It's a Drama Podcast

The last podcast episode of 2020!

And what a year...because I am a nosey parker who likes to know everything about everyone I thought you might appreciate it if Brian and I opened up and shared with you what 2020 has been like for us.

A husband and wife living with two teenagers down here in New Zealand.

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The Big Take-Aways From 2020

How a normal family of four adapted to lockdown in New Zealand. The pros and cons

Dealing with the plummeting mental health of our teenage daughter

Realising that more is not best. How (and why) Brian left his $$$ job to plough on with our online venture

The ways in which we dealt (and always seem to deal) with family unrest

Creating online businesses, changing your life and being brave enough to take a different direction when you're 57 (and quite honestly feel knackered).

Why moving forwards or even sideways is far better than sitting still or going backwards

Links Mentioned in This Weeks Episode

Visiting New Zealand from America (Mark, Brian's cousin from New York tells us what his initial impression of New Zealand are).

Staying positive in lockdown (Our family discussion on things we were trying to put into place to get through lockdown)

Homeschooling and working. How to juggle both

Unplugging. 7 Simple ways to snatch back time

Glamping in New Zealand (When Brian and I desperately needed some time alone)

Christmas in New Zealand. Wonderfull or weird?

The Free 5 Day Video Guide To Life in New Zealand (the free version of the video guide we talk about)

Listen to the podcast: How to work from home (and still) get stuff done. Subscribe on Apple Subscribe on Android Did you enjoy this week's podcast about life through 2020?

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Luckily, one of the best things about New Zealand is the fact that the people have a bloody good sense of humour.

Which is just as well.

Because some of these common misconceptions about what life is like in New Zealand are quite frankly hilarious.

Life in New Zealand

I am not a hypocrite so I will tell you this straight up. Before we go any further.

Prior to us moving to New Zealand eleven years ago, my (zero) knowledge of the country led me to believe that I would find locals living in mud huts selling coconut juice to the passers-by in exchange for a smile.

I even thought that there would be little sheep in neck-scarves working at the airport.

Luckily, I kept that last expectation to myself.

What is life like in New Zealand?

The reality couldn't be further from the truth.

Which is a pity really. I think it would be quite nice to have a woolly ram checking your luggage for dirty boots.

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If you are moving to New Zealand from the US then you need to read this post and listen to this podcast.

Because I hate to break it to you, but a lot of these common misconceptions came via my American friends. Oops.

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7 (Ridiculous) Misconceptions About New Zealand

1: New Zealander's Don't Speak English

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt on this one. And I kind of get it.

The New Zealand slang is not just confusing but quite frankly, at times, it can come across as just plain bonkers.

I mean, what country says 'Yeah Nah' when you ask them a question? Huh?

But fear not. English is spoken throughout New Zealand.

And rest assured, once you get become accustomed to the accent and get your head around the fact that kiwis will greet you by saying 'howzit?' and then walk away without waiting for an answer, you'll be sweet.

English is one of the three official languages in New Zealand (the others are Te Reo Māori and New Zealand sign language).

2: New Zealand is Connected To Australia (by a bridge actually).

Er no. Not quite.

Australia is a little over 2,500 miles away from New Zealand so that bridge had better be a bloody long one...

Just to be clear. Australia is not connected to New Zealand. They are completely separate countries.

And for god's sake don't ever make the same mistake as I did and claim you can't tell the difference between a kiwi accent and an Ozzie one.

Big mistake.

One says Luz and the other says leeez.

Not actually that helpful when your name is Liz.

3: It's Always Sunny in New Zealand

One of the wonderful things about living in New Zealand is that it is a country with seasons.

Four of them in fact.

While it is true that there are hotter and drier parts of the country depending on where you go, New Zealand has four seasons and all of them hold their own secret charm.

If you are trying to weigh up when is the best time to visit New Zealand then I'd say it depends on what floats your boat.

