“I’m glad to be back in New Zealand but it’s definitely not the homecoming I’d envisaged,’ laughs Abi. She arrived in New Zealand on 1st January, returning after years living away in the UK, Switzerland and France. She was just getting settled and had some job offers on the table when lockdown hit. ‘Lockdown was horrible. Now, a couple of months on, I can’t think … Continue reading Caricatures and containers
A few years ago on a father-son hunting trip, George’s son was shocked at the small amount his father could carry and suggested he get some packgoats, after reading about them in America. George has always been keen on animals; as a child, if it crawled, he kept it, so it took little persuasion to decide to follow up on his son’s suggestion. ‘We do … Continue reading Trekking with goats
When COVID-19 hit the world, New Zealand committed to an elimination strategy, which meant that on 8th June 2020, nearly three and-a-half months after the first case was reported on February 28th, the country went into alert Level 1. In layman’s terms, this means we’re pretty much ‘back to normal’, except for strict border control. When we hit Level 2, a lot of the country … Continue reading Post-COVID normal
Well, hasn’t that flown? I’d be lying if I said I still didn’t feel a bit sad that the relationship I came here for didn’t work out. Or rather, I guess the thought (or hope) of the relationship. I’d got to the point I was just about ready for, you know, one of those relationship-thingys, and it was quite a romantic, unusual circumstance, which made … Continue reading 2 years in New Zealand
As I saw her come through the airport arrival gates, my eyes filled with tears and my throat burned; it took all I had to not burst into a massive pile of sobs and snot. A massive wave of relief and emotion rushed over me. The last time we’d seen each other was when I’d said goodbye in Bristol, back on the other side of … Continue reading A year in people #77 – Marsha
I love New Zealand. I also love the UK. Some people think you can’t do this, that it has to be one or the other; that living in New Zealand means dissing the UK, and this really bugs me. You can’t really compare the two. Bloody comparison is the thief of joy. Yes, there are many things I love about New Zealand. And yes, some … Continue reading New Zealand vs the UK
“Tara! I need your help.” My friend Emma shouted from downstairs. “I think you need to call an ambulance.” She was staying with me after an operation in which a metal coil was put down the main (femoral) artery in her leg. “I think something’s bleeding inside, it’s happened really quickly.” She lifted the covers and pointed to a tennis-ball sized lump at the top … Continue reading A year in people #74 – Emma
I’ve just moved into Christchurch city centre. Like really, actually, smack bang in the middle. I’d never considered myself much of a city person, let alone to live in the middle of one. But Christchurch is a bit different (it’s very leafy). When I first became single I moved from a small country village into the outskirts of Lincoln (a small city in the UK). … Continue reading City living
I’d just split up with my boyfriend (read: was dumped) here in New Zealand and had nowhere to live. I was fairly new, didn’t know that many people, didn’t really know what to do and was just generally feeling a bit sideswiped and shit. I had one new friend, B, who I’d messaged, telling her what had happened. “You can stay with us, of course.” … Continue reading A year in people #55 – J
