Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
To have life sorted!
Have had such a cool couple of weeks.. have been manically busy but its been good. I'm knackered but happy!
Have been testing out my new sleeping bag by sleeping over RoRo's (Rosie's) house. Its very good so I made the right choice! I was worried about it rustling but it didn't so thats all cool! At least Dallen at work (kathmandu work) understood the rustling issue was an important consideration in the choosing of sleeping bags, am still giggling at his story of camping as a child and being absolutely terrifed and laying awake for hours because he could hear someone walking around in the leaves outside of the tent.. only to realise it was his eyelashes rustling against the sleeping bag everytime he blinked!
By the way for future reference when buying rainwear always get goretex!! We did this realy cool test at kathmandu (we always get to do cool stuff!) wearing a normal plastic anorak glove on one hand and a goretex glove on the other one. and then we had to dunk them in water and wear each for a while etc.. both were dry but the normal plastic one was so hot and clammy it felt wet.. and of course gortex is the most waterproof you can get for all conditions so there we are thats why you should get goretex!
Melanie at Kathmnadu work was telling me a story the other week of her days managing a backpackers in Punakaiki, made me realise I've been bloody lucky with the ones I've run that nothing really bad has ever happened.. apparently one night an american tourist caught one of the other guests (a kiwi) going through his bag while he was alseep and of course told him to get off and stopped him stealing his stuff, (as you would) only he stabbed the poor american tourist in the head... god can you imagine?! and I though Punakaiki was a perfect little place.. but I guess every tiny little village is still going to have dodgy people going through it ruining it.
I realised with my lovely little life the last couple of weeks I've been cocooned from stuff (which is great and I plan to keep it this way!). Here I am in the library and theres this group of girls one of which had a baby toddling around. I am so glad they have just gone because it was like working in the refuge again. The poor baby kept running around and needed its nappy changing so got screamed at and hit, and for 15 minutes every second word was f'ing this and f'ing that. Now I swear , so who am I to be judgmental? (mind you I dotn sear in front of children) but thats exactly what I'm doing, forming a judgment of them... 15 minutes in the same room as that lot raised my blood pressure and stressed me out.. as for that poor baby.. god I am soooo glad I got away from working in that refuge.. every day was like that..
Anyway.. I think most of my good mood has been the fact I have been at Tasman St so much. Its so lovely there.. so chilled out its not like work and the people are just great (especially Rosie and Helen).
I had a good weekend at the backpackers, it was busy but the people were interesting and friendly, had lots of cool chats with this english girl who's been travelling for 9 years.. but is finally going to do one more season as a tour rep and then go home!
But even though it was busy nearly everyone went out during the day so after I spent the morning cleaning I could chill out and read in the afternoons. Finished "The Horse Whisperer" which was great. I saw the film years ago but its a really lovely book too. It was beautuful weather so I moved the beanbags out and a few of us chilled out in the sunshine.. I made banana choc chip muffins and made lots of tourists happy! we had alot of japanese tourists in and they get so excited about things its really cute! They are so funny.. they were taking photos of the muffins and me cooking them.. not that I should take that as a compliment, two of the girls took a video of themselves hanging out their washing???!!! oh god I pity the poor people at home who have to sit through all those videos and photos!!
Anyway, come Sunday I was just cashing up for the night when Helen texted me and asked me if I wanted to go round Rosies for a DVD? Thought why not and was informed to bring my sleeping bag and be ready in 10 mins.. and I've been running around ever since!! Anyway, we had a nice nice, chat and stuff but were knackered so fell asleep early, the bright side is we were all going to work in the same place in the morning.. the bad side is we were all 5 minutes late!! (dont think chris was overly exstatic!). After work Helen invited me over to hers for dinner, so went over there, Marty cooked us chicken stufffed with all these yummy things..and home made mini steamed puds and then we went for a nice long walk with Daisy the dog and her 2 year old Elly. But he got tired so we walked to my house and I looked after Elly while she went and got the car.. it was really cute, the japanese girls were very excited!! He found a torch under my bed and flashed it in everyones eyes and then settled down with a pen and paper..! I assured worried lookign tourists that he was only their for 20 mins though and wasnt staying (although it would have been amusing to teaste tehm telling them yeah, course he was staying, he was in the bunk below them!). Then we headed over Ro'Ro's for a while and Helen headed home. Ro'Ro and I stayed up really late gossiping, it was really good, shes good at asking questions and finding out stuff but also really good at saying the right stuff.. I reckon she should be a therapist or something!! and shes planning on going travelling so we have plenty to chat about!We were very good despite our late night and managed to be EARLY for work the next day which is always good! Both Helen and RoRo are so easy to talk to and whats best is what you see is what you get!! They also take the chronic piss out of me all the time though but they assure me this is because they like me.. my current nicname is fudgie.. (?!!) everyone else at work just looks amused! (this is shortened from the previous nicname of fudgepacker).. I guess because they are from a family of 5 children they are just used to all the constant teasing!!