The summer is hot and gorgeous - if you are coming in December just remember that Christmas in New Zealand is hot (and I won't lie, that's a bit weird).

The spring is warm and beautiful, the winter is sunny and cold and you can ski and the autumn is colourful and calm.

Just remember, this is not Hawaii, nor is it Sri Lanka or Australia. This is New Zealand. And It rains a lot.

Which is why the country is so beautifully green.

4: New Zealand People Dwell in Bungalows Along The Coast

I love this one!

Some New Zealander's have holiday homes along the coast.

These homes are called 'Baches'.

Don't ask me what the name means, I have no idea. But these baches are wooden structures, usually made up of two or three rooms, with a basic kitchen. They are an iconic part of New Zealand's culture and history.

They are now hugely desirable in New Zealand due to their beachside location.

But no, New Zealanders live in houses or apartments like everyone else in the world.

Not a mud hut in sight.

5:New Zealander's Eat The Kiwi Bird (& it tastes like chicken)

I have something to confess.

In all the years that I have been living in New Zealand, I have only ever seen a kiwi bird once.

And that was in a sanctuary while we were on holiday exploring some free hot pools in Rotorua.

The Kiwi is a national icon, equally cherished by all cultures in New Zealand and the last place you will ever see a kiwi bird is on a New Zealanders plate.

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6: There Are Cannibal Natives Living In Them There New Zealand Hills

Another common misconception that you can ignore.

No. There aren't any cannibals in New Zealand and there certainly aren't any natives running around in grass skirts thumping their chest and howling to the moon.

Actually, I've just described my teenage son when he runs out of data.

New Zealand is made up of two main cultures. European New Zealanders count for the majority of the population and the Māori population make up approx 17%.

The Māori language (also known as Te Reo which means "the language") is taught throughout New Zealand schools.

7: The New Zealand Food is Boring

Last week I dedicated an entire podcast episode to New Zealand food and discussed whether or not it was delicious or dull.

The short answer is that New Zealand food is delicious.

Like everything else in this far away country, it is underestimated and humble.

New Zealand food is tasty and real. It is not piled high onto your plate, nor is it sprinkled with masses of sugar or injected with anything yucky.

But it does include a lot of eggs.

Or if we're going to be really kiwi - iggs. The new Zealander's love their iggs.

Just forwarning you.

Other things/links we talked about in this week's working from home podcast episode:

What our impression was of New Zealand before we moved here eleven years ago. You can listen to the podcast episode what our first year in New Zealand was like and what shocked us.

The sunniest region of New Zealand and how it differs to where we live in Taranaki

The FREE video series that we offer to everyone who loves New Zealand and want to know what real life is like down under.

Lots more common (and totally ridiculous) misconceptions about New Zealand

Listen to the podcast: 7 Ridiculous Misconceptions About New Zealand

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We'd love to know what you think about this week's show and if there is anything you would like to know further so that we can include it in our next podcast.

Thank you for your support and don't forget— If you enjoy our podcasts then you can subscribe to us on iTunes or Spotify (that way you will never miss an episode!)

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Next, you could read...

Unplugging. 7 (simple) ways to snatch back precious time.

Taking a break from social media. Why you need to give it a go

Cost to live in New Zealand. The REAL cost

Moving to New Zealand - what you will miss from back home

Why you need these self-love exercises (and why they work)

It seems as though most of the world are working from home right now, so in this post and podcast, we wanted to share some tips on how to be more productive.

How to get stuff done.

So that you don't sit in your pyjamas all day, stroking the cat and staring at the countdown timer on the tumble drier.

Working From Home

Working from home might be a completely new experience for you.

It certainly is for Brian (my husband) and I.

Brian was a tradie, and for the past twenty years has left the house at 8 and returned home at 6. I owned and ran a cafe back in the UK, and then we made the move to New Zealand, and I homeschooled my kids for ten years.

It's only in the last two years, having had a mini mid-life crisis and deciding that we wanted to become groovy digital nomads and have location independent jobs, that we find ourselves working from home full time.

