Our first Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere will certainly not easily be forgotten. From being a couple living quietly in a stylish house 'built for two', on December 2nd we became a family of six. Given the Kiwi love of the outdoors the majority of homes are designed for so-called inflow/outflow. This house 'flows' everywhere. The award which the architect won for this property was not for being toddler-friendly; toys and children flowed in, out, through, along, up, down, round and round. We retreated upstairs, only to recognise that a lovely hallway which has lots or light and air also has no sound-proofing.
Most families with comfortable incomes lead linked but essentially separate lives for most of the year. At Christmas the tradition is to come out of these comfort zones and live together, maybe for just one day, maybe for longer, and, with the expectation that this is a special time, it is not always easy. Lucy, Jeff and the children are currently living out of their suitcases and managing the first weeks of emigration to a new country, with no home, initially with no job and with a residency application pending completion. We are in a temporary home with a bit more than the contents of suitcases, though very little of our home about us, and uncertainty as to how our decision to stay here for another year or so will manifest in the coming months. We have also just begun the process of purchasing a house.
The fact that we are all still speaking to each other, despite being somewhat frayed at the edges, must be cause for celebration and congratulations. We are blessed that just down the road is a delightful old homestead set in the lovely gardens of a retreat centre on the edge of the city. It is free at the moment, and Lucy and family have been able to move in there temporarily. They are off to Auckland tomorrow to look for a home to buy and somewhere to rent temporarily. Jeff starts work in Auckland on 15th January and their residency application is approved…just the final paperwork to do. What an achievement in just over 2 weeks of arriving in the country!
After Christmas we enjoyed a couple of days in our favourite spot south of Lake Taupo. Jeff was frustrated by the weather in his attempt to do the Tongariro crossing. Rupert and I were more lucky on the next day, and, despite setting off too late to do the whole track, did get further this time.
Our luck was out on our return journey to Hamilton, when, during a beautiful walk along the Waihaha river, our parked car was broken into and several bags stolen. 24 hours later, fate intervened again. Someone (who coincidentally lives just minutes away from us in Hamilton) was camping in the area and discovered the jetissoned bags in the bush, together with names and phone numbers. Almost all of our belongings were retrieved, including a much loved backgammon set which has seen many games with much loved friends over the past 30 years!
And Spike celebrated his second birthday on Sunday with fresh strawberry gateau!
We hope to explore the Hawkes Bay area later this week , before Rupert returns to work on Monday.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!