Well that's that then....

Three weeks ago I departed on my first holiday to the United States.  I have been to 5 of those states in the past 3 weeks and have been left wanting more.

Hawaii - only stayed in Waikiki, but did an island tour around Oahu.  Feels like so long ago now but it was only 2 weeks ago.  Had a great time with two of my nieces and got to meet some great people.  I like Hawaii but honestly don't think I would go back on my own.  It was nice but just not my kind of place.  Must say it was a nice place to spend my 40th tho :).  Highlights: Cousin Duke on the Grand Island Tour, Waikiki sunsets, Teddy's Burgers, Pearl Harbour

New York - stayed in NYC and managed to get to 3 of of the Boroughs of New York City - Manhattan, Brooklyn & Staten Island.  Went around Manhattan a few times on the hop on hop off bus, which was great value - especially if you use it right.  I know I've said already but whilst it has been an experience, I can't see NYC being on my list of places to visit any time soon.  I have enjoyed my time here but again it's not my kind of place.  Highlights: seeing the Brooklyn Bridge, view from Top of the Rock, Staten Island Ferry, The Rockettes, seeing Jake Gyllenhaal in a play (he was really good!)

District of Columbia - Washington D.C... loved this place.  Did a night tour the first night, which was great.  Got to see heaps.  Then did another day tour the next day (more on this in the Virginia section), and got to see the same places but in daylight, which I think gives another aspect of things.  I really did enjoy my time here.  There are some amazing buildings - huge buildings and not so huge buildings (The White House is way smaller than I thought it would be).  Highlights: Seeing the US Capitol Building for the first time, seeing the Lincoln Memorial (that was impressive!), the Korean War Memorial (because my dad was in the Korean War, it was very poignant), seeing the White House, Union Station.  Another thing I loved is that in D.C no building is higher than the US Capitol.

Virginia - technically I have to include this because 3 of the places we visited as part of the day tour are in Virginia.  The highlight of my entire trip was one of these places.  Mount Vernon - I loved this place so much!  Mount Vernon is the estate of George Washington and has been rebuilt as much as it was back in his day.  It is a really special place in a really beautiful setting.  I recommend that everyone goes there.  Another place visited was Arlington Cemetery.  As much as it was sad, it was also impressively massive.  Rather sad seeing all those headstones.  

Pennsylvania - Philly Baby.... Philadelphia!  Ok so if I loved D.C, I really, really loved Philly.  It was definitely my kind of city.  I can't even describe it, but there is so much history.  There are so many little side streets with so much going on.  There are a lot of different neighbourhoods and the people are really friendly.  I really enjoyed my day here and the night was great too - the bed at the Best Western Independence Park was one of the most comfortable I've ever slept in.  Highlights: Independence Hall, Philly Cheese Steak (even tho I didn't really enjoy it), 30th St Station (seriously, if you need food then this is the place to go!!)

All in all it's been a successful trip.  I have learnt things about myself this trip and isn't that the whole point - to learn and discover things.  At first I thought I would not be back to the States in a hurry but now having been to a few other places, I really want to discover more of this county.  I want to go outside the big cities and discover the smaller cities and towns.  I have learnt that each city has it's own identity and just because they are in the same country, doesn't make them all the same.  I mean I already knew this but I think this trip really opened my eyes to it.  I also learnt that just because someone likes something or a certain place, doesn't mean that everyone is going to like it.  This really came to my attention with I got to NYC.  I was kind of disappointed that I didn't like it more because everyone said I would love it.  But because I didn't I kind of felt guilty and didn't really want to tell anyone. But then I thought "Stuff it, this is my opinion and I'm entitled to it as much as the next person".

I am glad to be going home to be in my own space but I also wish I could spend more time here and go around this country further.  It's been a great 3 weeks and I am sorry to see it end.  

Reflections on a week that was....

Just over one week ago I left Brisbane for a 3 week holiday.  I am only one week into it and have already done so much!  My travelling companions were two of my nieces, one came with me from Brisbane and we met the other one in Honolulu.

