First of all to the Americans out there reading, happy thanksgiving.
Christmas is a weird time for me. Having no family makes it a very lonely time and being involved with anothers family accentuates that feeling, however involved they make you feel.
Thinking back to this time last year, losing a baby, christmas with christian, and how loney I felt though all of that; no christmas presents or any love or sympathy from dear christian...
I therefore give thanks for Luke, for making me feel special and loved outside of holidays. I give thanks for Marianne, who makes me feel like someone cares outside of a boy-girl relationship. I give thanks for the people around me who give me strength, especially you, my blog readers who have supported me through some of the toughest times in my life.
This year was all about finding myself, as I wrote last year. Well Im not entirely sure I have completed that task, but I have almost found a new place in the world. And thats a start.
Thursday 27 November 2008
Tuesday 25 November 2008
Tie me kangaroo down sport..
Not a lot going on at the moment. My life is full of paperwork, and waiting for paperwork. Still waiting for my registration and police checks from uk to come through before visa application can be started.So back sitting around. Thought I may put my time to good use by volunteering, either for st john ambulance (I used to be cadet when i was younger) the salvation army (wrapping christmas presents) or the red cross (visiting the elderly) Have written to all charities and soup kitchens in the area. Hate to waste my time when I could be helping others..
Things are going well with Luke. Hes a nice guy so whats not to go well really. His family are great and its nice to be involved in a family again, although I always live in fear if I enjoy it too much it will all be taken away from me..again.
Looking forward to settling down at last though...
Friday 21 November 2008
Looking up
Period started sunday and was relatively painless and emotionless..and less exausting I think thanks to the b12!!All the job stuff is panning out and I have a start date now, so just got to look forward to christmas and then after that look forward to starting my new job!
Then all the stuff that goes with that.. finding a house, settling down.. starting a new life....
I am thinking about Luke as a serious life partner now I may be able to stay in this country, so I had better sort myself out a bit more and try and make this one work!
Friday 14 November 2008
Back in the land of aus
So been back a week now. Had my interview, got the job. Now have tons of paperwork and hurdles to jump to get my visa, and THEN I can start work!!Am 3 days late with period, which happens when I travel, but its making me tired and stressed and panicky. But thanks to the vitamin B, not as panicky and tired and stressed as usual! Could it be I have found the cure..?
Panicking about my apartment in DK. I started with a very short term rent to a friend of my neighbour. One month it was supposed to be. They have now been there 3 months, and the rent is always delayed, I have no deposit from them etc .. wondering whether I should now get a contract written up.. and maybe find out how long they intend to stay, so maybe I can find another tenant after!! I did things all wrong. I should have left all this with Marianne, as I now dont trust the people running my affairs, but now I cant seem to anything about it!
Panicking about all the paperwork, police checks and x rays I have to get organised before I can start work..
Although am really looking forward to the job, its looks just what I like doing... working with 8-13 year olds and ther families with emotioal and behavioural problems. No nightshifts and no weekends woooo hooo!!
So Just need to sort out the confusing odds and ends, find somewhere to live and then start my life!!
Friday 7 November 2008
Four seasons in one day
So parting soon for the sunnier climes of Australia. Here is my summary of NZ
- Bedlinen is called Manchester here
- The majority of kiwi "ladies" are tattoed big time
- It rains a lot
- They have a weird accent (bed is pronounced bid and big is prononces bug)
- The rural areas look very much like UK/Scotland only with a few tropical areas
So a new leaf is about to be turned and I will try and wipe all the old stuff out and start a new life in Australia.. wish me luck x
Tuesday 4 November 2008
Angels great Campervan adventure
Internet is few and far between in remote areas, so writing details in word and uploading when I can..
CAMPERVAN ADVENTURE
Day One:
Picked up campervan from depot- scared shitless of driving it, but it was totally fine and easy to drive, manouvre and park, amazing. After getting lost in Auckland, after 45 minutes I finally found the motorway heading north and my journey began. Driving across harbour bridge was awesome, but hard to take in the views whilst driving also I couldn’t remember which one was the slow lane, so I kept to the middle, but people passed on both sides so it took me ages to figure out is was the slow lane was left. I drove up the coast, in the first sunny weather Id seen since being in NZ. As my phone had been stolen, Id arranged by email to meet Lara and Heather in Paihia ar their hotel around 5pm I left Auckland around 12.40pm so this gave me time to stop and meander along the roads. The roads were hilly and twisty with some awesome vistas and after 2 hours I finally stopped in Whangarei (pronounced Fangarei) This was the first place Id applied to do my course, so I took a drive around the quaint little town and drove up to the waterfalls.
At around 5 I arrived at my destination of Paihia, found the girls in their hotel (Scenic Circle- a VERY nice hotel) and we walked into the small town to grab a bite to eat. That night they let me stay on their bedroom floor (the rooms are huge) and in the morning I got to take a shower in the beautiful bathroom before heading off on my own ….
