This is Arthurs Pass and a Kea trying to eat my food!!
Friday, September 29, 2006
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Not updated in a while so phoned mum and dad the other day just to assure them I'm alive and tell them how excited I am about my current job and living environment!
Anyway, better start from the begginning, last time I updated I was in Takaka. I managed to cadge a ride to Nelson from a guy staying in the backpackers and had every intention of catching the afternoon bus from Nelson to Westport. However, I got waylaid In Nelson and decided to spend a couple of days there. I was actually trying to hurry as I had accepted a job In Franz Josef as Assistant Manager of a hotel. It wasnt definate as I had to getthere and have an interview but I kinda knew that I had a very good chance from my conversations with the manager. Anyway, I decided to stay in Nelson as the bone crver had an open day the following day. I had been wanting to do bone carving the entire time I was in Nelson but hadnt as he had ben shut for the entire winter. But the open day was great and I would love to go back and do a workshop and learn how to bone carve myself.. one day.
That night we decided to go to a quiz to try and win stuff. Everyone else was about 20 years older than us so our excuse was that the quetions were biased! A guy called Josh had checked in earlier in the day so he came out with us (Me, Anna, Christi, and Joanne). We then went on a pub crawl where I managed to not spend any money (have a feeling Josh spent hundreds as I had a lot of $20 cocktails!) Josh and I hit it off well which was cool. So a very good night was had by all. Josh unfortunately had a flight to catch at 7am and he and I hadnt actually had any sleep, we'd stayed up all night. then there was so much alcohol in my system that I couldnt go to sleep (I've never slept well when theres alcohol in my system). However I've always been very proud of the fact that I never get hangovers. Hah! Now I have learnt my lesson forever.. for the next 2 days I could barely sip water. Everone was very amused at the site of my wincing to put one foot in front of the other. of course I swore never ever to drink again.
The next day was a psychic fair that I had been wanting to go to so despite my hangover I forced myself to go. I had a reading done by two people. A guy who had spent time in North America and did animal tarot readings. I kind of went to that one as he is a shaman and remeined me of Bryan. it was a great reading anyway. I have alot more travelling to do yet apparently (good), but it wont necesserily be an easy road (oh dear). I will however be meeting a man soon (yay)! the animal bits were every interesting. the main one for everything in my life and my personality was the eagle which is of course special so that was good and reassuring. he also told me to follow any sudden desisions and ideas and to try evrything new that I can.
I had another reading from Diana as I had wanted one the entire time I lived in Nelson. That was great too, she said I'm going to meet a kiwi (yay), that I need to go to Switzerland (cool, its never occured to me to go there before but okay if you say so!). As she is a clairvoyant and has done channeling I asked her about Bryan. she said there was no way she could communicate with him as it was so soon.. then she stopped still and said Hang on... she then proceeded to describe him perfectly (the way he looked and his personality and how much love he put into helping ppl.
I still hadnt had any sleep by this point.. 3pm and I had a sudden random idea to catch a bus. so I threw myself on the 3pm bus (having 10 mins to pack!!) and fell asleep! I decideed to go down to Punakaiki since theres not alot in Westport and I did need to get down to Franz. I had a spa on the beach and went to bed early and high tide was early in the morning. I went to the pancake rocks and blow holes for 7am and it was really amazing (you'll have to see the photos).
I then wasnt sure whether to stay another day or go on to greymouth but the weather was disgusting so there was no point in my staying to do walks so since a scottish girl was driving to greymouth I cadged a lift. We stayed at Global vIllage which is a very nice backpackers. I still had a hangover so while she went caving I watched a foreign film called shanghai bicycle. we then went out to dinner etc. I was looking for some summer clothes, since it had been baking in Nelson and I had, had to smother myself in sun tan lotion.. and I was starting to get a tan etc.. I managed to get some long shorts smart enough to wear at work (of course now I'm in Franz there is no need for summer clothes!!)
I then decided to go to Arthurs Pass to do a walk so I got a bus and stayed at a nice backpackers. I did the bridle pathway walk and Avalanche Peak. OMG I can see why people die evry year at arthurs pass. it was so steep!! (theres like 4-5 day walks but I only did a 6 hour one and a 2 hour one which was enough!) It was literally like rock climbing!! scary but good, lots of photos of snowy mountains!
The next day was disgusting weather so I decided to leave and go to Hokitika. In Hokitika I wanted to do a jade carving workshop. I spent 2 days designing my own piece of jewellery and then carving it from scratch (with various machine I had to learn to use), then I had to sand a polish it! I was really impressed. People have since commented on my lovely jade pendant and its great to be able to say I made it myself! If anyones going to Hokitika go to Bonz and Stonz. The first night in Hoki I stayed a dodgy weird backpackers, well the actual place was nice but the owner was odd. so I moved to a different backpackers the second night. I met a few ppl though, went out for hot chocolate etc with a girl from england the first night, and then second night I went out for an indian with some french ppl.
The follwing day I walke to the main road and was just deciding whether to put my bags down firstand then hitch or to keep holding them and started to raise my thumb to hitch when a car stopped.. that was quick!! got a ride to Ross. A goldmining village (alot of gold comes from it!), then hitched a lift again, (took about 5 mins), got dropped off in Hari Hari where it took about 20 mins to get my next ride to Franz Josef. It was raining as usual (as I think it always does on the west coast)
I walked to my hotel where I would hopefully be working and got shown my room which I had been told I could stay in overnight. It is a $250 a night suite.. king size bed, my own balcony into a rainforest, my own spa bath, underfloor heating. one of those gas fires that looks like a real fire. my own kitcken. and sky TV. After sleeping in dorms for so long I was beyond excitement.
