hello!

Sorry for the short blog holiday, we have both finally got jobs and our bodies are so shocked at getting up so early we fall asleep at 8pm every night!

Mark has got a job down at the viaduct in Auckland for a company called Marine Tech who repair boats. He seems to quite like it now, although the first day we worked he would’nt/couldn’ t speak to me all night! It is only 15 mins walk away too which is good, as Auckland traffic can be bad. It is more of a shock for him than me, as he has been such a skivver!

I have got a job in a nice little gift shop in Ponsonby which is a really posh  area, and everyone is really rich. Last week I had to take a chandelier ( yes we sell them in a gift shop…) to a house on the waterfront. It turned out to be a millioniares house, she owns a NZ clothing company called Line 7 which is famous over here. She had me standing over the table holding the chandelier up! I was so scared of dropping it and breaking her vases and things! Work is only 10 mins walk form the house so thats good too. I am not used to standing up all day so my poor feet are suffering. Im hoping that Santa sends me a footspa this year…thats a hint Mark!

We are still living at the backpackers, I think it will probably be after Christmas before we move somewhere else. We want to be sure that our jobs are ok and this is where we want to live. Its only like having flatmates here cos most of the people are semi -permanant anyway. It is a year ago next week that we moved form Broadfield Street, I am so looking forward to having a house of our own again.

This weekend we spent a bit of time up at Takapuna beach and then the Auckland zoo. The weather is improving every day and we have to be careful not to get sunburnt ( which I did yesterday ) . It still feels very strange to see the xmas decorations everywhere, I don’t think I will get used to it for a while. Other than that we have just been getting into the kiwi way of eating (ie bbq every day!) and trying all the local noodle places. Japanese and Chinese food is great here and cheap. You can get a massive meal for two and drinks for about $20 which is only 8 pounds!

I hope you are all ok, I’m off to try and get some tax back from the inland revenue, wish me luck!

love from Gill ( and Mark!)

xoxo

hello there! Still in the backpackers at the moment. We have both been looking for jobs and stuff this last week or two. I have had 3 interviews so far, the first was being a receptionist in an MRI clinic where apparently the All Blacks get their xrays done (!) but he said I was too overqulaified which is a bit annoying cos the hours and pay were really good! arghhh

The other two interviews were for being a host in the Skytower, which probably would have been ok except its really badly paid and you have to work until midnight! Unfortunately here they dont tell you the wage on the adverts, you have to apply and have the interview and then they tell you the wage afterwards…a bit frustrating.

The third job was being a travel agent in the centre of Auckland, but that ended up being a commission based job, and the wage was poor again. They will be emailing me in the next week or so to let me know if I have the job but Im not sure I will be taking either of them… so the search continues!

Mark is still doing odd jobs around the hostel, and waiting for someone to get back to him about being an auto electrician for a Volvo boat company down in the harbour, but the boss is in Australia at the moment so we have to be patient!

Other than that we have jaoined a local gym with a swimming pool, which is about 25 mins walk from the house, and two minutes form the centre of Town, so we seem to be getting into a pattern of walking there and coming back via a pub, cafe or shopping! I will take some pictures of where we are living and upload them for you all, I think there are still a few on the camera from our travels as well so I will add them.

Other than that not been upto much just enjoying our last few days of freedom before going back to work…if we ever get a job!

 Yes Auntie Beryl we are back to mission bay, we went over the other day when the weather was good and had a stroll along the beach and in a few little cafes. We absolutely love it there, and just further around the coast at St Helier.

The weather is getting warmer here Laura, it is really strange when I think it is November, we are both in shorts most of the time, although it is raining today. All the shops have started selling christmas stuff and the displays look really funny in the sun! Im sure I will be terribly homesick at christmas for snow!

anyway I will get off and start looking for a job again, hope you are all well, speak soon

love Gill and Mark

P.s –  our address is PO BOX 91716, Auckland Sorting Office, Auckland, New Zealand. It is quite a small box so don’t send us anything huge, I tend to check it every week or so, so if you have any urges to send a letter please do. I promise to reply with an nz postcard if you do!