June 14, 2008
Back in the saddle!!!!
Back to work tomorrow 
5 weeks ahead of schedule!!!!!!!!!!!
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May 26, 2008
Corner may have been turned …
don’t want to speak too soon - but things are looking a whole lot better!!! 
First I have a car!!! 
A lovely green brum brum - which is timely as…
I have a job!! 
I actually had the offer of 2!!! (But had to choose one which was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hard!!! 
because they both are in great schools and offer me new opportunities 
but I start term 3 - which is still a bit of time away …
plenty of time to play hostess to My 
Beloved’s Mum who is coming up for a visit 
which I’m really looking forward to.
And my visa has been extended without ANY fuss 
- in a record time of 2 weeks - (well compared to last year’s 6 month effort!!!) and I have my passport back in my hot little hand … 
Sadly my creative writing class was cancelled 
- only 2 of us enrolled - so that’s a bit disappointing …
But I still have the reading group to look forward to … the book for this month is Dry by Augusten Burroughs -his memoirs of being in rehab and recovery from alcoholism - not a preachy dull book but funny and sad and thought provoking - I know when I’m ‘in’ to a book cos I read it in the ‘voice’ of someone I know - and both books I’ve read by this author (I also read Magical Thinking a book of short autobiographical ’stories’ - which I thought was funnier!!) were read in the voice of someone I knew from way back who had alsorts of delusions of grandeur even at a young age!!! And who I could imagine going down a similar life path to Augusten as an adult … 
Went to see the new Indiana Jones - great way to spend a Sunday afternoon - but was made extra special cos we had a ‘Gold Class Experience’ 
The seats reclined, and had foot rests and were wider than normal … and as we were on the front row it was like being on a sofa in front of the biggest TV you could have in your own lounge … 
I fear I may never be able to go back to just sitting up right at the cinema … 
it was way 
for now
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April 29, 2008
6 months down the line …
still here in NZ
it has taken some getting used to all things considered - but one house move (to a non - leaky building!) and a change of job situation later its slowly but surely beginning to click (sighs of relief from My Beloved 
) just have to begin the process to renew permit to stay here 
‘Life IS a rollercoaster ‘ as Ronan Keating sang … 
but am better strapped in than I was …
Renewed my acquaintence with Rotorua at the weekend 
and slept like I haven’t in yonks plus ages … 
Have been taking Italian lessons ‘Molto bene’ and will continue next term along side creative writing 
Have just finished the latest Marian Keyes 
‘This Charming Man’ (had to find a copy of the song to play!!!!) 
Again another phenomenal piece of writing from Ms Keyes who gets right inside my head and emotions to such an extent I grow more and more convinced she follows me around with a note book 
Slightly darker theme than previously but she has a way with words that leaves you feeling empowered (and hugged 
)
might have to re read all her books again (again) to pass the time until the next one …
am joining a book group too - now I’m almost back to normal (whatever that may mean 
) I think its about time I started making the most of it!! 
Might even get back to blogging …. 
for now
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January 9, 2008
And so its 2008
My life has never been straight forward - I may give the impression of being all together, confident, one who nothing or no one can get the better of - well thats been well and truly exposed as a sham in 2007.
Just as we were thinking all that could be thrown at us had been My Dad died suddenly on December 17th.
Luckily was able to get flight back to UK almost immediately - and My Beloved came too.
Still too numb and not quite taking it in to deal with it really - added to which we both caught a nasty chesty fluy bug which is still lingering and in the very muggy heat of Auckland doesn’t seem to be shifting too quickly.
We arrived back yesterday (8th) and I thought I was breathing in an oven!
So 2007 the year which promised so much - delivered a bit but also left its mark in lots of not very happy ways for me.
Hope it was better for you - and looking at it as best I can there’s not much more 2008 can do to make me feel worse really - so in the words of D:ream ‘Things can only get better’
Which I hope and pray they do …
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December 8, 2007
6 weeks 2 Days …
still alive …!!
Been on a bit of a roller coaster ride
but think have come out of the last hole for
I HAVE A JOB!!!!
After being a contender fro Miss Rejection 2007 I will be taking up a position at My Beloved’s Mum’s old primary school in Feb - doing literacy 
Relief is tangible!!!
In other news the great Leaky Building Sorting out programme has started! So am now living in a building site with reduced parking - just like the place I left to come here!!! 
and I know know why Crowded House sang about ‘Four Seasons in One Day ‘ - though sometimes its more like in an hour!!! 
At the moment we’re fluctuating from blue skies and sunshine to wild wet and windy via a kind of hot mugginess you usually only find in a sauna!!! 
And somewhere in all this madness Christmas is going to happen - poor Old Santa will have to get rid of his big thick coat and boots cos he’ll melt!!!!
