Hello again, not sure if anyone (apart from my friend Catherine) is still reading this blog as since all the 'where are you' comments which were never published or answered, and the fact that it will be 20 weeks this week since I left the UK - you may have all drifted away...
If you are still reading then you may like to know that next year will be the 150th anniversary of the Strathallan arriving in Timaru. What is the Strathallan? It was one of the first immigrant ships to arrive on the South Island of New Zealand (at a place called Timaru). It departed Gravesend in 1859 and 82 days later arrived at its destination. Why mention this? Well a couple of coincidental connections between the ships passengers and myself possibly exist.
The first is that last week I was 'awarded' my first immigration visa in my passport, OK this was 130 days after I left for New Zealand...which is close to 82... Why this ship? Well one of the passengers was a William Double, his wife Sarah and his 6 children. They left Suffolk in 1859 for a new life in New Zealand, and there is a chance that they are some distant relations of mine. Unfortunately one of William's 6 children died during the voyage, but once the rest arrived they set up homes in the Canterbury region of the South Island and I believe their relatives are still around today.
I found out all of the above after a chance conversation with someone who mentioned a Double family living in Wellington. Since this and a few Google searches I have been in contact with a biographer of the Strathallon passengers and through my friend Catherine back home I am attempting to connect the two families history. I will let you know more as I discover it, you never know but I may be able to attend the 150th anniversary celebrations next year as a related guest!
By the way, the blog title today is taken from lyrics of a Split Enz song. They (as the name suggests) are a famous Kiwi band who 50% of them later went on to become Crowded House. I mention them because on the 25th of the month they 
are playing in the same Wellington venue which I saw Crowded House perform in the day after I arrived last October. If I had not got my visa then the ticket I bought for this gig (back in January) would have been wasted as my return flight was just before this to coincide with the end of my visitor's visa. So it seems I have so far marked pivotal points of Kiwi Kev with gigs by famous NZ artists...a very enjoyable way to do this I may add!
are playing in the same Wellington venue which I saw Crowded House perform in the day after I arrived last October. If I had not got my visa then the ticket I bought for this gig (back in January) would have been wasted as my return flight was just before this to coincide with the end of my visitor's visa. So it seems I have so far marked pivotal points of Kiwi Kev with gigs by famous NZ artists...a very enjoyable way to do this I may add!In terms of returning to the UK, I have now changed my flight to be the 5th Aug 2008 as it seemed silly to waste it for no reason and only cost a few quid to change. Of course if I do fly back I will need to buy a single flight back here - I am not coming home you understand, more of having a holiday to the UK - but these are less than £600 as it is technically NZ winter in Aug.
My current visa gives my the rights to work and stay in New Zealand for 30 months - but as mentioned this is just a temporary visa to hold whilst my permanent residency is being applied for. All indications are good that this will be granted as a skilled migrant working in NZ, but if experience thus far has taught me anything, it is that you can never be sure until the thing is in there. Still I hear that South Australia are desperate for people to come there, so if in 2 and a half years time I have not got NZ residency then I can pop over the ditch (as they call it here) and start a OZ Kev blog I guess!
But for the next couple of years at least I am looking forward to earning money and living here in Wellington. OK I am still a Support Analyst in an IT department for a large organisation, and after I start work this coming Wednesday, I am wondering how long it will be before I say 'Have you tried switching it off and on again?' - but what the heck, I will be earning more than EPA paid me and if I just look out the window at the blue sea in the bay and the green mountains behind it, I guess this is better than the twisted metal of Witham's maltings!?
I will still keep an eye out for other positions here in Wellington, possibly a little more actively than I did back in the UK....you could say that the itchy feet have yet to be calmed. But I am happy to just be able to finally have something to do and people to meet, and definitely cash in my pockets. So even though this is the end of what will be the 2nd longest time in my life (so far) that I have not been gainfully employed or doing something, the first being between my birthday and the first day of school, I guess I am looking forward to the end.
Today, for example, I spent some more 'credit' on new shirts and trousers for the job - all from Rodd and Gun - and I have already located some good places to eat and drink around the workplace down on the quay.
Yesterday, whilst Charlotte was volunteering as a helper for the Kiwi version of the garden make over TV programme (at a friend of a friends house), I was out shopping for emergency household items for Caroline's new home. You see both UK houses have had their contents packed and hopefully launched onto the high seas by now - but the estimated arrival is after the lease ends on this place, which is also the time Caroline moves into her new, and empty, home and I start renting a room from her. Still I guess I can now tick off another 'kettle' and 'pillow' from my list of things that you only buy so often in a life time count.
Well there you have it, another ramble from Kiwi Kev, this time a confirmed Kiwi Kev - at least for the next 2 1/2 years anyway. Oh, yes if you were disappointed that my Coggeshall house sold quickly as you were going to make me an offer, then the good news is my buyer has pulled out so it is back on the market! (see I managed to put a good spin on that really annoying news there)
Till the next time when I will have heaps more news - Kiwi Kev.