Anyway, another good day at work followed.. I went to Rosies for dinner and then she dropped me off at home just in time for Sharon to pick me up for Tuesday night group.. which was an awesome night.. really enjoyed it.. was basically an evening of analsying tarot cards.. we each had a card and then we went round individually giving the meanings for that card and that person.. I really enjoyed doing it as I have quite strong visons for people from the cards so it was a great oportunity to give people positive messages.. and they are a great bunch of people.. it went on pretty late so I pretty much fell into bed.. or would have if the bathrooms hadnt been occupied and got caught up in chat with a spanish dude who is shocked at how early kiwis eat.. he had no idea England was like that too.. I guess its just a completely different way of living.. he couldnt understand how people dont have a life after work as he puts it.. he reckons you should be off doing stuff for hours after work and then be coming home to eat at 10 or 11.. I can see the concept of having an evening is great but in reality it was 11pm and I was ready for bed and the thought of staying up eating was the last thing on my mind!
Funny the combo of people you get in a backpackers, this morning theres a very arguementative israeli guy in my room. I find alot of israelis like this, they like to confront people. Anyway he said I was stupid for going to Australia for so long and I was wasting my time and should go somewhere intersting like Africa.. I assured him if everyone wanted the same things it would be a boring world.. and I desperately wanted to go to Africa, but one place at a time.. and no country is ever a waste of time!
He also informed me I couldnt get teaching english abroad jobs in foreign countries if I didnt speak any other languages.. and got very tetchy when I said I had friends who were doing just that and doing great! So all in all it was good to be escaping him..!
I had the day off today and went on a bonecarving workshop which was absolutely brilliant! I had a such a good time! Last week I had drawn exactly what I wanted to do which was a wave and a koru combined. then last night in my sleep I changed my mind completely and had to get up early to put it on paper! I really wasnt sure if it would work or if it was possible because I had so many ideas it semed like I would have to make 6 carvings! But I managed to combine my ideas into one and make one carving which suited all my ideas!! I love it!! I am so happy with it!! and I did it all myself! Bone is such a warm product to work with. Could defiantely take it up as a hobby and could happily do the workshop again and again!! I said this after doing the pounamu (greenstone) carving so I would definately like to do more stuff like it and will be looking out for more stuff like it around the world!
Finished fairly early so headed back home and caught up with Louise who I havent seen in weeks..
Then finally after 6 months of living in Nelson finally went to Jensons Jewellers to see "the ring". This is the jewellers that made the lord of the rings jewellery and "the ring"!! I saw the original prototype and ones worn my cast members. Apparently the engravings were computer generated!!
Bumped into Dallen so popped into kathmandu. They are shut for the week and moving back into the old store so I am missing all the fun and excitement! I mean that genuinely without sarcasm.. am actually really jealous! they had some of the cover staff from last time, one of which was so happy to see me.. it was really nice to be missed! He informed me it wasnt nearly as much fun without me! They are such a nice bunch of people! so sat on the front desk being fed chocolate for a while (they know the way to my heart!). Andrew has been chosen for the next catalogue shoot. So he gets a month in Japan all expenses paid.. lucky bastard.. if I was the remotist bit photogenic I'd have applied too (I mean I know I'm not all sporty and dont have model good looks and all that stuff but since they now have clothing up to a size 20 they could do with some non size 8 models!! (and I'm all up for a month in japan!!) anyway, I know he'll be great at it, shame I wont be in NZ to see the new catelogue.. must make sure I go online to check it out next season.. (someone remind me!)
Now I'm in the library catching up on my blog.. (as you can see!) and then tonight I am off to the circus with Helen and co which should be cool.. am looking forward to it!
Hopefully at some point one night I will have some time to download some more photos on here.. I'll have to go to the internet shop as its incredibly slow at work and Ro'Ro's house..
anyway I only came in here to put a brief update on my blog to assure you I'm alive and here I am having written an essay!!
Have been testing out my new sleeping bag by sleeping over RoRo's (Rosie's) house. Its very good so I made the right choice! I was worried about it rustling but it didn't so thats all cool! At least Dallen at work (kathmandu work) understood the rustling issue was an important consideration in the choosing of sleeping bags, am still giggling at his story of camping as a child and being absolutely terrifed and laying awake for hours because he could hear someone walking around in the leaves outside of the tent.. only to realise it was his eyelashes rustling against the sleeping bag everytime he blinked!
By the way for future reference when buying rainwear always get goretex!! We did this realy cool test at kathmandu (we always get to do cool stuff!) wearing a normal plastic anorak glove on one hand and a goretex glove on the other one. and then we had to dunk them in water and wear each for a while etc.. both were dry but the normal plastic one was so hot and clammy it felt wet.. and of course gortex is the most waterproof you can get for all conditions so there we are thats why you should get goretex!
Melanie at Kathmnadu work was telling me a story the other week of her days managing a backpackers in Punakaiki, made me realise I've been bloody lucky with the ones I've run that nothing really bad has ever happened.. apparently one night an american tourist caught one of the other guests (a kiwi) going through his bag while he was alseep and of course told him to get off and stopped him stealing his stuff, (as you would) only he stabbed the poor american tourist in the head... god can you imagine?! and I though Punakaiki was a perfect little place.. but I guess every tiny little village is still going to have dodgy people going through it ruining it.
