36 days after Christmas

Hello. It's been 43 days since my last post on here and a fair bit has gone on. We've had a really good start to the year, as most people reading this are from the UK I'll put them in priority order; Weather has been really nice, days are long, sky is clear and pretty, stars shine. (The plough/big dipper is upside down here, fascinating). Me and Hannah have managed to spend a fair chunk of time together which has been lovely. Walks, beaches, meals out, cinema, meals in, racing, playing catch, reading, it's been great. The other great thing has been Auckland. It's very easy to dismiss Auckland as ugly and boring, and that the best things to do in Auckland is to get out of Auckland as there's so many great things to do and see within an hours drive, though I don't feel that way. Auckland still manages to surprise and impress me, we've been exploring round places we've never gone to before (Parnell Baths), mixing it up and loving it. Well done Auckland. Work has also seen some positive steps and given me quite a lot to think about, as well as having my best mate from England stay with us, Jason. I've just seen him off on the airbus, the liability.

• Christmas and New Year was amazing. Instead of presents and stuff me and Hannah had a few really nice days in a van seeing the East Coast. We went down to Mt Maunganui, beached, saw an incredible sunset, had some nice food, then to the Coromandel, where we got the tail end of a Typhoon so did the only thing we could have done when being attacked by Forest Gump rain, we went to the hot pools, complete with fake caves with fairy lights as glow worms and a plastic volcano. 
• Christmas eve we drove back, had the glamorous experience of Pak 'N' Save, then Christmas day Hannah's friend came over in the morning, then Adam, Gary, Ari, Simon and Rebecca came over, we all bought food and had a buffet, a few drinks and Trivial Pursuit. (Though the American version which was just stupid). Boxing day (or St Stephens day for you Brian) was spent at Bethell's Beach in the rain which was magic. Felt like walking in a poem.
• New Year Eve's was a quiet low-key affair (which at the moment is my favourite ke. Alicia, you're second) where me and Hannah had a proper nice dinner (lamb shanks with red wine and herbs and shit) and went up Mt Eden for the fireworks off the Sky Tower. I bloody love the Sky Tower, and one day I'll tell you why. 
• I'm also a year older writing this to you. I had a really nice day, me and Hannah went out the day before bowling and playing pool, then on my Birthday it was off to work. I got some balloons, some cards and a quirky (bizzare) Tic Tac Toe set featuring Kiwi birds and Seagulls, which sits pride of place at my desk. Hannah did a great job, with tickets to the England-Black Caps cricket games, some shaving stuff, a loofer and Yorkies! I know Nestle are bastards but I do love Yorkies (and Kit Kat Chunkies). Jason arrived on my birthday with tales a-plenty, then went out the next day with everyone, co-celebrating Ari's birthday. Thanks also for the birthday messages and cards!
• I had some positive news today at work, I'm switching over jobs where Shelley's leaving,  (Sad to see Shelley go, she's awesome) into a more admin role which I'm looking forward to. It's given me a fair bit to think about what I'm doing in the next year because...

The original plan was to do a ski season down south somewhere as a liftie. That would mean being apart from Hannah, which I'm not sure I'm willing to do now. She's here till August at her job, then can be on a tourist Visa. I still haven't done the South Island, nor lots of things that I want to do round the north as well. There's also the dream of Bee-keeping and working with animals/butchery which I'd like to do.

 It was my second Christmas away from home though it still feels strange, and have pencilled in next Christmas as a time to go back and see alot of people who are very important to me. Then there's the dream of the North to South Bike Ride (it's still a dream as I haven't yet started riding, haven't even got my shoes yet, but it's gonna happen). And then Australia.     (with bits of Asia I haven't seen, South America at some stage, North America  (cycle?) envisioned as part of 'this' trip, and university always an option). 

Thinkings, thinkings, thinkings. It's amazing how in my head such a short term decision (staying in Auckland for a year or going to do a ski season) seems to throw off balance and timing for my long term rough plannings, and me being pedantic lots of things bounce around, such as Working Holiday Visa restrictions for  Canada, where do I want to 'settle down' and will I get to live in Antarctica? 

*You see I'm thinking here, and have been oooh-ing and aaaah-ing where to go next in this update, which direction to take it, the self aware/faux-profound approach or just to sign off and give Robyn a call. Well fuck it, you've been brought up well and go with first instinct!

Fuck it. Stop worrying you prick. All that matters is you're happy, and if you're not happy you make a decision to change to be happy and you follow it. I always think that I'm tied to things, that I can't do something because of some reason, which is bollocks. Getting a glass of milk during work the TV caught my attention and this American dude in some hideous reality TV show said something like "Everything we do in life is measured, and only if it's measured can we find out if your life is a success". Which is a fucking horrible sentence, and an even worse state of mind. You can't measure a rainbow, and rainbows bring nothing but happiness. 

So there's my first Brain-Dump of the year, it's not perfect but nothing ever is. I feel lighter and happier. Hope you all (all 4-9 of you who are awesome, that care and read this) have a great year, and feel free to brain-dump on me if you need someone.

Lots of love

x