What a lovely day! It was really hot which was great! First went to Cathedral Cove - about an hour and a half walk I guess with going off on tangents seeing various pretty beaches. I have some stunning photos which I will put on here soon! Its a really fab cave and so theres so many islands out to sea. Its really beautiful! Especially on a day like today when the sky is so blue!
Then we went to hot water beach, people had already dug lots of holes so didnt need to dig my own! It wasnt too busy which was good, apparently in the summer the kiwi experience bus stops there and theres thousands of people there then!) they were all different temperatures. I accidently stepped in one near the centre and almost burnt my foot off! It was boiling! but the ones around the elde were cooler and better to sit in! Unfortunately my camera decided to stop working there so I have no photos of hot water beach - I'm so gutted. Its saying zoom problem and the zoom wont go out or anything. I hope its fixable. Its still under guarantee but that doesnt do me alot of good when the company is back in England etc! I am going to take it into a camera shop when I go into town on Tuesday (Whitianga). I have a feeling it may be due to a grain of sand or something.
Then after that we went to Waves Cafe and watched a concert and stuff, it was great, they were reall ygood local bands, and I got chatting to this girl from brighton, hadnt met anyone from Brighton in ages. Then oddly enough theres 3 people from brighton staying in the backpackers tonight, one of thems dad owns fabric fayre in Worthing - how freaky is that?! here I am in the middle of nowhere and I've been in their shop over the other side of the world!
Dawn and I also went into Tairua - about 15kms away to pick up some more kiwifruit pickers, a couple from Nepal who seem very nice! I feel so stupid, I didnt know Kathmandu was the capital of Nepal.. I really need to go and do more travelling! I was staring at a world map last night getting excited at all the places I could go!
I have been considering the option of getting a working visa for Australia too. After all theres no law to say I have to only stay a month.. I could stay much longer!! (and forget the ticket home!) at least wages are apparently higher over there.. and I could meet relatives at the same time..! Have bee writing (well emailing) a relative I have in Brisbane called Chani (she has a blog too so have read that sometimes) so I might go over and see her at some point. I will see how I feel come September - whether I want to stay travelling for another year or if I'm homesick or something! We'll have to see how I feel!!
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Crusaders 19, Hurricanes 12
Last night I went over Dawns house for dinner and the rugby, she had some friends over. It was lovely. They were so welcoming. the rugby was good, so foogy though that you could barely see the players! It was funny! I think I am a Crusaders fan as they are from Canterbury which is the general area of Christchurch and Akaroa is my favourite place so far.. (My top 4 are Akaroa, Kaikoura, Great Barrier Island and Taupo). If anyones coming to NZ for a short time I could write them an itinary of where to go!!
I am fed up of mosquitos though. Just as I thought my itchy lumps were healing and fading and I thought perhaps they were out of season or something (I hadnt had any bites since Great Barrier) I've now got several new ones to add to my collection. As soon as darkness falls if there is a window open then they go for my blood!
One thing I have learnt out here is NEVER CRITICISE NZ TO A KIWI!!
Patriotism is a funny thing and there are clear difference between Brits and kiwis when it somes to patritotism! When I say never criticise NZ to a kiwi this includes when someone says to you "Gosh its rainy today".. you cannot reply " Sure is" or "Yes" as some kiwis will jumpo down your throat and start telling yuo that "At least its not as bad as England" and once when I said it was cold that day I was told "if I didnt like it I should go back to my own country"!!! Kiwis are kind friendly and generous but when it comes to negative comments its a serious no, no! This has now happened to me several times and I am learning my lesson - they much prefer it if I answer "gosh well, its great compared toEngland" or something!!
I was quite worried about how to answers a kiwis comment last night when they asked me what I thought of their television. I opted for the diplomatic response of "Its a shames heres so much American sitcoms rather than NZ shows"! This seemed to go down very well and I even got the response that Enlgish TV shows were very good!
NZ has only 3 channels unless you have SKY and they are appallingly bad! 2 of the 3 channels at any one time will have reality TV on such as Americas top model and some island something or other (what was I thinkign back in Enlgand when I watched this crap?!).