I had an interview in the afternoon is which I suggested a trial (so either one of us could back out) she like the idea so I have a 1 month trial as Assistant Manager. I decide to chill out and not worry and if its meant to be it will be. There is a hell of alot for me to learn. I am getting my head round calista (a computer programme). I watched the first day and was left to it the second day. (having to reply to 50 emails and the check outs etc..) We are getting bookings as far ahead as November 2007.. OMG thats over a year away! Scary! some are trying to get accomodation for this christmas.. as if!
The first night I went out for dinner with Eva (yes the same Eva who I worked with in Akaroa and Nelson) as she is a cleaner at Rainforest retreat next door (small world huh?!), the second night I went for dinner at my bosses house ( we got take out from rainforest retreat which eva had cooked!), got fed plenty of sauvignon blanc (though I was very restrained after the mammoth hangover last week) and also done want to give a bad impression at the beginning!
the next night it was the Alice May opening so went to party with free alcohol and nibbles. I met loads of ppl and probably drank too much (though I hope nobody knew as I stopped and said no more!). That was last night, so today I have the morning off and dont work till 2. I'm doing the 2-8 shift. So it will be all the checking in. As I've been doing mornings, there will be plenty of different stuff for me to learn!
Oh I forgot, my suite which was only meant to be for one night... Marie asked if I would mid staying in there till 1st October when my flat would be ready. So am enjoying my luxury suite!!
I went to look at my flat yesterday, it'll be a flat share with 2 other girls. But I get the en suite and they have to share a bathroom. Hopefully it will be good and I will get on with them!
Its past of my job to do all the tourist trips so I will be going on various helihikes and helicopter rides over Mount cook and the glaciers etc! I cant wait!! In case you dont know what Franz is like, its basically a small street next to a glacier! the rest is wilderness!
Anyway, better start from the begginning, last time I updated I was in Takaka. I managed to cadge a ride to Nelson from a guy staying in the backpackers and had every intention of catching the afternoon bus from Nelson to Westport. However, I got waylaid In Nelson and decided to spend a couple of days there. I was actually trying to hurry as I had accepted a job In Franz Josef as Assistant Manager of a hotel. It wasnt definate as I had to getthere and have an interview but I kinda knew that I had a very good chance from my conversations with the manager. Anyway, I decided to stay in Nelson as the bone crver had an open day the following day. I had been wanting to do bone carving the entire time I was in Nelson but hadnt as he had ben shut for the entire winter. But the open day was great and I would love to go back and do a workshop and learn how to bone carve myself.. one day.
That night we decided to go to a quiz to try and win stuff. Everyone else was about 20 years older than us so our excuse was that the quetions were biased! A guy called Josh had checked in earlier in the day so he came out with us (Me, Anna, Christi, and Joanne). We then went on a pub crawl where I managed to not spend any money (have a feeling Josh spent hundreds as I had a lot of $20 cocktails!) Josh and I hit it off well which was cool. So a very good night was had by all. Josh unfortunately had a flight to catch at 7am and he and I hadnt actually had any sleep, we'd stayed up all night. then there was so much alcohol in my system that I couldnt go to sleep (I've never slept well when theres alcohol in my system). However I've always been very proud of the fact that I never get hangovers. Hah! Now I have learnt my lesson forever.. for the next 2 days I could barely sip water. Everone was very amused at the site of my wincing to put one foot in front of the other. of course I swore never ever to drink again.
The next day was a psychic fair that I had been wanting to go to so despite my hangover I forced myself to go. I had a reading done by two people. A guy who had spent time in North America and did animal tarot readings. I kind of went to that one as he is a shaman and remeined me of Bryan. it was a great reading anyway. I have alot more travelling to do yet apparently (good), but it wont necesserily be an easy road (oh dear). I will however be meeting a man soon (yay)! the animal bits were every interesting. the main one for everything in my life and my personality was the eagle which is of course special so that was good and reassuring. he also told me to follow any sudden desisions and ideas and to try evrything new that I can.
I had another reading from Diana as I had wanted one the entire time I lived in Nelson. That was great too, she said I'm going to meet a kiwi (yay), that I need to go to Switzerland (cool, its never occured to me to go there before but okay if you say so!). As she is a clairvoyant and has done channeling I asked her about Bryan. she said there was no way she could communicate with him as it was so soon.. then she stopped still and said Hang on... she then proceeded to describe him perfectly (the way he looked and his personality and how much love he put into helping ppl.
I still hadnt had any sleep by this point.. 3pm and I had a sudden random idea to catch a bus. so I threw myself on the 3pm bus (having 10 mins to pack!!) and fell asleep! I decideed to go down to Punakaiki since theres not alot in Westport and I did need to get down to Franz. I had a spa on the beach and went to bed early and high tide was early in the morning. I went to the pancake rocks and blow holes for 7am and it was really amazing (you'll have to see the photos).
I then wasnt sure whether to stay another day or go on to greymouth but the weather was disgusting so there was no point in my staying to do walks so since a scottish girl was driving to greymouth I cadged a lift. We stayed at Global vIllage which is a very nice backpackers. I still had a hangover so while she went caving I watched a foreign film called shanghai bicycle. we then went out to dinner etc. I was looking for some summer clothes, since it had been baking in Nelson and I had, had to smother myself in sun tan lotion.. and I was starting to get a tan etc.. I managed to get some long shorts smart enough to wear at work (of course now I'm in Franz there is no need for summer clothes!!)
I then decided to go to Arthurs Pass to do a walk so I got a bus and stayed at a nice backpackers. I did the bridle pathway walk and Avalanche Peak. OMG I can see why people die evry year at arthurs pass. it was so steep!! (theres like 4-5 day walks but I only did a 6 hour one and a 2 hour one which was enough!) It was literally like rock climbing!! scary but good, lots of photos of snowy mountains!
