back on The Rock

remember us?

We arrived home from our holiday this Sunday past, after 14 days motor-homing our way through the North and South Islands of New Zealand. I know, it's Wednesday and where are the holiday snaps and stories? Patience folks, it's gonna take a while. You know, apart from popping a few pics on fb, I haven't yet uploaded the bulging SD card onto our PC! Our dear old computer is having a few issues and I'm worried my gazillion photos may just send it over the edge.

Our trip was fabulous and I can't wait to share every little detail. For now though, we are adjusting to life in a house again; one without an engine, wheels, snow chains, headlights, folding beds, windscreen wipers and a toilet that needs to be manually emptied (oh boy, motor-home loo's, that's a blog post all on it's own). 

Our tired and dated stationary house, in fact, feels extravagant and ostentatious. It's amazing how well you survive (and indeed thrive) in a small confined space.  We managed with three sets of clothes, one pair of shoes, one towel and a toothbrush each! Now at home, Ben and I look around and wonder WHY on earth do we own all this stuff? So much stuff that we neither needed nor missed for two weeks. Are we to be forever burdened by stuff!!!???

did it have to end?

The first day home was rather a low time for me. I hadn't wanted our trip to end and I didn't wish to be back in the reality of the day to day trudge. I rather liked the gypsy life to be honest, it suited me. Cleaning is a breeze when your house is only 6.8 metres in length. I was able to sweep the floor with a dust pan brush....it took all of 30 seconds! Cooking was easy....we hardly did any! What's that kids? You want cereal for dinner? And grooming was a cinch...bed hair? Meh, we wore beanies most of the time. One of us is still working on a beard so the hassles of having to shave whiskers in a bathroom the size of a broom cupboard never arose!!

free spirits...

We stopped wherever we pleased, whenever we pleased, free-camping most of the time. We paused for the night in a caravan park only four times to take advantage of their laundry facilities. Our fully contained camper van had just about everything...including the kitchen sink (yep, the a fore mentioned loo, a shower, stove, microwave and fridge). And importantly, heating. We were never cold, even when one night the temp dropped below minus 8!!!!!!! MINUS 8 PEOPLE!!!!!!!! Only mad people take family holidays in winter, right? Oh but the snow....it was so pretty my eyes were aching. A person can only look at so much beauty, right?

more please!

I would do the whole trip over again in a heartbeat, almost exactly (I've learned a few tricks for subsequent camper van adventures). New Zealand is more beautiful than you could ever imagine. I'll be moving there any minute now. Stay tuned....and I promise, I'll bombard you with photos as soon as I can, but I have to warn you, my photos simply do not adequately depict how amazingly mind-blowingly scenic this country is!