I may be generalising but I think alot of English like to moan! Its what we do! We are patriotic and we may (or may not) love our country but we still like to moan! It kind of comes down to whole thing about not boasting about things (you know the opposite to the Americans for example who will tell you how fantatic they are at stuff etc - apologies to whoever I am offending here?!) We complain about the weather most of all probably but also how expensive things are etc. I saw a book the other day and it said Brits moan particularly about moving house. It aapparently could have been the smoothest moving house ever and we will still say it was a nightmare!
I was exhausted last nigght after getting in from Dawns house. I dont know why - I didnt exactly do much yesterday! I stupidly finished Angels and Demons and now I have nothing to read- the bus timetable gets boring after a while! as does the guidebook! I'm bored of looking where to go next! I prefer being laid back and seeing hwere I end up next but of course now I've booked the flight to Nelson I need to have an itinary to get myself to Gisborne by then (or at least a vague one!) Next stop is going to be Mount Manganui, apparently as easy climb and theres apparently hot pools at the bottom for when you finsih! (yay!) Just have to make sure I dont go in them first or there wont be a reward!!
While I was in Thames I learnt to download stuff from the internet (we downl;oaded free trial programmes which allowed us to download tonnes!) anyway as I never see TV out here I downloaded the first 4 episodes of lost series 2. Now of course I'm desperate to see the rest of the series.. grr!! (see the english like to have something to moan about!)
More moans is about my clothes.. when you only have 2 pairs of trousers and 4 pairs of undies etc for 6 months you are washing them constantly - particularly when working on farms etc and your only pair of jeans are covered in cow shit and you want to go to the pub.. Anyway.. after all this washing and tumble drying my clothes are looking very faded and holey!! I cant wait to buy come new undies!! (lol hmnn! its a good job I'm not shy - just realised here I am moaning about my underwear online!!)
Anyway.. its a beautiful day here so Dawn is taking me to a beach concert at Hot Water beach, so I have got my togs on and am going to sit around in hot water and listen to some music - how cool is that?!
I am fed up of mosquitos though. Just as I thought my itchy lumps were healing and fading and I thought perhaps they were out of season or something (I hadnt had any bites since Great Barrier) I've now got several new ones to add to my collection. As soon as darkness falls if there is a window open then they go for my blood!
One thing I have learnt out here is NEVER CRITICISE NZ TO A KIWI!!
Patriotism is a funny thing and there are clear difference between Brits and kiwis when it somes to patritotism! When I say never criticise NZ to a kiwi this includes when someone says to you "Gosh its rainy today".. you cannot reply " Sure is" or "Yes" as some kiwis will jumpo down your throat and start telling yuo that "At least its not as bad as England" and once when I said it was cold that day I was told "if I didnt like it I should go back to my own country"!!! Kiwis are kind friendly and generous but when it comes to negative comments its a serious no, no! This has now happened to me several times and I am learning my lesson - they much prefer it if I answer "gosh well, its great compared toEngland" or something!!
I was quite worried about how to answers a kiwis comment last night when they asked me what I thought of their television. I opted for the diplomatic response of "Its a shames heres so much American sitcoms rather than NZ shows"! This seemed to go down very well and I even got the response that Enlgish TV shows were very good!
NZ has only 3 channels unless you have SKY and they are appallingly bad! 2 of the 3 channels at any one time will have reality TV on such as Americas top model and some island something or other (what was I thinkign back in Enlgand when I watched this crap?!).
I may be generalising but I think alot of English like to moan! Its what we do! We are patriotic and we may (or may not) love our country but we still like to moan! It kind of comes down to whole thing about not boasting about things (you know the opposite to the Americans for example who will tell you how fantatic they are at stuff etc - apologies to whoever I am offending here?!) We complain about the weather most of all probably but also how expensive things are etc. I saw a book the other day and it said Brits moan particularly about moving house. It aapparently could have been the smoothest moving house ever and we will still say it was a nightmare!
