cold? go for a run. feeling blue? go for a run...

I never liked running. Started recently when still in Edinburgh - just because there was a nice running track by the canal under our nose. But it seems almost a must in here: people jog everywhere and at any time of the day and night - 5am or 10pm there would be a bunch of runners around. And it is contagious: all of sudden you feel the urge to go for a run, to cycle, to do something... so - off for a quick run! see ya!

no emotion?

Rugby rules. Kiwis love rugby. And Ozzies are the guys to beat up. But the atmosphere is a pub during one of the sooo-important game seems bit unenthusiastic. there is no emotions, no excitement. just sip the beer with one eye on the screen. Where is all the atmosphere gone???? ...or maybe was in a wrong pub ?

BBQ...

...it seems to be the most important item of a household. Space-age BBQs line DIY shops with a price tag matching that of a 'reasonable priced' second hand car... but then try to find a normal, simple portable one and you in trouble... either cheap and nasty Chinese made (s)crap or heavy duty (and heavy price) space-style cooking device. You would imagine that for a nation that loves BBQs you'd have some more choices. Be ready to be surprised - unless you planning to cook NASA mars-burgers... The quest continues . . .

free sizzler? really? no catch?

the first time we saw it in from of a wine shop. nice sunny weather so we stopped to get a bottle of wine for later. I approached with suspicion - not sure what the catch was. I mean - why would anyone give you a free barbecued sausage? must be a catch. some catch. there is no free lunch (especially if it is a sizzler). no. there is. and there is no catch. the sausage was free. so was the mustard, bread and onion. nothing to donate. nothing to sign (or at least I did not see any of those two when my eyes set on the sizzler) nice country, huh? a free sausage... not too bad. we thought that was maybe some special occasion. maybe a reason that we did not quite capture. but last week in from of a gardening centre - exactly the same. free sausage. I think I'm fine having a quick stop at a gardening centre every weekend. just for the free sausage...

driving...

there seem quite a transition between non-driving Kiwi (polite, smiling, good-natured) and a behind-the-wheel Kiwi: basic politeness is gone: forget about letting anyone in the queue. fight for your rights! cut in, block, push... The basic concept of lanes on a motorway seems lost somewhere in the selfishness: each lane, any lane, at any time... swing and swivel. jump in. cut in. is there a queue behind me and I actually go at exactly the same speed as the guys on the other lane? so what? ... such a contrast to, say, driving on some remote Scottish islands (Islay, Lewis) - people let you in, wave, greet... the best part is the surprise on the face when you let them in :)

it's not cold but it's cold!

If, like us, you coming from a country where houses are solid and made to provide a shelter from wet and cold - be warned... winter by Kiwis is that few weeks when we get sick and cold, when we fight mould and spend most of time looking forward the summer...

Heating is non-existing in most of the - n comparison shabby - flats. The idea is to go out for a run or a cycle at 6am to warm up before the day... but evenings can be painful: it's dump (85%!) and cold (10C does not sound cold - but the humidity gets into your bones).

So the things to get are a heater, dehumidifier some jumpers and lots of lemon and honey.

The irony is that the government is realising the cost of winter sickness - yet no subsidies to insulate the houses. A recent visit by one of leading UK architects highlighted the fact that NZ is a perfect place for sustainable housing - yet at the moment it must be the place where most of energy is wasted in winter. Indeed houses are more like swiss cheese...

Top advice given by the very worrying (about income, not the wellbeing of citizens) government: draw those curtains up to keep the heat inside...

Well - guess we'll huddle in one room and like Kiwis look forward the warmer months. And if it's too cold - go and get a coffee - cafes have heaters!

A flat (almost) by the beach

"How far from the beach?" 
It seems to be the most important question when we mention we moved to St Heliers... OK - only 5 minutes walk - which is great because we don't need to suffer from the overload of visitors each weekend.

It is great though. 5 mins walk and you can have a coffe or an ice-cream (queues even in winter!) stroll, run or a play on the beach. The idea of a 'commute' changes it's dimension. From 50km on a grey, full of rage and the least inspiring drive on M8 to 10km by the coast road. Even being 'stuck' in traffic seems nice as you can stare at the yachts wondering when you get one of those (a lot of commuting before that happens!)
Seems that cycling is to be the answer.

Now I can see why all the Greeks and Italians are so mad about living near the beach - and a one you can actually use without freezing your balls off!

The first swim might just need to wait a little bit longer though...