Adele & I had 24 hours in Sydney on the way to Honolulu and we crammed so much into that 24 hours, now it seems rather crazy, thanks to Adele's friend Russell...   We saw the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, did a ferry trip from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour, took the monorail back to the Queen Victoria Building, had dinner at the Star Bar, relaxed at Russell's place before heading to a bar on Oxford Street, then on the way back to the hotel Adele & I took in Circular Quay & the Opera House at night.  The next day we started a little late, had breakfast at Maccas, met Russell again and got the bus to Chinatown and the Chinese Gardens before test driving a Ford Titanium and being scared out of our brains by another Ford drive (luckily I wasn't driving that one!!), then headed to Paddy's Market and then to Starbucks to relax before heading to the airport for our 9 hour flight to Honolulu.  To save Adele about $400-500 we actually flew on different airlines about 3 hours apart.  So Adele had to wait at Sydney Airport for 3 hours before her flight and I had to wait at Honolulu Airport for her to arrive.... rest assured, I would never complain about spending 3 hours at Sydney Airport after waiting at Honolulu Airport where is isn't even a vending machine!!!  One of the highlights of our trip - seeing Robbie Deans at Sydney Airport...

Then onto Honolulu... got to our hotel a little early for check in so we left our bags and headed down to find the hop on hop off bus - which for $29 for 48 hours is a bit of a bargain I reckon... there are 4 loops to choose from including Diamond Head, Ala Moana and Pearl Harbor.  So we did the Diamond Head and the Ala Moana one to fill in time.  We got back to the hotel about 2pm and luckily our room was ready because we were both exhausted and promptly fell asleep for a few hours.  Stacy was arriving about 8pm so when she got to the hotel we sat around talking for a few hours.

Once we got sorted the next day (after the world's most expensive buffet!!!) we ended up heading to Pearl Harbor - which was awesome!  Very moving and very educational.  We also happened to run into some NZ Navy people and one of them happened to know my brother Mike really well... small world!!!  After Pearl Harbor, the girls went to Ala Moana and I headed back to the hotel - I am really not a shopper at all.  Adele is kind of and Stacy is totally!!!  So we all have our own thresholds.  I got back to Waikiki in time for my first Hawaiian sunset... let me just say it was not my last!!!!   That night we discovered Teddy's Bigger Burgers... let me just say this... once you go Teddy's, you NEVER go back!!  All other burgers pale in comparison to Teddys!!!

Monday saw another slow start - not that it matters here because everything is open till late!  Today we headed to the International Market and then took The Bus like a local and headed into Downtown Honolulu... so The Bus!  Well, I will say it is reliable but I won't say it was that good an option... ok so it is cheap at $2.50 and you get a 2 hour transfer (sometimes more!!!) but they seem to have a stop every block so a trip might take 2 or 3 times as long.  And they can get crowded... very crowded!!  I was pretty happy to see Iolani Palace and King Kamehameha Statue - especially after seeing them on Hawaii Five-O, but it was a hot day!!  Lunch considered of a packet of chips and coke on the side of the road - or a boiled egg for Adele!  We managed to get ourselves back to Waikiki for another kick arse sunset and Teddy's for dinner - seriously.. THE BEST BURGERS!!!!!

Tuesday was my birthday - not that it really felt like my birthday... just another day really.  We had breakfast at Wolfgang Puck's Express.. strawberries on waffles... hmmmmm good!! We were booked to go on Grand Island Tour around Oahu... this was pretty cool, we got to see a bit of this beautiful island that isn't a man made beach and condos.  Our driver was pretty awesome too... Cousin Duke - very informative and a great tour guide.  Because we were the last people he dropped off, we found out about this place that did a changing of the guard so after watching the sunset, headed down there to watch that and have our photo taken with them.  That was pretty awesome.  We then had dinner at a nearby diner called Rock Island Cafe... it was completely decorated as a 50's diner... very, very cool - I have never seen Stacy so quiet!!!!

