Jenny Jones - Winner !
There's no place like home
Living overseas has made me appreciate home a heck of a lot more - Orewa is where I want to be!
A special thanks to...
A big THANK YOU to the Essex, Haybittle and Swan support crews - I wouldn't have this many votes without you - which must mean you believe in me!
Fingers crossed Laura, Kerri and Leah get home to you all for Christmas! x
Thanks to everyone else who doesn't even know me but taken the time out to vote for me - it means so much! :)
31 October 10 at 9:35am
My last vote Jen, its all up to MARMITE now, we have done our very best so now for the long wait!!
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31 October 10 at 11:03pm
hopefully my vote is enough to get you back home to NEW ZEALAND =)) good luck x
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London
Supporting Bringing Home The Kiwis
31 October 10 at 1:24am
Good luck with the outcome of the competition. Leah Swan's birthday is tomorrow if you have time to throw her a birthday wish. Bon Voyage.
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It's the final countdown...
With the competition ending this weekend, I just wanted to take the opportunity to write to you all and express how grateful I am to have all the support from friends, family, fellow expats and their support groups in my campaign to get home for Christmas.
The Kiwi Spirit in this Marmite Bringing Home the Kiwis promotion has been amazing. I never thought I'd have fellow expats and their support teams voting for me as well. To all those families: Your support means so much to me!
To me, this has become more than a competition to get back home. It's helped me rediscover my priorities, and has made me relook at my goals in life.
It's been so fun putting up posts on here, and it's been awesome reading up on other expat's pages, finding out where they've been, where they come from, and their reasons for getting one of those 100 tickets home.
Even if I don't win, I've really enjoyed myself on this adventure, and I've meet some wonderful, honest people on here that all deserve a trip home.
Thank you Marmite for this opportunity, and everyone who's voted or commented on my page - I've had a blast!
30 October 10 at 5:43pm
311...hey josh you're 100 ahead of yourself but you do think positive.....It's been a blast voting for everyone...you've been a great person to vote for!! camp haybittle
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31 October 10 at 10:31pm
Hehe I wish! Thanks Morin family - your support has been priceless! Hope Kerri comes home to you for Christmas :)
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Only a couple of days left...
Will I be home for Christmas?
Marmite and Cheese Muffins (piccie)
Tasty!
29 October 10 at 10:05am
Thanks so much ladies! Your ongoing support means the world to me!
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29 October 10 at 10:50am
294 - looks like you will hit 300 anytime now. Your posts have been so interesting Jen - I am sure everyone has enjoyed them as much as I have
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Marmite and Cheese Muffins
One more recipe to satisfy your tastebuds. :)
Ingredients:
Muffins
2 medium eggs
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup oil
1½ cup flour
¼ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup milk
Topping
100 gram butter
3 to 4 teaspoons Marmite
¾ cup grated cheddar cheese
Method
1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. Beat egg, add sugar and whisk together.
3. Add oil and beat until light and creamy.
4. Sift dry ingredients and add to the egg mix with the milk. Mix thoroughly.
5. Bake in 24 cm ovenproof dish for about 45 minutes, or in muffin pans for 25 to 30 minutes. Prepare the topping while the cake is in the oven.
6. Melt butter and Marmite and mix together.
7. Pour warm mixture over hot cake when it’s cooked, sprinkle with grated cheese and return to oven until the cheese melted.
29 October 10 at 10:18am
My flatmates like baking too, so between us we come up with allsorts of yummy things to eat! So my diet hasn't been going very well HAHA :)
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Big News Folks
Mum sent me an email yesterday saying our family home has gone unconditional. That means for the first time since the existence of the property, the house has been sold.
My parents bought the land in October 1980 and by Boxing Day of the same year, there was a house ready to move into. My sister was 4, and I was yet to come into the picture for several years.
Now 30 years have gone by, and by late January 2011 Mum will have moved into a new place, downsizing from the 4 bedroom house she's known for so long. That I've known all my life.
