First vineyard experience

For the first time during the viticulture & wine making course we have been in the school vineyard. First of all we had to put nets on the vines to protect the grapes against the birds, who start eating the grapes when they get their color. Putting on nets is a very labour intensive job, which for us was a great change after the lessons in the class room. After this we had to collect different type of leaves to start learning about the shapes etc. and how the recognise the grape variety by the leaves.

During one of the classes in wine production we started with sensory tests. We got several glasses filled with water to which all kind of flavour was added that we had to recognise. We also had to taste wine with additions to it. I have noticed that it is very difficult to recognise certain tastes and to describe them. And to try to taste differences in sugar levels etc. And after an hour of tasting the taste buds actually do get tired!! (or drunk?) If you do not believe it, please give it a try yourself.

We all really enjoy these classes, but after all these hands on classes are the reason we all came to Blenheim; not for the computer or chemistry classes, which unfortunately need to be taken as well.

Then it was time to head home, to Wellington. So, I drove to Picton and took the plane to Wellington. The flight was quite bumpy and a few of the other 10 passengers were very shaky when we landed after 20 minutes. My first goal in Wellington was Courtenay Place, where I met Marco over a beer and later we were joined by some friends for some other beers and to watch the Rugby match on a big screen. So, on this Friday, after 3 bars, I have had my taste of Wellington again! It was great to catch up with friends.

Adapting to life in Blenheim

19 February 2008
‘Time flies when you’re having fun’ and it certainly flies in Blenheim. Though the pace of life is a lot slower here than in Wellington. And some of you might be surprised, but I am even loving this slower pace right now (could that be the age?)

Last weekend I have been working in the hotel that employed me on a casual basis. So, for the first time in my life I have been a waitress in a restaurant. This was during a wedding dinner with 100 guests and was a bit of a challenge, but everything went perfectly fine (I think!). However, I could not carry those 6 plates with food in one go and I was not that fast in clearing the tables, I was surprised of how easy the rest was. What was of great help, was that the people attending the dinner were great. Moreover, I have been doing two days of housekeeping in the hotel which was not too bad either. The equipment and the rooms were easier than the ones I was used to in the Coromandel. It is a very nice 5 star hotel close to Renwick, for anyone who is interested: http://www.mvh.co.nz/photos.html

And since I am now in the biggest wine growing area of New Zealand I had to change my picture on this blog (as you have seen) with thanks to the creator of this image: Hanneke Broekema, who is the first person together with her family who we met in The Netherlands during our emigration process to New Zealand. That was way back in April 2005. She is now living in Auckland and we have been in contact ever since. She knows much more about creative imaging, so I needed her help and I hope you all like it too.

In the meantime I have booked my first two trips back to Wellington After that Marco will come to Blenheim for a long weekend, so he can get a glimpse of my life here. Of course life in Blenheim is not as vibrant as life in Wellington, but I can imagine he will love this lifestyle as well.

20 February 2008
At school we are all still trying to get into the routine, but since the schedules are changing by the day and every day is a surprise again. Our Programme Leader started just two weeks before us, so she has to get into the routine as well. So, we never have a dull moment, or have we? We spend a lot of time waiting and hanging around at the campus which not a lot of us can enjoy.

We have visited the biggest winery of New Zealand this week. It was like being at one of the huge tank storage facilities for chemicals/oils that I was used to back in The Netherlands; the products in the tanks here, are however much better to drink!! If you are interested: http://www.montana.co.nz/index2.html

And we also really started this week with getting to know a bit more about the vines and grapes, so finally it is like we are at the right course. Apart from this we have classes in Science, Maths, Computing, which are all necessary to be able to work at a vineyard and/or winery. It actually is a nice combination of several subjects which most of us enjoy. However, already one person has withdrawn from the course, because it did not meet the expectations – although that had mainly to do with Blenheim. It is a bit of a culture shock when you are used to a big city.

