Kia Ora

Monday 6th April 2009

My main job today was trying to get an answer on where we had got to with my permit extension to allow me to stay in the country once my tourist visa ran out at the end of April. I had lodged for an extension nearly 3 weeks ago and heard nothing. After a phone call and pressing a few buttons to navigate the menus I found out that I had been issued a case worker but that was as far as it had got so it was more waiting for now.

On a more positive note it was Opening Day so I sat down and watched the baseball in the afternoon.I think the last 5 months of hanging around had caught up with me today and I was feeling pretty negative about the whole process but after a good long chat with Mel in the evening I felt much better.It can get a bit frustrating when things are out of your control,little did we know that as the week would progress things were going to get much more frustrating.

I spent some of the morning planning things to do when my mate Martin arrives in 3 weeks time and we came up with a good plan of what to do and I am sure he will enjoy his time in Auckland with us.I was just hoping that my extension would be granted in time otherwise I would be going home 5 days after he arrived!!!!

We had been waiting for a month for a letter from Mel's specialist in the UK and on Wednesday we got some news we didn't want,it turned out that the specialist wasn't happy to release Mel's information with out signed approval from her,which was fine.It was just the fact that it had taken him a month to tell us.This meant that we were back to square one and would have to start the process again which meant more hold ups. We did have some good news to counteract the bad and I had received an email stating my visitor permit had been extended till February 2011 to tie in with Mel's work visa,although the permit doesn't allow me to work or even leave the country,so I am stranded until our residency is sorted out.

One good thing about getting the extension was I had my passport back which now meant I could go and swap over my driving licence to a kiwi one.I was hoping the information I had received meant I wouldn't have to resit my bike test but I would find out tomorrow. After a call to the UK we found out that Mel's specialist was now going on holiday for a few weeks so our patience was getting tested to it's limit but we formulated a plan and it would be put into place Thursday.Needless to say it took us both a long time to get to sleep on Wednesday evening.

You can really tell that Autumn is here as the sunny mornings are becoming less frequent and are being replaced by rainy ones.I took the bus to Takapuna to try and swap over my licence.They have a good system here where you take an eye test at the counter and have to identify flashing lights and read letters on a board,very similar to how they do it in the USA.They take your photo and 10 days later your licence arrives so it os all very efficient.My paperwork was accepted and after a few dramas with the eye test (not having my head positioned right) I passed that too.

I spoke to Mel at work and she had spent time this morning writing letters and faxing documents all over the place and even managed to get an appointment with a specialist here in a few weeks,so after some hard work we were back on track.After a stressful day we walked into town for a few beers,normally we would go on a Friday but because it is a holiday all the prices go up 15% on drinks to cover wage costs,so we avoid the pubs on holidays!!!!

Friday was going to be a job day and we spent all morning wading through paperwork that needed doing.Luckily we had a knock on the door from Dave,who invited us to go fishing with him and his daughter so we jumped at the chance,and this time we were determined to catch something. We hadn't been out on the boat long before Mel had a bite and she reeled in a small snapper which was her first ever fish but too small to keep,but it was fun watching her reel it in (see picture above)

Next it was Daves turn to reel in a fish but again it was too small so it had to go back,and just after that I caught one but again it was under the 27cm limit so it went back,but we were on a roll.We moved location and dropped our lines again,within 2 minutes I had a bite and it felt big.After a battle with it and the rod bending it wriggled free,and we were sure it would have fed everyone. The line went back down and I got another bite this time it didn't get away and at 30cm was big enough to keep,Mel had to look away as Dave put a spike through it's head before dropping it in the esky!!!!

The breeze had got up and we started to roll a lot so cut our losses and headed home happy with the one fish,unfortunately we hadn't caught enough to feed everyone so Sue ended up doing chicken for dinner,and we joined them for the evening,and had a great time.

I was up for 7am to watch the Bulls v Rhinos game and it was a great game,we came away with the win and it was one we needed after such a poor start to the season,Mel stayed in bed and read some of her new book.The weather was good and we set off for Thames about a 2 hour drive away on the Coromandel Peninsula.We arrived just before lunch and visited the bakery we had been to before when we were here last as we knew it did great pies!!!

We picked up a couple and sat by the water watching the oystercatchers on the beach.Coromandel town is only 50km away from Thames and most of the way the road hugs the water,and the drive is awesome.We got about 9km from Coromandel and our bank holiday car curse struck again.The oil pressure light came on and I couldn't get the key out of the ignition.After restarting the car we decided to turn around and head home,the light didn't come back on.After the car had cooled I checked the oil level to find it was low so I managed to contact the garage and they said to call up Monday to fill it up but this meant no driving on Sunday.Every car we have ever had has gone wrong on a bank holiday and this one was no different!!!!

We were forced to spend the day around Devonport today with the car being not fit to drive,so we went off for a walk and to feed the ducks before heading into town for brunch.Because it is Easter Sunday you can't buy alcohol unless you buy food and the 15% charge applies,but as we were only having brunch the charges didn't apply and the brunch was delicious.

Back at the house we sat down to watch the Warriors game and realised that another weird thing occurs here on Easter Sunday.You aren't allowed to run any adverts on the TV or radio because it's Easter Sunday,so all the breaks on TV are filled with music videos,which means one good thing and that is Mel can't sing along to all the jingles!!!!

Lots of Love

M & M

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