Oh, when the Saints go March-ing in.

I'm well chuffed with that Post Title...

We've had a really good week and a great weekend. During the week I worked, boot-camped, chilled out with Hannah, watched some movies and went to the Theatre!

My mate Toto worked some wizardry and sorted out tickets to see One Man, Two Guv'nors, showing as part of the Auckland Arts Festival. We met up before hand and had some food, a little Japanese place which was top notch, plus a Moroccan Mint  tea in this really cool cafe/bar place, then watched the Play. It was a farce, lifting the plot of The Servant of Two Masters (an Italian play which me mum dragged me and my brother to go see it in some wanky manor, by an AmDram group and it was fucking awful, we left as soon as it started raining and bitched the thing all the way home, though my mum insisted that she saw a version when she was younger and was in stitches.) Well this was set in Brighton in the 60s and it was fucking amazing. I loved it, was really funny, well acted, I had an Ice Cream and a lift home, don't know what more you could ask for in a evening.

Saturday I got my Medical done, so far so good, got to go back to see a Doctor in two weeks, then we had a decent Fry up and bumped into my friend Jenna, who I used to work with, then hung out and played Fifa. Me, Adam and Gary started getting on it, went into town and had a cracking night out.

Sunday felt like a mess, we chilled out in the morning then went to watch the Test Cricket at Eden Park. I got some free tickets from work in the Corporate box and me and Hannah went along. The corp seats weren't the greatest, teh Barmy Army were 30 ft underneath 5ft of concrete so couldn't hear anyone, it was proper sterile, so we sneaked through a couple of doors into general admission and played musical chairs, sitting between the Barmy Army in the sun and then places a bit more quiet in the shade. It wasn't the most interesting though was good to be outside, was a lovely day and spent some decent time with Hannah.

Futsal that evening, didn't play my best, and my boots are turning into a football version of Darth Vader, more Duct tape/super glue/electrical tape then actual boot. We lost 6-5 to a shit team, and I didn't even score. That evening Hannah cooked steak and Kumura mash with Garlic Mushrooms and had a quiet one.

We're still in Drought, and Autumn is setting in. It's getting a bit nippy in the mornings, have to wear a jumper on the walk into work now, and night is setting in earlier, getting dark about 8.

I'm looking forward to the coming week, catching up with some friends for dinner, then heading to Wellington on Thurs evening with Hannah for the Easter Weekend, seeing some friends and having a night out and maybe even an ice cream...

March...of the penguins (?)

Sup!

Had a great week, the North Island was officially labelled in a Drought, with some scary space shots of NZ akin to the Middle East. Though it rained all weekend...

Had a nice and relaxing weekend with Hannah, having Coffee together with Hannah's brother and his missus, watched the Raid, like an Indonesian Die Hard, went out for a chippy and watched the Warriors (rugby league) game at Eden Park. It was the first league game I've been to, wouldn't go back as found it boring, though the crowd were pretty funny and it was reasonably full house so enjoyed it.

Sunday was more chilling out, had Hannah's family round for a roast lamb and chilled out, played football in the evening and watched Barney's version. And Saints won (football - or Soccer Football as they call it over here), though England got spanked (Rugby - or footy as they call it here).

The week was a good one, work was alright, and in the evenings saw Hannah, didn't go to Boot Camp as knackered and tight from the run, went round Adam's, Simon's and Sarah's and we had another roast dinner and watched a film which was good craic. Thursday I went to the Breakers (basketball) game at NSEC, work got me some tickets to say thanks for doing a good job which was proper nice of them, Hannah was working so took my mate Shaun and had a great time.


Things are going well, enjoying life and having a great time.

much love x

The March Goes On

Our weekly updates continue!

Had an amazing weekend! Saturday spent it with Hannah, mixing it up with laundry and pastries, beers and mexican with our friend Robyn who was up from Wellywood, meeting Hannah's brother and his fiancee and having a lovely BBQ with Liz with some more beers.

Great preparation for a 8.5km run. Me, Gary, Ari and Adam did Round the Bays, NZ's largest sporting event with over 70,000 people. Was amazing, felt like an antelope in a stampede (we didn't kill Mufasa). We got there about 8 and it didn't start till half 9, and where I had attempted to rehydrate like a mofo as soon as we started I sprinted 250m to Maccas, accidentally went into the JungleGym and had the longest piss in the world, (not in the jungle gym) before running out and pounding the tarmac in just over 45 minutes. It was my first semi-long run and enjoyed it.

The rest of the day was taken up with reverse carbo loading, cycled round to Gary's to mooch about, went back and cooked Hannah and myself dinner, then went and played football. We had a shocker, going 3-0 down to an own goal and a keeper nutmeg, and a poor backpass. We switched on in the last 2 minutes, scored a good goal, I got a poachers special and we had chances to get the equaliser and fucked it. 

The week before the weekend was good, work, boot camp, saw The Sweeney which was dreadful, worse the Taken 2. DREAAAADFUL. 