And like you, we are constantly striving for ways in which to improve our productivity.

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Do you wonder what life in New Zealand is (really) like?

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Being Productive When Working From Home

The trouble with working from home is it sometimes feels like a bit of a cop-out.

You try to become super-efficient and aim to do everything.

Everything other than what you are supposed to be doing.

All of a sudden very it's essential that you empty the contents of the kitchen drawer and reorganise the big knives from the chopsticks.

But while this kind of procrastination scratches a small itch, you end your week feeling guilty and cheated and tell yourself that things would be better if you had a proper office to go to.

As a side note, working from home has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. I absolutely love it. And I think you will too.

Especially if you put these productivity tips and techniques in place.

Staying Productive While Working From Home. 7 Tips

1: Make a Space

Even if you are working from home and home is one bedroom flat, try your hardest to craft out a little space that is yours.

My space is wherever my foldup camp table will fit. This can be in the garden, behind the couch, in the corner of the family room, or sometimes, I have been known to set up camp at the foot of my bed.

It's not about physical space, it's more about mental space.

Create a space that represents productivity. When you sit down in that space, you are working.

Don't try and perch oat the edge of the breakfast bar surrounded by cups and dirty dishes; your mind won't know where to focus. I've tried that and it doesn't work.

2: Chore Chart

Earlier this years I found myself in a position where there were three other adults and me (ok, one 16-year-old but old enough to pull her weight) and it was always down to me to dish out the jobs and ask for their help.

What's that all about?

I get it. It's easy to believe that when you are working from home then that's all you are doing.

That because you are working the house will take care of itself.

The fairies will somehow take care of the cleaning and the cooking.

Wrong.

By creating a routine in the way of a chore chart I found that household chores get done (outside of work time), But they WILL get done. End of problem.

Do the same.

Make a chore chart that everyone has to be part of. It will give everyone (mostly you) peace of mind to know that those things will be dealt with at an allocated time.

3: Take Regular Breaks

If tI can give you one tip that will increase your productivity while working from home, it is to take regular breaks.

And I don't just mean breakfast, lunch and dinner breaks.

The Pomodoro technique is something that I have been using for the past year or so while working at home, and I absolutely love it.

This technique encourages you to work in twenty-five-minute increments and then take a break.

The break must be for at least five minutes and you move away from your place of work, stretch your legs and your eyes.

If you haven't tried it then I really suggest you do so - it works!

4: Make Things Pretty

As I said in the podcast episode, I cannot work (or let's say don't work as productively) unless the space around me is calm and preferably pretty!

This is easily achieved by placing a small vase of flowers by your workspace or something else that symbolises calm.

Seriously, you don't have to run to the florist, a single dandelion or a daisy in a glass will suffice.

As long as you don't have any reactions to essential oils I would also recommend burning peppermint oil in a oil burner in the room where you intend to work. Not only does it smell divine, but it also has a magic way of making you focus!

5: Work in a Café

Once the world returns to normal and we are let out into the open, working in a café is a must!

This is a practice that I have only recently adopted (actually, when my husband came to work at home and I needed some space to write), but I love it.

Find a café that caters for those who work online, one with good wifi and plenty of outlet sockets and then take yourself off and treat it as an office.

By having the option to take a day (or even a half-day) a week to work in a café, your mood, your focus and your productivity will improve tenfold.

Remember, a change is as good as a rest, and if you are working around other people who are there for the same reason as you (to work), then you are more likely to buckle down and be productive.

6: Focus on one task at a time

It is so easy when working from home to start the day off by writing a list the length of your arm.

Only to get to midday and realise that all you have done is check Facebook and empty the bathroom bin.

Brian gave a brilliant tip for all those working from home; before you open your laptop of fire up your computer, ask your self what task is it that you want to achieve in the next hour?

Write that task down and then set about doing it.

Remember, give your entire focus to that one task and don't let anything else distract you. If that means unplugging while you work then so be it.

