me at mana on the meditation circle in the sanctuary
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Lucy
Lucy - age 7 where I was staying on Great Barrier, doing a little fairy show for me!The follwing photos are all mixed up, they are all mixed up on the disc and I cant be bothered to put them in the right order so you'll just have to put up with the lack of continuity!
Lots of Photos!
These arent the actually photos I loaded to come on but since I've loaded them they may as well stay!
Photo 1 is from the top of the cable car by the botanical gardens in wellington.
Photo 2 is of Craters of the Moon again!
Photo 3 is of me by the side if wanganui river in wanganui.
Photo 4 is of a sunset in New plymouth.
Craters of the Moon!
Craters of the Moon!
Yes it is as cool as it looks! Takes about an hour to walk round all these boiling mud pools and steaming craters!
Craters of the Moon
Lou and I at Craters of the Moon! which is in Taupo..
seems like a million years ago! am going to put all my old photos up now..
Thames
So... I am in Thames!
it was sad leaving the island, as usual went fishing wednesday and thursday before I left.
Also climbed Mount Hobson. Several points up it I thought I was going to die (either from slipping off the side or from exhaustion!) It was so slippy and I was very glad of the tree roots to hang on to to pull myself up! But.. there was amazing views! and I was lucky as it was a beautiful day! I didnt see a soul for four and a half hours! I had so much time to think! its amazing what you think about when you have the time, the things that have happened in my life and the people who have been part of my life for however short a time or long a time. I get lost in my thoughts often and people must think I'm really quiet. When people try to get my attention its like they have to shout to get my attention! but Thames should be different, for a start I'm living in a flat share with 2 other backpackers called Jess and Matt, they both seem nice, have only met them briefly! I need to e rbought out of my thoughts a bit!
So, on my last night on the island I went to the club (the bar), had a couple of drinks (strangely have not felt like getting drunk in months). The men on the island are more than rugged, its strange how back in England I wanted a more rugged man but theres rugged and theres rugged. I think on great barrier the men smell of fish are covered in mud and have lots of facial hair. They also talk about fishing tackle, nails and all things practical alot! So I'm, not sure what I would have in common with a man on the island if I did meet one I fancied! but maybe i'm being unfair and generalising.
One thing that surprised me was the smoking pot all the time. Its a big thing over there, at work they all seem to stop several times a day for a smoke! It grows everywhere, people have all their own crops and it even grows in the bushes, maybe thats why the island is packed with young people over new year. I cant imagine it being like that! it must be so different!
Thames has a paknsave which is good cheap food wise! so have been by the supermarket and got a few bits in! Not sure what I'm going to be doing here, have to work 18 hours a week. Jess said something about a market tomorrow. Its all new and stuff right now, theres going to be lots to learn! (am a bit nervous but everyone seems nice which is good!)
it was sad leaving the island, as usual went fishing wednesday and thursday before I left.
Also climbed Mount Hobson. Several points up it I thought I was going to die (either from slipping off the side or from exhaustion!) It was so slippy and I was very glad of the tree roots to hang on to to pull myself up! But.. there was amazing views! and I was lucky as it was a beautiful day! I didnt see a soul for four and a half hours! I had so much time to think! its amazing what you think about when you have the time, the things that have happened in my life and the people who have been part of my life for however short a time or long a time. I get lost in my thoughts often and people must think I'm really quiet. When people try to get my attention its like they have to shout to get my attention! but Thames should be different, for a start I'm living in a flat share with 2 other backpackers called Jess and Matt, they both seem nice, have only met them briefly! I need to e rbought out of my thoughts a bit!
So, on my last night on the island I went to the club (the bar), had a couple of drinks (strangely have not felt like getting drunk in months). The men on the island are more than rugged, its strange how back in England I wanted a more rugged man but theres rugged and theres rugged. I think on great barrier the men smell of fish are covered in mud and have lots of facial hair. They also talk about fishing tackle, nails and all things practical alot! So I'm, not sure what I would have in common with a man on the island if I did meet one I fancied! but maybe i'm being unfair and generalising.
One thing that surprised me was the smoking pot all the time. Its a big thing over there, at work they all seem to stop several times a day for a smoke! It grows everywhere, people have all their own crops and it even grows in the bushes, maybe thats why the island is packed with young people over new year. I cant imagine it being like that! it must be so different!
Thames has a paknsave which is good cheap food wise! so have been by the supermarket and got a few bits in! Not sure what I'm going to be doing here, have to work 18 hours a week. Jess said something about a market tomorrow. Its all new and stuff right now, theres going to be lots to learn! (am a bit nervous but everyone seems nice which is good!)
Monday, May 15, 2006
Today we went fishing, no crayfish again unfotunately but caught snapper and trevailly. Then went to Tryphena and to a bakers! Excitement - havent been to a bakers since got to Island as the nearest bakers being 30kms away! Collected bucket loads of seaweed from beach to use as compost, then came back and chilled with a book. I made caesar salad dressing. (I always thought these things just came from a packet. I have even learnt how to make mayonaise. I plan to make these sorts of things myself in the future, this does mean I shall have to have more than just ketchup in my cupboards though!
