Things you don't see in London
It was a chilly day in Wellington yesterday so we popped our heating on. It went down to a parky 14 degrees. Its great having central heating I have to say although we have some super fireplaces in the house. Looking out of the living room window yesterday afternoon I was chuffed to see two houses on the hill opposite with smoke coming out of their chimneys. A really cute sight. When I did the school run I saw more houses with smoke puffing out of the chimneys and I could just imagine how toasty those fires would make the rooms.
You just don't see smoke coming out of chimneys in London. If you have a real fire you have to use smokeless fuel. Sensible if you think how smoggy and dirty London used to be. However it is really rather charming to see smoke coming out of chimneys. Its also made me think of other things you wouldn't see in London, or even other parts of the UK.
1) School kids in uniform legally driving to school. The legal driving age in NZ is 15. Sensible for rural communities but I did think it was a bit odd seeing a young lad in school uniform driving off to school.
2) Barefeet. Its very common to see all ages walking the streets of NZ in bare feet. They may just be popping to the dairy (corner shop) or nipping round to a pals but its a common sight even as its getting colder. You just wouldn't risk it in London, too much poo, glass and other grotty stuff on the streets.
3) Every second car is a 4X4 often with a roof box/ bike rack/ kayac rack attached. The great Kiwi ourdoors is so close for many. Even for us in Wellington we can get to some great ourdoor space within a 40 minute drive. Also beaches are public rights of way so its totally acceptable to drive your 4X4s down the beach. Grant and his pals did a big tramp last weekend and started it off with a one hour offroad drive.
4) Adverts for breastfeeding. Yes even adverts in public spaces like bus stops. I love this. When I had Jess you did feel awkward feeding in public. In Islington rumours were about that Carluccio in Upper Street had banned breastfeeding. I remember my NCT pals and I all wanted to head down to Carluccios and feed en masse! Breastfeeding is very much encouraged all over NZ which is good to see. You also don't see those nauseating signs saying "breast feeding welcome here" in shop and cafe windows. Its just accepted.
5)Plunket Rooms. I guess the closest to this in the UK is a combination of NCT and the baby clinic. Plunket nurses were introduced into NZ in the late 50's to set up community meeting rooms where a mum/ carer could go with the young family to get the medical advice, feeding advice and also to have a coffee and network with other mums. Often the Plunket Rooms are attached to a local park and playground, if not then they have toddler safe play areas outside. In addition there is the Porse network which is where you go to get a registered Porse childminder/ nanny. Not sure what Porse stands for, will investigate. Both Plunket and Porse are all over NZ and in public community areas.
6) Signs in Maori!! Well obviously and its a bit daft of me to put this in but I'm very much enjoying learning to pronounce the Maori names and works I see around. All public facilities are labelled in both Maori and English - eg Hospitals, Doctors, Govt Depts, Libraries and more.
No smoke coming out of chimneys today as its warm again. The song "Four Seasons in Once Day" by Crowded House is certainly about the NZ weather! Warm and sunny today. Cold, windy and grey yesterday. What will it be like on Friday?
You just don't see smoke coming out of chimneys in London. If you have a real fire you have to use smokeless fuel. Sensible if you think how smoggy and dirty London used to be. However it is really rather charming to see smoke coming out of chimneys. Its also made me think of other things you wouldn't see in London, or even other parts of the UK.
1) School kids in uniform legally driving to school. The legal driving age in NZ is 15. Sensible for rural communities but I did think it was a bit odd seeing a young lad in school uniform driving off to school.
2) Barefeet. Its very common to see all ages walking the streets of NZ in bare feet. They may just be popping to the dairy (corner shop) or nipping round to a pals but its a common sight even as its getting colder. You just wouldn't risk it in London, too much poo, glass and other grotty stuff on the streets.
3) Every second car is a 4X4 often with a roof box/ bike rack/ kayac rack attached. The great Kiwi ourdoors is so close for many. Even for us in Wellington we can get to some great ourdoor space within a 40 minute drive. Also beaches are public rights of way so its totally acceptable to drive your 4X4s down the beach. Grant and his pals did a big tramp last weekend and started it off with a one hour offroad drive.
4) Adverts for breastfeeding. Yes even adverts in public spaces like bus stops. I love this. When I had Jess you did feel awkward feeding in public. In Islington rumours were about that Carluccio in Upper Street had banned breastfeeding. I remember my NCT pals and I all wanted to head down to Carluccios and feed en masse! Breastfeeding is very much encouraged all over NZ which is good to see. You also don't see those nauseating signs saying "breast feeding welcome here" in shop and cafe windows. Its just accepted.
5)Plunket Rooms. I guess the closest to this in the UK is a combination of NCT and the baby clinic. Plunket nurses were introduced into NZ in the late 50's to set up community meeting rooms where a mum/ carer could go with the young family to get the medical advice, feeding advice and also to have a coffee and network with other mums. Often the Plunket Rooms are attached to a local park and playground, if not then they have toddler safe play areas outside. In addition there is the Porse network which is where you go to get a registered Porse childminder/ nanny. Not sure what Porse stands for, will investigate. Both Plunket and Porse are all over NZ and in public community areas.
6) Signs in Maori!! Well obviously and its a bit daft of me to put this in but I'm very much enjoying learning to pronounce the Maori names and works I see around. All public facilities are labelled in both Maori and English - eg Hospitals, Doctors, Govt Depts, Libraries and more.
No smoke coming out of chimneys today as its warm again. The song "Four Seasons in Once Day" by Crowded House is certainly about the NZ weather! Warm and sunny today. Cold, windy and grey yesterday. What will it be like on Friday?
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