So what have I been up to in the last few days..?
First point.. have you ever been out and watched drunk people? Imagine going down the Strawbery Tree (equivelent to Images in Worcester and maybe Rutherfords/Lush in Worthing - yeah that bad..) sober.. It is quite scary to see the desperate need for people to "pull". That alcohol turns usually shy girls to pole dance in the hope of pulling someone they dont even fancy..
Why do women go out down clubs etc? It sould be because they want to spend time with their friends and have a good time.. but is it really? When a girl suddenly gets in a relationship and then goes out with her friends she often doesnt have the same type of good time and her mates complain shes not the same.. (thats because the only reason for going out seems to be to pull) and how about when you go down the pub but all your friends cant even follow your coversation because they are too busy checking out the bar at the same time?!
I was discussing this with lou on the phone the other day and it seems to be thesame the world over.. quite scary..
Obviously this isnt true for all friends and bars but there is a kind of "meat market" bar which makes it happen more..
Anyway, last night Ruth and I had a BBQ party so we invited a few people over and then whole 4 backpackers staying.. I think we had enough to feed an army with us making loads of stuff and everyone bringing plenty of dishes.. and enough alcohol to sink a battle ship..
It was a good night anyway, Dolphin Lodge is a great place to have a party and since there were no moany types staying in the backpackers it was ideal. Although I think we did scare the backpackers away as they went and all hid inside by the fire (that may have been after people starting leaping in the spa..) which was quite amusing I have to admit.We gets stacks of lost property so people who didnt have swimsuits just used the lost property clothing.. (great photos of Kevin in a girls swimsuit!!). Little does he know thats going to end up on the internet!
I know its terrible but people did make an effort to talk to them,.. but its so hard, Its like the same conversation over and over again or where their from and where their going and I'm getting less and less interested. Its terrible because I know I am a backpacker but I am getting more and more scathing of them (not to their face) and Ruth said she'd really miss my sarcasm when she leaves (god I didnt even know I was sarcastic - my sister was always the sarcastic one when we were growing up). But I cant really help it.. I mean what are you supposed to do when a girl rings the bell and asks for a tissue..? (I was wonderfully polite to her, explaining I didnt have any on me but she could help herself in the bathroom.. and managed to save my response of "oh and would you like to wipe it for you too?" till I got upstairs to Ruth.
God whats happened to me? I've always got upset in the past when people are sarcastic to me! (but maybe its okay that the sarcasm just stays in my head and I dont actually say it?!)
Anyway what this all means is that ideally I'll like to travel the rest of NZ without having to go near another backpackers hostel and maybe no backpackers. However I recognise that this may be a tad tricky and that unoless I get flat for the winter which would probably be expensive then I am goign to have to live in a bckapckers over the winter.. but I dont want to work in one (but the likelihood is I will get desperate and that will be the only job I end up finding..but I hope not!!)
My yoga friend Vicky came round yesterday for lunch which was great, we had a good old gossip about everything under the sun which was good! Keeps me occupied and its ot as if the phone rings much anymore (maybe once or twice a day!). I did invite her to the BBQ but warned her it would not be nice dinner party and it would be drunken people so I wasnt surprised when she didnt turn up! Alcohol and spas are not a good mix..
So anyway whatever is happening tonight I am not going out.. I am having absolutely no alcohol and In will be in bed by 10:01pm (I lock the spa at 10pm).
I think I'm going to be really sad when Ruth and Charlie leave on Monday though... it is going to feel very quiet..
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
well just had amy day off again yesterday.. no exciting catching of fish or sharks or anything I'm afraid! I had a pretty laid back day..
Set my alarm for 8:30am and called Louise, who is planning lots of exciting things such as moving to France and doing wwoofing (I gave her the helpx link), then going to the USA and then teaching in Japan.. good on her..! Needless to say I am saying "go for it!". Otherwise we have these dreams that are just dreams and lifes far more fun if you get to achieve them!
I am so excited about seeing the rest of the world! Next stop Australia.. and then who knows..!
Anyway, after I got off the phone from Lou I had breakfast and wandered into town to meet Vicky for lunch (my friend from yoga). Walking through town is nice now I've got to know people.. (I think I know someone who works in every cafe now).
It was Hislops organic Cafes last day of opening for the season so we decided to have lunch there which was very yummy! She is English and came over as a backpacker 6 years ago, but ended up marrying a kiwi and emmigrating.. but they've been living in Wellington for the past 6 years and shes been working in paliament there so I think Kaikoura is a bit of a shock! Shes finding it hard to get to know people and stuff. But shes lovely, really chatty and easy to talk to and we had a right laugh. went for pudding at the dolphin encounter cafe and then I went to see heres, shes just living in this cute chalet style house while their waiting for their place to be built but its really cute (and would be a great first house for me!). Then she was lovely and drove me to New World to get my weekly shop done and then back to mine.. and I had to meet Charley in the Sonic bar at 6pm were we had a drink and then went to the fish and chip shop, then to the strawberry tree for a drink. Town was quiet it being a Monday night but there were alot of parties as seasonal contracts ended alot of places today. Most places will be on skeleton winter staff numbers. so charlie and bree finished their jobs at dolphin encounter and seal swim yesterday so had parties. Charlie and I met up with them at the Sonic a bit later but they were very very drunk and since we were not it was a bit weird so we headed home. I was knackered for soem reason!
