Dizz Down Under

Goodbye to Blogger

2006-04-15T15:39:00.000+12:00

I can now be found here

God Rocks

2006-04-12T20:47:00.000+12:00

Last night James and I attended the first of a few sessions with John & Jenny Peters (St Marys, Branyston Sq, London) at church. I had high hopes and I wasn't disappointed. John spoke on Zephania (affectionately refered to as Zephy), the teaching was pretty hard, but at the same time good. It was clear that the God wanted to speak to us and we saw and felt the spirit move - it was awesome. I am still processing what I heard and I think that there will be more to come over the next week as we get more opportunities to meet while J&J are here. I am excited and scared and challenged. I love it! Once again confirmation that we have found our church home.

It's oh so quiet

2006-04-05T16:54:00.000+12:00

Okay, so when my Mum emails me to comment that the blog has not been updated I realise that I have been remiss and I need to do something about that. I have not had any time to work on my new blog site, but hope to get to that this weekend - or over Easter - how did that creep up on us so quickly.

Life here continues to be hectic and we are loving it. Our commitment to St Pauls has grown more and more, I guess because we just love what God is doing there and everyone is so welcoming. This has included being Leaders on a Life Course (like Alpha) and that meant that the weekend before last we were away in Waitomo (oh don't forget to mention the glow worms), a GirlZone Day (I know, I know, I don't do women's stuff - but it was the best girls event I have ever been to - more on that another time maybe), housegroup, and being signed up for the School of Theology.

James' business just goes from strength to strength and it is likely that by June they will move into office space in the CBD.

My job continues to be not great, but bearable, I have the focus on the trip to the UK and then things have to change.

A couple of cool things we have got up to as a couple include buying a new car for me - Legacy GT 2002 - all the boys out there know that is cool! It has now become OUR car.

I got a new pair of glasses - hurrah!

We went to see Bic Runga play an outside gig for her new album Birds, at the foot of Mount Eden in Auckland - just stunning with a couple of fabulous support bands.

So we are now planning for Easter and the arrival of the Wroe's - yippee. The weather is turning, we had the tail end of cyclone last week which is always interesting, and the leaves are falling.

We fly to the UK three months tomorrow, dreaming of summer evenings in a pub garden looking at the English countryside - Midsummer Murders style.

Really life is very exciting and we are very happy.

Moving on From Blogger

2006-03-09T16:45:00.000+13:00

At last I am in the process of moving on from blogger, more news when I am up and running properly!

U2 Postponed

2006-03-09T15:03:00.000+13:00

Just like so many others we are gutted - and praying that when they re-schedule we will be able to go - otherwise this will be the 4th tour I have missed out on!

Loving Sleep

2006-03-05T17:20:00.000+13:00

A couple of weeks ago I started having trouble sleeping, I think that it had something to do with the weather here. I just couldn't stay still and it was driving James and I mad. During this time we happened to check a loyalty points card balance and realised we had enough to get something called a Magnetic Blanket - basically it is a blanket that has 120 magnets in it that you sleep on. It is supposed to help you relax and ease pains and strains. I know what you're thinking this has to be rubbish, but as it was essentially free and we were both suffering from sleep deprivation it seemed worth a try. Well we have now slept on the magnatec for 3 nights and it has made such a difference. You kinda feel like you are being drawn to the bed for the first few minutes and then zonk! Perfect ... Sleep returns.

There may be developments on the work front, please continue to pray for wisdom.

Summer Goes On

2006-02-24T11:22:00.000+13:00

This summer has been (and continues to be) much like the last - and I love it - it is long and hot. The time is speeding by and I think that now that we are settled in the house and church we are making the most of summer, busy most evenings and weekends. Leaving little time to Blog.

At the moment I have my old friend Becky Aldous staying, it is good to catch up with her. We are going up the Sky Tower to the revolving Orbit Restaurant this evening - with what looks like will be a stunning sunset for entertainment.

James' business goes from strenght to strength, it is likely they will take some office space in the city centre shortly and interview for someone else to join them when we are back in the UK in July! They really have too much business - a blessing.

My job continues to be difficult and I am continuing to seek wisdom about the future of this - we'll see.

The cats continue to amusing, although Milo isn't feeling his best at the moment.

This weekend will see us go to a conference with Brian McClaren, a Symphony in the Park, Church and the Carter Road Annual BBQ - who could ask for more!

Hampton Jones - the Website Launch

2006-01-28T17:13:00.000+13:00

After months of waiting and work, James' business has released their website, click here to look around.

Memories of the last few Months

2006-01-28T16:14:00.000+13:00

We have a long weekend and I am trying to catch up on some long over due blogging of photos. So what follows are photos from the last 4 months or so, from spring 2005 to the start of summer 2006.
Piha on a weekday evening - making the most of living near the beach - we should come here more often.
The sunsets here are so stunning!

We went to Matua Valley Vineyard Cottages for our Wedding Anniversary

Cathedral Cove and A Trip to the Corromandel with Rob and Sarah Douglas

Jame's Birthday signalled the start of a series of parties at our house - loved it over Xmas lots of people passing through and all!

Mum and Dad came to visit - had a great time, very busy, they took enough photos and video footage for all of us, so unfortunately not may to share of them. Went on the Rain Forest Express with them.
Looks like James deleted the photo of himself.
Finally we have had some stunning sunsets which we have watched from our deck and the cats have been sleeping

Rain for the Soul

2006-01-24T12:27:00.000+13:00

We woke to the sound of rain this morning, and it hasn't stopped. I suddenly realised that I can't recall the last time we had weather like this. It is still warm, and the weather isn't set to change for a few days, wow, I didn't realise that we had in some ways been missing the rain until it fell. I think that my relationship with God is often like this, in that I know that it is only when I spend time with God after a long break that I am brought back to that place of realising just how wonderful and amazing that relationship is - not that I would recommend time away from God to anyone. It is a feeling that I have come to recognise with church recently, the move to St Pauls has been such a blessing and I am suddenly acutely aware of what we had missing. I just want to get more and more involved with what they are doing - I love it.

We have been asked to help lead their Life Course (a mix of Alpha and welcome to St Pauls), which is so cool - esp as we haven't done it ourselves. Last weekend saw us spend lots of time with this church - dinner with Rich and Kath, the church picnic and church itself. Have remembered what a small world the church is, esp the Anglican church in this case, as we made links with Rich and Kath of others we all know.

Work for both of us is busy. For the first time since joining AUT I am not particularly excited about the prospect of each new work day, but I am trying to give this one to God, and listen to what he has to say about the situation.

Have been meaning to post photos - maybe this weekend.

Best Dash

Booked Flights to the UK

2006-01-10T08:38:00.000+13:00

Just to let our friends and family know we will be flying into the UK on 7 July 2006!

I can't wait - we have also booked a few days in Rome and a couple of nights in Dubai on the way back!

Off travelling for the next week, and will update on our return.

Happy New Year

2006-01-09T11:27:00.000+13:00

Happy New Year, 2006 already! We have been run off our feet since my parents arrived. The list of tourist activities completed so far includes: Rain Forrest Express, Wine Tasting, a night in Tutukaka (Northland), Auckland Museum, Day on Waiheke, Trip to Muriwai and Piha, amongst other things. Mum and Dad are now on South Island and James and I have been back to work for a week.

