Sushi

Today we had sushi and liz was almost sick after eating a whole chunk of wasabi.

Fish and Chips

Just £3 for fish and chips (look at the size we shared it!!).

went to the airport last night took our flat mate Flick to pick up her boyfriend.

Lake Tekapo

Today we got up at 6am and were on our way to Lake Tekapo at 6:45am we stopped in Geraldine around 8:30 for some breakfast and to stretch our legs. Then we were off again over the Burkes pass and on into Tekapo where it was totally full of snow and slightly cloudy but otherwise gorgeous weather. Waited in the shop for Noeline to arrive then had my interview around 11am which went well - she will let me know in a few days:-)

We decided before heading home to drop in on Lynda and John at the luxury lodge where we helped out in 2008 they were pleased to see us and to hear we may soon be living there - the sister in law and partner were over from the west coast so we all had some soup and bread and hot drink for lunch

Then we went for a drive up to the observatory and took lots of pics - great views before heading home arrived 5:15pm now having fish and chips for tea:-)

was a long drive but the car did good cost us £45 for 63ltrs of petrol and in total did around 496km and only used just over half a tank. Good old over drive!!

Job Updates

Going for an interview tomorrow at 1pm for shop job in Tekapo - will leave around 7am so give ourselves plenty of time for 3 hr drive - have lunch there then after interview drive back. Had a quiet week on job front only got 3 hrs at nursery in St Albans. Next week Mark will hear if he has a job with Gen - I an IT/Telecom company here in Christchurch at the back of the i-site on Cathedral square so only 15 minute walk also the agency will ask if they can help with extending our current work permit:-)

Picnic

Today we had a quick picnic at Halswell quarry then as soon as we got back Liz got a call to go to work so I gave her a lift and will pick up in 30min.

She as also been selected for interview in one of our favourite places Lake Tekapo so we might have to make a road trip soon down there

Bumblebee gone

yeah we sold it

Escaping the City

Today we needed to escape city life and realize the reason why we really want to live here. Drove to Springfield where we had a coffee and took some pics then we picked up a couple hitchhiking from Turkey who live in Sydney. They are traveling NZ for one week only so wanted to get to Greymouth,we dropped them off in Castle Hill village where we stopped and went for a walk and took some more pics - before heading back to Christchurch taking pic of lake (Lake Lyndon) on way:-) Decided not to take hostel job after careful consideration and looking long term and realizing wouldn't have any holidays or holiday pay - Mark got a few other jobs in pipeline so no worries as yet - something will come up it usually does

Decisions, Decisions

We are taking today to mull over the pros & cons and what the hostel job entails and will make a decision  on whether to take it or not by tomorrow morning - basically it comes to do we want to be stuck in Christchurch with no specific holidays to be able to travel further afield on not much much pay and sharing with duty manager or do we wait for a better job that is in the sticks, pays well and is a definite chance of sponsorship - looking long term the hostel job here would not be ideal where as a job in the sticks with lakes and mountains is more appealing to us:-)

New Job

Today we had second interview for hostel job here in Christchurch we met with Barry the owner and he seemed pleased with us and said if we wanted it then that was fine. We are training for a couple hours a day over the next two weeks before we move into the flat around 3rd July:-)

Drive around

Woke up with a sore throat this morning and felt tired all day. went to Sumner, took some pics, had a coffee before heading to governors bay then back to chch where we sat in the square and had a kebab:-)

Tomorrow at 9am we have our second interview with kiwi Barry at Rucksacker Backpacker Hostel!

Xmas

arghhh they have just shown a Christmas advert on TV. But at least no interruption with the TV schedule from the world cup almost like it doesn't exist (well the matches are shown at night of course or is that early morning!?)

Interviews

I mark have interview tomorrow at agency for desktop support job which is 9-1 mon-fri. Also me and liz have been offered second interview for the hostel job in Christchurch which is cool because if i get the IT one I can do both jobs.

First day at Work

Well I survived my first afternoon at ABC Merivale - basically had to help to supervise the kids inside & outside
I'm sure I will get the hang of it over the next few days - is kinda like babysitting only much harder as more kids which equals more trouble - there is one kid in particular Jack who seems to be the naughty one - says no teacher when you try to tell him not to do something, LOL:-) There were 32 kids in total but think that counts the under 2's which were in a different room to one I was helping in

Work at Last!!

The agency rang me this morning 7:15am - I have work today 1-5, tomorrow 1-5, Thursday, 1-5 and Friday 7:30-4:30 at ABC Centre, Merivale!! Will post a new update when done a couple of days work:-)

New Car

We have just bought a new car a Nissan Cefiro very plush, auto headlights, electric seats, climate control, V6 2.4 engine and hell of a lot cheaper than my Polo:-)

Hostel Interview

Today we had interview at Rucksacker Backpackers in Christchurch. We would be joint managers working 50hrs between us for a percentage of the earnings. wont be much money over winter but we would have a free flat plus can keep the laundry money and we would have a duty manager so we can have 2 days off together which is pretty cool plus the owner doesn't really interfere and you can basically do what you want!

Also just applied for a housekeeping job in Lake Coleridge working 35-40hrs for $14ph so would be better money.

Anyway have to wait and see what happens now.

Cookie time

Well we said goodbye to the rental car :-( very nice would recommend them better drive than my good old polo.

Anyway we went to the cookie time outlet shop just out of town and bought big bag of broken biscuits and 2 T-shirts.

Took car back and guy said they were doing $15 relocation deals with unlimited km and 2 days to delivery.

Anyway hopefully Liz will get a call for work tomorrow as they are now satisfied with her references. I am still waiting for a few jobs to get back in touch.

Road Trip

Today we got up early 7:30am to drive to Hanmer Springs but not to go to the hot pools but to do the waterfall track we missed last year.

On way back we had dinner in town and drove various places on the way back that took our interest.

Road Trip

Today was a really nice day so we went and hired a Nissan Sunny which we will take back on Sunday at 2:30
We went first to Port Levy where we really wanted to go the second time we came to NZ in 2008. Some of the film 'Heavenly Creatures was filmed here:-)

Then we headed to Akaroa via Pigeon Bay on a gravel road, we wouldn't have got to Port Levy, let alone Akaroa in the Bumblebee unless we had a death wish!!(someone was looking after us when we got that puncture)

All in all a really good day & a chance to escape the city if only for a few hours:-)

The Bumblebee

Well we have now dropped the Bumblebee to the Christchurch Car Market it should sell better from there:-)
Now looking buying a car ie Subaru, Toyota but not a camper van!

Registered with Randstad

Well today I registered with Randstad Education, I got a name badge that I have to wear around my neck:-)
Hopefully they will ring me tomorrow morning and I will have some work - I will be helping in preschools/ABC centres etc.with 0-5 yr olds - should be fun & I will learn something new - the pay is $14 phr - will post again when I have had my first placement:-)

Funny Adverts

Sunny Sumner

Today was a lovely day we took the bus to sumner and had a bit of fun at the beach.

Sunny afternoon in Christchurch

 

Today it started out cloudy but by 1pm the sun was out and the sky was blue so we headed into Cathedral square and soaked up the sun for two hours before heading home :-)

Still Sunny at 4pm! Took from our room window overlooking Barbadoes Street, Worcester St and beyond into the City Centre:-)

 

bit of glare from Sun

Fifth Interview for Liz

Today I got an offer of a fifth Interview for FUSSY Cleaner at Flying Burrito Restaurant is on 10th June at 12pm