Have had a very easy day so far today. have been letting Ruth not do the cleaning tsince its been so quiet but this morning she got up and helped and we were done by 9:30am!!! We've got 3 people staying already that arrived yesterday and we have 1 persn due to check in today so I think its going to be a laid back day!! think i'll chill out with a book in a minute. Just finished Persuasion by Jane Austen yesterday so need to find something new to read! Ruths off out again to a party but think I'll stay in a watch crap on telly! (well since I have to work till 10pm anyway theres not much other option.. Tahu has been texting asking to come round but we'll see.. (I have been seeing a little bit of him since Kaikoura is a small town and I couldnt avoid him..I ignored him for a while but thats really mean and I felt bad when he asked if I'd been getting his texts... So after much deliberation I am going to perhaps give him a chance and meet up with him again.
Set my alarm for 8:30am and called Louise, who is planning lots of exciting things such as moving to France and doing wwoofing (I gave her the helpx link), then going to the USA and then teaching in Japan.. good on her..! Needless to say I am saying "go for it!". Otherwise we have these dreams that are just dreams and lifes far more fun if you get to achieve them!
I am so excited about seeing the rest of the world! Next stop Australia.. and then who knows..!
Anyway, after I got off the phone from Lou I had breakfast and wandered into town to meet Vicky for lunch (my friend from yoga). Walking through town is nice now I've got to know people.. (I think I know someone who works in every cafe now).
It was Hislops organic Cafes last day of opening for the season so we decided to have lunch there which was very yummy! She is English and came over as a backpacker 6 years ago, but ended up marrying a kiwi and emmigrating.. but they've been living in Wellington for the past 6 years and shes been working in paliament there so I think Kaikoura is a bit of a shock! Shes finding it hard to get to know people and stuff. But shes lovely, really chatty and easy to talk to and we had a right laugh. went for pudding at the dolphin encounter cafe and then I went to see heres, shes just living in this cute chalet style house while their waiting for their place to be built but its really cute (and would be a great first house for me!). Then she was lovely and drove me to New World to get my weekly shop done and then back to mine.. and I had to meet Charley in the Sonic bar at 6pm were we had a drink and then went to the fish and chip shop, then to the strawberry tree for a drink. Town was quiet it being a Monday night but there were alot of parties as seasonal contracts ended alot of places today. Most places will be on skeleton winter staff numbers. so charlie and bree finished their jobs at dolphin encounter and seal swim yesterday so had parties. Charlie and I met up with them at the Sonic a bit later but they were very very drunk and since we were not it was a bit weird so we headed home. I was knackered for soem reason!
Have had a very easy day so far today. have been letting Ruth not do the cleaning tsince its been so quiet but this morning she got up and helped and we were done by 9:30am!!! We've got 3 people staying already that arrived yesterday and we have 1 persn due to check in today so I think its going to be a laid back day!! think i'll chill out with a book in a minute. Just finished Persuasion by Jane Austen yesterday so need to find something new to read! Ruths off out again to a party but think I'll stay in a watch crap on telly! (well since I have to work till 10pm anyway theres not much other option.. Tahu has been texting asking to come round but we'll see.. (I have been seeing a little bit of him since Kaikoura is a small town and I couldnt avoid him..I ignored him for a while but thats really mean and I felt bad when he asked if I'd been getting his texts... So after much deliberation I am going to perhaps give him a chance and meet up with him again.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Had a lovely day chillaxed day yesterday, I admit I did not wake up my best since I had been out the night before and got rather worse for wear (might be a little bit of an understatement - remind me never to drink again!) Luckily my lovely flatmate Ruth looked after me and unwrapped my from the toilet bowl and put me to bed with a glass of water.
The trouble with it being end of season and all the workers leaving is that alot of drinking is going on and leaving parties..
I might go out a bit this weekend but Thursday night taught me to take it easy on the alcohol! (yes I know I should have learnt that lesson by now and I've even said I've learnt it several times on this blog.. but it seems I havent.. till now of course!!) But I'll have a better night if I just have a glass or 2 of wine instead..
I realise I sound like a complete alci but I dont actaully go out that much, I dont get drunk very often (I dont even like alcohol that much and could easily go months without a drop of alcohol..)
Anyway, the day was chilled because its so quiet here. Charlie came over, Ruth had the day off work so we got out duvets out and had a video day and ate lots.. (I sent Charlie out to buy chai latte, pringles and chocolate and that was me sorted!) and we basically lay about all day, we had a total of 3 people in the backpackers.. (total of 2 today) so not much cleaning or work in general! I closed the spa at 9pm since all the people here had already been in it for the evening and had an early night and was in bed asleep by half 9.
Charlie and Ruth went out and got v drunk again.. poor Ruth was throwing up this morning and went to work looking very very pale.. I am feeling great though after a superlong sleep and not much cleaning or work to do.. of course I still have to be here so I dont have freedom but I have alot more energy.. and I feel I ought to go out a bit this week as Ruth and Charlie leave on the 7th May and then I wont have anyone to go out with!
The trouble with it being end of season and all the workers leaving is that alot of drinking is going on and leaving parties..
I might go out a bit this weekend but Thursday night taught me to take it easy on the alcohol! (yes I know I should have learnt that lesson by now and I've even said I've learnt it several times on this blog.. but it seems I havent.. till now of course!!) But I'll have a better night if I just have a glass or 2 of wine instead..