We had a relaxing weekend of doing not a great deal, managed a trip to the beach and a trip to church. We have a more concrete plan for a trip to the UK in July 2006 (leave NZ on 6/7/06, the trip will include 4 days in Rome and a couple of nights in Dubai on the way home). We are looking forward to seeing friends and family and will shortly be making more plans for the trip!

Tomorrow we head off to the Corromandel, followed by Rotarua. We will end their visit to NZ with a BBQ with our friends and a trip up the Sky Tower.

Best dash, will update when we return from our trip.

Wishing you all a great 2006.

Our First Proper Christmas in NZ

2005-12-27T11:21:00.000+13:00

So this Christmas has been fantastic! In 2003 we had been back from our honeymoon for 2 days, and I had lived in NZ for 4 days when Christmas hit - I don't think we knew what day it was, and I certainly had a hard time being so new to the country. No turkey, no decorations, no tree. Then last year we moved house on Christmas Eve, to another friends house, as our house wasn't habitable. We were tired and grumpy, we had decorations and a tree, but not ours.

So this year has been fantastic, we have a tree (which had a whole pile of presents underneath it - now opened), we have lights outside and we were organised. It is weird celebrating Christmas here when it is hot, the sun is shining and I really am not that bothered by a roast dinner. This year, with the change of church, we went to a Carol Service, which was cool and funky and yet still had enough tradition to usher in the sense of Christmas. So for me this has been our first proper Christmas here. Another cool think about St Pauls is that unlike a lot of churches in NZ it doesn't close for Christmas and January. I think that the arguement goes something like "well everyone leaves the city at Christmas to go to the beach so there will be no-one there." I don't buy this on a whole number of levels, particularly the one about EVERYBODY leaves the city, nope, just those who can afford it and Jesus came for everyone, not just those who can afford to leave the city. The ones left behind at this time are lonely. This is also clearly one of only 2 occassions in the year when the secular world has cause to consider God, and may be tempted to go to church. In my opinion this is therefore a time when people should be easily able to walk into a church. Rant over. So St Pauls has one Sunday when it doesn't hold a service - New Years Day and who can blame them.

My wonderful husband bought me an ipod for Christmas - oh yes after months of pestering it happened. James now wants one desperately as well, he is gadget boy. However we have come to the conclusion that the household Bundy only need one. We both got great presents.

Christmas Day was a great encouragement to us about the fact that we are making NZ home. Firstly we had breakfast with our neighbours and then lunch with our good friends
Bruce and Denise. Just such a good day to share with friends.

Now we are busy preparing for Mum and Dad to arrive tomorrow. So on with the cleaning I must go.

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-22T13:17:00.000+13:00

Just a short note to say Merry Christmas to all friends and family where you may be in the world.

Today is my last day at work for a while - and the break is long overdue. It is fair to say that staff go loopyloo here from around mid-November, so it will be a relief to walk out the door this afternoon.

Mum and Dad will be here in a week and I am so excited!

Over the break I am planning to update the blog with more photos and maybe a change of look (but I've been hoping to do the second bit for nearly a year and it hasn't happened so please don't hold your breath).

We are having a tropical week here, the weather has been stormy, humid, hot, beautiful and miserable. So Christmas Day is likely to live up to it's reputation of being a shocker! Oh well the sun always comes back the next day.

Anyway, I have one email and one document to finish and then I am off Christmas shopping and home.

Stay Well, Take Care and Happy Christmas

It’s been a while…..

2005-12-15T11:25:00.000+13:00

Since I have blogged and this was because James and I have been taking some time over a decision about our church life, and I didn’t feel able to update the blog until that had been finalised … more on that later.

Firstly since my last blog so much has happened so here is a brief overview:

• We celebrated 2 years of married life by a taking a long weekend away at the Matua Valley Vineyard Cottages – just lovely
• I celebrated my 2nd year in NZ – that involved more wine and food.
• We have had a deck built – yippee – and got some deck furniture so that we can enjoy it
• We spent a lovely weekend on the Corromandel with Rob and Sarah Douglas, Sarah’s parents and another friend – it was a truly lovely time away
• James’ business has gone much better than expected, we have had the 1st Hampton Jones Xmas Party and a 3rd partner joins them in January
• We have spent lovely summer evenings with our neighbours getting to know them better
• My job has been busy, challenging, fun and exhausting – roll on Xmas

We have so much to be thankful for, we just love it here in New Zealand, the last 2 years have been amazing!

In the coming weeks we have James’ Birthday, Christmas, my parents arriving and trips round NZ planned – it just keeps on going.

Our decision re church life has been consuming our thoughts for the last few weeks, but we have now advised Urban Vineyard that we are moving on and we have found a new church home in St Pauls, Auckland. It has been a big decision to move on from the Vineyard, for the time being anyway, but church life since moving to New Zealand just hadn’t been right for us.

Through a series of God-incidences we had come into contact with St Pauls more and more. Out of curiosity one evening we decided to pay them a visit. It felt like walking into an oasis and coming home, I won’t bore you with the details, but essentially we very quickly felt that this is where we are meant to be. For the first time in 2 years we are excited about going to church on Sundays and all the other things that the church does, the community and it’s commitment to the wider community. To us it felt more Vineyard than the Vineyard experience we have had in NZ, and we are already making good friends.

It is the last piece in the jigsaw of moving our lives to NZ so we just love this place even more! Praise be to God.

U2 Concert

2005-12-05T10:58:00.000+13:00

Not sure what you will be doing on St Patricks Day 2006?

However, I will be watching U2 in Auckland!!! Oh yeah, I am the girl who got the tickets!!!!

Will write more soon!

Congratulations to the Family Wroe

2005-11-10T11:06:00.000+13:00

Just heard that Sarah and Ian, some of our nearest (not geogrphically until April 06)and dearest friends, have had a baby boy.

Congratulations guys! Let us know the name when you have one!

Down here in the Southern Hemisphere the weather is better than expected. Last night we spent some time sitting in our garden with our neighbours drinking wine - I just love it here so much.

We also have an old friend of mine Craig visiting at the moment (he has spent the week on a bus trip of the North Island), so I will post more once he has gone.

Crochet, Wine, Knitting, The Notebook, Tears, Laughter, New People and God

2005-11-03T17:14:00.000+13:00

The title above sums up the women’s weekend away. I was terrified, and spent most of the weekend that way. However, all in all it was a good time. I have to say that I didn’t get involved with the crochet or the knitting (I am sure that it is a cultural thing that people my age do those things here). I was the one who suggested the wine tasting, and I did cry again over The Notebook.

There were people there whose stories were cool, amazing, sad and happy. I would say that I certainly saw some people in a different light, I think that it also revealed more to me about the culture of the country. I am still processing some of this, and may blog on it again in the future – tied up in the Tall Poppy thing that exists here and the pioneering spirit people have.

All in all, I will go again next year, I have started some friendships which I hope will develop and it has re-energised me in my commitment to Urban.

