Wellington - A City of Culture [#6]
I've been in Wellington for almost 2 weeks now and things have been going slowly with regard to finding a job. First thing is to be allocated an IRD number (tax number), I can't open a bank account until that happens. I'm still waiting. However I have an NZ mobile phone number now, a temporary address and so I have started nosing around for work.I haven't been entirely idle though. It's been 7 years since I was in Wellington last so I've been enjoying a bit of a look round. One thing about moving to a relatively 'new' country I was unsure about was whether I'd start missing some of the cultural activities available in Western Europe. But the last week has been pretty rich and varied in what's on offer. As mentioned before I was welcomed by a ceremonial chorus of Maori at the release of some kiwi birds back into the wild. I've enjoyed an NZ film in one of the extremely cool cinemas where delicious coffee in china cups (or wine, or beer) can be taken into the screen and placed on the large wooden armrest of the luxury armchairs. I went to a classical guitar concert in a church, I drank beer in a city centre pub while watching the Super 14 rugby final between Wellington and Christchurch (unfortunately the Hurricanes lost to the Crusaders). There's some great food shops, specialist Italian, Greek and South African stores with buckets of tasty ingredients imported for the discerning palate. Yes, it's a jade gem in the South Pacific, and New Zealand has plenty of civilisation as well.Maybe it's because I've got more time on my hands at the moment, but I've been enjoying spending ages drawing in my sketchbook recently. Seems that since I arrived, I've picked up the free thinking imaginative spirit I had when I was bush walking and tramping around here before. This is one of the aims of seeking to live my life here. Being productive in work I most enjoy. I may open up another blog if I feel confident enough to publish pages from the book! Don't expect anything soon though.
Dvorjak enjoying a sedentary moment in the warm afternoon sun.
Early Days [#5]
It was a very nice welcome to the country when on my second day I went with Cathie for an event she'd heard about in the local paper. We went to the nearby town over the hill - Wainuiomata to watch the release of 6 kiwis that had been bred in captivity. A valley had been cleared of possible predators like cats, dogs and possums so they would have the best chance of prospering. It was a fine autumn day and we were welcomed at the local Marae (meeting place) by a chorus of Maori who sang and danced to welcome the kiwi birds. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand up on end!
Entering the Marae
Inside the Marae - the kiwis were in the boxes while speaches were given and prayers were said for the birds
Wellington seen across the harbour from the eastern hills
Transfer to NZ [#4]
Bought a large fern for Phil and Son as a leaving prezzie after they allowed me to stay for a while at their flat. We managed to find a large neatly cut section of felled tree so Phil and I pulled over, stuck it in the back of the car and its now the handsome pedestal base for the fern. 
One more meal later with more friends and we drove to the airport via the south bank to try and get a decent night picture of the city.
10 hours later and I arrived in NZ. Had a stunning flight over Farewell Spit, the Marlborough Sounds and over the Cook Straight down into Wellington. I got a bus for 7 bucks then got picked up by Cathie - the lady I'm staying with for a couple of weeks. Dvorjak - her cat welcomed me too. I've now got to organise tax number and bank account. Then find a job. I'll breathe a little easier when that happens. 
Just incase anyone isn't quite sure where Wellington is,
I've shown it here on this map.
The End of the Beginning [#3]
Back in Perth involved seeing more friends for great food, heck this is a fantastic lifestyle! I've got so many great people over this side of the world. 
Me, Paul and Robyn
I felt a bit guilty about crashing on friends' floors, I'm not used to producing so little for so long. OK I've done the odd bit of bone carving and the odd watercolour but work is important to me. Not earning money, but being useful. When I get to NZ I'll be staying on small holdings and earning my keep by chopping firewood, digging the vegges, painting the out buildings, whatever, just doing stuff is great.
Phil, Sonja and Me
Anyway, I'll enjoy the last of my month long holiday then apply myself when I get to the land of the long white cloud.
My sister, Lou has been a star by helping sell my flat and selling my car while I've been floating around the antipodes. Couldn't have gone away without her help and all the news is that we're nearly there and I'll be truly free of the albatross back in Wokingham.
Sonja's Family - Mothers Day in Austalia
I've done the odd watercolour, this one's of a nice gum tree in Kings Park, Perth
Settling in [#2]
The wedding prep kept Phil and Sonja occupied but we still managed to meet up and have a laugh. Western Australia is such a great place there was always opportunities for walking, eating, larking about on the beach and drinking.
The wedding arrived and a great day was had by all - though ended rather unsatisfactorally for the happy couple. An unwelcome case of sickness for Phil which materialised during the reception and a locked luxury resort later that evening were suboptimal results for the happiest day of their lives! Poor things.
Well after the festivities we all went south to a legendary place called Windy Harbour. Legendary in our experience because the last time we went there we managed to get fined for speeding, wiped out and capsized in the boat while fishing, nearly raided by armed police where we were confused for escaped prisoners instead of harmless pommy backpackers, oh and a few other incidents that proved altogether to be a long list of crazy experiences.
This time we had nothing so exciting, just the site of a large snake shedding it's skin and a hearty barbecue over the fire at night. Well, this is Australia.
So after a couple of weeks together, some of the guys had to return to England so the fellowship was broken and I headed south. South to the magnificent forests of Jarrah, Karri and Giant Tingle trees. Catching the odd bus, walking miles, hitch hiking and borrowing the odd bone shaking bicycle all made me feel like the opportunist traveller I was when I first visited Australia.
I travelled through the pioneer towns of Northcliffe and Walpole then onto the Whaling town of Albany.
I manged to get a ride back to Perth with Daniel and Steffi, two German travellers who both intended to return to Perth. We split the driving (well I did most of it) and the fuel costs which worked very well. 400km for about 6 quid.
Daniel and Steffi on Cottesloe Beach.
On My Way [#1]
Well after six years of thinking, planning and studying the process, one year of applications, expense and preparation for disposing of the flat I finally got on the plane and said good bye to home for - who knows how long?
It was quite emotional at the airport saying bye to mum, dad, Lou (my sis) and Steve (her boyfriend). A friend from my hedgelaying group also dropped by to kindly wish me all the best and give me yet another present. I should emigrate more often - the stuff you get! After an emotional and frantic month of finishing job commitments, hooning up and down the country, packing and asking favours I got on the plane still dabbing my eyes, turned on my new ipod (thanks Neil and Sarah!) and ordered a gin and tonic.
I had my pack which weighed an unfeasably massive 21kg - well massive for me - someone who thinks that boxer shorts should be cut down because they're made of far too much fabric. (My brother cuts his toothbrush in half for lightweight travel!) I also had my portfolios which also weighed more than you'd think as I'd stuffed as much artwork in as possible in the hope that someone somewhere would see something vaguely agreeable. Already I was nervous about finding a job.
Anyway - arrived in Perth, met up with Phil and Sonja who were soon to be married and went down to Dunsborough, a small town 4 hours south of Perth. It's in the Margaret River wine region. I stayed with Rob and Sue in a rented timber house across the road from the sea and we soon settled into a hugely enjoyable lifestyle of cruising around, eating pies, tasting classy New World wines, some great meals and all this constantly to the soundtrack of us talking rubbish and giggling. Buying a tennis ball was also a significant feature of the week as Rob and I took every opportunity to play catch and develop an incredibly detailed history of our catching experiences at international catching championships most notably the Athens Olympics where those dastardly Spaniards beat us in highly controversial circumstances. Something which is still talked about in tennis catching circles. We demolished them in the World Championships though.
