One of my adorable daughters - Millie

This is Millie doing what I do, directing her twin sisters in a photo shoot! Millie had to go to the Doctors today with an ear infection, he asked with a rather interesting observation, "they Jessica and Lucy were not identical." Humm as you can see that is rather stating the obvious!

This location is the tower of London, Lucy walked around all day holding her neck. I thought she had a sore throat, she then announced she was worried her head would be cut off!

Today it really has begun to get cold, the heating is on at home. We didn't even have central heating in New Zealand. Yes it would have been nice on some winter evenings. And in Auckland the weather is warming, friends of ours have moved to just our Snells Beach near Warkworth, I loved it around there and highly recommend it.

Enjoy the video, one starring Lucy next!

Roast Lunch and BBQ

Today was wet in the UK, and of course the facebook posts about teeshirt weather coming to New Zealand start to hurt! Its funny we used to have roasts in New Zealand (Becca cooks a great roast) we have BBQ's in the UK, but neither taste the same out of the place that made them their own. There is nothing like roast beef, parsnips and carrots (home grown) with Yorkshire pud and potatoes. Yorkshires are know as 'Orkshire's in our house, thanks in the main to Lucy's lovely turn of phrase. As the temperatures drop we all gather around the table, Granny is staying which makes it all the more enjoyable, the whole family tucking in. And Joy of joys it is one menu all the girls love.
In New Zealand the BBQ is another great gathering, usually friends as family are a long way away. It is of course the most social of meals, the dads gathered around the barbie and the kids playing together and the mums chatting and organising the proper food that sets off the mens efforts to best effect! Two very different experiences both simply joyful.
Also huge congratulation the the Dawes for their 4th anniversary re locating to NZ, May you all continue to thrive. This video is their celebration.


4 Years In New Zealand! from Marrisa Dawes on Vimeo.

14 Beached Whales Survive.

Gosh 14 whales who beached themselves were driven across country and released, they were last seen swimming out to sea and I wish them the very best of luck.
This kind of thing is what makes Living in NZ so special, there are such wonders to be seen there. This place, Waimangu, is one of my personal favourites, if you get the chance go and visit. It is a lovely place to wander around and the volcanic sites are amazingly beautiful and it doesn't feel too touristy.
The remote parts in the south island are just a wonder.

One of My Adorable Daughters

This is Jessica, you wouldn't believe it was the same girl who is is so shy at school, but here is the proof of a performer in the making. recorded on my iPhone

 

 

 

 

Going Home 2

This post -  Going Home is one of my most read posts from this site so I thought I would just write a quick follow up.

We came home just before the most serious recession in my life time. And I lived through the 3 day week and the miners strike! It didn't seem as bad as either of those but a) it probably is going to get far worse once the cuts hit home. and b) i know have to support my family so coming home to ones own business makes it seem, well really quite hard.

So was it a good idea to come home?

Millie is at school and loves it and all her teachers comment on how happy she is. Would she have been happy in New Zealand, yes she probably would. But Becca and I are happier, we understand the system and when millie read about the crown Jewels we took her to the Tower of London to see the real thing. Lucy was walking around holding her neck, I thought she had a sore throat however, on questioning her she was actually worried about having her head cut off!! So all in all I'd say we are happier because our children can share our knowledge, I know a bit of South PAcific culture but it is not ingrained in my very being.

We had a great support network of friends in New Zealand and we miss them terribly. The girls God Parents  live in New Zealand but here we have Granny, Grandma, Aunties and Uncles, they don't just offer support but we don't have those awful goodbyes at the airport.

We know the system here, I am a School Governor, Becca helps run the play group. Sure all those things we could have done in New Zealand, but we understand village fete's and Pub Quiz Nights.

I know my own TV industry here, I grew up with it. When we pitched Top Town in New Zealand I had no idea it was one of the most loved programmes on TVNZ in its hey day other than people telling me that it was.

DO we miss New Zealand, goodness me yes we do. But did we miss the UK, yes and probably a bit more.

