I'm in Methven now, feels so odd to have left Kaikoura. I had been practically counting doen the hours, and the last 24 hours I was never alone between seeing Garen, Vicki and Tatiana.
Kai (that german guy who used to live at the backpackers) also came back Sunday night so I briefly caught up with him.
The buses were rubbish and I wanted to get out of Kaikoura first thing Monday (yesterday) so I had put a few notices up in some backpackers but didnt geyt a response. I rang my fishing buddy Gerry but he wasnt leaving till the afternoon so i decided to just hitch. Stood at the end of Deal St and a nice girl called Bex picked me up. She's from Queenstown but has spent the last 2 years in France but got homesick and had to come home.
She gave me a ride to the turn off to Methven and was so completely lovely (she was so sweet giving me a hug goodbye and arming me with rescure remedy as I have been a little stressed lately!
Its then a really quiet backroad to Methven so I was a bit worried I'd be waiting all day, but an older local guy picked me up and took me to Rangiora, then an older lady in an old big chevy picked me up and took me to Cust, and then an English guy in his 60s whose moved out here made a detour to drive me to Methven where I met up with Charlie and Ruth, we had a drink in a cafe and then headed back to Ruths. Ruth and Charlie have managed to get houses oppostite one another which is pretty cool!
We had a good afternoon, Ruth had to work 2-6pm so Charlie showed me round town and we went for a nicelong walk which felt good since I havent been getting enough exercise while I've been in Kaikoura with being trapped in that backpackers 24/7!
Then Ruths housemate made us a roast dinner which was really good! and charlie and I had bought cheesecake for pudding, we then had a girly evening wathcing desperate housewives and men in trees which was cool!
I was going to leave first thing for Timaru but Ruth invited me to stay another night so I've hung out with Ruth and Charlie all day, now Ruths at work for a couple of hours so I thought I'd catch up with my emails. We are going out this evening for Jug and Curry night, some kind of 10 dollar deal which sounds good! Methvens still not as busy as it shoudl be, all ski areas are dead, of full of people waiting as it has been the warmest and driest May since records began apparently! After a really late starting summer we are having an incredibly late starting Winter. There is literally NO snow on the ski mountain here! just as well I'm not relying on ski season work!!
So I intend to head to Timaru tomorrow I think. Dont start the wwoofing job in Lake Tekapo till 4th June. So got a few days to occupy myself.

OMG I leave Kaikoura tomorrow. I am both scared and excited! I have been counting down the days but now its actually come to my last day I'm shocked and have been madly packing and cleaning up the flat all day! Once again its the panic of getting everything in my backpack.. but seemed not have colected as much as I thought as it all fits in! (mind you have sorted out 2 bags of stuff to give Vicky as obviously cannot take all my baking stuff with me..)!
The backpackers has been suddenly busy now jakobs gone and I have to do all the work on my own! Typical.. Garens been pretty much living here the last couple of days, I was really angry with him and was going to break up with him Saturday instead but he wheedled his way back in so it'll end Monday morning as planned!
Havent managed to get a ride out of Kaikoura yet so I'll be hitching down to methven and hopefully get a ride all the way there but will probably get a ride to Christchurch and then hopefully someone will turn up going that way..
am going to stay with Ruth for a couple of days in Methven which should be great as I have been missing her, she has got a flat there now and another job so at leats i wont have to stay in a backpackers.
I turned down a job a couple of days ago, Sarah the owner of the backpackers I wwoofed in when I first arrived, in Akaroa offered me the job of manager while they go on holiday for 6 weeks. I was tempted but it was slightly less money here (but alot less hours) and I am after all leaving here because I am sick of backpackers and because I need to earn more money to go to Australia.. so the decsison was thanks but no..
Will be sad to leave my friends here Tatiana and Vicky. Have got used to Vicky popping in most days and gossiping away. Maybe I'll have to pop back after her baby has been born!
Spoke to Eva the other day, shes settled back in Netherlands doing temp work and looking for a permanent job, will definately go and see her one day!
Spoke to Jessika today, shes still in franz Josef so I am going to go and stay with her in a few weeks which should be great! She is going to Brazil to see Ana in July! (I am so envious!) One day I'll make it to Brazil and go and see her! (theres so many places I have to go!!)
will be weird going bak on the road again after being still in Kaikoura for so long.. am really looking forward to catching up with familiar faces though!