Labour Day Weekend

2005-10-24T20:21:00.000+13:00

It only feels like yesterday that it was last Labour Day, but here we are again, and in another way it is an at last. Between the Queens Birthday at the start of June and the end of October there are no stat holidays in NZ, which also means for the whole of winter. However spring is now definitely here and whilst we have had some torrential rain this month we have also had some stunning days and God has definitely turned the heating back on!!! So here are a few photos from today, James and I had a date day (as he has been working all weekend).

So we started with a trip to a local beach - O'Neills.

We took a scenic trip back to the car and then moved onto the vineyards, one had jazz being played in the grounds.

Finally we returned home to have Thai Salmon Kebabs - Yum - and enjoy the sunset over the Waitakeres.

Finally James has at last worked out how to change the colour on the camera so here is a picture of me blogging in the study.

So the week ahead will short but full - both of us have stacks of work on. This weekend I have put my name down for a women's church weekend away. I don't really know anyone going on it, so all prayer would be appreciated as I am pretty terrified.

Rain, Spring Rain

2005-10-08T11:24:00.000+13:00

So September was beautiful here, but October has turned to rain. After the driest winter on record, the farmers and vineyards down south were getting worried. There is no more need to worry as it hasn't stopped for over a week now. Obviously there are beautiful bright spells but on the whole Auckland's weather right now is unpredictable.

In Australia recently James and I made a commitment to make more of an effort to get to know people at Urban Vineyard, until now our experience hasn't been the welcoming experience we've experienced in the UK. So on our return we decided to approach a new couple each week and invite them round for dinner. Tomorrow will see our fourth meal with people from Urban, and we haven't even made it to church for the last three weeks. I am finding it hard work, but the experience that we had of good, healthy, helpful community in Bristol is keeping me going. We have had some really frank conversations with these couples about what we dream for in community and sharing how our faith is with people. Unfortunately one couple are about to move to Brisbane and another will probably move to the UK next year, but I keep asking God to bring more people to our home.

Going on from this I have now committed with one other scared girl from church to go the Girls weekend away in a few weeks time. I feel a little old, not trendy enough etc to go really, but I think the devil is making the most of this fear. So now it's on the web, I really will have to go!

My thoughts of Bristol Vineyard have been more present in the last couple of weeks as they celebrated their 10th Birthday, we would have loved to have been there for that. We miss you guys!

Work is busy, the year is flying by and my parents will be here before I know it. James' business is taking off and the next month will be packed with work for him. We are thinking increasingly about a trip to the UK, maybe doing a little round the world trip at the same time. Thoughts of places to visit include Japan, NY and Russia, but who knows. Tonight we will be seeing the Douglas' for the first time in a couple of months. I am really looking forward to hearing about their South Island trip.

Best dash, need to go shopping.

Love to All

Our recent trip to Rotorua

2005-09-28T20:18:00.000+12:00

Last weekend we did the tourist thing in Rotorua with 4 friends. Two of whom Rob and Sati are about to return to the UK for 2 years after being here for 4, they are now kiwi citizens and will be back - they're off to top up their pensions. The other two are Bruce and Denise, whom I work with and we have a really good time together.

The trip included all sorts - zorbing, luging, food, guysers, spa pools, food, wine, food, thermal reserves and food. So here are a few pictures to give you more of an idea of what we got up to.

Ian and Carolyn's Blog

2005-09-22T17:21:00.000+12:00

James and I met this wonderful English couple recently (they house sat for us while we were in Australia and fell in love with the cats), Ian and Carolyn. They have now moved on from Auckland to see NZ before they begin a long journey home to the UK (more people on a world tour). So I have added their blog to my site.

I am a New Zealand Resident

2005-09-15T16:52:00.000+12:00

I got a call today from my case officer at NZIS to let me know that I have been granted residency in principle!!! On another occasion I will tell you the whole story about the application process - long and irritating. Today however I will celebrate that my case officer has been amazing - processing my application in less than 2 weeks!!

Tomorrow James will take my passport in and pay the Migrant Levy Fee and it's all done.

What's more it means I can vote in the General Election here on Saturday - so I just got in in time. I had given up hope on being able to vote, so it is a miracle and fantastic and I really hope that my vote will count.

Yippee - I do however think from what I have just read it will be another 5 years until I can become resident and get a passport. Nevermind I will get there in the end!!!

Holiday Pictures

2005-09-10T14:07:00.000+12:00

We have been back a little while so I thought it was time to show you what we got up to in Australia.

The pictures are in order of the places that we visited, and include a visit to Australia Zoo.

Some pictures from Bundaburg - with a name like ours we had to go there!

Some pictures from the outback!

Some pictures from Port Douglas

And some from Palm Cove

Welcoming a new Blogger - and a new Mum

2005-09-07T14:30:00.000+12:00

Welcome to the world of blogging Nicole - although I do hope that not all your entries are about Kaitlin - tee hee.

We’re Back

2005-09-06T15:08:00.000+12:00

It feels like the holiday was a long time ago now, as we have been back nearly 2 weeks and work wise they have been busy. I came back to one Union on strike and going into negotiations with another, all good fun. James’ business has now been launched officially, he now a Director of Hampton Jones (very English I know, and no we couldn’t use the surname Bundy in the name) and it seems to be going well.

The holiday was fabulous and I will post some pictures when I have a little more time, we should be getting broadband at home today (at last) so the process should be quicker.

We had the most positive experience at Urban Vineyard on Sunday, it really was exciting. We’ll see what happens, but I felt quite challenged whilst we were on holiday about my approach to it and that it needed to change.

Okay best get back to some work – the photos will come soon I promise. BTW I saw a platypus in the wild – stunning!

We have made it to Port Douglas

2005-08-20T17:13:00.000+12:00

Time to relax, snorkel on the reef and read books! Back to blog soon!

Holiday Time!

2005-08-11T13:57:00.000+12:00

It seems strange to think that I am taking a holiday at the same time as most people in the Northern Hemisphere Summer when it is winter here. We need to escape the Winter (it’s not even that bad, but without the mid-winter Xmas festivities it does tend to drag).

So we fly to Brisbane early Saturday and over the next 14 days make our way slowly North. We will take in the following towns:

Mooloolaba
Noosa
Bundaberg
Rockhampton
Airle Beach
Townsville
Cairns
Palm Beach

I am sure there will be others along the way too.

You may here from me, you may not! Will take photo’s and post when I can.

Time for some photos!

2005-08-07T14:19:00.000+12:00

Just wanted to share with you some of the fun that we have been having recently.

It amazes me that so many of our old friends pass through this place and that we get the opportunity to hang out with them.

Sometimes it seems that we have never left Bristol.

But then I remember that the weather at home was never as good as this at the equivalent time of year.

It's amazing to think about the things that our old friends are getting up to now, we are now spread far and wide.

It did feel like a special morning together in Mission Bay, we shared journeys, stories, struggles, hopes and dreams. All of it God centred - the way it should be in community.

Obviously there was some fooling around too.

Hello to all back home, so wished you could have been here with us to share in the fun!

Spring is on it's Way!