While I'm so excited for Mum for this big change in her life and looking at the internet at every opportunity for places for her to check out, I can't help but have that one niggling concern.
Unfortunately with my sister based in Christchurch and I'm based in London, who's going to help her move?
I've already missed events by being overseas (weddings, new beginnings of my best friend's baby girl, birthdays and even the funeral of a friend), but knowing that the last time I was in NZ will be the last time I ever set foot in my childhood home is pretty gut-wrenching.
If I get to come home for Christmas, as well as all the other things I'll get to do that I've mentioned in posts before this, I'll get to say a final goodbye of my life of memories in that house.
There's no place like home.
28 October 10 at 11:20pm
Hi Jen. I will help your Mum move if she wants any help.
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29 October 10 at 9:55am
Oh I so know how that feels.......the same thing happened with me when I came away..........<sigh> Hope you get home to be there to help out! Pixie sprinkles all around! xxx
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A request for the good stuff...
with the good stuff!
28 October 10 at 6:52am
# 271 from Leah's God-Mother .... going well and all the best Jenny X
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28 October 10 at 6:58am
You sound like the loveliest person , Jenny ... all the very best ... will drop you a vote tomorrow (run out today ..sorry) from one of Leah's sisters.
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Go Girls!
My friend Hannah sent me over the DVD of Go Girls (Season One) and I love it! After she stopped in London (YAY!) I decided to watch it again - this time I watched the whole season in two evenings. I can't wait for Season Two on DVD!
For international broadcasting reasons or something I can't watch shows like Go Girls or Shorty Street online... so if I head home I'll be sure to catch up with all the Kiwi soaps!
27 October 10 at 6:49am
hey Jenny Good luck! Ill slam you my vote for today. How long you been in London for? Still loving it?!? I was living in Ealing when i was over there. Mad times.
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27 October 10 at 7:03am
Leah - you realise you've kinda said two things in one 'getting home for Chrissy' - Christmas... and my Mum is Christine :D Thanks Team Leah!
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27 October 10 at 8:14am
Another vote for you Jen, that total is slowly climbing..... keep it interesting as they say its not just the votes that count and you are doing a great job.
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The Colours Song... visual
Brought to you today by the word Marmite! Costume: Mr Vintage T-Shirt. Props: NZ Marmite, bread and chips. :)
26 October 10 at 10:55am
Thanks everyone for your votes and kind words of support! x
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27 October 10 at 3:00am
Awesome!! Vote #250 from me, best of luck :)
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Love is...
MARMITEY GOOD!
There was a girl from a small town called Orewa...
When the Adidas Womens 5k Challenge was on in London recently I decided to represent where I came from. This photo (taken with my workmate and her friends, all English) was taken before the race (which I did a time 12 minutes better than my previous time in an Adidas race in NZ) - and I was ready to let everyone know where I was from!
Whoever gave me my 200th vote...
...thank you so much!
And thank you for the support from my family, friends, and my fellow kiwi expats and their support networks! I wouldn't have been able to do it without you all - the Kiwi spirit through out this competition/adventure has been amazing!
Marmite's Bringing Home The Kiwis has brought back some happy NZ memories for me and I love reading everyone elses stories and reasons for getting back to their friends and loved ones for Christmas.
Keep up the Kiwi spirit - and good luck to my fellow expats x
23 October 10 at 12:37am
Hi Jenny, Leah Swan sent me your way for a vote 203. Thanks for supporting my buddie...Good Luck!
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23 October 10 at 1:57am
Aww that's so nice of her. Thanks so much Lula!
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The Colours Song
Does anyone remember this from primary school? Mr Vintage bought out a t-shirt for it - which of course I bought!
Ma is white, whero is red, kakariki green,
Pango is black, mangu is too, A E I O U.
Kowhai yellow, pakaka brown, kikorangi blue,
Karakaraka is our orange, A E I O U.
If you didn't know this song - let this be your lesson of the day! :D
22 October 10 at 10:38am
Lisa - good idea! I'll post something for ya over the weekend! :)
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23 October 10 at 12:44am
An absolute Kiwi primary school classic. Looking forward to this video!
