Our trip home Part 1

They say home is where the heart is and if that has any truth in it then, well home will always and forever be South Africa.

We've been in New Zealand for almost 3 years and at first our plan was to come to NZ and after a year got back to SA for a holiday, but for anyone who has experienced immigration they can understand the desperate need to go back to the place you call home and to weigh up the options (both financially and emotionally) of a long trip back home or staying where you are and building the foundation you need to make it in your new surroundings. Well, it took us 2 and a half years to finally be able to go home and as soon as we could we got our ickets and set our plans for our trip home.

After 17 weeks our time for our "long trek" finally came. Because I'd done the long 3 and a half hour flight via Dubai on Emirates we decided there was no way we were gonna do that and so booked through Qantas and flew via Sydney. Our flight was a 7am flight and so we had to be at the airport at about 5am, but with the Festive season already underway and the airports so hectic (we were told by a few people that they were lat checking in even though they were 2 hours before their fligt) so we decided we would get to the airport as early as possible. So we got onto the airport shuttle about 3.30am (100% lack of sleep that night, with doing last minute packing and such) and were at the airport by about 4am. I hate airports, I absolutely hate airports! I am a very nervous traveller (bad experiences at Heathrow airport which has scarred me for life) so I was very very pleased that all went well at check in! Our flight to Sydney wasn't to bad, Air NZ is a wonderful airline (giving props where it's due) but one of the worst airports I've ever flown into is Syndey International. The place is a mad house! We got off the plane 3hrs later and were advised that connecting passengers needed only to go to the Transfer desk, BUT they don't tell you which Transfer desk out of the few hundred desks in the airport!!! Anyway, I kid you not when I say 80% of the people on the Air NZ Auckland to Sydney flight were all transferring to Qantas Sydney to Johannesburg! So we're standing in the line right, for about half an hour (which is like a day in airport time) and one of the gentlemen in the line asks one of the airport staff if we're in the right line. Guess what, we weren't! He directed us to another transfer desk which was on the other side of the airport altogether. Thankfully because most of the passengers were all together there was no way they were gonna let the plane go! And, well we had about an hour to go anyway! But I digress, we finally got checked in and finally borded our 14 hour flight to Johannesburg! After about 6 hours we had had it, and the damn travel agent had ordered Cameron a "Special Diet" so every meal on every flight Cameron was receiveing low-fat, low-carb meals, and guess who had to eat that!!! It was so funny! At first we were wondering what the hell was happening, at first I thought maybe it could be a mix up (and thought maybe it was me but then realised my passport is in my maiden name - Bonhomme - so the "Pillay" meal was definitely for him. Side note: only on our return trip did he realise that he "might've mentioned" this to the travel agent!) Anyway, 14 hours later we arrived in Johannesburg! I was slightly disappointed when we arrived because when I went back to SA on my first trip to NZ 6 years ago, the overwhelming feeling of "FINALLY I'M HOME" was not there! Maybe it was because the trip was really long (and the plane was so old, I'm used to each seat having a tv and you can watch whatever you like, but this flight was like straight out of the 90's, with tv screens dropping out of the ceiling and everyone watching the same old movie). Needless to say we didn't watch the movies and slept all the way, so maybe that's why we didn't have that excited feeling when we disembarked. But when we saw Poovi & Reshme, that all changed! Cameron was so excited to see Poovi & when we actually got onto the roads in JHB and realised that "Wow, we're home" we finally got that excited feeling.

Poovi & Resh have an amazing home and the most beautiful little boy, Kailash. It was so nice just sitting around and catching up with them and finally getting to play with the little munchkin, who we had never seen besides in pictures. Poovi went all out & cooked up a storm and Wayne & Tish came over and we finally got to enjoy what we had been missing for so long. Wayne & Tish have only been together since we've been in NZ and so we never got to meet her either and we so enjoyed spending time with her and getting to know her. The boys so enjoyed being together again. Cameron & Wayne have been friends for over 20 years and Cameron & Poovi have been friends for about 17 years. And they, along with the rest of the crew (Kumaran, Lloyd, Niven and others) have been friends for so long and have been a huge part of Cameron's life and now mine. All the wives & girlfriends get on and they are all part of our extended family.

