Fashionista at the AWC

Reaching New Heights

Even though the summer tourist season is officially over, we continue to reach new heights at Mexicali Fresh. We now have one year's worth of info on our point-of-sale system, and regularly see "daily doubles" (sales doubled over same day last year). Our management staff has expanded to include Dwight and Nicky, who are preparing to move into Duty Manager positions when Newmarket opens in just 90 days. Everyone is taking their vacation time (except JB and me) over the next two months so that they are all fresh and rested for the grand opening in mid-August.

We have engaged the services of an architect to help us through the consent process with Auckland City Council. I met Deborah at the American Women's Club. She and her husband Robert have been here for 20 years, he's been a practicing architect. It so great to find someone who speaks the same language. Right, you say, don't they speak English in NZ? Well, yes. But it's still not the same language in so many ways. It's such a load off JB's brain to have someone take care of the details, and Conor is working with their designer to suss out the interior details. It's so great to have them in place when we take on our next project.

A fellow we got to know on our trip to Rarotonga in February has just made international news by being the first double-amputee to scale Mt. Everest. What an amazing triumph!

Keith Richards is lodged up the road from us in Remuera after recovering from brain surgery. He and his wife and kids had lunch in our little town of St. Heliers, but I missed the big event! St. Heliers is just down the hill from us . . . think Del Mar in 1960. I love this place and regularly visit the butcher and green-grocer after my walks on the beach.

The American Women's Club just had it's 64th Birthday Luncheon at the Tamaki Yacht Club, and I was in the fashion show. What a hoot! As soon as I get the pictures from our "official" photographer, I will post them for all to see. Ashley has asked me to be the model for her first hair colouring training session. Hmm, maybe a new career in the offing?

As they say here, toodle pip until next time.

Tsunami Warning . . . Not!

All of us learned of the impending tsunami from the earthquake in Tonga today by calls and text messages from those abroad. The New Zealand Civil Defence (yes, that's how they spell it) has egg of their face because they didn't forewarn the populace until the threat had been deemed non-existent. There's a flurry of blame and finger-pointing going on here in the South Pacific, but we are all alive and well. Tyler was prepared to wear his swim trunks to work this morning, but it turned out to be unnecessary.

The real tsunami is the government announcement that they have required Telecom NZ to unbundle their local loop. I like to think it's because of the well-reasoned flood of emails to the Communications Minister I have let fly over the past year, but I think it's because they have finally figured out that NZ's ranking at the bottom of the OEDC is due to the restrictive monopoly held by Telecom, something we in the US figured out in . . . oh, say 1990. Let's hope our broadband uptake can match Mexico's in the next few months.

Easter Weekend

It's Easter Weekend and the whole country is shut down for four days. We are open today (Good Friday), tomorrow and Sunday, but closed on Monday. That''s when all of us are packing up the cars and heading up to Waipu for a picnic and outing at Lang's Beach (same place we went with Dad and Joy). The girls want to do an Easter Egg hunt. It's so rare that everyone is off at the same time - will be fun!

Jen, Ashley and I went to see the musical Dirty Dancing last night and loved it. Jen's stay is winding down, and we have almost all of the videos finished. They look great. Ashley is still waiting for her "Partner Visa" so she can start working. She's got some nice offers and wants to take job at a very hip and swanky spa/salon as a trainee. Can you just see JB going in there to get his hair cut?

We have decided to be a sponsor for one of our newer employees, Jhon, from Peru. He's amazing in the kitchen and a real go-getter. Even Bel (the little Braziallian Nazi) and JB (the jaded American) love him, so he's got that going for him (which is nice). Tyler is working with immigration to get all Jhon's papers in order so he can stay here. We now have Tiffany from mainland China and Wilson from Taiwan on board, so our world map of employees is ever-expanding. The Chinese are a hoot, since nobody can pronounce their given names, they choose a new name when they come here. Often they choose rock-star names, but Wilson loved the movie "Castaway." Go figure.

We had another celebrity sighting the other day. Just Nicki and Conor were on during the lull (4pm) and a couple came up to order veggie burritos. Conor thought the guy looked familiar, like the guy in Van Wilder. Nicki was sure the girl was famous too. Conor had his UofO shirt on and the guy was talking to him about having family in Eugene. After they sat down, Conor and Nicki went into the office and Googled Ryan Reynolds, sure enough he's married to Alanis Morisette. That's who they were - just travelling through. So now we have quite a collection, including John Legend, Black-Eyed Peas, POD, John Cleese, Bill Clinton, Alanis Morisette and Ryan Reynolds. Let's see, the Stones are in concert in a few weeks. Wonder if Mick and the boys will drop by?

Jen creating our video training 

New Conquests

We have lots of news to report this month. JB and CB have both mastered the test and are proud holders of NZ Driver’s Licenses. Where else in the world would one question relate to the proper maneuvering of a vehicle when faced with a herd of sheep on the road? I kid you not!

Conor has successfully completed his residency requirements and is the first of our group to legitimately claim the title of “Kiwi.” Ashley is in the process of getting her “partner” Work Visa and is experiencing all of the endless hassles of x-rays, medical certificates and documentation required.

