I'm here! I managed to catch my bus ok in the end.
Last night I stayed at a lovely hostel in Whangerai (called Bunktown lodge, highly recommended). This morning David, the owner of the place I will work, picked me up and drove me out to Onerai, where the farm is located. It's a small place really, run by David and his partner Lyndsey (who I haven't met yet, but seemed lovely over the phone).
This afternoon David showed me around the house, and then we drove down to visit a neighbour, Mike, to help him out with his irrigation. I say help; Mike, David and another neighbour (some funny old American guy with lots of facial hair) spent about an hour trying unsuccessfully to fit the bits of plastic together whilst scratching their heads and saying things like "dunno mate, dimn company sint us the wrong beets". Meanwhile Mike's young daughter and me scrambled over the fence to pick ripe peaches and scoff them down (well, it was listed as one of the required tasks!).
This evening we ate a v. healthy meal and chatted away about this and that. Turns out that David used to work in IT, and actually worked in Milton Keynes for 9 months on a contract (not EDS though, that would be really wierd). Funnily enough, he used to catch the 33 bus to N'pton on the odd Saturday to go shopping, and I pointed out that he had therefore driven right past our house several few times. It's a small world! He was addicted to Grand Designs when in the uk, and his house is like a grand design project itself - still in progress but very swish, and overlooking the bay and forested hills. I've got my own room, with it's own lovely terrace that I can sit on and watch the sun set behind the sea. Will put photos on to make you all jealous as soon as I get round to taking them.
Anyway, just watched Midsummer Murders and I'm now going to go to bed. Tomorrow I will be feeding the woodchipper and mulching some fruit trees. Also keeping my eye out for some wholesome kiwi farmer's sons, though our neighbours are so far off I don't think I should raise my hopes.
Sounds like you've landed on your feet again!! You do realise that all the unattached farmer's sons are over here doing the equivalent of the 'grand tour' for them, i.e.backpacking around Europe. Never mind, fingers crossed you might be lucky!!
ReplyDeleteBeing part funded by their fathers no doubt :-P
ReplyDeleteAnyway it sounds delightful. We've been waiting in anticipation for the update so it's well received.
Yr bro and his girlfriend are enjoying their stay here. They seem well matched in their enthusiasm and energy to carpe diem (I can't remember how to spell it in English)