It's been a while since I wrote a simple update about how life is going in New Zealand, and what we've been up to. So, here it is!
The big news recently is that I have a new job! After many months of submitting evidence, filling out forms, having interviews and anxiously biting my nails, I was finally granted my registration to work as a nurse here in New Zealand at the start of June. The very next day, I started the hunt for a nursing job! Having worked in Intensive Care in the UK, I was looking for something that would play to those skills and I am thrilled to have landed a job in an urgent care centre. I don't start until September, but am practically counting down the days!
It is now winter in New Zealand, and while family back home in the UK are experiencing heatwaves, we've just had the coldest night of the year in Christchurch at -5°C. Brrrr!!! Kiwi houses are most definitely NOT built for the cold - that is a topic that could be covered in its own post!! - so we are wrapping up warm in the house as well as outside.. Our internal thermometer this morning showed the hallway temperature at 9°C inside. We have very quickly accrued a good collection of warm socks, blankets, hot water bottles, warm pyjamas and fleecy jumpers. Needless to say, it is still a shock to the system compared to the frankly luxurious central heating we had in the UK and Germany! I will never take radiators or central heating for granted again.
There is one plus side to winter.. we seem to be getting absolutely stunning sunsets and sunrises virtually every day at the moment. Yesterday, D and I went for a walk in the Port Hills and caught such a beauty of a sunset on our way back to the car. On one side of the hills it was bright orange sunset, on the other, a gorgeous pink glow over Lyttleton harbour. We are so lucky to live in this awesome place.
Golden hour in Christchurch is the best time of day to be up in the hills, away from the sounds and stresses of the city (not that it's a particularly stressful pace of life, but you get what I mean).
We had spectacular views across Christchurch, the Southern Alps, and all the way to the Kaikoura mountain range.
The winter is not stopping D from surfing, and he is kitted out with a winter wetsuit, gloves, boots, and hood, ready to face the dropping sea temperatures. All we're waiting for at the moment is some swell to bring those waves in! But he's still managing to get out at least a few times a month. I on the other hand am not so brave, and opt to watch from the beach or the warmth of a nearby cafe or bar.
In completely different news, we are looking to expand our little family with a cat! That's right, we are going to be fur-parents once again. We've been regularly checking the SPCA and cat rescue websites, and even went to visit the local SPCA centre at the weekend. We definitely want to adopt an older cat (not a kitten), so we're just waiting for 'the one' right now. Rest assured, as soon as he/she is home, the blog will be inundated with photos.
But for now, here's a few more from recent walks and adventures around Christchurch.