7: Be Realistic

Last but not least. Tip number seven for those working from home is to be realistic.

We all hear about how, by not driving to the office every day we save hours in commute time, and then there's the chat at the water cooler and taking photos of your bum with the photocopier.

By working from home, you will have more time and therefore be able to get stacks more done than normal.

Not true.

You are only human. Working from home comes with other distractions and doing your job from home doesn't suddenly mean that you will because super-efficient and churn out the goods.

Write a list at the start of the day and then half it. Half today, half tomorrow.

Remember: quality far outweighs quantity.

Do what you can manage and do it well.

Other things/links we talked about in this week's working from home podcast episode:

How to adapt to working from home (especially if you've been used to being out of the house for most of your working life)

I talk about burning peppermint oil in my burner and how it improves my focus tremendously. You can get the same peppermint oil that I use here.

Why (gentle) exercise is even more important when you work from home.

Today we were drinking this gorgeous cinnamon spiced tea.

Did you enjoy this week's podcast on Tips For Working From Home?

Ok. A favour before you click off and leave me forever...

We'd love to know what you think about this week's show and if there is anything you would like to know further so that we can include it in our next podcast.

Thank you for your support and don't forget— If you enjoy our podcasts then you can subscribe to us on iTunes or Spotify (that way you will never miss an episode!)

If you know of anyone who is thinking of moving to New Zealand from the Us and is experiencing doubt, then please, share this podcast with them!

Next, you could read...

Unplugging. 7 (simple) ways to snatch back precious time.

Taking a break from social media. Why you need to give it a go

Cost to live in New Zealand. The REAL cost

Moving to New Zealand - what you will miss from back home

Why you need these self-love exercises (and why they work)

The food in New Zealand is not very well documented, is it?

When we made our move to New Zealand from the UK over a decade ago, I was expecting to get here and be faced with a plate full of lamb chops and maybe a kiwi fruit for dessert.

But the reality couldn't have been further from the truth.

Would You Like To Join Our New Zealand Community?

Are You Considering Moving To New Zealand?

Do you wonder what life in New Zealand is (really) like?

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In this podcast episode (you can listen or watch, it's your choice!) Ryan, an American who left the US five years ago and is now living in Auckland New Zealand with his family.

Food in New Zealand

You don't tend to read much about food in New Zealand.

Which is a shame as it leads people to believe that kiwi food is either boring and non-existence or a bit on the weird side and that everyone who lives in New Zealand resides in mud huts and eats dinosaur eggs.

Neither of those things is true. Well. My son's bedroom sometimes resembles a mud hut, but that's another story.

When you come to New Zealand looking for food, you will find an array of mouthwatering deliciousness.

And maybe a tinned asparagus sandwich but let's talk about that later.

Life in New Zealand

New Zealand living takes some getting used to.

From becoming accustomed (and not be offended by) the New Zealand slang, to the earthquakes, the laid back attitude right down to the New Zealand Christmas experience.

But food is a major part of your life, and if you're planning on moving to New Zealand from the US or any other far-flung part of the world, you'll want to know what you'll be having for your dinner when you get off the plane.

10 New Zealand Foods You've (Probably) Never Heard Of

The foods that I want to share with you are typical New Zealand foods that I doubt you will have heard of. I know I hadn't.

1: Mince on Toast

I am not kidding; when I first saw this on the menu in New Zealand, I thought it was a misprint.

Mincemeat. On toast?? What's that all about?

But then I tried it. And. It. Is. Divine.

The version I had was made with a tomato and herb base, served on a piece of toast and topped with an egg (because in case you didn't know, the kiwis LOVE eggs. Or should I say iggs.) Finished off with a mouthwateringly delicious hollandaise sauce.

If you haven't tried this New Zealand dish, then it is a must!

Cost for mince on toast in a New Zealand café?

Approx NZD $12

2: Hāngi

When you visit New Zealand and are ever offered the chance to partake in a Hāngi then jump at it.

