Monday 22 September

Week 3 in Christchurch.

I am officially a Pom today having received my English passport in the mail (Thanks Vicki our mail gopher). Need to sort out if we can make arrangements for the spouse on a UK passport, think there is a provision to make it a bit easier for Sheryl to stay in the UK if I’m there. Probably should try to hang on to her at this stage, hate folding my own socks J

The house is coming on now that Sheryl is finished her temp job on the other side of town. Things are starting to roll along as we attack more fronts. We received a vanity and bathroom tower from Auckland today, ordered it mid week last week, cheaper than buying local I’m sad to say. Managed to get the vanity in position, shower tomorrow then flooring soon. 3 weeks in but still only a third the way on. Went to select carpet and vinyl on Fri, got measured up 2day. Will lay vinyl planks myself (I hope).

Had some nasty weather today which has not been the norm at all. Didn’t need to go out so was good, in fact stayed in all weekend as shops so busy over the weekends, did our paint shopping etc on Friday and just kept home working over weekend. Helen & Ralph brought lovely fish & chips over Friday evening and naturally ate way too much, both squirmed all night (not in a nice way).They also thoughtfully gave us a tree for the landscaping project to tidy up the section. Not sure if the metre high plastic ex xmas tree is going to fit the bill really, have asked them to store it while we prepare a spot for it, so thoughtful them folks.

No care tree.
More wood in the carton
than on the tree. 

Did our voting early, on Thursday, at Brighton Library, special votes for Nelson,  went smooth but as usual Sheryl wouldn’t take instructions from me so God only knows who she voted for. Stayed tuned to Kiwi FM for their coverage Saturday night, they (a bunch of irreverent lads liquored up on Halataus Beer), were watching the TV3 coverage with no sound on and guessing what was going on and trying to relay it to us, possibly the only listeners in the country, well it wasn’t overly comprehensive but outrageously un PC, got a good descript of what everyone was wearing and whether they were pretty or fugly, got a real surprise when we finally tuned into National Radio at 10 ish. Anyway same old same old, so no big surprise really, and don’t really care that the GCSB is reading this along with my 3 followers, (thank you, you know who you are). Anyway its reassuring to know that there is a government department out there that will listen to you. J

 On Sheryl’s 2^nd to last day of work she needed to take my van, and bought it home a shadow of its former reliable self. Don’t know how, but managed to make it run like it was on steroids, idling and shaking not knowing how to stop. Turn off the ignition and ran on and on. It turned out (after $220) to be a faulty radiator cap upsetting the automatic choke, last time she gets my little van :(

As a result of the van breaking down, Sheryl had to bus to work on her last day, fantastic bus system here. She caught a bus that went from one side of town to the other (45 minute ride - $3.50 as a casual). She got there ok, but who would have thought there were two bus routes home!! She certainly never did J. She txt me from New Brighton ( 20 min walk) to say she was walking home!