I realise I sound like a complete alci but I dont actaully go out that much, I dont get drunk very often (I dont even like alcohol that much and could easily go months without a drop of alcohol..)
Anyway, the day was chilled because its so quiet here. Charlie came over, Ruth had the day off work so we got out duvets out and had a video day and ate lots.. (I sent Charlie out to buy chai latte, pringles and chocolate and that was me sorted!) and we basically lay about all day, we had a total of 3 people in the backpackers.. (total of 2 today) so not much cleaning or work in general! I closed the spa at 9pm since all the people here had already been in it for the evening and had an early night and was in bed asleep by half 9.
Charlie and Ruth went out and got v drunk again.. poor Ruth was throwing up this morning and went to work looking very very pale.. I am feeling great though after a superlong sleep and not much cleaning or work to do.. of course I still have to be here so I dont have freedom but I have alot more energy.. and I feel I ought to go out a bit this week as Ruth and Charlie leave on the 7th May and then I wont have anyone to go out with!
Monday, April 23, 2007
I shouldnt be so excited that the backpackers is so quiet but its so lovely!!
5 people stayed in the backpackers last night and since 2 were staying I only had 3 beds to do!! yay!! how cool is that?!
since the night before we were fully booked its a sudden drop but unless we get lots of people suddenly turn up it should be the same tonight. Obviously if I was the owner I'd be upset but since none of the profits come to me I can be happy about it!!
All of town has suddenly gone dead, its weird.. but I guess thats what happens after Easter, suddenly there will be about 2 tousrists in the entire country until the ski season hits and then those areas will be busy while the rest of the country will be dead!
You cant tell from the photos but that shark is actually 200lbs and amount 6 foot long!
Dinner at Kevins was good, everybody likes my fish and kevin is a really good cook so that was good. Cant say either of the flatmates were my type but it was good to get out and go somewhere different.
We watched a couple of films.. anyone seen Hostel that film about backpackers getting killed and tortured..? (probably not the bext film for backpackers to watch ay?!) and made the boys watch "Men in Trees", Ruth and I's favourite TV show. Do you have it in the UK? if not you should its great!! Merin the main character writes books and in one article she wrote about the concept of real men which is pretty interesting.. apparently the men in Alaska are real men (you know rugged and manly and useful). I think they are few and far between in The UK (but thats maybe because I lived in a town) there seems to be alot more here. i think this is the backlash againt the new man concept (but its the best of both worlds cos its nice men that treat you right but arent all sappy.. and all manly going out and chopping trees down and fishing etc) So I'm not asking for much am I?!
5 people stayed in the backpackers last night and since 2 were staying I only had 3 beds to do!! yay!! how cool is that?!
since the night before we were fully booked its a sudden drop but unless we get lots of people suddenly turn up it should be the same tonight. Obviously if I was the owner I'd be upset but since none of the profits come to me I can be happy about it!!
All of town has suddenly gone dead, its weird.. but I guess thats what happens after Easter, suddenly there will be about 2 tousrists in the entire country until the ski season hits and then those areas will be busy while the rest of the country will be dead!
You cant tell from the photos but that shark is actually 200lbs and amount 6 foot long!
Dinner at Kevins was good, everybody likes my fish and kevin is a really good cook so that was good. Cant say either of the flatmates were my type but it was good to get out and go somewhere different.
We watched a couple of films.. anyone seen Hostel that film about backpackers getting killed and tortured..? (probably not the bext film for backpackers to watch ay?!) and made the boys watch "Men in Trees", Ruth and I's favourite TV show. Do you have it in the UK? if not you should its great!! Merin the main character writes books and in one article she wrote about the concept of real men which is pretty interesting.. apparently the men in Alaska are real men (you know rugged and manly and useful). I think they are few and far between in The UK (but thats maybe because I lived in a town) there seems to be alot more here. i think this is the backlash againt the new man concept (but its the best of both worlds cos its nice men that treat you right but arent all sappy.. and all manly going out and chopping trees down and fishing etc) So I'm not asking for much am I?!
Sunday, April 22, 2007
I hope you are looking closely guys!! this was my day off today..
phoned Jonny to see if he was goiong out fishing today, he wasnt taking a tour out but he and his mates wetre going out and I could come too 9eben better no tourists!!!)
and boy did I catch the fish of the day of what!!
After moaning because I was only ctaching perch and everyone else was catching blue cod I knew I had a big one.. I was quietly working away trying to bring it up when jonny noticed how big the thing I must have was.. I was nearly getting pulled overboard and I hate giving up but just wasnt strong enough so Jonny had to give me a hand.. I had to strap a guerney round him..and the fight was on...!!
When it came up it literally knashed the side of the boat and you hear this big crunch of the teeth against the metal... it was so cool!
Gerad really wanted to bring it into the boat but jonny wasnt up for that for several reasons firstly that it was knashing at us like it wanted to eat us secondly that some sharks are protected and he could lose his charter liscence and therefore his livelihood.. so we let it go..
anyway thats another fishing story for me.. jonnys putting my photos on his website
www.fishkaikoura.co.nz and I had another brilliant day, Jonny took me out for lunch and asked me out.. I'm going round Kevins place tonight though (ruths bloke), he wants to set me up with one of his housemates.. we'll see... at least I can bring lots of fish and crayfish (lobster) over that I caught mysslef anyway..!
