Dear All,
Back to the (home) base after a foray into the world, that is where I am... Don’t get me wrong: I am not referring to a return to Europe. It just refers to the fact that I have returned to Jo and Murray’s home after a trip to Mount Somers.

I spend Monday in an entirely different world: the beehive where Jo works daily. This vibrant lady has just been promoted to head of the news department of the local TV, she has her own show and, op top of that all, she is the editor of a newspaper as well. So I guess there is no need to explain that Jo seems to have an energy level, which puts everyone else’s to shame. We definitely have some things in common, but there is no way I can compete with this lady when it comes to achieving goals. No doubt about it, that I am the better organised one but somehow she compensates that by an extraordinary creative mind, when it gets to the point of coming up with a contingency plan!

Monday morning means that three shows on a row are being taped: the first one to go live one hour later, whilst the two other episodes are for the following days. No time to get nervous really, since I ended up being the first guest in the first show. The presenter, Kineta, clearly knows the tricks as from the very moment the countdown starts; she switches to professional mode and starts with the introduction of the program and the announcement of the guests. So far so good... so the first question came my way. I had barely said 5 words, when the frame, behind the presenter, just dropped to the floor! Enough to make me burst out in laughter! This is a take for the blooper section... up to take 2. Kineta had to repeat the whole introduction, asked me the first question... and I simply started laughing again. I just looked up and I had to start giggling again. So no TV career for me, unless in the blooper department! Take 3 ended up to be the right one, even though the questions were different from those that were supposed to be asked. All in all, it has been a very nice experience, which still makes me smile on hindsight!

Once that was over and done with, a short interview for the news had to be taped followed by another interview by a newspaper journalist. I consider myself highly experienced now...

In the afternoon, I have been picked up by the mayor of Waimakariri in order to present my lecture to the councillors. O that was something, which wasn’t in my planning! Considering it was a small group I was talking to, we did diversify a fair bit: not only World War One history has been covered but the huge difference in agriculture between both our countries was a interesting point of discussion just as well. With a good half an hour delay, I made it back to Christchurch, ready to leave for my next destination. Mount Somers: to Belgian standards, a tiny little village. Despite her more than busy schedule, Jo had agreed to cover part of the way. The deal being that Philip would come to collect me for another hour drive. Surely, the weather tries to convince me never to move to this part of the world: it just rains nonstop and that, in combination with mist, doesn’t turn the drive into a fun one. Philip is British by birth but decided to move to NZ, when realising that he had better job opportunities as a teacher in this country. Although the job comes with a house in the centre of the village, Philip prefers to live in the countryside, so the journey takes me to a cottage nearby a farm, far away from the outside world...It feels quite strange to me to be in such a remote place on earth: no internet connection here, not even connection for a cell phone. My new host has a passion for history, hence the fact that he is filling the long evenings, studying to get his history degree at Massey university. Bonus is that there is nothing that can possibly distract him from his books here.

To my surprise 80 children come to the local school, which is more than I would have expected. This is partly to be explained by the fact that they have the second longest bus ride of the country: one of the children is being picked up at 55 km distance. Not to forget that this boy has already covered 20 km to get to the bus stop. Travelling a 150 km on a daily base to get to school; that can’t be fun!

The schedule was as such, that I was going to talk for about one hour to the 11 year old in the morning and for about the same length of time to the 9 and 10 year old in the afternoon. The teacher worried that I might struggle to keep the attention any longer, where I knew I was going to struggle to get it all said in such a limited time. However, master Philip, had assured me that it was OK to keep on going as long as the children were interested. Well, that proved to be as long as lunchtime. What a great experience that was! Whereas I had dealt with 11 years old before, I had never been put in front of younger children. Even so, it has not turned out to be “a mission impossible” as they too, kept the attention till the bell made clear that the day was over...

Clear enough, I haven’t been sticking to the history of the Great War only. In a rural community as this is, only 2 children out of 20 weren’t from farming backgrounds. Needless to say that they were just as much interested to learn about the difference in farming as well. I will never ever forget that New Zealand farmers are more and more focussing on cattle ( until a couple of years ago, NZ had over 60 million sheep, a number which has now dropped to about 30 million): long before day-break, a herd of calf, had made clear to me that they had been separated from the cows. No alarm clock needed here...

With vocal cords that make in a painful way clear, that chatting for that many hours, isn’t the best of ideas, I return to my home stead in Waikuku Beach. A good 2.30 hours later, I am chatting again whilst enjoying some good wine at the same time.

Today, I am wearing my other hat: the one of a house-wife. Whilst Jo had an early start, I take Connor for a long walk on the beach. Sure enough I have become his best friend now and guess what: I even managed to wear him out! After that time for some window cleaning, this girl wants to remain active. Next stage is dealing with the laundry and the ironing before treating Connor on a second walk. This dog must be convinced that all Christmas have come at once.

Almost time to say goodbye once more. Tomorrow, I will be leaving for Greta Valley, a village at one hour drive North of Christchurch. On my way to yet another adventure.

But before that, my last night in Waikuku Beach awaits me.

Warm greetings

Charlotte

Copyright: Charlotte Descamps 2012