First Pictures from our Adventure

 2x100 man Waka canoe made from Kuria tree

Dolphin following my call

Maria found bird still warm when coming out of toilet

Sunset Sea view from Russell Island 

Maria with ruck sack looking outdoory

Health and saftey hat at under ground bath house in Rotorua

Geezer at Te Puia. Can't add the smell

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One Month Homeless And KIA-ORA. [Welcome]

One Month Homeless And KIA-ORA. [Welcome]

It is now one month since we became homeless and the feeling attached to homelessness is in some ways liberating-  I don’t know what those people in Dale Farm had to worry about.??

We arrived in Auckland having had a Qantas delay to be greeted by NZ customs hunk. Redhead spiky and gelled. He asked us how long we would be staying and when told two months he retorted “why are you coming here for 2 months???.  He then added that it would be very expensive and cost us a fortune to live in hotels. I thought we had only been homeless for 4 weeks I could   not believe we had already developed that destitute look.

We stayed in Auckland for 4 nights and when we visited the museum we met a large black man with huge hands. He told us he was a boxer and that he had fought the heavyweight champ of the world Vladameer Chincofff [ may be naff spelling] in 1990 that he lost. His manager then left him and is now the champs’ manager.

Honesty

We were told that in NZ we would see things a bit behind the times this is true but there were three examples of honsty that impressed us.

1-       Phone shop directed us to a competitor as they offered a better all over NZ reception for the internet.

2-        Went into a pub and asked for special local beers and barmaid told us where to go, not -  where to go !!!! but directed us to a pub that sold special beers.

3-        When we asked the lady at the car hire place if we would get a better deal elsewhere she directed us to another car hire place.

Fitting in country style.

We have only been in the country for 6 days and Maria has swapped her top of the range handbag for a canvas ruck sack. She had a short period of adjustment as the ruck sack has many zips and compartments. I have a small compartment   in it where I keep my personal possessions.  Maria wears it with confidence and  is pleased that it leaves her hands free to do other things. The outdoor look that she has still has that Maria panache and style about it.  Pictures to follow

Maria’s little notes

The Island is beautiful sub-tropical  and the people are very friendly .I intend to eat mussels and fish all the way round with the odd little lamb thrown in . 

The Maori art and jewellery is very different and the Auckland Art gallery & Museum really interesting .The people we have met get our sense of humour so that’s a relief when you are travelling with Davina .

The driving is bliss no traffic only 4 million in habitants total and we have 7 million in London.

We left Milton Keynes having spent 5 days with Bruv Don and Sis Robyn. It was at Milton Keynes that we were introduced to Tiger bread from Tesco’s and fully organic peanut butter with no preservatives. I was never allowed to have this type of food at home. When Maria said,  that when we returned from this adventure we would be different people.  I think I will return as Mr Blobby. Five days wiv bruv Don added 5 lbs of pure muscle round my six pack.

Sis Robyn took us to Heathrow and saw us off, thanks Robyn.

Blog Style

 I want to set the style of our blog but having not blogged before, we would appreciate any help. Some people have said they are having difficulties on getting onto the blog site and some not being able to add comments. If we have Any Tecco blogger wizards,  help would be appreciated.

I spoke to Chris Strutt [ex neighbour] and he said that he had made a blog that had received caustic comments that the posting looked a bit like a letter, so we don't want that.

We wanted our blog to be interesting but not too gloating that we are on holiday for 5 months and the majority of you will be working.

We wanted it to be personal so you may get a mention.

We want it to leave the reader with the feelings that they would like to comment and add to the blog.

We did not want to be like  BBC Correspondents  as we are also on holls.

Finally, before we set off we were given a lot of guidance advice and we would like to give feedback as to our experience.  Does this sound ok.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong has been and gone but has left a lasting impression on us. We were only there for three days and our main pursuit was people watching. This is a free and very rewarding pastime.

The place looked full up with everyone going somewhere quickly. It was fast and efficient. Everywhere was spotless and clean. We left with nothing but admiration for the place. We met one man Eric who said that we had abandoned him in 1997 when we handed Hong Kong back to the Chinese. We had a couple of beers with Eric and told him it was nothing personal.

They seemed short on graffiti artists as there was no felt tip work anywhere.

No beggers or people trying to sell things to you.

The pavements were in slabs that if they had pipes under,  the  slab was screwed down with Stainless bolts. No need to dig the road up. In fact we saw no road works.

The underground service was all air conditioned and there were no inspectors.

No eating or drinking on trains or stations, everywhere spotless.

Watched lady reading on the train and her head was going up and down and not left to right.

Left for NZ Monday evening.

Only 143 days left- oh no !!!!