Exploring the Land of the Long White Cloud

We totally missed out on a great local fundraising event for a school! I just saw this video today... and at about 38 seconds, well that's the best part after that. http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/7373347/Monster-pigs-pimped-up-possums-all-for-a-good-cause We gotta get out pig hunting though. Man would that be some delicious eating.

Just a quick post to celebrate two things: 1) There have been over 5000 views on my blog since I started it! Yes, the counter on blogger is apparently flawed but it still looks good to me! 2) I start work tomorrow for the District Health Board. So things are going to change around here some. It's a casual position but that doesn't mean it won't be many hours. It sounds like they need some people right now and they have me singled out for training in some particular departments. It's beauty because not only can I walk to work within 12 minutes but I will be able to get time off when I wish. Which, for now, I am not planning to do! haha. Onward into a new phase of life here!

You may notice a lack of exploration since we've been here. Four months has slogged by on an ever-changing time frame. Lately it's been flying though and it's a bit of a reminder that if we don't plan to stay past March, we ought to start enjoying the country more! So I got us some tickets to see the All Blacks play Argentina in September which means a weekend away in Wellington! As far as larger cities go, I am a fan of Wellington. There's all sorts of character to the city and it's situated in a lovely area. Aside from some navigational troubles in the past, we are looking forward to heading down there. And in a departure from our travels of the past we are staying at hotels! Not hostels, not campgrounds or holiday parks and no couchsurfing or wwoofing! They aren't luxurious hotels but it's still a step up haha. My tummy is already grumbling in anticipation of a visit to this excellente Mexican restaurant we found on our last visit. Hope we can remem...

So full of goodness that it comes  squishing  out the sides when you sink your teeth in? (Abundance!) Best eaten after the whipped cream has softened the shells slightly? (Patience!) Don't open the oven too soon or they will deflate? (Good things comes to those who wait.) Alright, enough bad metaphors.  It's a food post today! Due to a dinnertime French-themed potluck tonight, I had an excuse to do some somewhat elaborate baking. The budget advisory group I volunteer for is having its mid-winter get together and by nature of the date and its proximity to Bastille Day, they went for a French theme. I haven't tackled a batch of choux pastry since my culinary school days. And even then I am pretty sure I might have done it once. But that didn't stop me from signing up to make profiteroles, aka cream puffs. The Usual Suspects Heating things up. Letting off some steam... Ready to be puffed! Keep your door shut! Crisp...

I thought I'd show you what's making news here in New Plymouth lately: So it may not make for the most interesting reading but I'd choose no "news" over "body found in vehicle" or "two shot in deadly gang rivalry" any day. Seeing this story really made us feel justified about some of our reasons for moving:  Why it's silly that we fret about "rush minutes" here delaying us a few minutes on an eight minute commute Today is Dustin's last day with the tree management company and tomorrow he has a bit of safety training with his new job. Luckily for him he seems to be recovering alright from his bout with hand foot and mouth disease. Not to be confused with hoof and mouth disease which affects those with cloven-hooves. No, hand foot and mouth is apparently quite common in children here as it's similar to a chicken pox kind of virus. But we're still scratching our heads as to how he got it - the only link is that a...

Yesterday turned into quite a day. Not only did we win first prize at quiz night but there was a 7.0 earthquake! Yes, we've kind of pulled the "decide by not deciding" move and are trying to dig in our heels and see what happens. Dustin ended up getting called by a big construction company (probably the biggest in NZ I would wager) a few weeks ago. At the time he declined an interview since he was just in the early days of his new job. But he decided to see if it was still an option so got in touch a week or so ago. After an interview, they've asked him to get a medical and drug test and they are looking to make an offer as long as the medical's all good. (Which we know it will be.) So this has been an interesting shift. The company seems quite keen to promote from within and groom young guys into bigger roles. Change is afoot for him. Myself, I have decided that any  work will be better than the current none so went out CV-dropping last week. I have a trial s...