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My ZikiA Taste of Taupo
So – amidst getting over one of the most persistent viral bugs I have ever had the misfortune to suffer, I figured I would sort out a couple of my photo’s from recent travels, whilst it will take me a good while to upload them all I thought I would share this one –
There will be more to follow as time allows… gonna upload most to Facebook first though 
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I is eggsited!!
So, this weekend I am trundling up through to Lake Taupo (the remains of one of the largest volcano eruptions in New Zealand) in order to watch a jousting/medeival festival which seems to be very popular in this part of the world!!
This isn’t the only reason I am eggsited though, in order to get to this lake I will have to pass by Mount Ruapehu…more popularly known to the rest of the world as Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings!!!! I am hoping for some clear weather with it being our summer and all, by the time I hit the desert road so that I can take some snaps on my camera.
Whilst in this neck of the woods I am going to take the opportunity to take in some of the geothermal attractions around the place, from 90 degree lakes, to bubbling mud pools and such….
This is the real New Zealand for me!!
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Residency Medical
I completed the medical today, which involved reflexes, checking my pulse and the whole ‘cough please’ etc…
Long story short, despite having a high LDL cholesterol, and having higher than normal Haemoglobin count, I am well enough to proceed with my application. It’s seems my high blood-pressure the other day was not a consistent one, and my reading today was far more normal.
Yay for me
Just waiting on police reports now, and that’s me done.
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HDL,LDL and other waxy substances…
I have received a letter from the doctor today as a result of the blood tests I had last week, and it would appear that the bad cholesterol (LDL) in my body is a little high at 3.8 ideally it should be less than 2.
Whilst I agree with this, what amazes me is that I already eat the right sort of food to reduce this and manage the level, my diet is predominantley vegetarian in nature, with lots of pulses and fibre and garlic, I could consume a little more in the way of Omega 3 maybe? Still I don’t consider myself to be dangerously over the recomended level, and lets face it, the science behind cholesterol studies is still in it’s infancy so… oh well.
Considering I was nearly 17 Stone (over 120kgs) when I first moved to New Zealand I would have thought my cholesterol would have been far higher along with my health risks; so in my view my results are on the decline particularly given my age, I think I am doing very well!
Moving forwards, I am thinking of taking a garlic suppliment, along with adding more fruit and veg and tuna into my weekly diet…
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Residency Stuff
So… checklist sorted:
- Chest X-Ray done at a cost of $101
- Medical Exam started at a cost of $240
- Blood Tests including discretionary at a cost of $147
- UK Police Check Request at a cost of $155 (current exchange rate)
- NZ Equivalent Police Check, doesn’t exist so request for information from Ministry of Justice at a cost of $FREE just postage
- Miscellaneous postage $20
- Main Application for Residency at a cost of $1400
- Passport photo’s x 6 at a cost of $20
- Gallons of Coffee consumed filling this all in at a cost of $100
Giving a grand total of :- $2183
Provided all of this ‘red tape’ is sufficient then I get to stay in New Zealand for a little longer, and keep working at the Ministry of Social Development. Oh but not before I pay a further levy of $300, and a final levy of $150 in 1 year’s time –
Which means in financial terms; for me to become resident in New Zealand it’s going to cost me a total of $2633.
The wheels are now in motion, so wish me luck folks!!
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Good Grief!!
It’s January 11th already!! It’s not even begun to be 2010, and the year is flying past my eyes. My New Years resolutions include the following:-
- To take responsibility for my commitments
- To be more organised with my paperwork (relates to the first)
- To respect all life (not that I don’t already)
- To win BIG on the Lotto (bit of a pipe dream, and also requires that I enter – which I don’t)
- To take things easy and not take life too seriously
So what are your resolutions? If any? I think it’s important at the beginning of a New Year, to set yourself some goals; give yourself a little bit of direction for the year ahead. Other things which I would like to do, and have not yet accomplished are – run a marathon (there’s one in Wellington this June so this is possible), get a part as an extra in a film or tv programme – *Waves in Peter Jackson’s general direction – there’s more but I could go on all day, and at the rate this year is going it would be more realistic to save some for next year eh?
I’m looking forward to a great year ahead, although not an easy one. With a bit of luck my residency application to enable me to stay in New Zealand will go without any hitches; since this is a place I consider to be not just a work-place but also a home, I really want this to happen so fingers crossed!
In other news – I will upload a selection of my South Island Photos this week, I have so many pictures now that I need to think about uploading more, and not just on Facebook either, as the ones I post there are compressed to the point that they lose they’re quality.
Keep it real, and Have a Happy and fruitful 2010!
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…Slightly Random
…So it’s Saturday afternoon, I am wandering around the windy (very very windy at 120km/h at times) expanse of Queen Elizabeth Park – Paekakariki (pie-car-car-reecky) I ‘was’ supposed to be playing a few carols on the cornet with some bandies however, the park was a lot bigger than anticipated, and Rachael and I couldn’t find any friendly faces… that said, a bee did take a fancy to my behind and proceeded to sting me… thanks!!
On Sunday I did a bit of baking, followed by wandering down to the Opera House to catch the twins (Rachael’s sisters) in their end of year ballet performance… great works as grass-hoppers too in Cinderella
In other knews – my birthday is tomorrow, despite some rumours that it is today (dad ;p I’ll await your phone call tomorrow unless further senility sets in lol…)
And this Wednesday I will be wandering my way to the South Island for a couple of weeks of exploring and excitement….this will ‘really’ put my vertigo to the test as some of the roads traverse mountains at several thousands of feet high, no turning back now though ;p
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The trip of a lifetime…
As always I am waaay behind on my Christmas preparations, although in direct contrast to last year I am actually sending some pressies both to Hong Kong and to the UK this time around, this is possibly the most organised I have been in my entire life…. thanks largley to one of the grounding forces in my life right now (looks in Rachael’s general direction).
Speaking of organised, I have just put the finishing touches on the itinerary for my (our) South Island Tour of New Zealand. Which is to be packed with Pancake Rocks, Shanty Town, Adrenaline pumping “stuff” in Queenstown, Castles, Railway Stations and Cadbury’s in Dunedin, Dolphins in Akaroa; a little bit of ‘nz familyness’ in Rangiora and finally Whales in Kaikoura….
Approximatley a bazillion (bigger than a gazillion???) photo’s are to be taken, out of which the cream of the crop will be shared with you… my eager public
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