1. kiwi bird
GUERNSEY PRESS
THE WEEK 7
Even a tree-rustling incident couldn’t take the gloss off Jessamy Baudains’ first Christmas in
New Zealand, with lake-swimming, burger-eating and a touch of the kind of burn that doesn’t
come from an Aga door as you wrestle the turkey out...
T
HE indulgent treats
and hairs of the dog
that marked 80% of the
month of December are
out of the window and
wedding dress time is
looming. Yup, the arrival of 2016
signifies more time in the gym for
me and fewer hours spent spent
hanging out at our local ice cream
parlour, Duck Island Ice Cream.
Is it bad that Dave and I know the
list of flavours off by heart? Oops.
Our hot Christmas here in New
Zealand was definitely one for the
memory books.
Christmas Day saw us swimming
in Lake Taupo and eating
homemade burgers. I even got
sunburnt. It was a far cry from
the normal 25 December. The
untimely burn usually comes
from squeezing a delicious turkey
out of an Aga door that has a
mind of its own, and the closest
thing to a swim is me and my
siblings almost drowning in the
rain as we walk down to L’Eree
beach to build up an appetite.
Each has its charms.
Before we left to go to the lake
house, we had one small drama.
We came home late after a long
weekend in Lake Tarawera to
find our Christmas tree had
disappeared. I managed to see
the funny side of a MIA tree, but
Dave, aka Mr Claus (he takes
Christmas very seriously), started
to see red – and not the Merry
Christmassy kind.
We hunted everywhere, but
no joy. We headed to bed that
evening, mystery unsolved.
Turns out the tree thieves
were in fact friends of ours,
not the Scrooge-like gang
Dave had imagined. After a
heavy night in Hamilton and
some late-night reminiscing
about British festivities, they
had dragged the tree into their
room, turned on the fairy lights
and listened to Christmas
music into the early hours of
the morning.
Mr Claus couldn’t stay angry
for too long.
We were a group of 12 Brits.
Waking up on Christmas
morning saw a lot of champagne
and bacon sandwiches for all,
but the priority for most of us
was speaking to loved ones,
even if just for a few minutes.
Christmas really brings us all
together regardless of where we
might be in the world.
W
e squeezed a lot into the
last few weeks of 2015.
A major highlight was
finishing a 15km. trek around
Lake Tarawera which, though
tough, made for some beautiful
views of the lake, surrounding
forest and nearby volcanoes.
That weekend we stayed in a
‘Bach’ (pronounced batch), the
Kiwi version of a holiday home,
which you can very easily find
online through websites such
as bookabach.co.nz – they are
incredible value and I would
highly recommend them as
opposed to regular hotels.
For £90 per night we had a huge
house to ourselves that could
sleep eight people.
From our balcony there was an
endless vista of lake, trees and
mountains. It’s amazing what you
can get for your buck out here.
Walking through the Waimangu
Thermal Valley was something
I’ll never forget. With steaming
lakes, bubbling springs and
colourful rock faces at every turn,
it was like something out of J.M.
Barrie’s Neverland.
Kerosene Creek was another
favourite. It’s a thermal hot pool
and waterfall where the water
is around 40 degrees. In the
middle of a forest, you are totally
immersed in nature.
Hamaruna Springs, Okere Falls
and the Huka Falls were also
incredible and I would highly
recommend them.
J
anuary is undoubtedly the
toughest month of the year:
you’re constantly writing
the wrong date, you’re a tad on
the bloated side and there’s no
genuine excuse to watch The
Polar Express any more. The
struggle is real.
I saw something online the other
day that said: ‘In four years’ time,
the 90s will have started 30 years
ago’. Last year positively flew by
for me – a constant reminder to
make the most of each day. When
you’re working it’s really very
easy to live just for the weekends
and count down the hours until
you head home each day, but I’ve
been thinking recently how we
should all be embracing each day
– even Mondays. There is always
something to learn, something
from which you can find joy and
something about which you can
be grateful.
Put your phone away, look
around when you’re walking
outside and make time to do
something you love each day, be
that strolling in your lunch break
for 15 minutes with a friend,
watching an episode of your
favourite TV series or having a
hot bath.
Sending my love to all of you
in Guernsey – don’t worry, I’m
spreading the word about our
beautiful little island.
Love, the Kiwi Bird
Christmas
Day involved
tree-sharing
and calls
back home
to loved
ones. l Have an early spring clean. If you haven’t worn
half of your clothes since 2008 and three moths
flew out of your wardrobe this morning, it’s time
for a clear out. Before I moved to New Zealand
I cleaned out 10 black bags of clothes and
donated them to the Red Cross and Les Bourgs.
My wardrobe breathed a rather large sigh of relief.
It’s amazing how good it feels to have a decent
tidy-up.
l Just because it’s a new year, don’t feel you
have to become a ‘new you’. Don’t try to do too
many new things at once, because you’ll end up
forgetting who you are. I’m doing lots of spinning,
which is new for me, and avoiding processed
foods, but that’s it for now. Taking on new
challenges is something I think is very important
but there’s no need to take on everything this
month, this year. Put your mind to a few specific
aims rather than writing a long list of goals that in
reality aren’t achievable in one month.
l Plan a holiday. It’s good to have something to
look forward to and even if it’s just ordering a few
guide books or surfing online for a few trip ideas,
it’s bound to brighten up a blustery winter’s day.
l Enjoy the little things. While it’s fantastic to
have something to plan and look forward to, it’s
also important to relax and embrace the here and
now. Despite the drizzle, head out for a cliff walk,
go into Town for coffee with an old friend, cook
dinner for your family, read a book by the fire and
don’t check your phone for a few hours.
l Go to the cinema. This has always been one of
my favourite things to do. Going to watch a movie
allows you to completely immerse yourself in
another reality for a few hours. I always come out
feeling refreshed – whatever the film. It usually
forces you to look at your own life in a new way.
‘Finish each day and be done
with it. You have done what you
could. Some blunders and
absurdities no doubt crept
in; forget them as soon
as you can. Tomorrow
is a new day. You shall
begin it serenely and
with too high a spirit to
be encumbered with
your old nonsense’
Ralph Waldo Emerson
One for the
memory
books
MY JANUARY TIPS
A dip in the
hot springs
for Jessy
and Dave.
Saturday 30 January 2016