Blogs from Levin, Manawatu, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania

Some more rain in the night but it did fine up in the morning. We took E & S and their cousin Isobel to Levin’s Adventure Park for the morning. We treated ourselves to some Kiwiana for morning tea; custard squares and lamingtons. After the playground, it was off for a game of mini golf, a quick lunch and sad farewells as we said goodbye to family. Our new destination was New Plymouth to visit one of Neil’s sisters, Vicki, and her husband John. We also had to stop for ice creams on the drive. Neil wanted to savour a flavour he had forgotten all about while living in Canada; Boysenberry. Delicious! We arrived in New Plymouth in time for a delicious NZ feast Vicki had prepared for us; roast lamb, roast vegetables (potatoes, kumara, parsnip), ... read more

I have just spent an enjoyable hour practicing staff, during which i thought i would play some music. The three five week old kittens i live with (i'll come back to that), however, do not like dub at all and cowered under Alex's rather expensive sofa. Affronted by their reaction i tried speed metal, but this seemed to go down worse and i was probably at this time that the black and white one evacuated her bowls on the cover placed over Alex's rather expensive sofas for that reason. Why was i played Slayer at kittens? Because the little bastards had chewed up my rather expensive and good headphones the previous night rendering them useless. I was unfortunately aware that playing slayer at kittens probably violated the blood pact i went into when i became a ... read more

I passed out real early on thursday night. But before i did i wandered around South Aukland a bit and stumbled upon a zine-fest (as you do) which was nice, but i was too fried to make conversation with the wholesome-looking kids there. Friday, up at 6.30 (I'd been awake since 5 anyway) and got the train to Levin (where Alex lives). Met an awesome gay girl called Danielle on the way and had a proper conversation for the first time since i left the UK. The landscape is kinda like the Lake District but with lots of small hills rather than less big hills (this part anyway). Alex house is amazing and i get to stay in HUGE bed :) Saturday went to Wellington at 9 (I'd been awake since 5.30) to take a look ... read more