Manchester???

Kiwi-land can be a bit confusing at times. To be honest I didn't expect to walk into a department store and see a sign to Manchester... After much puzzlement I found out that this is a generic term for linen, towels and whatnot over here. No one can tell me why. Weird.

But not quite as weird as walking into a recruitment agency in Auckland and ending up with the same recruitment consultant as my brother used to have at Champion in Banbury... Turns out she grew up just dowm the road from me and went to school with Sally Clark. My other recruitment consultant went to school in Hillhead in Glasgow. Small world indeed.

Winter in June is also weird.

But all the weirdness just adds to New Zealand's charm really. Slowly getting used to it.

Things have been a bit of a tumbling rush these last few days. Looking for a house, getting kitted out with suitable interview / work clothes (7 quid each for a perfectly decent pair of work shoes! Per pair that is, not per shoe...), getting a job.

It's paying off though. We move into a shared house in Herne Bay / Ponsonby (Glasgow-west-end-by the sea) tomorrow and I have 2 weeks work with Auckland city council starting Monday. Alec has been up for a couple of techie roles and had an interview at ASB bank today. Should have something by next week too.

We have done little tourist stuff what with everything else going on, but we have got to knwo a few square km of Auckland pretty well, especially the Link bus route. We did go up the Sky Tower the other day though - the tallest building in the southern hemisphere. I have applied for an evening job in the cafe at the top which has stunning views of the city and the harbour. Even better on a crisp, clear winters day.

We also took the ferry over to the north shore which was just like Largs without the penny machines.

Finally - sorry for forgetting until now Heather and Joanne but a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY for the other day. Both ready to pop at some point soon. Alec and I can suggest the baby names Flloyd and Clayton for you if you're stuck.

Anyway - gotta rush as off for a celebration tea.

Kxx