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Kitteh wants hooman back home
Tara is my baby girl (a grey tabby I adopted from the SPCA for my birthday in 2003 - now currently residing with her "Nana", my Mum, while I'm overseas) and she'd like to show you how much I'm wanted back home for Christmas.
22 October 10 at 7:13am
#193 in order to help reunite you with your lil cat and family...from a Kerri Haybittle supporter.
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22 October 10 at 7:41am
Thanks Philip! I'll send a vote Kerri's way :)
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22 October 10 at 9:23am
OH JENNY.......THAT IS ADORABLE!!!.... I like picture #3...he he....looks like one of my kitties!...Thank you for the extremely kind words on my page....I still have lots of extra votes and will pop one by once I recharge tomorrow! xx
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Kiwi Pride!
Me on Waitangi Day - London style! This is me and Kiwi with Parliament Square behind us :)
20 October 10 at 10:00pm
Thanks John, Rob and Kylie & Xavier! I appreciate your support! :)
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21 October 10 at 10:10pm
Dad what the.. haha! Morning jenny, how cold is it out today!!! I think my family prefer you to me! haha!
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21 October 10 at 10:33pm
You and your family are awesome for their support - loving the Kiwi Spirit! Yeah the past two days have been really cold - winter coat has been on and the mornings are freezing! Winter is gunna be a nightmare I think!
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Fact of the day
Dame Helen Mirren is a Marmite fan!
20 October 10 at 8:29am
Do you think maybe I should be in travel and tourism? :D
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20 October 10 at 8:37am
Morning Jen, #168, half our family seems to be voting for you and we don t even know you ! lol. If we get you home for xmas, we might have to meet up!!
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20 October 10 at 8:40am
Thanks Sally - the Team Essex have been a big contribution to my votings - couldn't do it without you! P.S. That sounds like a good idea! :)
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What's on a Kiwi plate?
Food’s an extremely important part of a country’s cultural identity, and Kiwis are proud of their culture in every respect; including what goes on their dining tables.
For non-Kiwis and those about to visit NZ, here are a few names you should be prepared to hear very often, as well as some essential items to feature in your New Zealand pantry.
BBQ
Throw some sausages on the BBQ, add some Watties tomato sauce and you have the recipe for a good Kiwi meal, so be prepared to be invited for a lot of these!
Hangi
A Hangi is a traditional Maori cooking method involving heated rocks buried in a pit oven. The food cooked in a hangi usually includes lamb, chicken, pork and mutton, as well as kumara, pumpkin, potato and cabbage.
Pavlova
This meringue-based dessert, with a crispy crust concealing a soft interior, is said to have been named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who visited New Zealand in the 1920s. The dessert is topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. Pavlovas are a must have at any Kiwi table on a special occasion, such as a Christmas lunch.
Kumara
Kumara is the Maori name for sweet potato and is a trace of Maori influence with a strong presence in the diet of New Zealanders.
Fish and chips
UK nationals will be familiar with many of the elements of Kiwi cuisine, largely due to its European influences. Fish and chips, one of the most traditional meals for New Zealanders, will not be new to British migrants. Grab your fish and a scoop of chips and head to the beach with your family on a summer evening. You won’t be the only ones.
L&P
Lemon & Paeroa, more commonly known as L&P, is a New Zealand soft drink made with lemon juice and carbonated mineral water from the town of Paeroa, in the North Island. The town is so proud of the drink that displays a giant L&P bottle in one of its parks, a mandatory stop for tourists in the region.
Hokey pokey
Hokey Pokey is what Kiwis call sponge toffee of the kind found in the Cadbury Crunchie bar. The flavour is one of the most popular in the country and can be found in a wide range of products from ice cream to biscuits.
Pie
Meat pies are one of the most iconic examples of the Kiwi food culture. There are a number of variations to the common meat pie, including some with mushroom, cheese or a potato-top.
Marmite
Your Kiwi pantry should always have a jar of this yeast-based spread, ready to spread on toast or add to a stew.
