Our Australian visas were running out fast and since I didn't have a job I decided to jump over the Tasman to New Zealand a touch early to set up camp in Christchurch. I had a few days by myself before Matt was making the trip and by the time he got there I'd managed to sort myself out a job, a nice hostel, bank accounts and other highly productive chores. This newly aquired motivation disappeared when matt pitched up, though to be fair to him it was more to do with the discovery of 'The Bard on Avon,' than his bad influence. The Bard, an English-style pub became our second home, the weekly pilgramage for our sunday roast and football was one of the highlights of the week. Christchurch is a very British looking city and we managed explore it a bit, spending the better part of a dayclimbing the Port Hills to the South of the city which seemed a lot closer than they turned out to be. So after a hard days walking and climbing there was only one place to go - the Bard...where everybody knows your name...! It was around this time I undertook the epic quest to get my name on the 100 pint club with the agreement that after I did, Matt would give up smoking - w
We were both having a great time getting to know our way around the city although there was one major thing missing but fortunately she rocked up after a few weeks or so. It was great to see her again and the tripod was reunited once more. The excitment didn't last long however and was replaced with pain (for Joanne at least,) after only a few hours being in New Zealand I slipped and fell while carrying her on my back. Joanne did a great job of cushioning my fall but unfortunately hr back didn't come off quite so well...sorry Milne! Now that it was the 3 of us again we quickly moved out of the hostel and into our new house. After our pad in Melbourne, which could have fitted comfortably in our new living room, anything would have been a step up the property ladder but the new place really was sweet, as were our new flatmates, Anita, Lilly and Nick (despite his unecessarily tight longjohns that he insisted on wearing.)
Most of the major decisions we've made since we've been away have been made ridiculously easily, e.g.,
'Joanne, fancy staying away for loger than a year?' 'Sure, why not.'
'James, how about getting a year visa for New Zealand?' 'Sounds good.'
This trend continued in Christchurch with Joanne asking,
'Think we should buy a car?' 'Cool bananas.'
Joanne had found a job travelling around different supermarkets giving free food samples (in an awesome uniform, but thats a different story) so needed a car. The three of us decided to chip in for a car which was almost as old as I am and certainly looked and smelt like it too. While we were giving the car a look over we couldn't think of any sensible car related questions so instead spent the entire time discussing what we'd call it. We settled on Mitch. So the trio had become a quartet, though the signs weren't good from the start when he started to hiss after driving home. Despite his flaws, and he had many, he really did try his best to get you to your destination, though every journey was a gamble since more often than not he'd jack in at least once on the way.
I'll always remember Christchurch the most for my family coming out. It had been around 18 months since seeing the clan and was amazing to see them againand thankfully Mitch could be bothered to pick them up at the airport. After a few days of catching up and seeing some of Christchurch we picked up the campervan and hit the road. We were on the road for about 3 weeks and managed to fit in most of the places I most wanted to see in New Zealand, such as Milford Sound, Queenstown and Franz Joseph Glacier and Dad even plucked up the courage for a skydive. The campervan was cosy to say the least but everything went pretty much perfectly apart from a few suspected broken ribs and one or 2 breakdowns. Seeing that pretty much everyone that will read this was actually present there doesnt seem too much point going into too much detail but it really was an awesome few weeks and so amazing to see them all again. When we got back to Christchurch Mum and Dad hung around for a few more days and we had even more invading Fifers when Helen and Patrick came to stay which was great. It was sad to see everyone leave and last to go were Mum and Dad but after an emotional farewell things started to get back to normal, though it was all change on the flatmate front. Melissa, Ricky and Vanessa had moved in with Nick and Anita making way and Caroline was to move in briefly shortly after.
After a few weeks of partying with the new flatmates and our 2nd family at the Bard I made the extremely tough decision to leave New Zealand and head back home. I was having such an amazing time but knew I couldn't save up anything there (damn bard,) and wouldn't be able to afford to go to Canada if I stayed. In my last few days we took an awesome trip up to the thermal pools in Hanmer Springs in our rented car, since Mitch had sadly passed away. It was just his time. We also tried to party enough to make up for the time we'd be sperated and pretty sure we managed. Saying boodbye to Joanne and Matt was horrible but we did thankfully have time to buy matching necklaces to symbolize the tripod that we had become. On the way to the airport we managed to squeeze in one final trip to the Bard together in order to see my name on the 100 club, and end Matt's habbit - though my spies have since informed me that my efforts were perhaps in vain...poor show Jones, poor show!!!
I'd just like to take the time here as well to say thank you to Joanne. We've travelled together for 601 days and I can honestly say I've enjoyed every single one of them, and most of that is down to her. She has made the dullest sounding of days, like sitting on a ricketty old bus for 17 hours, really enjoyable. Probably the best way to describe how much I've loved travelling with her is an example that happened just a week or 2 before I left New Zealand. I walked Joanne to work to give her a hand with carrying all her stuff (well 95% of it anyway, while she sauntered along with something as heavy as a sheet of paper) and then met her once her shift was over to help with the return trip. In just those short few hours she spent getting the public slightly tipsy with her samples of wine I could not wait to see her and felt like I had so much to tell her. I think this really sums it all up. Not only does it show just how empty my schedule was it also shows just what an awesome travelling buddy she is. After 601, many of which we didn't leave eachothers side, I was seriously missing her after just a few hours. Thanks Joanne.
James.