The Newmarket project is moving along nicely. JB and Conor are delicately navigating the resource consent waters on their own. Meanwhile, Jen, Conor and I have embarked upon our video training project with awesome results so far. We had to halt the taping while waiting for a jet-propulsion ferry to pass, but that’s life on the banks of the Hauraki Gulf. Tyler has masterfully replaced Judy and has hired several new Kitchen Hands from the ranks of Uni students.

We continue to be amazed at our good fortune (see Beach House album on the right) and the satisfaction of seeing our dream blossom into reality. With two stalks of bananas to eat, along with various and sundry passion fruit, apples, mandarins and lemons, we’d better get busy! Kia Ora until the next update.

Tyler and Ashley meet Bill Clinton
photo courtesy of the NZ Herald

JB and Malcolm at the Paeroa motorcycle street rally 

Woz

Woz and the 1st International Segway Trophy
If you don't know who Woz is, you've never taken one of my classes. Add this to the list of critical social icons we've introduced to our kids: Ben and Jerry, the introduction of Windows 95, the last Grateful Dead concert at Autzen Stadium, and meeting the genius behind Apple Computer. Woz is in town for the very first International Segway tournament - the American Aftershocks vs. the New Zealand Pole Blacks.

One Year On . . .

February 1 marked our one year annivarsary in New Zealand. It has gone by so fast, but we have accomplished so much! To celebrate the event, JB and I took a 6 day trip to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. We had a great time, caught up on sleep, read a few books, and thoroughly enjoyed the break.

Our good karma continues with our acquisition of our new house in Karaka Bay on the Hauraki Gulf in Auckland. Bibi, a friend I met at the American Women's Club, called the other day to let us know that her husband Mark has been transferred by Microsoft to Sydney. They had to give up their gorgeous beach house and wanted to know if we were interested. Yes! So, on February 23 we will be leaving Freeman's Bay for our new digs. See the photo album Rarotonga for a wee peek at the spectacular views. Not only is the house just our style, the property is teeming with every type of fruit you can imagine: bananas, passion fruit, lemons, peaches, apples, mandarins, you name it. We also have a beach with a boathouse. Now all we need is a few sea kayaks.

Plans continue for the Newmarket project. We take possession in May and plan on opening in July. Conor and JB are diligently working on the plans with the developer, while Tyler and I will spend the next month fine tuning our training and documentation to enable us to expand. 2006 promises to be another very busy year!

Millie and the Donnells

Tom and Jan Donnell surprised us with a visit before boarding the Diamond Princess for a cruise to Australia. (See Diamond photo album). Right after they left I got a call from Millie McKenzie - another dear friend from ages ago in Bend and COCC. Millie and I are going to do up the town today!

Housekeeping

I have just posted a new photo album - Parent Trip. Our Web host space is getting pretty big, and Conor and I are working on our new Web site, so I am going to have to remove some of the old photo albums. You may see a few things being archived, but I will try to keep things that are critical to the history of our adventure.

Connections

Time to post a quick update on our latest adventures. My parents came to spend Christmas and New Year with us after a great trip to Aussie and the South Island. Now they have hit the road again for a train trip to Wellington, then a tour up the east coast of the North Island to the Bay of Plenty and back for a final swing into Auckland. I am so impressed with their energy and joie de vivre!

Last week we were surprised when our dear friends Peter and Gail from Vancouver BC showed up at the restaurant! They will be back in Auckland tomorrow to spend the night with us before we see them off to Aitutaki in the Cook Islands. Our mutual friend Peter Archer (whom JB met in Portugal on Christmas Eve 1970) put them in touch with us at the last minute!

Tyler has returned from his Christmas trip to the States with his girlfriend Ashley, a new graduate of Sonoma State University. Way to go Ash! Conor's girfrield Jen will be joining us in February and will help us out with our training and "rush media" videos for this and the new store. Our little family of adventurers is growing by leaps and bounds, and we couldn't be happier!

Speaking of which, we are online for store #2 in Newmarket to be opening in August. Business is booming with cruise ships arriving one after the other allowing us to frequently hit new record sales marks. We get requests for franchises everyday, so we are diligently building our brand with solid operational procedures and training.

All of this work requires a little R&R, so JB and I are going to Rarotonga for a 5 day break the first week in February. Ahhh, nothing but the sun, beach, and a few good books. I'm ready!

Grandma and Conor - New Year's Day 2006 

Ty & Gramps 

Fiesta Time

Just in time for the holidays, we have unveiled our Fresh Fiesta Kit - another first for Aucklanders. The Vodafone guys can now chow down in their office, families can take the kit to the beach for a nice picnic, and the harried commuter can grab dinner for the family on the way to the ferry. Conor's got some great point-of-sale devices and our flyers are in all of the offices in the CBD. Arriba!

A Kiwi Christmas Tale

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all round the bach
Not a possum was stirring; not one could we catch.
We'd left on the table a meat pie and beer,
In hopes that Santa Claus soon would be here.