It is one of those divine eating experiences that you will never, ever forget.

A Hāngi is a Māori cooking method. Friends are invited around, a pit is dug into the ground and a fire is made. From there, hot rocks are placed on top.

Everyone stands around and has a good chin wag, talks about the rugby and the wind and waits for an hour or two.

Once the rocks are white-hot, baskets of food containing meat (usually lamb but also chicken, beef or pork), potatoes, and other root vegetables (mostly kumara) are wrapped (traditionally in leaves but more commonplace today in tin foil), and are placed on top of the rocks. The earth is then dug back over the baskets until the pit is filed in.

And then you wait.

Usually for around five to seven hours. The pit is dug back up, the baskets lifted out, and dinner is served.

The result? A tender, smokey, meltingly delicious plate of slow-cooked New Zealand loveliness.

3: Sausage Sizzle

Ok, listen.

Life in New Zealand with kids means sausages.

If you are thinking of moving to New Zealand or even taking a vacation to the country, there is something you need to be aware of.

The kiwis LOVE sausages. But not just that, they LOVE sausage sizzle.

The sausage sizzle is a kiwi tradition. Go to any kid's birthday party, fundraiser, festival, school camp, in fact, any kiwi gathering and it will be there.

The BBQ, the bag of sausages, the sliced white bread and the tomato sauce.

Now then you food snobs listen up.

Don't make the mistake that I made when I first moved to New Zealand. I dared to call this New Zealand food a sausage sandwich.

Shame on me. This is no sausage sandwich. yes it is a sausage and yes it is wrapped in bread, but this here is a saussie.

That's it. A saussie. Add this word to your list of New Zealand slang. You'll hear it a lot.

The Saussie:

Never two pieces of bread, only one.

The saussie is placed in the corner of the bread and wrapped over on an angle. And if you don't have tomato sauce with it then be prepared for a funny look.

Cost for a saussie from a sizzle in New Zealand?

Approx NZD $1

4: Tinned Asparagus Sandwiches

One up from the sausage sizzle this is one item on the New Zealand food list that makes an appearance at the more upmarket gatherings.

Nowhere in the world have I ever been offered a tinned asparagus sandwich with cream cheese.

Again, only by wrapped on an angle on a single piece of white bread. This one though (because it is posh) has the crusts cut off. I say old chap.

I'm not going to say that I don't like this New Zealand food, actually, I have been known to scoff quite a few of these while waiting for my daughter to finish a flute recital, but the taste is... a bit mushy. Nice, but mushy.

Like any county, living in New Zealand has its pros and cons, dare I say that the tinned asparagus sandwich is one of New Zealand's cons? No. I daren't. Tinned asparagus sandwiches are really nice.

Sometimes.

4: Feijoa

I had never heard of the Feijoa until I came to live in New Zealand, but I soon came to love this fragrant food as much as the kiwis.

March to June is Feijoa season so if you're wondering when the best time to visit New Zealand then come in autumn. The leaves are shedding it isn't crowded and best of all? Their country had an abundance of feijoas!

The feijoa, which is an egg-shaped fruit, tastes like bubble gum. That's the only way I can describe the taste to you. Really, really sweet and very, very fragrant.

The feijoa makes for the perfect healthy snack; they are eaten like a boiled egg mostly by the kids in New Zealand. They slice the top off and scoop out the fragrant fleshy insides with a spoon.

Feijoa jam and chutney are also very common in New Zealand as is feijoa crumble. Yum.

Cost for Feijoa from the supermarket?

Approx NZD $7 KG

5: Kina

Another typical New Zealand food is Kina.

Kina is a species of sea urchin that is abundant on the coasts of New Zealand. It is best eaten raw just after you have cleaned and taken out its edible parts.

I remember when we very first came to New Zealand with the kids and were walking along the beach.

