A few Nelson shots...

It was another beautiful day in Nelson...

But even the rain can make it lovely. Check it out.

A week in Nelson

I've been back over a week, and it is nice to return to this place that my heart loves.
On the weekend I went for a run to Tahuna beach, my first run in months to be fair. The beach is a sure reward for the effort, just as it was when I lived here before, although I don't think I'll be making it a morning ritual at least until winter is over. Plus my time was shockingly slow- it took an hour and a quarter, in long part because of the trudge back up Russell Street when I was near to getting home. I SURE wasn't running then...

I've been out to dine a few times in my time back and have attended a gals lunch fundraising for breast cancer.

I've settled nicely into my new flat, and I'm sure in time that big walk home from work will be much easier than it is now...

It's also great living with cats again! :)

I'm delighting in my electric blanket, recently purchased. Why didn't I buy one earlier? It sure helps getting a good nights sleep in these cool kiwi homes. The current flat is heated by a gas fireplace, which we tend not to use, instead using a gas heater in the lounge. The hot water and stove are also gas powered. Which means a nice low power bill, at any rate.

In terms of utilities, it is nice to be back in the town of kerbside recyling. Hurray! :)

I continue to watch Shorters, and Greys, and admit to having watched a bit of Coronation Street for the first time, tonight...

The last 2 weeks

The run up to finishing work in Blenheim was quite busy, and then came the "fun" of moving. Remind me to flat in the future, instead of living alone. So much more work on the cleaning the whole place before you leave than just your room.

Anyhow, after much trudging up hill with multiple bags and goods, I'm in my new flat, overlooking the port. It's amazing how much stuff I've aquired in the last year and a bit. Almost 2 car loads; when I moved to Blenheim I had less than 1. Today was the first day of work at the new job and I managed to walk to work, and more painfully- back up the hill.

It's great to be back in NElson, even though it is winter. Looking forward to rediscovering the region, now that I'm settled into my new flat. It has been chilly. My last day in Blenheim there was a nice frost.

Anzacs and my move...

Okay, so Friday is Anzac day in NZ (quite similiar in many ways to Remembrance Day back home). I've learned a few things courtesy of stuff.co.nz- one of the most interesting is as follows: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4493976a11.html

"POPPY DAY: One of the oldest national appeals, usually on the Friday before Anzac Day. Poppies became the symbol of sacrifice and remembrance after French woman, Madame E Guerin, suggested artificial poppies be made by widows and orphans of dead soldiers. They could be sold to benefit veterans and destitute children of northern France. In 1921, 350,000 small poppies and 16,000 large silk poppies were bought by the New Zealand Returned Services Association. The ship delivering the poppies was delayed and instead of Poppy Day being held on Armistice Day (November 11 when World War 1 ended) it was held the following year on the Friday before Anzac Day."

So the poppies here continue to come out before Anzac day.

I'm a week and a half away from my move over to Nelson. Last weekend I was in Nelson trying to line up a place, and I'll be moving on Saturday the 3rd with my new job to start on the 5th.

Do I have thoughts on my exit from Blenheim? I'm ready to move. But I'm also a little terrified about the move back. Will it be as great as I remembered in Nelson?

We went out the Abel Tasman way on the weekend and did a short walk. It was a nice day and tons of families in particular were out with the kids.

Weather has definitely cooled though. It was down to -2 the other day!! The leaves are turning their autumn (not "fall") colours... Winter is coming. I'm really thinking the flat in Nelson is going to be much, much warmer than the current cottage I'm living in. It has big sliding glass doors and it is BRRRRRR cold already. Wake up, breathe out, and see that frost on your breath.

Taxes and times...

Funny- NZ has a 31 March tax year, but that doesn't mean I need to file a tax return. From the IRD website (the NZ "CRA").
"Most people don't need to do anything
Most people who earn salary or wages pay the correct amount of tax and don't need to do anything at the end of the tax year (31 March)."
Not unless you work multiple jobs, or earn less than $9880, etc.

There are several tax brackets, and only 1 level of taxation- NZ not having provinces like in Canada. The tax system is immensely!! more simple.