The next day was disgusting weather so I decided to leave and go to Hokitika. In Hokitika I wanted to do a jade carving workshop. I spent 2 days designing my own piece of jewellery and then carving it from scratch (with various machine I had to learn to use), then I had to sand a polish it! I was really impressed. People have since commented on my lovely jade pendant and its great to be able to say I made it myself! If anyones going to Hokitika go to Bonz and Stonz. The first night in Hoki I stayed a dodgy weird backpackers, well the actual place was nice but the owner was odd. so I moved to a different backpackers the second night. I met a few ppl though, went out for hot chocolate etc with a girl from england the first night, and then second night I went out for an indian with some french ppl.
The follwing day I walke to the main road and was just deciding whether to put my bags down firstand then hitch or to keep holding them and started to raise my thumb to hitch when a car stopped.. that was quick!! got a ride to Ross. A goldmining village (alot of gold comes from it!), then hitched a lift again, (took about 5 mins), got dropped off in Hari Hari where it took about 20 mins to get my next ride to Franz Josef. It was raining as usual (as I think it always does on the west coast)
I walked to my hotel where I would hopefully be working and got shown my room which I had been told I could stay in overnight. It is a $250 a night suite.. king size bed, my own balcony into a rainforest, my own spa bath, underfloor heating. one of those gas fires that looks like a real fire. my own kitcken. and sky TV. After sleeping in dorms for so long I was beyond excitement.
I had an interview in the afternoon is which I suggested a trial (so either one of us could back out) she like the idea so I have a 1 month trial as Assistant Manager. I decide to chill out and not worry and if its meant to be it will be. There is a hell of alot for me to learn. I am getting my head round calista (a computer programme). I watched the first day and was left to it the second day. (having to reply to 50 emails and the check outs etc..) We are getting bookings as far ahead as November 2007.. OMG thats over a year away! Scary! some are trying to get accomodation for this christmas.. as if!
The first night I went out for dinner with Eva (yes the same Eva who I worked with in Akaroa and Nelson) as she is a cleaner at Rainforest retreat next door (small world huh?!), the second night I went for dinner at my bosses house ( we got take out from rainforest retreat which eva had cooked!), got fed plenty of sauvignon blanc (though I was very restrained after the mammoth hangover last week) and also done want to give a bad impression at the beginning!
the next night it was the Alice May opening so went to party with free alcohol and nibbles. I met loads of ppl and probably drank too much (though I hope nobody knew as I stopped and said no more!). That was last night, so today I have the morning off and dont work till 2. I'm doing the 2-8 shift. So it will be all the checking in. As I've been doing mornings, there will be plenty of different stuff for me to learn!
Oh I forgot, my suite which was only meant to be for one night... Marie asked if I would mid staying in there till 1st October when my flat would be ready. So am enjoying my luxury suite!!
I went to look at my flat yesterday, it'll be a flat share with 2 other girls. But I get the en suite and they have to share a bathroom. Hopefully it will be good and I will get on with them!
Its past of my job to do all the tourist trips so I will be going on various helihikes and helicopter rides over Mount cook and the glaciers etc! I cant wait!! In case you dont know what Franz is like, its basically a small street next to a glacier! the rest is wilderness!
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
When the mail boat got into Havelock I had to wait 3 hours until Anna’s boyfriend Bryan was passing through so I went to the pub. I had a great time!! I was a tad tipsy by the time Brian arrived!
I bought myself a drink and introduced myself to some people, first an American doctor who I chatted to for half an hour or so until she had to leave and then a group of 5 or so blokes. I even have someone to go and stay with in Bluff. They bought me the next few drinks and dinner so all in all in it was a good few hours!
I stayed 2 nights in Nelson at Shortbread Cottage catching up with people, then got the bus to takaka. Going up takaka hill was not good for travel sickness 365 bends in 45 mins!! Yeugh!!
I chatted non stop with various ppl on the bus, a fisherman and then someone who was going to live on a commune.. then persuaded the driver to drop me off outside barefoot backpackers rather than walk from the bus stop.
It’s a nice place, was only going to stay there one night, now its 4 days later..
Have been out various places, first pupu springs, femke gave me a lift up there and I hitched back with two older ladies (see I’m safe really), then in the afternoon I went to pohara beach and lay on the beach reading and chatting with femke, erin, gary, ina, and timo. We then had a pot luck dinner, we made sushi ourselves! That was cool! Now I know I could make it again on my own! And these yummy feta and spinach pasties! Am adding to my recipe book all the time!
The following day Femke lent katy and I her car (katy was a friend I met in nelson who arrived the day after me in takaka) and we drove up to farweell spit and went on a lovely 2 hour walk and saw gorgeous beaches etc and walked along the spit. we also went to collingwood and to rosy glow chocolates, a chocolatier. yum!! I hadnt had chocolate in 3 weeks so it was even better!
I then went to the internet shop to send my CV to a job in Franz Josef and read the most horrible news and burst into tears in the middle of the internet shop. My therapist Bryan from back home died on Monday 11th September. he had been in perfect health when I left and in this short space of time he was diagnosed with lung cancer and has now died. its a terrible waste. i can't describe what he was like, imagine someone in white suit with tails and hat walking through town centre. he helped so many people, including me. i sent postcards to him while I was out here but it didnt feel enough, I hope he knew how much I thought of him. (sure we had arguements and there were times I hated him, but he always joked about that, he was known for twisting the knife and making someone angry!) i feel awful for his family, particularly his wife arole who I used to go to self defence with every week and their 9 year old son.
i knew he was going to die, stragely I was in a guided meditation and I felt him "visit" me. I wasnt sure what to think.. surely all tht stuff is bollocks?! but nevertheless, it was a really strong presence and he spoke to me and said some really nice stuff and I was left feeling good and positive. its the second funeral I have not gone to this year, earlier in the year it was my grandma, also lost to cancer. I hope reincarnation exists and they are in good places now..