Anzac biscuits
Made with rolled oats and golden syrup, these biscuits are a popular snack for most Kiwis. Anzac is an acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and these biscuits were created during WWI by the wives of soldiers trying to send them a treat that wouldn’t spoil easily during transportation by sea.
21 October 10 at 2:42am
Love it Jen - I have run out of votes today, you will be first on my tick list tomorrow - Goodluck xx
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Brrr... It's cold in here...
It's only mid October and I'm already wearing my winter coat to and from work, and I have started intermittantly using the heating inside my cosy SW London flat. We're in for some cold evenings this week - BBC forecasting low's of 2 degrees overnight over the next few days.
If it's cold now - what the heck is in store for me when winter actually hits (Dec-Feb)?
I want my Kiwi Summer back!
21 October 10 at 10:11pm
They turned on the heating in my building so the living room was nice and cosy last night. But far out this week I've had to wear a winter coat to and from work! We're definitely in for one heck of a winter!
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Marmite Choconut Muffins (piccie of end result)
Check out the recipe below. Yummy!
Marmite Choconut Muffins
A tasty recipe to satisfy your tastebuds!
Makes 12.
Ingredients
- 600g soft margarine
- 600g caster sugar
- 5 heaped tsp of Marmite
- 200g cocoa powder
- 400g self raising flour
- 3 eggs
- 1 jar of peanut butter (smooth)
- 300g icing sugar
In a large bowl cream together the sugar and margarine. When light in colour, beat in the Marmite. Mix the flour and cocoa powder together in another bowl. Add one egg at a time, and beat into the sugar and margarine with a little of the flour and cocoa mixture. Then, the remaining flour and cocoa should be gently folded into the mixture.
Once finished, grease a muffin tray and spoon in the mixture. Alternatively, use paper cake cases.
Cook at 180ºc for around 25 mins or until brown and cooked.
While the cakes are cooking, empty your peanut butter into a bowl and combine with the icing sugar.
Once the cakes have cooled, cover with the icing and enjoy.
There's No Place Like Home...
What could be better than a Kiwi Summer Christmas at the beach? I miss Orewa!
19 October 10 at 1:36am
That looks so nice. I'd love to be lying on that beach right now, it's soooo cold here today! best of luck :)
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21 October 10 at 10:45am
Right back at ya! thanks for voting, sent you a fellow coatie vote to...hope we both get back to sun and sand for christmas aye!
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Nigella has my dinner sorted
Everyone is talking about the 'Marmite Spaghetti' Nigella Lawson had on TV - so I thought I'd give it a go. I substituted Spaghetti for Penne - and I must say it's DELICIOUS! It's cheap and simple to make, and without the cheese it's low in calories (only 4 WW points) - for a very tasty filling meal! I accompanied mine with some toast - slathered in Marmite of course! Check out Nigella's receipe here and try it yourself! http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/spaghetti_with_marmite_06786
19 October 10 at 1:31am
Ah mum already found you! :-) Yeah nigellas kids were tucking into it, looks delish..that is one massive plate of pasta! haha glad you liked the recipie, I almost jumped off the couch when i heard it! The dancer dude on Xfactor also quoted marmite last night too! Err this makes it sound like I watch a loooot of tv haha. Enjoy jenny, #156 see ya on the plane!
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19 October 10 at 9:21am
Yeah I made more than I realised - I couldn't finish it! Very tasty, and great when you're on a budget!
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23 October 10 at 11:48am
I forgot to say that though the recipe is on an English website - NZ MARMITE was used in the making of this delish dinner (which resulted in the picture above) :)
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Marmite Blood E Mary
You will need: 45ml vodka, 10ml Lemon Juice, 60ml Tomato juice, 4 drops Tabasco sauce, 2t Worcestershire sauce, 2t Marmite, Pinch salt and pepper. Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir really well, and strain into a glass (no ice). Garnish with lemon wedge, and celery stick.