Day two:
I headed out of Paihia in the rain, to the nearby Waitangi, site of the signing of the famous treaty of Waitangi , it was 20 dollars to get into house and gardens, so I snapped a couple of photos and gave it a miss, driving past and up the same roads to a natural reserve area, where the scenes over the Bay of Islands was gorgeous. Heading back on myself I drove some long and winding roads in the rain to Kerikeri, another quaint little town, where there is a big organic gluten free shop. Needless to say I picked up some food (GF beef and garlic sausages) some soup, and at the local supermarket sme potatoes, and then headed to the tourist sites, the stone store (built in 1833 by the first missionaries working with the maori tribes) Kemp house (also missionaries) Rewas village (a replica maori village) and finally Rainbow falls. I stopped for ice to fill up my campervans icebox at a small butchers shop where the butcher was a proper butcher cutting meat on a sanded tree trunk and covered in blood! Driving further through winding lanes and down a death defying mountain trail, I finally arrived at Matauri Bay, where I entered into Matauri Bay Holiday Park paid 12 dollars, and parked my campervan on the beach overlooking the ocean, and the sun came out! Its absolutely beautiful here and great to be so close to the ocean, I can hear the waves roaring from inside my van. Theres a few people around, but not many, theres a kitchen, a laundry, showers and lots of nature. I cooked my sausages and potatoes and ate them by the side of the ocean. Then I put together the bed inside the camper (which I may just leave up now) Plugged in, set the heater up and lamp up ready for darkness and now writing this, whilst watching the ocean. Whilst I was eating one of the local maori boys came up and asked me lots of questions, I was pretty afraid, as Im in the middle of nowhere, but I was friendly and he seemed ok, but have now locked all the van doors! Its 18.30 I will do some reading and then sleep. This camping lark is easier than I thought J
Having not be able to blog awhile I have lots of thoughts building up… about me, new Zealand… The New Zealand People see very nice but dim people. Both new Zealanders and Australians call bed linen “Manchester”
Im amazed that I have ended up in a campervan touring new Zealand. Who am I?? But I am glad Im doing it, its always been on my list of things to do, I guess I am lucky to have a chance to do it!
New Zealand looks like North England, so I am not too impressed by it.. yet. Prefer Perth…
Day 3
the night went ok, a couple of noises but was cool. Woke up early, had a shower in the hot showers had brekky with an ocean view and went for a wander.. Packed up the van and headed off on teh winding scary coastal roads looking at the bays before heading off to the other side of North Island accross gravel roads heading to Dargaville... Right now am stopped briefly in a small town, and luckily picing up Wifi from somewhere!!!
Day Three Part two:
Finally got to baylys beach around 4.30pm.. found the camp park- not as nice as yesterdays and parked up and plugged in.. wifi doesn’t work, but the lady was a lot nicer than yesterday and I booked an hours horseride on the beach for tomorrow.. made my dinner and now rain coming in and bedding down for the night
day four:
RAIN RAIN RAIN! met some interesting Germans, one a young one learning english and planting kumara, and an older one who recently married after 10 years together and heavily regretting it, shes in togo hes travelling nz... weve spoken about that kind of situation before..
Drove coast road back to Auckland through forests of giant trees and amazing coastline, dropped van back and finally made it to my cheap and yet amazing hotel: formule 1.. great place!
CAMPERVAN ADVENTURE
Day One:
Picked up campervan from depot- scared shitless of driving it, but it was totally fine and easy to drive, manouvre and park, amazing. After getting lost in Auckland, after 45 minutes I finally found the motorway heading north and my journey began. Driving across harbour bridge was awesome, but hard to take in the views whilst driving also I couldn’t remember which one was the slow lane, so I kept to the middle, but people passed on both sides so it took me ages to figure out is was the slow lane was left. I drove up the coast, in the first sunny weather Id seen since being in NZ. As my phone had been stolen, Id arranged by email to meet Lara and Heather in Paihia ar their hotel around 5pm I left Auckland around 12.40pm so this gave me time to stop and meander along the roads. The roads were hilly and twisty with some awesome vistas and after 2 hours I finally stopped in Whangarei (pronounced Fangarei) This was the first place Id applied to do my course, so I took a drive around the quaint little town and drove up to the waterfalls.
At around 5 I arrived at my destination of Paihia, found the girls in their hotel (Scenic Circle- a VERY nice hotel) and we walked into the small town to grab a bite to eat. That night they let me stay on their bedroom floor (the rooms are huge) and in the morning I got to take a shower in the beautiful bathroom before heading off on my own ….