I felt sombre all evening so I didnt go to the pub with my mates, instead I read my book and chilled out. I meant to leave the next day (today) but them everyone said they were going to wainui falls and totaranui and I couldnt resist. i had a great time, walking over a spring bridge and through the forests to a lovely waterfall, then picnic lunch on a beach, french bread, salami, brie, camembert, and apricot hummus! what could be better?! yes mum and dad.. all those years of complaining in france when i hated the cheese and now I like it! mind you not the molten stinky stuff you like.. more the fresh stuff!
I plan to leave takaka tomorrow and try to get down to westport. i have an interview to get down to in franz Josef a job managing a hotel..
I bought myself a drink and introduced myself to some people, first an American doctor who I chatted to for half an hour or so until she had to leave and then a group of 5 or so blokes. I even have someone to go and stay with in Bluff. They bought me the next few drinks and dinner so all in all in it was a good few hours!
I stayed 2 nights in Nelson at Shortbread Cottage catching up with people, then got the bus to takaka. Going up takaka hill was not good for travel sickness 365 bends in 45 mins!! Yeugh!!
I chatted non stop with various ppl on the bus, a fisherman and then someone who was going to live on a commune.. then persuaded the driver to drop me off outside barefoot backpackers rather than walk from the bus stop.
It’s a nice place, was only going to stay there one night, now its 4 days later..
Have been out various places, first pupu springs, femke gave me a lift up there and I hitched back with two older ladies (see I’m safe really), then in the afternoon I went to pohara beach and lay on the beach reading and chatting with femke, erin, gary, ina, and timo. We then had a pot luck dinner, we made sushi ourselves! That was cool! Now I know I could make it again on my own! And these yummy feta and spinach pasties! Am adding to my recipe book all the time!
The following day Femke lent katy and I her car (katy was a friend I met in nelson who arrived the day after me in takaka) and we drove up to farweell spit and went on a lovely 2 hour walk and saw gorgeous beaches etc and walked along the spit. we also went to collingwood and to rosy glow chocolates, a chocolatier. yum!! I hadnt had chocolate in 3 weeks so it was even better!
I then went to the internet shop to send my CV to a job in Franz Josef and read the most horrible news and burst into tears in the middle of the internet shop. My therapist Bryan from back home died on Monday 11th September. he had been in perfect health when I left and in this short space of time he was diagnosed with lung cancer and has now died. its a terrible waste. i can't describe what he was like, imagine someone in white suit with tails and hat walking through town centre. he helped so many people, including me. i sent postcards to him while I was out here but it didnt feel enough, I hope he knew how much I thought of him. (sure we had arguements and there were times I hated him, but he always joked about that, he was known for twisting the knife and making someone angry!) i feel awful for his family, particularly his wife arole who I used to go to self defence with every week and their 9 year old son.
i knew he was going to die, stragely I was in a guided meditation and I felt him "visit" me. I wasnt sure what to think.. surely all tht stuff is bollocks?! but nevertheless, it was a really strong presence and he spoke to me and said some really nice stuff and I was left feeling good and positive. its the second funeral I have not gone to this year, earlier in the year it was my grandma, also lost to cancer. I hope reincarnation exists and they are in good places now..
I felt sombre all evening so I didnt go to the pub with my mates, instead I read my book and chilled out. I meant to leave the next day (today) but them everyone said they were going to wainui falls and totaranui and I couldnt resist. i had a great time, walking over a spring bridge and through the forests to a lovely waterfall, then picnic lunch on a beach, french bread, salami, brie, camembert, and apricot hummus! what could be better?! yes mum and dad.. all those years of complaining in france when i hated the cheese and now I like it! mind you not the molten stinky stuff you like.. more the fresh stuff!
I plan to leave takaka tomorrow and try to get down to westport. i have an interview to get down to in franz Josef a job managing a hotel..
These are the songs we used to sing at the Lighthouse. I’ve typed it up and put it on here for myself really so I can remember the vibe and good times!
I have a Dream
I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail.
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I’ll cross the stream
I have a dream
I have a fantasy
To help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile
*chorus*
I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cop with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
*chorus*
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I knew how, it would feel, to be free
I wish I could break, all the chains, holding me
I wish I could say, all the things, I should say
Say em loud, say em clear
For the whole wide world to hear
I wish I could share, all the love, that’s in my heart
Remove, all the bars, that keep us apart
And I wish, you could know, how it feels to be me
Then you’d see, and agree, that every man should be free
I wish I knew how, it would feel, to be free
I wish, I could break, all the chains, holding me
And I wish I could say, all the things I want to say
Say em loud, say em clear, for the whole wide world to hear
Say em loud, say em clear, for the whole wide world to hear
Say em loud, say em clear, for the whole wide world to hear
One Love, One blood, one life, you got to do what you should
One Life, Withy each other, Sisters, brothers,
One Love, but were not the same, we get to carry each other
Carry each other, woah, woah, woah, woah
I wish, I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish, I knew how it would feel to be free
I have a Dream
I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail.
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I’ll cross the stream
I have a dream
I have a fantasy
To help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile
*chorus*
I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cop with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
*chorus*
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I knew how, it would feel, to be free
I wish I could break, all the chains, holding me
I wish I could say, all the things, I should say
Say em loud, say em clear
For the whole wide world to hear
I wish I could share, all the love, that’s in my heart
Remove, all the bars, that keep us apart
And I wish, you could know, how it feels to be me
Then you’d see, and agree, that every man should be free
I wish I knew how, it would feel, to be free
I wish, I could break, all the chains, holding me
And I wish I could say, all the things I want to say
Say em loud, say em clear, for the whole wide world to hear
Say em loud, say em clear, for the whole wide world to hear
Say em loud, say em clear, for the whole wide world to hear
One Love, One blood, one life, you got to do what you should
One Life, Withy each other, Sisters, brothers,
One Love, but were not the same, we get to carry each other
Carry each other, woah, woah, woah, woah
I wish, I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish, I knew how it would feel to be free
I desperately want to put a video clip on here but it wont let me so you'll have to wait until I get home to see it, it will look great on a tv screen!! Its of dolphins this close, this is a bad shot of a dolphin but promise the video shows it properly, i dont know ho to separate it into stills and use it as photos but will learn one day!
