Posts Tagged ‘New Zealand Life’

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It’s Official!

Monday, April 26th, 2010

I just got my passport back today, with a bunch more blue inserts, stating my official status as a New Zealand resident. I am now entitled to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitley…which for me is awesome, as this is a place I now consider to be very much my home – it’s culture is both young and old at the same time, and the people here are varied and vibrant.

This journey has taken me just over two and a half years, but now I can finally concentrate on settling long term. I have a clear vision of things I want to acheive personally -one of which is getting a degree; my one regret in life.

The question now is, what subject I want to get my degree in? I’d like to look at something which embraces all of what makes me, me. However at the same time, I don’t just want to concentrate on my strengths as this doesn’t encourage me to grow. I need to be stretched academically in order to reach my goal, so I am inclined to go for something I have not done before – but also something that will benefit the community around me; once I know what I am going to do I’ll let you all know.

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It ‘may’ be Easter soon…..

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Indeed as the title suggests, rather than “chillax” with some chocolate and basically gorge myself on sugar this Easter; I am instead going to be partaking in a different kind of fix! ARMAGGEDON NZ EXPO has arrived again!!

Last year I managed to score an autograph from Flash Gordon, this year, I’m heading there for Paul McGann (Dr Who) and a whole heap of Star Trek stars including Dominic Keating (Enterprise) and Rene Auberjonois (DS9 – ODO)

….oooh I am sooooo excited!!

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Residency Medical

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

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…

Monday, January 18th, 2010

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

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

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!!

Monday, January 11th, 2010

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

Monday, December 14th, 2009

…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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A rare thing

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

It’s been “ages” since I last blogged in detail, I guess this form of blogging has largely become surrogated by my Facebook addiction of late, and in fact that is essentially my blog for the moment. I am not giving up on this blog however; as this holds a lot of memories and sentiment and cannot totally be brushed under the virtual carpet.

In an effort to keep things ticking over here I wanted to share a link, which explains why Mr Thorne is my new hero for 2009, Mr Thorne? I salute you!!

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