2005-08-01T16:55:00.000+12:00

It seems strange but I can already sense that Spring is around the corner, for one thing every retail store in NZ is having it's Winter Sale so new spring stock must be on it's way, but also the trees have buds and the birds are singing earlier in the morning and later in the evening. I feel a sense of hope returning - can you tell I'm not a fan of winter. We are off to Oz in less than 2 weeks, and I can't wait! James and I are both low on energy and need a dose of R&R, in fact so much so that for the first time since being in NZ the thought of a trip to the UK is becoming increasingly attractive. I'm sure that after a little holiday it will be good to return to NZ, but a planned return trip to the UK is getting more definite. Work is also busy, so I think that I need a break from that as well.

This weekend was good, I got home late on Friday so we didn't do much, Saturday we did a big clean and tidy, inside and out. Sarah and Rob arrived for dinner and stayed the night, and we spent in the morning we all went out with Brad and Haze to wish them well for the next stage in their trip (on the way back to the UK). They have had a great time here in NZ and are already planning their next visit. It has been lovely to see them, but it was weird to have so many Bristol people in one place.

Okay, on with the work, I want to be organised for my leave so that I am happy and content while we're away. Looking forward to holding a koala and hoping to see a duck billed platypus - it will fulfil 2 childhood dreams!

Where we Live

2005-07-25T12:37:00.000+12:00

I have been meaning to blog on this for a while. When I first came to NZ I lived in an area called Te Atatu, which is pronounced Tea At-a-too, quite simple really. We now live in Oratia, if you are a kiwi or have visited NZ you will probably be able to guess how this is said. However, when British people come out they often pronounce Oratia like Horatio (without the “H” and an a on the end), because I live here it causes me much amusement!!! So I thought I would teach people how to say it:

o-ra-tear

I hope that clears that up!

We are well, still tired, but getting more rest. Another relaxing weekend, involving lots of meals with friends, but also some space and time to ourselves.

James business has finally been launched, but I am still going to wait another month to tell you all about it (the reasons why will become clear). It’s very exciting and a little terrifying.

Best get back to the work.

Harry Book 6

2005-07-19T10:58:00.000+12:00

Well I’ve done it, I’ve finished Harry 6! I was in the queue early on Saturday morning – so early I got a cap! I couldn’t wait to get home to start it so I was in Starbucks 10 minutes later to read the first 3 chapters before I could face the drive home.

The book started brilliantly, a funny chapter, followed by a chapter which was startling. The end made me sob, and was totally different to the others! I am not going to give anything away. The next book I think will have to be an epic and has left lots of questions.

I will now return to finishing Christopher Brookemyer’s new novel “ Its all fun and games until somebody loses an eye” before I re-read Harry 6.

Brilliant, Absolutely Brilliant!

Language Translation

2005-07-17T12:05:00.000+12:00

I have obviously been here too long so here goes: Early Childhood Centre = Creche or Nursery, ours is for children under 5 (up to 40 of the screaming things!).

Strange Times

2005-07-15T16:41:00.000+12:00

Just wanted to let you know about a couple of things that have surprised me over the last couple of days. Yesterday I had a difficult staff member contact me to say that she is currently feeling down about her role (at which point I was thinking oh here we go), then she asked if we could meet for a chat – nothing heavy just a chat, I guess about life (I’ll find out next week). This is most surprising as I consider myself, well more my position, the last person she would want to have a chat about this with. It was very encouraging that she sees me as so approachable.

This was followed by the fact that another ditzy, lovely, but again slightly difficult employee waited to walk to the station with me (about a 20 minute walk) last night. We chatted about this and that all the way, lovely, a little weird and truly surprising. At this point, I think God was saying this is how I am changing you.

Today, it became apparent that my responsibilities for the Early Childhood Centre at AUT are bigger than I had anticipated (I know this is very funny as I really struggle with children –esp at that age around me wearing when I am wearing a suit). It meant that I had to reforecast the budget for this year and make a business case for a couple things the centre needs, this kind of thing is not part of the rest of my job. Initially it brought back all those awful memories of working for the Holiday Inn (daily and weekly figures!!!), but then I realised that this experience actually helped with my work as I could read and understand (and even kind of put together) the budget. I have to say that I really never expected to say that I gained much from working at the Holiday Inn, but today it came in very useful. So at the end of a long day (I hate figures), I feel like I have more ownership of the responsibility I have for the Early Childhood Centre as I understand it better and have fought for it. There is a reason for everything.

Finally Harry Potter book 6 is released tomorrow and I am quite amazed at how excited I am about this!!!

Blogging

2005-07-12T11:25:00.000+12:00

Blogging is a strange thing. I was talking about it over the weekend with a friend who said that if he was at home he wouldn’t see the point, I know another friend whose blog seems to be a place of public catharsis. This made me think about why I do this thing. I guess the main reason is that I am not at home (well I am, but I am far from where I come from) and this means that it is an easy method of letting people know what I am up to. It’s also a record I guess of my thoughts (it’s the closest thing that I will ever get to a diary), and I hope that over time that it will prove to be something that I can positively reflect over and see the journey that God is taking me on more clearly.

Recently I feel like life hasn’t stopped, and now I am tired! This weekend is the first weekend for months when James and I have nothing planned – and it is very intentional. The busyness does signify that we have settled in well, I am again in that place where there are people I need to catch up with but have been too busy to do so. The friendships we have in this country are strengthening. My main aim for the weekend is to be in The Warehouse at 10.30am on Saturday to pick up the new Harry Potter and spend the rest of the weekend engrossed in it. Maybe a little cleaning, maybe some time on the internet / watching DVDs, and definitely time with James and God, and I am hoping for a lot of sleep.

Interestingly in this busyness I have been inspired by God again and I feel that my desire to live life differently is increasing. This is an exciting thing although challenging as I feel the daily need to give away my own desires and a call to spend quiet time with Him. I am increasingly looking forward to the trip to Brisbane to get more time and space.

Briefly, I don’t want to dwell on this, but our second public viewing of the Lions tests was no better than the first, and for the second time since being here I didn’t like this country. I guess though that no country is perfect and no nation is perfect (the British history is after all appalling) so I will continue to love this place, but will not watch any matches of that level in public places again.

Who knows, this weekend I might even get some time to update my blog and add some new photos!

Time for an Update

2005-06-29T12:53:00.000+12:00

Just been run off our feet. A couple of weeks ago we headed south to Hamilton to catch up with our friends the Montys. I was a long overdue visit, and it was great to see them, we also caught up with Rob and Sarah who are settling in to NZ well.

Last week we headed to Christchurch for a few days. I attended a HR conference which was pretty inspiring (I went to the same one last year) and once again felt God speak to me in the midst of a secular event strongly. We stayed in Christchurch over the weekend. We had stunning crisp weather, with snow falling on the hills at night. It gave us the opportunity to catch up with our friends Gary and Pat and visit Grace Vineyard. We picked up some awesome housegroup material and came back to Auckland inspired (more on that another time).

We were there for the first Test, although not at the match, and had the first bad experience of New Zealand in a pub that night. I’m assured that it’s a South Island rugby thing, all the kiwi's I have told have been horrified, and I am sure we were just in the wrong pub, but the words intimidating, threatening and completely missing the spirit of the occasion spring to mind. The couple of days leading up to the match were great, the atmosphere in Christchurch was electric and it was strange to feel like I was in a British pub for the first time in 18 months. Both James and I enjoyed this, but noticed there were a few things that we don’t miss too. Then we lost, oh well there’s another match this weekend.

