So, last night was the long awaited house warming party. It was a good night on the whole and I think that most people had a good time. We over catered but that usually happens so there is chocolate cake and pavlova and cheesecake clogging up our fridge in preparation for clogging us up too! Ah, good food though! 

We thought it might be fun to play a few games so I tried to teach the group how to play four on a couch which kinda worked. It was girls against guys and the girls won two out of two rounds and then that was it...the guys lost interest. Think it was too much of a strategy game for them. 

Not everyone came as expected but we had about 20 people turn up so the house was full which made christie pleased...after all, it is her house. Sorry, I didn't get out the camera in the end; didn't ever really seem the time to take a few snap shots. Nothing to exciting sorry but it was a good night.

A funny story for the midwives amongst us...This week I've been orientating to Antenatal clinic and today I flew solo. My first customer was a lady who spoke no English and I was told that she was coming with an interpreter...which was indeed what happened. However, I soon discovered that the interpreter's English wasn't much better. 

I asked the pregnant lady if she had brought with her a wee sample so that I could test it...no she hadn't (I realised this by seeing she didn't have one with her rather than her saying no to that question). So I asked her if she could go and do one in a little jar for me in the bathroom next door. I got the interpreter to explain to her that I wanted her to wee into the jar. Off the lady went.

She was taking forever in the bathroom and I began to wonder what was holding her up. A little while later the lady emerged and handed me the jar...inside was a poo sample!! Somewhere the translation obviously got confused! And no wonder she took so long! That's pretty talented to produce a poo sample on demand!

I tried to explain to both the interpreter and the lady that I actually wanted a wee sample to which the interpreter said "soft?" "NO, no." I replied, "a wee. Urine. Yellow liquid!" I'm not sure if she really understood me in the end even though she was shaking her head in agreement. 

The doctor waiting to then see this lady was hovering around outside the room and told me to hurry up with my consultation. My explanation to him and the other midwives as to why the consult was taking so long caused quite a few laughs...what a way to start off my clinic list for the day.

P.S. My flatmate just made a suggestion as to why the word "wee" wasn't understood...everyone here uses the word "wee" for small rather than urine! Gosh, why didn't I think of that at the time!

                The latest addition to the family....meet my new car (yet to be named, if ever). A nissan Bluebird.

The frost thick on the ground this morning...kinda beautiful though! It was still O degrees Celcius at 9am...and they tell me this is nothing compared to what is yet to come...brrrr!

Stewart Island...Fri 15 - Sun 17 May.

A 1 hour ferry ride south from Bluff takes you to the third island of NZ...a national park wonderland. The weather unfortunately wasn't great but it was still very beautiful. There was a rainbow nearly every day...a reminder to me that God keeps His promises.

On sunday 7th May, Christie, Kimmy (a friend of Christie's) and I went for a walk up a very high mountain...I didn't realise that Mt Luxmore was as high or as long as it is but we climbed to Luxmore hut at 1000m. By tree line, it was well and truely snowing...these are some of the pictures from the top! It was hard work...I couldn't lift my legs for a couple of days after but so amazing! 

After the trek through the blizzard from Luxmore hut back to tree line....brrrr cold!

Welcome to the home of Esther Duncan. I've been in NZ for three weeks now and have finally got around to setting up a blog to keep you up to date on what I've been up to. Hope you enjoy seeing some pictures and hearing some stories.