Remember the Shands who I went to stay with in the Marlborough Sounds? Well this is their blog
http://www.xanga.com/Rabbits_Nest
They have lots of cute new animals there at the moment - quite wish I was there!
I missed all the action down at Blue Ince the other night. Apparently after I left one of the glacier guides got angry as his girlfriend was dancing with someone else. so he went home and got his pick axe and went mental in the bar with it. People got injured and one girl broke both her wrists in the commotion. Who would have thought in a tiny village like this?! (told you the glacier guides were to be avoided!)
Next week Marie and Deane are off to Christchurch so I will be left on my own to manage the place. I will have to live in at the hotel. Its going to be one long busy week! On the bright side as a reward I have the following week off and plan to go to Queenstown to do bungy and a canyon swing. I was going to do whitewater rafting but got an email elsewhere offering me it for free through work so will save that for the week after ($450 trip for free - cant complain!)
My sister and my parents have sent me loads of cute pics of my neice Elizabeth so have printed them off to decorate my walls! cant believe I'm going to be an Aunty again in February. I'm gutted I'll miss seeing him or her when shes tiny though. I'm sad I've missed seeing Elizabeth grow up.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Saturday, October 21, 2006
I forgot to mention Ana, Jessika and I went on another night walk in the rainforest the other night and saw possums and glow worms. Have been on the walk before, its lovely. At the end theres some stones to sit on and your surrounded by glow worms..
Today has been quiet at work for once so have caught up on emails and hence me writing 2 blogs in one day - figured I should make the most of it and write what I had forgotten!
Maries daughter Melissa and her fiancee Daniel are moving in at the end of the month, we are all a little nervous as we like the house just the way it is and it will mean Ana and Jessika have to share a room. Seeing as though Jessikas boyfriend Michael sleeps over most nights its going to mean lots of change. (I.e he wont be able to stay over anymore)
But hopefully our fears are unfounded. Today Marie asked if Melissa can bring a puppy so I'm going to mention it to Jessika and Ana tonight. I'm not so sure... its a small house... and that really will change the place. But on the bright side we go on lots of walks and it would be nice to take a puppy! but actually I dont think your allowed to take dogs on all the nice walks as its protected areas.
Oh well, we'll gossip about it tonight and make a decision.
Today has been quiet at work for once so have caught up on emails and hence me writing 2 blogs in one day - figured I should make the most of it and write what I had forgotten!
Maries daughter Melissa and her fiancee Daniel are moving in at the end of the month, we are all a little nervous as we like the house just the way it is and it will mean Ana and Jessika have to share a room. Seeing as though Jessikas boyfriend Michael sleeps over most nights its going to mean lots of change. (I.e he wont be able to stay over anymore)
But hopefully our fears are unfounded. Today Marie asked if Melissa can bring a puppy so I'm going to mention it to Jessika and Ana tonight. I'm not so sure... its a small house... and that really will change the place. But on the bright side we go on lots of walks and it would be nice to take a puppy! but actually I dont think your allowed to take dogs on all the nice walks as its protected areas.
Oh well, we'll gossip about it tonight and make a decision.
So Ana, Jessika and I went on our tunnel walk. It was great! Wading through a deserted pitch dark tunnel in freezing water with water dripping down on you, not knowing where it leads to or how long it is!
Its was cool! There was lots of glow worms etc too which was great! We took tonnes of photos!
Then we came back and cooked (again! all we do is eat!) Ana made a yummy brazillian lasgane, I made a very popular carrot cake and Jessika yummy bread!
Yeserday was also my day off and I planned to go to Gillespies beach, but it was terrential rain all day and I decided to stay in bed and read instead! So finished my book "The Witch of Cologne". Then it was Blue Ice opening night so it was free drinks so we all went out there last night. Was okay. plenty of glacier guides to avoid.
We have learnt that these things mean a guy is a glacier guide and therefore to be avoided:
Its was cool! There was lots of glow worms etc too which was great! We took tonnes of photos!
Then we came back and cooked (again! all we do is eat!) Ana made a yummy brazillian lasgane, I made a very popular carrot cake and Jessika yummy bread!
Yeserday was also my day off and I planned to go to Gillespies beach, but it was terrential rain all day and I decided to stay in bed and read instead! So finished my book "The Witch of Cologne". Then it was Blue Ice opening night so it was free drinks so we all went out there last night. Was okay. plenty of glacier guides to avoid.