I was exhausted last nigght after getting in from Dawns house. I dont know why - I didnt exactly do much yesterday! I stupidly finished Angels and Demons and now I have nothing to read- the bus timetable gets boring after a while! as does the guidebook! I'm bored of looking where to go next! I prefer being laid back and seeing hwere I end up next but of course now I've booked the flight to Nelson I need to have an itinary to get myself to Gisborne by then (or at least a vague one!) Next stop is going to be Mount Manganui, apparently as easy climb and theres apparently hot pools at the bottom for when you finsih! (yay!) Just have to make sure I dont go in them first or there wont be a reward!!
While I was in Thames I learnt to download stuff from the internet (we downl;oaded free trial programmes which allowed us to download tonnes!) anyway as I never see TV out here I downloaded the first 4 episodes of lost series 2. Now of course I'm desperate to see the rest of the series.. grr!! (see the english like to have something to moan about!)
More moans is about my clothes.. when you only have 2 pairs of trousers and 4 pairs of undies etc for 6 months you are washing them constantly - particularly when working on farms etc and your only pair of jeans are covered in cow shit and you want to go to the pub.. Anyway.. after all this washing and tumble drying my clothes are looking very faded and holey!! I cant wait to buy come new undies!! (lol hmnn! its a good job I'm not shy - just realised here I am moaning about my underwear online!!)
Anyway.. its a beautiful day here so Dawn is taking me to a beach concert at Hot Water beach, so I have got my togs on and am going to sit around in hot water and listen to some music - how cool is that?!
Friday, May 26, 2006
Booked my flights today, so on 9th June I am catching two flights. One from Gisborne to Wellington and one from Wellington to Nelson.
Whenever I used to see adverts for rice cookers on TV in England I used to think they were pointless but here everyone has one. The fruit pickers who I am living with right now are manly all asian and they wouldn't dream of going anywhere without their rice cookers and seeing as they eat the most rice then I guess they know whats what! The thai restaurant I worked in had one too. They are pretty good.. might end up getting one myuself when I settle down! (I realise I do blabber on about pointless stuff on here but sometimes theres no-one to talk to. Eg today the manager has left me to it to manage the backpackers and the only people to talk to dont speak the language and I dont speak theirs.. so I guess you'll have to put up with my ramblings! I only speak of them because I was just cleaning the kitcken and now theres about 5 rice cookers dotted around on all the surfaces!
Its raining a little less now so I guess I might go for walk or something. We just leave a sign on the door of the backpackers saying.. back at.. whatever time so its pretty laid back!
Whenever I used to see adverts for rice cookers on TV in England I used to think they were pointless but here everyone has one. The fruit pickers who I am living with right now are manly all asian and they wouldn't dream of going anywhere without their rice cookers and seeing as they eat the most rice then I guess they know whats what! The thai restaurant I worked in had one too. They are pretty good.. might end up getting one myuself when I settle down! (I realise I do blabber on about pointless stuff on here but sometimes theres no-one to talk to. Eg today the manager has left me to it to manage the backpackers and the only people to talk to dont speak the language and I dont speak theirs.. so I guess you'll have to put up with my ramblings! I only speak of them because I was just cleaning the kitcken and now theres about 5 rice cookers dotted around on all the surfaces!
Its raining a little less now so I guess I might go for walk or something. We just leave a sign on the door of the backpackers saying.. back at.. whatever time so its pretty laid back!
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Whenuekite
I'm in Whenuekite now at www.seabreezetouristpark.co.nz I am going to work here for a week before moving on. (pronounced fenooakeetee)
My boss is a lovely lady called dawn and I am living in the backpackers accomodation - a converted cow shed.
I arrived yesterday - it was about an hour from my last place in Thames. Its about 25kms from a supermarket so had got my supplies in. Though unexpectedly we ended up going into town today (Whitianga) so that was cool, had a good look aorund and a wander round the shops. Bought myself a wooly hat to keep my warm on the South Island. It was such a nightmare trying to find one I liked!!
So this morning I moved the lawn ( I like mowing so thats cool), some weeding, cleaned some windows, and did some maintenance like changing light bulbs etc (all on my own! - normally I rely on men in my life to do those type of things but out here I am learning new skills)!
