Kia ora

Kia Ora everyone!

We are still here and although the blog stuff isn't happening as quickly and as recently as before we are still thinking of people back home lots so i have jumped onto the first computer I have seen in days to write a quick update for you all.

We've basically just spent a week in Christchurch sussing out jobs and trying to keep track of job applications, internet spending, places to go next, how many different email contacts we have for various different people (thanks to all those who supplied us with contacts - we will be round them all in no time!)

So, you are probably wondering where we are right now - well we are in a small (real small) town of Barry's Bay which is between Akaroa and Christchurch. We spent a night in Akaroa and then came here for two nights. There isn't a whole lot happening in Barry's Bay but the accomodation is really nice. It's called half moon cottage if you wanted to look it up. Nice old style house with big double rooms - bit of a change from all those bunk beds.

Talking of bunk beds though we are heading back off to Christchurch in about half an hour to go back to the YHA for a night. We are off out for dinner though, one of Katie's contacts back home has a nephew here who has very kindly invited us along for a barbecue tonight although the weather has went all Scottish on us all of a sudden so perhaps it will be more of an indoor meal.

Akaroa was nice by the way and one of the big things to do there is to swim with dolphins - we didn't cos it was expensive but we are planning to do it at some point - it was on the news last night though that one of the trips yesterday bumped into some killer whales which was apparently something that never happens so everyone is all excited about it. We are gutted we weren't there for it although if we had paid a fortune for the trip and then the very next day other tourists had seen killer whales for the same price, needl;ess to say we may have been even more gutted. ;o)

We've been chilling out here, saving money and taking bike rides up and down to various wee villages and things which has been a nice change of pace although the pace here (South island) it has to be said so far is pretty much the same all over - relaxed! (Get me to a city quickly!!)

Anyway, probably should go for now the internet here basically just switches off the monitor so if you haven't finished the next person will come along and finish it for you ;o) probably would be more entertaining that way if the germans finished off our blog entry for us.

Last thing - the plan is to go back to Christchurch - I am visiting some schools tomorrow - we are then picking up a car for free from hertz as we agreed to take it to Picton for them. (we pay the fuel and have three days to drive it the 500km - which is cool.) We are then heading to Nelson for three nights before getting the ferry to Wellington where we will be doing a whole manner of job hunting things and we will pretty much be there until we start our housesitting gig on the 23rd.

All the best everyone! Merry Christmas (it doesn't feel like Christmas here by the way - you can probably imagine)

SB and KO