I realised with my lovely little life the last couple of weeks I've been cocooned from stuff (which is great and I plan to keep it this way!). Here I am in the library and theres this group of girls one of which had a baby toddling around. I am so glad they have just gone because it was like working in the refuge again. The poor baby kept running around and needed its nappy changing so got screamed at and hit, and for 15 minutes every second word was f'ing this and f'ing that. Now I swear , so who am I to be judgmental? (mind you I dotn sear in front of children) but thats exactly what I'm doing, forming a judgment of them... 15 minutes in the same room as that lot raised my blood pressure and stressed me out.. as for that poor baby.. god I am soooo glad I got away from working in that refuge.. every day was like that..
Anyway.. I think most of my good mood has been the fact I have been at Tasman St so much. Its so lovely there.. so chilled out its not like work and the people are just great (especially Rosie and Helen).
I had a good weekend at the backpackers, it was busy but the people were interesting and friendly, had lots of cool chats with this english girl who's been travelling for 9 years.. but is finally going to do one more season as a tour rep and then go home!
But even though it was busy nearly everyone went out during the day so after I spent the morning cleaning I could chill out and read in the afternoons. Finished "The Horse Whisperer" which was great. I saw the film years ago but its a really lovely book too. It was beautuful weather so I moved the beanbags out and a few of us chilled out in the sunshine.. I made banana choc chip muffins and made lots of tourists happy! we had alot of japanese tourists in and they get so excited about things its really cute! They are so funny.. they were taking photos of the muffins and me cooking them.. not that I should take that as a compliment, two of the girls took a video of themselves hanging out their washing???!!! oh god I pity the poor people at home who have to sit through all those videos and photos!!
Anyway, come Sunday I was just cashing up for the night when Helen texted me and asked me if I wanted to go round Rosies for a DVD? Thought why not and was informed to bring my sleeping bag and be ready in 10 mins.. and I've been running around ever since!! Anyway, we had a nice nice, chat and stuff but were knackered so fell asleep early, the bright side is we were all going to work in the same place in the morning.. the bad side is we were all 5 minutes late!! (dont think chris was overly exstatic!). After work Helen invited me over to hers for dinner, so went over there, Marty cooked us chicken stufffed with all these yummy things..and home made mini steamed puds and then we went for a nice long walk with Daisy the dog and her 2 year old Elly. But he got tired so we walked to my house and I looked after Elly while she went and got the car.. it was really cute, the japanese girls were very excited!! He found a torch under my bed and flashed it in everyones eyes and then settled down with a pen and paper..! I assured worried lookign tourists that he was only their for 20 mins though and wasnt staying (although it would have been amusing to teaste tehm telling them yeah, course he was staying, he was in the bunk below them!). Then we headed over Ro'Ro's for a while and Helen headed home. Ro'Ro and I stayed up really late gossiping, it was really good, shes good at asking questions and finding out stuff but also really good at saying the right stuff.. I reckon she should be a therapist or something!! and shes planning on going travelling so we have plenty to chat about!We were very good despite our late night and managed to be EARLY for work the next day which is always good! Both Helen and RoRo are so easy to talk to and whats best is what you see is what you get!! They also take the chronic piss out of me all the time though but they assure me this is because they like me.. my current nicname is fudgie.. (?!!) everyone else at work just looks amused! (this is shortened from the previous nicname of fudgepacker).. I guess because they are from a family of 5 children they are just used to all the constant teasing!!
Anyway, another good day at work followed.. I went to Rosies for dinner and then she dropped me off at home just in time for Sharon to pick me up for Tuesday night group.. which was an awesome night.. really enjoyed it.. was basically an evening of analsying tarot cards.. we each had a card and then we went round individually giving the meanings for that card and that person.. I really enjoyed doing it as I have quite strong visons for people from the cards so it was a great oportunity to give people positive messages.. and they are a great bunch of people.. it went on pretty late so I pretty much fell into bed.. or would have if the bathrooms hadnt been occupied and got caught up in chat with a spanish dude who is shocked at how early kiwis eat.. he had no idea England was like that too.. I guess its just a completely different way of living.. he couldnt understand how people dont have a life after work as he puts it.. he reckons you should be off doing stuff for hours after work and then be coming home to eat at 10 or 11.. I can see the concept of having an evening is great but in reality it was 11pm and I was ready for bed and the thought of staying up eating was the last thing on my mind!
Funny the combo of people you get in a backpackers, this morning theres a very arguementative israeli guy in my room. I find alot of israelis like this, they like to confront people. Anyway he said I was stupid for going to Australia for so long and I was wasting my time and should go somewhere intersting like Africa.. I assured him if everyone wanted the same things it would be a boring world.. and I desperately wanted to go to Africa, but one place at a time.. and no country is ever a waste of time!
He also informed me I couldnt get teaching english abroad jobs in foreign countries if I didnt speak any other languages.. and got very tetchy when I said I had friends who were doing just that and doing great! So all in all it was good to be escaping him..!
I had the day off today and went on a bonecarving workshop which was absolutely brilliant! I had a such a good time! Last week I had drawn exactly what I wanted to do which was a wave and a koru combined. then last night in my sleep I changed my mind completely and had to get up early to put it on paper! I really wasnt sure if it would work or if it was possible because I had so many ideas it semed like I would have to make 6 carvings! But I managed to combine my ideas into one and make one carving which suited all my ideas!! I love it!! I am so happy with it!! and I did it all myself! Bone is such a warm product to work with. Could defiantely take it up as a hobby and could happily do the workshop again and again!! I said this after doing the pounamu (greenstone) carving so I would definately like to do more stuff like it and will be looking out for more stuff like it around the world!
