The New Zealand chapter
There has been a long absence since our last blog and I
would love to blame it on the fact that my husband and father have both been
hospitalised in that time, or that I have been so busy trailing the miniature
terrorist organisation which is my delicious, but archetypal two year old,
nephew however the truth is that I have simply been living the high life in New
Zealand. And what a frivolous couple of months it has been, one of
machine-washing our clothes, one of sunbathing without an audience of men (this
one applies a little more to me than Hamish), one of copious amounts of cold
Speight’s and sparkling Sauvignon, and one of drinking water from the tap with
careless abandon.
In early November I left Hamish in Nepal, to do a Mountain
Medicine diploma, and flew back to NZ. En route I had my first taste of Hong
Kong – what an amazing city but more on that in another blog – and packed to
the hilt with clutches and handbags I returned to the motherland with summer
social fever. After a particularly large weekend at the Christchurch races my
hangover bravely marched into midweek leaving me in great fear that I had lost
my game. Luckily this wasn’t that case and after a routinely frustrating
telephone call to Hamish in Nepal he suggested I be tested for giardia and what
do you know, the man must be a real doctor after all.
A few evenings later I got one of those telephone calls that
you don’t want when your husband is climbing glaciers in the Everest region.
“Hi Jess it’s Hamish, everything’s fine but I am in hospital”. Well everything
must be fine then. He had been flown out at first light by helicopter and was
being rushed into surgery with appendicitis. Since he didn’t die of
appendicitis (I am not even sure if that’s possible?) or from a dodgy surgery
infection I have taken up bullying him for getting a 12 year old boys illness,
but at the time it was pretty bloody scary.
It hasn’t all been appendicitis and giardia though, there
was a weekend soaking in the Hamner Springs hot pools, a tour of the South
Island including penguin, seal and albatross spotting, not to mention the best
blue cod either of us had ever eaten. Mum’s 60th birthday and
Christmas Carols were held in the Horse and Hound (for those of you who are not
familiar with the Horse and Hound it is the pub Dad has built in the limestone
stable on our farm). Hamish and I became godparents, shocking I know (!), to
the gorgeous Dominic Newlands while his brother William, the previously
mentioned terrorist, tried to drown him in the font. Many would argue that at
two years of age a child isn’t sure of his or her religious orientation but
after William’s show I am wondering if perhaps he is an atheist?
New Year was celebrated in the North Island with some of my
university friends and followed by quick trips to the Bay of Islands and
Waiheke Island where we stayed with friend’s parents who fed and watered us so
well that we were both reluctant to leave. I have never given the North Island
the credit that it is due, it has some stunning beaches and with the population
about five the times of the South Island you are far less likely to have an
awkward encounter with an ex boyfriend, should that be an issue for you.
And here we are at last, on the plane to Zambia for the next
leg of our adventures. I really have no idea what we are getting ourselves in
for and am swinging between excitement of the adventures ahead and full blown
terror at the unknown. We will land in our new home, Livingstone, on Thursday
and set off for our first medical clinic on Sunday. There is currently only one
other doctor out there, sometimes there is up to six, so it really is going to
be full on but luckily for everyone I have almost mastered using a stethoscope
so I imagine I will be invaluable to the team.
We plan to be in Zambia for four months before travelling
overland through Namibia, with Hamish’s parents, to South Africa. I promise to
try and keep the blog updates a little more regular from now on. Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year to all x
