It's a Drama Podcast

Ciao, Bella and welcome once again to Porto Santo Stefano in Tuscany, Italy where Liz and Brian are (still) currently housesitting for Six. Whole. Weeks. I know. You don't have to tell them. They feel like that couple, Calvin and Zatera Spencer who won the lottery three times in one month. In this week's soggy Italian podcast episode you will discover: Why Italy came to a standstill for at least t...

Today, Liz and Brian lift the lid on the one thing that (apart from wine) they love more than anything in the world. Housesitting. As some of you know, we left New Zealand three months ago to travel around Europe in our little red car. We are currently in Porto Santo Stefano in Tuscany, Italy. Where we are staying for six weeks. And guess what?? It isn't costing us a penny. Not a cent. Not even a...

This week's show is brought to you from Tuscany in Italy. Brian and Liz's home for the next six weeks while they housesit a superb home with a friendly little cat. I know. Quids in or what? The thing with Italy is everyone thinks it is perfect. And it is. Of course, it is. I mean what's not to love about Italia? The buildings are beautiful, the weather is lovely, the people are gorgeous, and the f...

A trait of being English is that one is very patriotic. One does not slag off one's country. Absolutely not. That's very un-English. So it was hard making this week's episode. Because we had to say how we felt about returning to England. And not all of it was pretty... In this week's episode,  we discuss exactly how it felt to return home to England (even though it's not home anymore). The things...

It was all going so well. We had just driven from England to Greece in our little red car, had the time of our lives in Greece , and were now ready to turn around and have more adventures in Europe. And then it happened. The car broke down. Blew up. Bang. Kaput. Two miles outside of Calais. Of course, we were devastated. Gutted. Panicked.  How would we continue our trip? How would we get back to I...

To an outsider, it all looks so idyllic. A husband and wife swanning off to a Greek island to be with their darling kid cherubs. But what's it really like in Greece?  What is happening behind the closed doors in Greece? Behind the half-open crack? In this week's podcast, Liz and Brian discuss cats, criminals and being left to starve because they weren't quite Greek enough... If this doesn't make y...

Would I be wrong in guessing that at some time in your life you've dreamed of spending a few glorious weeks in Greece with your family? An idyllic Greek Island vacation. Have you spent time (sometimes hours) drooling at pictures on the internet of golden sand beaches and flat-roofed white houses that can only be found on an island in Greece somewhere in the middle of the Agean Sea? You and me both...

If we've heard it once, we've heard it a thousand times: How do you afford to travel the world? Are you rich? How do you afford to keep taking so much time off to travel? Why haven't you got a proper job?  Ohhh...I cannot wait to share this episode with you! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that we would be a couple who could say that we have location independent jobs and get paid whi...

Last week, in behind-the-scenes podcast #8, I shared with you some of the very real fears that I have about leaving New Zealand to travel Europe for six months. One of those fears is leaving my kids behind. In particular my 17 years old daughter, Tessa. As any parent knows, a lot happens in the life of a teenager. Multiple dramas arise. Drama's that, as a parent, one likes to be around to help nav...

Last week, in behind-the-scenes podcast #7 , I shared some big news. Brian and I are leaving New Zealand to travel Europe for six months. l also promised to share the reasons why the thought of doing this trip brings me out in a cold sweat. Here goes. My most thought-provoking writing is shared in my weekly newsletter with my circle of friends. I would love to include you in that group. Sign up be...

It's true. We're leaving New Zealand and we're off to travel Europe for 6 months.  For ages, I've been dying to share this news with you—this big news. But I've been putting it off. In this very frank and open behind-the-scenes podcast we reveal why. My most thought-provoking writing is shared in my weekly newsletter with my circle of friends. I would love to include you in that group. Sign up bel...

Turning your back on the American dream for a new life in New Zealand. Is it possible, for a couple in their late fifties to leave everything behind, move to the other side of the world and create a new life in New Zealand?   It certainly is. Not only is it possible but, according to some, it is what keeps you young and life exciting! In this week's show, I talked with Sheri. Sheri was the directo...