DO we feel like we failed because we came home, no we don't. We had a 4 week recce before we moved, we rented once we arrived for 6 months. We always had a 2 year review in mind, and in the end we stayed for 4 and half years. All our choices were informed. We didn't pack up and move to the other side of the world without a huge amount of thought and talk!

We made the right choices at the time we made them no regrets and some fantastic memories and photos!!

I Love Paul Henry - Qantas Awards New Zealand 2010

I am very glad that every one in New Zealand who wanted to should have been able to see it. I am told by the producer that it was cleared for transmission. Just in case you missed it, and for all those who live out side the country, forget you may not know who he is or even who he is talking about. Paul is the Eamon Holmes of New Zealand. He is a great bloke, I have met and worked with him on several occasions. He is one of the funniest men I have met. Please stay to the end of the clip and no apologies for the bad language! FYI this is the bafta of New Zealand, or perhaps the National Film and Television Awards is closer the mark...

The Twins 4th Birthday

I am writing a new blog about the business called This Digital Space and I am going to put all my industry comments in there. My personal blog "Jonathan Glazier" I will keep to my very personal opinions about the things and issues that interest me. I doubt if the will get very widely read! This blog is my most read, I also support a blog written by someone I know on my commute route to work, it's called "worried about..." and sets out to chronicle the thoughts of people during the recession. It sounds a bit depressing, I guess some of it is, but it is meant to be a place people share there worries and realise they are not alone. Finally a blog I'll probably not update that often, but it may turn into a useful resource, its about camping with kids. I'll try and get all the posts to all my blogs re posted here given they will reflect who I am completely.

The reason I titled this post Pass the Parcel was because it was Jessica and Lucy's 4th Birthday Party today and we played, Pass the Parcel. It got me thinking. I wrote a post on my digital space about the apathy effecting young people, I am experiencing that directly at the moment with 3 work experience people in the office at the moment, they are all very bright and a very lovely group but..well read the original post click here.
The reason that we have a totally apathetic generation on our heals? Pass the Parcel, I wrapped 22 small gifts in 22 sheets of paper, then in a carefully choreographed piece of deceit made sure every child "randomly" had a single turn of opening the parcel and there by ensuring, every one won a single gift. No one was left out, every one won once. This is the start of the rot, they don't concentrate there is no focus. There is no fighting or even cheating, hanging on too long or feigning a pass to fool the person on the pause button. No the only issue was boredom while children waited for the inevitable pause and reward as the music paused for their turn.
In my childhood parties, there were only 5 or 6 gifts, some layers were empty to fool the opener into thinking they were a winner only to find their one chance was wasted on mere sellotape stung fingers and empty wrapping from last Christmas. It was a game of winners and losers. If you got an empty layer the humiliation was public as all eyes were on you as the tears welled up at the lack of reward. The players concentrated, not wanting to miss their chance. Strategies were employed, I've already talked about the late dummy pass, this with the surreptitious feel of the layer to determine if it contained a reward, followed by the fast pass on should the music pause while the empty layer was in your possession. It all lead to the killer instinct of the future business men and women that would go on to run the country and change the world. Today, every one wins so no one cares, sit tight and you'll get your present you just have to be in the room. Like the A* grade, turn up for the exam and you will pass. It is our fault and we can change it, and you know we should because it will make the children of today happier, even if there are a few tears on the way.

Storm wreaks Havoc on North Shore

Nz Herald
TVNZ Weather

Gosh well if an Earthquake wasn't enough poor New Zealand is now suffering a huge storm. The SH1 has been closed on the North Shore and there has been damage from felled trees and a roof lifted in Takapuna. All too close to all our friends for comfort.

I do hope you are all ok and that summer comes soon so you can all catch a rest in the nicer weather.

Helping Curb the Rising Suicides

Since the start of the recession my commute has been interrupted 5 times by “Person Hit by Train” announcements. If one single worry can be shared that for one moment in time creates a second that stops a person from ending it all this site will have been worth it.