Friday, April 20, 2007
I went to the cinema last night to see The Pursuit of Happyness, with Will Smith in it. Has anyone else seen it? Its such a good film and made me cry! Its based on a true story and true stories always make me cry.. but it was great in the end how he succeeded and got where he wanted to after all that pain and struggle. (I like films with a moral -- ie if you have a dream, go and get it however hard it may seem).
Anyway was good to go out to the cinema, I was going to go on my own but it turned out Bree was going on her own too so there was 2 of us! Kaikoura being cute small town NZ there was an interval etc in the middle, which is cool, always useful to have toilet break!
Back to usual though now, no more evenings off for me as Ruth is helping me out in the mornings again..
The bakings going well. Carrot cake sold out yesterday and today i've tried a new recipe of pumpkin and choc ship muffins and they taste great! I've never cooked cakes with pumpkin before, I eat alot of pumpkin roasted along with other roast veg but not in cakes.. maybe I should try those american recipes such as pumpkin pie that they have at thanksgivng etc?! as my pumpkins in the garden are just about ready!!
Just discovered roast dinners (I'm a bit slow I know) but I always thought roasting a joint was really hard.. but have discovered I can just pop a roast beef or lamb joint in and leave it.. and then the meat can last me days.. roast beef sandwiches.. etc etc! I only get a mini 5 dollar joint so its pretty bargainous really!
Have decided to leave here Saturday 26th May.. am looking forward to going to the merino sheep farm.. all the expensive icebreaker cothes here (NZ designer brand) are made from merino wool - which I dont seem to be allergic to like normal wool (not that I'm allergic to wool over here anyway - I think allergies are stress related?!)
I really want icebreaker stuff but cant afford it, it will proabbly get ruined as its hard to look after clothes when trvaelling and I'm scared I'll develop an allergy (I'm still desperate for some though!) ah well I'll just buy some cheaper thermals from farmers instead.. (its funny how thermals are seen as normal over here where as in the UK you seriously wouldnt be seen dead in them!) But its that time of year to be thinkign about things like that!!
Anyway was good to go out to the cinema, I was going to go on my own but it turned out Bree was going on her own too so there was 2 of us! Kaikoura being cute small town NZ there was an interval etc in the middle, which is cool, always useful to have toilet break!
Back to usual though now, no more evenings off for me as Ruth is helping me out in the mornings again..
The bakings going well. Carrot cake sold out yesterday and today i've tried a new recipe of pumpkin and choc ship muffins and they taste great! I've never cooked cakes with pumpkin before, I eat alot of pumpkin roasted along with other roast veg but not in cakes.. maybe I should try those american recipes such as pumpkin pie that they have at thanksgivng etc?! as my pumpkins in the garden are just about ready!!
Just discovered roast dinners (I'm a bit slow I know) but I always thought roasting a joint was really hard.. but have discovered I can just pop a roast beef or lamb joint in and leave it.. and then the meat can last me days.. roast beef sandwiches.. etc etc! I only get a mini 5 dollar joint so its pretty bargainous really!
Have decided to leave here Saturday 26th May.. am looking forward to going to the merino sheep farm.. all the expensive icebreaker cothes here (NZ designer brand) are made from merino wool - which I dont seem to be allergic to like normal wool (not that I'm allergic to wool over here anyway - I think allergies are stress related?!)
I really want icebreaker stuff but cant afford it, it will proabbly get ruined as its hard to look after clothes when trvaelling and I'm scared I'll develop an allergy (I'm still desperate for some though!) ah well I'll just buy some cheaper thermals from farmers instead.. (its funny how thermals are seen as normal over here where as in the UK you seriously wouldnt be seen dead in them!) But its that time of year to be thinkign about things like that!!
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Interesting night last night.. (and am tired today!)
It was Adams and Felicity's last night in town, hes flying back to Oz tomorrow so they came over for a BBQ, Bree, Charlie and Ruths new boyfriend Kevin came over too so there was a few of us, we cooked up a feast if prawn kebabs, various seafood and lots of food fresh from the garden.. I was not going to drink at all since I'd decided never again (at least in kaikoura) when I had alcohol about a fortnight ago but before I knew it my wine glass had been topped up a few times.. for a change I was feeling quite active in the evening, I think because Ruth was covering for me in the evening as she'd had the morning off when she usually heps me clean (ditto for tonight so I have the evening off!! yay)
anyway so we ended up going down the adelphi, playing a few games of pool and I met lots of local people for a change. I wanted to go hoem at ten to midnight so I could be safely tucked up in bed before midnight but I was persuaded to stay a few more minutes and then somehow I was among the last in the pub with a few locals who were going back for a party. well I'm always complaining about never meeting locals so it seemed a good idea at the time..
I wasnt really sure why I was unpopular at the party. I knew I was the only non-maori and wondered if I was encrouching apon their territory but it turns out that it was because I was stealing one of their guys (who had brought me there to meet his whanau). But anyway it was an entertaining (different night) and I've not stolen him anyway although he is scarily keen.
But it was nice to be among maori and most of them were talking maori. I watch a maori language programme in the afternoons so I know a few words but not enough to follow a conversation. I have always had a thing for maori men so its a pity he's not the one!
Anyway I didnt get home till 4am and then as I had had alcohol I couldnt sleep and woke up at 6am unable to get back to sleep again.. I have now ransacked the flat trying to find my credit card but to know avail so have had to cancel it.. will probably find it later but its better to be safe than sorry I suppose..