17 October 10 at 8:30pm
Hi Jenny make mine #146...good luck, hope you get back to the beautiful coast for xmas xx
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23 October 10 at 9:56am
This looks very tasty, good luck for getting back to Orewa, heres 209, cheers Si.
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Snack Time!
I love eating Marmite on crispbread at work. Unfortunately my boss does too... so I haven't told him I've bought more crispbread, otherwise my Marmite supply will run very low!
17 October 10 at 7:10am
Hey Jenny, Here's a wee vote for ya today...#142. You go girl!!! :)
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17 October 10 at 9:34am
143, hope you get to hit the beach at home this xmas, and spend time with your family, cheers Lauras dad
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Good for breakfast, lunch and tea...
Or a mid-morning snack! Marmite on toast - perfect any time of the day - including post-nights out on the booze! Is it possible that Marmite has beaten chocolate as a source of comfort food?
15 October 10 at 10:10am
Just stopping by to say hi and listen to you singing Pokarekare Ana again. I really like it. It is no wonder you have over 10000 hits. I am also procrastinating. I gotta an article to finish writing by tomorrow....
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15 October 10 at 3:02pm
Thanks for voting for my sister, Leah Swan,, Jenny. I hope you both get home .. A vote for you # 132
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15 October 10 at 10:36pm
Good idea Amy! Thanks everyone for your support! x
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The view I miss the most
I realise now I took it for granted - driving past it every day heading to work. But now it's a view I miss so much - the lookout at the north end of Orewa beach. I took this picture in October 2008, the day after my Nana's funeral - 6 weeks before I moved to the UK. It was a calm day, and not long after I took this shot, my sister (who was with me) and I saw white doves flying further down the cliff. It was like Nana was with us, telling us she was at peace.
100 Votes!
Absolutely stoked! Thank you everyone for all the support so far! x
13 October 10 at 10:22am
Big thanks to my fellow contestants and their support crews by voting for me - That's the Kiwi spirit!
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Cheese & Marmite Balls - pic
The end result!
12 October 10 at 5:38pm
they look delish. A vote for you and hope you get home for Christmaas
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12 October 10 at 9:17pm
They look scrumptious Jen. You will have to make us some, when you win the competion and come home for Christmas.
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13 October 10 at 2:48am
Yummy they look delicious - Vote number 102 :)
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Cheese & Marmite Balls
Another melt-in-your mouth recipe containing the good black stuff!
250 gm Butter
250 gm Cheddar Cheese, grated
375 gm Flour, sifted
1 tsp Baking Powder
½ tsp Salt
For filling : Marmite; Apricot Jam
Mix all the ingredients together and shape into small (walnut sized) balls. Make a hollow in the top of each ball (the end of a wooden spoon works well for this) and into this, spoon your choice of filling – Marmite or Apricot jam (you can fill half the batch with Marmite, and the other half with Apricot jam). Bake at Gas Mark 4/180’C for 15 minutes. (Allow to cool down completely before eating as the filling will be piping hot !)
Picture of recipe will follow above this post ;)
Wisdom Teeth
Currently in quite a bit of pain with my wisdom teeth deciding to torment me (yes, I'm 20-something and I still have 'em) - unfortunately it would cost a bomb to get them tend to here. If I get to go home... I'll get the horrid things out!
Any idea of whether Marmite soothes wisdom teeth pain, like in the way they get rid of mouth ulsers?
13 October 10 at 2:40am
oh :( just a few more weeks..... Marmite will at least give you some comfort and memories of home. That should help a little xox
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14 October 10 at 6:25am
Glad you had no wisdom teeth pain this morning!
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Supporting the Kiwis... in London
I'm a massive League fan, so when the Kiwi's played the Kangaroos over here in London's Twickenham Stoop - I just HAD to be at the game! This is me and my old school mate Cristal (who's on her way back to NZ) supporting the best country in the world!
12 October 10 at 2:12am
Hi Jenny, #89 as promised. I like your new profile pic.
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12 October 10 at 6:22am
I'm your #90.... Don't you just love our flag! :)
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80 Votes!
