Some pics to update

So on the way to the Garda station to get our ID cards we decided to take some pictures for you of our new town. When we got to the station they sent us back across town to where the imigration office was closed at 3.45pm! But now we know where it is we can get there bright and early tomorrow morning to beat the rush and take our numbers- yay for red tape!

Also we threw in some from a week or so ago and some from the airshow on Sunday, enjoy!


After a trek across town we find imigration closed, to the right of the picture is the all important ticket machine.


Aimee on her favourite bridge across the river with the Cathedral in the background.


Our new church Saint Anthony's.


Aimee's new favourite place - Little Treasures.


The airshow, it rained a lot at the airshow but it doesn't seem like it in the pictures.


Garda at the airshow watching a rescue helicopter through an army truck.


Emmett on Aimee's favourite bridge with the Cathedral in the background.


The Cathedral from a little further up the river.


A local swan, these things are everywhere and they are huge!


Every morning the little pedestrian streets are opened to traffic for service vehicles. Here's one of the mighty beer trucks that drop off and pick up kegs, this on is for heiniken - yuk.


A great piece of street art, like most student cities Galway has a definate left wing feel.

To be sure, to be sure.

Hello,

So we went to the Skeffe pub on Saturday to watch the rugby, only the pub having advertised that they would have the game did not subscribe to the channel it was actually on. Frustrated we downed our drinks and headed across the square on the reconmendation of the Skeffe staff to the Foxx. The game had started so we perched on the edge of a keen group of Aussies and one die hard South African who for the first 50-60 minutes was quite cocky really. Then as the mighty Ab's stepped up he suffered in his jocks, squirming in his seat and thumping the seat cusion in front much to the amusement of us and the boys from Oz. A particular point of amusement was when the Springboks were in the lead and our SA friend removed a long sleeve springboks jersey to reveal a short sleeved one underneath. We only had South African commentry and Percy being described as a thoroughbred was absolute fodder for the Aussies and us as the poor South African didn't stand a chance. It was the tasman vs the world this week but next week it's head on head Aussie vs Kiwi and it's going to be great!

Other than the rugby we've not really been up to much. Our friend Jess who we met in the hostel was around on Friday on her day off from nannying a family of five out in the country so it was good to catch up with her. Today is Sunday so we tried a new church, then we slipped out after the monotone homily (18 minutes in) and went to last weeks one that thankfully started half an hour later and was just down the road. Now we're off to the airshow we're taking the camera so we'll post some pics in the next few days of the airshow and Galway in general.

Mum asked if they can understand us here and they seem to be able to. Every now and again you get a strange look, you have to use international english not kiwilish but it's an easy adjustment to make. We're at the stage now where other kiwis sound stranger than the local accent.

Aimee and Emmett.

A quick note

Hello,

Just a quick update from us.

1. Aimee LOVES her new job/kids/boss at Little Treasures and extra hours are coming in already.

2. The local brass band does not need any more percussionists - but the bandmaster suggested Aimee turn up for their free concert on Monday and say hello anyway.

3. Emmett has found more jobs to apply for after being shortlisted for the council job but not quite getting it.

4. We went to Grada on Tuesday night and touched base with Gerry who invited us to a bbq that was cancelled due to poor weather and hangovers (mostly the latter we think).

5. Saturday is the big game obviously, we'll be heading to a pub to watch it in peace and quiet if last week is anything to go by.

6. Sunday is the airshow out at Salthill, free entertainment that's the stuff.

7. If appropriate please apply: we love you and miss you.

Aimee and Emmett

Irish Eftpos

Let's just say Irish banks are a little behind NZ. This is seriously their version of EFTPOS:

"Paying with Laser is simplicity itself. With a swipe of the card by the retailer, all you do is check and sign the sales receipt. The transaction is then debited from your Current Account generally within 2-3 working days."

To get such a magical card you must pay the Government 20 Euro, no jokes people they tax this serious technology so it doesn't get outta hand.

As you might have guessed now we have a flat we are settling down and ENTERING THE SYSTEM. This means 3 things: 1. we get a bank account, 2. we get PPS (social welfare ID) numbers and 3. we get ID cards from the Garda (police). 3. is actually quite important as if we haven't registered with the Garda by the 4th of September they can boot us out of the country.

So we're working on 1., it's pretty boring really but 2. is great. You go to the social welfare office and get a form from the cheerful man at the counter and he tells you which of the 3 types of numbers for ques you must take. You fill out your form and take a number from the machine, guard this number with your life - it is your one chance to see a grumpy, underpaid, unmotivated civil servant for the day. We were numbers 176 and 177, the que was up to 90 something when we sat down at 2.29pm. Now you sit and wait, try not to laugh at the fashion statements being made or the people going to the wrong booths sitting down and wondering why there is noone behind the glass with the large "closed" curtain down.