My brain can’t quite adjust to it even though there’s deco’s and trees around … but in the sort of weather I associate with July!!!!!
no 
this year!!!
It does strange things to you being held upside down with only the magnets in your feet holding you on … well thats what My Beloved 
tells me (about the magnets - not the madness!!! I think!!!! 
)
Going even further south to Christchurch for Chrimble … and even though its nearer Penguin Land (also known as Antartica!) it will apparently get warmer - singlet and shorts and shades for Santa then!!! 
well now life has a bit more 
in it I think I will try to relax and get to know my newly adopted country a bit better
for now
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November 2, 2007
9 days wonder
Yep been here 9 whole days!!!
Feels like I’ve always been here
Have managed to stay in bed beyond 5am the last couple of mornings too - but not today!
I’ve even managed to scale the heights of Mount Needarest to get out of the complex and do a small bit of exploring - solo!!! 
And either with the aid of some proper shoes or a small car I should be able to explore even more …
I now have an ‘eftpos’ card which means people won’t look at me funnily in shops because I don’t have to pay in cash anymore (its a Kiwi thing!) - so I am beginning to feel like a real Kiwi
Going to wave it around in a few shops later!!!
Weather has decided its had enough of welcoming me 
and has reverted to the sort of stuff I’m more used to
Have decided I’m definately NOT a housewife!!!!
for now
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October 28, 2007
Sleep is for wimps!!!
and thats why I don’t have very much!! 
mind you have done well today - didn’t get to the computer 
til 5 a.m.!
Got a sore throat tho 
so maybe the bugs have got over their jet lag now… 
And just to make you all feel better it - it rained yesterday!
Proving that even the Kiwi weather forecasters get it wrong as much as the Brit ones! 
We went to visit Nan Moff and then do some grocery shopping - which was quite an experience for My Beloved - especially as I was spending his money - can’t use mine yet til I’ve activated my account at the bank!
We also got ‘married’!!! 
Well in the eyes of the furniture world …
in the holy temple known as Furniture City we became Mr and Mrs 
- I’m assured its legal, binding and fully affiliated with The Vatican - plus with a money back guarentee should I not be satisfied … 
- and whats more there wasn’t a merengue (sp?) frock or flake of confetti in sight!
You may be pausing now to wipe the screen as some of you may have spat coffee (or tea or beverage of choice!!! ) at it !!!!!! especially My Beloved
Don’t worry won’t deprive anyone out there the opportunity to sit in a hat should I get presented with a ‘ring pull’ ( - or are we going with the tin foil version My Darling? 
)
I know I’m almost back to normal as I was shouting at the radio yesterday 
there was a sports talk back discussing the NZ GB RL test match (I got to ‘hear’ it on Sky! Complete with Heavo and Steaddie!!! No picture just sound!!!! ) They don’t half take it seriously here - not as serious as onion but by jiminy - but what made me laugh (and shout) the most was the way they were hailing the GB players - (apart from Big Ade who has a price on his head down here!!! ) - as being wonderful - the same ones we slate during the normal SL season!! I became very convinced the presenter had never watched a game of league in his life!!!
I think I may have to do some very serious missionary work!!!! 
Where’s Deano’s phone number 
for now
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October 26, 2007
G’day from Sunny Auckland!
Yes I’m here!!!!!!! 
arrived safely 10.46 a.m Thursday 25th October 2007 - to brilliant blue skies and sunshine!
(and a rather gorgous man!! )
It was the end of a l-o-n-g journey that began way way back in January …
Didn’t leave the UK 
without a hitch though that wouldbeen too easy!
We left for Heathrow with plenty of time - only to be turffed off the Tube at Acton Town and told to get on another line for a couple of stops and then the Heathrow Connect train because of a security alert! 
So me and backpack, my dad with my mega case which has been packed - unpacked- repacked etc etc hundreds of times in last 2 weeks cos I was paranoid I wouldn’t fit everything in, two sisters , a neice and a pushchair all got off (with the other couple of hundred people!) the tube to stand and wait for the connecting train which was then so mega packed there was no way anyone could move easily - so much so that the announcement ‘Please have your tickets ready for inspection’ was greeted with laughter … they don’t employ people who can levitate in the British transport industry!!!
I guess it was just their way of saying ‘goodbye’ after giving me a treat last Saturday!!!
Any hoo - the clock was ticking - had to book in by 7.30 p.m. - at 7.29 p.m. I was sticking my mega case on the scales (If all had gone to plan we would have been there with time to spare for a drink!)
Very ‘nice’ man booked me in - two window seats (and my 27kg case!!! Even travelling business I have to push it almost to the limit!!!!!)
