We'll have to defer to Mr. Science on that one.
So, technically speaking to most of you reading this Claire and I are upside-down. I can't really tell you all about toilets flushing, but I have observed a few peculiarities:
1.) Observant is not an adjective that would be typically used to describe me. So when I observe something, usually it's a near-traumatic experience. Like the car wreck I nearly just had yesterday. Yes, they drive on the 'wrong' side of the road here. Left, just like England, but as it turns out, I've got that one under control. In New Zealand, they
have some odd rules - demonstrated by the picture (the bold line has the right-of-way). If you are turning left, and someone is turning right in front of you, you yield. We're both very happy for the ABS breaks on our rented Toyota starlight.2.) Upside-down roles. In London, I worked. Claire did, well, other stuff. It seems now that we're on the opposite side of the Earth, we've switched roles. Congrats Claire! Nice work on landing a good job contract. Claire starts on Tuesday. I believe the modern term is 'sugamama.' (Yes, Mom, I do actually have an interview next week - don't worry)
3.) Wine it seems, is harder to drink in New Zealand than it is in London. I don't know about toilets draining, but wine just doesn't go down the same. There are eight bottles of Sauvignon Blanc in the fridge and, oh... no seven bottles... wait, five... no, down to three. I take it back, I was wrong. The NZ wines are excellent, much easier to drink. (we had to do research for my potential Villa Maria interview after all)
Really though, we've had a nice couple of weeks. Yes, there have been a few dents, but when we haven't been shopping for curtains, or scanning Trademe for furniture, we've had a good time here.
We were thrilled to discover that those warehouses - the eyesore of the view off our front porch - is actually a weekend French market (pictured)! Had a great time shopping around and Claire made friends with the honey man and bucheress.
Later in the week, we met up with a couple of friends I knew from 4c Associates in London (pictured at 'Soul' in the Viaduct - the name for one of the marinas - with Sejal (from London) & Charlene (from Auckland)).
Sejal is spending a few months traveling and is spending a month in NZ. A week ago we took a 20 minute ferry ride to a nearby island, and spent an afternoon hiking up Rangitoto, a young (few hundred years old) but deceased volcano. Pictures is Claire and me with Sajel at the top with Auckland in the background. Sejal will be our first overnight guest in a few weeks, and we've nearly got a furnished apartment.
I'm just over one week away from my first performance with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra. Our concert was at one point the featured 'arts & theatre' show in New Zealand on ticketmaster. I'm not sure I've ever played in a show sold on ticketmaster.
Well, it's time for me to go help Claire with dinner, or at least help her eat it. Goodnight from the other side of the world, where kiwis never quite fly.