This weekend we are actually off hiking with guides (staying in a tramping hut), so another busy one.

We have both been suffering from flu type bugs and feel pretty worn out, we are both looking forward to a weekend off in a couple of weeks time, to chill out at home.

Work is manic and I best get back to it.

Stewart Gregg Blogging!!

2005-06-14T14:25:00.000+12:00

I seem to have a steady stream of friends joining in with this game at the moment - welcome to the world of the blog Stew - good to hear from you.

Martin Barratt

2005-06-07T08:24:00.000+12:00

Welcome to the Blog world Martin Barratt - Happy 31st Birthday as well mate!

Let it Rain, Let it Rain, Let it Rain

2005-05-30T16:49:00.000+12:00

So I know that winter has arrived in Auckland when the rain sets in, from my office I can see the showers approaching the city in waves. In fact as I write the Sky Tower has just been struck by lightning! Stunning! Last night was pretty disturbed as our gutters are not fully fitted and therefore the rain pouring off the roof seems to echo around the house. I am however a girl who loves stormy nights so a large part of me just loves it!

This weekend involved relaxing, we cleaned and spent more time sorting things out in the house. On Sunday morning we went to Titirangi Village Market, a trip I just love.

This weekend is Queens Birthday Weekend, which makes it a long one! It also means that it is my birthday, there is a small part of me that misses the fact that my birthday was in summer in the Northern Hemisphere – may be next year I’ll celebrate it in the UK. At the moment we are thinking of taking a trip down to Hamilton (a town compared to Swindon / Milton Keynes – exciting stuff I hear you say) to visit the Douglas’ and the Montys (both in new homes) for the weekend. This will be my third birthday in NZ! It’s hard to believe that two years ago I was visiting NZ for the first time, and in another way it feels like yesterday. Now it definitely feels like home.

This week sees us start attending a home group leaders course – although it will probably be some time before we put this into practice.

Winter is on it’s way!

2005-05-27T13:26:00.000+12:00

Last week was awful weather wise – rain, drizzle, fog, rain, rain, drizzle – you get the picture. At the end of the week I was feeling tired and grumpy and realised that it was probably a small dose of SAD. The good thing about recognising this is that I can say it is the equivalent of the end of November in the UK and this is the first time this year I have felt that way (in the UK this kicks in around October 1st for me), something to be happy about. Secondly, the weather here doesn’t seem to last that long so this week has been completely different and I am currently sitting at my deck with the blind closed as the glare from the sun is too bright. To cheer me up James and I spent time planning our holiday that we have booked time for in August. So after much discussion we are off to Queensland, we will fly into Brisbane and after a few days pick up a camper van and drive North ending in Cairns, where we will have a few more days to relax before we fly home. I can’t wait, it will be warm and it should be fun.

On another note we tried a new service at Urban Vineyard last week. They have recently formed a new congregation who meet on a Thursday night (to cater for those who vacate the city on the weekend to make the most of what this beautiful country has to offer). It was, for me, the most intimate experience of church I have experienced in NZ, with lots of people being real and honest. I loved it! We will be going again, and I suspect it may become home.

This week at work has been hard, but good and now it is Friday afternoon already. Tonight we are off to a desert party, although I suspect that I will be in bed early as I have a head ache that I need to sleep off.

Before I go big congratulations go to the Fosters and to MacLeod’s on the arrival of their baby girls! Happy Birthday to my Mum and Happy Wedding Anniversary to my Mum and Dad - I hope you enjoy your meal at the Hotel du Vin on us.

2005-05-22T22:32:00.000+12:00

The reception at The Mission Estate Winery
Dizz

2005-05-22T22:25:00.000+12:00

Craggy Range Winery
Dizz

2005-05-22T22:24:00.000+12:00

Away in the Hawkes Bay
Dizz

2005-05-22T22:22:00.000+12:00

Yes I really do mow the lawns - in the rain!
Dizz

2005-05-22T22:21:00.000+12:00

What a beautiful dress
Dizz

2005-05-22T22:20:00.000+12:00

The Happy Couple
Dizz

2005-05-22T22:19:00.000+12:00

Signing the Register
Dizz

2005-05-22T22:17:00.000+12:00

Lynn and AJ at the Ceremony
Dizz

My Job

2005-05-19T17:16:00.000+12:00

HR can, a lot of the time, be a thankless role with what can feel like a predominance of clearing up messes created by other people and getting people who are behaving like children to wake up smell the roses and behave like adults. Sometimes that can feel like a good day. As a consequence James has come to recognise that I am not totally cynical about all employees being devious and untrustworthy, but that these are the employees I spend most of time dealing with. It can also mean that it can be hard to see where Jesus is in these situations, and often difficult to work out what Jesus would do in them.

Recently however I have had a few big comments of thanks, a congratulations on my permanent appointment card from a reasonably difficult client, and a number of senior staff confiding in me with personal issues (one of which almost made me cry yesterday). This has reminded me that I love this job, and that although I can still feel out of my depth it is getting easier. I feel really blessed with the role and the peace that this is right for now.

Out to dinner with the Douglas’ tonight and then off to Urban Vineyard to try their Thursday night stuff.

Introducing People to Blogging

2005-05-18T13:04:00.000+12:00

If you click the link above you will visit the blog of my colleague Lisa. She too is a Brit in NZ, and I recently encouraged her to get into this - I didn't believe she would.

Welcome to the world of blogging!

A Long Weekend

2005-05-17T11:32:00.000+12:00

We left Auckland on Thursday evening and after battling with the traffic, a little rain and long drive in the dark through the forrest we arrive in Taupo.

The first night was spent at the Rainbow Lodge (a regular stop for us) and then onto Napier in the Hawkes Bay on Friday. What a stunning drive! There had been a frost overnight and it was stunning to see the frost rising like steam from the grass and plants. We drove over one set of ranges to look down into a valley thick with mist, we then descended into the mist and out the other side. The mist was a little errie, but more than anything it made me think that this is how God's presence covers the world at all times - only we can't see it. We made it over the final group of ranges to a beautiful view of the Bay.

I was blown away by Napier and Havelock North - I understand why people retire there. We spent the day visiting vineyards - Craggy Range, Te Mata, Black Barn, Sileni, Trinity Hill and Te Awa. We returned to Craggy Range for one of the most stunning dining experiences I have ever had.

On Saturday we went to my friend Lynn's wedding - she looked stunning and the wedding was held at Church Road and the reception at The Mission. What a great few days.

Our journey back up north saw the weather go to custard, but it has been fun to welcome the Douglas' and do som tourist stuff again in Auckland.

Back to work now, and the memory of the break is fast fading.

Rob and Sarah

2005-05-11T14:03:00.000+12:00

The wonderful Douglas' arrive on Sunday and today I got a link to their website with pictures of what they have been up to - see link above.

Old Friend Blogging

2005-05-09T15:46:00.000+12:00

I just discovered another old friend who has a blog (click on title above). I owe Steve, his wife and the Clucas' who ran the Ellesmere CYFA Venture (aka youth camp) I attended throughout my teens alot - I don't think I'd still be a Christian if it wasn't for that place!

Happy memories!