 

Wednesday was shopping day - we headed to Ala Moana mall, Walmart & Ross Mart... bought a few clothes - not as many as Adele & Stacy mind you!  So we got back to the hotel and had a bit of a fashion show... bloody funny!!  I was completely knackered so the girls headed down to Teddy's for take out :)  It was fast becoming our favourite place to eat!

Thursday we went to the Bishop Museum - it is a wee way out of town so had to get the #2 bus.. it took about an hour to get there with all the stopping & starting!!  The museum was awesome!  Learnt a hula (of course I've forgotten it already!), the grounds were amazing.  It was a very special place.  Headed back to town and had Denny's for dinner - yeah something different!  Then walked through the International Market to the Cheesecake Factory and got dessert to take away.

Friday Stacy was going shopping and Adele & I went to the Sea Life Park... holy moly!!  We got the #22 bus and it was PACKED until we go to to Hanauma Bay where there is good snorkeling apparently... then there were about 6 of us left!!!  Got to Sea Life Park - which is awesome.  Adele was going to be doing a dolphin encounter so we wandered around a bit until that time.  I got to see Sea Turtles and touch a baby one... very cute!  Adele loved her dolphin experience and has and awesome photo of the dolphin kissing her.  We had a pretty good day.  Got back to the hotel and Stacy arrived not long after - we then headed down to the pier for our last Hawaiian sunset and to have some photos taken - it was pretty cool... we then had our last meal at Teddy's and came back to the hotel for a bit of a rest before heading back down to the pier for the Friday night fireworks by the Hilton Hawaiian Village... it was a great possie to see the fireworks... not that great for photos!  Back to the hotel to finish off packing as Adele was leaving at 8am the next morning.  Stacy & I are leaving later in the day....

 All in all it has been a great week... have I loved it?  I have loved the experience, I love the fact that people actually talk to you here - you will be in the elevator or at a mall and people will actually talk to you.  I have to be completely honest, I don't think I would come back - unless it was with a group of people.  It has been great but I am not a beach or shopping kind of person, nor do I like to rough it so Hawaii for me - whilst lovely, is not my ideal holiday.... in saying that, you have to experience these things to know that.  I am glad I came with the people I did because I think that's what made it more special.

Not long now....

So 3 weeks to go... only 21 sleeps and I will be winging my way to Honololu.  Actually in 3 weeks right now I will have already begun my journey and will be in Sydney on the first leg of my awesome trip.  I have been counting for what seems like forever so to have it within grasp makes it pretty darn exciting...

So the itinerary is:

Brisbane - Sydney for 1 night
Sydney - Honolulu for 7 nights
Honoulu - NYC for 6 nights
NYC - D.C for 3 nights
D.C - Philadelphia for 1 night
Philly - NYC for 2 nights
Then back to Brisbane and work :(

I am so excited and just can't wait.  Pretty much most things planned.  In Hawaii we haven't actually booked anything except the accommodation. We have basically just said that we will get there, figure out what we want to do once everyone is there and then go with it.  Some things on the list include Pearl Harbour, shopping, a luau, maybe hire a car to go up to North Shore & the Polynesian Cultural Center, walking around Waikiki, the Sea Life Park, maybe a ghost tour - the girls want to do that, I am honestly not sure so will decide when we get there.  I am excited for the waves at North Shore - I am so not a surfer but apparently it is surfing season and the waves are amazing!  I don't even really like the beach but I love waves - I think they are incredible and I am looking forward to seeing some big ones.  Hopefully at the Sea Life Park we get to see turtles.. I want to see sea turtles and Adele wants to swim with dolphins... hopefully we will both get this.  I also want to go to the Bishop Museum - apparently it's really good.  I am looking forward to a really relaxing, cruisy time to be honest. I think it will be much like the cruise - only on land.. haha.