Last friday a man was acting nervously on the platform at a rural English Station. The station master noticed and called the oncoming train, which apparently slowed. The man jumped onto the rails placing his head on the line. The driver of the train managed to stop just short of the man. He rose to his feet, on hearing the approach of the train on the other line he turned and jumped, killing himself.

If one person had talked to him, even asking him if he was ok. If the process he was going through had been interrupted with one moment of kindness or compassion would the outcome have been the same? Who knows, but simply we should all make every effort in these times to do something. Even if it is talking, to each other, strangers, friends or family it could just stop a tragedy.

Good luck to the site it seems like a good idea. I use the same line as the incident.

The Blitz

Lots of war anniversaries around at the moment. I found these great pitcures here on sky news and I thought I'd share them as they were so well done.

Untitled

If I could give up one wish of mine to help this dad with his I would..

I wish for a body free of disease. 
I wish for the chance to have another child with Rachel. 
I wish for the chance to comfort my boys when they get their hearts broken by a girl for the first time. 
I wish for the chance to take them to their first U2 concert. 
I wish for the chance to see them become men… to tell them how my heart swells with pride when I see what they have become. 
I wish for the chance to hold Rachel’s hand… to offer her my arm… to steady her in her old age. To tell her she’s still beautiful when a lifetime of smiles are visible on her face.
I wish I understood why I have cancer. 
I wish for many things…. but most of all…. I wish for life.

 

Posted via email from Jonathan JG Glazier

The Cancer Guy "How the Light Gets In."

How The Light Gets In - This is the link to the blog of the guy who made the news today by sending a video message to his wife on her Birthday. The video is all over the web and the blog is truly inspirational and get and in a world when we all get obsessed with ourselves take some time to read this and think of others. He has a 3 year old and a 18 month old baby and clearly a wife who he loves very much.

This is the video if you haven't seen it.

Flat White Phenomenon

Thanks to this article "Guardian Auckland Coffee Culture" and  Beatrix a former work colleague I am prompted to write about coffee, a great subject. For years the Flat White was the coffee of choice to the urban kiwi, it suited the national character. Non of the puffy fluff you get in a pesky european cappachino, or that weak milky womanise drink the latte. No a flat white was a good strong coffee, sure it had a metrosexual edge being silky smooth. But the flat white defined the coffee drinking kiwi. Two Kiwi’s on their OE (overseas experience) then decided to open of coffee shop in London, selling proper coffee and the Flat White came to the UK, complete with fern leaf constructed from the silk smooth milk and creme of the sting dark coffee. 

Then came Costa, Starbucks and Cafe Nero (in that order) all offering “flat white” coffee. Dear oh dear, and the cost! It was a cynical money making trend, an inferior product at an inflated price and in terms of the amount of drink you got for your cash it was across the board an outrage! Even LAX airport, the stopping off point for NZ2 the well known route from the UK to NZ, started making flat whites in the one coffee shop of terminal 2. Well they called them flat whites, I think we should litigate under the misrepresentation of goods act.

SO what is the point of this post? Really just a rant about the state of corporation coffee in the UK, its that simple. Kiwi’s know how to do coffee! Next post, the transport differences Between London and Auckland, inspired as I head into London on the day of another tube strike!

Television in New Zealand

I loved working in TV in New Zealand, but I do think its important that people who want to live there really start to understand that life is different. In the UK we watch TV, especially on Saturday night, I make no comment as to that being good or bad, it's simply fact. 12 Million people watch X Factor on Saturday. the weather is no good for BBQ's we don't have many dinner parties or gatherings, partly because for years the telly has been not half bad for those who like it.
Here's the first thing, if you were at home tonight in NZ this is the choice

Notice they are both shows from the USA. TVNZ used to rely on inspector morse etc. Good UK drama, not anymore too many memories of the colonial past, NZ has found its nation hood and now imports more US music and TV than any other country in the world and it goes out prime time on the main channels. I like US drama, I have just watched CSI. I do worry that NZ relies so much on US imports, being a New Zealander is about being Kiwi, not developing a Californian accent. A Nation need culture local culture, so kidding your self your making a break from the home county but taking US drama over UK is simply welcoming a different master. More NZ locally made programmes please Andrew!

