Things are hotting up...

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Shame its not the weather...that is as cold as ever...

No, what is happening is that SJ and I are moving to New Zealand! SJ accepted a role within her current company that is based out of Auckland and so we're off!

This has been in the planning for some months so its not like this came as a complete shock, but now we've made the decision, there's just so much you have to do and think of. We have lists about lists about lists...we have the dogs to move (injections / blood tests / quarantine / kennelling, etc) as well as selling two vintage cars, a house and sorting out rental for the other house. Thats's besides the Residence Visa, police checks, medicals, removals, etc, etc, etc...!

SJ will likely move out at the end of June to start her position end of July - I will not leave until the end of August as the dogs have to wait six months from when they had their rabies shot and have proven they are producing antibodies...this means the earliest they can enter NZ is about 12th September, so I'm going to wait until then before coming out. Fingers crossed, they have their blood test next week.

Once this is sorted, I can get them booked into the (limited) list of approved kennels in NZ. Luckily they only have 10 days quarantine apparently. There's a myriad of different shots / test they need before then but the Rabies one is the main one and takes the longest.

Tomorrow I'm off to have my Chest X Ray and Medical...amazing what you have to go through despite SJ being an NZ Citizen (as well as UK and Australian).

Having told anyone at work yet...need to choose when to do this carefully...my plans on arrival are to do up a house that is owned by SJ's family so I'm looking forward to getting out of the Rat Race for a while.

More snow!

It continued to snow throughout the weekend leading to some quite big drifts by the time we went over the Chase on Sunday morning.

The dogs loved it though...it was way past their bellies!

 

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March Snow

Been a reasonably quiet week. Had to travel to Dusseldorf on Tuesday but was only for the day. The rest of the week was spent in the office and not a lot else.

We came up to Staffordshire yesterday...just before the BIG FREEZE. Woke up this morning to around 6 inches of fresh snow...the dogs absolutely loved it. Supposed to continue to snow throughout the day and finally stop sometime tonight...

 

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Travels

Just waiting for SJ at Heathrow and was looking at the Arrivals board. Out of the 48 cities listed, I've been to 26...some notable omissions:

Berlin
Copenhagen
Madrid
Barcelona
Milan
Zurich
Stockholm
Rome
Venice

Need to do some European travelling!

Humdrum

Well there wasn't an upgrade although I did have an exit seat so not all bad.

Back in the UK now for a while - day trip to Germany next Tuesday but that's about it.

SJ travelled to Seattle yesterday - back at the end of the week. Like ships that pass in the night at the moment. Still leaves me to get on with the endless list of stuff to do around the house!

This week is also busy at work...travelling to Northampton this morning, Leeds tomorrow an then our boss of bosses is in on Thursday. Ho hum...

New Zealand, Bali, Oz, Singapore

New Zealand and Australia 2012 / 2013

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One night in Bangkok

Well, almost. We've started our journey to NZ. We left Sunday night on a Thai Airways flight to Bangkok. Flight was alright actually, although Bangkok airport is a pretty confusing place.

We're now en route to Auckland with about another 9 hours to go.

Red wine in hand, movie on, meal about to arrive...what's not to like?

 

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Betwys-y-coed

On the way back from Deganwy, we stopped off at Betwys-y-coed for a walk around. We managed to buy a couple of new coats...Jack Wolfskin and really warm...

I also managed to get a good pic of the falls that run through the town. I've been playing around with SJ's SLR and I think am finally starting to get the hang of it!

 

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Deganwy

For SJ's birthday, I decided to book us a weekend away...I had a look online and came up with The Quay Hotel in Deganwy in North Wales. I wanted somewhere that was a nice hotel, with spa facilities and decent surroundings so we could explore. SJ has always liked North Wales and so I picked Deganwy, just outside Conwy.

The Quay hotel is relatively new, being part of a redevelopment of the marina in Deganwy. It's quite an extensive development but I think is in keeping with the area...

I'd actually booked us a suite and it was fantastic...if anything, it was a little too big for the furniture contained within...still a minor complaint considering...

The colours in the trees were amazing, really vivid, however I have to say that the view from our (private) garden was simply spectacular...it really couldn't be beaten...

We had a meal at a beautiful fish restaurant in Llandudno followed by a few drinks in the Queen Vic pub (not the Eastenders one)...

Simply a great weekend...definitely would go back.

 

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Bonfire night

For this years bonfire night, we asked some friends up from the South to our Staffordshire house. We booked tickets for everyone at Shugborough Hall fireworks display. They all arrived around midday, and we then went for a wander (with buggy) over the Chase before we got ready and went out to Shugborough. The night was freezing but the fire did manage to keep everyone warm. It was uprising just how much heat it gave off, especially considering the distance everyone was kept from it.

The fireworks went on for quite some time and I reckon they must have essential a fair amount of money on them...it was certainly worth the entrance fee...

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Blackpool redux

Our second visit to Blackpool this year...strange really, not been in years and then two visits in one year. This time we went with Jyoti and Phil and this was to attend the Feet First Charity Ball - this was the charity SJ and I did the marathon walk for earlier in the year.

It was held at the Imperial Hotel...very nice place with lots of history and character, however if I'm honest the night itself was a little disappointing. It's a shame as the charity could really make a name for itself...it's so worthwhile, but I found it "cliquey" and uninviting. I won't say that I wouldn't raise more money for it but it would be nice to get some feedback, appreciation and some general feedback. I did meet with Steve Mannion who is the main Surgeon. He was actually flying to Papua New Guinea the next day and did say if I wanted to ever accompany him, I could...maybe...maybe...

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Blackpool

For SJ's parents 50th wedding anniversary, we treated them to a weekend in Blackpool. This was where they met and has a special meaning for them. It's been years since I went to Blackpool and its changed almost beyond recognition. The seafront especially has seen some major renovation, however there are still plenty of places where it has clearly lost its way. We stayed in an amazing bed and breakfast...really top notch, I think it was called the Redland...

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The long walk...take 2

I've been wanting to do something for a cause that really means something to me for a while. Feet First are a charity that treat Talipes and Clubfoot worldwide. I was born with Talipes and have had several operations over the years to correct my feet. If you're born in pretty much anywhere in the western world, it's simple, easy and pretty painless to treat Talipes nowadays, however in much of the developing world, Talipes can be a debilitating deformity that cripples its victims and causes extreme pain, an inability to work and ultimately social exclusion and death.

SJ and I signed up for a 26.2 mile marathon walk around the London Olympic venues. We had to do an awful lot of training, walking around 30-40 miles per week but in the end it was well worth it. On Sept 1st, we completed our walk, taking around 8 hours and leaving some very tired legs...

We raised just over £2000 for Feet First. If anyone wants to contribute further, the you can do so here: www.justgiving.com/philipnunn

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