These are a few pics of our first night in SA.
Cameron & Poovi

The Boys, Poovi, Cam & Wayne



Reshme, me & Tish




We divided our time in Johannesburg at Poovi & Reshme and with Wayne & Tish. We literally partied all night and slept all day and it didn't help us in terms of jet lag. The first few days in JHB were a blur, needless to say but I can and will say we thoroughl we enjoyed it. Here's a few pics of our time in JHB:








And the thing I missed most (besides my family & friends) was Beacon Marshmallows. No offence to NZ but there is no better marshmallow and definitely the standard I've found in NZ and Australia is far below that of a Beacon Marshmallow. Tish came to my rescue (after dear Reshme went on a marshmallow hunt on our way from the airport) and had these gorgeous marshmallows in her cupboard... girl after my own heart!
One of my faves is the coconut covered marshmallow...

And yes, I ate marshmallows my whole holiday through. My dear mother had them ready and waiting for me cos she knows how much I love me a good marshmallow!!!

Anyway, after our fun-filled weekend in JHB we finally flew to Durban and got see our families. Cam's parents, my mum, sister-in-law & niece & nephew, and my dad (his wife and their son, Zack) came to see us at the airport. It was so good to see everyone, and the tears ran as we saw everyone! I will admit the excitedness came once we got on Durban soil. As we were going to collect our luggage from the carousel, I heard my mum and nephew call out my name and the butterflies started!!! We were so happy to be home! After catching up at the airport we headed off to Cam's parents place and had the WHOLE family come through to see us which was awesome!

2010 Concerts

We were fortunate enough to experience a whole lot of international acts coming to Auckland over the past few weeks and the few we did get to see were extraordinary.

In October we got to see the very last concert tour of one of our ultimate favourite groups, Simply Red. Both Cameron & I thoroughly enjoy their music and have for so many years. Strange how we are both from two different era's (in terms of music and culture) and yet we both have such similar tastes in music. Anyway, when we heard Simply Red was in Auckland and this was to be one of their final concerts ever, we had to, had to be there. The concert was absolutely great! The arena wasn't packed to capacity but the crowd was awesome, no-one pushing or getting out of hand, I guess as the group has been around for so many years, the crowd was a little bit of a mature bunch of people. But the great part was because they've been around for long, the crowd included people from all walks of life, all age-groups and all ethnicities (and a hell of a lot of South Africans - heard a few people around us talking Afrikaans). But regardless of the dynamics of the crowd, we all got down and boogeyed the night away which was fabulous! Simply Red was AMAZING and we enjoyed every moment (if I haven't said that already)! They played all the greats, from Stars and Fairground to Money's too tight to mention, Thrill me and If you don't know be by now! All in all it proved to be a great concert, a great band, a great crowd and a great evening! We are so thrilled we can say we got to see one of the greatest bands of our time.





A few weeks after the Simply Red concert we attended the Robin Gibb concert, for anyone who doesn't know who Robin Gibb is, you obviously don't know what great music is about! Sadly because there's only two of the Brothers Gibb still alive and Robin being the "healthier" of the 2 only Robin got to do the concert, and sadly as much as we loved the classic hits of the Bee Gees, that distinct Barry Gibb sound was sorely missed. Don't get me wrong it was a great concert, we enjoyed the music so much and the crowd did too... more people got up to dance than I've ever seen at any concert I've been to! The backup singers were extraordinary and really made the music gel and made it sound so close to the actual Bee Gees sound.





