NZ Life

It’s amazing how fast time flies.  Jim and I have been in New Zealand for 1 year and  6 months.  I will be heading home to Peoria in a few more days.  This profersional OE has been a challenging one (of course until I started my career break in March 07) but most rewarding at the end.

Last week, I joined the ladies at the Trimble office for tea.  Kay brought in a fantastic “Tim Tam Cheesecake” and savouries.  For those who are unfamiliar, “Tim Tam”  are chocolate biscuits covered with more chocolate :-).  I’m going to have to pack some home.   Savouries are sausage rolls and mince pies.  Savouries are very typical snack food, quite fattening but delicious. I’m definitely going to miss teatime and of course the ladies at work (it’s not all about mince pies is it now? ;-)).

The ladies at Ronald McDonald house where I volunteered made an Orange Almond cake on my last day.  It was a gluten free cake which in my book means diet cake.  So I had two huge slices !!!!!.  Hmmmmm … that was yummy.  I’ve got recipes from Christine on Pavlova and Lemon Meringue Pie too.  Volunteering was a really good experience for me.  I actually enjoyed cleaning for a change…. unbelievable isn’t it.  In practice though I do realized that I prefer cleaning together with other people helping than on my own (eg: I cleaned my oven at home,…. not as fun trust me!).  I also enjoyed bringing in bake goods to the house for the guest.  All and all I am so glad that I spent my Thurs and Fridays there for the past 2-3 months.

Jim and I are slowly checking off the things that we enjoy doing in New Zealand.  We really like the abundance of restaurant selections.  Thai Rendezvous on Barrington is always one of our favourite.  I cycled to Countdown and Funky Pumpkin for a quick stop to pick up some groceries.  It is winter so that’s probably my last time cycling in NZ.  I also walk from my house to the Cashmere hills and back again.  It took me about 2 hours.  We’ve been to the Riccarton market two weeks ago and I will probably go back again this weekend.

to be continued…..