They say all good things come to an end. In the case of New Zealand legislation has just been passed to make “party pills” a class C drug (same as Cannabis) and in a fortnight’s time you’ll no longer be able to wander along Courtney Place and pop in to the local party pill store.

For those of you that don’t know what party pills are you can check it out!

For a control freak like me drugs have never been my thing so I’ve missed out on the party pills scene. Perhaps I should throw caution to the wind and stock up while I still can legally.

Well, maybe not. After all, I have responsibilities now – to set a good example for Fortnum or Mason!

I’d quite forgotten the impact of holiday time on how New Zealand operates. The fact that we’ve had to set the alarm for MT in the morning to catch his train on time has reminded me that during the holiday season much of National Radio (our favourite NZ channel) has gone on holiday too.

Instead of lively chat and reports on home and world news we have some idiot who yesterday spent at least 3 minutes talking about the fact he’d left his glasses at home and had borrowed some glasses from his mate. Agh, it’s just not what you need when you’re trying to wake up. Doom and gloom stories of the world is what makes you listen more intently not drivel about someone’s lack of reading capability.

So we’re enjoying a review of almost every National Radio programme where they play back snippets of what they thing was the best of their broadcasting last year. It’s been really lame and I’m almost wishing that we could get back listening to the stories of Harry Wakatipu which annoyed me so much last year.

Still, this domestic executive doesn’t have time for lying in bed listening to the radio. I’m up with the larks, or rather the puppies, for their morning routine. Then it’s grass watering duties before finally slumping into Domestic Executive HQ for a spot of email and blog catching up. All this is a rest before the days work really begins!

Away from the routine of DE life, I’m still relishing the beauty of the place that we live. The morning’s are crisp and bright with our two friendly parakeets flying around and watching the feral bunnies hop around the bottom of the garden (if only they knew there were two hungry hounds watching them too!).

Did I tell you that the goats escaped and haven’t come back? Not best pleased about that. Our neighbour hadn’t secured the fencing properly so this dinky family I had come to love are now fending for themselves up in the forestry area. Maybe they’ll come back and if they do I’m planning to kidnap (sorry, excuse the pun) and bring them over the fence to live with the rabbits at the bottom of the garden. Psst, don’t tell MT he doesn’t know about this plan yet!

The winner of the South Pacific Section, First Time Entrant and Supreme WOW award.

I was treated to a kiwi cultural extravaganza this week – tickets to the World of Wearable Arts. Started about 20 years ago in Nelson, this fashion, art, dance and music event now happens in Wellington.

Set in Wellington’s largest indoor venue it was a veritable audio visual feast. Check out the winners of the show – some amazing creativity I’ve not seen on this scale anywhere else in the world. Another kiwi icon I think!

http://www.worldofwearableart.com/winners2007.htm

No houseblogging till later in the week. Life’s too short to be peering into windows to look at plaster. Have weekly accompanied site visits on Friday’s from now so will be able to have a good look around and see what’s been happening. From what I can tell from conversations, plastering due to have begun, rain stopped painting outside but due to restart again this week. Will post pics and and update at the weekend.

Onto more important matters the global price of dairy commodities is putting the kiwi economy into a spin. Not only are the farmers getting record dividends from Frontera (the kiwi dairy partnership) they are spend spend spend on new imported tractors etc. This means mere mortals suffer another increase in interest rates. But worse than that, the fact that other people overseas are grabbing our milk the pinta here in NZ is increasing at a rate of knots.

You may worry that I’ve started to take such a close interest in the price of milk but I kid you not, the cost of living in NZ is rising. I’ve had many a grumbly chunter at work with people who say the same, it’s more expensive to do the weekly shop than it used to be. Also, now having dipped into our mortgage money for the house I’m fiendishly keen to know how much interest I have to pay.

Anyway, tucked away in the land of the white cloud kiwi’s continue to try and build their own economy for the benefit of NZs. If you want a view of the kiwi psyche over finances, here’s something to keep you amused. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=79pwqDu1dt8

Enjoy……

I always think of Friday’s as kiwi day – laid back and making the most of an easy life. Wellington turns a different colour too, the traditional black in the CBD turns denim blue.

The office atmosphere is always much lighter and brighter, usually with plenty of baking in the Level 8 kitchen. This week I was treated to an amazing sight – two men unloading and loading the dishwasher!

Not such an amazing thing really but certainly a rare sight. I realised after a few minutes that this wasn’t just two blokes relenting under the pressure of the girls in the office to do their bit but rather them preparing for their Friday refreshment ritual.

When the decks were clear the coffee making equipment was carefully unpacked. Supersized cafetiere, milk frother and wait for it, the coffee beans and grinder. Then the two office baristas started work with full blown coffee etiquette applied. It was a pretty impressive sight to see them leave the kitchen with their tray of goodies (obligatory muffins and cheese scones of course!) and head to their desks for a yarn and coffee.

As you might expect I wasn’t going to fall for the Wellingtonian thing, I stuck with my cup of English Breakfast tea (milk in first) to my English china mug. Just as it should be!

This last weekend was a four day break for us to blow out the candles for Liz’s birthday. We did what all good kiwis do for such occasions – head for the beach!

We were lucky enough to be invited to stay at some friends’ beach house at a remote location on the East Coast of the Wairarapa about 2.5 hours drive from Wellington, the last 20 minutes of which is on a gravel track.

Flatpoint is a charming and wild part of New Zealand Coast that has started a new community of weekenders and part time residents. http://flatpoint.co.nz/index.html for more information.

We had a great weekend admiring the views, contemplating how you’d actually play golf and admiring the custom of the local farmer flying to the nearest town to buy the paper and dropping them from the air for residents to share.

MT got all adventurous as well and learned to quad bike the kiwi way to allow us to travel up gracefully (well with a lurch or two of the gear changing) to admire the view from the top of the hill. Enjoy the views!

Views of the beach – we picked up Paua shells and spied seals resting on the rocks

The beach house on front line where we stayed – definitely rooms with a view!

MT enjoying his new wheels.

Views from the top!

Today is Anzac Day, a public holiday since 1921, that marks the landings at Gallipoli as an acknowledgement of the sacrifice of all those New Zealanders who have died in warfare, and the contribution and suffering of all those who have served.

Over time there have been changes in the way that Anzac Day has been commemorated, reflecting the changing features and concerns of our society. During the Second World War, for example, there was increased interest and a heightened sense of the relevance of Anzac Day; in the 1960s and decades following it was from time to time used as a platform for anti-war and other social protest.

Today, at a time when it seems New Zealanders are increasingly keen to assert and celebrate a unique identity, Anzac Day is viewed as a central marker of our New Zealand’s nationhood. It promotes a sense of unity, perhaps more effectively than any other day on the national calendar. People whose politics, beliefs and aspirations are widely different can nevertheless share a genuine sorrow at the loss of so many lives in war, and a real respect for those who have endured warfare on behalf of the country we live in.

There was a dawn ceremony followed up church services and parades. For more information: www.anzac.govt.nz