Day two:
I headed out of Paihia in the rain, to the nearby Waitangi, site of the signing of the famous treaty of Waitangi , it was 20 dollars to get into house and gardens, so I snapped a couple of photos and gave it a miss, driving past and up the same roads to a natural reserve area, where the scenes over the Bay of Islands was gorgeous. Heading back on myself I drove some long and winding roads in the rain to Kerikeri, another quaint little town, where there is a big organic gluten free shop. Needless to say I picked up some food (GF beef and garlic sausages) some soup, and at the local supermarket sme potatoes, and then headed to the tourist sites, the stone store (built in 1833 by the first missionaries working with the maori tribes) Kemp house (also missionaries) Rewas village (a replica maori village) and finally Rainbow falls. I stopped for ice to fill up my campervans icebox at a small butchers shop where the butcher was a proper butcher cutting meat on a sanded tree trunk and covered in blood! Driving further through winding lanes and down a death defying mountain trail, I finally arrived at Matauri Bay, where I entered into Matauri Bay Holiday Park paid 12 dollars, and parked my campervan on the beach overlooking the ocean, and the sun came out! Its absolutely beautiful here and great to be so close to the ocean, I can hear the waves roaring from inside my van. Theres a few people around, but not many, theres a kitchen, a laundry, showers and lots of nature. I cooked my sausages and potatoes and ate them by the side of the ocean. Then I put together the bed inside the camper (which I may just leave up now) Plugged in, set the heater up and lamp up ready for darkness and now writing this, whilst watching the ocean. Whilst I was eating one of the local maori boys came up and asked me lots of questions, I was pretty afraid, as Im in the middle of nowhere, but I was friendly and he seemed ok, but have now locked all the van doors! Its 18.30 I will do some reading and then sleep. This camping lark is easier than I thought J
Having not be able to blog awhile I have lots of thoughts building up… about me, new Zealand… The New Zealand People see very nice but dim people. Both new Zealanders and Australians call bed linen “Manchester”
Im amazed that I have ended up in a campervan touring new Zealand. Who am I?? But I am glad Im doing it, its always been on my list of things to do, I guess I am lucky to have a chance to do it!
New Zealand looks like North England, so I am not too impressed by it.. yet. Prefer Perth…
Day 3
the night went ok, a couple of noises but was cool. Woke up early, had a shower in the hot showers had brekky with an ocean view and went for a wander.. Packed up the van and headed off on teh winding scary coastal roads looking at the bays before heading off to the other side of North Island accross gravel roads heading to Dargaville... Right now am stopped briefly in a small town, and luckily picing up Wifi from somewhere!!!
Day Three Part two:
Finally got to baylys beach around 4.30pm.. found the camp park- not as nice as yesterdays and parked up and plugged in.. wifi doesn’t work, but the lady was a lot nicer than yesterday and I booked an hours horseride on the beach for tomorrow.. made my dinner and now rain coming in and bedding down for the night
day four:
RAIN RAIN RAIN! met some interesting Germans, one a young one learning english and planting kumara, and an older one who recently married after 10 years together and heavily regretting it, shes in togo hes travelling nz... weve spoken about that kind of situation before..
Drove coast road back to Auckland through forests of giant trees and amazing coastline, dropped van back and finally made it to my cheap and yet amazing hotel: formule 1.. great place!
Saturday 1 November 2008
AUCKLAND
sooo last day went really well, suddenly everyone loved me.. why does that always happen like just when you leave somewhere?? Anyway arrived in Auckland yesterday by bus to my last minute discount luxury hotel.. sky city grand, which is fabulous... had to wait a while for my room so tried the cafe opposite (which was the worst steak ive ever tasted, but they gave me a refund!) So Im sitting in this cafe in the middle of new zealand, and who is sitting next to me... 2 danish guys!!!!! WTF right next to me!!! So we cchatted in danish for a while,but FFS.. is someone trying to tell me something, really??!!Got back to hotel soaked in the bath with all their spa products,wrapped myself in bathrobe and slippers and sipped jasmine tea, watched sattelite tv.. and this morning I used the pool and sauna.. all just what I needed, plus the massive comfy bed.
However that all changed today, when I pick up my CAMPERVAN... yes Im going to be driving around the next week and sleeping wherever I choose to stop!! Im a little bit afraid as those of you that know me know Im not the worlds greatest driver in a small car... but anyway... SO Im driving up to the bay of islands later and hopefully meeting up again with lara and heather.. but they go home monday so after that Im all aloneeee in the wilderness.. how brave am I??!!
Auckland is nothing special, I have 3 more days here when I get back and Im not looking forward to it, actually its quite beyond me why anyone would choose to come to NZ... Id rather spend my time in sunny Aus!!
However that all changed today, when I pick up my CAMPERVAN... yes Im going to be driving around the next week and sleeping wherever I choose to stop!! Im a little bit afraid as those of you that know me know Im not the worlds greatest driver in a small car... but anyway... SO Im driving up to the bay of islands later and hopefully meeting up again with lara and heather.. but they go home monday so after that Im all aloneeee in the wilderness.. how brave am I??!!
Auckland is nothing special, I have 3 more days here when I get back and Im not looking forward to it, actually its quite beyond me why anyone would choose to come to NZ... Id rather spend my time in sunny Aus!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