Me and a founder, caught accidently in the scalloping net along with a starfish, loads of hermit crabs, octopus, a pair of sunglasses..
So i had to take my bags onto the scalloping boat and text the mailboat to say meet me in the middel of the water in so and so bay and then jump on and have my stuff thrown on after me! It gave the tourists on the mailboat something to take a picture of and I was very popular once i got on, they all wanted to talk to this girl who'd leapt onto the boat, scallops flying everywhere...! (some people pay lots of money to spend the day with the postman as he delivers thge post to rural spots) i felt kind of guilty as they hadnt seen any dolphins all day and I had just seen tonnes...!
A scallop! we cught 500 or so of these from dredging the bottom of the sea. They gave me a bag full as I left and i took them back to the backpackers in neslon! i was a little worried about how to cook them etc but i managed well, had a scallop caesar salad and they were scrummy!
i also ate raw scallops on the baost! they said i wasnt a very good pom as I was meant to squeel in disgust at the thought when offered rather than say okay them and pop it straight into my mouth!!
The first 2 shots are of blue penguins under the floor boards at the Shands! weird to think that such a rare creature is so common there! i was very excited to see them so close up!
the 3rd photo is on their boat while we were scolloping and the 4th photo is of the Shands house from the boat. Gorgeous huh?!
Photo 1 is of mahalia holding my bumble bee hot water bottle while helping my tidy my caravan!
Photo 2 is a pretty view up the hill!
Photo 3 made me laugh! it was at one of the lodges at catherdral cove from the previous owners!!
Photo 4 is Zannah, he lost 2 teeth, one from falling over on a boat and another runing about somewhere!
Okay who would have thought 10 years after being an animals rights nutter who was vegan i would have a great time possum hunting?!
We shot 10 possums and collected all those in the traps.
I helped spot them and pluck the fur out to be sold! (maybe I should buy soething made of possum fur?)
!st september was officially beginning of spring for NZ! yay!! its like summer already!! really caught the sun yesterday!
all in all the wwoofing job was a great experience, it really took my out of my comfort zome and there was no time to be shy with that many people at a dinner table!
A sunrise from my caravan! worth getting up for!!
The food was great at the Sounds! It was all from their farm or hunted from the land 9wild pig, deer, goat..)
Alot of people asked me before I went if this fmaily were religious and i ddint know.. yes they are. it was quite a surprise at the first meal to hold hands round the table and break into song. Nice though, each to their own and I've got used to standing in circles and holding hands at my workshops back home and at the groups I was going to in nelson.
I worked hard , soemtimes working up to 8 or 10 hours a day and at some points the weekely mail boat felt a long time coming but by the end I was sorry to go!
This is Mahalia and the pig Michael. he is a wild piglet. When the kill a mummy pig sometimes they take the piglets home..
Mahalia and Zannah are really cute kids. I've never had so many hugs and kisses before. and when i was leaving Mahalia said she would love it if I came back as she would miss me.. which was very sweet of her considering how many wwooffers go though that place!! they have a wwooffers book or 2! they have had up to 13 wwoffers at a time there!!
Shoshannah I think was trying to wind me up! She was a test of patience!!
The kids were completely different while their mum was in the USA, she'd been away 6 weeks and they were wild! it made me see rules are a good thing! When i was younger I watched a documentary on Summerlea school and thought it looked great but this made me think again!
Theres lots of animals at the farm:
Cows
sheep and cute lambs
dogs
pigs
cats
mussells..
I've done all sorts of different jobs:
stacks of washing (imagine how much that mnay kids make)
Landscaping (shovelling dirt)
Reading stories to kids
Cleaning
Painting (rooms, ceilings, windows, boats...)
Electric Sandiing furniture
Electric grinding paint off the roof
colecting fire wood
Cooking Washing Up
Scalloping.. etc etc.
This is the view from their place at Marlborough Sounds..
Actually rather than just shoving photos on maybe I should start saying what happened..
Rigth lets go back in time...
Before I left Nelson a friend from work moved into 11 westbrooke St which was just down the road from my place. so I went round there friday after my work do and at the weekend.
The work do was lovely, they gave me a beautiful neclace and gave me a lovely card with such nice messages on that it made me cry!
On the Sunday evening Eva and I went out for a roast dinner at the Victorian Rose which was yummy! one of those eat as much as you can things!!
the last few days ended up a whirlwind as cat texted me Suinday night and asked to pick me up Tuesday straight after work so I ended up working all Monday, spending and emotional last eveningsaying goodbye to everyone at The lighthouse and then working all day Tuesday having more emotional goodbyes with the Child Care Centre and then on the way home from work Cat texted me to say she was there already!
In the car was 2 of the kids, Catrona (23) and Briana (18). cats been a glacier guide in franz josef for the last 5 years.
Briana was driving while cat was downing Smirnoff ices.. which confused me alittle as I was sure I had read that there was n oalcohol to be brought to their place..! but thats obviously the parents not the kids! I heard Tim (the dad, not mine, this families..)say at one point that alcohol causes you to let the evil spirits in or something..
Anyway.. I felt SOOOOO sick on the way, the last 1 and a half hours were just a gravel road!
the family are:
Tim and Raewyn.
