Born and raised in a rural part of central Europe, married a French Canadian, moved to a peacefully boring and stunningly beautiful island at the bottom of the Earth.
Not the famous piggies, but a couple of California quails I keep seeing for the last two months. I like their funky tufts (plumes that look like a part of an ancient helmet), which can't be seen well from my pics taken from the kitchen window, but you can read up on them here.
It may come as a surprise to Europeans, but there is some sorts of a rivalry between the two "neigbouring" countries of New zealand and Australia. It is however, more like a good-humoured poke in the ribs rather than a destructive, mean, nationalistic bullshit from back home, and it makes me wish Slovenia and Croatia would stop taking themselves so goddamn seriously. Learn a little from the Kiwis and the Aussies, they have a good thing going here!
The Kiwi ad comes with my transcript, I suspect not all of my readers can understand the thick accent (lurrrve the accent though :D).
Kid1: What are you doing this weekend? Kid2: I'm putting up a retaining wall. Kid1: Doin' it-yourself? Kid2: Nah, I'm going to get some bloke in. Kid1: Oh, come on mate, do it yourself! Kid2: She's pretty big job! Kid1: Ah, you'll be 'right. Kid2: You reckon? Kid1: We can knock it over in half a day. Kid2: Yeah? Kid1: Get a couple of mates around. Hey, Jonesy! Jonesy: Huh? Kid1: Give us a hand with a job Saturday! Jonesy: Nay, yer dreaming! Kid2: Aussies.. Kid1: Ah, no surprises there.
UPDATE: I have read Mitre 10 is an Aussie company, which makes this ad even more awesome :) Also, does the Aussie kid say "Nay" or "Mate"? Can't tell, really...
And now the Aussie ad - gotta love the sense of humour!
One of the biggest adjustments I had to make food-wise was TOAST. Kiwis eat very little bread, but have toast with pretty much everything. It tastes a little bit better here than back home though.
Here's a nice weekend brunch idea, for those lazy mornings when you feel like making something just a leeetle bit special without too much effort. Link to the original recipe for baked egg and bacon bread cups can be found here, just scroll down to the bottom, and here you can see my pics for illustration.
Anyhoo, this is what you need: a muffin tray, two pieces of toast, butter, two small slices of bacon (I used some delicious manuka smoked ham instead), two eggs and cheese - just a little to sprinkle on top.
Grease the tray with butter, put a small piece of baking paper in the cups (just so nothing sticks at the bottom).
Cut the crust off the toast and roll it flat (I used a glass cos I couldn't find a rolling pin).
Put the toast in the cups and flatten it some more (you need space for the filling!), then stick the toast in the oven for 5 minutes (180 degrees C).
While the toast is warming up, cut the ham and quickly fry it a little. Take the tray from the oven and put the ham in the toast cups.
Add the eggs - make sure they're small, mine were huge and the egg white spilled over a bit.
Sprinkle cheese on top and bake for 20 minutes.
While my bread cups were baking, I used the leftover ham and some leftover pasta for a quick pasta salad.
Sprinkle some fresh pepper on top and voila! Brunch with a view :) You wanna make sure the egg is hard. I tested it with a knife - no runny stuff on the blade.
Borrowed some pasta to make a smiley face (couldn't resist!!!).
Now, this is what it's all about! I dare say the bread cups are a bit more than the sum of their parts, and when you cut them in half, they look absolutely gorgeous.
Lemme know if you ever give it a go yourself!
A note to Jeannot: if you are reading this, you are most probably cursing you have to work on my day off. I pwomise to make some bread cups for you very soon - and I'll throw in some onion, too!
Dear lord almighty, I love it there. Beautiful beaches, or soaking in the open air heated sea water pools. Not to mention Katikati bird gardens are only 25 km away - a subject that kinda deserves a blog on its own, so let's stick to Tauranga for now.
From the motel to the centre, five minutes walk.
I don't think he'd ever forgive me if I "accidentally misplaced" the fishing hat. Besides, he bought it at Farmers in Tauranga eight years ago. Life makes a full circle for Jeannot :)
The Port, city centre on the right.
Old post office building.
Beautiful city centre.
Mount Maunganui: nice beach for wussies like me, no waves.
More Mount: won't see me swimming here any time soon :D
Left side - no waves: right side - waves. I'll be in a nice shallow pool on the left scuttling with the crustaceans :D
Heated salt water! Perfect on a cold windy day. The pic kinda sucks, I wanted to take it discretely so people wouldn't think I am some sort of a creep.
Outside the pools: On the left, best ice cream in NZ. Behind the bus - a nice non-wavy beach (upper pics). On the opposite side - the wavy surfer beach (also some pics up there).
A part of Tauranga's estuary: what is left behind at low tide. Smells kinda funky, but the birds seem to love it. It is also weirdly crusty.
I had these as house plants in my living room back in Slovenia!
The best part is you don't have to worry about ticks :D
Really fat wood pigeon, completely unfazed by us walking around it & taking pics.
Fat pigeon chest.
Cute husband 'tocks :D
Moon rising over Jeannot's head.
A sneak peek at West Auckland; wishing my camera was good enough to capture it properly (*hint* Christmas is near *hint*).
Waterfall something something (forgot the name).
This fallen tree decided to continue growing just for the heck of it.
Cut the crust off the toast and roll it flat (I used a glass cos I couldn't find a rolling pin).
Sprinkle cheese on top and bake for 20 minutes.
While my bread cups were baking, I used the leftover ham and some leftover pasta for a quick pasta salad.
Sprinkle some fresh pepper on top and voila! Brunch with a view :)
Borrowed some pasta to make a smiley face (couldn't resist!!!).
Now, this is what it's all about!
Lemme know if you ever give it a go yourself!
From the motel to the centre, five minutes walk.
I don't think he'd ever forgive me if I "accidentally misplaced" the fishing hat.
The Port, city centre on the right.
Old post office building.
Beautiful city centre.
Mount Maunganui: nice beach for wussies like me, no waves.
More Mount: won't see me swimming here any time soon :D
Left side - no waves: right side - waves.
Heated salt water! Perfect on a cold windy day.
Outside the pools: On the left, best ice cream in NZ. Behind the bus - a nice non-wavy beach (upper pics). On the opposite side - the wavy surfer beach (also some pics up there).
A part of Tauranga's estuary: what is left behind at low tide.
"Mmmm... sea crust."
Storming up.