We have learnt that these things mean a guy is a glacier guide and therefore to be avoided:
- Wearing a ski hat and NEVER taking it off (whatever the weather, wherever you are - smart club or bed)
- Collars up (you know the sort - used to be hockey players at uni, kinda count dracula style but in designer shirts)
- LABELS (usually surf ones)
- Good looking (pays alot of attention to the way they look, ie vain)
- Up themselves (think they are better than everyone else)
- Cliquey (can only hang out with their own)
Not that I'm being judgemental or anything.. I'm sure their are exceptions to the rule!
Today of course it is the most beautiful day ever and I am working 8-8, bloody typical!
Thursday, October 19, 2006
a day off yay!!! Ana, Jessika and I are going to go on a walk exploring the tunnels this afternoon and then were having another of our house meals so lots of cooking again!
Its been raining lots this week so its good that theres finally some sunshine today!
I met Evas parents the other day day which was nice. She had gone up to meet them in Greymouth and then they all came through for a day on their way to Wanaka. They were really nice and it was good to meet them. They treated me to a meal which was really kind and nice of them. Its weird not having Eva around now knowing I probably wont see her for a while now.. and her visa runs out in December. She is trying to extend her visa but it harder than expected.
I had been thinking alot about immigration, and it may well happen in the future, But for the moment I think I have decided to see the rest of the world first before I make a decision like that. Although now would be the best time as I would get residency easily with my current job.. then there would be all sorts of rules of me having to stay in the country for a certain amount of time for a couple of years. Although that wouldnt be a problem and I would love to do that I also want to get a working visa for Australia and Canada.. and I can only get working visas up to the age of 30.. so then I think I'd better do it all when I can and wait for residency? (and who knows if I'll even want residency then? - after all its a big decision to be made?) Hopefully its the right decision! or maybe residency is also easier to get under the age of 30?
I dared to look at my english bank account again recently. I dont do it very often. To be honest its not that bad as I havent touched it. The only thing coming out of it is loan repayments to the bank every month. It lasted longer than expected as I had tax rebates etc which was great! I expected to have a panic much earlier than this.. I still have a few months of being okay. However, at 200 pounds a month going out to pay a loan the money doesnt last long. So has anyone any ideas of how to deal with it?
I think my options are:
Its been raining lots this week so its good that theres finally some sunshine today!
I met Evas parents the other day day which was nice. She had gone up to meet them in Greymouth and then they all came through for a day on their way to Wanaka. They were really nice and it was good to meet them. They treated me to a meal which was really kind and nice of them. Its weird not having Eva around now knowing I probably wont see her for a while now.. and her visa runs out in December. She is trying to extend her visa but it harder than expected.
I had been thinking alot about immigration, and it may well happen in the future, But for the moment I think I have decided to see the rest of the world first before I make a decision like that. Although now would be the best time as I would get residency easily with my current job.. then there would be all sorts of rules of me having to stay in the country for a certain amount of time for a couple of years. Although that wouldnt be a problem and I would love to do that I also want to get a working visa for Australia and Canada.. and I can only get working visas up to the age of 30.. so then I think I'd better do it all when I can and wait for residency? (and who knows if I'll even want residency then? - after all its a big decision to be made?) Hopefully its the right decision! or maybe residency is also easier to get under the age of 30?
I dared to look at my english bank account again recently. I dont do it very often. To be honest its not that bad as I havent touched it. The only thing coming out of it is loan repayments to the bank every month. It lasted longer than expected as I had tax rebates etc which was great! I expected to have a panic much earlier than this.. I still have a few months of being okay. However, at 200 pounds a month going out to pay a loan the money doesnt last long. So has anyone any ideas of how to deal with it?
I think my options are:
- Write to the bank and say I dont have a job and dont live in the country and ask for lower monthly repayments
- Pay the loan until theres no money left and then see what happens.. they wont actually be able to contact me as they dont know where I am?
- Take my left over money out of my english account now and stop paying loan and see what happens..
- Get a medical note of some sort?
As far as I can see there are no ther options? unless anyone else has any?
I did consider looking into bankruptsy in the UK and all that before I left so that could still be an option.
What can they do if I stop paying it? I dont have anything for them to take away?
I would never earn enough here to pay it off as the pound is so strong. I would have to pay $600 a month to pay of 200 pounds a month repayments. I could technically do that at the moment but not when I leave this job and it wouldnt allow me to have a life or save for emergencies when I dont have a job. (Because when I leave this job it might take me a while till I get another one - not t hat I am planning on leaving it yet - at the moment I plan to stay till April/ May when my contract ends - bit who kows what happens in life?)