I have heard it said many times that Canada is New Zealand on steroids. The mountains, the lakes, the beaches, the space. Canada has exactly what New Zealand has only it's...Canadian. So where should you live? Canada or New Zealand? In this week's show, we are excited to introduce Randy and Suzanne, a couple who have lived together in Ontario Canada, for the past thirty years. Randy is Canadian an...

There's a quote that I love: 'Incredible things can be done simply if we are committed to making them happen.' This week, Brian and I are excited to share the details of something that we have been working on for weeks. Something that we know is going to benefit all of our moving to New Zealand community immensely. Wherever you are on your moving to New Zealand adventure, whatever stage of the gam...

Do you dream of moving to New Zealand? Were you born in NZ and now live elsewhere? Or maybe you already live in Aotearoa. Whichever you are you are going to love this week's show as we dive in and share: You know you're a kiwi when... Enjoy! Would You Like To Join Our Private New Zealand Community? Are you Considering Moving To New Zealand and are desperate to know what life in New Zealand is (rea...

Living in New Zealand. What The First 6 Months Were REALLY Like. In this week's show, we are happy to welcome back Maile and Brian!  This American couple left the US almost six months ago to start a new life in Dunedin, New Zealand. They are happy with their decision (in fact, I have never met two people so in love with a country) but their journey certainly wasn't all plain sailing. Enjoy! Americ...

With housing prices rising rapidly no wonder that those thinking of moving to NZ ask: 'will I be poor in New Zealand'. In this podcast, I am joined by my good friend Ryan. Ryan is an American who has been living in New Zealand for almost five years and he gives us super insightful savings (that Americans, in particular,) will experience when they come to live in Aotearoa! Enjoy! Moving To New Zeal...

There's a quote that I love: 'If it were easy then everyone would do it'.  This week, we are excited to share with you an extra special show. What you are about to hear is a podcast that was put together by the members of our private New Zealand Calling community. The subject is about their fears about moving to New Zealand. This show is fabulous. Wherever you are on your New Zealand adventure, wh...

There is a distinct difference between teaching in New Zealand schools and teaching in the USA. In this week's show, we talk about being a teacher in New Zealand with Jo. Jo moved to New Zealand with her family from the US and for the past four years has been working as a primary school teacher at a school near Auckland. If you are moving to New Zealand as a teacher or if you have kids in New Zeal...

This week, Jacinda announced the news that so many of us have been waiting for. The New Zealand border will begin to open from February 2022. The re-opening scheme is to be phased out over the coming year. Here is what the 5 step plan will look like: The border will reopen to vaccinated New Zealand citizens and residents travelling from Australia at 11.59pm 27 February Reopens to New Zealand citiz...

In this week's show, we talk with Bryan Vickery. Bryan is a journalist and radio presenter here in Taranaki New Zealand and this week he had quite the shock when, what he thought would be a quick walk in the National Park, turned into a fight for survival.  Bryan Vickery. Taranaki's Most Wonderful Journalist. You won't meet a nicer man than Bryan. He somehow manages to spread himself around the co...

It's true. There are some strange laws in New Zealand. But not nearly as strange as some of those found in other countries. Take Mexico for example, it is illegal to kiss on the street in Guanajuato, while in the USA it is against the law to sell Kinder Eggs at the grocery store! If you are moving to New Zealand or plan to travel to New Zealand when the borders open, then you are going to LOVE thi...

If you are thinking of moving to New Zealand from the UK (or elsewhere for that matter) and are concerned about a few things you may miss, you are going to really LOVE this show! Last week, Brian and went on holiday.  We stayed in a suburb of Dunedin called Port Chalmers. We loved it. Not only were we are away from the kids that never stop eating and the lawn that never stops growing, but we were...

This is the last podcast of the year and we wanted to make it personal. So here we are! Behind the Scenes. In the bedroom.  To be honest, we could have made this podcast very easy. We could have just sat there and said thank you over and over again. That would have summed up our feelings for you right now. But because we like to natter over cherries we also go into the things that scared us the mo...

If you live in the US or the UK I am guessing that at some time in your life you will have dreamed of spending Christmas down under. But is Christmas in New Zealand better or will you spend the holiday season pining for the snow like a pig in a blanket? Let's explore six major differences between a New Zealand Christmas and those in the US. Enjoy! Would You Like To Join Our Private New Zealand Com...