It was Adams and Felicity's last night in town, hes flying back to Oz tomorrow so they came over for a BBQ, Bree, Charlie and Ruths new boyfriend Kevin came over too so there was a few of us, we cooked up a feast if prawn kebabs, various seafood and lots of food fresh from the garden.. I was not going to drink at all since I'd decided never again (at least in kaikoura) when I had alcohol about a fortnight ago but before I knew it my wine glass had been topped up a few times.. for a change I was feeling quite active in the evening, I think because Ruth was covering for me in the evening as she'd had the morning off when she usually heps me clean (ditto for tonight so I have the evening off!! yay)
anyway so we ended up going down the adelphi, playing a few games of pool and I met lots of local people for a change. I wanted to go hoem at ten to midnight so I could be safely tucked up in bed before midnight but I was persuaded to stay a few more minutes and then somehow I was among the last in the pub with a few locals who were going back for a party. well I'm always complaining about never meeting locals so it seemed a good idea at the time..
I wasnt really sure why I was unpopular at the party. I knew I was the only non-maori and wondered if I was encrouching apon their territory but it turns out that it was because I was stealing one of their guys (who had brought me there to meet his whanau). But anyway it was an entertaining (different night) and I've not stolen him anyway although he is scarily keen.
But it was nice to be among maori and most of them were talking maori. I watch a maori language programme in the afternoons so I know a few words but not enough to follow a conversation. I have always had a thing for maori men so its a pity he's not the one!
Anyway I didnt get home till 4am and then as I had had alcohol I couldnt sleep and woke up at 6am unable to get back to sleep again.. I have now ransacked the flat trying to find my credit card but to know avail so have had to cancel it.. will probably find it later but its better to be safe than sorry I suppose..
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Got up early this mornign and phoned mum and dad which was nice, wven though we did get on the subject of how to manage my debt (which is never nice to think about) but it has to be dealt with I suppose!
They have had a great time in Naxos and I checked out their website as they have new photos, (blogs must be a family thing) Not sure if you want your website address published on here dad so if you want me to take it off just say.. otherwise it is..
http://www.tandj.netfirms.com/
My sister and family are going to stay next weekend with them so I will phone again and catch up with all at the same time! Both my little neices have had chicken pox in the last few weeks so I think they have had a rough month! (including Charlotte the one whose only just been born)
Anyway my wake up call this morning was interesting..
I woke up at 7am to find an old man standing at the end of my bed.. it was quite freaky and you should have heard me shreek telling him to get out my room.. all he said was "is this reception"?? you dont want to know my response to that!!
Still on the positive side it got me wide awake early to phone mum and dad before I opened reception at 8am!
I am gettting quite excited about leaving now and am making more and more plans.
I updated my profile on helpx and am getting lots of emails of places to go which is cool and since I want to do one last mini tour of the South island before i go and spend the winter in Nelson it sounds great!! I partiularly want to go to Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo so was pleased to see an email from a merino farmers wife asking me to coem and stay so i think thats going to be first stop.. (after a day or 2 in Christchurch - dont know if I've ever mentioned the websites www.couchsurfing.com and www.hospitalityclub.org but they are a great way to get free accomodation while travelling so am going to stay with some people in Christchirch on the way down.
if you've never been on these websites before they are great and worldwide.. you want to go and stay in Italy.. go and stay at someones house for free! Its not about freebies though, its about a community and bringing people together and having people to stay at your if you can or want to (you dont have to) I offer a mattress in my lounge currently..
Jen and Steve have also invited me back in Milton which I would like to take them up on..
I was looking internationally on help x webiste instead of just the NZ bit and got myself all in a tiz of excitement as I saw tonnes of jobs in nicagura and samoa and all sorts of lovely places I want to go to..!
So anyway hopefully I can save a bit on accomodation on my last little tour before I get back to Nelson.. and if i find a well paid job on the way then I guess i wont make it to Nelson!! (since the nursery can only offer me relief work - but i'm very hopeful I can end up with as much relief work as I dod last winter.)
its the end of the season here and things are slowing down. Most places are on their winter hours now and we are slightly quieter although still surprisingly busy but I guess Kaikoura is one of those laces busier all year round..
Even though it will be fairly chilly we are having a BBQ tonight (will still be nice under the stars.. who says you need sunshine to have a BBQ..as long as its not raining BBQ's are always good.. ! A few people are leaving as its the end of the season so we are having a goodbye party. Ruth was leaving next week but she is now staying an extra week so she leaves at the same time as Charlie which is great for me as I will miss her once shes gone (as a friend, flatmate and cleaner)
I think i will leave the backpackers on the 21st May. I was trying to decide whether to stay until the 27th to squeeze in one more weeks pay or not but I'm not sure.. maybe I'll squeeze in almost a weeks pay and leave Saturday 25th? yeah thats good then it will be a good time to see the hospitality club ppl in Christchurch.. right will email them and see...!
They have had a great time in Naxos and I checked out their website as they have new photos, (blogs must be a family thing) Not sure if you want your website address published on here dad so if you want me to take it off just say.. otherwise it is..
http://www.tandj.netfirms.com/
My sister and family are going to stay next weekend with them so I will phone again and catch up with all at the same time! Both my little neices have had chicken pox in the last few weeks so I think they have had a rough month! (including Charlotte the one whose only just been born)
Anyway my wake up call this morning was interesting..
