We took a drive a few hours up the coast to see (and smell) the seals. We actually had an ulterior motive: my son and I had just bought some second hand camera lenses and we wanted to test them out, plus I was teaching my daughter about photography too. I'm no expert, but I have enjoyed photography for over twenty years and I wanted to share that with her. I ended up buying another camera which I think will suit her perfectly.
Can't decide which smells worse: seals of silage? And yes, I am prepared to take a poll on that.
The mountains and snow, the coastline and the rocky shore, the bush and the trees, the sheer joy of 'ROAD TRIP!!!" Wow.
Plus: custard squares! I know, it sounds silly, but it's a taste from home and while I was there I was determined to get in my quota of custard squares. That's the problem with the abundance of Starbucks and such places, they are replacing the good old Kiwi coffee shops and their abundant cakes and sandwiches. Can you honestly say that a wedge of tiramisu is better than a cream filled lamington, a custard square, a nice ham sandwich, or a steak mince pie?
Bring back the Kiwi coffee shops!
Of course, what really made the holiday so perfect was spending time with family and friends. They are such astoundingly wonderful people. I talked more in that month than I probably did in the preceding eleven months in Singapore. Even my Dad and I would sit up talking till late at night--I loved every second of it. Just relaxing and talking with people, it was just what I needed. Though I have to admit that I did trip over my words the whole time because I was unused to so much talking. Strange how we lose our easy familiarity with our language when we don't use it enough.
The weather in Christchurch was brilliant: early morning frosts following by clear blue skies and mildish temperatures. The weather seemed to coax the neighbor's brown cat out of the house and he came to visit, which delighted my daughter who just loves cats. Bit of a nuisance that the cat likes to dig up the plants in the front garden and shit in the garden at the back of the section.
Oh, and one of the highlights of the trip: we got the watch the All Blacks win every match they played while we were there. The toughest match was against the Pacific Islands team as they were brutal! In the match between the All Blacks and England I watch the most foolish display, as an English player slammed his right knee as hard as he could into the back of an All Black, right in front of the camera! Needless to say he was sent off. On the flight back to Singapore the Captain announced the result of the match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies (Australia), 16 - 7 to the All Blacks, and a small cheer went up from the All Black fans. Rugby is a daft game when you think about it, but you have got to admire the guts of the players. There is no way I would pick up a ball and run at a line of burly men intent on slamming me to the ground. However, whether you like the game or not, it is good to see your national team win!
I also enjoyed cooking on my own kitchen. Might sounds daft but I am sure all the women out there will understand that there is nothing so special as your own kitchen.
Got to admit that getting my bread to rise in Singapore's heat is a lot easier than getting it to rise in NZ's winter chill!
I guess what I want to say here is: cherish what you have. I am now back in Singapore with my husband and children, but without those friends and family whom I can talk with for hours and hours. I have friends in Singapore, yes, but they are not like my friends in NZ.
Cherish the sunshine,
Cherish your garden, including the weeds,
Cherish the neighborhood animals, despite the fact they dig up your garden,
Cherish your car, for it allows you independence,
Cherish your supermarket checkout operators, for to them you are not invisible,
Cherish the ease with which you live in your own country, for it is never so easy in another country.
