NZ dRylands part 2: June 2005

FIELD DAYS 2005

cowboys hats were all the rage at field days (see below) ... so we had to try some on!

not only do the kiwi's like their bad-boy exhaust's & full-on bodykits on their cars .... they're into boy-racer tractors as well!

Rob & Sarah - fellow Brit's in Hamilton in a 'packed-out grandstand' ... not because Cliff Richard's singing at another waterlogged Wimbledon ... no we're watching the riveting log cutting competition at Field Days.

FIELD DAYS 2005

WELCOME TO FIELD DAYS 2005

(apparently the 2nd biggest agricultural show in the world - taking place each year in Hamilton).

Here we have the "Log cutting competition - heat number 17"!!

What's it all about ...... who knows!

CHAPTER 37 - Another update in the making

Watcha everyone – it’s been a real long time since I last wrote, and so I’m finally plucking up the energy to give it a go.

In some ways it feels like I don’t have much to share - as I’m quite into my routine of life here now - hence the lack of recent photos (in fact at times it feels like I’ve been here months if not years) - and so it doesn’t necessarily have the ‘holiday’ feel to it anymore.

All the same things are real good. Realising that much of life is about the choices you make, rather than having ‘everything landed on a plate for you’. Part of me, in coming out to New Zealand had all these unrealistic visions of this year being a time where all the things I’m working through in life – whether they be dreams, desires to press in & be more intimate with God etc would just magically sort themselves out.
Not the case!
However I’m not gonna get another opportunity for this level of time-out and break from the normal routines of life for sometime – plus I need to regularly remind myself that I’m here in New Zealand – in this wonderful country of extreme beauty. So time I make the most of it.
Man I’m so blessed!

Right heavy stuff over … on with some news…….
You may be aware that the British Lions are visiting the good land here at the moment. I doubt you have much media coverage on it back home – but over here it is ALL you hear!
It seems to get even more press than the footie world cup gets in the UK. The kiwis are so passionate about their rugby (they actually call it football …. which means real football unfortunately gets demoted to the title of ‘soccer’ over here ….. ouch, how American is that!). They are so determined about beating us (Clive Woodwood is not v.popular over here … comes over pretty arrogant) .. and the funny thing is that most pommes (sorry that’s what we’re all referred to over here … either that or the ‘barmy army’) don’t even care too much. They’re more worried about the fact that Southampton have been relegated. (Congrats also to any of you that made it to the victorious 20:20 game at the Rose Bowl. I saw a very similar Aussie side thrash the Kiwis in Wellington in a 1 day game earlier in the year).
Anyway with the first of 3 rugby tests starting a week Saturday, its not currently looking favourable for the Lions. They’ve looked pretty average in their games against 3 local provincial New Zealand teams so far – and their one game in Hamilton (last Saturday) saw them lose to the Maori’s (the original tribal folk of nz who make up about 15-30% of the population).
But it did mean that last weekend thousand’s of the travelling Barmy Army supporters came through Hamilton making me feel hmm ‘slightly more at home’. They seemed to behave themselves quite well considering the amount of beer they drank & the fact that we lost the game. I was too slow in getting tickets so watched it at a packed pub in town with a quality English couple I’ve met who’ve just arrived in Hamilton to work for the year.

It’s been so nice meeting this couple, Rob & Sarah. They’re great value for money, real solid & balanced. Real answer to prayer in fact.
I’ve started meeting up with Rob to pray once a week.

I now feel for ‘Mitt’ Watson after all the grief we gave him with the way we pronounced his name. I’m sure I’m getting it worse here!
Whenever I introduce myself as ‘Mat’ on meeting someone for the first time, I frequently (about 70% of the time) get the response, “Ah hi Mart, is that short for Martin?” or “Sorry did you say Mark?” At a conference I went to a few weeks ago, my pre-written name-tag said ‘Max’.
…. And so that name has stuck since!
So Matt was Mitt and now I’m Mart or Max!

Another amusing story is the one regarding the weather here in New Zealand, particularly Hamilton where I’m based.
Its now entering early winter here … and I frequently get the comments …. “Ah you must be used to the cold out here,” or some regular reference to the grey-ness of the UK. In fact Hamilton is famous for its heavy thick fog – which when it arrives lasts all day and makes everywhere feel so dreary & grey … and along will quickly follow the one-liner on how I must feel at home!
BUT it is ‘flippin’ cold over here!!
Either I’ve forgotten how cold it can get back home – or I’ve shed some layers of insulation around my stomach. The other fact which makes it worse – something I haven’t got my head around yet – is that no houses/ buildings over here have heard of central heating (it would be too expensive over here with the small population, and they’re not geared up for it). Plus their homes are pretty flimsy structures which have almost no insulation (there’s no double glazing over here either). So it means that inside is often colder than outside (as at least it warms up outside during the day-times).
To get around this – electric blankets are a must in bed (I previously thought only old people used these … my only prior memories of an electric blanket was switching it for my nan, on the occasional times she came to visit!)
A nice side of this though – is that you get to sit in front of lots of homely wood fires, or you invest in a big oil column heater.
The other good news on this front is that every day is getting closer to ski-season!!!!
Bring it on!
(hoping to get a week in on the south island in September with Mieke, Rob & Sarah)

Anyway I’m now rambling ….. realise I’ve got plenty more to share, so I will conclude with another instalment perhaps tomorrow or early next week.

thanks for listening

hope you’re all in tip-top condition
look forward to hearing from you all soon

….. congrats on community church reaching 30 plus all the best to those involved with the auction of promises (and happy big birthday davey boy)

all my love
MAX