn sets in.

The wildlife is lovely here, there seem to be lots of sparrows, which is a nice site and they are very pretty, like in a Disney film, they hang around the shops looking for scraps and competing with the seagulls as we are near the sea.

The beach and bay is breathtaking, we went for a walk on Sunday, and although it was windy, the colours were amazing and Leonora was delighted.

It backs the recreation area for children on the seafront so we can kill two birds with one stone, go and play, then get some sea air, it’s great.

My only trouble especially when driving is keeping my eyes on the road when there are spectacular views.

Speaking of views I nearly did not have one at all, I got new glasses before we left the U.K and they were not cheap and transitions lenses which have proved most useful, but they literally just snapped in my hand whilst cleaning them, I panicked but gladly I had my old ones with me and my sunglasses are prescription ones.

I have written and spoken to the opticians, and sent the glasses back and they are sending me a new pair back in the post, how cool is that.

I did check with an optician her if they could do anything if my optician was only prepared to reimburse me but they said the prospect was not good.

But next time I need glasses they tell me they have transitions lenses over here so that’s good.

Despite what people have said to me about NZ being like the UK 30 years ago, there is quite an influence of “trend” things from other countries and they are not backwards or anything.

In fact some things I have seen in the media have concerned me that they may be adopting some practices that we do in the UK that have proven not to be good ideas, like the far east call centres etc.

Environmental and cultural things are important too, there is racial unrest and anti-Muslim attitudes; so far I have kept my mouth shut as all the people I have come into contact with have been so varied.

Somalia is another place people seem to some from as well as all pars of Asia and the South Sea Islands.

I have been visiting the library regularly with Leonora as its so close and she has loved it, we have set up quite a little readers corner where the kids come after school, today there were 5 kids all sat round me while I was reading them a story and they kept bringing me more and more books bless them.

Where ever we settle I plan to make much more use of the library than I did in the UK and then at least if she really likes a book, and reads it over and over THEN I can buy it and save some dosh, she has quite a few books coming in the shipping stuff but there has been something special and magical about the discovery of the library.

I always intended to use it in the UK and joined just before I left to use the internet.

One thing about this trip it’s made me realise lots of things I may have taken for granted about home and the lifestyle we had.

There is poverty here and some is depressing but apparently the “natives” get as much help as they can handle so Doug is pleased about that, as that was something in the UK that upset him about trying to get help when he was out of work with his accident.

Let’s hope these next few weeks will see and end to all the waiting to start a new life and the financial worries that have dogged us since that awful time.

I have seen some awful afflictions and the “Holy Spirit” has spoken to Doug and I on two occasions and made us feel very humbled and grateful that he has the use of his arm and opportunity to diversify and change tack with his employment.

We were driving to the shops where Doug’ step Dad has a shop and Doug had been particularly down and depressed that day, as we were at a junction we saw a man pushing himself in a wheelchair with both legs missing above his knees, I gestured towards him and said to Doug how lucky he was and that people like the man we saw inspired me, we carried on and got on with the tasks in hand when we got to the shops.

About half an hour later or more we were walking out of Eddie’s shop to leave and in wheeled the man with no legs, we were aghast, we never expected to see him again and he was quite some way from the shops, it was amazing, one of those time when you had to be there.

The other time was very similar but was quite a young man again both legs gone, and he was with his 2 kids and they were on bikes, I said to Doug again how some people’s stoicism inspired me, when facing diversity of any kind.

To wind up this update I suppose I can say I am watching absorbing and in awe of my surroundings and deciding and deciphering what I like, what I dislike and what I am prepared for my new life to contain.

I hope that makes sense?

I hope this finds everyone well and happy and if not doing something about it where possible, remembering all things are possible with God and the power of prayer.

God bless and take care, love to you all and your loved ones.

Miz.