Tomorrow is my last day, so I am going fishing in the morning and climbing mount nhobson in the afternoon.
I made sure I took lots of photos today to remind me of my stay!
I'm going to miss the girls so much! I have got used to helping them with their homework each day after school and listening to them read their stories. I also play rumikub at least 5 times a day and cludo twice! I am going to try and find them godfather marbles when I get back to New Zealand so I can send them one each! (Marbles being all the rage at school and they lose their little (peewee) marbles to this boy who has a godfather marble!)
am looking forward to going to thames though, my room is in a loft apparently so will have to climb a ladder to get there but its all adventures!!
Tomorrow is my last day, so I am going fishing in the morning and climbing mount nhobson in the afternoon.
I made sure I took lots of photos today to remind me of my stay!
I'm going to miss the girls so much! I have got used to helping them with their homework each day after school and listening to them read their stories. I also play rumikub at least 5 times a day and cludo twice! I am going to try and find them godfather marbles when I get back to New Zealand so I can send them one each! (Marbles being all the rage at school and they lose their little (peewee) marbles to this boy who has a godfather marble!)
am looking forward to going to thames though, my room is in a loft apparently so will have to climb a ladder to get there but its all adventures!!
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Tamarillos and thunder stroms in tin boats
Tamarillos are just getting ripe on the trees. I had been told that they were bitter but actually they are nice! They are also called tree tomatoes. I guess because when they are ripe they are red and are full of seeds?! Anyway I've been eating lots the last few days!
It was realy wet overnight raining and a howling wind (I notice it more being in a caravan! and as the horses smashed the windowns the windowns are not plastic covering which blows open in the blowing wind at times, so during the night I had to retape the windows to stop myself getting wet! All fun though!
I wasnt sure if we would still be going fishing in the pouring rain but we did so I had lots of waterproofs on! We went down the creek in the little boat to awana beach area near the caves. The lobster pots were empty unfortunately but caught a few snapper and put some down in the pots as bait and we will check them again tomorrow morning. I was gutted as a shark got my hook and ball bearing and we had forgotten to bring the box of spares so I didnt get much fishing done after that! It got pretty scary at one point when it started thundering and lightening (there we are in water in a tin boat...) so we came in after that and of course typically the weather got better once we were back in! The surf was pretty exciting though. Going over it in a little tin boat meant we went flying into the air and crashing down again! Its like white water rafting or something! Cool huh?
After that we went and got more pungas to make garden beds. I've left Trish and Paul to argue over where they go! the day goes quick here, its nearly 2pm already so only an hour and a half and the kids bus will drop them off!
I only have a few days left now and plan to climb mount hobson before I go, the weather will hopfefully be good on wednesday for it!
It was realy wet overnight raining and a howling wind (I notice it more being in a caravan! and as the horses smashed the windowns the windowns are not plastic covering which blows open in the blowing wind at times, so during the night I had to retape the windows to stop myself getting wet! All fun though!
I wasnt sure if we would still be going fishing in the pouring rain but we did so I had lots of waterproofs on! We went down the creek in the little boat to awana beach area near the caves. The lobster pots were empty unfortunately but caught a few snapper and put some down in the pots as bait and we will check them again tomorrow morning. I was gutted as a shark got my hook and ball bearing and we had forgotten to bring the box of spares so I didnt get much fishing done after that! It got pretty scary at one point when it started thundering and lightening (there we are in water in a tin boat...) so we came in after that and of course typically the weather got better once we were back in! The surf was pretty exciting though. Going over it in a little tin boat meant we went flying into the air and crashing down again! Its like white water rafting or something! Cool huh?
After that we went and got more pungas to make garden beds. I've left Trish and Paul to argue over where they go! the day goes quick here, its nearly 2pm already so only an hour and a half and the kids bus will drop them off!
I only have a few days left now and plan to climb mount hobson before I go, the weather will hopfefully be good on wednesday for it!
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Kinnies, Paua and roller blading
I aim to do something new everyday! So what did I do in the last couple of days that was new?
- Rock Fishing (Hanging on the side of a rock flinging a rod out for fish and squid)
- Searching rock pools for kinnies and Pauas
- Eating Kinnies raw (they are sea urchins, those round spiky things - you just hack them open with a knike, wash the guts out in sea water and eat the orange fish egg bits, looks disgusting but actualy tastes sweet)
- Eating Paua (or abalone I think it might be called back home - I actually dont like this, the texture reminds me of muchrooms - but we collected about $150 dollars worth!)
- Going in a little boat down the estuary and then over the surf (hanging on as we fly over the surf! and then catching lots of fish and putting down lobster pots - this was quite gruesome as we caught the fish chopped their heads off and stuck flax through their eyes and tied then to the top of the pots and then put the pots in the sea. We have to go out tomorrow morning to collect the pots as lobster come out at night. I am looking forward to seeing if we have caught any! We had to get up early this morning to be out for high tide, its an hour later tomorrow morning though so I dont have to get up too long before sunrise (its freezing before sunrise now winter is beginning! the sea felt postively warm when I was washing my icky fish hand out in it every time I baited my line!)