Ruth and Kevin the other night when I went over for dinner, Jakob cheering me up when I was grumpy by making his sock into "Mr Sock!" (you gotta love that boy!) and my friend Tatiana attempting to get her quilting done.
I have had a busy 3 days..
Tuesday night Jakob and I had lots of people round and had a few drinks, I breadcrumbed the last of my fish and he made this risotto thing with it is which was yummy. I think I fell asleep at some point as Tatiana must have been feeding me chocolate and plaiting my hair as I woke up with lots of tiny little plaits! (but it always feels so relaxing and goods when someones playing with your hair!).
have watched stacks of DHVd since jakob moved in as he gets tonnes out each week but realise today I am severly lacking in sleep and can barely keep my eyes open etc (I feel sick but I know that I just need sleep and I'll be fine!).
Anyway turns out Garen and I havent split up, he was stuck out at the farm and crashed his motorbike, he hobbled in with cracked ribs etc and having bought a new phone so he can keep in contact with me which was quite sweet (and he usually comes armed with a takeaway of some sort too, yeserdays was battered scallops, crab and fish)
It was jakobs last night last night which meant going out and partying. he invited the entire hostel which basically consisted of the volunteers (8 american girls and 2 american boys) and various girls hes picked up along the way (Jakob is very goos with women).
We had a few drinks here first and then headed out to the Strawberry tree which wasnt that busy but since there was at least 20 of us it got busier when we went in!
As usual it was an odd night with bizarre people to meet, strange posh english man with a very pretty thai wife who started every conversation around the backpackers with "I live in thailand, have you been there?" this was all very interesting until I had heard him say it about 20 times..
anyway chatted to lots of people and had a good night.. convinced one of the american girls that Jakob was lovely didnt leave till late and then I was shattered!
Arrived home with jakob and the amercian girl was standing waiting for jakob in her underwear so he ended up having a particularly good night!
But this morning Jakob had to leave which was really sad. I hadnt realised how much I'd got used to having him around and doing our cooking together and all that. Still you never know I might see him again, NZ is a small country.
So now the flat seems very empty, still suppose it wont be for long, Garen will be round later.. and I only have 4 more days here with the flat to myself - theres no point me employing a woofer just for the last few days..

Ruth came back this weekend to see Kevin, so she popped round for a gossip on Sunday and then on Monday they invited me round for dinner (mainly because I'd been fishing and I could bring fish round!). Kevins a great cook so it was damn good! I have to admit I'd have a good few glasses of wine before dinner was served though so I may have been a tad tipsy. But the mussels were fantabulous (grilled with sweet chilli sauce and cheese - heaven).
Garen wasnt there as hes having a tanty. Admittedly I've been in a terrible mood all week so hes keeping his distance but on Sunday he rang at like 9:30pm and said he'd come over and get me then as he assumed I'd stay at the farm for Monday (my day off) and I said no I was going fishing in the morning.. so he threw a fit and said he'd see me in a few days then.. and I havent heard hide or hare of him since and now its Wednesday. Its the most we've ever spent apart since we met as usually we see each other everyday. But I really dont mind. We were going to have to split up on Monday when I leave anyway so its doesnt really matter if we split up a few days earlier..

Went to the cinema with Vicky last night to see "Miss Potter", was great, anyone seen it? (Beatrix Potter's life story)
I was lucky and persuaded Jakob to cover me and give me thie evening off and I gave him this morning off so that all worked out well!
Is weird as at this moment Moira is interviewing a replacement for me upstairs in my lounge, makes it seem much more real that I'm leaving.. the woman she is interviewing is of retirement age so not what I imagined... will keep you posted as to whether she gets it or not!
Jakob leaves Thursday so I think I'll do without a woofer for the last couple of days and just make Garan do some work. He's pretty good at cooking for me and stuff though (and when he doesnt cook for me Jakob cooks so I have it sorted)!
Am wondering what to do with my last day off in Kaikoura..
at least I'm not as bored as I thought I would be when Ruth left. Tatiana and Vicky come round and see me each day and Garans usually here the rest of the time so no time to get bored! Jakob gets out tonnes of DVDs as well which keeps us all occupied!
Ruth is coming back Sunday till Tuesday to see Kevin so am sure will see a bit of her too which will be nice!