My last day nigth in Thames I bumped into an old friend Amanda - she wandered in the shop after having been on a mana retreat (this shows she has money as its extortionate there! -thats the place I visited for the day with Paul). I met Amanda originally In Orewa when I first met Paul and she is quite good friends with him so she was asking me all about that which was difficult as I didnt really want to say "well really I dont want to see him again!" But apparently he's told her I'm a wonderful person so at least thats nice to hear! anyway Amanda came round mine for a bit, she got extrememely drunk though - thats the risk of going near that flat I guess!
I shall miss my flat in Thames I had got used to living with Matt and Jess but it was a complete drug den!
They have token operated showers here so I am having to get used to washing my hair and having my legs in 8 minutes! I guess its a good idea to conserve water and power. Luckily I get a free token everyday!
The farm I am living on has still got some cows but they have moved most of the cows to their farm on the South Island. They also have lots of kiwifruit.
They have subdivided and sold loads of their land. A few houses have been built and each of the houses they have sold has 50 acres each. they have kept 100 acres, so its pretty big, and all green and beautiful!! they have a lovely house and have invited me up for dinner tomorrow as lots of people are going round for dinner and watching the rugby. (Havent watched much rugby out here really so really should do the kiwi thing!)
Hopefully if the weather is nice Dawn is going to take we to hot water beach which is 7kms away. You just dig yourself a hole and hot water comes up. It can be as hot as 65 degrees so you have to be quite careful! But I cant wait!! The weather was pretty terrible today though so hopefully it wont be the same tomorrow. Maybe while I'm online I shall check the forcast!
My boss is a lovely lady called dawn and I am living in the backpackers accomodation - a converted cow shed.
I arrived yesterday - it was about an hour from my last place in Thames. Its about 25kms from a supermarket so had got my supplies in. Though unexpectedly we ended up going into town today (Whitianga) so that was cool, had a good look aorund and a wander round the shops. Bought myself a wooly hat to keep my warm on the South Island. It was such a nightmare trying to find one I liked!!
So this morning I moved the lawn ( I like mowing so thats cool), some weeding, cleaned some windows, and did some maintenance like changing light bulbs etc (all on my own! - normally I rely on men in my life to do those type of things but out here I am learning new skills)!
My last day nigth in Thames I bumped into an old friend Amanda - she wandered in the shop after having been on a mana retreat (this shows she has money as its extortionate there! -thats the place I visited for the day with Paul). I met Amanda originally In Orewa when I first met Paul and she is quite good friends with him so she was asking me all about that which was difficult as I didnt really want to say "well really I dont want to see him again!" But apparently he's told her I'm a wonderful person so at least thats nice to hear! anyway Amanda came round mine for a bit, she got extrememely drunk though - thats the risk of going near that flat I guess!
I shall miss my flat in Thames I had got used to living with Matt and Jess but it was a complete drug den!
They have token operated showers here so I am having to get used to washing my hair and having my legs in 8 minutes! I guess its a good idea to conserve water and power. Luckily I get a free token everyday!
The farm I am living on has still got some cows but they have moved most of the cows to their farm on the South Island. They also have lots of kiwifruit.
They have subdivided and sold loads of their land. A few houses have been built and each of the houses they have sold has 50 acres each. they have kept 100 acres, so its pretty big, and all green and beautiful!! they have a lovely house and have invited me up for dinner tomorrow as lots of people are going round for dinner and watching the rugby. (Havent watched much rugby out here really so really should do the kiwi thing!)
Hopefully if the weather is nice Dawn is going to take we to hot water beach which is 7kms away. You just dig yourself a hole and hot water comes up. It can be as hot as 65 degrees so you have to be quite careful! But I cant wait!! The weather was pretty terrible today though so hopefully it wont be the same tomorrow. Maybe while I'm online I shall check the forcast!
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Shop
Well am working in the shop again! Is pretty quiet! although in the two seconds I dealt with another customer in laundry a guy on the net bailed without paying. Cheeky bugger. Have been staring at the till trying to work out if he took some of that as well.. but dont think he did.. I'm hoping he didnt. (The till is a wooden desk drawer with no lock so not fantastically secure).
