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!

Ohh... lots to write about and not the time... will have to write it out on paper and make a mad typing dash to keep the internet cafe costs down! Today the boys were chosen to take the cruisers around the islands leaving me at a bit off a loose end for the day and my plans to push Paul and Ilan off the boat into the sea in some candid camera moment dead in the water - damn! Instead I went and found Gianluca at home, unsucessfully trying to make bread, and dragged him off to sample some wine in a local vineyard which Cristina had recommended. Hic!!! A gorgeous sunny afternoon spent sipping fine wine next to a picturesque lake. Two glasses later, and very giggly, we headed off to the Pippi Patch to meet the others for more booze; discovered the 'Pippi Bomb': white wine and Red Bull... ummm.

Paul gamely added to the night's frivolities by falling in the pool (ok he had a lot of help!) and taking Gianluca with him. After a quick hunt for glasses we all trapsed into another bar trying to act normal and dry! On the way home some of the gang couldn't resist the lure of getting naked and going for a swim - must have been the full moon. Was too shy to join in so mental note to me: must go skinny dipping before I'm 30!!!

Here's the events for the last couple of days.

Saturday, November 02, 2002
My last ever Rock cruise. The crowd was just amazing, lively, outrageous and they took over everything - the music, the atmosphere. Captain chaos didn't stand a chance!

Friday, November 01, 2002
Took Paul and Gianluca (Cristina's friend just over from Ireland) to explore the Northland - Cape Reinga, Spirits Bay and 90 Mile Beach. The scenery here in New Zealand really does just take your breath away and I've still to see the South Island which is apparently even more impressive.

That evening we all headed down to a local bar - the Pippi Patch - with Paul and Ilan providing the night's entertainment by pretending to be a gay couple to discourage the unwanted attentions of some scary lady.

Wednesday, October 30 - Thursday, October 31, 2002
Another cruise, another evening behind the bar. Excellent.

The next day it was just Richard, Cristina and I looking after our guests. Went mussel diving and even managed to get them looking for shells in non-existant colours, because "apparently the locals think the red and blue ones are really lucky". Lots of bums in the air on the beach - cruel but hilarious!

Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Today I went sailing with Rich and Cristina in their little boat 'Beluga'. Sailing her is fondly referred to as belugaring and had a brilliant day on the water playing in the bay.

Monday, October 28, 2002
Went out on the Vulcan with Richard and Ilan for my first ever fishing charter. Needless to say that poor old Ilan still didn't catch any fish. To console him we took him up to Ngawha Springs - a great place to relax but my bikini has only just stopped smelling since my last visit over a month ago... damn!

Just about to go to work - another 24 hour cruise with paying victims to tease. Will update this with the latest events soon...

So another Rock cruise. Being busy makes work on the boat more interesting otherwise the days seem to be disorganized and random - you never know when you have a day off so planning trips is hard. Pete the owner is nicknamed Captain Chaos for nothing!

We had a huge group - 30 odd people - who were a lot more fun and lively than the last couple. With Paul away I took his spot behind the bar which is not a bad place to be; you eventually meet everyone and most stop to chat. I did have the opportunity to score some points on the Dirty Deeds Chart with one of the punters who was flirting so much that it even registered on my radar! Anyway my heart just wasn't in it, decided to stick with the Comedy Chart instead - less complicated.

Didn't get to go round the islands the next day so I stayed on the Rock instead. Anchored in a secluded bay with no one else around and a sheltered front deck all to myself... nudie sunbathing! Other than that my day's highlight was driving the Rock back to it's mooring in Paihia. It's a beast of a boat with the response time of a slug so it took a while to get used to and going in straight lines wasn't all that easy. All good fun though, seriously thinking about trying to go sailing back in the UK and apparently my time here will count as commercial seatime which has to be good for something. Know anyone with a boat???

Spent the evening on the boat playing cards and sampling beers - very civilized, if you discount having to get up at 0200 in the middle of a howling storm to make sure the inflatable boat is still snugly on deck where it's supposed to be and hasn't decided to use the bad weather as an excuse to wander off on it's own.

Just back from another 'Rock' cruise. Very sleepy. Sharing a crew room with 3 guys, two of whom snore isn't condusive to a good nights sleep but I made it onto the Comedy Chart by falling out of my bunk in the middle of the night!