- Roller blading (lucy got roller blades for her birthday - Paul and Trish got them off the internet, the wrong size arrived first time which turns out to be my size and Trish's size so I've spent a few hours rollerblading today! It was fun! I only fell on my arse once! (Ouch!) I havent been rollerbalding before. I had rollerboots when I was little but I was such a wuss I never went on them since I fell and cut my knee - I was about 8! I was really scared today but decided to persevere!
- Also today we went to their 4th boat and checked it was still working and played around on a beautiful beach. They have boats dotted around in various spots for all types of weather and tides!
Its Sunday today and I am leaving on Thursday so not much time to enjoy this beautiful island now - but I cant stay here forver - there is a whole world to explore out there! (and I'm looking forward to seeing every bit of it!
Went and got a few cards for various people today, (sent yours Laura - dont open it till your birthday) and bought birthday cards for Jim and Grandma who both have birthdays next month. I will be orgnaised and try and send them early rather than forget and end up sending them late!
I'm still reading lots - today I am reading "the other boleyn girl" by phillipa gregory. Its very good now I've got into it! I'll chill out with it in my little caravan tonight I think! Not that I'm going to be staying up late! all this fresh air and early mornings tires me out!!
Friday, May 12, 2006
Just had some sad news, I got an email telling my ex therapist Bryan is in hospital having radiation therapy for lung cancer. It is a shock and feel pretty tearful actually. I didnt want therapy anymore with him or anything but he is a good person and I care about him. Can someone please let me know whether he lives at the same address in Goring Road (as it was on the market when I left) so I can send a card. I know hes going to Brazil for treatment but I'm sure if I send a card somewhere it will find its way to him somehow?
Today I have been working hard cutting down vegetation (have got over fear on knives here when I'm using massive sharp knives for everything!), digging up plants and moving soil about (digging river!) am knackered, but spent afternoon fnisheing the book The Tenth Circles By Jodi Picoult, was very good, but her books are always so emotional!
Yesterday it rained alot so didnt do alot, but did cow hearding and refenced fields for them!
Have sorted my flights as best possible. There were none of the flights avainale I wanted but hopfully can chnage them again as I dont have to pay until Novmber so can change it before then again for free (why they didnt tell me this in the first place I dont know!)
Anyway as it stand I fly Auckland to Sydney on 19th November (cant get flights from Christchurch with my ticket apparently) then Sydney to Bangkok on 10th December and Bangkok to London on 30th December. I wouldnt out this in your diaries though its not for definate or anything!
Today I have been working hard cutting down vegetation (have got over fear on knives here when I'm using massive sharp knives for everything!), digging up plants and moving soil about (digging river!) am knackered, but spent afternoon fnisheing the book The Tenth Circles By Jodi Picoult, was very good, but her books are always so emotional!
Yesterday it rained alot so didnt do alot, but did cow hearding and refenced fields for them!
Have sorted my flights as best possible. There were none of the flights avainale I wanted but hopfully can chnage them again as I dont have to pay until Novmber so can change it before then again for free (why they didnt tell me this in the first place I dont know!)
Anyway as it stand I fly Auckland to Sydney on 19th November (cant get flights from Christchurch with my ticket apparently) then Sydney to Bangkok on 10th December and Bangkok to London on 30th December. I wouldnt out this in your diaries though its not for definate or anything!
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
I did just attempt to put some photos up but I guess there is not enough power here so it will have to wait till I'm back on the main land! So what have I been up to today?! This morning we went to a farm to get some pungas to use as edges to a garden bed. The after salad and snapper for lunch it rained so I sat in and read and then Trish and I went for a 3 hour horse ride. I learnt how to rise to the trot and trotted pretty fast which was exciting! This evening we ate thai green curry and I finished my book. We also watched a fishing programme about Brighton which was weird. was weird seeing back home, felt like some sort of dejavu, like surely I'm not from there?!
Not sure what the plan is for tomorrow - will see what happens. Tried to change my flights today, phoned round STA etc and they told me I have to speak to Qantas. I spent ages on the phone to them and they couldnt do mch as there are no flights around January, they keep telling me its high season as if I'm phoning the week before or something!?urely not everyone is so organised that they book that far in advance. Anyway she said they might release more flights and recommended I ring back Friday, so I shall try that!
Not sure what the plan is for tomorrow - will see what happens. Tried to change my flights today, phoned round STA etc and they told me I have to speak to Qantas. I spent ages on the phone to them and they couldnt do mch as there are no flights around January, they keep telling me its high season as if I'm phoning the week before or something!?urely not everyone is so organised that they book that far in advance. Anyway she said they might release more flights and recommended I ring back Friday, so I shall try that!
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
time to think!
Thebest thing about this island is that it gives me time to think! As I weed in complete solitude (apart from a few pukekos squawking) I go off into a day dream so that paul and trish end up having to shout me several times to go and have lunch! I like all this time to think! I end up thinking of more things I want to do in life though so I'm going to be kept busy!!