And Just for the record after tea in NZ instead of settling down the Simon, Cheryl, Louis and Danni, who cant come back fast enough for me I enclose this saturdays offering from the main broadcaster, it cost me a fortune at blockbuster when we were there, Oh and yes we did other things too Like talk to each other, that must be how we ended up with Twins!

John Key on Letterman

This is funny, given that 90% of americans probably think New Zealand is in Australia. 70% of NZ energy generated by renewables? Hum and there's just one wire connecting the north and south island that carries that power, very lucky the quake didn't take that out!!

It is nice to see a prime minister who isn't worried about being taken too seriously, cant imagine Helen doing this?

Thank you CBS

War Birds over Wanaka

I love Wanaka and I never but I never made it to the airshow. I am sure the sight of those planes over that scenery is amazing.

today I dug my allotment with 19 Spitfires buzzing over my head! It was just like 1942, not that I was around then! It was the Duxford Airshow, before that Millie Jessica Lucy and I sat in a layby and watched these guys

The red arrows, my word they are just great. Felt no guilt about the free show either, there's no way the girls would have lasted the whole day if we had paid to get in. And we do have the noise to deal with as we live at the end of the runway.

Both shows have great things to offer, I just wish the Red Arrows would go to Wanaka! I would travel back to NZ for that!

I also just wanted to add this video below, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it, and have a look at the smoke trail created by the arrow. How does the pilot know when to turn it off and on?

New Zealand Earthquake

Thank goodness for the lack of serious injury. Thoughts with all those who are hurt. Good luck with the clear up.

Thinking of Emigrating to New Zealand?

If you are thinking of Emigrating to New Zealand, visit the place! I know it seems a very obvious thing to say, but you would be surprised! I mean visit as well, not have a holiday, if you approach a visit through a holiday makers eyes you will see everything through rose tinted spectacles! Sure the big red Warehouse is very kiwi seems amazing blah blah, but is it going to replace Marks and Sparks or Ikea (yes I know NZ has one now) or even more Tesco Direct?
Yep the sun is shining and all looks good, but remember it rains in New Zealand, it gets cold and can be very damp. Read the papers, realise that the problems you are used to haven't magically passed NZ by. There are P houses, social deprivation, gangs, mugging and domestic violence just like home.
I am not being negative, this is simple practical advice, YOU ARE GOING TO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY, you have to know it. To take a family without really looking at where you are going is folly. You are not going on holiday, you are going to live there 24/7. Watch TV, listen to the radio, listen to politicians. Do you agree, is NZ right wing, conservative, liberal. I guess it seems like a green living environmental nirvana on holiday but is it. Do the population generally share the liberal views of North London?
New Zealand is a great place, but you have to know it yourself and know you can live there. November is a great time to go and get a feel for the place. The Airlines haven't yet hiked their prices as they do over the festive period. The weather is often good in an NZ spring. So if you are thinking go for a pre live. Shop for food that you cook yourself, get to know the prices of what you like to eat. Don't convert the money from sterling or US dollars - work out what you are likely to earn in NZ dollars and start thinking in terms of what percentage of your salary you are spending on the basics. A $30 bottle of wine seem ok when 2NZD = 1GBP its only 15 quid. But if you ear 750GBP per week and in NZ you are earning 750NZD a week that wine is actually like buying a 60 pound bottle of wine in the UK, that hurts. Think like you are living their not on holiday, if you do and you love it you will love NZ!

What is this and where is it?

The story behind this is simply fantastic! So what is it and where? Clue it is in the UK.

Posted via email from Jonathan JG Glazier

What is this? And Where is it?

SO, can any of you tell me what this is and where you can find it?

Posted via email from Jonathan JG Glazier