Finished fairly early so headed back home and caught up with Louise who I havent seen in weeks..
Then finally after 6 months of living in Nelson finally went to Jensons Jewellers to see "the ring". This is the jewellers that made the lord of the rings jewellery and "the ring"!! I saw the original prototype and ones worn my cast members. Apparently the engravings were computer generated!!
Bumped into Dallen so popped into kathmandu. They are shut for the week and moving back into the old store so I am missing all the fun and excitement! I mean that genuinely without sarcasm.. am actually really jealous! they had some of the cover staff from last time, one of which was so happy to see me.. it was really nice to be missed! He informed me it wasnt nearly as much fun without me! They are such a nice bunch of people! so sat on the front desk being fed chocolate for a while (they know the way to my heart!). Andrew has been chosen for the next catalogue shoot. So he gets a month in Japan all expenses paid.. lucky bastard.. if I was the remotist bit photogenic I'd have applied too (I mean I know I'm not all sporty and dont have model good looks and all that stuff but since they now have clothing up to a size 20 they could do with some non size 8 models!! (and I'm all up for a month in japan!!) anyway, I know he'll be great at it, shame I wont be in NZ to see the new catelogue.. must make sure I go online to check it out next season.. (someone remind me!)
Now I'm in the library catching up on my blog.. (as you can see!) and then tonight I am off to the circus with Helen and co which should be cool.. am looking forward to it!
Hopefully at some point one night I will have some time to download some more photos on here.. I'll have to go to the internet shop as its incredibly slow at work and Ro'Ro's house..
anyway I only came in here to put a brief update on my blog to assure you I'm alive and here I am having written an essay!!
Monday, November 05, 2007
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Less than 6 weeks to go!!
Been a busy girl lately (as usual). Was working last weekend at the backpackers when one of the kayaking reps came round and asked me if I'd like to come out with them for free for the day, he gave me a free t -shirt (which is very useful for the childcare company for being thrown up on all day) and since I was just wondering what to do on my day off on Monday (and wanting to leave the 4 streets surrounding my house for once - its quite scary when you relaise you havent left these four streets for about 3 months..)I decided to give it a whirl and he had given me a smack on the hand for not having been out kayaking before now and I can harldy say oh I want to do anything and everything and wuss out at this.. Now there has been a reason why I havent been out kayaking.. ie I was terrified of it. So when I said to the company I was happy to do any trip they had space on and then was phoned and told that I would be doing the longest kayaking trip possible I was a tad worried.
But guess what?!!!! I didnt die, I didnt fall in and drown, (I had visions of me trapped under the kayak unable to get out, quietly flapping my arms...) I didnt get swept out to sea, I didnt rely on the other person in the kayak or have to have to guide tow me!! I was quite pleased with myself. I think the guide was a tad worried before we started because I looked so scared I might cry and when he tried to get us to practise our rowing technique standing on the beach I nearly knocked a few backpackers out and nearly fell on my face in the sand and couldnt for the life of me be co-ordinated in any shape or form!
It was a brilliant day!! I was in a double kayak with an Austrian guy who I didnt particularly get on with, whether it was a language barrier or what I dont know.. I mean he'd been travelling ages and been to all sorts of exciting places but he couldnt muster an interesting conversation.. and theres only so long I can talk to myself (about 4 hours or so for future reference).. the people in the other kayaks were cool though so at least I had some conversation and i can actually be quite and enjoy the scenery sometimes... But its quite hard to stay lined up with people (particularly since I was in charge of steering. I was actually much better at steering that I thought I would be.. and on the bright side it was the only time I saw some personality come from whatisname.. after about 5.5 hours of kayaking I was getting a tad tired (and he kept resting because he couldnt row anymore) and then he started complaining we were going in a zig zag and asking if I was drunk.. anyway he didnt get a particularly polite response to that so terrifed him into submission for the rest of the trip which was fine with me! We got to see dolphins and seals which was amazing them being so close by. But didnt get the killer whale swimming behind us like in the posters! I'm absolutely desperate to see killer whales.. one day though one day.. somewhere in the world!!
Worked at kathmandu yesterday.. and spent loads!! Finally got my sleeping bag so everyones very glad they dont have to put up with me talking about that any longer.. although they did amuse themsleves laughing at me rolling around the floor in it!
I do attempt to be a useful employee but there always seems to be something I'm doing that amuses everyone else.. yesterday I was quietly building new rails and went in the store room to get some more things and slid one from the pile.. the only thing was that the stack fell over. You can only imagine my face because when it fell over and all the boxes piled up in order with all our products in (some of which are delicate) just kind of fell over in this dominoe effect round the room.. So I was like oh shit what shall I do? So lugged all these bits of wood up and leant them agaianst the shelving unit.. which proceeded to fall apart and everything just went in a dominoe effect round the other way of the room. So opted to run from the store room and swear I'd never ben in there and then say oh there must have been an earthquake.. no-one went in there for about an hour so I was safe. God I'm so lucky I've got nice bosses who just wet themselves laughing at me!!
Went round Helen's house for tea the other night.. is so nice to be cooked for.. have a proper roast dinner! Her 2 year old likes me cos I have a cool belly button (its pierced). He always asks to see everyones belly buttons cos hes obsessed but mines the best of them all!! (good to have the best something I guess)!