A fisherman was wading out of the ea with a basket of Kina, and he stopped us and asked the kids if they'd like to try one of them. He split the kina open, cleaned it up and handed it to my little children. Good on them, they gave it a go. But they never forgot it, and I won't tell you what they said when we got home.

I love Kina, but I think it might be an acquired taste. If you don't want to go straight for the raw option (which (personally I think is the best) then know that you can also eat this New Zealand delicacy deep-fried or in a pie.

Cost to buy Kina meat from a New Zealand fish shop?

Approx NZD $240 for 8 x 200g pottles

6: Kūmara

Again, a food that I had never heard of until I came to New Zealand, but know that the kiwi's love this vegetable.

There are four main types of kūmara - red, gold, orange and purple. Each has its own distinctive colour and have subtle flavour differences.

I am not sure what the difference is between a sweet potato and a kūmara other than the orange variety tastes slightly smokey.

I love kūmara chips and also roasted and added to a salad of red peppers, basil and feta. Delicious!

Cost for Kumera?

Approx NZD $7.99 KG

7: Paua

Ohhh. Now, this is one New Zealand food that I would walk to the end of the earth for.

Paua, according to Fisheries NZ are "large sea snails that are highly valued by Māori, recreational fishers and the commercial fishing industry. Pāua have always been a food source for Māori, and play a significant role in manaakitanga ki ngā manuhiri (hosting of visitors)."

Paua has a taste that is hard to describe. They are meaty, salty and delicious.

Paua can be eaten in a variety of ways from raw to curries to paua fritters. Personally, my favourite way is to slice the meat thinly and fry gently with garlic butter and lemon.

Remember though, if you come to New Zealand and are offered to go fishing for Paua, the rules are very strict.

New Zealand fisheries explain that "successful spawning is related to the number and size of groups, so it's important to leave some pāua to breed for the next generation...For most of New Zealand, recreational fishers have a bag limit of 10 of each pāua species".

Cost to buy Paua from a fish shop in New Zealand?

Approx NZD $85 KG

8: Steak and Cheese Pie

Of course, you have heard of pies. But have you experienced the New Zealand pies?

If not, you are in for a treat! The savoury pie fillings in New Zealand range from curry to mushroom and white sauce, but the one pie that New Zealand is probably most famous for?

The fabulous steak and cheese!

Cost for a steak and cheese pie in New Zealand?

Approx NZD $4

9: Green Lip Mussels

The cost to live in New Zealand is often cited as being one of the highest in the world but grab yourself a bag of New Zealand green lip mussels, some garlic, a chilli, maybe a bunch of coriander and a loaf of bread, and you'll pay no more than NZD 7.

You can't get a cheaper, fresher and more delicious meal than that.

Oh, go on then.. and a bottle of wine. Just add and extra 12 bucks.

Cost for Green Lip Mussels in New Zealand?

Approx NZD $7 KG

10: Kiwi Burger

I include this New Zealand food as, once again, I have never been anywhere in the world (and we have visited many unique travel destinations,) and have tasted a burger as good as a New Zealand burger.

The photo above is of the burger that I talk about in the podcast episode. Look at the size of it!

New Zealander burgers are packed with all different ingredients, the most popular being cheese, egg (of course), beetroot, onion, mayo and Tommy sauce.

I have to go now. My mouth is watering...

Cost for this burger in the Ugly Bagel café?

NZD $12

Other things/links we talked about on this week's food in New Zealand podcast episode:

Get instant access to my FREE Moving to and Living in New Zealand Video Guide HERE! A 5 Day Video Series!

In all the time that I've been writing this blog I have never had so many emails from people (mostly from the US) asking me how they can make their dream of moving to New Zealand become a reality.

✔︎ Get instant access to my FREE Moving to and Living in New Zealand Guide HERE!, a 5 Day Video Series!

My family and I have been living in New Zealand for eleven years. We emigrated to New Zealand from the UK eleven years ago and it was the best thing we ever did.