Jesika (27 - lives next door)
Sunniva (25 - lives in Auckland)
Catriona (23)
Anson (21, in Australia)
Brianna (18)
Sebastian (15)
Nathan (10)
Shoshannah (8)
Mahalia (6)
Zannah (3)
This was the caravan I lived in at the Marlborough Sounds! As you can tell its not exactly the newest model, the windows didnt shut and all that.. but it was great having somehwere to myself, it was quiet, there was beautiful views and I loved the frest air. the first night I slept back in a house I couldnt sleep. I couldnt breathe as it felt so stuffy!
Friday, September 08, 2006
after 3 hours of catching up with emails and putting a few more photos online I'm fed up with sitting inside on a computer so you'll have to wait and few days or weeks for more photos and for me to write what I'm actually up to!! In the short of it I have just left the sounds and am in Nelson on my way to golden bay!
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Pot luck dinner - Patrices and Aurores leaving do. Thats Gareth at the back with the knife!!
Pim and Masonne are the knew managers replacing gareth and jessica. Today the new woofer replacing me and eva arrived shes called martina and shes from switzerland. she seems nice, hopefully she will be happy here too. I will barely get to see her to be honest as I'm out today, will be going out for a roast dinner tonight, then working Monday, out to the Lighthouse in the evening, working tuesday and then out to my psychic development group Tuesday night, then going wednesday, so thats my next few days all planned out!
am looking forward to my roast tonight, not had one in ages! Its a good deal $12.95 for a 3 course meal and its a help yoursefl so you can eat as much or as little as you want!
I have been ill for what feels like weeks now with a cold and cough so I have been craving fruit and veg alot this week so I made masses of roast veg when we had another pot luck dinner for evas birthday this week and yesterday I made fresh bread and ate a bean soup which was scrummy, so I can feel very virtuous and healthy!! It'll be weird going to Port Ligar and eating what they eat instead of cooking my own stuff.. I'll just be joining in with family life and eating what they are eating etc! but thats cool! I like trying new things and all that. they own a mussel farm so I'm guessing there will be mussels! (lucky I've got to like them then! I would never cook them for myself or choose them off a menu but I dont dislike them)
That Night out at the grumpy Mole ages ago
Am going to start wading through my photos and putting them online so am going back in the past a bit now!!
Remember that night out where I had to be princess laya and find my partner or something?! (obviously couldnt dress up as her as didnt know I was going to be her till I got there) anyway that was this night. The first photo is of me and Aurore and the second is of Eva and Aurore.
By the way sorry I havent emailed or written on my blog for a while, I havent been online in ages and have been so busy! Cant believe I leave Nelson so soon! Its Sunday today (although it will probably say Saturdayat the top - as I havent worked out how to chnage the setting for the time and day over here! not that it matters!) anyway, I leave Wednesday so I literally only have a couple of days left. I'm looking forward to going to Port ligar though.
It was my leaving do at work on Friday (even though I am still working Monday and Tuesday of this week before I go) which was lovely. They paid for my dinner and fed me alcohol (strangely have not felt like getting drunk in ages, the photo above will probably not make you think that but have been strangely off alcohol for months), thye made me a card and all the staff put lovely messagesin it, such as come back and get your residency and thatI fitted in so well and that I was great to work with and all nice thingfs like that, and they got me this really pretty neclace, so all in all it was lovely and I shall miss it so much!!
Saturday, August 19, 2006
am getting ready to leave Nelson in ten days time! (is like leaving home or something have got so used to it here!)
so am culling down my stuff again (mum and dad must have had so many packages over the last few months of stuff I want to keep but cant be arsed to carry around anymore!)
I am going to Port Ligar on the 30th:
www.portligar.co.nz
I will be staying with the shand family. I am really looking forward to it, it looks beautiful and they souns really nice! There are photos of the family on that website so you can get a good feel for where I am going! am hoping to see lots of wildlife and all that! (apparently lots of dolphins and blue penguins etc!)
This weekend is my last weekend working at the backpackers which is pretty sad, I have enjoyed it. My leaving do at the nursery is on Friday 25th. we are having fish and chips and wine after work, so that should be cool! and so sweet of them to organise for me! I shall miss Nelson!
Cat Shand is picking me up on 30th, I think its going to be a really windy road so am going to prepare myself with travel sickness pills!!
I shall miss going to the Lighthouse evry Monday. Have got into going there. Every week is on something different but gernally there are always mediums going around telling you stuff and last week was pretty interesting, there was a pyschic healer who did this channeling of light and releasing of emotions thing (I'm sure it has a special word - some sort of intergalactic healing of somesort?!) anyway, I am open to all these things however strange they sound. It felt pretty weird though, I felt floaty for days afterwards! which I'm guessing is a good thing! I would really like to do a workshop on reiki healing and learn how to do it. (according to people at lighthouse I am connecting to the spirit world as well
so am culling down my stuff again (mum and dad must have had so many packages over the last few months of stuff I want to keep but cant be arsed to carry around anymore!)
I am going to Port Ligar on the 30th:
www.portligar.co.nz
I will be staying with the shand family. I am really looking forward to it, it looks beautiful and they souns really nice! There are photos of the family on that website so you can get a good feel for where I am going! am hoping to see lots of wildlife and all that! (apparently lots of dolphins and blue penguins etc!)
This weekend is my last weekend working at the backpackers which is pretty sad, I have enjoyed it. My leaving do at the nursery is on Friday 25th. we are having fish and chips and wine after work, so that should be cool! and so sweet of them to organise for me! I shall miss Nelson!
Cat Shand is picking me up on 30th, I think its going to be a really windy road so am going to prepare myself with travel sickness pills!!
I shall miss going to the Lighthouse evry Monday. Have got into going there. Every week is on something different but gernally there are always mediums going around telling you stuff and last week was pretty interesting, there was a pyschic healer who did this channeling of light and releasing of emotions thing (I'm sure it has a special word - some sort of intergalactic healing of somesort?!) anyway, I am open to all these things however strange they sound. It felt pretty weird though, I felt floaty for days afterwards! which I'm guessing is a good thing! I would really like to do a workshop on reiki healing and learn how to do it. (according to people at lighthouse I am connecting to the spirit world as well
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Play fighting penguins and baby seals!