NYC is a different story - I think this will be go, go, go.... we are staying right in the heart of Midtown so will have access to a lot of things - only two blocks from the ESB, which I am reading a lot of reports saying not to do it... you know - for me it's not about going to the top of the Empire State Building, its the fact that I will be in one of the most iconic buildings in the world.  To say you have been to NYC means nothing if you haven't been to the ESB - that's what I think anyway.  I just want to see the building and the foyer and then to say I have been up is just the icing on the cake.  I know the view from the Top of the Rock is better because it has the ESB in the view and I will be doing that as well but I just really want to be able to say I have been to the top of the world :)  Other than that I want to go to The Met, The Cloisters, Central Park, walk the Brooklyn Bridge, Staten Island Ferry, The High Line.  Stacy will be with me for the first visit and then I will be on my own when I come back from DC & Philly... that will be Thanksgiving and I intend to go to the American Museum of Natural History the day before and see the balloons being blown up, then the parade itself.  I am still trying to figure out what to do after the parade.  Although, unless Stacy really wants to do the ESB before she leaves, I can leave it till Thanksgiving because it is open 365 days... I might do it that night even.  hmmmmm.... so many things to do!!!!  I really, really, really want pumpkin pie at some point too!!!

D.C has chopped and changed a couple of times.. just trying to work out logistics of when I am doing things.  I think I have it pretty sorted tho - get Amtrak train to DC on the 17th for 3 nights... staying just down the road from Union Station so have picked a couple of tours that leave from there so there isn't too much walking involved - especially because one of the tours is a night tour and I don't really want to be walking the streets of a strange city by myself at night.  So the night I arrive I am going on a night tour of DC... I reckon that will be pretty special.  The next day, which is a Sunday, I am going to do a day tour to Mount Vernon, Alexandria and Arlington Cemetery.. that is about 8 hours and leaves at 8am.. on the Monday and my last day, I plan to get up to the National Cathedral and then I plan to get back to the National Mall and walk from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol Building.  If I have time I would like to go the the National Archives and see a couple of famous documents - not being American, they don't mean the same thing to me as they would Americans, but still they are important documents.  Then on the Tuesday I will be up at sparrows fart to get the 6.30am train to Philly...

I am really looking forward to Philly... one of my friends for a birthday present, has organised a private day tour for me which includes - a 2 hour walking tour of Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Betty Ross' house to name a few... then it will be lunch - which could either be a Philly Cheese Steak or Colonial Food.. after lunch is a 5 hour driving tour taking in the Rodin Museum (I need to see The Thinker), the Art Gallery (think the Rocky Steps!), Eastern State Penitentiary, City Hall, etc, etc, etc... then a nice relaxing evening at the Best Western Independence Hall..  The next day my train back to NYC isn't until 12pmish so I am going to go to Christ Church (but of course) and the Christ Church Burial ground... then it will be time to check out of the hotel and head to 30th Street Station for my trip back to NYC.

As mentioned before I am still working out the final plan for Thanksgiving, but I am really excited to go and see the balloon inflation - apparently that is quite the crowd puller as well.. it goes from 3pm to 10pm so plenty of time to see some action.  I get back to NYC about 2pmish so will chuck my luggage at my friends place and then head down to the AMNH to see a bit of that and then see the balloons... I have a few hours on my last day before I have to head to JFK for my very long flight home so I might just find a nice spot somewhere, just chill and take in the atmosphere that is NYC.

I know I keep saying this but I just can't wait!!!!  I guess I shouldn't be wishing it to come too quickly because once it comes, then it is over too quickly.... but that's ok - I am already planning my next trip in Aug/Sep next year back to London :)

I'm From Christchurch, The Place Of My Birth.....

After having lived in Brisbane, Australia for nearly 10 years there is one thing I have learnt... I am and will always be a Kiwi.

I actually think I am more proud to come from NZ than I was when I first moved to Australia.  I know there are Kiwis that come to Australia and, whilst not denounce NZ, but don't have any plans to go back.  I for one, staying planning going back to NZ I think the minute I arrived.  It became clear to me in so many ways that I would not live in Australia forever and there would come a day where I would move back to my beloved Christchurch.