Have agreed to stay a week in Whitianga, the place is 15kms from the nearest supermarket and I have no idea what my email access will be so dont expect regualr contact!! But I will be checking my emails somehow as am trying to sort something out for Nelson! am also looking for cheap flights there as it might end up being cheaper than having accomodation in wellington etc , the ferry and then a bus to nelson etc. I'll just see what happens!
Am reading Dan Browns Angels and Demons today, plenty of reading time.
I also checked my bank blance after being too scared to - as need to print off a couple of statements for dad as he is trying to defer repayments of my student loan for me. It wasnt as bad as I thought, I just need to keep trying to spend as little as possible and then I can stay out here longer!
I will miss Thames in some way, and the drug den of a flat I am living in. Strange how quick somewhere becomes home!
Have agreed to stay a week in Whitianga, the place is 15kms from the nearest supermarket and I have no idea what my email access will be so dont expect regualr contact!! But I will be checking my emails somehow as am trying to sort something out for Nelson! am also looking for cheap flights there as it might end up being cheaper than having accomodation in wellington etc , the ferry and then a bus to nelson etc. I'll just see what happens!
Am reading Dan Browns Angels and Demons today, plenty of reading time.
I also checked my bank blance after being too scared to - as need to print off a couple of statements for dad as he is trying to defer repayments of my student loan for me. It wasnt as bad as I thought, I just need to keep trying to spend as little as possible and then I can stay out here longer!
I will miss Thames in some way, and the drug den of a flat I am living in. Strange how quick somewhere becomes home!
Monday, May 22, 2006
Pohutakawa
So, am working all day 9-7pm. am manning the internet shop, art shop and laundry all on my own. am quite impressed with how have learnt how to do all this kind of stuff really! When I was at uni and worked in the cafe the till was such a nightmare that I told myself I could never work where tills were involved.. but actually its fine!
am at work at the moment, a couple of people are in the laundry and a couple of people in the internet shop, Its bound to be quiet though as its pouring down outside and the tourist season has pretty much ended!
Stuart is staying in the backpackers on his own, the manager seems to have disapeared for the past week, so last night when people checked in he just took the money for them! So he migth be starting his own business if he doesnt get caught! The backpackers look dead here in Thames, I think alot of backpackers on the North Island shut for the winter. I guess the ones in the ski areas on the South Island get really busy!
Went to the pub last night but got tired and left matt and stu to it (jess didnt come she went out somewhere else). Pubs close here when the last cutomer leaves rather than a set time.. and I need my sleep! Still have to wear ear plugs for when matt gets back and watchesd film at 3am (as dont have door on my room noise doesnt get blocked out!)
But then spend rest of might paranoid that I wont wake up and will sleep through alarm with my ultra powerful ear plugs! How do people manage without ear plugs! they are truly a godsend! In backplackers i couldnt live without them! in Auckland for example my last bed was directly next to a bungee jumping thing so people were screaming all night, the curtains didnt close properly so I was watching people hanging upside down in my sleep!!
Its all fun! am going to book a bus to Whitianga for Thursday, am looking forward to hot water beach. it was one of the places I looked up before I left the UK and wanted to go to so I cant leave the North Island without going there!
The bright side of working in a laundromat is I get to have clean and dry clothes all the time!! (it can be expensive elsewhere and of course in rural places there isnt much power)
have been going on MSN the last couple of days while I have internet access (may as well make the most if it) but not many of you are online! admittedly it is the middle of the night over there at the moment and you might all want some sleep! Spoke to Helen yesterday though while I was eating my brekkie and she was off to bed! Is weird being in contact with people back home and having an online chat! their all tired and I'm wide awake!
am at work at the moment, a couple of people are in the laundry and a couple of people in the internet shop, Its bound to be quiet though as its pouring down outside and the tourist season has pretty much ended!
Stuart is staying in the backpackers on his own, the manager seems to have disapeared for the past week, so last night when people checked in he just took the money for them! So he migth be starting his own business if he doesnt get caught! The backpackers look dead here in Thames, I think alot of backpackers on the North Island shut for the winter. I guess the ones in the ski areas on the South Island get really busy!
