There are few times in my life I have felt quite so rough as I did three years ago today.This was the day I arrived in New Zealand.
I hot footed off a plane where I’d languished for 26 hours with a bad back, sleep deprivation and the woes and stresses of packing a life up in the UK. I compounded this with the effects of black eyed flu carefully coordinated with a bout of delightful norovirus I’d suffered in the previous 10 days. It’s fair to say I didn’t look great.
But I was here. In the land of the long white cloud. Ready and eager to begin my new life.
Those early days passed in a bit of a blur. Or more of a whirlwind. I was all wound up like an overtight spring and I don’t think I really unwound until about 6 months ago. I can tell you it’s a long time to be all wound up.
But not anymore. I’m all unwound. So much so that I was accused today of having “low moral values”.
The cheek of it and all because I but photography, blogging, dog walking, chicken keeping, vegetable growing, cooking, cleaning and paid working above the ironing. Who in their right might worries about ironing these days? According to my closest friend you don’t need to iron let alone worry about it.  There are some people who just need to recognise that a couple of wrinkles in your boxer shorts will not bring on a life threatening condition. Even if it might create a bit of chaffing!
Anyway, that’s a long way of saying I’ve been here for three years. It’s passed in a flash and I’ve been real busy putting into action my Domestic Executive plan.
When I think back about what’s been achieved the list of things makes you feel exhausted which accounts for the fair amount of tiredness and crankiness we’ve experienced. Here’s a quick run down of what I’ve done in the last three years.
- Found land and bought 6 acres then engaged architect and builder to build our dream home
- Searched and found a landscape designer and landscaper who had the ability to turn our field into garden based on our gardening ambitions
- Got a job – reminded myself why I didn’t like being employed – left and set up a business as a consultant and coach. Now run business from home.
- Adopted by two basset hounds looking for a home and become leader of the pack
- Harvested gorse, thistles and mowed grass for England
- Double dug a mini potager and now moonlighting as a kitchen gardener
- Taken trips to Fiji, Queensland, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Golden Bay, Hawkes Bay, Auckland, Marlborough Sounds.
Apart from the trips away my life is heavily tied to home. It’s a good job I love it as I spend more time here than anywhere else.
I like to go other places too but I’m a home bird really and think I’ve finally found my place in the world.
The distance between family and friends in the UK doesn’t get any easier but I’m adding trips to Shanghai, UK and Hong Kong to bridge that gap this year which I’m very excited about.
Every day here at Domestic Executive HQ there is always something to do. Something to learn and something to cherish. So three years on I’m a very happy bunny. As they say here in New Zealand. Good as Gold!
I never do ironing. Or more precisely, I used an iron for the first time in three years on the day before my wedding! Lucky we still had one in the cupboard, really 🙂
Reading your immigration story has filled me with some dread of the stresses to come but also hope as I see what you have achieved with all that hard work. I certainly don’t anticipate an easy transition especially as for the first 9/12 months I’ll be on my own but I decided our family future was too important a goal and the rest of the family support me in this descion.
I haven’t yet recovered from the years when I had to iron 4 shirts every day so my men could go to school /work looking decent. Now I refuse to iron anything of the boys’ on principle. I only iron Peter’s shirts and my clothes for work and to drive any damp out of bedding as our only drier is the line outside and one above the ever warm rayburn. If they’re not happy they know where the iron is kept. Life is too short to worry about ironing.
Just discovered you’re blog, and I’m loving it. I’m with you – life is too short for ironing. It gets put last after tidying. I do clean though, and get the washing done – I’m not a complete slob! But if I’m finished with work, cooking etc, and there is time left I’d rather spend some quality time with the husbane and kids than slaving over a hot iron!
Wow three years! Well done and you have so much to be proud of! Everyday I am learning and growing here in NZ. Some days harder, but many more wonderful easy ones. I love the way you have grasped life and done what you intended to. Well done xx