Firstly I want to pass my driving test, as soo n as I get back to england I am going to take lessons, and none of this I cant afford it stuff, its going to have to be a priority. Then I can but a campervan and travel round england and europe working my way around. (I may or may not do Austrailia first)
One thing that made me laugh was how worried I was about coming home via Australia at Xmas and New Year, I was worried about the noise and people clubbing!!! Then rose (frankie and lucy's nanna) reminded me it was fun busy! AH sometimes I think I old before my time, New Year is meant to be fun. I probably should be out drinking and having a laugh! So I guess its the best place to be! Lol! something else was that I saw a pilot yesterday and had to stop myuself voicing the words "gosh he looks too young to be pilot". That would really mean I'm old if I start saying things like that!!
Havent managed to change my flights yet. am waiting for an email back from brighton sta. I have decided to chnage it as planned in last enrty but am not panicking, it is not set in stone. if I start thinking I have to leave in january I start getting upset. So I just tell myself just see how it goes!
Today we went out fishing (we were meant to go yesterday but the weather wasnt right do I visited the local school instead) it has a total of 52 pupils and 3 classes. Its really cute and I got to walk round it all and meet all the children and teachers! alot of the kids recognise me anyway now which is cool! I can imagine it wouldnt take long to get to know everyone on the whole island! As for teaching here, the girls and all cute the boys are wild! Thir all out shooting wildpigs by the time they are 10! Shooting season has started for birds btw so I hear a few gunshots now wnd then. Paul shot a rabbit this morning, they eat rabbit alot but apparently not today so I will try rabbit for the first time another time. Just as well I'm not still vegetarian huh?! anyway back to fishing!! I caught 2 wopping snapper! Fish of the day for me!! How cool! I caught smaller ones too but these were huge!wait till you see the photos!! I was so proud!! I really like fishing! i though it was meant to be boring but its not!! fish are contantly biting, I'm learning a new skill and I get to see dolphins frolicking in the water! (lots today). We caught squid too so I'm learning all the different methods of catching stuff! Apparently on Friday we will go and get some cray. maybe out the pots down on Thursday!
am getting attached to the girls, we play games and stuff when they get in from school from hide and seek to rumikub. Its fun!!
I'm still reading lots. The local library in claris is good so I get alot of the best sellers.am reading "Swallowing Grandma" at the moment which is good!
I am still covered in mosquito bites (i'm hoping that one day they will think I'm a local and stop biting me!) it was good when lou was here as they bit her instead!
I'm getting over the OCD I used to have back in enlgand for cleanliness! I dont have the option to wash my clothes if they've so much as touched me here so I just wear them until their disgusting! How many baths I have depends on how hot it is (solar warmed) or if the fire is on (fire warmed!) I love this kind of living but dont think I would be able to do it forver! I gotaid today from the work in the thai restaurant the other day which was cool. I could get a job an a nanny as well which I am considering short term. I love the island and love the live but maybe a small village would be more me for longer term. Here would be a hell of a lot better if I could drive. Paul is going to take me up to the camp ground for a driving lesson this week, so that will be cool! I desperately need to learn to drive! Its essential for out in NZ, I can hardly hitch in to work everyday can I?!
Its a pity I'm not still going out with that guy from years back - Jon. He was really into fishing and I used to think it was boring and never went with him - maybe I should get back in touch now and say "lets go fishing?!" not that I have his address out here so thats not going to happen! (see thats what happens when I have lots of time to think!) but its good to get some of it down on paper (as such) as then its not all swimming around in my brain and I can think abiut something else instead and you lot will just have to put up with all the ramble!
I bought 2 envelopes from the post office (not really noteworthy stuff youight sa but of course here going to the post office is a trek and a half!.. anyway am going to send some more stuff back to england. Have decided to send in back there rather than to tony and Pats in torbay as one day I'm going to have to colledt all my stuf from theirs and then carry it around the rest of NZ and australia and thailand, so at least sending it back to england gets rid of it properly. I was thinking I might get my flight out of NZ from Christchurch so I would have to get my stuff from Pat and Tony's when I go back to Auckland from here (aghh so much to think about when I really dont want to think about things at all?!) however it would be useful to fly from christchurch as then I wouldnt have to come back to the north island at all. The plan is once I leave great barrier I will maybe spend a day or 2 on waiheke island then head down to the coraomandel, down to the bay of plenty, to gisbourne and then over to the south island. Thats planned loosely of course. who knows what will happen?!
Firstly I want to pass my driving test, as soo n as I get back to england I am going to take lessons, and none of this I cant afford it stuff, its going to have to be a priority. Then I can but a campervan and travel round england and europe working my way around. (I may or may not do Austrailia first)
One thing that made me laugh was how worried I was about coming home via Australia at Xmas and New Year, I was worried about the noise and people clubbing!!! Then rose (frankie and lucy's nanna) reminded me it was fun busy! AH sometimes I think I old before my time, New Year is meant to be fun. I probably should be out drinking and having a laugh! So I guess its the best place to be! Lol! something else was that I saw a pilot yesterday and had to stop myuself voicing the words "gosh he looks too young to be pilot". That would really mean I'm old if I start saying things like that!!
Havent managed to change my flights yet. am waiting for an email back from brighton sta. I have decided to chnage it as planned in last enrty but am not panicking, it is not set in stone. if I start thinking I have to leave in january I start getting upset. So I just tell myself just see how it goes!