Kevins sleezy flatmates!! (needed a photo just to prove how bad they actually are). they come on to all the girls at parties (and to top it off both have pretty newborn kids, Ross even has twins born less than 2 weeks ago.. teenage pregnancy and unwanted pregnancy is a bit of a problem here.. in my opinion they need a govt reform as things like contraception (the pill and condoms) and morning after pills are really expensive.. what are they thinking? it would be that simple to improve the situation.

Bree opening a bottle as usaul and Irish guy.. remmber when I said we ended up climbing over bridges and through god knows what one night..?

Lol!! Kevin hasnt seen these photos!! I really think I should print them out and put them up in the strawberry tree or something.. or at his rugby?!!!
Next photo is of Kevins birthday party, the girl is Hannah who came to stay that weekend..

all the girls in the spa.. and Kevin (ruths bloke getting in the swimsuit in the lost property!!) alot of alcohol involved!!

BBQ night (as you can tell it was a chilly night, but not cold enough to stop us leaping into the spa (it was quite funny looking back on it rather than the embarrassment at the time as when Ruth and I went to get into our cossies and had to come outise everyone was still round the table and I commented on being a bit shy to be half naked in front of all these fully dressed people, I wrapped my towel well around me and Ruth reassured me they wouldnt even notice - and then I could just slip the towel of discretely when I stepped in.. anyway this being me I stepped out the door and tripped and landed with a shreik and thud in front of everyone - making all conversation stop and everyone stare at me.. oh fantastic!! Ruth reassured then that I was not drunk and that I am this clumsy all the time.. (my scabby knees at present play testament to this - god feel like a 3 year old somethmes with the amount I seem to fall over..!!)

BBQ night just before Ruth left

Me, Ruth and Charley and Bree at Charlies house.

am feeling very in touch with thr news now, just read the English news online.
Bloody hell violence is getting bad in London isnt is? all these stabbings and gang mursers and all sorts. Me being neive I didnt really think there were proper gangs in the UK.. just goes to show I know nothing. Has it got more racist since I left or has it always been like that?
and that little Madeliene case is terrible. When I was about 10 I saw an episode of Crimewatch where they reenacted this little boy Ben going missing on the greek island of kos.. I spent the next 10 years looking out for him.. but I guess no-one ever did. I guess his parents are still looking..anyway sad and horrid.. is there any positive news in the UK?
Positive about the Uk is the TV cooking series Rick Stein, god he makes the UK look beautiful.. everytime I watch it and he's off catching his fish for tea or something I think wow that looks good.
I have been looking everywhere for my camera cable so I can put more photos online but I cant find it anywhere, I thought maybe I'd left it in the internet shop but its not there.. typically while I was looking I found the missing credit card I lost weeks ago.. its cancelled of course, still it was better safe than sorry to cancel it..
Hopefully I'll find it while I'm packing in a couple of weeks.. otherwise the internet shop have offered that I can keep the next one left behind.. not sure whether the person who leaves it behind will like that but its good for me..
Its been really warm the last couple of days which as been great considering its Autumn. completely toasted myself laying up on the roof yesterday. (got the new cosmo out the library and read it cover to cover! Its so cool that the local library gets all the new issues of the magazines and that you can get them out for a week.. I have such a sad life that I had to show off and text Vicky that I had got the new issue of cosmo before her..! (she was most upset). Vicky and I always laugh about how sad our lives are.. but at least we have each other to discuss the storyline of neighbours and shortland street with.. not that I've seen shortland street all week (shame on me - I'm slacking)..I blame Garan. (admittedly hes not quite as excited as me when I announce its time for Shortland Street).
Had this yummy Thai meal last night, I've been meaning to go there forever but havent got round to it.. but Garan got a takeaway for us last night and it was really nice.. Its really annoying that I'm stuck here everynight and we cant go out till 9pm.. not that we go out that much anyway.
Stuart rang me last night asking if I was off out since its was a huge night in town and all the pubs were staying open till at least 5am.. but was way too knackered and we were fast asleep on the sofa.
Went round Kev's the other night, is weird being there without Ruth there, need someone to have girly chats with while they all get blokey.. but on the way home manged to fall down the hill and cut my knee which is really sore since I have to kneel and clean here.. am in the wars as have big burn on my arm from the fire, is not hurting as much now but did look really gross.
Day off tomorrow.. yay!! Garans got a busy morning with the vet coming at 8:45am so I'll hang out around the farm till thats all done with and then hopefully go out in the boat or take Max the dog for a walk.. for me its just nice to be away from the backpackers for the day..!