Thaks very much to all those who've supported me so far - I'm humbled to receive your votes and kind comments that may hopefully have me home for Christmas.
Extra special thanks to the Leah Swan supporters! :)
11 October 10 at 5:34am
I'm all out of votes today. I will stop by tomorrow and leave you one. Looking forward to seeing any new updates! xox
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Lunch at Work
This is what I had on Friday for lunch - Marmite and chip sandwiches! Upon hearing the crunch of the chips while I was devouring this tasty meal, my boss (also a Kiwi expat) exclaimed 'OMG Marmite and Chip Sandwiches! I haven't had one of those in YEARS!'
11 October 10 at 5:33am
yum! this is the only way I like to eat chips!
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13 October 10 at 1:10am
That looks great, marmite and chip sandwiches are the best!
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Kiwi Gifts - My Facebook App!
I made a Facebook App a while ago I'd love to share with you. I made it to help overcome my homesickness while in London.
By word of mouth it's slowly becoming more popular with Kiwis, Expats and NZ Fans alike :)
Search for 'Kiwi Gifts' on Facebook - and give and receive gifts of all things Kiwi:
- Mince and Cheese pie
- Jandals
- Marmite
- Weetbix
- Speights
- Kiwi bach
- All Blacks jersey
- Milo
And so much more!
10 October 10 at 3:02am
The direct link to the Kiwi Gifts app is here: http://apps.facebook.com/gifts-super/533067/ enjoy!
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Eye on the prize...
Focus on what helps you achieve your goals!
10 October 10 at 8:11am
Thank-you for voting for Leah Swan , Jenny, here is a vote for you.
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13 October 10 at 8:53am
Hey Jenny good luck with getting back home to Orewa, cool photo of the marmite eye (above) ,your pizza looks really tasty too, you've got my vote!
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Bring Home Jenny!
My London Billboard
9 October 10 at 2:36am
I enjoyed listening to you singing Pokarekare Ana. You have my vote. Best of luck Jenny. xox
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Marmite Pizza Recipe
YUMMY!
Base Ingredients
1c water
1T melted butter
2T sugar
1t salt
2 3/4 c white flour
3t of Marmite
1t fast action yeast
Dissolve the 3 tsp of Marmite in the water. Add the melted butter. Add the sugar, salt, flour and yeast. In a bread maker, use basic setting 8 for dough, otherwise knead until mixture is doughy.
Grease a baking tray and spread the dough out to cover the base (it can be quite sticky but be patient and you will get there). Then brush lightly oil and leave for 15 mins.
Topping
150g grated Mozzarella cheese
150g grated mature Cheddar cheese
3t Marmite
250g creamed tomato sauce
2T regular tomato sauce/ketchup
1 red pepper
1 green pepper
Sliced chorizo or salami
For the sauce add the cream tomatoes into a bowl. Then add tomato ketchup and Marmite (for a little kick, you can also add 4 drops of Tabasco sauce). Mix these all together until the Marmite has dissolved and then chop and prepare a red and a green pepper.
Spread your tomato sauce mix over the base and cover with a mixture of both cheeses. Place the chorizo, and peppers over the cheese and cook until the base has hardened and the topping is golden brown.
Then sit back and enjoy!
8 October 10 at 8:10pm
Wow Jenny, looks yummy, I might give it a try one day as I'm a fan of pizza and like most kiwis have grown up with marmite. Especially on toast to kick start the day or after a workout. Goodluck and hope my vote helps out with your xmas trip home to family :) cheers
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Marmite Pizza!
Recipe in next post!
9 October 10 at 1:04am
That looks brilliant! My mouth is completely watering. Thanks for the recipe and best of luck for getting home.
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Thank You
Thank you to my Kiwi friends and family for your ongoing suppport - I've hit 60 votes now! I'm very grateful to have so many people that care about me and want me home for Christmas! x
National Anthem
In both languages, of course! I originally posted this on YouTube a couple years ago, it's since had over 11,000 hits. Enjoy!