Today we went out fishing (we were meant to go yesterday but the weather wasnt right do I visited the local school instead) it has a total of 52 pupils and 3 classes. Its really cute and I got to walk round it all and meet all the children and teachers! alot of the kids recognise me anyway now which is cool! I can imagine it wouldnt take long to get to know everyone on the whole island! As for teaching here, the girls and all cute the boys are wild! Thir all out shooting wildpigs by the time they are 10! Shooting season has started for birds btw so I hear a few gunshots now wnd then. Paul shot a rabbit this morning, they eat rabbit alot but apparently not today so I will try rabbit for the first time another time. Just as well I'm not still vegetarian huh?! anyway back to fishing!! I caught 2 wopping snapper! Fish of the day for me!! How cool! I caught smaller ones too but these were huge!wait till you see the photos!! I was so proud!! I really like fishing! i though it was meant to be boring but its not!! fish are contantly biting, I'm learning a new skill and I get to see dolphins frolicking in the water! (lots today). We caught squid too so I'm learning all the different methods of catching stuff! Apparently on Friday we will go and get some cray. maybe out the pots down on Thursday!
am getting attached to the girls, we play games and stuff when they get in from school from hide and seek to rumikub. Its fun!!
I'm still reading lots. The local library in claris is good so I get alot of the best sellers.am reading "Swallowing Grandma" at the moment which is good!
I am still covered in mosquito bites (i'm hoping that one day they will think I'm a local and stop biting me!) it was good when lou was here as they bit her instead!
I'm getting over the OCD I used to have back in enlgand for cleanliness! I dont have the option to wash my clothes if they've so much as touched me here so I just wear them until their disgusting! How many baths I have depends on how hot it is (solar warmed) or if the fire is on (fire warmed!) I love this kind of living but dont think I would be able to do it forver! I gotaid today from the work in the thai restaurant the other day which was cool. I could get a job an a nanny as well which I am considering short term. I love the island and love the live but maybe a small village would be more me for longer term. Here would be a hell of a lot better if I could drive. Paul is going to take me up to the camp ground for a driving lesson this week, so that will be cool! I desperately need to learn to drive! Its essential for out in NZ, I can hardly hitch in to work everyday can I?!
Its a pity I'm not still going out with that guy from years back - Jon. He was really into fishing and I used to think it was boring and never went with him - maybe I should get back in touch now and say "lets go fishing?!" not that I have his address out here so thats not going to happen! (see thats what happens when I have lots of time to think!) but its good to get some of it down on paper (as such) as then its not all swimming around in my brain and I can think abiut something else instead and you lot will just have to put up with all the ramble!
I bought 2 envelopes from the post office (not really noteworthy stuff youight sa but of course here going to the post office is a trek and a half!.. anyway am going to send some more stuff back to england. Have decided to send in back there rather than to tony and Pats in torbay as one day I'm going to have to colledt all my stuf from theirs and then carry it around the rest of NZ and australia and thailand, so at least sending it back to england gets rid of it properly. I was thinking I might get my flight out of NZ from Christchurch so I would have to get my stuff from Pat and Tony's when I go back to Auckland from here (aghh so much to think about when I really dont want to think about things at all?!) however it would be useful to fly from christchurch as then I wouldnt have to come back to the north island at all. The plan is once I leave great barrier I will maybe spend a day or 2 on waiheke island then head down to the coraomandel, down to the bay of plenty, to gisbourne and then over to the south island. Thats planned loosely of course. who knows what will happen?!
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Lucy's 7th Birthday!
So what have I been up the last couple of days? My memory is atrotious so I will start with today before I forget! today is Lucy's birthday so we were cooking and wrapping presents this morning and her friends all arrived for 11am. We played musical cushions, pin the tailon the donkey and went down to the beach to play the big dig, they had a yummy birthday lunch as well. They all left at 2pm ish but Arrouha and Chenny have stayed the night so they will all catch the school bus together in the morning. I got Lucy a card with stickers in and some pineapple chocolate chunks (such a simple present yet she was so excited!). their party bags were marbles! (Its so old fashioned and so sweet - Lucy and and Frankie have never played playstation! (Such a great thing!)
I'm now shattered sotrying to stay awake as it is only 7:30pm. I think I'll be heading to my caravan soon. In the caravan I read by candle light. I have truly never seen so many stars in my life as I do here, its beautiful! the only noise is the surprisingly noisy cows, the chickens and squawking pukekos. the childrens nan has also been staying the weekend, she flew in from Red Beach which is right by Orewa where I used to work in the backpackers.
Yesterday was my day off so I hitched a lift to the cross roads, wwalked down to the hot pools track and then went on a 2hour round trip walk and chilled in some hot pools with a book for a couple of hours. they were warm rather than hot becaue of the rain in the night but once again it was a fab experience, completely on my own in the wilderness laying about in hot water! I assumed nobody else would come so happily got changed and was naked for ages, yet when I was walking back I bumped into 3 people walking that way so it was just as well they hadnt arrived half an hour earlier!!
When I left the hot pools I walked towards the cross roads, hitched a ride into Claris to look round the shops (The pigeon post and the store) Pigeon post is the post office, you can still send pigeons to send post here! They do have a normal postal service too though! (Dad I sent your cheque yesterday so it shouldnt hopefully be too long!)
