5 - Auckland-Paihia-Auckland-Paihia...Thailand!

December 2011


I arrived in Auckland on Thursday 24th November, met by Claire and Faye (BUNACers) at the bus station.  The bus journey was pretty long!


We went to Gemmas work where Carl and Stuart  (more BUNACers!) met us ... it was a BUNAC reunion! :) 


We went out for a few beers that night, and I stayed at Gemmas.  Gemma has a flat in Auckland CBD, and she works in a bar.


Gemma and I spent the day in Auckland on Friday.  We booked our Northlands trip, sorted out my Stray bus pass, picked up a parcel, went to the harbour ... Auckland is busy - not really my thing but nice enough :)  It reminds me a lot of Toronto.


So this weekend Gemma and I packed a bag (with towels, bikinis and chocolate) and headed up to Paihia (Pie Here) where we met Kate and Toni (MORE of them BUNACers).

Gemma and Kate

Paihia is in the bay of islands, up north on the east coast.  It is higher than Sydney, and is known as the winterless north, so it's pretty hot and sunny!

Paihia beach

Paihia is home to the Waitangi treaty grounds, and not too far away is the Tane Mahuta Kauri Tree which we visited.  Maori legend has it that he separated his mother and father (the land and sky) so that life on Earth could be created.  The photos don't do it justice but it is a bag as tree!  It is 2500 years old, and the biggest Kauri tree in the world I think..

me at Tane Mahuta

Seeing Toni again was awesome, she is so much fun!  We spent the day on the beach on Saturday and went on a night out with Toni and her house mates.  Tonis house mates are fun, although I don't know that I could keep up with their partying!  Then on Sunday we had to get the bus back to Auckland.  We made a few stops on the way (the Kauri forest above being one), the Hokianga Harbour and the Kauri Museum.


Paihia is so beautiful, as soon as I got off the bus I decided I want to live there and find a job!  There were a few places hiring for the summer so I handed in a few C.V's, and there is space in the room at the house which Toni rents (though the space is 1/2 of bunk bed that her cousin Adam sleeps in!) so I will hopefully be moving in there ... the view is stunning!


I got back to Auckland and immediately booked my coach back up to Paihia (I would have just stayed but my case was still in Auckland).  I leave on Wednesday - I can't wait!


I'm currently staying with Claire who also has a job in a bar in Auckland.  We got talking and debated going to Thailand together in March next year...


24 hours later we booked our flights!


Looking at hostels in Thailand - we can get 11 nights accommodation for 2 of us in a twin room for the equivalent of 30 pounds each ... sweet as!

4 - 8 squished white tails, 4 Pavlovas, 3 flat batteries, 2 trips up the mountain and one AWESOME family

November 2011


I leave Stratford in 3 days!


I always said that I would spend 3 months MAX with who ever I ended up being an Au Pair for.  Well, I didn't factor in that the family might actually be amazing! So I stayed for 4 and a bit months, And I'm so glad that I did :)


The last few weeks I have been getting more and more excited about leaving though, just because it's going to be so much fun.


I am headed to Auckland, and staying with Gemma or Claire - both are happy to put me up - and then I think Gemma, Kate and I are going to go on a trip up to Paihia this weekend.  



It's funny to think that I only met these girls for 5 days whilst in HK and Auckland .. yet I think of them as my good friends because they are my connection to England.

I might just get off the bus and stay in Paihia and find a job for a few weeks until New Years on Waiheke... who knows?! I don't.  And that's why I'm so excited :)


Last week I went and stayed out at Opunake.  My manager at the bar I'm working in - Andrea - has a beach house out there, and Andrea is a perfect example of the kiwi hospitality ... she just took me out to stay for a few days. It's the PERFECT house, you can see the sea on one side and the mountain on the other.


The summer is on its way here, which means super busy weekends full of swimming, cricket, athletics and all sorts of other things going on.  This family really make the most of everything and it's so cool to have been a part of it.


Keith told me that he is coming with me when I go home to England because he wants to see my doggies ... he is so cute I might just let him! :)


Hannah has been getting a bit upset about me leaving but she has decided that when she is old enough she is going to go travelling and come stay with me in England (if I haven't moved over here by then!  In that scenario, Hannah is just going to come and live with me here haha)


So my last few weeks have been spent doing all sorts of outdoors things, including jumping into the river in my undies ... kiwi as!  


When I talk to people at home, although I'm really far away I have realised that the further you travel, the smaller the world seems to feel.  Before I left I would think of visiting Scotland as a 'long trip' but in actual fact .. it's nothing! 


Some of the kiwi lingo I've picked up is: 


wop wops (middle of nowhere)
jandals (flip flops)
chippies (crisps)
togs (swimming costume)
rattle your dags! (hurry up!)
true?! (oh really?!)
sweet/choice (cool)
jersey (jumper)

I have picked up a few Maori words too, Hannah has taught me how to sing head, shoulders, knees and toes in Maori, and Cooper taught me how to sing Happy Birthday - and he is only 4! :)

I will update again at some point in the near future, with hopefully more fun things that aren't based around family life

But for now, see ya later Stratford, Auckland - lets see ya! :)

Here are some pictures from my time here...

Stratford

Me and Zak - Mount Taranaki

Keith and I - Tramp Time

The day I turned Cooper into a Robot...

Hannah, Santa the snowman and Me

Card making with Joanne and Hannah

Pukekura Park - New Plymouth

The Pattersons on their Farm

Shooting a gun and being VERY serious about it too

Zak and I at a RWC 2011 game (awesome weather for a roofless stadium!)

Dawson Falls, Stratford

Let me introduce you to Jo ...

Lake Mangamahoe

My midnight visitor ...

Cheshire Cat ice cream time! :)

Hannah and I on the tramp

Friday Family Movie Night - Hunter, Me and Keith

Bonfire Night

3 - Ra whanau ki a koe

16th November 2011


Happy Birthday to me! 

The perfect combination of Kiwi and Pommy cake ... Victoria Sponge AND Pavlova! DE-LISH!

I turned 22 on the 16th November, (doesn't seem like 2 minutes since my 21st tea party!) and I had a great day! :) I wore a dress and a crown all day - and why not?! I ate lots of yummy food.  Perfect.


Jo and Hannah came and woke me up with a cuppa tea, and I opened all the things I got in the post and then they made me pancakes for breakfast.

Jo and Hannah had been playing a game with me for the last few weeks and I hadn't clicked on until my birthday tea! It was the 'what is your favourite" game ... "What is your favourite cake? What is your favourite music? What is your favourite thing to do?" 

I got lots of cards and presents from people at home.  I got a bit emotional when I read my mummy and daddys card, and a letter from my friend Verity.

The Pattersons gave me a really cute card, and they got me a Stratford tea towel (haha) and a Pandora charm for my bracelet ... I had had a few wines by this point and got VERY emotional at that ... how kind of them :)

I spent the day with Joanne, who is one of Jo's friends, and is so cool! 

I spoke to my mum and dad on the phone, and also Jean my God-Mother (who had sent me a St. Christopher necklace to keep me safe whilst travelling).


My Aunt Maj sent me a greatly appreciated parcel, of chocolates, Christmas Pajamas, a lovely summer dress and a pretty top...the chocolates went down a treat!


My Gran sent me make up, My best friend Sam sent me some very cute rings and a very inappropriate T-shirt and Verity sent me the CUTEST picture :)

Anyway ... I officially love my birthday being in the sunshine instead of the cold! 

Birthday belgian waffles with baileys ice cream :)