Newton St Cyres, Devon, UK

Happy Birthday Mum! This blog is for my Mum – it was her birthday last weekend and my sister and I decided to pop home to Devon for the weekend to visit. Maybe I’ll also know if she actually reads these if I dedicate one to her!

My Mum is now double the age I will be on my next birthday. Which means, and I worked this out myself (maths teacher…), that I am almost the age she was when she gave birth to me. A few of my friends are just becoming wonderful Mums and being this at this weird half age stage has made me appreciate all the things that she must have given up for me! So Mum, thanks. You’re the best. (scroll for slideshow - all taken using new camera)

So we went home to Devon. Though ridiculously I went via Birmingham and got a lift with my sister because expensive train tickets…. Saving up to move your life to the other side of the world means minimal funds for most other things. We set off early, did the usual stop at Gloucester Services (best place ever, you must go – though flat white pricey at £3) and arrived home at midday. This is the first time in 4 years I am home for her birthday because school holidays = teachers away having fun. Though this year is different as I am not away (but am having fun) and also accompanied by this strange and bewildering knowledge that Christmas this year just won’t really be Christmas because Mum isn’t going to be there to make the worlds best roast potatoes. This is something that makes me uneasy. The one other Christmas that wasn’t really Christmas was when Beth (aforementioned sister) was in Australia. I feel that everyone should experience a hot Christmas once, but will it be the same? Will Charlie’s roast potatoes be up to scratch? Will it be the same celebration it usually is? Will Santa even come?! I suppose finding out the answers is what the journey is all about.

Not only will birthdays and Christmas be missed but also weddings. I feel like I’ve been to enough weddings this year to last me two years, but I will still be sad to miss some events of some special people. The wedding from the last blog took me to the Cotswolds, and another took me to France. And Wow. The Sunflowers. In the South of France. Amazing. They are everywhere. Even with my snazzy new camera I couldn’t do them justice (see below for attempts). I was a little bit sad when I found out that their purpose is actually to be left to die and then used for sunflower oil. But they provide a lot of joy when sweeping away into the distance so perhaps it can be allowed.

There is one wedding left of the summer, and until then it is just packing and and adventure admin to be done. I have never enjoyed doing admin and booking things so much. Don’t get me wrong, photocopying all of life’s qualifications after searching through six drawers of paperwork to prove that your schooling was indeed in English is a slow and dusty affair (especially with a dust allergy). Eventually working out what a Commission of Oath is for it to turn out to be actually very simple (yet costing £7.50) also provides undulating feelings of apprehension and feeling totally in control of this moving thing. I can see why for many people living abroad is and remains to be something they want to do, yet never get around to doing. There is a lot of paperwork. Especially as a teacher. The Education Council of NZ want every document under the sun and evidence to go with it. I made a spreadsheet (maths teacher) and have been collating them for three months. With 2 more photocopies it will finally be ready to go! This will be another big thing ticked off the 24 point list of things we still need to do which is stuck to the living room door (next – retrieve immunisation history). Jobwise, I have had a really positive Skype with the Auckland consultant who will help me find a maths teaching job. She seems to know the area really well and wanted to take the time to get to know me so she can find a suitable school. In essence, they want you to stay teaching in their country, so it is in their best interests to find you a school you will enjoy. So now I play the waiting game and see what she comes up with. I am not too worried if I haven’t found a job before we leave. Their school year begins in January so most adverts are only beginning to appear this month. Charlie is currently refusing to entertain the working part of working holiday VISA, though I am sure he will figure it out when we get there.

The working thing does seem a long way off at the moment. I have been very involved in researching and booking some things in Vietnam. So far we have 3 days in Hoi An and 3 days in Phong Nha National Park. From there we will see a bit more Vietnam and then Laos will be our next stop. Another new luxury of not having my mind on pending September work is that I have developed some new interests. I realised that I know very very little about Vietnam. So I did some research and have been reading some books on the Vietnam War. I usually do not (or feel I do not) have the time to pursue interests or avenues like this during normal work time, or even realise that I have any interests like these. So this is a welcome change of outlook for me. I am also learning French, as my GCSE A grade does not seem to be serving me very well with a French speaking boyfriend and all of his very French friends. I am following the beginner course of ‘News in Slow French’ (Google it) and topping it up with ‘Charlie lessons’ in the evenings. These mostly involve me attempting to talk about the imminent meal, the gym or some planning admin and Charlie meeting it with a few corrections accompanied by an encouraging giggle. I can’t even imagine doing this whilst working a full time teachers job, so even if the move doesn’t pan out the way we hope, I am grateful for this time and space to show me a new side to the world.

In other New Sides of the World, it will be strange to be calling the Southern Hemisphere ‘home’ for a bit. To start it off we have just booked a couple of nights in an AirBnB in Christchurch before we pick up our camper. It is a really cute self-contained flat above a private garage that the couple who live in the main house have done up. The reviews say great things but the highlight really was the lovely message sent to us from the hosts after we booked. Options for getting to their place from the airport were followed by a momentous list of recommendations for the South Island – they really want us to have a fantastic time and this has made me so excited to get out there and do all this stuff that I keep reading about.

So with one month left before we fly and two more weeks in our flat it’s getting all very real now. I am enjoying the preparation and buzz of planning so much yet am most excited to blog about the wonderful places we visit and experiences we have when we finally make it there! As always, anything you’d recommend we would love to hear about!