Being from NZ is one thing, but being from Christchurch is a whole other thing.  I have said many times that I am a Cantabrian first and a Kiwi second.  I am so fiercely proud of Canterbury and Christchurch that I was very surprised recently when I had a blood test and the blood wasn't Red & Black!

I do actually plan to move back to Chch within the next 3 years.  I have already decided that 5th September 2014 will be my last day of work.  Then I plan to do some travelling before heading back to Chch about January 2015.  A lot of people say to me "What's the point of going back to Chch?".  I know that the city is in the process of rebuilding and I think that in two years time it will be in a much better place job wise it is now.  I am realistic about it too.  I know there might not be my perfect job there, but I am happy temping until something comes up.  The one thing that does scare me is that by then I will be 42 years old - I know it's not 'old' in the general sense, but when looking for a job, it's not the best age.  Like I said tho, I am happy temping for a while until something better comes up.  Two out of my 3 jobs came temping so I am not too worried at this stage.

Now, I'm not saying that Australia is ALL bad!!  I have made friends here that will last a life time and made memories that I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else.  I have had the opportunity to work with a decent bunch of people, and in a very cruisy job considering.  I have been able to do some travelling around the country and the world and been able to afford to live on my own.  But another thing I have come to realise is that money isn't everything and doesn't guarantee you happiness.  That's not saying I make lots of money - just more than I know I would make in NZ.

I have realised that no matter where I am, I have to be happy and I don't think I will ever truly be happy in Australia.  I am content but that is not the same as being happy.  Every time I visit home I find it so hard to leave again and there is a massive part of me that wants to say "No, that's it.. I am not going back to Brisbane".

At this present time, the thing that is keeping me going is knowing that I have made the decision to leave and that I have put the plan into motion.  The two years are going to be a massive upheaval for me as I make my dream a reality but you know what, I am looking forward to it so much.  I really can't wait to get back to my home.

Music

So, I was was just writing in my journal saying how I wish I could just pick up a song and put it in my journal because you can write the lyrics but sometimes you need the music to go with it... then I thought - 'Hey, I have a blog, why don't I just post it in there!!"...


So, here it is  - Life is Beautiful by The Afters.  I love this band, have only really discovered them in the last few months but I love their music.  This song is in the movie October Baby, which I haven't seen but it is on my list of movies to watch.  I just love this song - I love the lyrics, I love the music.  It really is a beautiful song about how life really is beautiful and it's those little moments that make it beautiful..


My favourite line: 

"These are the things that make us feel alive

These are the times that make you realise"

Sometimes....

Sometimes I wonder if any of it is worth it in the end and why I am bothering now... no this isn't a cry for help, it is a statement of fact.

Case in point - Me... I have no partner, no children, no pets, no house, nothing really that stands out to say "Here I am, this is MINE".  It is a pretty depressing thing to realise that you are nearly 40 and you are one of  the only one of your friends that is currently single.  I'm talking close friends - not the friends you have on Facebook or similar because you know someone in common or knew them way back when.  But those close friends that you would tell anything to - or pretty much anything.

Maybe I am going through a midlife crisis.. with my 40th looming faster than a speeding bullet, it stands to reason that I would start questioning my own existence... The problem is that when I look at myself in the mirror and ask "What do you have to show for yourself?" the answer is not much of anything.

Don't worry, I am not going to hurl myself off the nearest bridge because I am sad with what my life has turned out to be so far.  Firstly the Thistle Street Bridge isn't that high and I would end up just breaking something as opposed to doing away with myself - then I would have to add the fact that I can't even kill myself to the growing list of things that I haven't accomplished in my life.  Secondly am I really that selfish that I would do something like that to my mum?!?!?  No!!!!