Then I hitched a ride back to the cross roads and hitched another ride to the Art Gallery (Laura I bought your birthday card there!). then I hitched a ride to right outside the driveway! It was so easy to hitch. Everyone knows each other on the island so its compeltely safe, kids do it all the time. People say they'd do it here but never off great barrier island! Then is the afternoon trish and Paul went to a memorial service so I looked after the girls and we played lots of games.
The day before I did weeding (veg patch looking much better now) and I have new garden clothes so save my own from getting destroyed. At the community centre in Claris there is a Swappping Centre where everyone brings their stuff they dont want (anything and everything) and people rumage through and take what they want, so I picked up a few pairs of trousers etc to use while I am on the island as it gets muddy and I dont have that many clothes to use! what a good system!
I may at some point go and woof with lIz in dairy flat again as she has sold her place and needs help wih packing.
Paul has gone to Pakistan for some reason. As least that makes it easier tor me not to end up seeing him again!
I think thats all I've done, well its probably not but all the days merge into one and I get confused!
I have been looking into where my next job will be. I have done most of the North Island but would like to finish the Coromandel. I have seen a job in Thames so I might head there next. I have already been there with Paul but at least its in the right direction - and theres more chance of getting paid work as well. The job is in an art shop.
Tomorrow Paul and I are probably going to go fishing for dinner! (I love that concept of having to get dinner!)
They have been building the wind generator so we have more power. The solargenerator can be more lacking in the winter and the hot water not hot enough (we also have to light a fire to get hot water) so I have to be more careful with water in the shower etc!
I have been trying to sort out flights as my oringinal flight to Sydney was meant to leave 16th June. so I have been emailing brighton STA. I have tp be back in England be January 2007 according to my ticket. I am going tchange my flights to do that. I dont want to go back to England then but I will see what happens in January, I want to stay out here 2 years but would lose my return flight, so I will keep my options open and chnage my flight to January! I guess I will still spend 2 weeks in Aus and 2 weeks in Bangkok so probably spend Christmas and New Year in Aus? who knows what will happen by then though, I prefer not to think about it but I have to sort out thr flights!
I'm now shattered sotrying to stay awake as it is only 7:30pm. I think I'll be heading to my caravan soon. In the caravan I read by candle light. I have truly never seen so many stars in my life as I do here, its beautiful! the only noise is the surprisingly noisy cows, the chickens and squawking pukekos. the childrens nan has also been staying the weekend, she flew in from Red Beach which is right by Orewa where I used to work in the backpackers.
Yesterday was my day off so I hitched a lift to the cross roads, wwalked down to the hot pools track and then went on a 2hour round trip walk and chilled in some hot pools with a book for a couple of hours. they were warm rather than hot becaue of the rain in the night but once again it was a fab experience, completely on my own in the wilderness laying about in hot water! I assumed nobody else would come so happily got changed and was naked for ages, yet when I was walking back I bumped into 3 people walking that way so it was just as well they hadnt arrived half an hour earlier!!
When I left the hot pools I walked towards the cross roads, hitched a ride into Claris to look round the shops (The pigeon post and the store) Pigeon post is the post office, you can still send pigeons to send post here! They do have a normal postal service too though! (Dad I sent your cheque yesterday so it shouldnt hopefully be too long!)
Then I hitched a ride back to the cross roads and hitched another ride to the Art Gallery (Laura I bought your birthday card there!). then I hitched a ride to right outside the driveway! It was so easy to hitch. Everyone knows each other on the island so its compeltely safe, kids do it all the time. People say they'd do it here but never off great barrier island! Then is the afternoon trish and Paul went to a memorial service so I looked after the girls and we played lots of games.
The day before I did weeding (veg patch looking much better now) and I have new garden clothes so save my own from getting destroyed. At the community centre in Claris there is a Swappping Centre where everyone brings their stuff they dont want (anything and everything) and people rumage through and take what they want, so I picked up a few pairs of trousers etc to use while I am on the island as it gets muddy and I dont have that many clothes to use! what a good system!
I may at some point go and woof with lIz in dairy flat again as she has sold her place and needs help wih packing.
Paul has gone to Pakistan for some reason. As least that makes it easier tor me not to end up seeing him again!
I think thats all I've done, well its probably not but all the days merge into one and I get confused!
I have been looking into where my next job will be. I have done most of the North Island but would like to finish the Coromandel. I have seen a job in Thames so I might head there next. I have already been there with Paul but at least its in the right direction - and theres more chance of getting paid work as well. The job is in an art shop.
Tomorrow Paul and I are probably going to go fishing for dinner! (I love that concept of having to get dinner!)
They have been building the wind generator so we have more power. The solargenerator can be more lacking in the winter and the hot water not hot enough (we also have to light a fire to get hot water) so I have to be more careful with water in the shower etc!