Cheers
Anita

My start in Blenheim

9 February 2008
The last two weeks in Wellington I have been preparing for my move to Blenheim and today I did the packing. It is very strange to leave this city after living here for exactly two years; and it still is one of the best places to live in New Zealand - in my opinion. I might change my view after a while in Blenheim. Often it is also a lot about the people you meet and here in Wellington I have been lucky to get to know a lot of great people and thus making some valuable friendships. The last few weeks I was able to meet up with most of my friends over coffee or lunch and I have enjoyed every second of it.

Going to live in another town means I have to start all over again. Not only with meeting people, but this time my life will be totally different because I will be living without Marco and will lead a student life. It won’t be easy, but for me it is part of trying to settle into the NZ way of living.

11 February 2008
Yesterday I arrived in Blenheim in my new home. Luckily my flatmate was around so we have been around town already and could get to know each other a bit. She is a lovely girl/lady from India and I am sure we will have a good time. My landlady is great as well but she is not around that often.

Then I had my first day in school. The best thing about the class already is that we have the most amazing mix of people. We come from every continent in the world and from various backgrounds. A lot of the students have worked in other professions for years already (like me) and want to make a career change. It will be very interesting to get to know all these people. Of course a first day is a bit strange and not a lot is happening, but overall the first impression was a good one.

15 February 2008
It’s the end of the week and a lot has happened in the mean time. On Tuesday I had friends from Wellington visiting Blenheim. Unfortunately, I was only able to meet them in the evening, but we had a nice time in the (only) pub in town.

During the school days not a lot actually happens but we have to get used to a certain routine although at the moment there doesn’t seem to be any set scheme. Our daily/weekly plans change constantly, so we never know what to expect, so we just expect the unexpected and that’s good in a way. Although by now a few people start to complain about the institute not being organised properly. I don’t care yet, because I have expected it to be like this and will see what happens in the upcoming weeks. At least I know some very nice people already.

Apart from school I also need to find a job that brings a bit of money in. So, on Monday I started looking around and talking with people. In a hotel I was lucky. They were short of staff in housekeeping (in which I am very experienced in the mean time) and later on maybe also in front of house staff. So, although I mentioned I do not really like it, I took a cleaning job for this upcoming weekend and hoped that something else might come up as well. So, yesterday the manager phoned me and I have a waitress job tonight during a wedding at the hotel.

Apart from that I have a volunteer job this afternoon at the museum where a launch of the Wine Heritage Exhibition is held. This was organised by my landlady so I would be able to get to know the people in the field. That is great of course, because also here it is very important ‘who you know’ and ‘who knows you’.

So, at this moment I look back at a good start of my new life in Blenheim and I am confident that it is going to be a very interesting time.

Cheers
Anita

Wellington --> Blenheim

Hi all


Yes, I returned back home in Wellington last week, but will be moving soon again. No, not for another cycling trip (however, I would have liked that as well!). After my experiences on the job market in Wellington I had to decide on what to do next. So, I have decided to learn a totally different skills set and start a two year Diploma in Viticulture and Wine Production in Blenheim starting next Monday. This is a very hands-on course where I will learn a lot about the soils, vines, grapes, harvest, production of wine and marketing. The only thing about wine I know at the moment is whether I like the taste of it or not.

In the mean time I have found a small room to rent in Blenheim. I will share the house with the landlady and another flatmate. This will be a huge change for me; I will have a real 'student life' for the next two years. Apart from that, Marco and I will live separated for most of the time, since we can't afford to travel every weekend. In a way decisions like this are more difficult than deciding to move to the other side of the world. On the other hand, I never planned to live in New Zealand and do the same stuff as I did in The Netherlands, so this is at least a step into a new life and only time can tell.........

Since this will again be some kind of an adventure, I will try to write about my whereabouts in Blenheim between the vines. Maybe it will be as successful as Chris Stewart's "Driving over Lemons"? (http://www.sortof.co.uk/Lemons/)

Cheers

Anita