Helen and I went round Rosies for a DVD too which was cool.
Rosies invited me to live with her for 2 weeks and Helen's invited me to live with her for 2 weeks. I'm in 2 minds of whether to take them up on it.. that would sort me until I leave Nelson and i'd have my weekends free because I wouldnt have to work at the backpackers. But I feel really guilty. I've promised to work at Shortbread Cottage and everyones got all their weekends sorted and all of that. Shortbread Cottage feels like my home and it would be weird leaving it.. even though I dont like having to share room nowadays. It would be lovely to live with friends in a real house too though (and have my own room) and its not as if I am actaully really friends with matt and Louise, they keep themselves to themselves.. and I think they are leaving in a couple of weeks.. which reminds me.. maybe I need to be advertising for a replacement for them. Matt and Louise left a random backpacker in charge today who checked in yesterday and she commented that the place could do with a spring clean. She's right. so this weekend I'm going to have my work cut out and scrub the place from top to bottom. But thats the trouble.. when the owner doesnt care about the plaqce neither are the managers who are getting paid $150 a week to work 50 hours a week.. But I actually care about the place.. I went home in my lunch break to check on the backpacker left in charge.. there were several problems which I attempted to sort out but since she hadnt been left any keys and I didnt have any there wasnt alot I could help with.. I did consider rushing home from work to check on the place after work but Rosie and Helen persuaded me it really isnt my responsibility.. and are still trying to persude me to move into their houses.. ah well we'll see how it goes. I'm happy where I am really despite all the moaning and I worry that I'll feel I should be contributing rent at their places and stuff.. I'm worried it would get complicated with all that stuff and wouldnt want to spoil friendships.. Living together is always a test of friendships and relationships!
I took loads of of photos of kayaking.. which I shall put up sometime next week when I get time. I've stayed behind late at Tasman Street to catch up on emails and all that!!
I am now booked up workwise till I leave. I have booked myself 1 day off a week to have some r&r and then every single other day is booked up. I have to ring Kathmandu tomorrow to let them know.. they have me booked for only 1 more day as they do the rostas once a week and I have been becoming less and less available but now I'm booked at both childcare centres everyday their too late. They are not going to be particularly happy and I'm disapointed as I really like working there.. but you cant please everyone and since the Childcare centre pay ALOT more than they do..
I cant believe its only just over 4 weeks till I leave Nelson and just over 5 weeks till I leave NZ!! Its really not that long till I will be in another country.. the world trip will be well under way.. 2nd country.. only god knows how many to go....!!
Anyway am quite looking forward to the weekend ahead at the backpackers, will have a big spring clean and then chill out..
Have been at Tasman Street mostly this week.. this weeks topic is messsy play.. they maye regret letting me run activities... children covered in paint after finger and hand painting and then putting a hose into the sand pit... fun!! (and at least I'm following curriculum - no-one can say i wasnt following curriculum!) Its been great as its been so hot lately.. kayaking was pefect weather and at work we can run around outside with water play.. last nigth I finally got round to going to the local pool for a swim too (only taken me 4 months to get round to it). It was great - I forget how much I like water.. it was blissful being on the sea all day on Monday and I find it really relaxing doing laps in the pool.. though seems I need a new swimsuit (doesnt everything fall apart at once?) First off I leapt in and started to swim and everything kept popping out so held it up while trying to swim to the other end one handed (just as well I was in the slow lane!!) and then asked a rather surprised girl in the pool to tie my straps into knots so it couldnt fall down.. she did a good job though despite her embarrassment at me informing her my bits kept falling out..! Thought that was all sorted but after hanging it on the line to dry I realise its gone completely see through in all the important bits.. why does that always happen to me? swimsuits always go see through after a few months.. clearly I do something wrong..
But guess what?!!!! I didnt die, I didnt fall in and drown, (I had visions of me trapped under the kayak unable to get out, quietly flapping my arms...) I didnt get swept out to sea, I didnt rely on the other person in the kayak or have to have to guide tow me!! I was quite pleased with myself. I think the guide was a tad worried before we started because I looked so scared I might cry and when he tried to get us to practise our rowing technique standing on the beach I nearly knocked a few backpackers out and nearly fell on my face in the sand and couldnt for the life of me be co-ordinated in any shape or form!
It was a brilliant day!! I was in a double kayak with an Austrian guy who I didnt particularly get on with, whether it was a language barrier or what I dont know.. I mean he'd been travelling ages and been to all sorts of exciting places but he couldnt muster an interesting conversation.. and theres only so long I can talk to myself (about 4 hours or so for future reference).. the people in the other kayaks were cool though so at least I had some conversation and i can actually be quite and enjoy the scenery sometimes... But its quite hard to stay lined up with people (particularly since I was in charge of steering. I was actually much better at steering that I thought I would be.. and on the bright side it was the only time I saw some personality come from whatisname.. after about 5.5 hours of kayaking I was getting a tad tired (and he kept resting because he couldnt row anymore) and then he started complaining we were going in a zig zag and asking if I was drunk.. anyway he didnt get a particularly polite response to that so terrifed him into submission for the rest of the trip which was fine with me! We got to see dolphins and seals which was amazing them being so close by. But didnt get the killer whale swimming behind us like in the posters! I'm absolutely desperate to see killer whales.. one day though one day.. somewhere in the world!!