There is not even a basic personal amount- and not the heaps and heaps of deductions allowed under the Canadian income tax system. There are several exceptions- you can get rebates for child care, housekeeper, and donations.

Employers deduct PAYE (pay as you earn) off every pay cheque at rates specified by government. These basically result in the "right" amount of tax being paid by the end of the year if you work full time on salary. Simpler- and less administration! Even the banks take off PAYE on your deposit interest.

I did my calculation and it was within $10.

The corporate tax regime also seems SO VERY much simpler...

If you're interested check out www.ird.govt.nz

We've turned quite cool this past week with lows in the 7 degree range overnight. We put our clocks back last weekend so its again light in the mornings when I get up- but with the days getting shorter that will soon change.

Time marches on and my time in Blenheim is drawing down. I only have another 3 weeks in my present job, before my move.

Until next time...

Moving on...

Announcing- changes in my locale... I’ve accepted a term maternity leave cover position in Nelson, starting in just over a month!

When I moved to Blenheim I thought it was going to be my new home, like Nelson had been, however in my one year here it never came to feel that way. There are things I do like about Blenheim- it is sunny most of the time, rivalling Nelson for the most sunshine hours. There is the yummy kebab shop- Akbabas. There is the fact that traffic is not crazy most of the time- unless you’re waiting at one of the roundabouts after work. There is also the close proximity to Picton, and the sounds. I’ve appreciated my opportunity to live and work here, but I’m very eager to make the move back over the hill to Nelson- and rediscover it again. I’ve lived here longer than I lived there- and I wonder what it will be like when I return. I have a sneaking suspicion it will have changed more than Blenheim has in the past year.

I’ve been busy working on my correspondence law. I’ve submitted the first assignment, and there is one more to go before the exam in June.

I was hoping to do a camping trip in the South Island, but the coming change in work means I won’t be able to take time off. We did visit Whites Bay near Rarangi on the weekend. It has a cool looking hole in the rock and I’d be keen to visit again when the tide was lower. The surf and save club was out when we were there, practising their manoeuvres.

The NZ housing market appears to have slowed, which is good. There was a big news article a week or two ago saying that people would need to save a minimum of about $120K for a house deposit on even the most basic house, for a house purchase to be affordable. Milk, and dairy related products seem to be up. I just paid $1.779 / L of petrol today.

My march so far...

I thought the change of seasons had happened, but it's been really warm for the past couple of days. On the weekend a few friends and I attended the Havelock Mussel festival, where I did not eat any mussels. I did however manage to find a cheeseburger that tasted yum- like a good Canadian fair cheeseburger. Last time I tried that here at a festival I got a 2 pieces of bread with no sauce, and a thin burned burger. This one was good! :) We watched the mussel opening- those guys are fast, and the team event, and listened to the bands. It was a beautiful day to be outside, although the nasty sandflies managed to connect with my ankles. In som ways, they are worse than mosquitos.

Time changes here on 6 April, so its still a while. Its quite dark in the mornings.

I haven't progressed at all in the half training, having taken since my oral surgery off. Now I am finding it hard to be motivated, to go for a run in the am in the dark. Not sure how to change this, unless I get a gym membership. Maybe I'm only a fair weather runner.

I was up in Wellington last weekend for the weekend and took a "white knuckle" flight on Sounds Air. Its a tiny plane, it must fit about 12 passengers. We sat right behind the pilot- a quite young-ish looking fellow, which made me a tad nervous! Anyhow, the views of the sounds and the Straight as we flew over were beautiful- and it was a smooth ride save the normal bumps landing in windy Welly. The way back was on the Ferry- my first trip back across the straight on the water. Also a lovely day weather wise, (other than the wind) so it was nice to sit outside.

The fresh produce is out right now so its a great time to cook with veggies which are in season and cheap. Hurray! :) No paying heaps right now for my favourite peppers and tomatoes.

I tried out my inherited slow cooker a couple of weeks ago. It made a nice lasagna, although I must admit I got terribly tired of eating it before it was all gone. Living where I do means I don't have an oven, and so its nice to be able to get some nice warm oven-y type food.

My first assignment for law is due soon. Perhaps I'll work on it over the weekend, as I don't have anything exciting teed up for the easter holiday.