I've been on the 'Rock' as crew for couple of weeks now and it's definitely a lot of fun here. The rest of the gang are: Pete Honey (aka Captain Chaos) - owner, Richard - skipper, Christina (Italian), Paul, Ilan (aka Jonah; Israeli Cockney), Thomas (aka Monkey Boy; Dutch), and me.

Took the boys on a wee road trip to Kerikeri. Ilan was desperate to buy some fishing lures (he's called GPS for a couple of reasons, one of which is the fact that he can never find any fish to catch. After spending hours sitting at the back of the 'Rock', or trawling off the 'Vulcan' and not even getting a nibble he's gaining a legendary reputation of being a fishing jinx!) and Paul just wanted to get out of Paihia for a while.

On the way back we stopped off at Rainbow Falls again. This time we were more adventurous - negotiating stepping stones across the river to explore the cave behind the falls. Pretty nifty view from the other side but unfortunately no camera (didn't want to risk dropping it in the water).

Last night we all got together for a committee meeting to outline the rules for crew/punter inaction and organize a point system for humorous events and other silliness. Previous gags involve killer penguins and naked skippers so we have our work cut out to top last season... sure we're going to have fun trying!

It's not easy getting access to the Internet at the moment, but here's an update of recent events to fill in the gaps.

Monday, October 21 - Tuesday, October 22, 2002
Ilan and I headed south to Maramarua for a quick visit to Auckland. I had a meeting with Jack Yan about the 'Million People Web' and the 'EU Water Angels' stuff - it's nice to have a face to put to the email persona. Ilan just came to catch up with a feisty Irish chick - think she's a bit more of a handful for him to cope with!!!

Saturday, October 19, 2002
The 'Rock' changed from a backpacker's fun ship to a base for a local yacht club's sailing race held for Flying 15's. It looked like heaps of fun out there... can't wait to go sailing with Richard. (Thomas arrived.)

Helen and Chelfyn came onboard to chill out for a while; they're in the Bay of Islands checking out houses.

Tuesday, October 17 - Wednesday, October 18, 2002
My first trip out as crew on the 'Rock's' 24-h cruise. The atmosphere is totally different when you're not a punter especially when you realize how much work is involved. You also discover the larger number of tall tales and porkies get told by the crew to have a little fun at the passenger's expense, i.e. dolphins communicating via SMS! Ilan still didn't catch any fish, he's rapidly becoming a local legend among the locals as a fishing jinx; I got to do some target shooting with a .22 and drive the 'Vulcan'; and Richard got his first dunking of the season (high points to Christina for that caper).

Monday, October 14, 2002
Watched the 'Hurricane' on TV. It turns out he spent 4 days/3 nights R & R on the 'Rock' last summer. That's just 1° separation from Rubin Carter!

Tuesday, October 10, 2002
Opps! I shouldn't laugh, but poor old Ilan fell off Climax today as we were coming alongside the Rock. He just lent out a little bit too far reaching for the rope and SPLOSH, he in went backwards and head first! It would have been comical if he hadn't been carrying his mobile, magic brain and a camera in his bum bag.

Monday, October 09, 2002
Sleeping on the 'Rock' is lovely. We have the best views in Paihia and the sense of space with all the water around is amazing. This morning we had a rare treat as a pod of 5-6 dolphins came chasing the breakfast round the boat - two jumping in unison only 3 m from where Ilan and I we stood - wow!

Had an interview with a hotel in Auckland for a senior staff position. It was the oddest interview I've had for a while - I just got talked at and could barely get a word in edgeways - anyway I think she liked me so perhaps I'll get a second interview. I'd rather the have the job I'm chasing in Paihia though. It's working for a company that takes tourists out to go dolphin watching... much more fun!

It's Judith's last week in NZ - so we did one final trip to Piha and Karekare (about 40 min west of Auckland), where the opening scenes of 'The Piano' were filmed. Both beaches were windswept and interesting with black iron sand and a backdrop of verdent rainforest.

Back to Paihia tomorrow...

Wow, what a week!

After getting back from Auckland last week and chilling out for a couple of days I felt like going somewhere warm for the weekend. Place of choice? The Northland (Taitokerau), which is about 2-3°C warmer than everywhere else - perfect. I'd picked up a leaflet advertising a 24 h overnight cruise on the 'Rock' in Auckland and decided to check it out. Four hours later, after grabbing an overnight bag and driving like a nutter, I arrived in Paihia (Bay of Islands) and was on the boat joining nine other backpackers and about five crew.