Worked at kathmandu yesterday.. and spent loads!! Finally got my sleeping bag so everyones very glad they dont have to put up with me talking about that any longer.. although they did amuse themsleves laughing at me rolling around the floor in it!
I do attempt to be a useful employee but there always seems to be something I'm doing that amuses everyone else.. yesterday I was quietly building new rails and went in the store room to get some more things and slid one from the pile.. the only thing was that the stack fell over. You can only imagine my face because when it fell over and all the boxes piled up in order with all our products in (some of which are delicate) just kind of fell over in this dominoe effect round the room.. So I was like oh shit what shall I do? So lugged all these bits of wood up and leant them agaianst the shelving unit.. which proceeded to fall apart and everything just went in a dominoe effect round the other way of the room. So opted to run from the store room and swear I'd never ben in there and then say oh there must have been an earthquake.. no-one went in there for about an hour so I was safe. God I'm so lucky I've got nice bosses who just wet themselves laughing at me!!
Went round Helen's house for tea the other night.. is so nice to be cooked for.. have a proper roast dinner! Her 2 year old likes me cos I have a cool belly button (its pierced). He always asks to see everyones belly buttons cos hes obsessed but mines the best of them all!! (good to have the best something I guess)!
Helen and I went round Rosies for a DVD too which was cool.
Rosies invited me to live with her for 2 weeks and Helen's invited me to live with her for 2 weeks. I'm in 2 minds of whether to take them up on it.. that would sort me until I leave Nelson and i'd have my weekends free because I wouldnt have to work at the backpackers. But I feel really guilty. I've promised to work at Shortbread Cottage and everyones got all their weekends sorted and all of that. Shortbread Cottage feels like my home and it would be weird leaving it.. even though I dont like having to share room nowadays. It would be lovely to live with friends in a real house too though (and have my own room) and its not as if I am actaully really friends with matt and Louise, they keep themselves to themselves.. and I think they are leaving in a couple of weeks.. which reminds me.. maybe I need to be advertising for a replacement for them. Matt and Louise left a random backpacker in charge today who checked in yesterday and she commented that the place could do with a spring clean. She's right. so this weekend I'm going to have my work cut out and scrub the place from top to bottom. But thats the trouble.. when the owner doesnt care about the plaqce neither are the managers who are getting paid $150 a week to work 50 hours a week.. But I actually care about the place.. I went home in my lunch break to check on the backpacker left in charge.. there were several problems which I attempted to sort out but since she hadnt been left any keys and I didnt have any there wasnt alot I could help with.. I did consider rushing home from work to check on the place after work but Rosie and Helen persuaded me it really isnt my responsibility.. and are still trying to persude me to move into their houses.. ah well we'll see how it goes. I'm happy where I am really despite all the moaning and I worry that I'll feel I should be contributing rent at their places and stuff.. I'm worried it would get complicated with all that stuff and wouldnt want to spoil friendships.. Living together is always a test of friendships and relationships!
I took loads of of photos of kayaking.. which I shall put up sometime next week when I get time. I've stayed behind late at Tasman Street to catch up on emails and all that!!
I am now booked up workwise till I leave. I have booked myself 1 day off a week to have some r&r and then every single other day is booked up. I have to ring Kathmandu tomorrow to let them know.. they have me booked for only 1 more day as they do the rostas once a week and I have been becoming less and less available but now I'm booked at both childcare centres everyday their too late. They are not going to be particularly happy and I'm disapointed as I really like working there.. but you cant please everyone and since the Childcare centre pay ALOT more than they do..
I cant believe its only just over 4 weeks till I leave Nelson and just over 5 weeks till I leave NZ!! Its really not that long till I will be in another country.. the world trip will be well under way.. 2nd country.. only god knows how many to go....!!
Anyway am quite looking forward to the weekend ahead at the backpackers, will have a big spring clean and then chill out..
Have been at Tasman Street mostly this week.. this weeks topic is messsy play.. they maye regret letting me run activities... children covered in paint after finger and hand painting and then putting a hose into the sand pit... fun!! (and at least I'm following curriculum - no-one can say i wasnt following curriculum!) Its been great as its been so hot lately.. kayaking was pefect weather and at work we can run around outside with water play.. last nigth I finally got round to going to the local pool for a swim too (only taken me 4 months to get round to it). It was great - I forget how much I like water.. it was blissful being on the sea all day on Monday and I find it really relaxing doing laps in the pool.. though seems I need a new swimsuit (doesnt everything fall apart at once?) First off I leapt in and started to swim and everything kept popping out so held it up while trying to swim to the other end one handed (just as well I was in the slow lane!!) and then asked a rather surprised girl in the pool to tie my straps into knots so it couldnt fall down.. she did a good job though despite her embarrassment at me informing her my bits kept falling out..! Thought that was all sorted but after hanging it on the line to dry I realise its gone completely see through in all the important bits.. why does that always happen to me? swimsuits always go see through after a few months.. clearly I do something wrong..
Monday, October 29, 2007
A Naughty little princess?