I woke up at 7am to find an old man standing at the end of my bed.. it was quite freaky and you should have heard me shreek telling him to get out my room.. all he said was "is this reception"?? you dont want to know my response to that!!
Still on the positive side it got me wide awake early to phone mum and dad before I opened reception at 8am!
I am gettting quite excited about leaving now and am making more and more plans.
I updated my profile on helpx and am getting lots of emails of places to go which is cool and since I want to do one last mini tour of the South island before i go and spend the winter in Nelson it sounds great!! I partiularly want to go to Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo so was pleased to see an email from a merino farmers wife asking me to coem and stay so i think thats going to be first stop.. (after a day or 2 in Christchurch - dont know if I've ever mentioned the websites www.couchsurfing.com and www.hospitalityclub.org but they are a great way to get free accomodation while travelling so am going to stay with some people in Christchirch on the way down.
if you've never been on these websites before they are great and worldwide.. you want to go and stay in Italy.. go and stay at someones house for free! Its not about freebies though, its about a community and bringing people together and having people to stay at your if you can or want to (you dont have to) I offer a mattress in my lounge currently..
Jen and Steve have also invited me back in Milton which I would like to take them up on..
I was looking internationally on help x webiste instead of just the NZ bit and got myself all in a tiz of excitement as I saw tonnes of jobs in nicagura and samoa and all sorts of lovely places I want to go to..!
So anyway hopefully I can save a bit on accomodation on my last little tour before I get back to Nelson.. and if i find a well paid job on the way then I guess i wont make it to Nelson!! (since the nursery can only offer me relief work - but i'm very hopeful I can end up with as much relief work as I dod last winter.)
its the end of the season here and things are slowing down. Most places are on their winter hours now and we are slightly quieter although still surprisingly busy but I guess Kaikoura is one of those laces busier all year round..
Even though it will be fairly chilly we are having a BBQ tonight (will still be nice under the stars.. who says you need sunshine to have a BBQ..as long as its not raining BBQ's are always good.. ! A few people are leaving as its the end of the season so we are having a goodbye party. Ruth was leaving next week but she is now staying an extra week so she leaves at the same time as Charlie which is great for me as I will miss her once shes gone (as a friend, flatmate and cleaner)
I think i will leave the backpackers on the 21st May. I was trying to decide whether to stay until the 27th to squeeze in one more weeks pay or not but I'm not sure.. maybe I'll squeeze in almost a weeks pay and leave Saturday 25th? yeah thats good then it will be a good time to see the hospitality club ppl in Christchurch.. right will email them and see...!
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
What is stress?
I can give you the dictionary defintions of stress and depression..
Stress is a physical or mental pressure causing distress
Depression is an extreme dejection or a long slump
according to the Little English dictionary.
I've been wondering about depression and whether we create it ourselves and how we can stop it being part of our lives? (this could be the start of some kind of thesis or something?! since its something that interests me so much as has had imlications apon my life)
But the main thing I want to know is whether we bring it on ourselves and whether we can bannish it from our lives?
I came to NZ to escape stress and depression (no secrets about that!) and if a job or situation gets stressful or I dont like it anymore I leave it or end it.. but why do I find some things stressful, is just me or do other people too? (people have said before I bring it on myself.. do I?)
I dont think anyone can make any arguements about my choice of jobs back home beings stressful teaching in a private school where the head actually said "I wasnt a private school person" and working in a refuge where I saw children getting beaten first hand and got death threats from their mothers wasnt exactly stressfree. I have wondered whether I was just unlucky with my choice of school or refuge but I tried refuge over here and it wasnt much different (not exactly stressfree when I ended up in the street in the rain after complaining about working 24/7 for no money). As for teaching my gut instinct tells me not to give it another go (in schools anyway maybe nurseries) and i'm all for following gut instinct because our guts are usually telling us something!!
But over here? have ny jobs been stressful or have I made them that way? Theres only 2 jobs I didnt enjoy after a period of time - and I havent exactly felt stressed but I havent felt happy in them and I guess the word stress could be used to describe my feeling towards them..
Punga Grove - my bosses quite scary attitude, her daughter moving in with me, them leaving me in charge of the hotel and going on holiday when they arrange for builders ect to come in, working 8-8 without a break...
and my current job
Dolphin Lodge - working 84-98 hour weeks for very little money (around half the minimum wage), a passive agressive boss with OCD, and backpackers that drive me insane..
Would other people feel stress in thse jobs or is it just me? I chose these jobs... did I choose to be stressed? Once apon a time I do think I chose to be stressed because I dont think I'd have known what to do if I wasnt but I hope that now I dont choose to be and that its just an accident that I chose these jobs? (I will add that they are not all that bad.. not like the English ones and I'm not actually stressed at the moment in case anyone was worried.. I'm just wondering how to get the perfect job that I am happy in.. what I will be happy doing and how to avoid stress?
Ruth and i have been informed by locals that we chose the hardest employers to work for. But theres no way I could have known that before I applied for this job is there? Were never going to know what our boss is like before we start a job.. and even then it takes a few months to really see poeple as they are..or should we be nosying around and finding out everything about a job before we start it?
I'm beginning to think backpacker management may not be my thing (or is it just the hours and my boss that make me think that?)
