Civic elections in NZ...

Interesting and QUITE different than back home. When I voted in the civic elections in Regina, I would make my way to the polling station on election day for my area and mark my boxes for mayor, and for my regions councilor, as well as for school board trustee- either private or separate.

In NZ, I was at Phil's when he received his info booklet in the mail! It contains a voting ballot thing, and instructions of how many people to vote for for council, as well as for mayor, and for if memory serves the health board. The health board, I believe was preferrential voting, whereas the others were normal voting- with a certain number of votes. I think it was something like 7 for Nelson, or maybe it was 11. There doesn't seem to be the same idea about regional rep. within the city. The package also included photos and brief statements from all of the candidates. The voters have until a certain date to post back their ballots... Quite different from the system back home...

I also recently registered for a physican. It is quite impossible to find a doctor in Blenheim taking new patients. I called all of them about 4 or 5 months ago and found this to be the case when I was trying to get my health documents completed for immigration. At that time I was referred to a Medical Centre who dealth nicely with me- however that centre has since closed. The district health board, or whatever it is called here referred me to Picton- and hence I'll have to drive to Picton- the neighbouring town for any physican visits... Physican shortages clearly don't just occur in Canada.

I had no problems finding a dentist, a hairdresser, or an optometrist and appointment times for all of these were between a day and a week... (Not the 6 months I needed in advance for my great dentist back home.)

Thoughts...

It was a little over a year ago that my former city of Regina lost one of its own to a battle with cancer. I had met her through my work as a Chartered Accountant. I didn't know her well, but I remember laughing with her over our challenging to pronouce names, and I remember how she called me when I passed my CA exam to congratulate me. I remember reading that in her obit it said not to weep for her, but to remember her with laughter. She may not have been world famous, but to me she represented something incredibly important... She showed that one person can make a difference. Sometimes there are those things that happen to you in just a moment of time that stay with you for a long time... She was just a person I'd met through my profession, and yet her outlook on life, her laughter, and her kindness stay with me.

I've often thought that reading a book of Encounters would be so encouraging... to be reminded about the things that matter- and to be reminded that one person- CAN make a difference.

There was the lovely woman in her late 80s flying alone from Vancouver to Regina to attend a family reunion. She was so lovely and full of joy- and totally made me regret my earlier thought that I wished the window seat would have remained empty so I could move out of the middle... In a few moments- she made me happier to be alive...

In Blenheim on one cold morning, an elderly woman stopped to pick me up when I was walking to work. She again shared a little of her story- she was living alone after losing her husband in his 60s, something like 20 years earlier. She had never been able to replace him- but that didn't mean she didn't make the most out of life...

I've been reflecting a little about the year + that I've spent in NZ. ... My first home was Nelson, and the sign outside of town when you drive in "Live the Day" really represented that place for me. It was in Nelson that I overcame my fear of heights by riding up in an airplane and doing a tandem sky dive from 15,000 feet. It was in Nelson that I came to love the sea that I was once so afraid of. It was the beautiful Rocks Road and Tahuna beach that encouraged me to start the running phase that ultimately resulted in me finishing my first half marathon... It was in Nelson that I found my home away from home...

But things change, and due to the presentation of an excellent work opportunity here, I made the difficult decision to move to Blenheim just over 7 months ago. It hasn't been an easy move. I've found it difficult to meet people in this town so far, and I miss the sea and the town that my heart loves... Yet when I reflect on those examples that I've previously mentioned, I know that I haven't yet made the best of the opportunity that is still before me. I continue forth, and shall endeavour to make the most of it...

Another week or two...

More unprolific blogging... sorry, my esteemed readers... :)

My big life update, I am shifting house in less than 2 weeks. I will leave the house with 4 others in Witherlea, complete with the lovely backyard and pool for a cute one bedroom cottage in the livestyle block areas outside of Blenheim. I'll be living alone again for the first time in years, but I'm really looking forward to it. I was fortunate to find another place to live in the high demand Blenheim!! NZ has quite a high housing purchase price as well. The median home price compared to average median earnings was 8:1, if memory from reading the paper on the weekend serves. That was higher than the UK which was somewhere around 7, and the US which I think was somewhere in the 4-5 range. Home prices have risen dramatically in recent years in NZ, however the past few months have been more slow. We shall see if it is a seasonal trend and in response to interest rate hikes, or if it is something more.

On the work front, things continue to be busy!!

Lots of the Canadian mates have been back to Canada or are heading back shortly. I seem to be the last of the lot, with my flight booked for November. I'm one of the few missing Canadian summer and NZ winter... blame that on a June 30 fiscal year end at work.