Havent been up to much this week. Ended up working all day everyday that that was good for the money situation! can pay for me doing a helihike or something when i get to the glaciers!!
Tuesday was Auroers and Partrices final night I have been saying they will leave soon for ages as they kept ending up staying longer - but this time they actually left. am very envious as they are off for a month is samoa. we had a nice last night. I had suggested months ago that we should have a pot luck supper and we hadnt got round to it so we decided to have it on their last night! there were about 8 or 10 of us and we all cooked a dish so it was a great 10 course meal! I cooked chocolate brownies and some garlic bread. It was good night! sad to see them go but we shall all be off in our different directions in the next couple off weeks (16 days for me I think to be exact!)
Then yesterday I finally got round to going to the abel tasman national park. I got the bus from nelson to marahau, then a boat up to onetahuta, going round tonga island and all the little bays. On tonga island we saw a blue penguin playflighting with a baby seal which was a funny sight!!
*** as I was writing I felt another earthquake!- only a mini one again! Pim came in concerned asking if we get tsunamis here! I assured him we didnt - well I assume we dont - the radios on so hopefully they'd tell us to run?! anyway I assured him nothing happened the other week when I felt one!
anyway where was I? oh yeah penguins! then we got off the boat (just 2 of us, me and this english girl called mary, we did a lovely 13km walk (felt longer I have to say but probably as I am unfit!), over beauticul bays with stunning views and over a swing bridge (soo coool! was really swingy and creaky going over this huge canyon!) there were plenty of other pretty sights such as waterfalls etc! I will put the photos on here at some point!!
This morning I went into town and went to the Sunday morning car boot, not that I can buy anyuthing as I cant fit it in my backpack but always good to have a wander!
I am job searching for when I leave Marlborough Sounds, am looking for a decently paid managers position or something. As cool as the job as manager at the backpackers is, it is so poorly paid that I earn almost as much in a day at the nursery! But its a good job for couples as one can stay at the backpackers during the day while the other works or something. srill its enough for food for the week which is all we need really!
still I want to save up to do a helihike when I get down to the glaciers! (a helicopter would take me up to the top and then I could hike up there, rather than spend days hiking up it! (sounds like a good idea to me anyway!!)
Tuesday was Auroers and Partrices final night I have been saying they will leave soon for ages as they kept ending up staying longer - but this time they actually left. am very envious as they are off for a month is samoa. we had a nice last night. I had suggested months ago that we should have a pot luck supper and we hadnt got round to it so we decided to have it on their last night! there were about 8 or 10 of us and we all cooked a dish so it was a great 10 course meal! I cooked chocolate brownies and some garlic bread. It was good night! sad to see them go but we shall all be off in our different directions in the next couple off weeks (16 days for me I think to be exact!)
Then yesterday I finally got round to going to the abel tasman national park. I got the bus from nelson to marahau, then a boat up to onetahuta, going round tonga island and all the little bays. On tonga island we saw a blue penguin playflighting with a baby seal which was a funny sight!!
*** as I was writing I felt another earthquake!- only a mini one again! Pim came in concerned asking if we get tsunamis here! I assured him we didnt - well I assume we dont - the radios on so hopefully they'd tell us to run?! anyway I assured him nothing happened the other week when I felt one!
anyway where was I? oh yeah penguins! then we got off the boat (just 2 of us, me and this english girl called mary, we did a lovely 13km walk (felt longer I have to say but probably as I am unfit!), over beauticul bays with stunning views and over a swing bridge (soo coool! was really swingy and creaky going over this huge canyon!) there were plenty of other pretty sights such as waterfalls etc! I will put the photos on here at some point!!
This morning I went into town and went to the Sunday morning car boot, not that I can buy anyuthing as I cant fit it in my backpack but always good to have a wander!
I am job searching for when I leave Marlborough Sounds, am looking for a decently paid managers position or something. As cool as the job as manager at the backpackers is, it is so poorly paid that I earn almost as much in a day at the nursery! But its a good job for couples as one can stay at the backpackers during the day while the other works or something. srill its enough for food for the week which is all we need really!
still I want to save up to do a helihike when I get down to the glaciers! (a helicopter would take me up to the top and then I could hike up there, rather than spend days hiking up it! (sounds like a good idea to me anyway!!)
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Princess Leia
I've ended up working lots this week and have lots of work next wek too which is great - particularly since my boss heather had told me I probably wouldnt be getting any more work when the new full time worker started work on Monday of last week!
I feel quite guilty as I quite enjoy my job and all my housmates hate theirs! Patrice has handed his notice in to McDonald's. He lasted 1 day at the fish factory, 1 day as a dustman and 1 week at McDonalds.! Aurore and Eva are stil lworking at McDonalds though. After tax they get $8 an hour which is minimum wage - pretty much what I got in Akaroa and most other places. I am so lucky as after tax I get $15 an hour for my current job. Mind you how do NZers afford to drink in pubs? I went out on Thursday night and drinks were $7-8 each - seeing as though most of Eva's work colleagues were there (at the "grumpy mole" that means they have to work an hour for a drink! still eva says most of them deal drugs so I guess they get extra cash from that and also dont have to drink that much as they are already wasted! I dont know if drugs are a problem in NZ (probably no more so that the UK I'm sure) as they do a drugs test in your interview when you work at the fish factory! seeing the state of the peoples skin whom I shared flat with in Thames for one week thats enough to put anyone off drugs for a while! I didnt write much about it at the time as they were always around while I was on the computer and I didnt want them to read what I was writing! But they had think skin disease that was turning their skin black, the girl even had it spreading over her face. I dont know if was the drugs causing it or not but it cant help the situation- they were into hard stuff, ie lots of tin foil everywhere etc.
