While you were sleeping

While my friends in Oregon were fast asleep (now that you are a whole 4 hours ahead, soon to be five -- curses to how daylight savings isolates me from friends and family back home), I was at the beach....



There is a story about fish somewhere, but I'd have to be reminded of it as I'm too tired to remember it at the moment.

While you were sleeping

Arts festitival

I've been trying really hard to keep myself busy. Yesterday I went down to check out Gravity and Other Myths, an outdoor circus show that is part of the Wellington Arts Festival. I am sure it's even more amazing at night, but I was seeing it with friends and their kids so we opted for the 3 pm version.

The guy introducing the main show did a great unicycle, guitar playing, sheet music on slacks hanger attached to head thing... ah thoughts of my father.

Them came the circus crew. It was such fun to watch.

Looks like the night show is pretty cool too, but last night we opted to head to a party with friends instead. I even dressed up a bit. We had a lovely time chatting with new people. A couple good friends were off to the Avatar wrap party to hob knob with famous and not so famous film folks. Its funny American famous faces can come down here and be completely unknown, particularly if their claim to fame is American TV.

ACC

One commenter on my last post mentioned that such play things would not be found in America... the whole "lawsuit waiting to happen" phenomenea.

Well tonight I was thinking about ACC... the people who bring you ads like this:



Tonight I was playing some sport. Another player appeared to dislocate a shoulder. I wish her a speedy recovery and having watched T's agony with his dislocated toe I hope she is treated quickly and with pain meds if that is their wish.

I ended up being the one calling 111 (NZ's version of 911). It was actually great to test the system, I feel safer already. However just as I was sorting out how to pronounce the name of the sports field, the injured player adamanently insisted that SHE DID NOT WANT an ambulance. In my head I heard "said as if she was uninsured/an illegal immigrant" and then thought "oh how American of me." I guess I am a bit dense for a speech therapist because what I didn't hear is that she has an American accent. Now I have no idea why she refused, but I would have done the same in America... you Americans know exactly why.... the $500 ambulance ride, the possibility of a several thousand dollar admission to the hospital, the inability to leave until you sort out payment, etc. I realized how much our behavior regarding our healthcare is shaped by our crappy health 'system' there.

What she probably may or may not have realized (and really when you are in that much pain you aren't open to new ideas or suggestions) is that here the ambulance ride would have been free, she would have had access to pain meds in the ambulance, and she would have been treated quicker by arriving at the A & E (accident/emergency, aka ER) via ambulance. Everyone was so confused why she made me hang up the phone (well 'cept the other Americans), and we're talking about 'harden up' Kiwis here who can suck up a lot of pain.

Why... the New Zealand ACC no fault accident coverage that covers EVERYONE on NZ soil. Yes, only residents get some of the 'work comp' like wage coverage, but bottom line - if you, even folks just visiting, get hurt here in an accident, your medical bills are covered and you can't sue. Now it isn't a perfect system, and I know my standards are really low after living in America, but I feel really blessed to be here when it comes to health care access.

On that note, here is one more ACC video for any of you contemplating a move:

So do these exist stateside...

..Sometimes I no longer know what is unique to New Zealand or just things that came out since I left. Has anyone seen these playground toys in the US? They are like a mini, tilted merry-go-round.

The rains finally come

After an extended sunny summer, the rains finally have arrived.  While it is quite possible that the sun will return shortly, its equally possible that the foreseeable forecast with be rain rain with a side of rain.

To get in the spirit of things, I had a lovely rainy Saturday.  

I donned my lovely wedding present from the Gray family (my raincoat) and washed my car.  I am sure there is a reason why more people don't do this, but I love skipping the rinse-with-hose step.

I also whipped out my secret power (aka access to a car/chauffeur) to go on adventures with my favourite local twins.  

The beach was stormy and reflective...

Then off for hard hats...

And milkshakes...

Checking out the firetrucks at the airport


And circus walking....