Pioneers

There really is a late pioneering spirit about New Zealand. Can see your breath inside the house? Dry your eyes! Man up! At least you've got four walls.

Kiwis just get on with the job. If they don't have something, they make it. They burn stuff. Hunting is a favourite past-time. The open country is there to be tamed and explored.

What that means in the 21st century is that people drive wherever they like.

It's a bright sunny day, you get your stuff and head down to the beach, the kids are running around in the slow lapping waves, the dog is tormenting some poor baby seal, fantastic, now's the opportunity to catch 20 winks. Then suddenly an SUV trundles past at a fairly sedate 20km/h - but the music is blaring loud. Frowning as it disappears up the beach you settle back down. Just as you are drifting away 3 motorbikes roar past with ear-splitting throttle. This is New Zealand beach life. For the most part.
H: luckily for us the beach nearest to our house is barricaded by a big wall, so you can't drive on. Perfect. So long as you can squeeze your way past the odd game of touch without getting lamped, it's a perfectly peaceful getaway.


This sign kept the majority of traffic off Titahi Bay beach. While house-sitting we stayed here for 3 weeks. I came here daily with Holly (pictured) who was a stressed-out wee soul. Having grown up in the freedom of a vineyard up north, she'd never really adjusted to city life. Just the sight of other dogs sent her into a tizz. Titahi Bay is what New Zealand life is all about. Close to the city, but far away enough. Good surf. And of course you can take your car onto the sand.



One resident in the area, Iain Hosie, is an artist and friend of Nick's. We'd seen some of his pop-art in Nick's house and asked if he would do a piece for us. We wanted something to commemorate our house-sitting adventures, and he came up trumps with this!

(H: don't worry Mum - we didn't pose for this one)

After Titahi Bay we were in Scotland for 3 weeks. Upon our return we house-sat in Korokoro, Petone. This was the closest we had been to the city. Now only a 5min train ride! Roxy was our companion here. The daintiest cat we've roomed with, barely larger than my slipper.



H: Back to the pioneer thing - I think the ironic thing is that although we're the visitors, we're not the ones with the pioneer mentality, it doesn't matter how much flying I do, or where I end up, I will never be able to fix a lawnmower with a 9 guage wire (or is that 8..?).
I'm also guessing the pioneers didn't housesit when they first arrived - but hey, house sitting's resourceful in its own way. And as you can see from her sheer size, looking after Roxy could be very demanding.
We're still attracting animals - Merlin the cat is still a regular fixture, and via Merlin, about 6 mice. Not all dead, at least not until you hear the 'crunch'. ew.