Interesting tidbit on the NZ political system. People here are obligated to register on the voters list. (Or the Maori roll). You can check your status on the list by reviewing a website, I think I read in the documents that came to the house saying no one at this address was currently registered. Permanent residents and citizens can both vote.

It is starting to feel a bit like spring. My freckles have come out... I didn't think I got freckles. I shall blame the NZ sun!

I tried one of the NZ delicacies the other day. Whitebait patties. Whitebait are tiny little fish- think about the size of minnows. They were cooked up in an egg like patty- and you eat the whole thing, eyes and all. It definitely was NOT my favourite food, but I did give it a taste. Of all the non-fish seafood that I've tried here, the only one I don't mind is scallops. Lamb has grown on me, after a yummy roast we had on the weekend.

Until next time...

Sunny days in Blenheim

The days have gotten long enough that I can't put it off any longer. I've started my every other day morning jogs. I must say it is substantially harder than 6 months ago. It's starting again at square number 1. :)

I went and watched the Tasman Makos on the weekend. I was pleasantly surprised with how large the crowd was, and it was a great sunny day. They didn't play so great, and lost. We headed out for coffee in Picton on Sunday. I love that place. :)

Another busy week at work as I continue to work on year end.

The bad blogging continues...

I took my car in for it's first warrant, and service- the cost was to the tune of around $280. I was pleasantly surprised to get my car back all clean and vaccumed inside! That doesn't happen at home. They were much more informal at the dealership than back home. I had to take the car back for further warranty work, and they told me that hadn't had time to work on the invoice- so would post it out to me later. My question was "do you have my address?" - because unlike old Bennet Dunlop back in Sask- they don't log you in the computer every time you come to visit.

We spent last weekend down in the sounds and I had my first taste of oysters (vote- thumbs down!), as well as scallops (surprisingly- despite my giant fear, they weren't at all bad.) We spent the day on the water Sunday and I ended up getting a sunburn on my face. I guess it is time to whip out the sun screen again- but I relish this sign of spring!! It was a very nice weekend to spend with friends.

Work continues to be very busy... Fiscal year end, and I'm the accountant- so I'm not entirely surprised. I'm very much looking forward to my time off when I return to Canada in November.

Tuesday night was the lunar eclipse. I don't recall ever watching one before- so I thought it was rather interesting! I took some photos and as I didn't hold the camera still enough, it appeared that there was a bright comet in the night sky. At such times, a tripod would have come in handy!

I was reading the Otago Daily Times the other day at lunch and was pleasantly surprised to find a little section on the activities in the NZ Parliament. It was a great summary- I wish the Express had the same. (local Marlborough paper).

This weekend I'm going to the Tasman Makos rugby game. Apparently the season is almost over, and here I was barely aware it had started!

Have a good weekend everyone- and a big happy birthday to Shawn, if you're reading this!

More bad blogging...

Okay, I'm a very unprolific blogger... Again- work has been busy and I just haven't got a lot to report...

My criminal record check FINALLY came back from Canada and that has been sent off to immigration. I got a NZ credit card, complete with a PIN number so I can use it without signing- how exciting! I went to my first "B" party for a friend's birthday- kiwi's are quite big on the dress up themes. :) I take my car in for a warrant this coming week- another first for this Canadian gal. I also felt my first earth quake- I think it was on Thursday afternoon- so I think it was this one: http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/2780892g.html

I'll add a few more NZ photos for y'all to browse. The first one is a Nelson sunset, and the second is the golden sand at Kaiteri out towards Abel Tasman from Nelson.

Terribly unprolific blogging...

Blame my first fiscal year end, with me at the helm... from the client side of things, rather than the auditors...

On a positive note, our new office has the GREATEST view of sunsets. There have been very many cool sunset evenings, in the few short weeks that we've been here. I'll have to remember to bring in my cameras.

I was chatting with a few Blenheim locals about how nice the weather has been for winter. They disagree- there has been too much rain. I don't mind the rain- as it prevents the frosts in the morning. Plus the days are so short its dark when I get up and come home from work, so I don't mind the rain.

Kiwis seem to like having "theme" parties. I attended a friends 40th recently, and the theme was things starting with the letter B. I went as a political figure. And no not the US President either. :)

Still no signs of a criminal check from Canada. Time = 5.5 months and counting! So much for the 120 days they tell you. hopefully it isn't lost in the mail or something... I only have another 10 months to get one, and at this rate, it isn't looking too promising. :)

Until next time...