Tauranga

Just got back to the ranch after a quick 24 hours in Tauranga, the city we’re hoping we are going to be able to live in for a while if I land the job I’m going after. It’s a small city, but I remembered from my previous visit there in 2007 that it has a youthful feel - no doubt added to by the many summer backpackers, and the plentiful watersports and other such activities split between Tauranga and the nearby Mt. Maunganui.

My job interview went well and I have to call tomorrow to discuss some particulars about the position, but at this stage I’m feeling quietly confident about my chances of getting it.

We caught the bus up there on Wednesday morning, and did a bit of shopping in the daytime, and then went for a delicious Turkish meal in the evening. I had this awesome Chicken dish which I think was called an Elenika. We had with it a bottle of wine - which we only realised after guzzling it quite quickly, was pretty damn strong - and both ended up a little bit squiffy. We hit a few of the local bars afterwards, and returned to our backpackers slightly worse for wear, and woke up this morning (as we are still doing) far too early!

Tauranga is a lovely city, and even though we were seeing it in the dull of the NZ winter, it’s obviously the sort of place which comes alive when the weather improves. Luckily for us, it’s also quite affordable in terms of rent, and if I can get this job, we could be quite comfortable there. If only the process of getting our visa status sorted were so simple. There is enough going on there to make it a fun and interesting place to live, and I think I’d enjoy the job too, which is obviously very important. Fingers crossed on all fronts.

Anyway, it is table-tennis time, and I have an ass-whipping to hand out.

Stu.