New Zealand

I was four months pregnant when I left the UK for New Zealand in 1998, running from addiction, toward something I couldn’t name. I didn’t know then that the real story wasn’t about my escape. It was about what I was running from a family pattern so deep I couldn’t see it.

I landed and my partner’s mother came and picked up us up. I was taken aback by the randomness of the houses, they were all different. Not like Milton Keynes, the houses look the same.

I noticed the beautiful plants, blue and white. They are called African Lillies in the UK but here in New Zealand they are a nuisance plant. I thought they were beautiful.

I was so fortunate coming here, I can’t thank my family here enough for giving me the opportunity to move to Auckland.

The air smelled of a beautiful fragrance at night. The beautiful flowered trees with purple blossoms, I can’t remember what they are called, maybe Jacaranda. I was overwhelmed with NZ. The culture is so different. It’s multi-cultural.

I brought all my paperwork with me and hoped I was going to stay in New Zealand. I was given a six months visa because I am British. They stamped in on the plane.

Thank you for everything, my beautiful family. I’m blessed with a lovely family, and a gorgeous son and granddaughter.