9 October 10 at 9:24pm
wow, u always did have a beautiful voice, lucky!! u got my vote each day Jen!!
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10 October 10 at 11:09pm
Maybe you could join our Waiata group at the Council Jen. You got my vote.
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Pokarekare Ana
I originally posted this on YouTube a couple years ago, it's since had over 10,000 hits. Enjoy!
10 October 10 at 11:07pm
Just been singing along with Jen. Voted for you and hope we can get you back for Christmas..
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Tube Strikes... AGAIN!
Was 35 min late to work today due to London Underground strikes (the second one in as many months). Had to wait for three national rail trains at my nearest station, and when I finally got on one, I was crammed next to a lady with an itchy bag against my arm for 25 min, then had to get another train to Bank station.
When I finally figured out how to exit the darn station – I came out to an intersection with about 8 roads attached to it – so I got lost trying to get to my office near Tower Hill station! (I've only used Bank once, and I got lost then too) By the time I got to work I was hot and sweaty, and my hair was all over the place. So much for making an effort this morning.
I've had to endure about half a dozen tube strikes since I've been here, as well as protest campaigns (once, we had to dress in mutfi incase protesters thought we were bankers and attack us), and each time it brings utter chaos to the city - half of London (which has a population of 8 million - TWICE NZ's population) running around like mad chooks trying to figure out how the heck to get to work. I think TFL enjoy making it more miserable for us than it already is commuting to work.
Now you see why I am actually grateful for Auckland's traffic jams, where you're in your car, not crammed up against someone's backside or sweaty armpit, and if you're hot, there's actually aircon!
Gimme, gimme, gimme!
4 October 10 at 10:17pm
Haha i feel your pain, just got to work hot and sweaty and angry with the massive dramas on the train! most days i love londons transport but some days I would happily sit in auckland traffic! tube strikes suck...send us home! :-)
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Ready for the NZ Sunshine
I think I'm already adapted to NZT - it's 1am here and I'm wide awake! Getting reports from my friends that the weather is great back home... all the while it's been pooring down with rain here in London since Wednesday!
It is starting to get darker here too - during winter it's dark by 4pm, so you basically go to work in the dark, and head home in the dark - you don't see sunlight until the weekends. Now you know why the Poms are so pasty! ;)
Please let me come home, my skin is starting to become translucent from the lack of sunlight. I want my 'Natural Glow' back!
P.S. Thanks Mum for the Digestives... I've been munching away on them tonight, a million times better than the English McVities ones! I'm saving the Tim Tams for when it's colder... for a Tim Tam Slam! x
Ways to eat Marmite
This is how I've had my marmite... how do you eat yours?
- Cheese and Marmite scones
- Cheese and Marmite pinwheels
- Marmite and chip sandwiches
- Marmite and cheese toasties
- Marmite on toast, or an english muffin
- Yummy on top of crispbread or rice crackers
- Marmite Dip for Nachos
- To flavour stews, gravy and soups
- With a baked potato
- A lovely addition to eggs florentine
Making your mouth water yet? :)
Ella
One of my bestest friends in the whole world Jeanine, whom I've known since I was 3 years old, had a beautiful baby girl on 2 July 2010. As a doting 'aunty' in London, I've sent over some clothes for the summer (she'll be the best dressed baby in town!) and a Glo Worm toy while Jeanine keeps me updated on goings on in NZ - but I'd love to meet Ella in person, apparently she's a real 'chatterbox'! :)
2 October 10 at 8:17am
Good luck getting home! There are a few little babies I want to meet too! She is a real cutie :)
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Mmmm... Marmite...
Had (NZ) Marmite and cheese toasted sammies for dinner tonight... sooooo goood. Just like how Mum use to make :)
Is this dedication enough?
For birthday this year, I decided to treat myself to a tattoo. I've wanted to get one for years, but wanted to make sure it was something I would not regret. Right up until the day I got it there were changes being made, and my design was improvised... The result? A hibiscus flower - for the girl from the Hibiscus Coast. I was born and raised on the HBC, I'll be a Coastie forever. There's no place like home.