Did past life regression in my Tuesday night group last week. Was really interesting! Have never been too sure what to believe about past lives but I'll give anything a go..
anyway we did this deep meditation of going down in a life and the numbers going down and down and then when the lift doors opened I was in a past life... I was this beautiful girl with princess curls in this dress that looked like it was the 16th century or so.. I was riding a horse away from a man crying. I betrayed him utterly and had no remorse. Because of my betrayal he was killed. This guy loved me completely but I was not a particularly nice person and used people for my own gain. I have a feeling I wasnt avery nice person in past lives (which is perhaps why in this life I have sometimes felt like a bad person who needs to be punished in this life.. anyway this makes me feel better! cos I really havent been that bad in this life (could be questionable?!!!). Always wondered if the fact I hate anything around my neck like even a scarf in the winter could be because I got hung in a previous life? who knows?!! all interesting anyway! I have got into my Tueday night group. They are a nice bunch of people!
I still go to the Lighthouse on Mondays but it hasnt been as good lately. We had a lady doing tapping last week. But I couldnt keep up with the tapping and got lost (7 taps here, 4 taps there..), last night was colour healing which was quite interesting. Felt relaxed after the meditation anyway.
The trouble with therapy is it puts you in touch with your emotions. After having had therapy a few years ago now (in England) my feelings are no longer bottled up which is great! However, perhaps they are safer bottled up?! The last fortnight I was so grumpy I worried for peoples safety (a joke in case anyone was about to warn the police)
But honestly am I expected to be nice when:
* a customer complains about.. our prices, the queues at our tills, the time it takes for the receipt to print, costing $10 to become a summit club member
and as for customers using me as a clothes horse? I'll be walking past serving another customer when someone will throw clothes at me and when I deign to ask what they want me to do with them they either shout "I dont want them, put them back" or" I want them of course, put them up at the till" either way I'm stupid for not being psychic.. and how dare I be so rude as to ask.. and thats just the shop, as for childcare.. 16 dirty nappies in a row and then water play so 16 children to strip wet clothes off and change.. with lunch to be served in 5 minutes...
I moan and moan but I can see the funny side.. I watched a man f'ing and blinding at this poor girl in the supermarket over the price of milk (I mean honestly how is it this poor 16 year olds fault that the dairy farmers are upping their prices?? and this lady the other day starting shouting at this poor guying praying the weeds, shouting at him for poisoning her and to not do it while there were poeple outide.. anyway made me day when he didnt hear her so came closer to her still spraying so he could hear what she was on about.. she completely freaked and ran to her car speeding off..
So bearing in mind what it is like for the person in the shop I was super polite when i had to take my new broken bag back to the shop.. she was lovely to me too so i guess it works both ways!!
anyway better go, got to have dinner and go to one of my groups!
anyway we did this deep meditation of going down in a life and the numbers going down and down and then when the lift doors opened I was in a past life... I was this beautiful girl with princess curls in this dress that looked like it was the 16th century or so.. I was riding a horse away from a man crying. I betrayed him utterly and had no remorse. Because of my betrayal he was killed. This guy loved me completely but I was not a particularly nice person and used people for my own gain. I have a feeling I wasnt avery nice person in past lives (which is perhaps why in this life I have sometimes felt like a bad person who needs to be punished in this life.. anyway this makes me feel better! cos I really havent been that bad in this life (could be questionable?!!!). Always wondered if the fact I hate anything around my neck like even a scarf in the winter could be because I got hung in a previous life? who knows?!! all interesting anyway! I have got into my Tueday night group. They are a nice bunch of people!
I still go to the Lighthouse on Mondays but it hasnt been as good lately. We had a lady doing tapping last week. But I couldnt keep up with the tapping and got lost (7 taps here, 4 taps there..), last night was colour healing which was quite interesting. Felt relaxed after the meditation anyway.
The trouble with therapy is it puts you in touch with your emotions. After having had therapy a few years ago now (in England) my feelings are no longer bottled up which is great! However, perhaps they are safer bottled up?! The last fortnight I was so grumpy I worried for peoples safety (a joke in case anyone was about to warn the police)
But honestly am I expected to be nice when:
* a customer complains about.. our prices, the queues at our tills, the time it takes for the receipt to print, costing $10 to become a summit club member
and as for customers using me as a clothes horse? I'll be walking past serving another customer when someone will throw clothes at me and when I deign to ask what they want me to do with them they either shout "I dont want them, put them back" or" I want them of course, put them up at the till" either way I'm stupid for not being psychic.. and how dare I be so rude as to ask.. and thats just the shop, as for childcare.. 16 dirty nappies in a row and then water play so 16 children to strip wet clothes off and change.. with lunch to be served in 5 minutes...
I moan and moan but I can see the funny side.. I watched a man f'ing and blinding at this poor girl in the supermarket over the price of milk (I mean honestly how is it this poor 16 year olds fault that the dairy farmers are upping their prices?? and this lady the other day starting shouting at this poor guying praying the weeds, shouting at him for poisoning her and to not do it while there were poeple outide.. anyway made me day when he didnt hear her so came closer to her still spraying so he could hear what she was on about.. she completely freaked and ran to her car speeding off..