4 Seasons in One Day

2005-05-04T13:31:00.000+12:00

Crowded House wrote that song about Auckland and the sight I saw this morning confirmed this is the case. James and I passed two girls walking to work, one wearing a winter suit with a winter scarf, the other had a summer dress and flip flops on - both however were carrying umbrella's! It is that time of year again and I love it!

FYI Crowded House are now the Finn Brothers and I love them too.

Mad day at work must dash.

Winter is on its way

2005-04-27T09:28:00.000+12:00

After 3.5 months of beautiful weather there was a feeling here that it had to end sometime and the change to the weather has now started. On South Island snow is falling, and even the Desert Road in Central North Island got snow on Sunday night. In a strange way it has been nice to see the rain, I am a particular fan of rain at night and it has been nice to see plants turning green again. Monday night seemed coldest to us and has encouraged James to order the insulation to go under the house, last night was better and I was too warm in bed again.

We had a long weekend and James and I got the chance to chill out and read books (amongst other things). For me the book was “Red Moon Rising” by Pete Greig about the 24-7 Prayer movement that started in the UK a few years ago. Through the book I felt God talking to me about what he has in store for James and I, that the last 3 years have been about me, James and Him, but that the time is coming when we will return to the things that we did in the first 7 years of the last 10 years (Doing the Stuff), and a prompting to get ready for this. We are both feeling our energy levels increasing after finally settling into a house that we know we will be in for sometime to come and we get to the end of the time that it takes for people to re-adjust after emigrating. I feel more inspired to read God Books and spend time with Him than I have in a long time. My sense of anticipation is growing.

One other piece of news is that it looks as though at the end of the year James and a couple of friends he has met through work here will set up their own business. This had been something that James and I had dismissed for sometime, but we both feel quite peaceful that this is the right thing to do (another project I hear you say). The planning is now beginning, so I’ll keep you posted on how this is going, until the business is launched James will keep consulting and working on our house.

A Permanent Positon at AUT

2005-04-14T12:32:00.000+12:00

I know that my Dad has been concerned about this for sometime, so I am pleased to announce that AUT have just informed me that they will be offering me my job on permanent basis which will follow on from my fixed term contract starting on the 12 May. My relief comes from the fact that I will not need to have another interview to confirm this appointment! Yippee. I love working at AUT (although as with all positions it does have it’s moments). James and I will celebrate this moment with a bottle of bubbly at the weekend.

The weather continues to be beautiful, and I have been told that one of the weather predictor people thinks it will last till June – I live in hope. The mornings are definitely getting crisper and the evening temperature drops quickly as the sunsets (thankfully the eco-friendly heating system we have installed which uses heat from our loft is working brilliantly).

Life here speeds on by, and recently this has been on my mind as I feel I don’t rest enough, or spend enough time with God. James and I know that we are in the right place (Urban Vineyard, Oratia, Auckland, New Zealand) and that the things we have been doing over the 18 months are the building blocks for having a home which is also a retreat for the tired, weary, lonely and broken. Now I am wondering whether we need to get on and do more of this, or whether this is simply me being attacked with guilt as we come towards the end of the first phase, or my lack of patience and excitement to move into the next phase.

We are building our relationships with our neighbours (there are 4 houses that share the driveway) which is fabulous as we know that these will be key people in our lives, and we are growing friendships at Urban. Maybe it’s more a sign of some of the things I long to see more of here – real, authentic relationships where people are actively developing what it means to be wholehearted followers of Jesus.

Summer goes on!!

2005-04-07T13:01:00.000+12:00

This will be brief. We had a wonderful time over Easter, with a little time off for me, so we got to fully settle in the house. There are still two rooms to decorate inside and numerous small tasks, the external side may not be touched now until after our winter, but there is plenty to do in the garden. We have started being able to entertain friends and can now put guests up very comfortably.

On Jauary 10 the sun came out and it is still shining - nearly 3 months! With only a couple of bad days, now that is what I call summer. It is still hot at night and the days are getting clearer as we move towards autumn / winter. The weather is so good that on Monday we went snorkelling - the see was warm and the fish were fabulous -I love this country.

Will post more photos soon I promise!

2005-03-21T20:17:00.000+12:00

The shower room (not quite finished yet)
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:16:00.000+12:00

The view from the living room
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:15:00.001+12:00

The kitchen part 3
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:15:00.000+12:00

The kitchen part 2
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:13:00.001+12:00

The kitchen
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:13:00.000+12:00

The fireplace in the living room
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:12:00.000+12:00

More of the guest room
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:11:00.000+12:00

The guest bedroom
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:10:00.001+12:00

Welcome to our home
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:10:00.000+12:00

It's a hard life being a kitten says Earl
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:09:00.000+12:00

I was sleeping Mum says Milo
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:08:00.000+12:00

Molly's view from our veranda
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:07:00.000+12:00

Dizz on Waiheke
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:06:00.000+12:00

Another reservoir in the Waitakeres
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:05:00.000+12:00

Dizz and Teddy (our friends 9 month old Exotic - aka Garfield)
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:04:00.000+12:00

The view from the Rain Forrest Express
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:01:00.001+12:00

The reservoir at the end of the Express ride
Dizz

2005-03-21T20:01:00.000+12:00

Taking the train through the Waitakere Ranges (before summer started)
Dizz

Time for Some Pictures

2005-03-21T19:52:00.000+12:00

I'm not sure whether I'll manage to get any order to these and I plan to post more next week when I have a week off work, but tonight I will post a few of the house, the kittens and some of what we have been up to so far this year. You'll need to go into the archives to see them all.

Enjoy

Love us, celebrating a long hot summer in NZ

Introducing Milo

2005-03-14T15:20:00.000+13:00

After two weeks of Earl the kitten playing with our friends cat Teddy (while we were staying with them) we moved out to the country and Earl has looked terribly lonely. So today I rang the woman who sold us Earl and asked if she had any left. Wonderfully she did, Earl's brother. He is Cream and White and we are going to call him Milo.

James is driving to Warkworth right now to pick him up, so kitten madness will be occurring in the Bundy household tonight!!

Moved In!!!

2005-03-14T12:11:00.000+13:00

We have moved house, and have both had the best nights sleep since being in NZ (due to the total peace and quiet at night - I never realised I was such a country girl). There is still lots to do on the house, but it is all coming together and what has been finished looks stunning. Will try to post some pictures soon, Telecom were fixing a fault on the line today so we should be able to make calls from this evening.

I will send out a mass email updating our contact details shortly.

What a joy to be home at last!

2005-03-07T17:55:00.000+13:00

This is a picture from our honeymoon for my Mum and Dad to see, this is us at the top of the Fox Glacier on South Island
Dizz

2005-03-07T17:41:00.000+13:00

Someone said Earl looks like an Ewoch
Dizz

2005-03-07T17:39:00.000+13:00

Baby Earl - this is a few weeks ago before we picked him up
Dizz

2005-03-07T17:38:00.000+13:00

The view from my office
Dizz

Another Weekend is Almost Here

2005-03-04T09:06:00.000+13:00

Well look at that, Friday already. This weekend James and I are going to start the process of unpacking and cleaning our house. At the moment it all feels a little unreal, and there is a part of me that is actually scared about moving in (no idea why), but mostly it is incredibly exciting.