As you wait a delightful female voice announces all three ques in the same way "number 847 please go to, booth 13"

At 4.12pm my number is called, short of being an olympic sprinter however I couldn't have gotten across the room fast enough for the lovely lady, so she called Emmett's number as well. Fortunately we were together, I don't know what would have happened if we weren't, maybe we could have fought for it. Then in a nearly painless 10 minutes our forms were checked, signed and copies made of our documents. We'll have our numbers in a speedy 8-10 working days, neat.

Aimee

Out with the old and in with the new!

So got made redundant after one week at little red hen and there are a few things that were unsettling me there anyway so it was a bit of a relief. So now I work at Little Treasures (don't ask what the names are all about I don't know what they're supposed to inspire). Karen who owns LT had offered me a job earlier but missed out as LRH got there first with more hours so I got back to her and she has kindly offered again. Initially it's less hours but in a couple of weeks it will be more than LRH were giving me and the place has a much nicer feel. LT has a maximum of 10 kids (it's tiny but functional) and runs a montessorri programme but not as ridgidly as LRH. Unfortunately there would be no work in August as the place is closed but I'm sure I'll find something to do with myself - maybe one of the regulars will need a nanny.

In other fronts the new flat is great. We've cleaned a lot and we still need to tackle the oven but the place is livable. We are loving cooking properly again, real food was so hard at the hostel in the communal kitchen. The flat has a dishwasher and it no longer costs us 8 euro to do washing! We can see the cathedral from the bedroom window and it's about 3 minutes walk to my new work. I've even started running again, people look at me as if I'm displaying criminal levels of enthusiasm but I don't know them and I'm thimking of playing a winter sport so i'd better get fit.

We went to mass this morning, much better than last week, less kneeling and more singing. The mumbling is great, get lost in the creed don't try and listen for a cue just give it up you're never gonna work out where they're up to. Also everything is mumbled at top speed - lordiamnotworthybutjustsaythewordandishallbehealed! as a result mass took 45minutes, shot!

So all is well in Galway and we hope all is well back home to, judgeing by the top story on stuff.co.nz being Paul Holme's daughter we can only assume things are quiet to say the least.

Love and hugs,
Aimee

Galway and its water

In response to Mary's comment on the blog ( please do comment people!) yes you do need to buy or boil your water here in Galway. The Council just extended the deadline for fixing the problem so it may be a month or so before the water is safe to drink. Bit third world but it seems some of the treatment/punping stations are just too old and they need to increase the capacity at the newer ones before the can shut the old ones down.

We have just got home after some early morning Rugby ( NZ v Canada) down at a pub ( 830am start). Just coffee rather than beer at that time of the morning. Two other kiwis ( one behind the bar) and three Canadian including our friend Jessica who we met at the hostel. Jessica is off to work for family just out of town with 5 kids so we may see her on some of her days off.

We well go out after lunch to watch Aus v South Africa which is this afternoon. It is a midnight game in NZ ( I think) so assume most wont watch it.

We are at home now and cleaning everything. New vacuum cleaner arrives on Thursday! Audrey who we share a bathroom with has only just moved in a couple of weeks ago and seems to want a clean house too.

My question for the day is " How do you get doors dirty?". The previous tenants seem to have managed to do so with quite some success.

Will go make some lunch now and then off to the Rugby.

A real weekend.

Hello,

OK, so this weekend is not our first in Ireland but for me at least it is because there's no weekend when you don't work because they're just days then, not non-work days. So I'm looking forward to my first real weekend.

I work at a place called Little Red Hen, I turn up at 2, help out until all the kids are awake and then take a class of 6 3-year-olds in a tiny room with lino floor to guarantee a good noise level. About half my kids are there every day and the other 3 are part timers. I'm not allowed more than 6 so if there is an overflow one of mine goes into another class. I'm yet to know what the aim of my class is, I know they do Montessori all morning but I don't know what that entails. They looked at me weird when I suggested we sit on the floor and I don't think the word humongous is common here. But they're coming around to my way of teaching and now we sit on the floor everyday and they can't get enough of the slippery fish song.

So roll on the weekend because even with lovely kids 20 hours stuck in a box with 3-year-olds is more than enough for me.

Love ya, miss ya,
Aimee

All on Track!

After some very stressful timing we now have a flat to move into tomorrow! Which is good because the hostel is fully booked for the weekend.

Last night in the hostel tonight and I (Emmett) have a job interview tommorow!

