KiwiBrit

Wow, didn't realise it was so long since I last did a blog. A lot has happened in that time but I won't bore you with it all except to say that I did head back to London 2 years ago and it has been an amazing 2 years.

But the big news is that I have been granted British citizenship so now I'm a KiwiBrit. I will attend a citizenship ceremony next month with another KiwiBrit, we will take several guests with us and go out for a celebration afterwards.

I will post some photos next month and tell you about the ceremony.

Christchurch

My last visit to Christchurch was 3 years ago when the city was whole. I returned yesterday to a broken city after all the horrendous earthquakes they have been having. I didn't see too much of the damage as it's hard to get to those parts.
The area around the airport looks fine and you'd never know they had suffered earthquakes. The roads didn't have any cracks or holes and I only saw the odd bit of damage to indicate anything had happened. I noticed a couple of chimneys down, a few fences propped up and one church held together by steel girders at each end. 

In the City Centre, as close as you can drive to it 

Riccarton Mall was busy and buzzing, but when you looked underneath all this you saw the signs of what has happened. A gift shop by the cafe where we had breakfast had a sign up saying that goods were stuck to the shelves and then I noticed the blue tac holding everything in place. When I said to someone I was going to the Mall, they told me to be aware of where I was at all times and to especially look out for what was above me. 
On the way back to the airport we drove as close as we could to the CBD and there we saw a lot more damage. All that is left of Knox Church is the pillars and roof. One hotel we saw has missing windows and the curtains were flapping in the breeze. Another building had it's roof missing and all the windows on the top floor were broken. Driving past Hagley Park I noticed a massive branch had been broken off on one of the trees.
But more importantly it's the trauma that has been caused to the people that is of concern. Again it's just little signs that show you what they are going through. I saw a slight tremor in a cousins hand, hearing of a child wetting the bed for a week after the February quake, the flatness in people voices etc. I don't blame anyone for wanting to move away from Christchurch. 
I didn't feel any earthquakes while I was there but saw on the internet there was 3 during the day, but that they had some stronger ones overnight. All we can do is pray that they end soon so that the people can begin to live their lives again.

Christmas – Winter v Summer

After spending the last 8 Christmases in the UK I'm not that keen on Christmas in the Summer again. I much prefer Christmas in the winter as I think the two go together much better.


In the UK Christmas is the sole focus, while here it's the end of the school and work year and the summer holidays, so poor old Christmas has to compete with all that. It's dark early in the UK so the Christmas lights look festive for a longer time each evening. Here it's almost 9.30pm before it's dark enough to see them properly.


I love the traditional roast on Christmas Day and again it is much more enjoyable when it's cold outside. But don't worry I'll always eat a roast no matter how hot it is. 


Last year it had snowed in London the week before Christmas and it was still on the ground on Christmas Day. The parks looked so pretty with their covering of snow. 


Mulled wine and heated mince pies are so welcome when it's cold out. Haven't had a drop of mulled wine this year.


So in my humble opinion Christmas and winter go together much better than Christmas and summer.

My lovely Mum

It was 1am on Sunday 3rd December 2006 and I was sitting in my room in London in a state of shock as I'd just heard that my lovely Mum had joined Dad in Heaven. It was only 2 weeks and 6 days since Dad had gone to Heaven and now Mum was with him again. They had been married for 50 years.

I had only said a 'see you later' goodbye to Mum when I left NZ at the end of October, much different from the final goodbyes I'd said to Dad.

Mum was a very good cook and her roasts were always yummy. She also did good schnitzel and curried sausages. I've tried to make curried sausages but they never turn out as good as Mums did. Her cheese scones were the best. My sister makes good ones but the scone making skills have passed me by.

I used to do all sorts of things with Mum before I moved to London. Most Saturdays we would go out for lunch and go shopping together. Mum enjoyed rugby and cricket and I've been to many matches with her. When Mum got excited she would dig me in the ribs with her elbow. Dad would find out the score before we got home so he'd know what sort of mood we'd be in.

Mum always liked us to be nicely dressed and would tell me if she thought it was time to throw something out and buy a new one. She liked nice clothes herself and I'd brought her 2 nice outfits when I was last home with her.

Now that I'm back in NZ I really miss Mum and our expeditions together. But she is with Dad and that's what really matters.

My Dad

Five years ago I received a phone call in London to tell me my Dad had made his last journey on earth and was now in Heaven. I had said my final goodbyes to him just 2 weeks earlier when I was back in NZ.

Dad would have been proud that he had 2 farewells, a funeral in NZ and a memorial service in London.

Dad was a good crazy person who told appalling puns. Most of them were funny but we'd just roll our eyes and go "Daaaad". The only one I can remember is about the Eiffel Tower. I rang him from Paris just to hear him say it. When Dad answered the phone I said "I'm sitting here looking at the Eiffel Tower", he didn't miss a beat and said "get an eyeful of it".

Dad saw many things happen in his 88-1/2 years and kept up with technology until the end. The last present I brought him was a mobile phone just 3 weeks before he died. Just before I moved to London I brought a computer for Mum and Dad to use and it gave him a new lease on life. He used to send me an email most days and enjoyed receiving mine about the places I'd visited.

It's strange being back in NZ and Mum and Dad not being here and I miss them both so much. Dad was a good dad and loved the family so much. He did all he could to help us through life and helped to shape us into the people we are today.

The last 5 years have been difficult and I will always love and miss him, but I can say that I am happy again.

Back Home

Not really sure what I'm doing, but I'm doing it!!! Thought it was time to try doing a blog.

I've been back home for 5 months now and have to say I'm not really that happy at being back. I still miss London and all my friends there heaps. My heart is still in London and I'd love to go back again to live. Problem is that I feel at home in both countries. NZ because it is the land of my birth and England because it is the land of my ancestors.

Mind you when it comes to rugby I'm a Kiwi through and through. So proud of the All Blacks for winning the Rugby World Cup.

I'm sure I'll feel better about being back once I find a job and sell my house.

Not sure when I'll do another blog but happy blogging everyone.