I'M AT: Dave and Jo's place in Levin, a town reminiscent of scenes at the start of Blue Velvet - white picket fences, smiling children, with something dark and sinister lurking underneath the surface. That'll be the immense chocolate cake that we had to bury, then. AND, Brian and Anna's place, in Nelson, the sunniest place in New Zealand, surrounded by forested hills, with a river running through it that looked a LOT more tempting than even the drinking water back home.
Well, in some ways it's not fair, or polite, to lump my comments about two beautiful families into one post. But on the other, their lives share a lot of common ground.
Dave and Jo did an awful lot of research, and, I should think, spent an awful lot of money moving out here. It's a gamble, albeit a calculated one, that certainly looks like it's paying off - they're blissfully contented and happy, and pleased and eager to explore their new home. They took the coincidence of my arrival to try out a couple of walks in the local forests, and we had fun walking through the streaming mud. And, a very proud moment for me, one that perhaps Jo and Dave don't realise quite how priviledged I felt to be part of, was when I was given Lily in her sling to carry through the forest for the walk back. I felt really ridiculously proud and content, and I could concentrate on her, and look after her. I was with the Hattams for New Year, so we drank to 2007 with a bottle of toasty bubbles, and tried our best not to miss the chimes of Big Ben too much.
Brian and Anna, on the other hand, are really here by accident. Jaia was a surprise that arrived when the trees they were picking were pouring with apples, and since then they've both had to adjust very, very quickly to having a baby. But they, too, seem also blissfully happy, and this is in spite of Jaia's attempts to scream like she's being knifed every five minutes. They've made a conscious decision to carry on exploring the country, where Jaia and work will allow, and Anna went kayaking and jetboating with Jaia and her visiting sister, Lisa, in the short time that I was with them all.
Whilst they were doing so, Brian, Jaia and me scooted off to the Nelson Lakes NP, and we walked the wee thing up over dusty mud and tree roots, and she was quiet, so quiet all afternoon. The Nelson Lakes, accessed from the tiny town of St Alda, are very beautiful - grantie bulks heaving down into turquoise waters. Brian told me all about their time in New Zealand as we walked.
Jaia's eight months younger than Lily, and it's apparent to me that babies don't become interesting until they start reacting to you, start smiling and saying stuff. Jaia's too young to do that right now. I should imagine that there's a peaceable time, when they're around 12 to 18 months, and before they can properly articulate demands, when everything's sweet and golden and beautiful. Both families have this to look forward to.
And, despite being aware of the fact that this post is not very amusing, or deep, or interesting, I really do wish them all the bloody best, they're all such positive and happy people, and they deserve all the luck in the world.
But remember, lads, to spare a bit of time for the Guinness, eh? I won't always be there to remind you to raise a glass now and again.
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