We won't actually move in this weekend as the people we are staying with are off to Rotorua and would like us to stay and look after the cats. Earl will love this, he and Ted are now firm friends (they keep beating each other up, but I am assured that they are just playing).

Lots to do, best dash.

A week of Firsts

2005-02-28T12:04:00.000+13:00

The last week has been very exciting with lots of new things which I have never done before. This started with going to a Powhiri, which is the ceremony where you are welcomed on to a Marae and become part of the Tangata Whenua (the tribe / Iwi). My Marae is on AUT and it was a really lovely, peaceful and settling experience. I did find the Hongi a little scary (rubbing noses with every member of the welcoming committee about 70 people). So now I am through and I feel one step closer to becoming a kiwi.

My second first is that I have become a guide leader, and went to my first event out West where we will be living (and a training session the night before). It has been on my mind to for some time to get involved with this (something in the community) and when we chose to live in Oratia I discovered there was a big guiding centre just up the road.

Thirdly, James and I picked up our kitten Earl Grey on Friday. He is adorable, purrs loudly, squeaks, has a lot of energy and an appetite to match.

Finally I went to my first womens conference Essence with Penny Fulton and Eleanor Mumford as speakers. This was an awesome time of teaching and remembering the foundation of what we believe. For a woman who does not do Womens stuff I feel I did well. The opening worship terrified me, with 250 female voices and I did leave promptly when it closed (the girlyness got too much). It has left me with lots to think about and I hope to blog about this in the coming days.

Tim Sudworth Blogging!!

2005-02-28T09:06:00.000+13:00

Today I received the exciting news that my good friend Tim Sudworth has started a blog. At long last Tim, and it is great to have you with us, any chance of your wife joining in - she is the one with the wisdom (if not the Masters)?

Will post on my weekend soon!

Loving the Weather

2005-02-21T09:34:00.000+13:00

Looked at the weather forecast last night and discovered that we have another week of sun ahead. I was a little worried after last February and December whether summer would ever really arrive. Now I know that it has and I am learning to get used to the fact that it can go on and on and on. The evenings are getting a little cooler now, which is actually good as it means that I can sleep at night, but the mid-day sun is powerful and the warmth is good.

This weekend saw more work on the house: painting, oiling a vanity, and sowing grass seed. The weekend ended by attending the Annual Carter Road BBQ. It was really lovely and we met people who have lived in Carter Road for 70 years! Some Yugloslavs who used to own the entire area, people with orchards, and other new comers. James and I have offered to host the BBQ next year so I am sure that the friendships that were started last night will grow between now and then.

I am in the middle of reading the Steve Chalke book “The Lost Message of Jesus” which has given both James and I some things to think about. Last night I was reading about the background behind the statement that God is Love, how that would have shaken the Jews as a concept and how really it should still shake us now. This thought reminded me of the difference between those of us who are brought up in Christian homes and those who come to know God later in life. For me the thought that God is Love is something I have taken for granted, like the Trinity, and I need to re-visit that. I am suddenly aware of how people who come to know God later in life must be blown away by this, and how I should be awe of that too.

Pity the Nation

2005-02-18T12:47:00.000+13:00

I have been close to tears this week when I look at the pictures in the news about Beirut. The people I work with now officially think I was mad to have gone there. I have no regrets about the time I spent there, and this week has made my heart ache for that country again.

I know that in comparison to others my understanding of the bigger picture is small, but at the same time I do know something and I do have an opinion on the whole situation. Having been there, having seen the beauty of rich Beirut, and the destruction in old Beirut, having met people who lived through the civil war, having friends who grew up not knowing anything other than civil war, I know that a return to that would be unbearable for many.

As Robert Fisk puts it in the title of his book we have to “pity the nation” which forever seems to be stuck in a fight between other countries, who seem to use Lebanon as a place to fight their battles. We have to “pity the nation” which seems unable to gain independence from both the West and the Middle East. I recognise that there is wrong on all sides, and I pray for peace, for forgiveness and hope.

On the Lent thing, managed not to fulfill my cravings so far, or replace them with other things. Trying to focus on the right things when I crave, almost forgot about the Alcohol thing when we went to our favourite restaurant Prego on Monday - James remembered just as I was about to order a beer.

Urban Vineyard and Essence

2005-02-17T08:44:00.000+13:00

Last night James and I went to our second week of Welcome to Urban Vineyard last night. It was fun to hear about the vision that Lloyd and Vicky have for the place and know firmly that we have found our home. What I really loved was the moment when one of the girls who didn’t make it last week said “so are there other Vineyard churches?” It was a moment when I realised that as a movement the Vineyard is still not that well known (in NZ at least). James and I get lots of questions like that from un-churched people, but to hear it from someone who has recently moved to NZ from Oz and is a believer was cool. She was not the only one with that question on their lips, and it was cool to see the eagerness of the people there to hear the Vineyard story. It made me remember the hunger I had for the way Vineyard did church / presented the Kingdom when I first joined Bristol. Over all last night re-kindled that fire in James and I to serve in this church, to bring in the lonely.

I am also getting very excited at the fact that next week is the New Zealand Vineyard Women’s Conference. I am looking forward to catching up with old friends but more than that hearing Eleanor Mumford and Penny Fulton speak and more than that seeing what God might do! The theme is essence and I have been thinking about this, particularly after buying a new perfume recently. The time I spent (with James) finding something that said something about me made me think about what essence God would want for me? I’ve had some thoughts, but I guess the conference will cover this more.

Best dash, work is hectic.

Lent

2005-02-09T09:45:00.000+13:00

Lent has begun, I will refrain from:

Chocolate
Crisps
Biscuits
ALCOHOL

Hmm, I hope that the real reasons behind Lent will prevail in my mind, rather than counting down the days till Easter.

Auckland Anniversary Weekend

2005-02-02T17:00:00.000+13:00

We are still getting used to the change in statutory holidays (not bank holidays) in NZ. The one I really like is the regional ones, they only apply to people living in that region and all happen at different times. Last weekend was ours, Auckland Anniversary Weekend, and as summer has now arrived and been predictable for about a month we took the opportunity to visit Waiheke. Waiheke is an island off the east coast of Auckland in the Hauraki gulf, it is an island of holiday homes, some commuters to the city and some locals.

The weather was stunning and we hopped around the island by bus (it's a 40 minute seacat ride out to the island). We felt like tourists again, which made us realise just how much we feel at home in the city. For me it actually beats a couple of the other major tourist destinations on the East Coast, I think due to the nature that it is am island it feels more remote.

Sunday and Monday were spent at the house, oiling doors - very dull, but they do look stunning. I was lovely to be out in the Waitakeres listening to the crickets, and more of the bird life is now returning (after the trauma of a large new house arriving on the land scared them away).

Saw the sequel to one of my favourite films, the original is Before Sunrise and the sequel Before Sunset. I was worried the second one would be disappointing, but it was fantastic, but then I am a romantic chick.

Also went to visit our kitten last week. He is just wonderful and has been named Earl Grey (because he is grey). It was a beautiful evening to drive a little way north of Auckland, it was fun to see how much he has grown and his personality is developing.

Back at work again, still loving it, still ploughing on.