Went to the pub last night but got tired and left matt and stu to it (jess didnt come she went out somewhere else). Pubs close here when the last cutomer leaves rather than a set time.. and I need my sleep! Still have to wear ear plugs for when matt gets back and watchesd film at 3am (as dont have door on my room noise doesnt get blocked out!)
But then spend rest of might paranoid that I wont wake up and will sleep through alarm with my ultra powerful ear plugs! How do people manage without ear plugs! they are truly a godsend! In backplackers i couldnt live without them! in Auckland for example my last bed was directly next to a bungee jumping thing so people were screaming all night, the curtains didnt close properly so I was watching people hanging upside down in my sleep!!
Its all fun! am going to book a bus to Whitianga for Thursday, am looking forward to hot water beach. it was one of the places I looked up before I left the UK and wanted to go to so I cant leave the North Island without going there!
The bright side of working in a laundromat is I get to have clean and dry clothes all the time!! (it can be expensive elsewhere and of course in rural places there isnt much power)
have been going on MSN the last couple of days while I have internet access (may as well make the most if it) but not many of you are online! admittedly it is the middle of the night over there at the moment and you might all want some sleep! Spoke to Helen yesterday though while I was eating my brekkie and she was off to bed! Is weird being in contact with people back home and having an online chat! their all tired and I'm wide awake!
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Moving on again!
There you all were thinking I've settled into my flat share in Thames and I've decided to leave! I do have a good deal witha comfortable flat to live in but Thames is not for me.
I had a heavy feeling in my heart wandering round searching for a job today and I was in the end glad that there was no work. I was nervous about telling Rowan I want to leave but he was very friendly about it which was great! So I am going to work all day in the shop on Tuesday and Wednesday (i.e tomorrow and the next day) and then on Thursday I am going to leave. I am going to go to see hot water beach before I leave the Coromandel so I'll either stay there for a day or 2 or if I find a wwooofing job there (have emailed someone) then I shall stay there for their minimum of a week.
I feel much happier having decided this!
In do want to settle somewhere for a while but not here. (by a while I mean about a month - hardly long term or anything!)
I have been thinking about Nelson and have been in email contact with a family in a remote area in the Marlborough Sounds which I'd have to get a mail boat to (ie join the weekly post man on his rounds till I get dropped off at theirs!) They have 10 (yes ten!) children that they are homeschooling who I could help with! Sounds like a fun challenge!!
I had a heavy feeling in my heart wandering round searching for a job today and I was in the end glad that there was no work. I was nervous about telling Rowan I want to leave but he was very friendly about it which was great! So I am going to work all day in the shop on Tuesday and Wednesday (i.e tomorrow and the next day) and then on Thursday I am going to leave. I am going to go to see hot water beach before I leave the Coromandel so I'll either stay there for a day or 2 or if I find a wwooofing job there (have emailed someone) then I shall stay there for their minimum of a week.
I feel much happier having decided this!
In do want to settle somewhere for a while but not here. (by a while I mean about a month - hardly long term or anything!)
I have been thinking about Nelson and have been in email contact with a family in a remote area in the Marlborough Sounds which I'd have to get a mail boat to (ie join the weekly post man on his rounds till I get dropped off at theirs!) They have 10 (yes ten!) children that they are homeschooling who I could help with! Sounds like a fun challenge!!
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Am I old before my time?
Sometimes I wonder if I have got old before my time.
I also wonder what I did in England?
As far as I can remember I spent most evenings watching TV. what kind of life is that? but what else is there to do in England apart from go to the pub or watch TV. Sure theres the cinema and meals out both of which I love but both of which are expensive. I would do them every night if I could afford to!
I think people in Thames watch Tv or go to the pub.
Its assumed as I'm english I must drink alot everywhere! This is quite funny! I feel very boring as I dont drink that much. what does it mean that I can probably count the amount of times I have been drunk in the last two years on one hand?! people think I'm boring (and I probably feel it) and I have to remind myself that once apon a time drink was an issue for me and I used to drink everynight and go clubbing all the time. But this feels so long ag0 that it feels like another lifetime!
