Maid in Wellington

Phew people! PHEW!

I have now two jobs in rainy, windy Wellington.

Job no.1: Usher at the Downstage theatre. Really casual position but it will be great to get some work in a theatre on my CV. Also I get to watch the plays... yeah I should be watching the audience but I can do both at the same time can't I?
$12.50 per hour. Should get to know the team soon with a paid staff fire training and wine tasting in a couple of weeks.

Job no.2: Housekeeping at the Cambridge Hotel. 6 days a week, $13 a hour, 4-5 hours a day. Had my first day yesturday and I think I am really going to enjoy working there. I was teamed up with a lovely Irish man called Ian who has lived away with his girlfriend for the past 2 year. He likes Lord of the Rings! Huzzzah!!! Before I started at the hotel I hadn't met anyone who likes Lord of the Rings! The team at the hotel seems really really nice. Benefits with working there: 1) discount on accommodation 2)free laundry 3)free alcoholic bevvy after each shift 4)25% of food ordered 4) In walking distance of the theatre and in the heart of Wellington.

So as you can probably guess, I think I have landed on my feet finally. And I can begin to relax and enjoy New Zealand. 2-3 months on, I'll start to think about possibily moving on.

Today was my day off. I had a lovely walk along the harbour. It's so windy in this place. Tonight I have a free ticket to a Circa Play. Review tomorrow!

Te Papa

Yesturday I went to the Te Papa museum. It was brilliant because they had mini concerts from the New Zealand School of Music. It's amazing how music can soothe the soul. The brass band and the big jazz band were my favourites.

John Wayne

GOSH! I really need to update!

Well! Rotorua was really good with the Maori concert and everything.

The next day it was on to Taupo. It has a MASSIVE lake. It has 10 tributaries and one outlet and apparently it takes one drop of rain water 10 years to travel the length of the lake. The lake was created by a massive volcanic eruption in the second century. Even the Romans wrote about a strange discolouration of the sky.
Taupo weather was shocking and I didn’t get to see Mount Doom because of fog and rain :(

So instead of staying two days at Taupo I moved on to the next Kiwi bus to leave Taupo and I got to meet a whole new group of people who were BRILLIANT!

Anyhow, on we went through the fog and rain, with country side that looked like the Yorkshire Dales we came to River Valley. Its in a Valley and its right by a river.
Indulgence took the form of a roast beef meal ($14) and a session in the spa ($3.40).

The next day I went horse riding in the massive farm. I saw deer, lambs and a dead cow. The cows in general were really funny. They would be looking at us coming towards them, with such bravado and then suddenly run away like the scaredy cats they are! Mwhahahaha! I galloped and ran on horseback! It was awesome!
However two days on and I still understand why John Wayne walked the way he did.

I am now in Wellington where I hope to be for the next couple- four months. Already have a casual usher position at a theatre, work experience for a week (in 2 weeks time) in another theatre and the grim hope that I get another jobs which pays.
Wish me luck!

Also got to see the Wellington Lions beat Southland Stags at the Westpac stadium. I do like rugby...the game... the men... the shorts........

Rotorua

I have seen so much geography I am totally exhausted! First it was Cathedral Cove yesterday and now today we had a walk along the gold mining caves. Felt a lot like Indianna Jones walking along the swing bridge and going through the pitch black tunnels.

Then later when we hit Rotorua, me and some of the other girls had a walk around the geo thermal park. It was really fascinating! There were mud pools that reminded me of the stink bog in Labyrinth with the sound that they made. Very funny.

Went to Matamata, which is (on the outskirts is a farm) where Hobbiton was filmed. Couldn’t get to the actual site (costs too much and I hear it’s a bit of a rip off) so I got a picture next to Gollom and a sign. Happy days!

Tonight we are all going to a Maori concert with tradition Hangi feast. Pick up is in an hour so I must be ready!

Looked at my emails earlier, isn’t it so frustrating when you don’t get the emails you want. I have applied for some more jobs and I still have not got yay or nay.

