The good thing about being at work is that you can chew over the key issues of the day that’s impossible when you’re a lone domestic executive. There’s a good multi-racial mix of ex-pat people where I work so we’ve been pondering the various obvious signs of winter. Here in central Wellington, you’d not know [...]

It was a truly a wonderful experience to converse with family at home via webcam and voice over IP this weekend. It was quite something to be seeing grandparents in real time across the internet. Despite feedback on sound and a grainy picture on screen it was a new communications experience that brought the West [...]

Not a bad view for a Sunday stroll – Mana Island from Paramata (10km north of Wellington). Another beautiful Winter’s Day – domestic chores done and no work worry, bliss!

Today was a beautiful day, hardly a cloud in the sky and an amazing sunset. Makes a change from the dreadful weather this week – three solid days of rain that have left parts of the lower North Island under water. 145.4 mm of water has fallen in Wellington in the first 7 days of [...]

It’s been an interesting experience for MT today, he’s realised that there is no domestic fairy and the sparkly clean house and freshly laundered clothes comes from hard graft. After year’s of having wonderful service in the UK from RC and then me as a domestic executive has dulled his memory of what it takes [...]

Since arriving in New Zealand I’ve been struggling to understand some of the kiwi ways. As luck would have it, Radio New Zealand have recently run a poll of the 20 events that have most helped to shape the country and make it, and New Zealanders, what they are today. It’s a fascinating list – [...]

The Listener is New Zealand’s answer to the UK’s New Statesman and every well informed kiwi’s weekly digest. They’ve started a fascinating barometer of the news agenda where you can vote for the current news agenda and classify it’s position in a matrix of what’s topical, interesting, tedious or dated. You can also put up [...]

I’m all at sixes and sevens – devoting 8 hours a day to employed labour places terrible time pressures on the leisurely routine I’ve grown accustomed to. Pressure is mounting because standards are slipping at home and I only managed 60 of my normal 80 lengths of the pool today. It’s a sharp reminder of [...]

There is a large cloud hovering over Khandallah and for once it’s not the bad weather. It’s rather the cloud of gloom after England’s defeat against Portugal in the World Cup. Having slept through the live match it was hot foot to watch the recorded version. I am well used to the highs and lows [...]