On the first evening we did some target shooting, fishing (the fish were hiding), had a BBQ, drank beer, played pool and generally bonded with each other. The next day we explored the islands - including the place where Captain Cook landed in 1769, played beach volleyball, kayaking, snorkelling and 'kayak surfing' (I've got bruises all over my legs again). Who'd have thought that so much fun could be had on an old converted car ferry!

Anyway what was meant to be a weekend jaunt turned into a week long extravaganza. I met three German girls - Nadine, Katherina and Judith - and we decided to carrying on exploring the area together, here's what we got up to...

Sunday, September 29, 2002
A pretty bizarre day. Walked the 'Hutia Creek Mangrove Forest Boardwalk' which was about 2.5 h and ended at Haruru Falls. We managed to con an unsuspecting local into giving us a lift back to Paihia in his converted Chinese milk truck after realizing that we were going to have to turn around and walk back the way we'd just come. We then went to visit some guy Nadine knew on an organic farm - a coffee stop turned into us staying and helping milk the cows! [Any cheese made by Mahoe Cheese Factory on the 30/09/02 was with our milk.]

After cows, was beers round the fire in Tim's backyard. The highlight was relaxing in a hot bath under the stars, the water heated by a log fire underneath, sipping wine - think every garden should have one - and sleeping in an old shipping container which had been converted into a funky sleep-out. Tim's place ended up being our base of operations for the next couple of days.

Monday, September 30, 2002
In the morning, back to Pahia to drop off Judith and Katherina - they were off for another day on the Rock. Nadine and I decided to explore some more of the area. First stop was Mangonui for fish and chips, specifically Blue Nose and chips as per strict instructions from Tim! Not bad. Then a long drive north along the Aupori Peninsula to Cape Reinga. To the Maori this area is known as Te Hika o te Ika (the tail of the fish), part of the legend of Maui hauling up the North Island (the fish) from the sea into his canoe (the South Island) - sweet, eh. Anyway the Cape is the most northerly accessible place and overlooks Columbia Bank where the Tasman Sea collides with the South Pacific. The views here were stunning and you could look to the west and see the tail end of Ninety Mile Beach.

Next back south to somewhere in the middle of Ninety Mile Beach (it's really only 64 miles!) which runs along the western edge of the peninsula. En route we visited the white sands at Parengarenga Harbour (the world's purest silica deposits). At low tide on Ninety Mile Beach you can drive along it but only if you have a 4WD. Mick really wasn't up to the task as you have to keep driving or risk sinking in quicksand. [Dave can I borrow your Discovery!]

Finally we rounded the day off with a visit to Ngawha Springs for a long soak in some muddy hot springs.

Tuesday, October 01, 2002
The day started with a quick jaunt into Kerikeri for breakfast; it seems as though every organic farmer in the country lives here so the here food is great. Kerikeri also hosts two of the oldest surviving buildings in New Zealand both built in 1822!

Then it was a round trip covering Puketi Forest to see some ancient kauri trees, the Rainbow Falls and back to Kerikeri Basin to check out those old buildings - Kemp House and the Stone Store.

Wednesday, October 02, 2002
We bid farewell to the Cheese Factory and headed west to Opononi famous for two things - a crazy dolphin called Opo (now dead) and magnificent sand dunes which dominate the far shore. You can go 'dune surfing' but unfortunately there were no boats to take us over so I'll just have to imagine that experience!

Thursday, October 03, 2002
Nadine and Katherina were heading back south to Napier so then there were just two. But first to Waipoua State Forest for more kauri trees and back into prime kiwi country, though only the trees were feeling sociable. We visited Tane Mahuta (Lord of the Forest) the worlds largest Kauri tree and Te Matua Ngahere (Father of the Forest) the second biggest. They're both about 2000 years old but before the loggers arrived there would have been bigger specimens still surviving...

After goodbyes, Judith and I headed back to Paihia and dinner with the boys from the Rock.

Friday, October 04, 2002
By now pretty exhausted - chilling on the beach!

Been a busy girl this week.

Saturday Helen and I went on a girly road trip along part of the Pacific Coast Highway to the Coromandel Peninsula for a day of sunshine, beaches, and breath-taking scenery. We Followed SH25 via Thames > Coromandel > Kuaotunu > Whitianga, with a detour to stop and relax at Hot Water Beach. Here you can dig a hole in the sand at low tide and sit in your own personal spa created by hot springs on the beach!