Taupo tomorrow and I should be in Wellington by 25th.

Past few day...

The past few days have not been too good. Felt really lonely and it didnt really help going to The Farm in Whangaruru (no signal and dial up internet).

So I am back on the road with Kiwi Experience and feel much better. Applied for a few media jobs including a part time photographer for the Southland Reporter in Invercargill. Fingers crossed!

Set up camp tonight in Mercury Bay after going to Cathedral Cove (which I think was used in the Prince Caspian film.) I wanted to take loads of photos but there was so many people there it was hard to get a clean shot. It was a brilliant 2 hour walk and the clouds where so dark and mysterious. I loved it!

Today I met a few people and we are all heading to the bar now to watch the All Blacks against the Wallabies. GO ALL BLACKS!

Not good...

As I am updating my blog a German girl is ringing round Woofer farms for work... no luck yet.

Also! Earlier today I was in a shop and the woman asked me what I was up to today and I said about finding work and she scroffed and said "Good Luck with that".

ARGH! Is it going to be as bad here as it is in UK to find work?!?!?!?!?! (Might be coming home sooner...)

Paihia

Paihia (The Bay of Islands) is very picturesque! I arrived on the 14th and not long after, I was on a boat bobbing around the Island. Now on my to-do list was to see dolphins…CHECK! They were amazing. There were about 10 in total with 2 babies!

Yesterday I was up at the very top of the country at Cape Ragina. On route we travelled along 90 mile beach where I saw a group of wild horses and then I had a go at sand dunes boarding. T’was cool, but it was a very long day.

Tomorrow I leave Paihia to Whangruru where I will be staying a couple of days on a farm working for my Bed.

All day I have been trying to decide how I’m going to play these next 5 ½ months. I don’t want to do everything at once and I want to have enough money to see everything I want to see. At the moment I am thinking about after Whangaruru that I head straight to Wellington (on route doing the usual stops on the Kiwi Experience bus). So at the moment I think I’ll be in Wellington by the start of October till the end of the year. That way I can commit to a decent period of time at a paid position. Fingers crossed I get one!

Auckland 21, Manawatu 20

Last nights All Blacks match against South Africa got me in the mood for the rugby today (All Blacks lost by 3 points which is kind of an achievement seen as though they were losing for all the match by 10 points).

Auckland vs. Manawatu. Throughout the match Manawatu seemed to be the better player even though Auckland got to 16-0 on one try and penalties. The second half Manawatu came back in force scoring two try’s and several penalties. We all thought Manawatu was going to win at 16-20 but then in the dying seconds of the match there was an amazing try where one of the Auckland players flew through the opposition to score a try that no one thought was coming, ending the match 21-20. After being so vocal the Manawatu supporters suddenly grew very quiet.

Tomorrow I have a 7 am call time to get on a bus to take me to Paihia. Job wise, things are still quiet. I’ve contacted a production company about possibly working for them as a production assistant on a reality television show in Auckland (I'll be back to Auckland in a week)...fingers crossed!

Doh!

Got a hole in my only jeans that I brought to NZ in the most unfortunate of places.
Off to the shops then!

Should of brought more bras as well *shakes head in despair*, where am I gonna find a bra like I need!?!?!...

AUCKLAND!!!!

I am finally here! Seems a bit surreal. When I landed, looking out the window of the plane I could see water, hills, clouds and green goodness! It was bizarre how calming it was. I suppose that just the Cumbrian in me but I loved it! Put an instant smile on my face.

Staying in the Base hostel and it’s not bad. Sharing a dorm with 3 lads. Most of the people that I’ve met are leaving the next day, on a tour or basically not in the same position as me, which got me thinking how on earth am I going to meet people to get to know and possibly travel with? So (despite Vix's recommendation not to go on it) I’ve booked me on a Kiwi Experience tour. First stop is on Monday up to Paihia. Hoping to get some work there either on a cruise boat around the Bay of Islands or on a Horse farm with lots of different things to do. If not, then after Paihia it will be on to Rotorua.