I have been trying to sort out flights as my oringinal flight to Sydney was meant to leave 16th June. so I have been emailing brighton STA. I have tp be back in England be January 2007 according to my ticket. I am going tchange my flights to do that. I dont want to go back to England then but I will see what happens in January, I want to stay out here 2 years but would lose my return flight, so I will keep my options open and chnage my flight to January! I guess I will still spend 2 weeks in Aus and 2 weeks in Bangkok so probably spend Christmas and New Year in Aus? who knows what will happen by then though, I prefer not to think about it but I have to sort out thr flights!
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
From fishing, riding and thai restaurants on the Barrier
I'm on Great Barrier! I've wanted to come here since I first decided I was coming to NZ and was reading the travel books!
So it was a 4 and a half hour ferry ride over, paul drove me over to the ferry terminal and we said our goodbyes, I've decided its over between us so I guess it was a goodbye forever. He's not going to make me happy and he's got way too much baggage!
On the ferry over (there was about 10 of us) I got burnt it was so hot and saw a big pod of dolphins which was cool! the ferry captain was very friendly pointing out all the islands on the way and everything.
Trish and the girls were waiting for me, Lucy aged 6 and Frankie aged 8. We drove to the shop in Tryphenia which is quite along way from their place in Awana. It is the most rural place I have ever been to. The scenery is stunning, blue skies, cliffs down to sandy beaches and some of the best surfing in NZ.
So I settled in and unpacked in my own little caravan in a field behing the house. Welly boots are needed all the time for getting around the place as it has been pretty wet so is very muddly, luckily trish has some spare ones for me!
The next day was beautiful so paul (trish's husband) and I went out on his yacht and went out fishing. I have never been fishing before, it was so exciting! We caught loads, We are not allowed to catch blue cod so we put that back but can keep the red snapper and trevailly that are huge (I thought the ones we put back that were too small were big too compared to english standards! Anyway it was really exciting when I could feel the fish biting and having to real the huge things in!! It wasnt boring at all as there always seemed to be something biting. The first time I put the line in it got bitten off by a shark! We took loads home for dinner and dinner was especially yummy as I had caught it! Mmmn snapper in bread crumbs! we ate the trevailly raw. I've never had raw fish and always wasnt keen on the idea but it wasnt bad at all!
The next day I cut lots of flaxes into points ready for planting and split them into smaller plants, that took me all morning and in the afternoon I went for a bike ride. Its been ages since I cycled anaywhere so it was another new experience and hard work! Being so rural and hilly it was very good exercise. I rode round the empty campsite (out of season now so empty) and up to the beach! I wonder if I could make it all the way to the nearest shop (about 10km)?
I came back and chilled with a book, read the bridge to (?!) thats helpful isnt it?not being able to remember the title?! anyway its the book following the bronze horseman by paullina simons my new current favourite author. I have the NZ top 100 books list so am working my way through it, so far have read 26 out of 100 and have just started number 27!
We had thai fish curry for dinner which was yummy, trish is a trained chef so the food is very yummy here. Its surprising how unfishy fresh fish is, apparently it takes a couple of days to get the fishy taste and smell and usually it takes that long to get off the boats and into the shops!
The next day we took loads to the dump (the flax etc).In the afternoon Trish and I saddled up their horses Hosanna and Fejoia and went for a ride. It was great! we went for a couple of hours up the road along the campgrounds and estuary (the horses like drinking the water so we wade through it) and then along the sandy beach watching the surfers! It was great! Learning to ride properly is on my list of things to learn so lesson 1 is completed and I am one more step to getting more experienced!
Then in the evening we went down the club in claris, a pub which is open wednesday nights, friday nights and saturday nights, it hasd a big games room, playground and field for the children to play in and parents can watch them while they socialise! As soon as I got there the bar man said "oh a visitor" and got me to sign the guestbook! I gues with only 800 residents on the whole island everyone knows everyone! There was actually one other visitor but he had been there before, a surfer guy from Bude in Cornawall. He was a proper surfer dude who couldnt say a sentence without saying "far out" and "oh your really in the zone"! The kids had a great time, they ate pizza there and we came hokme for steak from next door. The cows are literlly over the field in front of the house. I have never had meat from somewhere so close by! The O Shays are an irish/maori family who cought up along time ago and have alot of land and houses and sold Paul and Trish their place 18 years ago.
Lucy has chickens which are noisy in the mornings, there are only 3 left now as one died of natural causes the other day, they still lay a couple of eggs everyday though. Lucy and Frankie are lovely kids and so different from town kids having never played with playstations etc. They go to the local school with 52 children in and the children here play games like marbles etc, so I'm learning the names of differnt marbles etc! (stealies, peewees etc)! It is Lucy's 7th birthday on Sunday so she is very excited! 7 other children are coming over for a party. Frankie and Lucy are in the same class at school as 3 age groups are in the same class. I imagine that must be hard to teach!
Today I went to work with Trish and worked in the Thai restaurant, it was pretty busy fo a smally polpulated island I thought! I was waitress, washer upper and worked the till and was behing the bar while trish cooked! It was a busy day but I leanr lots and would feel more confident in applying for a job in a restaurant now!
Am back home now, tired, and the girls are back in from school playing in the groceryy boxes. Groceries are brought over by boat from the supermarkey in Auckland. You can buy just from, local shops but it cost a bomb, thye can charge what they like as theres no where else to buy it!!
