Finding the perfect tenants

On Saturday night we placed an add on Trade Me to rent out our house. We advertised it as being semi-furnished, pets negotiable and stated we wanted long term tenants. It wasn’t long after the add went live that emails started arriving with interested tenants.

We’ve decided to let people view the house on the 11^th June. That’ll give us two weeks to put the final coat of paint on the sleepout and for Bernie to finish the kitchen deck.

The house will be available on the 8^th July. That’s the middle weekend of the school holidays. Enough time to pack-up and vacate during the first week of holidays.

Who Knew?

A few months ago we got a COF for the truck and rig. This month it was time to register the truck. Bernie went to register it and was told he couldn't because the truck didn't have a COF. He explained that it did and went and showed them the COF ticket. Only to be informed that it had been cancelled by The NZ Transport because Bernie didn't have a 'Transport Service' licence. 
Bernie explained the truck was solely used to tow a private fifth wheeler. That it had a permanent hitch on the back, making it impossible to transport anything else. Apparently that makes no difference. We were told because the truck was over a certain gross laden weight ( 6000kg) the driver needed a 'Transport Service' licence. So the COF had been cancelled until Bernie applies for one.

How annoying! Not only will it cost $449 to get this licence, but no-one told us. NZ Transport never contacted us to say they had canceled our COF. Grrrr.

Just goes to show ... you're never too old to learn something new!

The information below was copied and pasted from the NZ Transport Agency's website.

Who needs a transport service licence?

Whether you're an individual or a company, you must hold the appropriate transport service licence (TSL) if you're operating:

• a passenger service
• a goods service (a service that delivers or carries goods, whether or not for hire or reward, using a motor vehicle that has a gross laden weight of 6000kg or more, including one that is 'on hire' to carry goods)
• a vehicle recovery service
• a rental service.

A Dinky Awning

We can tick another job off our 'To Do' list. Bernie wanted an awning that would act like a porch in wet weather. A place we could take off our jackets and boots before stepping into the rig. Also it would be a place to feed the dogs when it's raining.
Bernie drew up a design of what he wanted and 'Scott & Williams Canvas & PVC Ltd' in Nelson made it.

All the windows have blinds and can be unzipped to allow air flow. Plus there are insect screens on all windows.

A Day In The Life Of A Relief Teacher

Relief teaching in a year 5 & 6 class (9 and 10 year olds) today had a few challenges. Like most classes, there were some ‘tricky’ kids who decided to test the boundaries. At times their behavior was disrespectful and unco-operative. But behind their bravado I sensed there was anger and sadness.

Being a reliever and not knowing their backgrounds I presumed there would be a story - a reason why they were acting out.

Once the class was engaged in activities, I quietly crouched beside each of the ‘tricky’ children and had a conversation with them.

Here’s how it went.

Child 1 had talked continuously while I was addressing the class. Even when asked to listen she ignored me and continued talking.

Me: Why don’t you try to listen when someone is speaking? It’s respectful to listen.

Child: I don’t care.

Me: It’s important to learn respect. We all have to show respect, even adults have to.

Child: So.

Me: When you get older if you’re not respectful towards your boss you could lose your job.

Child: I don’t need a job.

Me: Yes you do. You need a job to get money to pay for things.

Child: No I don’t. Mum and Dad will buy me things.

Me: They won’t always buy you things, not when you’re an adult. You’ll need to have money to pay for your own things. That’s why you’ll need a job.

Child: Nah, I don’t need a job…I’ll just go to WINZ!

How does a nine year old even know about WINZ?

Child 2 looked angry. His face was scrunched in a scowl and he was deliberately provoking his peers. I asked him to find another place to sit to do his work and told him I’d come and help him. He did as I asked while showing as much disgust as he could.

Me: Why are you feeling so unhappy?

Child 2: I’m tired. I didn’t get much sleep and I didn’t have any breakfast because there was no food in the house. We had to go to Countdown before school.

Me: That would make me unhappy too.

Child 2: I hate school.

Me: Let me help you with your activity, we’ll do it together.

He agreed and I sat beside him and we continued to chat.

Me: How were your holidays?

Child 2: I saw Mum in the holidays. I wish I lived with her.

Me: I bet you do. Who do you live with now?

Child 2: My Nana, my Dad and my Uncle. My dad says I’m the devil’s child.

Me: I don’t think you are at all. If I had my own class, I would love to teach you. I think you’re an awesome kid.

Child 2: No you wouldn’t. I’m evil. I’m no good.

Me: Honestly, you’re not evil. There’s something really special and nice about you.

No wonder this child’s so angry. He’s 10 years old and believes he’s evil. It’s understandable that he’s annoyed with life.

Time To Go

As some of you know, we’d planned to begin living full time in the rig in February. However unexpected mechanical trouble with the truck caused us to change our plans. When the truck was eventually fixed we found ourselves nearing the end of autumn. Bernie thought we should set off in spring instead of starting in the winter months.

Recently several personal factors have been thrown into the mix. Now everything seems to be pointing to us leaving sooner rather than later.

House-wise we have a couple of things left to do. Paint the sleep-out and finish extending the kitchen deck. Both of these jobs can be completed in a couple of weeks (so Bernie says).

