Something for nothing (and the zoo for free)

Guess what? You can get something for nothing – at least in New Zealand.
The other day, I entered a competition run by the New Zealand Herald. It was for one of those fashion/hair/beauty makeovers, because apparently, I need it.
(Conversation with Husband the other day:
Him: You’re not wearing that are you?
Me: Why? Is it daggy?
Him: You’re always daggy …(and no, I haven't divorced him – yet!)
Anyway, of course I didn’t win. But the newspaper emailed me to say they were giving everyone who entered the competition a chance to have the paper home-delivered for free for four weeks. No catches, no need to cancel at the end of it. Just free. Try it and see if you like it. No questions asked.
Well, what do you think I did? I’m loving getting a paper home-delivered again. It’s not quite the same reading papers online, and plus, you can’t leave old copies lying around to irritate your husband. Where’s the fun in that?
But Kiwis are often offered things for free over here, and I'm still getting used to it.
For example, for the whole month of August, Auckland residents could visit the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) for free. Not restricted to one entry per address, mind, it was free entry for the entire family.
Their PR company told me it’s because August is traditionally a slow month – being wetter and colder, and they just like to give locals the chance to experience it. But still – to me, that’s just awesome.
And when Kashin, a much-loved elephant at Auckland Zoo, died recently, the zoo’s response was to open the gates for one day, so that residents could pay their respects and visit her burial site for free. In a world where so many companies are focussed on profit margins and budgets, I think it’s wonderful that organisations like this can put that aside for the greater good.
It’s not just the big corporate citizens that are generous either.
The other day, I passed a coffee shop on Ponsonby Road which was giving away their empty, divine-smelling coffee bags (gold coin donation suggested). They would probably end up being sold at markets back home.
At our lovely school – where about 23 different nationalities are on the roll – parents from other countries who are struggling with English, are given free language lessons each week. Again, how gracious that staff give their time and the board provides a venue so that parents can settle into their lives here so much easier?
And at Oratia Farmer’s market, which I blogged about recently, as well as generous tastings and samples, one guy was giving away perfectly good organic apples.
Even at our local New World supermarket deli, the friendly ladies always give the kids a free cheerio each. Just like Mum’s local butcher did when I was a kid! And I scored a free reusable shopping bag when the store recently celebrated a birthday.
Finally on September 25, ZORB Roturua is giving away Zorb rides to celebrate their 14th birthday. All day. For nix.
I feel so blessed to be enjoying life in such a warm, generous country.
Anyone else know of some great freebies - either in New Zealand or further afield?

It's a zoo out there...

Today, I have a guest blogger: Husband!
Enjoy ...

"My turn to comment for a change, and let the Trouble and Strife have a break - especially since I took all the photos!

Sunday morning had arrived and the kids were being right little monsters, driving their mother and I Krazy, with a K not a C; )

I decided we need to get out of the house and as the only person in the family who has not been to the Auckland Zoo, voted that we go. Much to C's. disgust ('I've already been there') and H's delight ('I've already been there and it's awesome!')
I think B. thought she was dreaming, especially since I didn’t feel like battling dungeons and dragons and other monsters (aside from the kids that is).

As you can see by the photos that B. has chosen, we had a great time at the Auckland Zoo, apart from how bloody expensive food is! Next time we will pack a lunch! $7 just for a small hamburger or sandwich!!!!
Well, we still managed to enjoy the day and see all of the animals (apart from the penguins, much to H's disappointment.) Her exact words were: "Mumma it's not fair, we didn’t get to see them last time either!!! NOT FAIR!" at the top of her little lungs.

I hope B. puts the pics of the piggies and C. in, cause did they stink or what! And C. was really offended with the smell, hahaha payback for his stinky bott bott!

I do think that there was a very sad part to the trip, being Janie the chimp. One of four chimps brought to the zoo in the 1950s, Janie was used for tea parties with visitors until attitudes to animals finally changed, in 1964.

The last of the tea party chimps Bobbie, died in 2004 and Janie has been on her own, ever since. They can't introduce another chimpanzee due to her age and the fact she is fairly domesticated and couldn't survive with other chimps. She has a toy mobile phone, and get lots of attention from staff, but still : Just the look on her face gave me a lump in the throat, and still does."

Janie the chimp

The Little Dude soon forgot to be bored

Missy Moo enjoyed showing off "her" zoo

What's that stench?

Oh, that's disgusting!

Stinky piggy

Otter goes fishing

Meerkat: "Yeah, I'm looking at you. You got a problem with that?"

Lemurs at lunch

"We like to move it move it" sang H.

Servils grooming each other

There were two-legged animals at the zoo as well!

Look out Auckland! Here we come...

Oops!

This week, I helped out as the Grade One’s from H’s school visited Auckland Zoo.
Now the trip was to have happened a week ago, but had to be cancelled on account of horizontal rain and high winds that day. (Horizontal rain – where the wind is so strong it whips it onto you and under umbrellas, soaking your clothes and lashing your face. All too common in Auckland).
This zoo day, the skies were fine, and we piled into the bus.
And then I had a revelation.
NZ buses/schools obviously don’t have the same safety laws as we do in Australia. The bus could have been the one I rode, many years ago, on the bus run to Kingaroy. There was no air-conditioning, no seatbelts, no loos, and wind whipped in through the open windows. And the driver was a maniac! (I mean that in a nice way – just that he was speedy, there were many bumps, and kids (and I) almost ended up on the floor on a few occasions).
And then there was the noise. The kids were hyped. “That’s my Daddy’s work!” screamed H. on one occasion, as we careered around a corner. Then “ooooh” as we went under an overpass. And much cheering and giggling as we caught up with, and dragged, another bus. And did I mention the singing?
But we got there in super-quick time.
In true Auckland style, the minute we pulled up outside the zoo, it started raining. Luckily I’d packed coats, umbrellas and the like, and we spent the next few hours taking them off and putting them back on – Auckland is like that. One minute it’s burning hot, the next it’s pouring down.
I had forgotten how demanding it is to supervise loads of kids, and don’t remember much of the zoo at all. I think it involved multiple toilet visits and carrying lots of bags.
Still, there were some funny moments. Like when they saw their first animal, still outside the zoo gates.
“Look a rooster” they shrieked, rushing towards the terrified creature. Later, inside the zoo, we were gazing at the lions, when one of the kids shouted: “Dad! Why are the lions dead?” (They were sleeping).
And when we saw the lemurs, the whole class started singing: “I like to move it, move it” from Madagascar.
I’d love to go back to the zoo on another occasion, when it’s less-rushed and I only have to keep my eyes on two kids!
In other news, the kids finished school for the year yesterday. I felt quite teary saying goodbye to their teachers, who were so lovely and talented. It feels like only a few months ago that we were saying goodbye to their teachers in Brisbane, who were so lovely and talented … hang on, it WAS only a few months ago!
We’ve been so blessed to find a similar-style school here, where the teachers are all gifted, enthusiastic, and clearly love their jobs.
The best thing is that C. is finally reading at the level of his peers. That’s a huge achievement, because he has a reading and writing disability, and when we arrived here a few months ago, he was still only at a Grade 1 level. With the help of the school’s magical reading recovery teacher, he is now reading Grade 3 level and finally picking up books at home, and, er, READING them! You can’t imagine how proud I am! (Now we just have to work on the hand-writing.)
We also had Husband’s work Christmas party – a posh affair at the Auckland City Hall, and a chance for Grown Up Time while our French babysitter entertained the kids. I even wore heels and didn't fall over once!
Poor Husband still has a couple of days left of work, while the kids and I are officially on holiday.
All I can say is Auckland better watch out!