Not long after I arrived in NZ I wrote a list of possible careers and i've been working my way though it trying to decide what it is I want to do.
So here is the list again and my comments:
Owner of backpackers or B&B - Hmnn if I lived in the premises it would constantly feel like these annoying toursists were in my house, both mean long hours and my pay would depend on my profits which with runnung costs and not amazingly high unless you have a luxury B&B - but then luxury guest require more attention - maybe this is not for me?
Mental health worker - I have a strong suspicion this could be like working in a refuge and the government system would get to me..
Psychotherapist - still an option but I seem to have less and less patience with peeople and it requires alot more training and therefore money to train and not work..
Chef - I'm not a good enough cook, I get stressed cooking for other people, and its unsocial hours, we can safely cross that one out!
Business owner of or manager of:
Bookshop (still viable option need to work in a bookshop to see whether I like it)
Cafe (ditto to the whole chef thing)
Childcare centre (ofsted too stressfull in UK?)
Alternative therpay shop (? maybe)
Travel Writer (yeah in my wildest dreams?! maybe I should give it a go though, as if you dont try you wont know..)
Pharmacy Worker - need to give it another go to see if any are as nice as the one in Akaroa was..to be qulaifies I would need a hell of alot of training..
Life Coach (would still like to look into more)!
reiki healer (need to get trained and probably no money in it? but could do it as well as somethign else?)
Play therapist (not sure i have enough patience nowadays and seeing abused kids everyday might not be too much fun.. similar to refuge?)
Art Therapist (ditto to above plus I'm really not that arty)
Worker in homeless shelter or young pregnant mums home (ditto to feelings about refuge)
International Aid Worker (? try it?)
Travel and Tourism Worker
So have I learn anything over the last few months? Yeah I think so.. I now appreciate how stressful it is running a backpackers..(and that I probably dont want to do it) thats saved me money of buying a business and getting fed up after a few months because I think even with myself as the owner I'd still die of exhaustion..and the backpackers would still be just as annoying?), I know I never want to step into another refuge again and teaching in schools is defiantely not for me..
so the hunt is still on to find the ideal job.. and whether it exists? and whether stressfree living exists!!?
My boss this morning asked if I wanted to leave at the same time my flatmate Ruth is leaving which is in 2 weeks. I said no thank you I was fine staying till the end of may (I told her I would be leaving then before I went to Hamner - I know I said June before then but I'd had enough before I went to Hanmer..). I wasnt sure if she was being nice or whether she was trying to get rid of me.. she made a few passive aggressive comments which made me think probably the latter but I'm not leaving then, it might not pay great, but it pays.. and I am not ready to leave yet. I'll stay another month, not go out at all and save up madly..
so anyway I'm not sure if any of that rant answered my original question..?
I can try as hard as I can to avoid stress but its pretty damn hard.. I think it helps when you have a job that doesnt take over your life (ie a 9-5 job rather than my current job for example)?
Any suggestions? (positve ones only please!)
Anyway it was great to get away to Hamner, unfortuntely its the school holidays so there were about 5 million children there but we cant have everything.. and it was away from this backpackers which is what I needed for a couple of days..
The first day I wa sso exhausted all i could do was sit in the pools and to be honest I barely had the energy for that, day 2 I went on several walks which was great!! so nice to get out and about walking again!!!
I was lucky with my hitchhiking, I just put a notice up in my backpackers asking for a ride there and a coupld staying happened to be going to stay at the same backpackers I was.. and vice versa the other way round.. door to door service both ways.. cant complain!!
I phoned laura and anna this week which was so nice!! it was so lovely to talk to them both and I feel such a bad friend to have not called them before now (I cant believe I've been away nearly a year and a half and nto called people). I will stick up for myself by saying I have emailed and written but smetimes its good to hear someones voice again.. so I'm going to be better at keeping in touch with people this week and am going to call my parents, my sister and my friend kate. Its good to get connected with peopel again, otherwise I get cut off from everybodies lives and dont know whats going on.. and I dont want to lose my friends and family just because I'm following my heart travelling.. so the phone is the answer!!
Stress is a physical or mental pressure causing distress
Depression is an extreme dejection or a long slump
according to the Little English dictionary.
I've been wondering about depression and whether we create it ourselves and how we can stop it being part of our lives? (this could be the start of some kind of thesis or something?! since its something that interests me so much as has had imlications apon my life)
But the main thing I want to know is whether we bring it on ourselves and whether we can bannish it from our lives?
I came to NZ to escape stress and depression (no secrets about that!) and if a job or situation gets stressful or I dont like it anymore I leave it or end it.. but why do I find some things stressful, is just me or do other people too? (people have said before I bring it on myself.. do I?)
I dont think anyone can make any arguements about my choice of jobs back home beings stressful teaching in a private school where the head actually said "I wasnt a private school person" and working in a refuge where I saw children getting beaten first hand and got death threats from their mothers wasnt exactly stressfree. I have wondered whether I was just unlucky with my choice of school or refuge but I tried refuge over here and it wasnt much different (not exactly stressfree when I ended up in the street in the rain after complaining about working 24/7 for no money). As for teaching my gut instinct tells me not to give it another go (in schools anyway maybe nurseries) and i'm all for following gut instinct because our guts are usually telling us something!!
But over here? have ny jobs been stressful or have I made them that way? Theres only 2 jobs I didnt enjoy after a period of time - and I havent exactly felt stressed but I havent felt happy in them and I guess the word stress could be used to describe my feeling towards them..
