New Zealand 1 – The Lands Down Under

We make a quick change of plan to travel to Bangkok, where we are getting our outward bound flight to NZ, via Koh Chang and the Southern coast of Cambodia rather than the night bus to Bangkok from Phnom Penn, which would be far too long and uncomfortable. However this means that I have to return to Phnom Penn on my own to collect some luggage we left in the guest house there 8 days ago. This actually means I get to read my kindle which I can’t put down and I get 8 hrs child-free time on the bus, so I am secretly delighted and volunteer readily.  I also get to go to the fabulous market, which for some unknown reason is called The Russian Market and top up on Christmas nick-nacky presents for the children.

We get a taxi to the Cambodia border and after a half hour wait at immigration, walk cross into Thailand from Cambodia. With a quick glance back to say goodbye to this lovely country and our fleeting visit here.  The first Thai person we come across is a cross Tuk tuk driver who drives us furiously to a guest house in Trat,  which turns out to be full. He then tries to turf us out and make us walk, with all our luggage. This is not a good start.  We have been used to the lovely gentle Cambodian people. But then after a fantastic  supper at the night market, I am more forgiving of this fabulous foodie heaven country, wishing that we could be here longer.

Next destination Bangkok Airport, another long day ahead in the car.

Before we have even left Asia we are already beginning to miss it and strangely regret our planned sojourn down under. NZ (via OZ for 6 hrs) will be a great break, but may provide enough of the respite that we need, making OZ perhaps surplus to requirement. Mark and I need to think and chat this through.

Next Stop Sydney 7 am. We have arrived. Hello Australia.  Quantas are generous and let us check all our luggage on to NZ, so our 8 hr stop over in Sydney is hassle and luggage free. We still have to queue the long line to walk out of the “Nothing to Declare” line at Customs, even though we only have our swimming togs and a small bag for Alex to take back to the UK.

Barry and Emily and their grandpa Jim (The Axiom family live on the same road as us in St Margaret’s) are there to greet us when we arrive. We are whisked back to their house for coffee and croissants and then a few lovely hours on the beach, and a dip in the sea. It’s fish and chips for lunch and before we know it, it’s time to get back to the airport, all in a bit of a rush, and quick goodbyes we zoom to the airport and board the plane,  wet hair, and wet costumes still showing through under our dry clothes.

Next stop NZ. Auckland at 1.20 am. Shattered and jet-lagged, we make our way to  Mike Munley’s house (colleague of Mark’s). We fumble around like burglars in the early hours, looking for keys hidden in an aerosol spray can in a trunk outside the house. Safe inside we all fall into a deep sleep, which lasts till half way through the next day.

Poor MIllie is now completely confused by our agenda and wakes up and says “Mummy which country are we going to today?” I am pleased to pronounce that we will be here for the next 6 weeks.

Heavenly Toby and Heather – our UK friends now emigrated short term to NZ, have bought a car for us, kitted it out with child car seats, a copy of the Lonely Planet and maps galore and magical Children’s books, and everything we could possibly need, including car Insurance. The car, already nicknamed Dynamite (not) is  parked on Cotter Road in Remuera. We need to collect the keys from a post box outside no 13 and we are off to the Bay of Islands for Christmas with Friends. Yipee!

The distances are so short here, and in fact the journey that I reckoned from glancing at a map back in the UK, would take us 8 hrs, only takes us 3. We still dawdle and stop off the night at a bunk room in Waipu. Acclimatising to being back in the car and driving on the left – it all feels very familiar. We arrive on Christmas Eve to a warm welcome in the Bay of Islands with Sarah and Will Waller-Yates and their three handsome boys, Ted James and Nick. They live in a lovely wooden house overlooking the stunning Bay and it’s endless islands and coves.

The kids are full of excitement and it’s Christmas tomorrow.  I have had to tell them that Father Christmas definitely won’t find us here in NZ and not to expect anything too big as we are trying to keep light and things to a minimum.

With Weetabix back on the breakfast menu, and all the lovely creature comforts that we are so familiar with, we slip into lovely NZ life with great ease. Christmas is very understated here, a tiny tree and Sarah’s family are kindly and sympathetically modest with their Christmas, so our children don’t feel too unfairly treated that their presents are so small (nick-nacky things picked up in the market and bungee cords are the closest thing to climbing harnesses I can find!).

We head straight down the steps from the house into the sea. After a delicious breakfast of bacon and eggs cooked on the BBQ, dolphins are spotted in the Bay. Will jumps up with great excitement and ushers the children into his motor boat, to chase after the dolphins in order to get a better view, as they disappear round the bend of the bay.  They catch them up and watch them twirl and dive  with happy grins on their faces. What an exciting way to spend Christmas.

I help Sarah to prepare some blinis and a marinade for the salmon and off to her inlaws for a lovely festive family Christmas party, crackers galore. Oh, and the traditional Yates’ quick round of votes as to what colour the queen is wearing for her speech. Guesses vary from canary yellow, mauve, lavender and pea green to turquoise and red( never!) . The chimes bong and the Queen appears. seems she is pretty popular here! Lavender it is and Will wins the sweepstake and it all feels a bit surreal seeing Queenie giving her thoughtful speech and we are down under…..

It’s Boxing Day and Sarah promptly gets out the box the Christmas tree camein, scoops up the decorations and the tree is wrapped up and put away. All over! Wham Bam!

Gabriel and James go biscuiting