....ho hum....

Time seems to be dragging sooooooooo slowly at the moment. I suppose thats the same for all travellers....takes ages till its holiday time then the holiday flies by.
At the moment tho the last thing I feel like thinking about is leaving. I stil have heaps to do but I just can be arsed at the moment so am just leaving it all......the job agencies will be thrilled with me. Its just too much to think about this week, and last week.
In the meanwhile, I have been playing a lot with my iPod and found out you can download all kinds of podcasts on all different things....I geekily have downloaded a couple of walking tour ones for London and some other travel and UK related ones but more interestingly there are audio blogs, like this only people rambling about whatever they like. Weird!! I am yet to listen to any of these but will try to as might be amusing in some sense.....one is called '101 uses for babywipes' hmmm, but there is over 2500 other ones.
Otherwise YAY I won tickets to go see Girls Aloud tomorrow so could NOT be more excited. I love the Girls Aloud!! (more the clothes and style than the music it must be said)

Lantern Festival

Tonight I went to the Chinese Lantern Festival in Albert Park in Auckland. It was wicked! All the beautiful lanterns and soooooooo many people! Heaps and heaps of stuff for sale, like little lanterns etc etc but I was very restrained seeing as I cant take any of it with me! Or I could but it leaves less space for shoes!
Otherwise I just have some pics of the festival, not sure if they reflect the atmosphere but it was great.

It has not escaped my attention that altho this was designed to be a blog detailing my exploits overseas, it has become a blog about what I am doing in NZ. Hmm Altho, in preparation for going I have bought an iPod which I LOVE! I have spent so long putting songs and album art on, to the point that if I loose it I dont think I would get another, would be too much work to recreate all that! Oh well, on to lantern pics.....pics of an ipod prob arent exciting.

Music and Fun-times

Oh so much music and sunshine lately! I have only got 11 weekends left in the country so it has been all out and about in the sunshine while it lasts.
January 20th was the Big Day Out.....oh Franz Ferdinand I love you!! Was a very good day, the silent disco being another standout.....so funny, all wearing headphones tuned into the one DJ, all dancing and in many cases also singing and clapping. For the ultimate in amusement take the headphones off and hear how out of tune and time people are. Hysterical.
Today was the George FM Groove in the Park, at the Domain in Auckland. Was a stunning day.....spent under the trees in the sunshine. Was quite far from the stage but could hear Salmonella Dub and they were wicked. I just felt like falling asleep, was very relaxing. Instead I just sat and ate and read.
I am going to try and make a plan for something to do every weekend before I go...hopefully involving seeing a lot of friends. I have so much yet to do that I am becoming very forgetful! Is a souce of anusement for people who realise I am usually terribly organised.
11 weekends to go! I cant believe it!

Holiday holiday

Woohoo the weather has just been fabbo lately, so fabbo infact that I am all burnt.
In light of being back at work today (and on call! boohoo!) I am posting some nice hot looking holiday pics, ironic considering it rained today, all day.

This is Andrea and I posing outside our handiwork, yes we erected the tent all by our clever selves.......Andrea while wearing heels! Aah camping is not really for us!

This is at Waipu for the Highland games but the above one is Rangitoto Island in the Waitemata harbour, Auckland. How tropical looking!

Spookily Accurate Analysis

I just found this, you must try it if your bored....analysis of handwriting. Yeah is all a bit non-scientific, which I hate, but read what it said about me.....creepy accurate I think!

You plan ahead, and are interested in beauty, design, outward
appearance, and symmetry. You are a person who thinks before acting, intelligent
and thorough. You are diplomatic, objective, and live in the present. You are a
talkative person, maybe even a busybody! You enjoy life in your own way and do
not depend on the opinions of others.

Probably the only thing it missed is 'Totally Anal". See http://handwriting.feedbucket.com//
I am really getting into this blogging now!

Countdown!

How cute it this little countdown timer?? I just had to add it on so right now. Its from www.tickerfactory.com. I have added it to my title so you can see the time and dates right at the top without having to scroll down to this post (because I know you will be wanting to hmm)

Ooh I am Bloggin' it

Well how exciting is this, my very own blog. After my very hesitant first attempt at a posting (well I was at work!) I have gained some confidence and here I am now, havent I come so far!

Well as of today, I have exactly 126 days till I am up up and away. Freaky pete much. Altho I have all my tickets and stuff organised (praise be) and most of my travel-esq type things that I will need (thanks santa), I still feel like I need something else. Any of you will know however that I usually have that soft spot towards shopping. Well Boxing day today, all the sales have started so I should be able to get more stuff I need in the sales. Of course 'need' is a very broad definition!
One of my fav things I got for Christmas was a St Christopher medallion. Not being at all religious it is a strange thing for me to want but him being the patron saint of travellers I wanted one. I like to know all about things so here is some guff about him from the Patron Saints index:

St Christopher: Third Century Martyr. His fame derives from the pious legend of
him being a "Christ-bearer" (= Christopher). He was a powerfully built man who
wandered the world in search of novelty and adventure. He came upon a hermit who
lived beside a dangerous stream and served others by guiding them to safe places
to cross. He gave Offero (Christopher) instruction in the truth of God. Offero
took the hermit's place, but instead of guiding travellers, he carried them
safely across the stream. One day he carried a small child across the stream;
the child's weight nearly crushed him. When they arrived on the other side, the
child revealed himself as Christ, and he was so heavy because he bore the weight
of the world on himself. He then baptised Offero with water from the stream.
Christopher's service at the stream led to his patronage of things related to
travel and travellers, people who carry things, etc.

As you can see Christmas was excellent otherwise! These are some pics of me and some family members in various ststes of inebriation. Yay for Christmas!

I cant believe my next Christmas will be in the cold (snow?? Fingers crossed!) and may well resemble a Christmas card!

First Post!

How exciting! My first post!

Well, truly its not that exciting, but it is all new
and strange for me and I am bored at work so it kinda is.