10 great things about NZ

OK less of the moaning about the lack of the Guardian Weekend and the poor insulation in the sheds Kiwis call houses. Let's celebrate 10 great things about NZ.

1) Almost no religious tension. Well it just doesn't get mentioned at all. I don't recall a single story about Islamic extremism over here in the time I've been here. Or any kind of religious tension for that matter. People are religious, but it doesn't seem to be anything newsworthy.

2) Very little crime. The posties just leave parcels on the doorstep because there is no crime to speak of. We asked where the dodgy bit of Wellington was and were told Newtown. This is where we live, by the way, and trust me, it's way less dodgy than Clifton in Bristol. People don't even lock bikes up round here.

3) On a clear day... On a clear day Wellington is quite simply, stunning. If you don't believe me... here's a view from the top of Colonial Knob, one of the lookouts above the city. You can see the South Island from up there too. Plus NZ has way more sunshine hours than the UK. Almost no boring grey overcast days. Just windy ones!


4) Cheap takeaways. It's almost not worth cooking they're that cheap. Perhaps not that healthy though. Average takeaway cost is about $10.50, that's about 4 pounds in UK money. And I can get a box of sushi for lunch for $6 (under 3 pounds!).

5) Beaches, beaches everywhere. In a long thin country like NZ there is coastline everywhere and Wellington has some really cracking beaches all on our doorstep. There are three all within a 10 minute drive. I can see some after work beach trips during the upcoming summer :-)

6) Supermarkets have sensible hours. I went to get some fizzy drink last night after a sporting victory and found our local suburban supermarket still open at 10.15 on a Sunday night. That's convenience.

7) Sport culture. You would find it awfully hard to be a couch potato round here. The sport just comes to find you and nobody thinks you're weird for being into it either. It's a really refreshing attitude and conducive to making friends and keeping fit. Our mixed indoor netball team just won the league incidentally... It's been a lot of fun playing netball and a lot more fun than it was when I was 11 and being bullied by other kids' parents! Sport is much better as an adult.


8) A bit less of the nanny state. Example - going for walks may involve a drive along an unsealed road followed by a river crossing in a place without a mobile phone signal. All within spitting distance of a major city. It makes you feel alive to take responsibility for yourself.

9) Chilled out flights. Today I took a flight to and from Nelson with work. It's a 30 minute flight. You don't need any ID to get on it. You can walk onto the flight with a bottle of coke and nobody bats an eyelid. And there are rubbish bins at the airports. Welcome to New Zealand.

10) Dressing up is de rigeur. No more weird looks when you want to have a fancy dress party. Everyone joins in over here! There is even a whole weekend of dressing up at the annual rugby sevens tournament when everyone really goes to town. We have a group of 9 going in February and are still looking for dress up ideas - if you have any, let me know...

Here is my team at the work Halloween quiz night.... See if you can tell which one I am...!

I'm badjelly the baddest witch in all the world!

It was my birthday yesterday and I worked half a day then met up with friends after work for some drink fuelled fun.

The weather was the worst Wellington has to offer, torrential non-stop rain alongside a cold southerly which means umbrellas are quickly destroyed. For some reason I chose harbourside pubs to celebrate in so we arrived in the second pub with hair plastered to faces. I had to stick my head under the hand drier, it was that wet.

Anyway that aside I had a great time, and some fun conversations including reliving our childhood memories of Badjelly the Witch, a comic fairy tale told in audio form by Spike Milligan.

I clearly remember down the years being terrified at the moment where the witch is coming up the stairs with a big sharp knife to eat the children with peanut butter. It is a really evocative childhood image.

I think Badjelly is a very kiwi thing despite Spike Milligan being British because it seems that an audio version of the story was regularly broadcast on NZ Radio when I was little. People of my generation who grew up in NZ (even if only briefly, like me) all seem to have a good memory of it although I think there's relatively little knowledge of the story in the UK. The next generation are getting it from their parents or teachers too - Emma from work's kids are well aware of the story so Badjelly's place in kiwiana will be perpetuated.

We are contemplating dressing up as characters from Badjelly the witch for Hallowe'en and/or Rugby Sevens. So many to choose from: Binklebonk the goblin, Dulboot the giant, Mudwiggle the worm, Dinglemouse or Jim the giant eagle. Or of course Badjelly herself.

I particularly love the bit where Tim and Rose ask Dinglemouse what he was before Badjelly the witch turned him into a mouse. "I was a banana" says Dinglemouse.

Classic.