Today I went on a free bus tour of Auckland and free walk on the Auckland Bridge. I saw two people bungee jump. Felt ill for them. Still don’t think Ill be doing a jump but who knows. Someone might talk me into it, a Debbie substitute maybe "death bed".

Tonight I went to see District 9 at Gold class. Read my film blog to know all about that!

Tomorrow I’m going to wonder. Probably go up to the Domain and go to the Auckland Museum. Then on Sunday I’ve got tickets to see a region rugby match. Should be fun!

Last days in Australia...

I have drank far too much! My liver hurts! There was a BBQ on Saturday which was so much fun. House rules: keep eating and keep drinking. Surprised that I didnt get a hangover the next morning!

Brundi Island was on Monday. Its an island near Calbouture (I think that how you spell it). It was a very nice quiet island. Had fish and chips and nothing has surpassed Superfish in Workington yet!

Went to the sunshine coast on Tuesday, Surfers Paradise. It was bizzare. I felt as though it was a cross between Blackpool and lego land. There were people walking the streets with very little on. Especially these girls who dress in gold bikini's and they are called 'Meter Maids'. Got my picture with two of them...not that great for my self esteem but who cares. The beach was vast and the sand fine. The waves were terrifying!!! You would not catch me venturing into the water!

Yesturday I went Whale watching. It was amazing! They came up really close to the boat! It was almoust surreal. Oh to be David Attenbourgh! Got some good photos. Havent yet had a chance to update my flickr account. Hope to do that when I hit NZ.

In the airport now. Boarding should be starting in the next half hour.

In an nutshell, Australia is... not for me. I know it sound bizzare, but there isnt enough history here. And the fish and chips arent as good as in the UK, and there isnt enough green. (Yes, I am strange, dont hold that against me :) )

Anyhow, next chapter is about to being. Going to wait for my air chariot to take me to where the mythical creatures roam. x

Days with the extended family.

The last time I seen David, Sadie and Tara was 16 years ago. So its been really nice just catching up with them. David and Sadie want to open a British Chippy at their local shopping centre. Making British chips mind! None of the Australian stuff they have here. Their fish and chips; the batter is heavy, the chips are practically 'fries'- no big fat soggy numbers! I think they'll be a great success!

Couple of nights ago I got a go in an automatic car! Pretty freaky as I would stop suddenly a couple of times because of my foot thinking the brake peddle was the clutch. Doh! But there was no accidents and by the time we got back from Tara's (to see a Forest fire, which was out by the time we got up the hill), David and Sadie said I was a pro. I still prefer using the gears, makes for fun and stimulating driving.

Trust me, I was freaked out!

While I was up there a couple of days ago, Tara's Glen was doing some building work on their estate and Glen's brother, Greg came across a 8ft snake which they unfortunatly killed, it was kind of like us back home killing a spider, but this snake was outdoors so it really shouldnt of been killed. I got my photo taken with it. I may have a nervous smile on my face but I felt kinda ill afterwards. Me on a hop on hop off tour of Brisbane.

Its a nightmare getting photos of yourself in places with travelling alone!

Staying in Burpengary, north of Brisbane, I got the train into Brisbane yesturday. It took one hour on the train and my ticket was $10.40 which got me unlimited travel, including on the river Cat (which is a ferry). The trip along the river was my favourite part of Brisbane. Their river is really winding and some of the river homes with their own jetty were amazing.

4 of the Wallabies, names...????

There is a Wallabies vs Springbox rugby game this Saturday (5th Sept) and which I was walking through the town there was a public press conference so I got some photos of some Ozzy rugby players. I really hope they beat them because:
1) The Springbox embarrassed the Lions this year.
2) Australians need to win something since we won the Ashes.

I just can't believe that I am actually coping with the weather. For example, the temperatures have been really mild and right now its just began chucking it down!?its just began to pour down! Not sure what I'll be doing today.