Bill Bailey

Finally, after many years of trying and failing, including standing ten bodies deep outside a huge marquee thronging with people at a festival in the rain, we got to see Bill Bailey perform live. Is that a bit extreme? Sean, Jenn and Louise got tickets at the last minute to his sell out gig in Christchurch. The car didn't break down, we found somewhere to park, were not mugged on the way to the gig in the big city and despite getting a wee bit lost finding our way to the gig and turning up a wee bit late we arrived and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Bill was great, despite being obviously a bit confused by the time difference and the ' it looks like home, it smells like home but they ain't like I am' culture shock thing. Particularly in the opening warm up with 'whats the phrase that kiwis use that defines them as kiwis' and some bright spark shouted out ' get in behind'. Ho hum chuckle chuckle much mirth ensued. And then he pulled out his oud - beautiful.

HE also did an old standby, sing a song thats slow and melancholic but in german and in a techno style. Cohens Hallelujah this time. as funny as it is not sure if its not time to move on to something a bit different now.

It felt quite comforting to hear a voice from home wot talks like we do and talked of places that we knew. Jenn was sorely tempted to jump up and scream 'big up from the Swindon massive' but the surreality of it might have sent him over the edge.

Not sure that the kiwis in the audience got many of the jokes and references, we did, laughing like drains. He kept them in with lots of Orc and Hobbit references. He did a good powerpoint presentation reinterpreting the work of the Great Masters telling of the Doubting Thomas scene. Great use of the powerpoint. On the way home we wondered if he did the work himself bored one evening when nothing was on the telly, or whether some minion slaved away in a cold mean garret...

Happy Solstice

W can't quite believe it but its mid winter already. Its even weirder as Sean spent the day outside building a step wearing shorts and a tee-shirt. We cooked up a feast of Stilton, Mushroom and Walnut wellington for Sean and Jenn and a big huge slab of steak for Jack and Barney. Complete with all the trimmings including brussel sprouts. And a 70's classic pudding from Jenns mums repertoire - shes gone in body but still there in spirit - Tipsy Ring. if you want to know what it is or how to make it just drop Jenn a line. No crackers or party hats though, we couldn't find any in the shops. Note to us to buy extra at Christmas so as next year we can have a big feast in our own home. The boys also cracked open Barneys Kiwi classic home made Ginger Beer, vintage June 2010, which was gingery and very fizzy.

So we raise a glass and toast all our friends and family back home and think of them at their mid summers eve, hoping the evening is long and the night balmy. We miss you all.

P.S. Happy birthday Sarah

country entertainment for ladies

Jenn just had one major surreal night out and discovered what passes for entertainment for farmers wives and rural folk.

It all began a few weeks ago when Jenns sister, Louise, rushed in the house waving a creased up sheet of paper 'Look, school fundraiser, its a Ladies night at the village hall. Do you want to go?'. The only thing to say was yes.

Now, bare in mind we live in what appears to be the middle of nowhere, it was amazing when the night rolled around and we made our way in the starry mid winters night the 3 km to Flemington Village Hall to see cars and women strewn everywhere. Not one man in sight and all the ladies dressed out for a big night clutching bags that chinked ominously all with a crazy determined look in their eyes. In the village hall – you've all been to one and this one was no different right down to the slightly musty smell, old faded curtains and toilets that gave up flushing after the third go – along one wall in the space between the kitchen door and the Ladies were two trestle tables adorned with creams, potions, fluffy pink things and massive great big vibrators. OMG. It was one of those parties! This was the first of its kind in Ashburton, let alone the rest of the South Island. The sales pitch started the wine flowed and much laughing and shrieking and cackling occurred and more wine flowed.

And then the entertainment properly started. Its the Kiwi way – they make their own – a chap and one of the school teachers proceeded to sing the night away with a karaoke machine and a disc of kiwi pop classics from back in the day. More wine flowed, many impulse purchases were made and more wine was drunk. And then the dancing began. It was awsome apparantly. Jenn and Louise had a good time.

Lets hope the fundraising was successful. Judging by the queue of ruddy faced, wobbling very happy ladies clutching their credit cards it will be.

Special Delivery

Today was Christmas and all our birthdays rolled up into one great big happy day. Our stuff has arrived. Two charming gentlemen from Pickfords drove down from Christchurch on a gloriously crisp, clear and frosty morning and tucked it all away in a borrowed container for us.

Sean got giddy with excitement and tore in to the seven (yes seven) bike shaped boxes. OK so seven bikes for four people might seem a bit excessive, but you know we like our bikes. The boys were at school but the smiles on their faces when they came home was the best moment.

Seriously, there is something very comforting about having our silly possessions and small treasures with us. It feels more settled now. Imagine how terrible it would feel like to have those bits that we surround ourselves with lost, it would be like loosing your shell.

We spent a good bit of time unpacking the container again once the nice chaps from Pickfords had gone. Opening up boxes and finding bits and bobs, like our books, music, films the dirty clothes Barney had left on his bedroom floor that got packed away accidentally. Jenns knitting stuff and her sewing machine, Seans tools (he still can‘t find his shovel, spade and pick axe handle - must dig deeper into the packages) and his long bow, Jacks bike bits and Barneys lego and Warhammer.

And the camping stuff.

And on Sunday Jenn can make waffles with the waffle iron. Life feels ready to carry on now.

What have we been up to

Guilty that we haven't been keeping up to date with the blog. So what have we been up to? Obviously the rain hasn't been raining all the time. Has it? Feels like it, the natives are starting to mutter about this being 'The Big Wet'. However, in between the wet Sean and Jenn went to Christchurch and saw:

New Zealands tallest trees, the Kahikatea or the White Pine (Podocarpus dacrydioides)

What happens when cyclists and tram tracks collide


Some city culture


We also gave up waiting for the rain to stop at the weekend and decided to test out the all terrain abilities of the Mondeo. We took a trip to the Backcountry to Lake Emma. It rained but was very lovely.


We've also been told that our stuff has cleared customs and MAF Biosecurity checks with no expensive mistakes. Horrah! Having our own stuff around us will make a huge difference. We can't wait.

Queens birthday

This weekend is the Queens Birthday. Kiwis celebrate this by having a massive long weekend! Its a big deal. The shops are pushing sales and discount events, sporting events galore and everybody seems to try to get away or have an event to go to. Its the last long weekend until labour day. And the weather is traditional bank holiday monday - wet and windy.

We feel sad for our neighbours. They imported a caravan from the UK, took it to the shop to get it road tested and on the way home it jumped of the towing hitch and ran into a ditch. Needless to say the caravan is a right off.

P.S Bubbles up date. She's all better now and eating well.