Jolly nice people

Today Will had his tooth extracted and is doing fine (although he can't eat tonight he he he). Will and Sam both had a surf this morning and Sam is really pleased as he has been getting some really good waves. We went to the YMCA to see if there were any kids activities going on but it's different to England as they don't seem to have any holiday schemes here for the kids, I guess they must all just go to the beach. You would think that now school has finished the town would be teeming with kids but it's not, you would also think that just before Xmas the streets would be filled with people doing Xmas shopping but they're not, it's all very strange, where is everyone?

I have to keep reminding myself that we aren't in England and that everyone smiles at each other here, and just because someone is smiling at you it doesn't mean that they want anything from you or are a bit strange, it's just that they are generally really friendly, trusting people. Perhaps it's because it's such a new country and doesn't have all the mistrust and grumpyness that seems to come with being English (or in fact European). As I like smiling at people it's great that people smile back, although occasionally it is nice to slip back into a bit of UK grumpyness and not smile at anyone for a while.

I think we may move on from Gisborne in a couple of days. I can't say I have really bonded with the place it's an odd town and as I said before it's a bit empty. Next stop Mahia peninsula and hopefully a tonne of kids.

Thanks for all your comments on the last post it was lovely to hear from you all and we love you all lots. Grandma Lynne how about we schedule a call at 9pm your time tomorrow that's 10am our time the following day?

Toothache

Today we went to the dentist as Will has really bad toothache, we went to one who said they only had one dentist and directed us to another with 4 dentists and they agreed to see Will. It turns out he has a decaying tooth and can either have root canal which will cost a fortune or just have the tooth taken out tomorrow so he has opted for the second.

It was also a day for sorting out things like flights to Bali etc and checking out our insurance (for dental cover) etc. It's nice and warm again here although it fells quite muggy tonight and I hear they may be rain coming for the next few days but we'll see. We have bought steak for tonight which we will cook on the campsite BBQ and have with a salad. It's nice to be able to cook our own meals and obviously saves us cash as well (that said we did have a McDonalds for lunch, but that was so we could use their free wi-fi)

Life in the van is still ok. We have quite a routine going now for setting up the beds in the evening and folding everything carefully away in the morning and we all seem to sleep quite well although the bed is giving me backache if I lay on my side but it's ok if I just lay flat, we also still have to sleep on a bit of an angle as the beds a bit short. Sam seems to sleep well although he claims he's not (which means he may have opened his eyes once in the night). This evening I am going to read my NZ book to try and find some stuff to do on the way south. I would like to visit a Mauri site with Sam as I think it would be educational for him and there is an interesting relationship here between the Maori's and the European settlers. It's a bit like the UK I think in that the government would like to think that all is ok and they make efforts to incorporate Maori culture into everyday life, such as using the language on the signs etc... but the people say that there are still lots of divisions and that things can't be smoothed over as easily as the government would like to have you believe... but that's only the European point of view it would be interesting to hear the Maori side... although the Maoris do look quite big and scary.

Yesterday I was having a 'what the hell am I doing here' day. Just walking along wondering why we are travelling around the world and why we are not cosied up in our house in England enjoying the winter snow, mucking out in the freezing cold and drinking mulled wine... but then I chatted with a few people and realised that this is just as good only different. That it's nice to experience different cultures and see the way that people celebrate in different ways. When I say to people here that I miss the snow they look at me like I am a complete lunatic! I guess holiday times make you nostalgic and Xmas is a time when we would be together with friends and family but it's only a year and we have already done 4 months!! I don't want to wish my time here away but being away does make you appreciate what you have left behind (I think I felt like this before - sorry if I'm repeating myself).

I think one of the problems is that we are not yet in a proper routine here although one is slowly starting to form. It's good to be able to update the blog again ( pics coming soon) and Sam and Will are surfing again. I am also getting back into a book and have started yoga again today and schooling is back under way with a regular pattern, so I think once the routine is more settled so I will feel more settled.

Right off to cook steak and drink red wine - it's not a bad life ;)

Camping

If you think the English weather is crazy you should try New Zealand!! Today we woke up to lovely sunshine after a boozy night on the campsite. A few couples got together and drank wine and beer (and some jamesons!) and we had a lovely steak salad whilst Sam played with his friends Tom and Will. The drinking went on until about midnight when the Jamesons ran out and the noise levels were getting a little too loud for camping comfort... needless to say there were a few thick heads this morning and a few red eyed people wandering around the site. One couple were the parents of the kids, another Scottish couple have just emigrated here and are driving around until they find somewhere to stay. Then there were the friends of the couple with the kids and a random couple from NZ who are travelling for 6 months in a big converted horse box!

This morning we went with the other family for a surf around the bay and I chatted to a man in a car for about 40 minutes whilst Will and Sam went in the sea with the kids... Sam got some fantastic waves. Then we had an amazing burger and Sam had a whopping ice cream. This afternoon we have chilled out at the camp site, studied some French, done the laundry and had a nice shower. Most of the campers have left now as the weekend is almost over. We will stay a few more nights as Will wants to see the dentist as he has a whopping toothache. We have just met another couple travelling from the UK (unfortunately no kids).

So now we are off to find the leisure centre to find more kids - wish us luck.

Cccccold....

I know i have no right to moan whilst most of you are buried under 10 ft of snow in the UK but when the sun isn't shining here it's blimin' cold. And today is one of those days, it's amazing how much the weather can effect your moods. Yesterday was brilliant sunshine and good waves, we wandered through town and bought some xmas pressies and best of all, a van pulled up next to us on the camp site with a 13 year old and a 16 year old complete with lovely mum and dad. The kids surf and the parents drink wine and beer, perfect.