On the way back from the restaurant I saw a dead whale on the beach.
There was tsunami warning out during the night but thankully it got cancelled, that would have been pretty scary, there has been alot of flooding back in Orewa whewre I was a few weeks ago.
So it was a 4 and a half hour ferry ride over, paul drove me over to the ferry terminal and we said our goodbyes, I've decided its over between us so I guess it was a goodbye forever. He's not going to make me happy and he's got way too much baggage!
On the ferry over (there was about 10 of us) I got burnt it was so hot and saw a big pod of dolphins which was cool! the ferry captain was very friendly pointing out all the islands on the way and everything.
Trish and the girls were waiting for me, Lucy aged 6 and Frankie aged 8. We drove to the shop in Tryphenia which is quite along way from their place in Awana. It is the most rural place I have ever been to. The scenery is stunning, blue skies, cliffs down to sandy beaches and some of the best surfing in NZ.
So I settled in and unpacked in my own little caravan in a field behing the house. Welly boots are needed all the time for getting around the place as it has been pretty wet so is very muddly, luckily trish has some spare ones for me!
The next day was beautiful so paul (trish's husband) and I went out on his yacht and went out fishing. I have never been fishing before, it was so exciting! We caught loads, We are not allowed to catch blue cod so we put that back but can keep the red snapper and trevailly that are huge (I thought the ones we put back that were too small were big too compared to english standards! Anyway it was really exciting when I could feel the fish biting and having to real the huge things in!! It wasnt boring at all as there always seemed to be something biting. The first time I put the line in it got bitten off by a shark! We took loads home for dinner and dinner was especially yummy as I had caught it! Mmmn snapper in bread crumbs! we ate the trevailly raw. I've never had raw fish and always wasnt keen on the idea but it wasnt bad at all!
The next day I cut lots of flaxes into points ready for planting and split them into smaller plants, that took me all morning and in the afternoon I went for a bike ride. Its been ages since I cycled anaywhere so it was another new experience and hard work! Being so rural and hilly it was very good exercise. I rode round the empty campsite (out of season now so empty) and up to the beach! I wonder if I could make it all the way to the nearest shop (about 10km)?
I came back and chilled with a book, read the bridge to (?!) thats helpful isnt it?not being able to remember the title?! anyway its the book following the bronze horseman by paullina simons my new current favourite author. I have the NZ top 100 books list so am working my way through it, so far have read 26 out of 100 and have just started number 27!
We had thai fish curry for dinner which was yummy, trish is a trained chef so the food is very yummy here. Its surprising how unfishy fresh fish is, apparently it takes a couple of days to get the fishy taste and smell and usually it takes that long to get off the boats and into the shops!
The next day we took loads to the dump (the flax etc).In the afternoon Trish and I saddled up their horses Hosanna and Fejoia and went for a ride. It was great! we went for a couple of hours up the road along the campgrounds and estuary (the horses like drinking the water so we wade through it) and then along the sandy beach watching the surfers! It was great! Learning to ride properly is on my list of things to learn so lesson 1 is completed and I am one more step to getting more experienced!
Then in the evening we went down the club in claris, a pub which is open wednesday nights, friday nights and saturday nights, it hasd a big games room, playground and field for the children to play in and parents can watch them while they socialise! As soon as I got there the bar man said "oh a visitor" and got me to sign the guestbook! I gues with only 800 residents on the whole island everyone knows everyone! There was actually one other visitor but he had been there before, a surfer guy from Bude in Cornawall. He was a proper surfer dude who couldnt say a sentence without saying "far out" and "oh your really in the zone"! The kids had a great time, they ate pizza there and we came hokme for steak from next door. The cows are literlly over the field in front of the house. I have never had meat from somewhere so close by! The O Shays are an irish/maori family who cought up along time ago and have alot of land and houses and sold Paul and Trish their place 18 years ago.
Lucy has chickens which are noisy in the mornings, there are only 3 left now as one died of natural causes the other day, they still lay a couple of eggs everyday though. Lucy and Frankie are lovely kids and so different from town kids having never played with playstations etc. They go to the local school with 52 children in and the children here play games like marbles etc, so I'm learning the names of differnt marbles etc! (stealies, peewees etc)! It is Lucy's 7th birthday on Sunday so she is very excited! 7 other children are coming over for a party. Frankie and Lucy are in the same class at school as 3 age groups are in the same class. I imagine that must be hard to teach!
Today I went to work with Trish and worked in the Thai restaurant, it was pretty busy fo a smally polpulated island I thought! I was waitress, washer upper and worked the till and was behing the bar while trish cooked! It was a busy day but I leanr lots and would feel more confident in applying for a job in a restaurant now!
Am back home now, tired, and the girls are back in from school playing in the groceryy boxes. Groceries are brought over by boat from the supermarkey in Auckland. You can buy just from, local shops but it cost a bomb, thye can charge what they like as theres no where else to buy it!!
On the way back from the restaurant I saw a dead whale on the beach.
There was tsunami warning out during the night but thankully it got cancelled, that would have been pretty scary, there has been alot of flooding back in Orewa whewre I was a few weeks ago.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)