The awning for the rig will probably be made by next week. And Nick Eagle (the agent who imported our rig) is sending down a new motor for the slide out and legs, which have been playing up (stalling mid movement). Once that’s sorted the rig should be good to go. Hopefully it’ll be trouble free from here on in as we seem to have had our fair share of teething problems!

Just like all landlords…finding good tenants is a priority. Becs has offered to keep an eye on the place for us and do routine checks.

So, at last, we are on the count down.

How do we feel now that it’s about to happen? Excited. Happy. Relieved. Curious. A little anxious (will we find work and will the dogs be okay with the change of lifestyle?). Also slightly cautious about getting too excited incase something else holds us up.

It’ll be so good to finally experience this new lifestyle. . . a dream come true!

Second Place

Surprised and happy to get an email from the editor of 'The Leader' saying my photo came second in our national for front page of the week.

Toadstools With A Twist

Finally I found some red toadstools underneath the pine trees at Rabbit Island. It's another aspect of autumn I like. Toadstools, warm temperatures and colourful leaves.
After I surfed the internet to find the name of these toadstools I discovered they have a few interesting facts.

These toadstools/mushrooms belong to the genus 'Amanita Muscaria' and are commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita. The name 'fly agaric' comes from the medieval times when they were ground up and mixed with milk. This mixture made a sweet smell which attracted flies. Once the flies drunk the milk containing 'fly agaric' they'd become intoxicated and drown.

The fly agaric's bright red, coloured cap acts as a warning to animals that this mushroom is poisonous. Although it's classified as being poisonous, it is eaten in parts of Europe, Asia and North America (after it has been parboiled). Parboiling weakens its toxicity and breaks down its psychoactive substance.

The indigenous people of Siberia used this toadstool as a spiritual experience. It has a religious significance in the Siberian and Indian cultures.

In some countries (such as The Netherlands) it is considered a criminal offence to be in possession of these toadstools. They are noted for their hallucinogenic properties. It's been calculated that 15 mushroom caps could be a fatal dose.

Amanita mascara are associated with various deciduous and coniferous trees. They have an interdependent relationship with pine and birch trees. The toadstools provide the tree with an increased absorption of water and minerals and in return the tree provides constant access to carbohydrates.

It seems, although these toadstools have appeared in fairy tales for years, there is a slightly sinister side to them. But if all we do is admire them for their beauty and refrain from nibbling on any - no harm will be done.

Reflections at Rabbit Island

Reversing Camera

Since we had the shed built on the truck we've had to hitch up using our cell phones or walkie talkies. It's worked well. But it must have felt strange for Bernie backing blind and relying on my instructions to get the hitch lined up to the rig. Last week we had a reversing camera installed - I'm sure hitching up will be even easier.

An auto-electrician named Dan Thompson installed the camera for us. He was very professional and knew his stuff. Would highly recommend him. 

That's something else we can tick off our 'To Do' list.

Worth Getting Up Early

Cyclone Cook was predicted to bring high winds and flooding. Unfortunately the North Island suffered most of it's fury. We got off lightly in Nelson. A few days of rain, cloud and miserable weather and it was all over.
This morning I woke just after 6am and saw a tinge of blue in the sky. I grabbed my camera and whispered in Oakly's ear that we were going in the car ( I had to whisper because if the other two came with us, it wouldn't be a relaxed sunrise experience).
We headed to the Boulder Bank and had it to ourselves. It's a beaut place to watch the sun rise.

It looked like the spot to build driftwood huts. There were over a dozen huts built along the shore line.

A few paradise duck couples were enjoying the early morning too. Oakly was interested but never approached any.

The Boulder Bank had calm seas this morning. Sometimes when the weather cuts up, it's a good spot for surfers. So, although I missed getting surfies in action, I loved watching the new day dawn with my furry friend.

The cows seemed oblivious to the start of a new day ...

After our walk, we (Oakly & I ) jumped in the car to head home for breakfast. It was a little bonus seeing a rainbow as we drove along Rocks Road.

Relief Teaching

Part of 'Life on the Road' will be finding casual work. And, for me that will probably be relief teaching. 

Last week on Friday I had my first day as a relief teacher in a year 4 class. It was interesting and exhausting!

There are lots of positives to relief teaching ...

• Good money
• Less planning
• No assessments
• No meetings
• No report writing
• No parent/teacher interviews

But, as I found out - there are some hard aspects to it ...

• When I had my own class I built strong positive relationships with the kids and once you have that, then behaviour management is sorted.
• Being a relief teacher means I won't have the same class. So I it'll be harder to develop those crucial relationships in the short time that I'll have the class.

So, my first relieving day was all about behaviour management. The class was known to have a high percentage of children with challenging behaviour. Wow! Some of the kids in this class reinvented the meaning of 'defiant'!

Yesterday I relieved at a different school. Again, this class of 44 year 2, 3 and 4s had very challenging children. 

But as difficult as it is - it's also an opportunity for me to develop techniques and strategies to deal with defiance.

                                                

Maybe next week I'll get a call to teach in a class that is less demanding in terms of behaviour.