I know that when I look at my life it seems like I don't have much - but in actuality I have a lot!  I have a roof over my head, I have a pretty good paying job, I have never gone hungry, I have never missed paying my rent, I travel pretty much wherever I want and I don't have to answer to anyone about it.. but the most important thing?  I have control of the remote control!  No.. but seriously.  I have a lot in my life that I can be and am grateful for, but I do sometimes look and see that the grass might be greener over there.  I mean, doesn't everyone at some point

So in closing - just so everyone is clear... this is a care of the "poor me's" not a case of  "I am going to do away with myself"... I might be selfish in some respects but I would not put my friends and family through the anguish of not knowing why.

Midlife crisis??  Maybe I should just buy myself a shiny red convertible instead!

Over & out... but not for good :)

When did that happen?

Just read over my last post and it mentioned that there was 7 weeks till my cruise... ok well as of tomorrow - there is only TWO WEEKS!!!!  Holy Moly time has flown.. although it didn't really seem like it at the time.

I think I am pretty much organised, just got to get insurance but other than that every thing is done.  I just need it to be now!  I am so over work at the moment and the constant "I need help", "I need things to do", "Have you got a minute, I just need you to stand behind me for 20 minutes whilst I write an email that I am going to send you anyway" that comes my way.  I sometimes wonder if anyone there thinks I have anything better to do than wait on them hand & foot

But hey.. only 15 sleeps will my first holiday of the year.  Very excited!  I have booked a shore tour in Lifou to take me to the other side of the island.  No one else has booked on so it will definitely be some "me" time.. and the other people who booked the same tour of course :)  Since I have never been to a South Pacific Island, I really have no idea what to expect - I know that "technically" NZ is a South Pacific Island but you know what I mean.

I wish I had some exciting news that has happened over the past 5 weeks (really didn't think it had been that long, but there you go), but unfortunately nothing exciting has happened - oh wait, I became and aunty for the umpteenth time just before Easter, so that's exciting.  But nothing that has happened to me... Hopefully when I write again I will be able to share some exciting news & photos :)

Itchy Feet...

“Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quiestest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” – Pat Conroy

This is so true. It has been 15 months since I embarked on my first trip to the UK and there hasn't been many days where I haven't thought about that trip. I might be reminded if I see a poster of London or Paris; or if I see a Union Jack (which, FYI, I have fallen in love with - I want a Union Jack Room!!!!). I dream about going back to London & seeing more of the UK. I regret the things I didn't see (Westminster Abbey!! I know.. time got away from me), and I think about the things that I really want to see again (pretty much EVERYTHING!!!).

Now I am in the midst of planning my trip to Honolulu & NYC and I wonder if I am too much of a planner. I like planning, I really do but on my trip to the UK I found that the things I didn't plan for turned out to be the best days (not that I had a 'bad' day!). I have 8 nights/7 days in NYC and I am pretty much cramming everything I possibly can it. I don't want to wear myself out but I don't want to come home knowing I could have seen more or should have done something.

With all my travel plans this year, I just want to go now!! Only 7 weeks till my cruise - which I am super excited for and dreading at the same time.. only coz I don't want to be sea sick the entire time! Then it is my Chch weekend - Oh man did I get a good deal for that!! I was worried that I might not be able to go because the flights were over $400 return and I couldn't quite justify spending that on two days... but then Virgin had a sale and I managed to get flights for $188 return... Because the cruise & Chch have pretty much organise themselves I have been focusing on NYC... not so much Hawaii because a lot of that relies on other people... but NYC is all mine!!

I have been getting some great ideas from Michelle (my friend who lives there and where I will be staying for the price of some Arnotts Mint Slice biscuits!!) and from listening to some old podcasts from http://theboweryboys.blogspot.com.au/,. plus finding some awesome new blogs, including: http://theboweryboys.blogspot.com.au/.. I am pretty happy with what I have so far but there is always room for change!