We decided to go the Robin Gibb concert way before we even heard that Simply Red was coming to NZ, mainly because Cameron grew up listening to the Bee Gees because of his dad (I've never met a bigger Bee Gees fan ever!) and Cameron was adamant that we had to go "For my Father" and so we did. Don't get me wrong, I do love the Bee Gees and not only because of the great music they've recorded but mainly because of the great influence they've had over the music industry over the past few decades. Everyone from Dionne Warwick to Destiny's Child have had great hits written and produced for them by the Bee Gees and that is what I personally admire most about the Bee Gees. Nowadays people want the fame of being a great singer or artist, but what makes a great artist is the ability to write & produce great, classic hits that relates to all age groups and crosses all genres of music. Both Cameron & I are both really passionate about music and can appreciate a good song when we hear it and so Bee Gees sit on top of the list of the greatest artist ever, both for us and in music history!



We might never get to see the "Bee Gees" in concert but I for one am glad I got a small taste of what their music means to people and the beauty of the music they've made over the years.

It's been a long time, hello world

Well well well, it really and truly has been a long time since I've had anything to say. So here's a quick update of what's been happening in our lives in the past few months.

I've started a new job at the Ports of Auckland. My lat day at MIT was the 1st of October and I started at the Ports on the 4th. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for me, mostly because I was with MIT for almost 2 years and had made really good friends there, but I knew n my heart of hearts that it was time for me to move on. I was blessed with a wonderful boss (Esther) who gave me her blessing and allowed me to move on with no qualms or resistance.
So yes, I've been at the Ports for just over a month and am thoroughly enjoying it. It's a whole new world for me, learning all about the stuff that goes on at an International Port. And I've had the opportunity to drive some of the toys here at the port, including the Tug and survey boats.
(for some strange reason I can't upload the pics... so will try again at a later stage...)

We've had a few friends falling preganant and having babies all around us. And we've been honoured to be apart of their lives.

No news for us on the baby front I'm afraid, but watch this space. I am sure it will be soon.

Anyway, I've got to sign off... promise not to be a stranger any longer.

Corrinne

Girls Night out

Tonight we celebrated the end of one era and the beginning of another for one of my colleagues. A wonderful person who is finally getting hitched. The ladies from work & I organised an impromptu Hen's night out for our dear friend Bobbie and these are just some of the pics we were able to take.

My manager, Esther did such a wonderful job of finding some really cool get up for her, even a ball & Chain, it was so funny to see Bobbie walking around with this on her ankle.

We went to a local restaurant and had an amazing dinner, although I had to be very careful, counting points to everything I ate. It turned out very well for something that was planned in 2 days.







Well, Bobbie & Utu get married tomorrow afternoon, so all the best guys... we wish you well...

Site seeing

We've done a bit of siteseeing in Auckland while the folks have been here. We did the usual Sky Tower (I am sure you're all tired of the same pics) but this time we did it differently, we went at night and believe you me, it was better than I had ever seen it. Auckland is a beautiful city and it just looks so much better at night, the boats on the harbour, the whole city lit up, it makes a very picturesque setting.








We also visited Devenport, a seaside suburb on the North Shore of Auckland. We got some really nice views of Auckland City, and then had some fish & chips for dinner, the kiwi thing to do when you're at the beach.

Birthday Celebrations

In celebration of Cameron's 32nd birthday we decided to have a bbq at home with a few friends.

It was so nice to have Cameron's parents with us for his birthday, God knows he needed it.
As his birthday was on Thursday (22nd April) while we were in Rotorua, we decided the best time to have it was Friday when we got back to Auckland. It was also a good excuse to have all our friends meet the folks and vice versa. So as soon as we got back to Auckland Friday afternoon, we went to Continental's and bought our stocks, the usual. We love Continental because (And I don't know if I've mentioned this before) it's the same Continentals Butchery that started in Overport, Durban. Well it's the same family business and the standard is exactly the same as our Durban one.
And thank God for Mother in Laws, I don't know how I could have done anything without my dear mother in law, she just got right into everything and all I had to do was make salads, awesome!!!
It was a lovely evening, thanks everyone for making it on such short notice.










And not only did we end up celebrating Cameron's birthday we got to celebrate 2 BIG Announcements, both our friends Premika & Evelyn are expecting. Can't wait to be an aunty again!!! Congrats ladies and to the husbands Lenny & Api, well done... LOL!!!