Winter is upon me once more...
Cold. Miserable. Dark by 4pm.
And where the fetch is the beach?
All I have is the Thames, as you've probably figured as I'm based in London.
To me, real Christmases have Sun, Fun and Barbies and two Winter Christmases have been enough - send me home for Christmas please!
The good black stuff
After creating this, I got a mega craving for Marmite and cheese toasted sandwiches!
Snowed In
As soon as there's a tiny bit of snow in London, all hell breaks loose, and all public transport grinds to a halt. The day in the picture was one of those days. As my foot sank into the powder this February morning, I sighed. I'm a Summer girl, and desperately longing for warm sand between my toes...
Things I Miss
I've lived in London almost two years now, arriving in December 2008, and while I've been enjoying the experience of working and travelling overseas, I still miss the home comforts, as well as my wonderful friends and family.
I'm from Orewa, and I used to be a 2 minute drive from two beaches. Now my nearest water source is the Thames, which you can't swim in. The nearest decent beach is a good two hour train ride away. I miss being so close to so many beaches, I miss the sunshine, and I miss my Kiwi tan! London has stripped it from me, and now people think I look ill.
Being over in London has made me appreciate the traffic in Auckland. You probably think I'm mad in saying that, but if you've spent the past two years travelling to work packed in trains like a sardine (which at Summer it gets past 30 degrees inside), you'd wish to be sitting in a traffic jam with your air-con switched on too! I miss driving a car, though you don't really need one here, it gave me a sense of independence, and was a huge help when I did a massive food shop or had a mission to Albany Westfield!
I miss Wendys Burgers, KFC Chips with proper seasoning (they just give us normal salt here), Huttons Sizzlers, Pineapple Lumps, Watties Tomato Sauce, and of course Marmite! English Marmite tastes really awful, trust me when I say there's no way it compares to the good black stuff back home. Food is so much more bland and fatty over here, and they don't know how to do a decent barbie.
I miss The Kiwi Christmas: Beaches, (cold) Beer and BBQs. Last Christmas was freezing and had been snowing (queue slipping over on the pavement), and absolutely everything is shut. Christmas is a really hard time of year for us expats, I felt incredibly homesick for my family and friends.
I miss my two cats Tara and Bacardi, which now are being looked after by my Mum, who is the person I miss the most. She helped me save to come over here to follow my dream to travel, and she's like my best friend, without her I'd be nothing.
Winning a trip back to New Zealand would prevent me from missing a 3rd Christmas away from the best country in the world. It would give me the chance to have proper sunshine, have fish and chips by the beach and make up for lost time with my friends and loved ones.
There's no place like home.
25 September 10 at 2:53pm
Im Jen's Sis, I would love to see her home for Christmas! Im trying so hard to save at the moment to get some tickets to fly up to Orewa to have Christmas with the family, its been tough here in Christchurch, and it would be awesome to have my sis home for the holidays :)
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7 October 10 at 5:30pm
Jen, I absolutely love those Vids :) You sound beautiful :) LOL love the Pizza recipe, might have to try it! I do hope you get through this competition, would be great to have ya home for Xmas :) We all miss ya heaps :)
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10 October 10 at 1:52am
We can make Marmite pizza together if I'm home for Christmas! Fly up from shakey Chch!!
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342 votes
Judging
Sure, you may have 100,000 facebook friends to vote for you but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re on the plane. It’s a quality, then quantity rule round here. We’ll be making our decision based on originality and creativity, how well your entry fits with the values of the Marmite brand, then popularity.
31 October 10 at 10:42pm
Thanks for all the lovely comments all - especially Kim and Lisa - hope you're both on that plane! x
Report this comment31 October 10 at 11:07pm
all the best jenny.... you deserve it. MARMITE bring jenny home.
Report this comment31 October 10 at 11:16pm
Jenny!! My new business The Beauty Lounge opens on Tuesday so you have to come home and visit it!!!!!!!! :)
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