The weather is amazing, we're classed as being in a drought which is terrible for the farmers (and probably us next year)  though love it. Hannah's really good and we're great. Also I forgot to mention last week, I went to two England NZ Cricket games, we won both! 

Much love, and Happy Mothers day Mum, you're so good they named a day after you. 

...MARCH?!

Hello.

So it's March 2013, who knew. I know I've made a few mutterings and broken promises about getting round to this more often though I'm going to start updating this once a week, more then likely on a Monday, to cover the weekend in all it's glory, with the week of work a fade on the memory. This is because sadly my computer died. Black Screen. Sad face. I managed to salvage my blog through wizardry, though I haven't wrote a daily post for over 2 weeks.

• I'm really good! Have been easy on the alcohol and going to bed early-ish and feeling great

• Me and Hannah are going really well, we're eating like Kings and seeing a semi decent amount of each other, we went to our friend Ari's graphic design show last week with everyone, it was great. 

• I've started playing football again which is good, signed up for both sat afternoons and Sunday Futsal, and yesterday played SUBfootball, a rather brilliant game of football with no contact whatsoever, small goals which are worth 3 points and a metre board either side of the post which are worth 1 point. I love a bit of contact me though you relied a bit on skill, had a bit more time and was a very fun game to play, plus no injuries almost ever! Somehow I got sin-binned for 5 minutes for a barge on a player, the most ridiculous decision ever made, going up for a header, with eyes only for the ball, I jump with arms down, a bigger bloke comes from the side and gets no where near it, I win the ball, we collide, I land and he's on the ground flat out, and the Ref sends me off for barging. Disgrace. 

• Me and Hannah are going off to Wellington for the Easter Break, looking forward to that, it's my friend's Birthday, Robyn that I met in Burma, which will be good.

• We've got a new flatmate, a cool girl named Bex, moved in yesterday.

That's it really, been playing tennis, no bootcamp for me last week as I got a head knock playing Futsal (we had an rather intense game against some teenagers, sneaking the win 6-5!), chilling out, seeing friends, I'm loving life.

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

7 days till Christmas!

Hello!

So there's 7 days till Christmas. I'm looking forward to Christmas hugely, although it doesn't feel overly like Christmas. Firstly it's hot, which is still weird, secondly how am I supposed to know when Christmas is? I haven't had an advent calender this year...

Work's been pretty busy though still going well, settling in. Had a couple of Christmas dos, we had a big company one at SkyCity which was really good, everyone in posh dress (I was going to put fancy dress though that would be the wrong connotations), I had a really good time.

I'm lucky to have 16 days off over Christmas and New Year. Hannah has got some time off work so we've hired a van for a few days and heading east! I haven't seen a lot of Hannah what with work so well happy about it. Chilling out, freedom, some time away. Also east Coast NZ is the first place in the world to see the sun, so might have to see a sunrise if we can manage.

Christmas day people are coming over to ours, we're having a picnic and then a big meal. I like Christmas, spending it around people you love. It's also nice to look back on, as everyone remembers Christmas. I can't believe it's been a year since the last one, being part of Christmas Eve Mohawk Club, or the one before, round my dads xmas day and mum's boxing day, all with my brother and his gf. Crazy!

Lots of love
x

sidenote -

Once again I apologise for a severe lack of posting, although not for the rambunctious drunken previous entry, being drunk is not an excuse or a defence and I think it reflects how I was feeling perfectly, although the actual blog for that day may never see an unedited light of day...

Just to confirm, I'm not a waster, nor living on the streets or sliding down the slippery slope to the land of disappointment.

• I got a job! I knuckled down (finding a job is a full time job) and secured one through an employment agency. It's in the city, working within a good team on the phones, dealing with dairies (cornershops), bakeries, cafes etc who are wanting to buy bread/milk etc from us. I like it there.
• My Mum came to visit! My mum was over for 5 weeks, it was lovely to see her, she had a jaunt round the South Island on her own, then came back up. Work, bless them, let me have 2 weeks off (having only worked there for 3 weeks) to spend around the North Island. It was amazing, covered a decent distance, from Cape Reinga all the way to Wellington, then back up to the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula and returned to Auckland. Highlight was Skydiving, doing the highest jump in NZ with Mum from 16,500ft.  Also went up the Sky Tower (my favourite building of Auckland, I'll one day get round to telling you why), where we ate at a revolving restaurant at a height of 194m.

I was back at work Monday, saw Mum off on Tuesday morning and getting back into the flow of life. Have really enjoyed this week, Hannah has had a few evenings off which has been lovely, went out for dinner followed by an ice cream bar for dessert, walked up Mt Eden, returned to boot camp. 

It's Friday night, and while I've been sat a computer screen all day, I've spent my evening on a computer, completely alone for the first time for a good, good while, catching up with things, long overdue emails and general schemings. I'm looking forward to the weekend, nothing really planned, catch up with friends and sleep. 

Lots of love x