We children were snuggled up in our bunk beds,
While dreams of pavlova danced in our heads;
And Mum in her nightie,and Dad in his shorts,
Had just settled down to watch TV sports.

When outside the bach such a hoo-ha arose,
I woke up at once from my wonderful doze.
I ran straight to the sliding door, looking about,
Jumped out on the deck, and let out a shout!

The fairy lights Dad had strung up around the door
Let me see everything down to the shore.
And what did I see, when I took a peep?
But a miniature tractor and eight tiny sheep.

With a little old driver, his dog on his knee.
I knew at once who this joker might be.
He patted his dog, and in a voice not unkind,
Cried ! "Good on ya, boy! Now, GIT IN BEHIND!

"Now Flossy! now Fluffy! now Shaun and Shane!
On Bossy! on Buffy! on Jason and Wayne!
Up that red tree, to the top of the bach!
But mind you don't trample the vegetable patch."

So up on the roof those sheep quickly flew,
With the tractor of toys, Santa and his dog too.
As my sister awoke and I turned around,
In through the window he came with a bound.

He wore a black singlet and little white shorts,
And stuck on his feet were gumboots of course;
A sackful of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a postie just opening his pack.

His eyes-bright as paua shell - oh, how they twinkled!
Like an old tuatara, his skin was all wrinkled!
He had a wide face and a round, fat tummy,
That looked like he'd eaten lots that was yummy.

He spoke not a word, but got down on one knee,
And placed a cricket set under the tree,
A present for Sis, one for Dad, one for Mum,
Then he turned and he winked and held up his thumb.

He jumped on his tractor, to his dog gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, as fast as a missile.
I called out "Thanks," as he flew past the gate.
He called back: "Kia ora to all, and good on ya, mate."

This was read at the American Women's Club Christmas Luncheon today in Devonport. Unfortunately, the author is unknown.

Thanksgiving

The holiday season is now well and truly into full swing with summer upon us and Christmas lights adorning all of the houses in our neighborhood. We had a wonderful, traditional American-style Thanksgiving complete with turkey and all the trimmings. (See new Thanksgiving photo album). I made my first pumpkin pie from scratch (out of necessity). Kiwis eat lots of pumpkin and they are in all of the stores, but there is no canned pumpkin to be found! I may stick with the fresh pumpkin method - it's so good.

Rachel leaves us today after her 3 month soujourn in NZ. It's been a great learning experience, she's met kids just like herself from all over the world. We were talking last night about how important it is to travel, see how others live, and to recognize that really all of us, everywhere, no matter what country, religion, ethnicity, or depth of our pockets, are just the "sameunderneath." Kiwis have what they call the "Big OE" or overseas experience. Many kids take their OE during their "Gap Year" following high school graduation. That's probably why 96% of Kiwis have passports. I won't be surprised to see many of her new friends find their way to little ole Sisters, Oregon for a taste of the great American West!

While we celebrated Rachel's farewell with dinner up the road in Ponsonby, Tyler was holding down the fort at the restaurant with yet another record-breaking night. Hour after hour they came, they ate, they downed shots of Cuervo Gold, and they spent big time. Yes!

Bill Clinton is coming to Auckland in February and will be speaking and staying on Prince's Wharf at the Hilton. I sent an invite to him to join us for a burrito and a chat with our ex-pat American family, and got an immediate response from his scheduling secretary. While nothing is confirmed, it sounded like there is just a chance we just might be able to host Mr. President on the deck at Mexicali Fresh. You all know what an unabashed Clinton supporter I have always been. This would rock my world!

It's All Good

As Thanksgiving approaches, we are enjoying an exciting time in NZ and at The Mariposa Corporation (aka Mexicali Fresh). First of all, it was announced today that NZ has been selected to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup! It's a huge coup for this tiny country who was up against South Africa and Japan. This is the world's third largest international sporting event after the Olympics and the Soccer World Cup. For little NZ, it will dwarf the Lions Tour and the America's Cup. Needless to say, the country is rapt, and as new Kiwis, so are we.

We have also signed a letter of intent for a new store in Newmarket. It's a new upscale urban renewal project in Auckland's high fashion shopping area. Westfield likes what we are doing and we both see a great fit for their newest developments. They are the second largest shopping center developer in the world. See photos in the Newmarket album.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we have finally found and purchased a Weber grill for our turkey. It took awhile, but we found what is called a "North American-style BBQ" here. The only problem is that they don't sell lighter fluid and the briquettes are $30 per bag. Jill, do still have any pull at Kingsford - we could sure use that about now! Judy has ordered our turkey for next week because you can't get anything over 3 kg (that's 6.6 lbs to you unmetricised heathens) and we will have an all American celebration. We will attempt to introduce the Stewart Family traditions like games and crafts to our Kiwi guests, but I really need my sisters here to create the buzz! Now all we need to do is time our meal with ESPN coverage of American football, and we've got it made.

The cruise ships have begun arriving and summer is in full swing. Tyler, Conor, Rachi, John and I wish you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving with family and friends.

Mexicali Fresh City League Basketball Team