Another "summer" in Dunedin

July heralds a long and arduous journey from the desert of Doha to the icy cold of Dunedin for both Teagan and me. This year it started at 1 am on hot Doha "morning" and ended 36 hours later in a cold and dark Dunedin tumbling into bed after rediscovering the long lost Grandma toys.






There is something quite soul warming about landing in Dunedin. The single runway is surrounded by paddocks and once you come out of the "enormous" twin propeller aircraft and descend the stairs, you are hit with that combined sweet smell of silage and animal - absolutely perfect for my little international city slicker of a kid.





In honest confessions, this is the point where I admit my over confident traveller mistake. One always travels with insurance, however, One never wants to use it. One always thinks that she can get through any bag collection and airline transfer quickly. And yes, everywhere else this works! Auckland for some reason on the day we arrived could not deliver to my expectations. Three A380s (larger than a 747) and one 747 landed within an hour of each other and the airport turned into a stock sorting yard. Sixty minutes into our luggage collection wait, I informed the madam that we would miss our flight to Dunedin; as her tears began to quietly flow I assured her that all would be okay as we would get there and if we didn't we could stay with her cousin or at the airport hotel. We did make it down to Dunedin adding extra flights onto the trip with a pleasurable reunion of long-lost cousins at Mary's Sunday School less that 12 hours later. Lesson learnt - the only place in the world I ever need to use travel insurance is New Zealand (last year a lost suitcase and this year a missed flight).

Settling back into the kiwi routine was instant. Arrive at Grandma's at 9pm, hit church the next morning, enrol in school the day following, and then get yourself into a school holiday programme soon afterwards. Thou shalt not suffer jet-lag when the best place in the world to be is Dunedin!

Location:Hobson Street,St Clair,New Zealand

A few changes in the wind....well not a lot but sometimes one change makes a difference!

I think that "I" am so lucky to have got Teagan into a new British International School for her 4th year of her formal education. Starting in September, no longer will I be making a 30 minute one-way rally car drive through chaotic streets to the other side of Doha hoping like heck that my twelve eyes are driving defensively enough. We have been in a car pool for the past two years which has been fantastic, however, it does not take away the time and danger of the trip. We have valued the school Teagan has been at (Sherborne Qatar) but now it is right to move her very very very close to the compound to another high quality British International School, Doha College, West Bay Campus. A few of her school friends are moving also and will be in the same class!

The compound should have some changing dynamics looking ahead. Currently it is about 75% french as the french schools are closest, however, I expect it will start to turn quite english with the school being a 15 minute walk from the gate - maybe there will be more girls around. For some strange reason there seems to be very few girls; currently Teagan's class is over 2/3 boy and all of the children of a comparable age with Teagan in the compound are boys!

As a key result of the school change, I am freed up from at least 2 hours of driving per day. This bodes so well for my other activities, one key one for this coming school year is planning out a large 2 month trip via land and sea from Canada to Turkey - yes, another epic for the backpacking meanderers.

Below are some annual photos - wearing the same uniform throughout. At age 4 yrs it is huge at age 7 3/4 it is time for a new one! Weight change 13 kg up to 19 kg.

Location:Hobson Street,St Clair,New Zealand