Today I was meant to be painting walls but rowan change dhis mind and I will be working in the shop all day tueday and wednesay.
I am going to look for a job tomorrow. If I find one I will stay in thames as I desperately need money (dont get me started on the money panic - I will at some point soon have to think about the debt back in england. Dad is deferring my student loans for me again but as for the bank loans... I try not to think about it as its too scary) if I dont find one I will move on and look for work elsewhere. I really want to go to the south island again now, even though I am going to freeze my arse off.
I also wonder what I did in England?
As far as I can remember I spent most evenings watching TV. what kind of life is that? but what else is there to do in England apart from go to the pub or watch TV. Sure theres the cinema and meals out both of which I love but both of which are expensive. I would do them every night if I could afford to!
I think people in Thames watch Tv or go to the pub.
Its assumed as I'm english I must drink alot everywhere! This is quite funny! I feel very boring as I dont drink that much. what does it mean that I can probably count the amount of times I have been drunk in the last two years on one hand?! people think I'm boring (and I probably feel it) and I have to remind myself that once apon a time drink was an issue for me and I used to drink everynight and go clubbing all the time. But this feels so long ag0 that it feels like another lifetime!
Today I was meant to be painting walls but rowan change dhis mind and I will be working in the shop all day tueday and wednesay.
I am going to look for a job tomorrow. If I find one I will stay in thames as I desperately need money (dont get me started on the money panic - I will at some point soon have to think about the debt back in england. Dad is deferring my student loans for me again but as for the bank loans... I try not to think about it as its too scary) if I dont find one I will move on and look for work elsewhere. I really want to go to the south island again now, even though I am going to freeze my arse off.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Market Day
After Great Barrier I saw dolphins on the ferry back to mainland again which was cool. It was like leaving the country or something, I felt nervous like I was starting my travels again. and of course I was back in Auckland again. Considering I dont like Auckland I have now been there a good few times!
I stayed the night in Surf n Snow, a new backpackers right next to the sky tower so it would be nice and close to get the bus in the morning. In the morning I went to this student hairdresser training thing and got my hair trimmed (quite happy with the length really so didnt want tonnes off), It turned into nigtmare though as I dont wear a watch so half way through the hair cut I got my alarm clock out of my pocket and dropped it, it said 1pm and I had a heart attack as my bus left at 1:15, I had to get my stuff and get to the station. i wouldnt get my money back for my ticket if I missed it! So I said is it really 1pm and she said yes, so she sped cut the rest - probably not great for a student and I raced to the backpackers and to the station where I could see my bus, I was at this point wheezing away and sweating and bright red in the face. I handed my bags to the guy and he said no he couldnt put my stuff on so I started pleading thinking I had a strict guy, (you are meant to be there 20 mins early to load your stuff etc. After he'd said no a million times and I'd burst into tears saying I couldnt afford another ticket he asked me what the stress was as it didnt leave for another hour and he couldnt put bags on for another half hour.. it was 12:15 after all that! m yhair practically still had the hairdresser clips in it, it was everywhere! I didnt know what to do, sigh of relief or cry! anyway luckily my hair looks ok and I spent the next half hour sitting calmly wheezing and caughing looking like I was going to die! Quite funny as people were moving away thinking I had some kind of lurgy when in actual fact I was just unfit from racing through auckland city with a heavy backpack on! the good thin gwith winter is that everything fits in my backpack as I am wearing the big stuff! even my food bag fitted in which was great, no need to have bags tied to my arms and legs!
anyway once in thames I had a long walk to the shop but am getting quite strong now and as long as going slow am fine!
Today I had my first shift, it was market day so I was on the stall outside the shop, The shop sells all arty things made locally such as photos on blocks (very popular) and soaps and handmade clothes etc. Its all very nice. Its very odd as over a month ago when I wa shere with Paul we came in this shop and while he was on the internet I had a good look round the shop!
Last nigth I also babysat for Rowans girlfriends children, Lucy age 6 and Alice age 3 so have been fairly busy since arrived really.
