Yippee!!! Got paid today and it's my first proper pay cheque in 18 months. When I sat and worked it out, I couldn't believe how long it's been since I left my last crappy job and decent wages...

It's been an odd month all in all. I'm broke, which I hate passionately, but I have a feeling it's going to take a turn for the better especially if I manage to blag one of two contracts that I'm chasing. Both are going to take me out of Bristol for a while, although that's no bad thing - you can travel to the other side of the world for adventure and yet never bother to explore your own back yard! Considering buying a 'Lonely Planet' guide to the UK and seeing my country through the eyes of a tourist every now and again.

Christmas over for another year...

It's shocking that's it's all over so quickly given the huge build-up that seems to start earlier every year. By the end October we seem to be subjected to a barrage of hype and instructions to buy the latest this and that. It was actually quite blissful to be to broke to even contemplate getting caught up in all that festive panic - I just got to wander around on Christmas Eve with a bemused expression, watching all around me desperately searching for that last minute, perfect gift.

Next year I'm going to make my pressies (someone remind me I said that) and, rather than fight the crowds in the high street, I'm going to buy lots of red wine and spend my evenings curled up somewhere warm, being creative.

If the thruth be told, I was a little worried about the prospect of Xmas this year and of being a bit of a Billy; after being away from Bristol for so long and not really being that organized. Should have known better - had a fantastic time. Thanks guys!

OK, OK sue me it's been a while. I know I promised to update this soon but events kind of overtook me, that and a lack of internet access - Santa if you're listening, a PC and a broadband connection would be lush. Anyway this impromptu entry is due to this: Track Santa. Check it out. Well am off now before someone (Aleck!) shops me for being drunk in charge of a keyboard...

Will be writing more soon, but the computer keeps losing my stuff!

Thursday, November 07, 2002
After breakfast and an early morning dip in the spa, the three of us explored some more of Rotorua. Damn this place is smelly! We checked out the city park with it's multitude of thermal ponds and overexcited pools of mud; there's one called the Lobster Pool which allegedly turns your skin a reddish colour if you're a whitey. Then we did our bit for the local wildlife and fed the extremely freindly black swans on the lake - I'm sure they only loved us for our bread.

Next stop Taupo, via the world's youngest volcanic valley - Waimangu Thermal Reserve - which boasts the largest hotpool ever. Lake Taupo is where most kiwis go on holiday and apparently the popluation quadruples during the summer. [Will add more detail when I have the time.]

Once in Taupo we located another backpacker with a spa (hey why break a godd habit!) and spent the evening relaxing until the boys got restless and dragged me to one of the Irish pubs in the centre. Gianluca was in his element on the dancefloor although the kiwi DJ had extremely debateable taste in music.

Today the three of us explored the Coromandel. Unfortunately the weather wasn't that great and the tides were extraordinarily high so no curving golden beaches for us - still the mountains were fantastic. After taking a back road from Tuarunga we arrived in Roturua, and after a little momentary blondeness from me, we eventually checked into Cactus Jack's Packpackers. A very cool places to stay as it was all decked out to resemble a Mexcian Frontier town, complete with a Jail House and more importantly the Chief's Meeting Place, aka hot tub which is just what's needed after a long day in the car.

Tuesday, October 05, 2002
After an emotional goodbye with the rest of the family in Paihia, Paul Gianluca and I headed south - the start of our 'Gaytime 2002' [a reference to Paul's antics in the bar the other evening]. Our first destination was Thames, at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula, with two pit stops in Auckland and Maramarua to see Helen and Chelfyn. Thames itself is pretty quiet, but we had a cracking evening after meeting two other travellers in the hostel's kitchen. Alison, and her German companion, was a bit of a live wire and the covnersation ran from current affairs to Asian men and the worst chat-up lines a girl can get. Beat this one: "... I'm tired of shallow waters; I'm looking for deep oceans like you..." Eugh!!!

To round off the evening I spent the night sharing a room with two naked men - in different beds! Turns out both of them prefer to sleep in the buff which isn't good for a girl's system, especially when she's been a good girl and been keeping life uncomplicated since June.

Monday, October 04, 2002
As a farewell get-together Paul and I cooked up a 'Sunday Dinner' for a pretty mixed group: 2 Italians, an Israeli, a Dutch, 2 Brits and an Ozzie. It was the full works with 3 chickens, stuffing, roasties, roast onions and parsnips, vegies and gravy, topped off a while later with apple crumble and custard. Stuffed!