Well - I spent Monday 29 September exploring a bit more of the town of Thames. As I walked down the mainstreet I could see the mangroove trees that marked the edge of the estuary on one side and on the other side I could see the the towering green mountains that confined the town to it's lower slopes. As I walked, I couldn't help but feel similarities between Thames and Juneau, Alaska (a place I lived for 8 years and will always feel a bit like home to me). They are both fairly small towns.... the internet says Juneau had 30,737 people in 2006, while Thames had only 6,756 (with approx 25,941 in the Thames/Coromandel area). Wow - I had no idea that Juneau was that much larger than Thames! Hmmm, Juneau does sprawl A LOT... So, I guess Thames is more comparable to Downtown Juneau... Anyway..... Both towns are bordered by water on one side and mountains on the other; and both are steeped in mining history. Obviously they have differences too, but the major difference is that I can leave Thames anytime I want!!! No plane or ferry ticket required!
So, as I was pondering these similarities it occured to me how much I liked the feel of the town. Plus, I already knew someone here! I then recalled something I had told several people when they had asked what I was going to do in NZ - I said "I will either find a job I like and settle in that town, or I will find a town I like and find a job there." So... I decided that maybe I should try finding a job in Thames! I liked the town, I liked the mountains..... I had found out that both the jobs I was really, really, really hoping for on the S. Island had opted not to hire me (despite the fact that I had made it to the final rounds of consideration). Needless to say, that really, really bummed me out - especially since they were both guiding jobs. So - Monday night I told Dave about my thoughts on looking for a job in town. He was more than excited at the prospect of my staying in town (as he was already quite sweet on me).
On Tuesday, 30 September, I took a bath (my first since leaving the states) and considered my job options. I was far from optomistic. I hadn't even been hired in jobs for which I was qualified! How was I going to get a job when I had no experience (ie cafe work)? However, I got nicely dressed and headed out. My plan was basically to walk the main street and look for help wanted signs. Figured that was as good a plan as any! Well... long story shortened..... Within an hour of setting out from the house I was hired at a local cafe and told to start training the next day!
I must admit, I was extremely unsure about it. It happened so fast and I still wasn't sure that I didn't want to try my luck on the S. Island. I wasn't sure I was ready to settle down. I was only supposed to be in Thames for a couple weekends - on a "vacation from my holiday"! However, since I was hired by the first place I tried, I figured that might be a sign of some sort. I had been getting really antsy to get a job; and trying my luck in a more touristy town (Thames isn't a destination, it's more of a "stop and rest on your way up the peninsula" town) would probably be a lot more difficult with my lack of experience! So - why look a gift horse in the mouth - I took the job in a town where I had a friend, was close to water, was close to forests, and was centerally located for travelling to destinations cities in 2 hours or less. Plus, I was going to gain some invaluable experience in a field that could provide me with ample job opportunities in NZ and Australia with a work permit.
So - life since then has just been life. I've had some weekend adventures that I probably should've blogged about -but I'll just have to post a massive holiday update summing up the last 3 months of 2008 here in NZ! But for now, I would like to share some images and details about the place I currently call home........
The Town
This church was built in 1898 - wooden gothic
Two wood pigeons (endemic birds).
Thames viewed from lookout above the town. the estuary appears to be at mid tide, some water on the mudflats, but the mud is still visible.
Again, Thames viewed from a mountain lookout. The river can be seen snaking from inland on the left and entering the estuary on the right.
Dave at the Thames war memorial.
The town from the war memorial lookout, the wooden gothic church is in the middle.
Thames at night from the mountain lookout.
The Imperial Bar - where Dave and I met...... Awwwww.The Cafe
Margaret, (on the right) is the manager that hired me and Ann (on the left) is our mid-morning to late afternoon short order cook.
My Avocado Pie on Display! I may not have brought experience with me, but my avocado pie was so successful that I had to make 2 pies in one week after it was introduced!!!
Margaret found the avocado pie recipe so easy and versitile to use that she created many other flavors: berry, mango, and banana (though the banana pie has been around NZ for years, as a Banafi pie)
Mango "cheesecake" (no cream cheese in it) based on my avocado pie in the bottom or the cabinet - Margaret can be seen through the cabinet.The House
Centerally located in the downtown Thames area, Dave owns a house that rests at the bottom of a dip in the foothills of the bush covered mountains. It has 3 bedrooms, 1 toilet, 1 bath, a kitchen/dining room, and a large lounge. While the living area takes up 1 floor, 2 sheds/garages and crawl spaces/storage areas are located underneath.
It has a small front yard that is home to a currently blossoming jacaranda and silk tree.
The backyard has a feijoa, orange, tangerine, plum, and lemon tree; as well as a small deck, a BBQ, and a wood shed.
Orange Blossom and lady bug
Lady bug on orange Leaf
Bee and lemon blossom
Dave taking out a bush, making room for more parking. Inside the fence stands a butchered feijoa tree.
Feijoa flower, before the tree was mercilessly trimmed.The Cats
Koshka: A sweet little girl that enjoys playing with clothes pins, brings live skinks into the house while bragging, and likes to curl up next to me throughout the night.
Jinx: A good natured and rotund fellow who prefers string for playing, brags about the dead birds he leaves in the hall (uneaten), and who is very much a papa's boy.
Dave
Dave works at Peninsula Joinery, as a cabinet/bench maker - mostly for kitchens, but also for vanities, wardrobes, etc. I consider him a computer geek, but he argues that he is not a geek - despite the fact that he constantly builds, tweaks, and rebuilds his 3 computers. He is a self-described "petrolhead", meaning he really, really likes cars. While he now works in the carpentry trade, he once considered becoming a mechanic. He even has a certificate in automotive technology. This enthusiasm for working on cars has been more than useful for me! Dave replaced my alternator shortly after I arrived here and is currently doing some work on it so it can get it's WOF (warrent of fitness - certifying the car is safe). The money I have saved from his help is definitely in the hundreds of dollars! But it's not just because I'm his girlfriend that he fixes my car. Dave is known for giving a hand to anybody that needs it. He readily helps his friends and family fix their cars, shelves, computers, etc. Basically - he's a really good guy!
A Pohutukawa bench Dave built.
Dave standing with his Rimu bench (pohutukawa bench on left) Oh - and the ants!! I made a comment in one of my last blogs that they would be mentioned in an upcoming story. My mom has been waiting patiently since :-)
Shortly after arriving at Dave's, and before he changed the alternator in my car, we parked my car in his shed (garage) and Dave sprayed the entire car with ant killer. It supposedly works to kill car spiders (which almost all NZ cars have). We were very much hoping it would work on ants too! Unfortunately, when Dave started working on my alternator I took another tour around the car....... Yep - ants all over. The pics aren't near as fantastic as I would like, but they should prove that yes - ants to reside on my car! The good news? I haven't seen them wondering around on my car for the last few weeks. I'm greatly hoping that they left the car and joined the millions of ants in the one or two colonies living on Dave's property - ha ha ha, I uprooted a nest (with eggs) when I dug out Dave's mailbox.
