Liz and Brian are back in New Zealand. They flew from Chiang Mai via Bangkok and China and, thirty hours later, were home in Taranaki, New Zealand. Tucked up in bed.
But flying home to NZ didn’t go smoothly. In fact, it was a sodding fiasco.
What started as a dream-come-true-flight ended with wet knickers and tears.
And not only that, the food on the plane was sh*t.
Sit back and listen to the story of the return flight
Enjoy!
Liz and Brian x
Stay.
I couldn’t let this discovery go without sharing.
Those in my newsletter will know I have been writing letters in a journal. Things that have inspired, helped, and soothed me during hard times.
One of those letters (that are being dripped out over the next few weeks) talks about the saying “Kia Kaha”. In the letter, I liken the meaning of these words to an anchor.
This morning, as I was doing my regular walk alongside the beach, I met a Kiwi guy who Brian and I chat with whenever we go to the cafe.
Since Mum passed, we’ve not been to the cafe. I haven’t felt up to it. Talking to people. Making an effort. Honestly, I haven’t felt ready to talk to anyone but Brian. Not in real life.
‘We’ve missed you at the cafe,’ said Mark the Kiwi. ‘How have you been?’
I was about to give the automatic response of ‘Fine!’ But then thought better of it.
‘Not great. I miss her like crazy.’
There was a moment of silence.
After Mark had shuffled his feet on the sand for a second, he said.
‘Can I suggest a song that helped me during difficult times? It’s by a New Zealand band. I think the lyrics will help you.’
I said goodbye and walked away. I opened Spotify and searched.
I hesitated to listen at first. I thought it might be one of those ‘wah-wah’ songs. The ones that have you sobbing and snorting for hours.
But it was far from it.
This week’s podcast is for you. For you, I share this song. The song that Kiwi Mark shared with me. I share this song as a reminder.
Let us not forget who we are.
Let us not forget our strength.
And let us never forget that we always have our stay. Always. Sometimes, we just need reminding that it’s there.
I hope this song wraps you in as much love as it did me.
My heart beats with yours,
Liz x
With special love, respect and thanks to The Mutton Birds
Emigrating to New Zealand is no small feat. You will face major challenges such as getting a job, selling your house, packing your things, arranging visas, and booking flights.
But it doesn’t end there.
Just when you think you have all your ducks lined up in a row, when you have shown the kids every glossy picture of New Zealand mountains and beaches and ice cream, it will hit you. Like a ton of bricks.
Uncertainty. Doubt. Fear.
These feelings of fear are completely normal (and very, very common). But that doesn’t make them any less frightening.
In this week’s episode, we wanted to talk about those three fears and try to shed light from the other side as we go through one of the very fears we worried about.
You leave your home to go “away” for a few weeks and believe that everything will be Puuurfecct.
You tell yourself you’ll relax. Take massages. Eat out (without complaining).
Wrong.
Join Liz and Bri this week as they open a can of sausages (small ones) and share the highs and lows of being away from home for 5 weeks.
They reveal the gourmet and gross food they’ve eaten in New Zealand, the things they’ve ditched and discovered since being away, and Brian blurts out his problem with little dogs…
Enjoy!
(Links and photos over on the website link!)
This week’s episode is brought to you from the lovely and very gorgeous art deco city of Napier in New Zealand, where Liz and Bri are travelling for free (again) by housesitting. This time for five weeks in a rambling old villa perched high on a lofty hill.
Ah…Life is perfect.
Me and Bri, living like a Lord and Lady Muck in our ole kiwi manor house.
What’s not to love about that?
Well…get yourself comfy, and we’ll tell you…
(Links and photos over on the website link!)
Liz and Brian are back from their four-day long weekend in Wellington, New Zealand, where they spent three nights housesitting and spending time with their daughter.
In this week’s show, they share the exact cost of what four days and three nights away set them back and discuss whether or not it was all worth it…
Sit back, relax and enjoy as we take you on a whirlwind weekend in New Zealand’s capital city and give you plenty of truths and giggles along the way!
I’m Liz, and this is my family.
I do Travel. I do Wine. I do being a mum to big kids. Sometimes I do all three at the same time.
I don’t do hormones. Or looking perfect for Instagram. Or dieting.
Read more about who I am and why we should be friends on our about us page.