Next contacted me to help promote their Twelve Days of Christmas, it immediately reminded me of New Zealand. I originally trained as a teacher in Canada but there wasn’t a lot of work for teachers. At the time, NZ had a shortage of teachers and were offering $3000 to relocate. You didn’t have to ask me twice. So, I moved out there for 18 months before coming to the UK. Originally, I was going to turn down the job as I skint but my mum and sister said ‘over their dead bodies’ as they knew it was an amazing opportunity so they persuaded me to go.
I had an amazing time, learning and experiencing loads. One thing I vividly remember was their version of the 12 days of Christmas. It was hysterical. I loved shouting 5-big-fat-pigs and 4 huhu grubs creased me up!
On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A pukeko in a ponga tree
On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
two kumera
And a pukeko in a ponga tree
On the third day of Christmas
….
and so on, until…
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Twelve piupius swinging
Eleven haka lessons
Ten juicy fish heads
Nine sacks of pipis
Eight plants of puha
Seven eels a swimming
Six pois a twirling
Five – big – fat – pigs !
Four huhu grubs
Three flax kits
Two kumera
And a pukeko in a ponga tree!
Disclosure: apparently I will receive £30 worth of Next vouchers for this post.