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So, I realise it has been over a month since my last blog.... sorry folks!
New Zeland
Last time I was here, I told friends and family that it was great. The best of the UK put together in a country with amazing activities, better weather and nicer people!
This statement still stands, but with one addition - they know how to live life here!!
The pace is slower, it's less corporate and commercial and working is to live, as opposed to the other way around.
Sailing and other outdoor sports are a way of life as opposed to a hobby.
I walked through Wellington town centre last week at 6:30am and couldn't find a coffee or a commuter, but instead saw runners, walkers, sailors all headed towards the harbour for their daily pre work dose of fresh air and fun.
After being told that there is the equivalent of 15 people per km in NZ, compared to 243 per km in UK, it is no great surprise that a local café's idea of a 'busy' afternoon is half the place with bums on seats.
On xmas week, we were lucky to find a shop which was open past 6pm in central Auckland, the most populated city in the country. Alien to me especially, having managed in a Debenhams store on 12am close mega days!
I have found myself sat in a cafe automatically picking holes in the service, uniforms, choices of cuisine but then I look around me and find that the place is busy, customers are happy and thinking "why change it?".
Wellness it a big thing here, organic food shops, yoga and meditation are available everywhere. Cafè's and shops have got the 'free from' selection down to an art, which has made it very easy for Louise to be a vegan for periods of time.
I remember how much I loved it here last time; great people, great scenery, fantastic activies etc. On this visit I have taken something completely different from this country and have moved a great way to understanding why between 4 and 20 thousand people continue to migrate here each year, in addition to the 15,000 folk who are annually granted working holiday visa's to come an experience this fantastic country.
Watch this space!
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