So any advice would help. Although advise telling me not to have got myself into debt in the first place wont help! I am well aware of that! I could also have stayed in England being depressed at the state of my finances but I chose not to and coming here was well worth it! (can you tell I'm getting all defensive!!?) Mainly because I am making mself all vulnerable to you all my telling you all this, but I dont really have anything to hide and its better to get some advice on all of this rather than pretend it doesnt exist!
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Hope you all like the new photos of my trip to Wanaka etc!
am back now, back to work and all that!
Eva is leaving tomorrow so she is coming over mine to have dinner. I'll miss her when shes gone. We are having a little leaving do, for her.. just Ana, Jessika, Olivia, Eva and I so should be good! not that I will get to do much of the cooking as I am working 8-8 today!
I split up with Paul (very shortlived relationship) did I even mention we had got together?!
If anyone wants to write to me (I miss getting post!)my address is
Punga Grove Hotel
PO Box 85
Franz Joseph
South Island
NZ
obviously be aware if its a postcard that its going to my work!
am back now, back to work and all that!
Eva is leaving tomorrow so she is coming over mine to have dinner. I'll miss her when shes gone. We are having a little leaving do, for her.. just Ana, Jessika, Olivia, Eva and I so should be good! not that I will get to do much of the cooking as I am working 8-8 today!
I split up with Paul (very shortlived relationship) did I even mention we had got together?!
If anyone wants to write to me (I miss getting post!)my address is
Punga Grove Hotel
PO Box 85
Franz Joseph
South Island
NZ
obviously be aware if its a postcard that its going to my work!
Sunday, October 08, 2006
So what have I been up to apart from working bloody hard. 8-8 the last couple of days!
On my second day off though I went on a flight with a landing on the ice which was good fun (lots more photos) and then I went horse riding which was also great!
Ana, Jessika and I are having a nice pot luck meal tonight, making our own sushi and all of that and Anas going to show us how to make brazilian food. should be fun, have got a bottle or 2 of sauvignon blanc in. I dont finish till 8pm so I wont be able to help with the cooking much unfortunately as they'll start without me or we wont ever eat!
The trouble with alcohol is that even if I only have 1 glass I dont sleep well. Its so annoying. On the bright side though I havent had a hangover since that one from my last night in Nelson.
The last few nights I hadnt slept as had been out and had a glass or 2 so last night when I got in from working 8-8 I was asleep by 9pm!
Am kind of seeing my next door neighbour which is cool. I made myself go over and say hi as I had fancied him for a couple of weeks!
Got woken up by an earthquake this morning. My bed shook!
On my second day off though I went on a flight with a landing on the ice which was good fun (lots more photos) and then I went horse riding which was also great!
Ana, Jessika and I are having a nice pot luck meal tonight, making our own sushi and all of that and Anas going to show us how to make brazilian food. should be fun, have got a bottle or 2 of sauvignon blanc in. I dont finish till 8pm so I wont be able to help with the cooking much unfortunately as they'll start without me or we wont ever eat!
The trouble with alcohol is that even if I only have 1 glass I dont sleep well. Its so annoying. On the bright side though I havent had a hangover since that one from my last night in Nelson.
The last few nights I hadnt slept as had been out and had a glass or 2 so last night when I got in from working 8-8 I was asleep by 9pm!
Am kind of seeing my next door neighbour which is cool. I made myself go over and say hi as I had fancied him for a couple of weeks!
Got woken up by an earthquake this morning. My bed shook!
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Have had a great day! The sun has been so hot.. have caught the sun and am feeling all summery!! yay!! we've had a couple of gorgeous days in a row! Not that I saw it yesterday as I was working 8-8 and Marie and Dean went to town leaving me in charge.. my god it was busy!! But I'm still alive! the cleaners (specifically heather) were testing me a little as a new manager but I didnt let her get away with it.. Its funny as now I wake up in the morning and think things like "hmnn did I send that fax to Taiwan?.." I make international phone calls with one hand and send worldwide faxes with the other hand. Am learning tonnes, rushed off my feet but its great!!
I had the day off today and so did Eva so we hitched to Fox, had a look round the shops (all 3 cafes) and then hitched to Lake Matheson where there are perfect reflections of moutains in the lake on a still day. There was a little wind today so it wasnt perfect but still beautiful, mount tasman and mount cook were reflected in it (look out for photos soon). We did a circuit of the lake which took about 1.5 hours which was lovely in the sunshine. Then we hitched to fox to have lunch, hitched again to the fox glacier which we walked up to (about 10 metres away and then they have a rope to stop you - you can of course pay lots to go up it..) I picked up lots of stones! yes I know like I'm going to be able to carry them around with me?! but I can put them in my room here for the next 6 months.. There were loads of cool ones, silver glitter stones which you could rub onto your skin and get a free glittering (free make up!), white crystal stones, white crystal stones with a silver layer on top and these red stones.. Anybody got any clues as to what type of stones they are?