Thsi afernoon have wandered round town but most places shut at 12noon on a saturday and are shut all day sunday as well. so went to pakn save and got my tea! I thought it was funny as you would have thought I would be bored of fish since I ae it nearly everyday on great barrier but I found myself cooking salmon and roast veg for myself last night!
The guy who I'm woofing for -Rowan has 4 businesses. The shop pohutakawa, the internet shop, the laundromat and a bar so he's pretty busy. I have no idea where and what I will be doing each day. Tomorrow I shall be painting walls apparently.
While I'm in Thames I am looking for some paid work as well so am loking around and Rowan is too hopefully. I have agreed to stay 6 weeks as that what he has asked as a minimum. When I have time off I might go for short trips to Whitianga and Tauranga as well I reckon.
Its nice to have somehwere to call hime, a proper flat share and a double bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers, great to not live out of a backpack for a while!
I stayed the night in Surf n Snow, a new backpackers right next to the sky tower so it would be nice and close to get the bus in the morning. In the morning I went to this student hairdresser training thing and got my hair trimmed (quite happy with the length really so didnt want tonnes off), It turned into nigtmare though as I dont wear a watch so half way through the hair cut I got my alarm clock out of my pocket and dropped it, it said 1pm and I had a heart attack as my bus left at 1:15, I had to get my stuff and get to the station. i wouldnt get my money back for my ticket if I missed it! So I said is it really 1pm and she said yes, so she sped cut the rest - probably not great for a student and I raced to the backpackers and to the station where I could see my bus, I was at this point wheezing away and sweating and bright red in the face. I handed my bags to the guy and he said no he couldnt put my stuff on so I started pleading thinking I had a strict guy, (you are meant to be there 20 mins early to load your stuff etc. After he'd said no a million times and I'd burst into tears saying I couldnt afford another ticket he asked me what the stress was as it didnt leave for another hour and he couldnt put bags on for another half hour.. it was 12:15 after all that! m yhair practically still had the hairdresser clips in it, it was everywhere! I didnt know what to do, sigh of relief or cry! anyway luckily my hair looks ok and I spent the next half hour sitting calmly wheezing and caughing looking like I was going to die! Quite funny as people were moving away thinking I had some kind of lurgy when in actual fact I was just unfit from racing through auckland city with a heavy backpack on! the good thin gwith winter is that everything fits in my backpack as I am wearing the big stuff! even my food bag fitted in which was great, no need to have bags tied to my arms and legs!
anyway once in thames I had a long walk to the shop but am getting quite strong now and as long as going slow am fine!
Today I had my first shift, it was market day so I was on the stall outside the shop, The shop sells all arty things made locally such as photos on blocks (very popular) and soaps and handmade clothes etc. Its all very nice. Its very odd as over a month ago when I wa shere with Paul we came in this shop and while he was on the internet I had a good look round the shop!
Last nigth I also babysat for Rowans girlfriends children, Lucy age 6 and Alice age 3 so have been fairly busy since arrived really.
Thsi afernoon have wandered round town but most places shut at 12noon on a saturday and are shut all day sunday as well. so went to pakn save and got my tea! I thought it was funny as you would have thought I would be bored of fish since I ae it nearly everyday on great barrier but I found myself cooking salmon and roast veg for myself last night!
The guy who I'm woofing for -Rowan has 4 businesses. The shop pohutakawa, the internet shop, the laundromat and a bar so he's pretty busy. I have no idea where and what I will be doing each day. Tomorrow I shall be painting walls apparently.
While I'm in Thames I am looking for some paid work as well so am loking around and Rowan is too hopefully. I have agreed to stay 6 weeks as that what he has asked as a minimum. When I have time off I might go for short trips to Whitianga and Tauranga as well I reckon.
Its nice to have somehwere to call hime, a proper flat share and a double bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers, great to not live out of a backpack for a while!
Thursday, May 18, 2006
kaitoke hot springs, great barrier island, theres lots of little hot pools up here to sit around in, and as usual I had the place to myself! its about an hours walk to them. I like walks that have a reward at the end of them! usually i have to take a choclate bar with me but this one I get to lounge around in hot water! yum!
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