On Tuesday I headed off to the city for a couple of fun-packed days. Caught the train from Papakura and ended up riding in the cabin with the train driver; seems an English accent is good for some things.

Got into Auckland, sorted out a bed in ACB, and met up with Diane for coffee. There we were catching up on gossip when we were approached by a Discovery Channel presenter (complete with camera man and sound man) asking us what we thought made Kiwi's unique - we may end up on TV in November - gulp! The only way to deal with that kind of stress was to go shopping. Found a foxy pair of vintage 1970s red Italian leather high-heeled strappy sandals, purr...

The next day was set aside for sightseeing. Went up the Sky tower - which at 328 m (1076 feet) it's the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere - to check out the view and contemplate the sanity of the few people seen bungee-jumping from 192 m (bit more info about this nutty pastime). My cultural fix took the form of an art gallery. They had a special exhibition - Love & Death: Art in the Age of Queen Victoria – and a lot of contemporary Maori art. Victoria Park Market satisfied the touristy urges for window shopping. Finally I rounded the day off by heading to the Globe Bar, next to the hostel, and spending a fairly inebriated evening with a German, Englishman, Irish guy and girl, and an Israeli. Messy!

Starting the whole 29 thing as I mean to go on. First snowboarding, then surfing, then .... Went to Raglan on the west coast for a spot of sand, sea air and saltwater to blow away the cobwebs and have fun learning something new at the same time. My lesson was a birthday pressie from H & C with Raglan Surf School where 'You too can Stand Up and Surf'. And I did! I'm so chuffed.

Anyway an afternoon trip to the coast morphed into a two day affair as I ended up staying over to enjoy good company, barbeque and beer with the owners and some backpackers en route to the South Island. So that combined with my success on the surf means I'll definately be going back for some more of that.

In some ways being by the sea puts life back into perspective, shows you how small you are in relation to the big picture. You look at things you'd hoped for that haven't happened, that you couldn't control and it makes you sad. But somehow all that ocean reminds you to just get over it. Move on. Look for the next wave. You never know what it's going to bring.

It's an odd day today, and I was distracting myself with a project that I'm getting involved with - EU Water Angels - and while quietly wandering the Internet for useful/interesting background information about the world's water problems I stumbled across this little titbit.

"Here's a question for constitutional scholars: can a sitting president be charged with plagiarism? As President Bush wages his war against terrorism and moves to create a huge homeland security apparatus, he appears to be borrowing heavily, if not ripping off ideas outright, from George Orwell..."

Intrigued, the link lead to this "Learning To Love Big Brother: George Bush Channels George Orwel" and this "Happy New Year it's 1984 - Bush's Orwellian address". It seems this 'subversive' idea is gathering quite a following with the online community; I only had to search Google for "bush orwell" to get a list 63 pages long referring to the same comparison.

Even CCN was getting in on the act: "Orwell invoked as lawyers present ballot-count cases".

I've also accidentally learnt that today has significance for other reasons. On 11 September 1973, the US backed a military coup to assassinate the democratically elected Salvador Allende and install dictator, murderer, and chronic human-rights abuser Augusto Pinochet. Here's some links about this: " Salvador Allende" and "The retrospective history of Chile".

Perhaps the sickeningly frequent examples of intervention like this contribute to the current attitudes towards the US?

As I type this we are sat listening to NZ national radio playing Chelfyn's 'Evil Plans' for a second night running in a prime slot. What was even more amazing was what the DJs asked just before playing it ...does NZ really wanted to be bullied into going to war for a country [US] who are motivated by trade sanctions..."

Some companies just don't get the whole concept of the Internet. Take Elephant for example. I'm trying to get insurance quotes online, it's past midnight in the UK and I get this when I submit my details.

"You can get a quote and make changes to your car insurance policy online from 6.30am to 11.30pm every day."

Doh! One of the best things about the Internet is that time is irrelevent.

Hey meant to mention this yesterday, but got my first serious article online - You Gov - and I'm working on a couple of others. I guess this blog has got me over the lurker syndrome and well on the way to being a virtual gobshite!!!

Just noticed something spooky, look at the time of the previous post about the evil plans of Mr Bush - 9:11 PM...

Chelfyn's just had a phone call from Channel Z (an NZ radio station) to say that they've aired 'Evil Plans' on one of their primetime slots. Needless to say he's a bit chuffed!