But the posts and podcasts that I share with you here, things such as what you will miss when you move to New Zealand and life in New Zealand with kids, are given from the point of view of a Brit.

And that's not much use to the Americans in the audience.

So what did I do? I hunted down a real-life American who had emigrated to New Zealand, that's what I did.

A mother of four who moved to New Zealand with her family almost five years ago.

Tara from kiwiamerican shared her experience of moving to New Zealand from the US and revealed the biggest culture shocks, the major differences, and the problems she encountered when moving to New Zealand from the US.

Living in New Zealand

My family and I have been living in New Zealand for eleven years and things still take me by surprise.

New Zealand, although similar to other countries in the sense that the English language is spoken, is different in ways that you can't begin to imagine.

New Zealand life takes some getting used to. From becoming accustomed (and not being offended by) the New Zealand slang, to the food, the lifestyle right down to the New Zealand Christmas experience.

It all takes time to get your head around, let me tell you.

Other things/links we talked about in this week's life in New Zealand podcast episode:

✔︎ Get instant access to my FREE Moving to and Living in New Zealand Guide HERE!, a 5 Day Video Series!

🤔 The major differences between the schools in New Zealand and the US

🤔 What happens when you invite people over for dinner in New Zealand (compared to the US experience)

🤔 What happens when you are late for work in New Zealand

🤔 One thing Tara's father is shocked about when she returns home to the US

🤔 Tara is absolutely rocking it on Youtube. Check out her fabulous Youtube channel KiwiAmericans

If you are thinking about making a new life in New Zealand and you have a family (with little kids) then I'm going to take a wild guess and say that you are a teeny bit, massively a lot, downright scared.

Or at the very least apprehensive.

You lay awake in bed, probably at 3 am, worrying about what your future life in New Zealand will look like once you move to the other side of the world with your family.

Ask yourself if you really will be living the dream in New Zealand or whether you're making a big mistake and will be attacked by tigers and lions and kiwis who live in down under land.

What's life in New Zealand like with little kids?

Listen to our latest podcast episode while you read this post and we'll tell you.

I'm not entirely sure how long the term unplugging has been a thing.

It used to be (back in the day) that if you were told you to unplug it was because your parents were trying to save money on the leckie bill.

Someone once told my dad that if you unplugged the toaster, you'd save 5p on every bill.

But nowadays, the term unplugging comes with a whole new meaning.

Unplugging in 2020 means getting off the internet, stop watching so much telly and telling your son to look up from his phone so that his neck doesn't develop a permanent turtle shell shape.

Maybe I'm naive.

Or slightly twisted.

But when I found out that there was an organisation called Couchsurfing that would allow me to travel the world with my teenagers (for free) while meeting other like-minded people, I jumped at it.

Yes, it would mean that we'd be sleeping under the same roof of complete strangers, maybe even on a couch, but we'd get to know interesting people and listen to stories that I hadn't heard a thousand times before.

And who knows? They might even invite my teenagers to stay for a few years.

The funniest thing happened yesterday.

Because it was Father's Day, I said my husband that on this week's podcast episode we should talk about him being a homeschooling dad. Give some tips to all the other dads, husbands or partners out there that are currently faced with being a new homeschooling parent.

And guess what he said to me?

(Bearing in mind that our kids have been homeschooled for almost ten years).

He said: How can I talk about that? How can I give other guys homeschooling tips when it was you who did everything, and I just went to work?

If you are wondering how to balance homeschooling and working at the same time then you are in the right place.

Let's do an elbow bang.

I have been homeschooling for almost ten years, and for the second time in my homeschooling career, I find myself, once again, in the position of balancing homeschooling with earning some money.

Why I didn't marry a millionaire I'll never know.

My first attempt at homeschooling and working full time was a bloody disaster.

Awful.

I made lots of mistakes and ended up feeling like a squashed banana on a busy highway.

So this time around I made sure that I did things differently.

That's one of the benefits of homeschooling - you get to learn from your mistakes and then you become brilliant.