Sam spent the evening with the boys and we chatted with the parents (Martin and Michelle) about the trip and bless them, they have invited us to stay when we get to Australia. So all was well... and then today we got up to clouds and wind and it's cold. But we have a plan, we are going to check out the olympic sized pool here and see if they have any kids events on over the holidays and there is a golf course we are going to find so all is not lost.

Life in the van is pretty good and the sleeping arrangements are working well. Last night I made a disgusting stir fry, tonight maybe pizza hut (don't fancy cooking in the rain). Must go now as Will is going to call his Mum (Dee, have you had the baby yet?)

Gisbourne

We woke this morning to sunshine (thank god) and spent the morning pootling around the campsite, Sam enjoyed watching the TV for half an hour, a rare opportunity for him these days and Will sorted all the food out in the van. Then we went for a walk around Gisbourne. As it's the 'Surf Capital' of NZ we were surprised by how un-surfy the town centre is, with only two surf shops and about 20 book shops. Still it is a nice town and looks a whole lot better in the sunshine... even the waves have picked up and it looks like the boys will get a surf today (hooray).

We have decided to stay a few more nights on the campsite, generally there are more kids around on the weekend so it will be a good chance for Sam to make a few friends. We have also had a chat with the tourist info people so we can see what kids events are coming up over the holidays here as the kids break up from school next week... so it's looking good for 2 of our 3 requirements we have surf, kids (almost) and so far no coffee shops but I have had to give up coffee as Ellie turned me back into an addict and I had a raging headache for the first day that I had no coffee so I have decided to ease off for a while. As for future plans... we have none... we want to do the North and South Island and will probably stay for a bit with Will's friend on the Mahia peninsula. Right now I am headed for a lovely hot shower, Sam is back in the TV room watching 'Wizards of Waverly Place' and Will is out in the sea worrying about sharks... happy days!

The East coast

We have now left the Mount and have driven around the top part of the East coast and are now in Gisborne (the most Easterly place in the world) and the place where the sun rises first. Captain Cook discovered this place and there is a big statue of him here and lots of roads named after him... driving through NZ is a bit like driving through tellytubby land or a lego land. The landscape is made up of green hills and valleys covered in even greener trees, with the occasional lake or river shimmering at the side and sheep dotted around. Every so often you will come across a farm house along the windy road and perhaps a farmer herding sheep along the road and everyone gives a little wave as you pass. It's very unpopulated and the towns that you come across have a few houses, a village shop and not much else! It looks like England but with palm trees but it's a bit strange because there is just no-one here!

We of course drove in search of waves but didn't find any until we got to Gisborne, where we are now going to stay a few nights. It's raining here and very dreary (we miss the Mount) but perhaps the sun will come out tomorrow. That said, we are all in good spirits and have found a nice place to camp tonight. The site is on the sea front and has a building with a nice kitchen and a games room so we don't have to stay in the van to cook and get everything damp. Sam has been reading gossip mags on the drive over (well, he said he was reading but he could have been looking at all the boobs)!! He is now clued up on who is marrying who and who is divorcing who in the celeb world - very educational. The van has proved to be a success and Will laughs at me (and gets cross with me) because everything has it's place and I am super organised... still he was grateful when I could quickly lay my hands on the sowing kit to remove the urchin spine from his foot!

Right now Will is cooking a butter chicken curry, Sam is doing science homework and I am updating this. I think we will stay in Gisbourn for a while and see what delights it holds for us. Love and miss you all.

Back in the game...

Well, thanks to the lovely Brett and Ellie we are now back in the game and more blog posts will be coming your way (and more pics once I upload them). The reason that Brett and Ellie have saved the blog is that they have now left NZ and have left behind their internet connector with us... they have also left us loads of food and cutlery and bedding for our van which is now finished, We used Don's workshop and built a fab table in the van which collapses at night and turns into a comfotableish bed... it's very swanky. We have lovely foam mattresses which were professionally covered by Don. Sam has a fold out foam mattress which was professionally covered by Coralie (Ellie's next door neighbour) and all these lovely people helped us out and gave us their time and their stuff for free,,, we love NZ!

We have all surfed and me and Ellie went for a lovely horse ride on the beach, we have eaten lovely food and are just having a great time. Yesterday we spent our last night with Brett and Ellie and a couple of their friends, Jamie and Mattie, at a music festival near to Mount Maunganui. A music festival here is very different to UK, it's a much smaller scale, more like a local festival, with a beer tent, a small stage and maybe 100 people, but it was great, we sat in the sun and drank a few beers listening to the music and Sam played rugby with a few kids. The festival finished at 6pm (bless) and we went to the campsite which was beside the river and free... Sam, Will and Jamie went in the river on the surf boards for a paddle and then we had a BBQ as the sun went down. Sam also had a go at fishing with his mates and has decided that he would like a fishing rod from father Xmas this year. All in all it was a perfect evening and we were very very sad to say goodbye to Brett and Ellie this morning :(

We drove back to Mount Manganui and decided to do all the touristy things we had missed out on. We walked up the mount which took about an hour and was beautiful (Will went in bare feet and is now foot sore!!) then Sam and Will went for a surf and afterwards we went to the hot springs for a soak, followed by a kebab!! We are all now in the back of the van parked up by the sea and Sam is reading, Will is snoring and I am updating this... sorry it's been so long I'm sure I have missed out loads of things. I hope you are all not freezing too much in the UK. Me and Sam wish we had snow but we have a Xmas tree in the van, loads of tinsel and advent calendars (much to Will's disgust). More updates tomorrow evening as we head off up the coast on our NZ roadtrip.