Earthquake! [# 14]
Well after 3 and a half months in New Zealand the time came to find somewhere more permanent to live so I've been visiting various rental places within my budget - ranging from some where floorboards were visible through the carpet, the stench of grease and/or damp was too overpowering for even my flexible standards, but there was also very agreeable places available. I finally found somewhere of my own to stay and moved in last week. After getting some work it seemed legitimate to make the radical step and start actually paying for my accommodation instead of working my stay indefinitely. It seemed quite a significant step to me anyway - it means I'm at the stage of being properly self-sufficient in this country.How quickly things change.
Since I started working on a freelance basis at First Edition Publishing I've been very busy. The first book I worked on was a children's book - rather like a journal that the youngsters would fill in all their family history, best friends, favourite experiences etc. Marguerite (my boss) said this would probably be the most work I'd put into a single book. This was sent off for approval then last week I was briefed on another children' book. It required full colour illustrations for 16 pages as well as artwork for the front cover and complete layout of the text and content. I finished it in 4 days and now that's finished I've nearly finished an even bigger children's book which needs lots of illustration! I'm working Saturdays to try and keep up with the work. I've got some of the pictures on my Illustraton blog. (Click here if you want a look. If you've been there before you may need to click 'Refresh' to see the updated page).
Anyway back to the house. I'm sharing with 4 people, 3 youngish professionals (whatever 'youngish' and 'professional' means) and a student and they've made me feel very welcome. I feel quite at home already after just a week. My room is quite large, big sash windows, highly varnished hardwood flooring (possibly Australian Jarah?) and plenty of space for a double bed, desk and roller hockey. Well maybe not the roller hockey. On my last day at Mike and Christines before moving in I was helping chop firewood and clear a windfallen macrocarpa tree so I got Mike to cut me a slice (over 2ft x 1ft) of the trunk so I could make it into a table top. And the other day I made a start digging over the tiny section of garden we've got - a 1m x 7m strip terrace which is on the edge of a 3metre drop down the hill. I'm trying not to impose my lifestyle on my flatmates too much - but I can't help it. We should get some nice salad veggies in a couple of months though.
I now live in 'Moana Street'. 'Ah, perfect for a Whinging Pom', you might say. But no, it's actually pronounced 'Mo-ana' as in 'goanna', the perfidious reptile.
Oh yes, the quake.
I was in bed almost dropping off last night when I felt my first undeniable earthquake. I've felt possible tremours in the past but they could have been a passing truck or even that cucumber sandwich I had for lunch. No, but this was a good one. Epicentre was 4o km's away, 5 on the richter scale and it felt like someone was shaking my bed enthusiastically.
Other stuff -
Marguerite at work is keen on smoothies, something I'd never tried before - to me they seemed about as tempting as boiled cabbage water. How wrong was I? Very. These things made from ground up carrots, oranges (including peel), wheat grass, kiwi fruit - basically anything that you can squeeze a drop of juice out of, combine to make sensationally coloured, flavoured and nutritious drinks. I love them. I'm not going to stretch to a 600 dollar ferrari model juicer like at work but I may investigate one for myself. I recommend them. Quite a sensation.
Another thing I've been investigating is a cricket club. Can't wait to join. There's heaps around here and I've had prompt and interesting feedback about my enquiries. Funny too. I asked one guy what kit I'd need - he replied that they have most stuff but I might want to get my own box. 'Nothing like not having to share a box' he wrote!!
posted by col @ 5:56 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home