Miss you all and great to hear we have at least one visitor on the way to see us (you know who you are).

Missing everyone but much happier now we have somewhere to live.

Catch ya

Emmett

Yes we are alive!

Hello All.

It is hot and sunny here in Galway and contrary to all advice received before we left the country( and since we have landed in Ireland) it has only rained twice and only once in Galway.

We are still in the hostel which is eating up some Euros but hope to find a place to live later this week. Last week we found out what we didn't want and also that you need to get in fast. The local adds go online the day before they appear in the paper so we will be a day ahead in the hunt this week.

Aimee found work in no time and currently at her second afternoon at Little Red Hen in charge of a huge crowd of 3 year olds ( six of them in total). I ( Emmett) have been a little down in the dumps as all I had received was polite responses that I would be put on to Agencies databases but have had no actual person to person interviews. BUT today the City Council got back to me and I have a job interview on Friday afternoon for Clerical work. Wish me luck.

We haven't been partying much as the Euro have not been rolling in but have found out that Guinness does taste better here (it is really quite sour in NZ), that boys drink cider here, that all grog comes in 500ml cans and that you can buy it and drink it on the rivers edge along with hundreds of student and hippy types.

Well hope all is well but a little cold in NZ.

Emmett

Pics of London and Galway.

Just some pics for you guys. We've been looking hard for rooms and for jobs, nothing definate yet but some good starts on both fronts. Galway is very pretty the beach is not far from town and the weather has been amazing.

Behind Emmett in the first photo are the famous driving boards into the sea, very cool.

Emmett at Galway Bay, Salthill.

Pretty house in Galway.

EJ and Si

God clouds over London.

Hey hey we're in Galway!

Imigration Irish style:

How long you in the contry?

12 months.

In Dublin or outside of Dublin?

Outside.

Where?

Galway.

I went to Galway, couldn't get a job. What makes you think you will?

Nothing.

So across a rainy car park we dash to catch a bus to Galway. Ireland is pretty much like home mixed with postcards. It's full of green fields like home but every now and again there's one of those cute little stone cottages.
We actually backpacked for the first time for 5 minutes across Galway to our hostel from the bus stop. Honestly you feel like quite the dork trying not to look too lost with this huge pack on your back and all the locals smiling as if to say "well if you must but I wouldn't"

Oh we've drunk Guinness, don't drink it at home that stuff is evil, over here it's great. The difference in texture and taste is amazing. My home thoughts of Guinness are of thick tarry stuff that takes all your will to swallow but here it's light and well yummy. So if you want to prove yourself Irish in future refuse to drink it anywhere but in Ireland on the grounds that it's not the real thing.

Got woken in our hostel by kegs being rolled into massive piles for pick-up this morning, so Irish. There are pubs everywhere, the one across the street from us was built in 1830 something!

Anyway should probably surf for a job - the race is on!

Aimee

The UK

We are having a great time in the UK.

After a day of jet lag and then a day of illness for me (Emmett) we are back on our feet.

The weather is gorgeous here ( the locals tell us that this is unusual?) and the public transport makes getting around a breeze ( thanks Jane and Wayne for the Oyster cards!).

We are staying with Neil and Ellie in Woodford Green. Our friend Ema-Joy (or EJ) boards with them. The house is really nice and they are awesome hosts.

Thursday I stayed in while Aimee and EJ went shopping. First to South Woodford and then on to Mayfair etc. I will let Aimee tell that story.

Friday we went into to Leicester Square and bought ticket for Stomp. Then we had lunch across the road from St Pauls with my mate Duncan. We saw the Globe theatre (from the outside) and went to the Tate Modern. Monet and Pollock, need I say more!

We went to Stomp in the evening on the Strand! It was good fun and very cool to see a show in London. (Musically if you have seen anything in NZ involving Strike then you have already seen the best in the world.) Spamalot is next on my list!

Yesterday (Saturday) we started the day in a small basement flat with 5 other Kiwis watching the All Blacks! Had great fun texting some of you during the game ( poor Nigel, he was stuck in Te Awamutu without Sky). Trace and Rich (our hosts) put on a cooked breakfast and it felt like home.

We then came home and rested up before heading to Greenwich for dinner. Lots of retro and Kitch stalls and shops. We found the Grenwich market which had food, bags, jewellery and a Cuff links shop ( to die for!).

We then cruised the area before watching the NZ Maori v English Saxons in a pub. We then progressed to a cheap Italian restaurant and had some awesome food. It was really nice to finally relax. Aimee was proud of me for not taking a map.

More photos hopefully today if we have time.

Emmett