Anyway, then we hitched back to franz josef glacier, walked to peters pond and took photos of the franz josef glacier reflected in it (wow - was amazing..)
Then we hitched back to the village (its about 4 kms from the glacier - although there are views of it from the village), went to a cafe for carrot cake and I chatted to a few people about tomorrow. I have the day off tomorrow as well and would like to do a scenic flight. they said if there was room I could squeeze on tomorrow. I specifically would like one thats usually $550.. not that I want much huh? I have been booking loads of poeple on helihikes since I did one so that worked for them to put me on one of them! (their $340) if u think most jobs are $10 an hour thats a shit lot of money!
Last night was beautiful too so Ana and I went on the Terrace Walk which has tonnes of glow worms. It was great! NZ is definately getting busier now.. summer season is beginning..
Eva leaves next week. her parents have come over to see her so she is going to go on a tour with them. I'll miss her. She also only has a 1 year visa so has to leave in December, she has been trying to extend it but having no luck. Us English are lucky to get 2 year visas! I would cry if I had to leave in the next couple of months!!
Anyway, has been a long day and am tired.. went on MSN but none of you are awake..! lazy lot!! its 8:15am there so I would have thought at least some of you would be getting to work by now.. I think its 12 hours time difference again now? our clocks just changed - giving us longer summer evenings which is great!
Oh nearly forgot.. we had 3 earthquakes the other night! One was 4 point something on the richter scale and the whole house shook and everything in it.. I think we get lots of mini ones we dont feel all the time. We are apparently due for a big one at some point but I think thats just a scare story to scarr the visitors!!
I had the day off today and so did Eva so we hitched to Fox, had a look round the shops (all 3 cafes) and then hitched to Lake Matheson where there are perfect reflections of moutains in the lake on a still day. There was a little wind today so it wasnt perfect but still beautiful, mount tasman and mount cook were reflected in it (look out for photos soon). We did a circuit of the lake which took about 1.5 hours which was lovely in the sunshine. Then we hitched to fox to have lunch, hitched again to the fox glacier which we walked up to (about 10 metres away and then they have a rope to stop you - you can of course pay lots to go up it..) I picked up lots of stones! yes I know like I'm going to be able to carry them around with me?! but I can put them in my room here for the next 6 months.. There were loads of cool ones, silver glitter stones which you could rub onto your skin and get a free glittering (free make up!), white crystal stones, white crystal stones with a silver layer on top and these red stones.. Anybody got any clues as to what type of stones they are?
Anyway, then we hitched back to franz josef glacier, walked to peters pond and took photos of the franz josef glacier reflected in it (wow - was amazing..)
Then we hitched back to the village (its about 4 kms from the glacier - although there are views of it from the village), went to a cafe for carrot cake and I chatted to a few people about tomorrow. I have the day off tomorrow as well and would like to do a scenic flight. they said if there was room I could squeeze on tomorrow. I specifically would like one thats usually $550.. not that I want much huh? I have been booking loads of poeple on helihikes since I did one so that worked for them to put me on one of them! (their $340) if u think most jobs are $10 an hour thats a shit lot of money!
Last night was beautiful too so Ana and I went on the Terrace Walk which has tonnes of glow worms. It was great! NZ is definately getting busier now.. summer season is beginning..
Eva leaves next week. her parents have come over to see her so she is going to go on a tour with them. I'll miss her. She also only has a 1 year visa so has to leave in December, she has been trying to extend it but having no luck. Us English are lucky to get 2 year visas! I would cry if I had to leave in the next couple of months!!
Anyway, has been a long day and am tired.. went on MSN but none of you are awake..! lazy lot!! its 8:15am there so I would have thought at least some of you would be getting to work by now.. I think its 12 hours time difference again now? our clocks just changed - giving us longer summer evenings which is great!
Oh nearly forgot.. we had 3 earthquakes the other night! One was 4 point something on the richter scale and the whole house shook and everything in it.. I think we get lots of mini ones we dont feel all the time. We are apparently due for a big one at some point but I think thats just a scare story to scarr the visitors!!
Monday, October 02, 2006
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)