Knowing that the Vineyard is my Home

2005-01-24T16:21:00.000+13:00

I think that I have mentioned before that the hardest thing about moving to NZ has been church. I know that it would have been too easy to stay at BV, and we may have been unhappy if we had stayed, we learnt so much there and were privileged to be members of the church there for a while but now it is time to share what we learnt with others (and learn more in the process). We know that Auckland is where we are meant to be, but I have still be asking whether the church we have pretty much decided will be our home is the right one. Well on Sunday we went to a new Anglican, a plant out of Holy Trinity Brompton, with some English friends who have recently arrived and had heard about this new plant. It’s in an old church building (which I really liked), but I think that the church must have been closed for some time. I had been a little nervous that I would really like it and all the challenges that would come with that, but whilst God was clearly working in that place, I can peacefully say that I received confirmation that the Anglican church is not where we are meant to be right now. I can’t really explain it, the people were lovely, the worship was good, the teaching was fine (if a little dull), but I know that for now Vineyard is our home. I am grateful for that confirmation.

So I am now excited to see what will happen here, I have started having some interesting conversations with people I have met in NZ about church, what makes Vineyard different, and giving.

A Beautiful View

2005-01-13T15:15:00.000+13:00

Been back at work a couple of days now and I have moved office. This is very exciting as I used to have an internal office (which was okay but not much bigger than a cupboard without any natural light). My new office (just next door) has a meeting table, and most excitingly a floor to ceiling view of Auckland City, the Sky Tower, the Harbour and out to some islands in the Hauraki Gulf (it’s on Level 13). It has to be the best view I have ever had, although seeing people jump off the Sky Tower is a little disconcerting (bungy).

I took a photo of the view this morning and will post it when I can blog from the laptop next – it’s a glorious blue sky day again, James has mentioned going to the beach after work for a swim!

Happy New Year and Announcing a New Arrival

2005-01-10T14:16:00.000+13:00

So lets start with an account of the Christmas Break. I have not had 2 weeks off at Christmas since leaving uni and it was strange but wonderful, today is my first day back at work and I feel like I have been away for about 3 months. Christmas Day was relaxed, I even went to sleep for a few hours in the afternoon. We spent a couple of days doing some work on the house before the floor sanders arrived (today it receives it’s final coat of varnish – looks stunning). Since then we have not done a great deal (the weather has been warm and wet or dull – ie not great). We took a trip on the Rainforest Express, entailing stunning views, BBQ, climbing the face of a dam, glow worms, cave wetta’s and other things.

For New Year we went to visit our friends in the hip town of Hamilton. It was as always an interesting evening, I love seeing them and Hamilton is always “More than you Expect”. This visit was particularly amusing due to the trip to the largest Mormon Tempe in the Southern Hemisphere, I was not expecting anything particularly exciting, but the memory of all those Christmas lights will stay with me for a long time to come.

I am also excited to say that our family will be increasing by one at the end of February as we have chosen a kitten!!! We will be going to visit him again at the weekend and I hope to get some photos to post then. He is 4 weeks old and a blue (or grey) exotic Persian – has short hair, no name yet, all suggestions welcome.

On a sad note we have obviously spent time watching the reports of the unfolding disaster in South East Asia and I don’t think that my thoughts on the tsunami are clear enough to post. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Ross Baker who is missing in Thailand. I have known Ross and his brother Peter since playgroup, Ross and I studied Drama at Birmingham together too. Ross was a bright, talented and fun guy to be around, he was also one of the few to have “made it” from my course and was in Thailand on holiday from his role in the musical Fame. Ross you will be missed.

So back to work, and James is back to the project of the house. We are looking forward to 2005, to moving in to our new home and settling into our new neighbourhood and seeing what God has in store for us. Obviously the summer weather has returned today!

The Boy has Broken his Toe (little one on right foot)

2004-12-23T10:37:00.000+13:00

Well this week is proving to be as manic as I anticipated, but everything seems to be going as planned. So far I have organised all the necessary stuff for the renewal of my work visa (thanks Mum and Dad for your help there) and my application for residency, we have moved a lot of stuff out of the Lillys house, and cleaned and tidied the rest of the Lilly’s house. On the house front the claw foot bath has been delivered, the power has been connected, the whole house has finished being gibbed (although the gib stopper still has plenty to do), and we have packed for our next move. The one big thing I have not done is any food shopping for Christmas Day (if only Martin could drive), or bought any proper Christmas Presents. Then yesterday I called home to discover that James had fallen over broken his toe and popped the nail, his foot went blue and he almost passed out!!! He is feeling better now, although he still refuses to see a doctor and is hobbling around. It isn’t great timing, but at least we have a few days before we start any more major moving, I'm sure he'll be back to his normal self soon.

The Lillys returned yesterday and it was lovely to see them. They looked relaxed, and have a healthy tan. It was cool to hear their stories of what they had been up to. It is however still raining!!!

Our First Party at 79 Carter Road

2004-12-20T13:09:00.000+13:00

Well James turned 30 on Saturday, but as he was on a stag do that day we celebrated the night before at the house. James and Marts had done a wonderful job of tidying up the house, hanging up some fairy lights, creating a table to put food on, and creating a path of saw dust (lit by Survivor style flames) to stop people having to tramp through the mud to the house.

I couldn’t believe the weather, what a blessing, we have been having shocking weather recently but for the evening it was dry and warmish without a breeze. It was lovely to bring together a group of people who we have enjoyed getting to know over the last year and some friends from the UK we have known longer, there was such a diverse mix. The words that people have used about the place are relaxing, peaceful, welcoming and beautiful – long may that continue.

As the driver I remained sober, but when our lovely new neighbours invited us in for drinks after everyone had left (around 11.30pm) it all went down hill for the two boys. Without embarrassing them I ended up driving them to their stag do the next day. They had a day canyoning – which was apparently amazing. I had a day to myself which was lovely.

So now we are gearing up for 3 weeks of moving madness, so please excuse me if I am quiet. Come the end of January normalness should resume, but the thought of what we have to do to get there is a bit overwhelming at the moment.

Best get on with stuff, please pray for energy and organisation.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and I promise to be back and spritely in February (if not before)!!!!

8 More Sleeps To Go….

2004-12-17T16:15:00.000+13:00

Until I get to relax, I get to sleep, I get two weeks off from work, and apparently it will be Christmas. As a result of the house and my work going completely nuts in the last couple of weeks, James and I are planning to enjoy Christmas Day with Martin, but the present thing will have to wait until we have the energy to think about it (let alone buy something). We have also committed to having a BIG Christmas next year, seeing as last year we were suffering from jet lag and had barely unpacked.

Tonight we are having a little party to celebrate James’ 30th which we are both looking forward to. It will be at the house, I am looking forward to lots of people who haven’t been there before getting the opportunity to see more of the project which is consuming our time at the moment.

Anyway best dash, plenty more paperwork to plough through before I run for the train.
Hope to get time to blog next week too!!!

2004-12-14T14:39:00.000+13:00

The view we will have from our bedroom window
Dizz

2004-12-14T14:38:00.000+13:00

The house when it arrived at the land - what have we done
Dizz

2004-12-14T14:36:00.000+13:00

Half the house coming down the driveway - it took 3 hours for each half
Dizz

2004-12-14T14:35:00.000+13:00

The house on the original site.
Dizz