First Steps

The Olive Loft in Ohoka - our home for the first 3 weeks.
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We arrived in New Zealand on the 4th of November, very jetlagged but soooo excited. Luca woke up at 2am (after sleeping for only 3 hours) asking for his lunch!!!. We stayed in Ohoka, 25 minutes north of Christchurch, in an Olive Farm for the first 3 weeks. Dave and Jackie were amazing to us and their advice was invaluable!

We spent those 3 weeks driving around and getting a feel for the place. The city itself is lovely. It has some gorgeous Botanic Gardens in the middle, where the river Avon runs through, you can go canoeing or punting. The kids had a great time splashing on some outdoor pools in the playground.

Exploring the amazing Botanic Gardens in Christchurch.
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Evan had lots of job interviews in the second week (6), and was totally exhausted by the end of it. Nonetheless it paid off as he has now turned an offer down and been offered a really good job with Hewlett Packard, and waiting to hear from another couple.

We managed to find a rental place (it was much harder than we thought). It is in Christchurch itself, which although was not what we intended, means that we can have a really good look at areas before we decide where we want to live. It is a nice house with a huge garden next to a field with cows that Luca has been feeding every time we have gone to visit. We see no neighbours at all and so it’s very private. The kids made the decision for us in a way, and they love it.

Evan and Luca canoeing up the Avon river (and the duck kindly showing us his bum!)
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They are enrolled in a really nice school called Halswell Primary. Megan was beside herself with excitement at seeing the music room. Big playing fields, 3 playgrounds for the different age groups and lots going on. Luca is extremely happy at starting school, and has taken up the drawing and pretending to write. He asks me to set him homework and wants to know everything. It’s amazing how the mere thought of school kind of makes them be ready for it.

We bought a Japanese car at an auction (Nissan Pulsar), and so we are sorted. Unfortunately our stuff only arrives at the port on the 3^rd of January, which means no beds, bedding, pots pans, etc (i.e.…nothing), for about a week after we arrive from spending Christmas with Belinda and Dirk in Auckland. Paper plates and sleeping bags it is!

Views over Christchurch from the Port Hills.
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Anyway, back to our journey…….