wow its quite here today.. nobody is booked in at all!! I'm guessing someone will turn up during the day though..
Didnt take long to clean this morning wither since we only had 3 ppl in.
Its weird with Ruth gone, Jakob caused me more work than helped the first few days but I was in such a bad mood yesterday that he pulled his socks up today and got himself out of bed.. and he was good yesterday and chopped lots of wood (hes getting better at that, the first time he cut his thumb - he was bloody lucky he didnt chop it off!)
This being Jakob I left him a list of stuff to do and last night I woke up in the middle of the night to this huge banging noise.. he was hammering the ice out the fridge..
He's a great guy but impossible to have a conversation with and cant follow instructions, I think he has ADHD.. the other night he decided to drive to Akaroa at 10:30 at night at 140kms an hour.. (its supposed to be about 4 hours drive away), needless to say he ended up in a ditch! (luckily he's stil alive). he's always entertaining though anyway. Garan thinks I'm soft as I put logs on the fire tiptoeing around him so as not to wake him up..
Garans still spendng alot of time here, the milkings finished so all he has to do is feed the animals and various odd jobs around the farm and then he comes back here for his tea. I've made him go to Christchurch today though as he has a check up on his eyes (he had lazer eye surgery), so I think I'll lounge around with a cosmo magazine.. might see if I can find my camera cable and put some new photos on here.. I'm hoping its at the computer shop in town as I cant find it anywhere round the house..
Jonny said he'll bring me dinner round as he's off for a fish (just as well Garans not here - dont think he'd be wildly happy with that) - still he's not been out fishing or diving for a few days and I've got to get my fish supplies somewhere (Garan goes diving for his seafood rather than fishing.. so alot of kina on toast and creamed paua - he used to run my favourite fish and chip shop so hes good at cooking seafood).
I had told my woofing job in Lake Tekapo that I would finish here on the 20th or 28th and now I've told her I finish on the 25th she cant have me 1st to 5th june and since its the Queens birthday all the kids will be home and theres big celebrations round there (yes we celebrate the English Queens birthday here more than you lot do in England!) so I might not be able to go there till 5th June, so not sure whether to leave here still on the 28th and just see and do other stuff on the way, stay and work here an extra week or hang out with Garan at the farm for the week.. hmnn decisions decisions.. ah what will be will and whatever happens will happen and all that!

So Ruth and Charlie have gone now, I felt like bursting into tears when they left yesterday. It was my day off so we went out to breakfast at the Beach House cafe before they left.
I will really miss Ruth, I have got used to haveing her around, sharing flat with her and our girly chats. She is coming back for a weekend in a fortnight to see her boyfriend but doubt I'll see much of her, and when i leave kaikoura I plan to go and visit her in methven on the way down.. but still wont be the same,
I have a new flatmate, Jakob who I have mentioned before. Its cool as at least i already know him and its not like having a compltely new flatmate I dont know.. I'm not sure hes going to be an amazing help cleaning though. Moira cam in this morning and was less than impressed to find him not here when he was meant to be cleaning. He has another job so I will make him make up for it by working later today or something. So that meant I had to clean by myself and unfortuntely it weas one of the busiest mornings in a while.
So on Saturday the local team were playing Rugby so I put a note up on reception and diverted the phone to my mobile and went to watch it.. very slack of me but it was good fun.
Kevins sleezy flatmates were there which was entertaining, both came and sat on either side of me trying their very best!
Thenof course I had to run back to the backpackers before the final big night out for kevin's birthday.. the girls came round for a few drinks first and then we went round kevins hoouse, but his housemates were sleezing onto every girls there and were being very annoying so Hannah and I went to the Strawberry Tree (shes been staying in our flat a couple of days). It was very bizarre there as Kiwi experience were having a fancy dress night so all the people were off the bus and all the boys dressed as women..
So Hannah and I ended up taking this irish guy back to Kevins party (we couldnt remember the way properly though so we ended up taking the mosy complicated route ever climbing over hills and bridges.
Then I met Kevins brother who he has been trying to set me up with for a while but who I have never got round to meeting. anyway we got on well so I went to a party with him which was great as it was free alcohol and food so we ate lots of crayfish and paua and then went for a walk along the beach and back to the strawberry tree which was marginally better with less kiwi experience people there!
Unfortuntely Tahu was working and since he'd informed Kevin the other day he was my boyfriend he wasnt overly impressed (but since I had no knowledge we were going out I dont think I need to feel guilty?)
Anyway Garan has been spending alot of time here, brought me lunch the other day and since it was my day off yesterday he cooked me a roast dinner at his (he's got a nice farm out in the sticks - hes a dairy farmer) and I met the other people in the farm. He's got is own place but there tends to be a few houses on farms over here for all the staff so he took me round to meet everyone (and the wives of the other workers were introducing me to others as his Mrs which was funny, dont think I've ever been called anybodies Mrs before!)
Its funny as he texts me when hes going out diving or fishing and with the binoculars I can spy on him from my place!
Not sure what will happen as obviously I am leaving kaikoura and that doesnt make it easy to start a relationship.. but for the moment we get on well.. ooh and I forgot to say how I practised my driving around the farm! (was very excited)!
popped round Vickys place yesterday and helped her make muffins (shes trying to learn to cook and since shes been eating my muffins I make she thought she'd make some for her hubby) they turned out well so that was good!
Its good to still have a girl around to chat to since Ruths gone and left me!
Phoned Mum, dad and Amanda on my day off yesterday which was good. nice to catch up, felt weird though as all the family were together playing a card game.. its weird somethimes being so far away.
Louise texted me and said shes got her redundency package so she'll be moving to france In July!! cant believe it! am so happy for her!