Punga Grove - my bosses quite scary attitude, her daughter moving in with me, them leaving me in charge of the hotel and going on holiday when they arrange for builders ect to come in, working 8-8 without a break...
and my current job
Dolphin Lodge - working 84-98 hour weeks for very little money (around half the minimum wage), a passive agressive boss with OCD, and backpackers that drive me insane..
Would other people feel stress in thse jobs or is it just me? I chose these jobs... did I choose to be stressed? Once apon a time I do think I chose to be stressed because I dont think I'd have known what to do if I wasnt but I hope that now I dont choose to be and that its just an accident that I chose these jobs? (I will add that they are not all that bad.. not like the English ones and I'm not actually stressed at the moment in case anyone was worried.. I'm just wondering how to get the perfect job that I am happy in.. what I will be happy doing and how to avoid stress?
Ruth and i have been informed by locals that we chose the hardest employers to work for. But theres no way I could have known that before I applied for this job is there? Were never going to know what our boss is like before we start a job.. and even then it takes a few months to really see poeple as they are..or should we be nosying around and finding out everything about a job before we start it?
I'm beginning to think backpacker management may not be my thing (or is it just the hours and my boss that make me think that?)
Not long after I arrived in NZ I wrote a list of possible careers and i've been working my way though it trying to decide what it is I want to do.
So here is the list again and my comments:
Owner of backpackers or B&B - Hmnn if I lived in the premises it would constantly feel like these annoying toursists were in my house, both mean long hours and my pay would depend on my profits which with runnung costs and not amazingly high unless you have a luxury B&B - but then luxury guest require more attention - maybe this is not for me?
Mental health worker - I have a strong suspicion this could be like working in a refuge and the government system would get to me..
Psychotherapist - still an option but I seem to have less and less patience with peeople and it requires alot more training and therefore money to train and not work..
Chef - I'm not a good enough cook, I get stressed cooking for other people, and its unsocial hours, we can safely cross that one out!
Business owner of or manager of:
Bookshop (still viable option need to work in a bookshop to see whether I like it)
Cafe (ditto to the whole chef thing)
Childcare centre (ofsted too stressfull in UK?)
Alternative therpay shop (? maybe)
Travel Writer (yeah in my wildest dreams?! maybe I should give it a go though, as if you dont try you wont know..)
Pharmacy Worker - need to give it another go to see if any are as nice as the one in Akaroa was..to be qulaifies I would need a hell of alot of training..
Life Coach (would still like to look into more)!
reiki healer (need to get trained and probably no money in it? but could do it as well as somethign else?)
Play therapist (not sure i have enough patience nowadays and seeing abused kids everyday might not be too much fun.. similar to refuge?)
Art Therapist (ditto to above plus I'm really not that arty)
Worker in homeless shelter or young pregnant mums home (ditto to feelings about refuge)
International Aid Worker (? try it?)
Travel and Tourism Worker
So have I learn anything over the last few months? Yeah I think so.. I now appreciate how stressful it is running a backpackers..(and that I probably dont want to do it) thats saved me money of buying a business and getting fed up after a few months because I think even with myself as the owner I'd still die of exhaustion..and the backpackers would still be just as annoying?), I know I never want to step into another refuge again and teaching in schools is defiantely not for me..
so the hunt is still on to find the ideal job.. and whether it exists? and whether stressfree living exists!!?
My boss this morning asked if I wanted to leave at the same time my flatmate Ruth is leaving which is in 2 weeks. I said no thank you I was fine staying till the end of may (I told her I would be leaving then before I went to Hamner - I know I said June before then but I'd had enough before I went to Hanmer..). I wasnt sure if she was being nice or whether she was trying to get rid of me.. she made a few passive aggressive comments which made me think probably the latter but I'm not leaving then, it might not pay great, but it pays.. and I am not ready to leave yet. I'll stay another month, not go out at all and save up madly..
so anyway I'm not sure if any of that rant answered my original question..?
I can try as hard as I can to avoid stress but its pretty damn hard.. I think it helps when you have a job that doesnt take over your life (ie a 9-5 job rather than my current job for example)?
Any suggestions? (positve ones only please!)
Anyway it was great to get away to Hamner, unfortuntely its the school holidays so there were about 5 million children there but we cant have everything.. and it was away from this backpackers which is what I needed for a couple of days..
The first day I wa sso exhausted all i could do was sit in the pools and to be honest I barely had the energy for that, day 2 I went on several walks which was great!! so nice to get out and about walking again!!!
I was lucky with my hitchhiking, I just put a notice up in my backpackers asking for a ride there and a coupld staying happened to be going to stay at the same backpackers I was.. and vice versa the other way round.. door to door service both ways.. cant complain!!
I phoned laura and anna this week which was so nice!! it was so lovely to talk to them both and I feel such a bad friend to have not called them before now (I cant believe I've been away nearly a year and a half and nto called people). I will stick up for myself by saying I have emailed and written but smetimes its good to hear someones voice again.. so I'm going to be better at keeping in touch with people this week and am going to call my parents, my sister and my friend kate. Its good to get connected with peopel again, otherwise I get cut off from everybodies lives and dont know whats going on.. and I dont want to lose my friends and family just because I'm following my heart travelling.. so the phone is the answer!!
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