So bearing in mind what it is like for the person in the shop I was super polite when i had to take my new broken bag back to the shop.. she was lovely to me too so i guess it works both ways!!
anyway better go, got to have dinner and go to one of my groups!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Have been attempting to take a bit more time off work and a little more time to myself by being social which has been good (I still work 6.5 days a week but that half day is damn good!!) I might even have 2 days off next week!! Might even be able to go for a swim which i've been saying i'll do for months now!! since i bought an eplilator last week so i would be hair free for swimming (and oz) rather than waiting to get legs waxed and faffing around shaving this means I now have to since I spent all that money!!
Am preparing myself for going to Oz! and bought a few things from Kathmandu!! may as well take advantage of my discount before I leave!! am wondering whether to get myself a sleeping bag as I lost mine in the first 6 months I was here and I really havent needed one to be honest but am thinking I'm more likely to over there. The trouble is I hate sleeping in sleeping bags. I get all claustrophobic and start to panic so have been looking at a cheap one that zips out as a duvet from kathmandu, that way at least I have a kind of blanket for when I'm in peoples camper vans or other peoples tents and stuff! I am not getting my own tent to carry around, I like travelling light!! but may be a sleeping bag will be a pain in the arse to carry? oh decisions decisions!! good job I dont have more stressful thinsg on my mind aye!??
dont know why I was in such a crap mood this morning. nothing had actually happened.. am off to one of my spiritual groups tonight though which is nice.. all meditation and healing and stuff at Anna's house, and Sharon lives round the corner from mine so she comes and picks me up so thats all cool. Last week was particularly good!
Am at Tasman Street most of this week which is great!! its so chilled and the weather has been great today so have been chilling outside with the babies! Its been pretty wet for the last couple of months, but I guess thats spring for you.
Have been missing having Phill around as hes gone and started his new job, but hopefully we'll manage to catch up one day aagain before I leave NZ!
Ambers coming to stay on friday night which will be cool, but already have plans to go to a sound healing concert so will have to catch up with her after I guess!! Busy, busy..!
Spent nearly 2 hours on the phone to Louise in Milan the other night which was great, finding out what shes up to and all about the lifestyle and customs in Italy. I ahd no idea boys and girls were brought up so differently or that people preferred to stay in theeir own neighbourhoods with entire families living in blocks of flats or streets rather than move oyut of area when you leave home and get married! Was so great to speak to her and catch up properly as its been impossible to get hold of her since she moved out there 2 months ago!
Am preparing myself for going to Oz! and bought a few things from Kathmandu!! may as well take advantage of my discount before I leave!! am wondering whether to get myself a sleeping bag as I lost mine in the first 6 months I was here and I really havent needed one to be honest but am thinking I'm more likely to over there. The trouble is I hate sleeping in sleeping bags. I get all claustrophobic and start to panic so have been looking at a cheap one that zips out as a duvet from kathmandu, that way at least I have a kind of blanket for when I'm in peoples camper vans or other peoples tents and stuff! I am not getting my own tent to carry around, I like travelling light!! but may be a sleeping bag will be a pain in the arse to carry? oh decisions decisions!! good job I dont have more stressful thinsg on my mind aye!??
dont know why I was in such a crap mood this morning. nothing had actually happened.. am off to one of my spiritual groups tonight though which is nice.. all meditation and healing and stuff at Anna's house, and Sharon lives round the corner from mine so she comes and picks me up so thats all cool. Last week was particularly good!
Am at Tasman Street most of this week which is great!! its so chilled and the weather has been great today so have been chilling outside with the babies! Its been pretty wet for the last couple of months, but I guess thats spring for you.
Have been missing having Phill around as hes gone and started his new job, but hopefully we'll manage to catch up one day aagain before I leave NZ!
Ambers coming to stay on friday night which will be cool, but already have plans to go to a sound healing concert so will have to catch up with her after I guess!! Busy, busy..!
Spent nearly 2 hours on the phone to Louise in Milan the other night which was great, finding out what shes up to and all about the lifestyle and customs in Italy. I ahd no idea boys and girls were brought up so differently or that people preferred to stay in theeir own neighbourhoods with entire families living in blocks of flats or streets rather than move oyut of area when you leave home and get married! Was so great to speak to her and catch up properly as its been impossible to get hold of her since she moved out there 2 months ago!
Dragged out an innocent backpacker (Sam) for a meal out and the cinema the other night. Wanted to go somewhere I hadnt ever been before so went to Cafe Affaire which has these stone grills they bring to your table and then you basically cook the meat yourself! It was cool anyway, yummy meal and good night. We went to see the film The waitress which was surprisingly good, made me laugh and cry and was really glad she left her crappy husband for herself rather than for another man. All to often women get rescued my men in movies and its nice when they rescue themselves!!
Went to see Atonement this weekend with Helen from work. Was a really good film, definately recommend it. Helen reckons I'm a sap when it comes to movies though as I either get petrified and jump out my skin or cry the whole way through! (only a few sniffles for this one though)!
had to share my room last night with nasty backpackers (backpackers are fine when their not in my room!!!) so was in a foul mood this morning as hardly slept. Didnt help that I got shook awake twice in the night with earthquakes, they were really mild but enough to wake me up. Looked them up on the web this morning only 4.8 on richter scale apparently. Am a bit worried Jimmy's going to ask me to move to Gingerbread House as it opens up on the 4th November, but he's a bit of a wuss when it comes to asking me to do stuff so If I just talk at him and dont let him get a word in whenever i see him i'm hoping he wont ask!!
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