It's a Drama Podcast

Yesterday, at 12 pm, New Zealand went to level 4 and as such, the entire country is now in lockdown for (a minimum) of four weeks.

Saying it and doing it are two different things.

When you are going about your daily life, walking to work and drinking coffee in cafes with buskers outside, the idea of spending a month with the same people behind closed doors seems somewhat of a novelty.

It wouldn't be too bad, you think to yourself.

And then it starts.

And after two hours of walking from the lounge to the bedroom, you begin to fantasise about getting into your car and driving to the supermarket for a packet of chewing gum.

On this week's podcast of our family chats about how to stay positive while being locked together under the same roof.

Me, my husband (Brian) and our soon to be nineteen-year-old son discuss fear, panic and the importance of staying positive in such unsettling times.

How old is too old to travel?

You know how when you get to a certain age, and you suddenly start 'playing on it?'

"Ohh I couldn't possibly take the bins out - I'm far too old for that."

Or

"Don't ask me to hold the dog down while you cut her toenails - I'm getting on a bit. I can't kneel for long."

Well, this week's guest made me feel like a right old fake.

He put me in my place and showed me that you are as old as you feel.

In this week's podcast episode I got to chat with Ed Nicollette.

Ed is 86 years young and lives in Rochester, Upstate New York with his lovely wife Anita (who, for the record, also comes across as being twenty years younger.)

It's easy for me to bang on about how wonderful New Zealand is - my family and I have been living here for the last ten years and although the country has its pros and cons, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I adore living in New Zealand and will always bore anyone who will listen.

So yes. I probably am a bit biased.

So we thought we'd give you a treat...

This weeks podcast episode sees our first interview ever! We thought it would be fun for you to hear all about New Zealand from the eyes of a first-timer. Someone fresh off the boat and eager to explore.

My first podcast guest! Drinking wine and finding out what a visitor from America really thinks of New Zealand!

This week's lovely guest was Mark; an American tourist, who, having recently visited New Zealand for the first time this year was only too happy to share his first impressions of the country.

Jet lag. Is there anything worse than finding yourself wide awake at 3 am with the dreaded jet lag? Pacing around the house like a deluded tiger, trying to decide whether it would be best to watch TV or clean the cutlery drawer out?

In this week's podcast, Sonny and I talk about jet lag and a few proven ways in which you can avoid it.

And no.

My suggestion wasn't to get as drunk as possible on the plane thank you very much. I am far too sophisticated and grown-up for that.

This week's podcast walks you through a budget-friendly and fun weekend with kids in Charleston, SC; one of the most popular and unique travel destinations in the world!

Last year my husband and I took our two kids ( teenagers age 16 and 13) to Charleston, SC for a long weekend.

But.

There was a catch.

As always we were on a budget (nothing new there then ) and I must admit, I was somewhat worried as to whether we'd be able to make our money stretch.

Our budget was $80 per day for the four of us.

Did we do it?

In this week's podcast, Sonny and Liz talk about the culture of Japan and a few things you need to be aware of before you go.

Life in Japan is very easy to adjust to and the Japanese people are amongst the most generous and welcoming folk in the world.

But.

The Japanese do have one tiny downside...

This week's podcast is hosted by Liz and Sonny (first one of the year!) and is an up close and personal episode looking a what happened in our lives last year that left us feeling grateful (and being able to discuss the reasons why we are grateful).

I think everyone should take stock (each day if possible) and take a look at what the things they have to be grateful for.

Otherwise, you could turn into a moaning Minnie.

And no one likes those.

Teenagers are always getting a rough time about how privileged and ungrateful they are, so we thought it would be fun to discuss exactly what (if anything) this eighteen-year-old boy (sorry Sonny, young man) and his mother feels grateful for.

Gulp.

This week's podcast episode is brought to you by Liz and her husband, Brian. In thirty short minutes, we try our best to cram a year's experience of New Zealand living into a helpful guide of how to move to New Zealand (and what you can expect when you get here)should you be thinking of starting a new life in New Zealand.

This week's podcast on moving to New Zealand is hosted by me, (Liz ) and my husband Brian.

We moved to New Zealand from the UK with our two kids in 2009 and have now been living in New Zealand as a family (our kids are now 18 and 15) for more than ten years.

Our reasons for leaving the UK to start a new life in New Zealand were personal and rather jumbled. It was a kind of 'let's give it a go' decision and one which neither of us has ever regretted.

Not ever.

Amongst our other genie wishes, we longed for more space for the kids (which we have), less stress (tick) and more opportunity (I'll never be sure on this one, but I don't think we would have done the things we have - homeschooled both of our kids, built our own home, travelled the world for a year had we not moved to New Zealand, so, yes opportunity gets a tick too!).

I love you India, I really do.

I dedicated an entire India podcast on what it was like traveling in India for the first time.

No matter what time of day you ask me - regardless of whether my hormones are playing up or not. I will always tell anyone I meet that traveling in India for seven weeks - backpacking across your beautiful land with my kids was one of the best experiences of my life.

But bloody hell.

Your sleeper buses? They really are something else.

My kids were 16 and 13 when my family embarked on not one, but two of India's overnight busses and I thought it only fair to share our experience on this podcast.

Just in case, you are thinking of doing it yourself one day. (*Spoiler alert - and you must! It is an adventure!)