We then looked at the queue to go through security almost stretched back to central London!!! Even the fasttrack one for peeps like me - so decided to join it which meant farewells were shorter … which was possibly no bad thing … or I might not be here now typing this
Was thoroughly checked - my bargain plastic ‘airbag’ for carrying the ‘liquids’ was brill - even went through gate without it buzzing - which for me is a first! (Maybe they’d heard about me and my boots in Poland!!! ) - but they are getting canny - just when you think the duty free shops are within your reach you get stopped again ! To take your shoes off to be checked!!!
(and the opportunity to stand on something that hurt your foot - dunno what it was but luckily for them won’t be suing this time!! 
)
Then it was hey lads hey to the ‘lounge’ which after all the hustle and bustle of the previous 3 hours was an oasis of calm 
Nice cool drink - a few texts - then it was up to the departure gate and onboard …
I had a bed!!! (well a seat that converted into one! )
and I was upstairs!!!! - and at the front !!!!!!! 
Definately the celeb life for me!!! 
So the journey to Seoul was fab - comfy, a sleep, so only really watched one film … food and service were great too!
Seoul Incheon International is a very big airport - but there didn’t seem to be many planes there …
spent the 3 hours in the lounge (not quite so cosy and calm) before boarding the plane to Auckland 
Sadly it was an older model so no bed - and I wasn’t able to get as comfy - so watched more films on that leg … and of course the excitement started to kick in …
Kept checking on progress of flight - we seemed to be stuck at around 5 hours away for ages
… didn’t fly over Aus this time … and it was dark outside much longer - even when I knew the time in Auckland was 8 a.m. - still by the time they served breakkie we were in bright blue skies (I sneaked up the screen to re adjust my body clock - I read somewhere that when daylight hits your eyes it does that!!)
As we approached NZ it was very easy to see why its known as The Land of The Long White Cloud - all light and fluffy…
as we flew over Auckland itself I was able to pick out things I’d seen on my last trip (ever the Geographer!!!!) - we did a big loop so we flew over Flynn St …. 
Passed through immigration like a dream - obviously the memo got lost - the one saying don’t make it too easy for her A very nice man welcomed me to the country and wished me lots of luck 
Then was the bit I hate - the baggage carousel - thats where Captain Paranoia really starts to shout down my ear …
But Mega case was about the fourth piece through - then it was a short walk through the ‘MAF’ nothing to declare and through the doors ….
And …. 
I was actually the first one through too …
It was a glorious day too weather wise …
I’ll fill you in on the next bit later - but for now need a drink - body clock didn’t quite get the message - think it thinks I don’t need any sleep 
but I am hungry 
for now
October 21, 2007
And away we go….
Logging in from the first stop on my journey to paradise
Its been quite a week and a bit from the emptying of the house 
to the sale finally going through 
to the innumerable variations on packing and extra packages being sent over 
Sitting on the train yesterday - I decided to travel First class because I needed the space to put my luggage! - it all felt surreal 
Its actually happening …
I had a lovely send off 
felt like a celeb …
The fact you get free refreshments brought to your seat and that the ticket man didn’t come to check the ticket so I wasn’t given the opportunity to ‘upgrade’ it more than made up for the last few journey’s to London I’ve done when I’ve either had to stand up or perch on my case or even sit on the floor!!!
I may literally be the other side of the world but all this technology will make it seem as if I’m still there - can’t get rid of me that easily!
Just need to repack my case - again :roflma: and then its off to the airport Tuesday
for now
October 9, 2007
The Final Countdown ….
No not to the Grand Final at Old Trafford which could have featured the team which made the ‘greatest comeback in sporting history’! instead of the same old same old (I’m sure you’ll have a fabulous time Rob - just don’t forget to wear your protective gear - and plastic bags for your feet - brave man entering enemy territory
No not to the semi final that shouldn’t have been - how DID the AB’s lose?????
Mind you if the anchor man on the TV so much as whispers ‘Cry God for Jonny and St George’ during another completely cringe worthy jingoistic commentary
(yes I know its against the French - but the ‘RaRa Rule Britannia’ speil on Saturday was enough to make me want to eat snails in Garlic - and me a veggie!!!! ) I won’t be responsible for my actions … 
Mind you if Jonny keeps being a one man team that ball of his I have will be worth a packet!!!
Its rather more exciting than that well to me at any rate!
No dear reader I married him …
SORRY came over all Jane Austen then … 
No after months of faffing in such a way that I should be Queen of Faffdom (please insert appropriate QoF smiley here!!! )
its all happening …
House completion Monday
Fly to new life October 23rd!!!!
Can’t quite believe it myself
But I’ve booked my ticket
And I know a very very happy man
But as you can see its not made me sleep any better ….
Perhaps thats being saved for NZ !!!
Or maybe any minute now I’m going to wake up in a ‘Bobby Ewing Stylee’ (that’ll test your 1980’s cultural knowledge … 
) and find I’ve dreamed it all up - even this website!!!
for now …