First impressions of the kiwi's

I enjoyed Australia; it's such a vast country! It would have been fun to explore it a little further but to be honest, after my two week trip across the world, I was ready to get stuck into my new life in New Zealand.

When I finally arrived into Christchurch on Wednesday 5th February I was met at the airport by Lynton Brocklehurst and a couple if students called Leah and . I settled into life at 12 Bushby place fairly quickly and so far it has been a lot of fun!

The couple I'm boarding with are called Lynton and Philippa Brocklehurst and they have a son called Jeremy who is just about to turn 21 on the 1st March so they are planning a 21st for him and that should be good. There is another boarder called Reg who is 20 as well and is a real honey. Jeremy is really into cricket (all the young folk are here?!) and Reg is into his music, he is in a band. I guess it feels a bit like living at home with 2 wee brothers again!

They have been soooo good to me already, accompanying me into town to sort out bank stuff, buy plug adapters and even arrange hair appointments! They have also taken me around Christchurch to get my bearings and on Thursday Lynton, Philippa and I all went to this wee French settlement across the mountains called Akaroa, which was really beautiful and made me realise that I had arrived into a truly breath-taking part of the world.

I am starting to meet other young people in Christchurch, which has been good. A couple who are a year or two younger than me called Leah and Tim took me to this comedy show on Friday night which was very well done; four comedians on stage improvised various scenario's from a semi-famous NZ star; on Friday it was a rugby coach guy called Frank Endecott; it was a good show. Then on Friday night I spoke to my brother's girlfriend Nikki for ages on the phone and she told me all her news, which was sounding very positive all in all.

Last weekend I met up with Rose Berney, which was amazing! It has really helped me settle in having Rose is here; I can't explain what a difference it makes having someone on your wave length. Thanks God! Then in the evening I went out with this really lovely arty girl called Kirsty to see another open air show, this time it was a musical event with fireworks and there was another 45000 people there so that was pretty massive.

This morning I got up early and cycled (using the bike that Lynton has given me) for hour and a half to see Rose, which was great.

Unfortunately I've not been feeling too great but I've been to the doctor who was very thorough and he reckons my immune system is down and so he wants to do a few tests to make sure that everything is ok.

Anyway I must go for now from Ayley.