Day Five - Wellington

Everything now seems back to normal.  I was tired at 11.00pm last night and slept through to 6.30am this morning - my normal sleep pattern.  I am also OK now with my food and not feeling hungry at stupid o'clock.  I fee that I have 'adjusted'.  Lazy start to the day catching up on email, blogging, a quick video chat with Andy (I have to make sure he is OK) and then we ventured out.  Jackie had an hair appointment today in Kilbirnie so I told her she must go and I would keep myself amused.

So here I am in a cafe, hooked up to the free wifi typing this blog, whilst all my UK friends are now snuggled up in bed.  It is really Topsy Turvy Land.  Jackie is in the hairdressers and I am enjoying a rather lovely pot of peppermint tea.  The coffee here in New Zealand is good; I knew it would be.  When I was in Australia, their coffee was some of the best I have ever tasted. However, there is only so much coffee you can drink, hence the tea.  We have just been

'shopping' something I rarely do these days back in the UK.  I think it is because I never have anyone to go shopping with so it becomes a chore, something I have to do.  So today we went to a shop called Postie.  I won't lie, I thought it was the Post Office.  It is a clothes shop.  I bagged a bargain.  As it is summer here all the winter clothes are in the sale and I purchased a pair of jeans for $15 which is the pricey sum of £8. They also had some beautiful linen summer dresses for $25 which is around £13.09, the are very similar to something I almost had this year from Next.  Needless to say, I have had one of those too and treated Jackie to the same one.

I have always struggled in converting currency back to sterling but are managing OK here.  I half it the add a bit and I am normally fine with it.  I have just looked at the menu in this place and it is amazing.  You can have anything from fish and chips to to pasta, to kebabs to salad.  It is a right mixed bag.  So far being vegetarian has not been a problem and there seem to be plenty of vegan choices too, which is always good to see.  They do something called a SLAT which is smoked salmon with lettuce avocado and tomato or a BLAT which is bacon, lettuce avocado and tomato.  I think I am going to have the grilled hallow cheese stack which is served with garden salad, avocado, tomato, pesto, sough dough toast and balsamic all for $15 (£7.85).  Seriously, you would find it difficult to buy a cup of coffee and cake in London for that.  What I have noticed that most cafes also sell alcohol too.  It really is all mixed up.  

Food was lovely and we then went to look at some clothes. My oh my. Most of the clothes that I have seen to date appear to be made from nylon. Various

types of nylon. Which I cannot help thinking if I were to wear, would charge me up with so much static electricity I could light the town.  Yesterday I tried on an 'outfit' for a forthcoming wedding. We were pratting around but when I was getting changed back again, the assistant said to Jackie how lovely I had looked. It was so funny.  Jackie said a lot of the pattens have palm trees, brightly coloured flowers, exotic birds on them because the Pacific Islanders that make up some of the population, like this design.  I will let you make your own mind.  Personally, I call it the Pat Butcher look.  Needless to say, I did not buy it.

We walked home and the wind was really blowing, but this is normal and Wellington is known as windy Welly.  The roads are very

straight and they use the grid system. I will not mention too much about the architecture here as I will cover that another day, but I am taking plenty of photos of the housing as it is pretty unique.  It really is a beautiful place and I have been out today in summer clothes and just a thin cardigan (borrowed from Jackie) and I do have to keep reminding myself that it is November. 

Jackie was telling me that it is an expensive time of year for parents as the children break at Christmas for their summer holidays.  This means the parents have to buy Christmas presents, entertain the children for six weeks then buy school uniform, all within an eight week period.  So all you parents out there, never moan again about the cost of the summer holidays in the UK.  At least they do not fall at the same time as Christmas. 

I forgot to mention (give me a break I was tired) that at the airport they have a giant Smaug from Lord of the Rings, there waiting to greet you.  I know some of you have told me that you would like to visit New Zealand because of the Lord

of the Rings so here is a picture especially for you. Also, on the outside of the airport building it says 'Welcome to the middle of Middle Earth'.  Jackie's home is really new the airport. It is not a problem but I can lie in bed and see the planes take off over the sea.  My friend Lee (who lives in Stoke) would absolutely love it as he is an aeroplane geek. I must admit, I have enjoyed watching the Qantas and Air NZ planes come into land.  I will see if I can get a photo for you Lee.  

So off to bed now. I am sleeping well (for me) but I am probably still a bit jet lagged.  Oh I forgot to mention, apparently I have slept through an earthquake on Wednesday night.  I never felt a thing (have said that before ;)) I hope I have not missed my moment (said that before too lol).

As always, with my love x