The girls came over for a DVd night but I really wasnt feeling well so I got Ruth to lock up the spa for me and all that and was safely tucked up in bed and asleep by 9pm. I thought I wouldnt sleep or would need my ear plugs since they were hooting with laughter but it seems I didnt because before I knew it I was asleep and didnt wake up till 7:30am when my alarm went off. I must have needed it! I felt much better this morning!
(Mind you the previous morning I had to wake up to tonne of clearing up.. the trouble with having a party at your house is all the washing up the next day!)
I've had a very annoying older couple check in yesterday who I knew the minute they arrived would drive me crackers. so I was quite relieved when they asked for a refund for their second nights stay as none of the mattresses were up to scratch and they couldnt sleep. Fair enough I was just happy I didnt have to deal with them another day. Why are people who want room service breakfast staying in a backpackers?!
The backpackers is pretty quiet which is good. but there few people checking in later.. (lets hope not after 9pm.. it amazes me how people assume its 24 hour service!) Then they get upset when I tell then yes the supermarkets shut at 7:30ish (they even have the ish written on the door!) and the last takeway or restaurant stoped serving at 8pm.. of course now winter hours are apon us, many places are shutting altogether!
Jakob moved back in yesterday so at least that should keep us entertained. He used to live here when i first got the job, then he went travelling with a girl he met, he satayed here with her last week and trashed the room for us as we looked so bored and clearly needed something to do (how kind and thoughtful of him!!) it was very funny actually, he said he'd left us a mess to clear up but when we went to clear it up the bed was upside down, all the furniture.. etc etc! (Its a good job its him.. anyone else and I'd have been spitting nails!)
I mentioned the lost property clothes the other day dint I? but the lost propert here gets mountainous every week! I take it all down the community centre but its ridiculous how much people leave behind! I even have a bag of weed in lost property someone left behind! (I guess they were too shy to come and ask if it had been handed in? or maybe too stoned to notice - one of the two!)
Free food is the best though, when people are flying out they leave all their food behind and someone asked me if I wanted a bag of 16 steaks? They were fresh and yummu and everything.. Ruth and I couldnt get by without our free food.. shes veggie though so the steaks didnt appeal to her.. but their damn good, straight off a farm rather than from a supermarket!
Its Ruths boyfriends birthday today so shes cooked him a romantic brunch and I've been hiding down here givign them some space.. Its a realy really hot day so I've dragged a mattress out on the roof and been reading my book. I've got really slack lately this morning i thought the bell was really quiet and no-one had bothered me and then realised I'd forgotten to put it out.. ah well!

Strawberry Tree, People Watching and Backpackers

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..

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.

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!