Monday, November 28, 2011

He's A New Zealand Technician!!!!

So we headed back up north to Hastings and I went into my third interview with Jeff Grey of BMW and they offered me a job as an apprentice until all my qualifications come through and transfer over to New Zealand qualifications..at that time they said they would make me a master technician and pay me more. Which is always good. BUT... BMW couldn't start me till the beginning of January which is sucky but as we thought about what to do we stopped off at an exhaust shop to have our vehicle looked at and mentioned to the owner at which we did not know he was, that i had gotten a job at BMW but cant start till January. Amazingly he had just lost someone in his shop and thought to himself if he can get a job there i can take him on till January... So I have another job right now till January at Stichbury Automotive. They do anything from exhaust to lubes and tires.. Even better they are paying me the same amount as BMW!!! Lets see what else you would like to know.. Amber and I are staying in a little hut at a hostel, it is quite small but homey. Instead of paying rent each week, while I'm at work Amber does some cleaning and I do some mowing the lawns after work to pay for our rent.. Keeps us busy though.. The people here in Hastings are really nice and always willing to lend a hand or two. Oddly enough at my work currently we have already had our Christmas party cause in such a small town they have to spread the parties out so people can work still. We went to a Brewery and then some derby racing... such small town stuff. But it was fun, I will let you know how the BMW Christmas party goes cause that is this week..haha. So for now we are residing in Hastings, New Zealand and I have been working since November 17th ( it took us that long to update this blog everyday..haha) and I have been learning all kinds of new things about cars and work environment and we  have already started our residency paperwork. So soon it will be official. Here are some photos, hope you enjoy. If you have any questions please ask!!!

Me coming home to tell Amber and she caught me just as I was about to take off the tie

Us about to celebrate our job success

Our home away from home for now

Its fits us well for now

Went shopping for dinner and they grow everything huge out here

Amber made me a great dinner ( steak, ravioli, broccoli, and salad)

Some german friends we made

Amber made my shop some cookies cause she got bored during the day

Kuchka the cat of the property...he likes sleeping and catching rabbits for stew and birds & mice


Our closet inside our hut

Our bed

Our fridge and table

Looking in from the outside

on our way to my work Christmas party

The men I work with and their wives

Grant (on far left..hes the boss) and Tony ( hes leaving soon)

Todd ( another awesome guy I work with)


Motorcycle racing at the derby


These were mini stocks cause they are 10-12 year olds racing



At the derby

Stock cars bashing eachother




Working in my shop ( tony and Todd) yes that's a Skyline :-)

From the rear of the shop looking forward

Looking into the 5 man shop

Part of the shop is pure diesel work

This is the diesel side of the shop


Lunch/tea room

And the main auto shop that I work in mostly..


Updates of BMW will come after the new Year, so till then stay posted for a Food and Car Post!


Keep your glove on and your eyes open for adventure!
Bryan and Amber



Saturday, November 26, 2011

Back on the North Island again

So we took the interislander again back up to Wellington so Bryan can get another interview with BMW Hastings.  We spent the rest of the day in Wellington and decided to go hunting for Lord Of The Rings film locations for fun and we did find them thanks to a tour guide that lets us sneak in with his group. But than spent a night on Miramar in Wellington and than the next morning headed north to Hastings but on a different route than we took the first time. But now we are back in Hastings and will keep you updated with Bryans job interview.

They have such beautiful roses here and they are everywhere

This time we have lots of cows on the ferry


Good bye south island :(



I could take this ferry everyday...its just so pretty here








Mt.Victoria...trying to find the locations


Jumped in with this tour guide which was awesome..very insightful

He was showing us where the hobbits fell down the hill onto some mushrooms

This is where they fell down

This is where Froto says to the other hobbits get off the road cause the Nazgul is coming

You can see the photo of the movie in his hands

This is where the hobbits hid from the Nazgul

They added a huge log for the hobbits to hide under from the Nazgul but the background is the same

The tour guide showed us some filming tricks done with the hobbits and Gandoff...quite fun to try and do

Part of Wellington

Sunset off Miramar


The Interislander heading back south

Heading up to Hastings


Tui brewery...later finding out by locals and ourselves its a horrible tasting beer


liked this door

Cool water fountain

So now headed to hastings and we will let you know tomorrow about Bryans job interview and where we will be from here on out.
Almost to Hastings