Anyway back to Grumpy Mole - we went to a singles night! we each got given a sticker saying who we were and a cow boy hat (?!) and we had to find a partner. I never found mine! I was Princess Leia. I had several vodkas before I left the backpackers (to save money) and I havent had any alcohol in AGES. Whoops! I was a teensy bit trollied at the end of the night I have to admit! Actually it made me miss my friends back home as this loy left at 10pm leaving me there on my own. (apparently they told me they were going but I clearly wasnt listening and whwn I came back from the loo they'd disapeared. They swear they told me three times and offered to drive me back but apparently I just said I would be fine. so I cant complain, I can imagine that I didnprobably say that when I was drunk.
I felt so OLD, how didn this happen? how did I get to be 27. Everyone in the bar was about 18 - up on tables kissing their partners. The bright side is that I didn get ID"d (but then they ID pretty much everyone). I was thinking about age, when I was a teenager my aprents and other people their age would say they didnt feel any different than they felt at 21 or something. So young people think your old but you dont feel any different from them! what age do you stop feeling different. I felt different from the ages 18-20-22 or whatever as I knew at 18 I was all into drinking and clubbing and at 22 I was settled down with a boyfriend. But now at 27 I realise I dont feel older than I did at 25, but teenagers or even people in early 20's think 27 is old.. and I dod when I think about being nearly 30 and not having done all the thinmgs I expected to have done by the time I was 30! anyway the point was that it is weird being 10 years older than everyone else in a pub!
I have plenty of pictures of the grumpy mole but you'll have to wait until I put them on CD (which could be a while, I wait until my card is full and I dont take that many photos in Nelson as I have obviously taken a photo already of evrything there is to see).
I'm been thinking (dangerous I know - but actually I am of course meant to do lots of thinking while travelling, that and findingmyself or something!). But I was after all miserable and depressed in the UK and came to NZ to chnage things.
I have been thinking about jobs and careers and have written alist of jobs that interest me (ie possible careers) there is probably a flaw or a problems with each of them but at least I've started thinking! So here goes:
I feel quite guilty as I quite enjoy my job and all my housmates hate theirs! Patrice has handed his notice in to McDonald's. He lasted 1 day at the fish factory, 1 day as a dustman and 1 week at McDonalds.! Aurore and Eva are stil lworking at McDonalds though. After tax they get $8 an hour which is minimum wage - pretty much what I got in Akaroa and most other places. I am so lucky as after tax I get $15 an hour for my current job. Mind you how do NZers afford to drink in pubs? I went out on Thursday night and drinks were $7-8 each - seeing as though most of Eva's work colleagues were there (at the "grumpy mole" that means they have to work an hour for a drink! still eva says most of them deal drugs so I guess they get extra cash from that and also dont have to drink that much as they are already wasted! I dont know if drugs are a problem in NZ (probably no more so that the UK I'm sure) as they do a drugs test in your interview when you work at the fish factory! seeing the state of the peoples skin whom I shared flat with in Thames for one week thats enough to put anyone off drugs for a while! I didnt write much about it at the time as they were always around while I was on the computer and I didnt want them to read what I was writing! But they had think skin disease that was turning their skin black, the girl even had it spreading over her face. I dont know if was the drugs causing it or not but it cant help the situation- they were into hard stuff, ie lots of tin foil everywhere etc.
Anyway back to Grumpy Mole - we went to a singles night! we each got given a sticker saying who we were and a cow boy hat (?!) and we had to find a partner. I never found mine! I was Princess Leia. I had several vodkas before I left the backpackers (to save money) and I havent had any alcohol in AGES. Whoops! I was a teensy bit trollied at the end of the night I have to admit! Actually it made me miss my friends back home as this loy left at 10pm leaving me there on my own. (apparently they told me they were going but I clearly wasnt listening and whwn I came back from the loo they'd disapeared. They swear they told me three times and offered to drive me back but apparently I just said I would be fine. so I cant complain, I can imagine that I didnprobably say that when I was drunk.
I felt so OLD, how didn this happen? how did I get to be 27. Everyone in the bar was about 18 - up on tables kissing their partners. The bright side is that I didn get ID"d (but then they ID pretty much everyone). I was thinking about age, when I was a teenager my aprents and other people their age would say they didnt feel any different than they felt at 21 or something. So young people think your old but you dont feel any different from them! what age do you stop feeling different. I felt different from the ages 18-20-22 or whatever as I knew at 18 I was all into drinking and clubbing and at 22 I was settled down with a boyfriend. But now at 27 I realise I dont feel older than I did at 25, but teenagers or even people in early 20's think 27 is old.. and I dod when I think about being nearly 30 and not having done all the thinmgs I expected to have done by the time I was 30! anyway the point was that it is weird being 10 years older than everyone else in a pub!
I have plenty of pictures of the grumpy mole but you'll have to wait until I put them on CD (which could be a while, I wait until my card is full and I dont take that many photos in Nelson as I have obviously taken a photo already of evrything there is to see).
I'm been thinking (dangerous I know - but actually I am of course meant to do lots of thinking while travelling, that and findingmyself or something!). But I was after all miserable and depressed in the UK and came to NZ to chnage things.
I have been thinking about jobs and careers and have written alist of jobs that interest me (ie possible careers) there is probably a flaw or a problems with each of them but at least I've started thinking! So here goes:
- Owner of backpackers or B&B
- Mental health worker
- Psychotherapist\chef
- Business owner or amanger of bookshop, cafe, childcare centre or crystal/ alterntive shop.
- Travel writer
- Private investigator (!)
- Pharmacy Worker
- Psychiatrist
- Life Coach
- Reiki Healer
- Play therapist
- Art therapist
- worker in homeless shelter or young teenagers pregnancy hostel.
- Internations Aid worker (orphanages etc)
- Fostor Parent
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