Jo Herrings Adventures

Election Day (+1) in New Zealand and its spurred me to get my blog in order so I can write about the historic nature of yet another democratic election and a referendum here in the Land of the Long White cloud (where sovereignty was founded by the great women of our nation. Piece of Trivia for you Pub Quiz types). I have enjoyed the build up to the elections with the usual twitteraty declaring success by voting early and my facetalkers all complaining about the lack of better options. My family all clearly divided through time and circumstance. Mum is a staunch National Supporter from her farming background and Dad was a Labour supporter making for a fun election night in our household every 3 years. I am rather indifferent to change as I don't live here in NZ full time. But without making a vote I can't weigh in on any political discussions for the next 3 years. Thats the rules... My favourite experience of this election was listening to special people at the library com...

We are the Champions my friends! And we'll keep on fighting til the end! We are the Champions! We are the Champions! No time for losers! Cos we are the champions! Of the World! Count yourselves lucky I don't know how to set music to my posts! Richie McCaw accepting the William Webb Ellis Trophy I am still pinching myself a little that I am here in New Zealand to see my team the mighty All Blacks take the coveted William Webb Ellis trophy. Sorry I started the blog post with the punch line but there is no real way to hide my pride and delight with the result on Sunday 23rd of October 2011. This post is more of a diary for me to remember just how amazing this weekend was so sorry if its long and not terribly interesting for you readers.. After going to bed at 9pm in preparation for the final I woke up like a kid on Christmas at dawn (around 5.30am). I rested for a bit before dying my hair - no not black! - and painting my nails - yes black. When the rest of th...

As I recovered from the All Black placing in the Final my mind turned to other pressing matters. Shortly before the weekend of the Semi Final the people of the Bay of Plenty were devastated to discover a container ship (The Rena) had crashed into a small reef in the harbour. It was said to be like hitting a needle in a hay stack and bought up many questions about the piloting of vessels into NZ harbours. Over the subsequent days the wild winds thrashed The Rena making it impossible to recover the boat in one piece. It was leaking oil and some of the containers were propelled off into the bay leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. I decided to join my good friend Nikki's family in The Bay to offer my beach cleaning skills. I had had very sad news from the London camp early in the week also. My friend René's  best friend from school days had taken his own life. I had enjoyed some of my best London moments with Tom and his girlfriend Laura including jiving to Calvi...

The week leading up to the Semi's was consumed with recovery, phone shopping, running and visiting friends in the Northland city of Whangarei. Thanks to the Prasad family for welcoming me home like only you guys can and Congratulations to Harry and Mrs Miranda Harrison on your brilliant new gym studio. Bookended on Friday with a warm up to the action was my Auckland 30th birthday with my wonderful family and friends. It was a night when you recognise how awesome your oldest friends are and how they are always there for you. Thanks Lovelies! As Saturday morning came and we enjoyed a slow start (some more than others!). I made arrangements to go to the first of the Semi Finals games with Vicky's old English workmate & Premier womens rugby player Rachel German. Rach had secured herself a ticket from a disappointed Englishman the week before for a tidy $50 (I had paid $501) on his way to the airport. We met a couple of girlfriends in Ponsonby and had some dinner before Chl...

I arrived back in Auckland on Saturday lunchtime after a big week down south to be greeted by brother Tom. I was taking him to the Quarter Final for his 30th birthday present (all be it 2.5 years later!). The Quarter was between England and France. I have never donned the English colours but I proudly stripped to my white Football Jersey in support of my second home. Not least because some Frenchies tried to knock me off by driving on the wrong side of the road that week. Nothing like a serious car crash to sort out your loyalties. Front Yard Footy on the Fan Trail We took the last of the Fan Trail to the game at Eden Park and enjoyed the tv's being set up in peoples front yards to see the game in Wellington (Ireland v Wales with Wales taking the prized first post in the Semi Finals). I don't have any images of the game and I can bearly remember the intricacies of it but I do remember one thing early on, I was backing the wrong horse. The crowd was mostly made up of Ch...

I had the great pleasure of attending Chris and Jodie Schriek's wedding at Trents Vineyard in Christchurch on Friday. It was a wonderful day of celebration. Chris greeted us at the cars along with his posy of pals in fine Black dinner suits. Chris's Mum fussed with roses for the boys as we took glasses of sparkling wine to the gardens of the vineyard. The ceremony was heartfelt and simple. Chris's tears on Jodie's arrival to the aisle was worthy of man size tissues and summoned smiles of joy from us all. The Bride and Groom had met at an All Black game in Cardiff when their tour company had not purchased enough tickets for the sold out game. I had the pleasure of being there that day to see their blossoming sparks of love and on Friday seeing this sealed with a kiss and a pinch of the brides bum 5 years on I couldn't be more happy! You can't see Chris's hand! We enjoyed canapés and more sparkles before being seated for a delicious buffet meal. Spe...