Travel Plans Updated

Ok so last time I wrote about a month ago, I was all for BNE-HNL-LAS-BNE.. well this has changed.. now it's BNE-HNL-NYC-BNE! Yes, that's right folks.. it looks like NYC is back on the books... the best bit is that a friend of a friend lives in NYC and has offer my her couch for the time I am there! How brilliant is that!! So now I just gotta get there :)

I have been looking at different options and funnily enough the best price I could find was actually two return flights - that is BNE-HNL-BNE and HNL-NYC-HNL. Doing it that way means I save about $300. Only thing is that I would have to spend another night in HNL on the way back but I was thinking that since the flights gets in to HNL about 1600 and leaves again at 0815 the next morning, I might just bunk down at the airport. I mean it would be a bit ridiculous to spend $120 on a room when you are only there for a matter of hours, especially coz you will probably need to be at the airport 2-3 hours before your 0815 flight!!

I have also been looking at different things to do in NYC. I am still limited funds wise so I need to know how much the whole thing is gonna cost me in the long run. I really want to get the accommodation in Hawaii sorted - or at least the deposit paid as soon as I can. Of course I also have to factor in that in 60 sleeps I am off on the cruise so I want spending money for that; I have to also get my tickets to Chch for Sept and of course my airfares for the US. Plus I need to remember I am going home in January and need airfares & car hire there too...

Oh so many things but I know that if I can pull it all off - then this year will be an amazing year for me and that is what I want. No point sitting back waiting for things to happen - you gotta get out there and make them happen!

Planning is part of the fun...

So many trips this year, so little time and so little money!!!

Here we go:

88 Sleeps - the South Pacific Cruise... rather excited about this.. I think I will be horribly sick but at the same time, really excited that I am actually doing it. And for Brooke's 18th too, that's really exciting as well. We will be in Vanuatu for her actual birthday - how many kids can say that aye! What did you do for your 18th? Oh went to Vanuatu for the day!! Haha brilliant. I have no idea what to expect on this cruise but I am pretty excited at the same time. Only one more payment for that and it's done & dusted then just gotta get spending money, but that's ok coz there is a couple of months to get that together....

267 Sleeps - HAWAII BABY!!!! So, so very excited about this!! I am more excited about going to Hawaii than my actual birthday tho but hey... it's Hawaii!!! Starting to get organised with that now - thinking about flights & accommodation etc. We have found the place we want to stay and I think it would be a good idea to start booking now - we have to pay a deposit of 30% for each room and then have till 30 days before arrival to pay the rest off. I reckon that's bloody good... I mean if you have 2 people to a room then it's half that. Now comes the part of trying to coordinate everyone.. most of us are in Brisbane so it's not too bad - just my niece in NZ to get together with. Mind you, you have to factor in everyone's leave etc too. I know when I want to go but it might not suit everyone else. Also figuring out how long to stay and whether I will be tacking on Vegas afterwards too... I have just done a quick costing and I reckon I can get flights for $1863 - that is BNE-HNL-LAS-BNE so I don't think that is actually too bad - considering it cost me about the same to go to London! I am looking at possibly 10 days in Hawaii and 5 days in Vegas. Have to look at finances but if I get the flights out of the way - which will be covered by my tax return so I can't book anything until July anyway - then its just the accommodation and spending that I need to worry about... oh and I want to hire a car for one day in Hawaii for my birthday - a red convertible

341 Sleeps - ok so technically this is 2013 but it's in January so close enough. This is for a friends wedding in NZ so plan on two weeks. Gotta look at flights for that soon and also need to book a car - which is ok coz you don't have to pay till you pick it up anyway but it's still an added expense when you are already paying for 2 trips this year... maybe a 3rd

So I have decided that I want to go home this year - I wasn't going to but I really want to and I have since found out that there is going to be an exhibit at the Canterbury Museum about the quakes and it's going to include things like the Cathedral Spire, the Timeball Station ball amongst other things. The exhibit is on from 22nd Feb to 01 Oct and I really want to go... so I have been looking at flights. Looking at 7-10 Sept because it is mums birthday on 4th and thought it was a good idea... also the 4th marks the 2 yr anniversary of the first quake so thought that was quite appropriate. Anyhoo, looking at that weekend means about $415 for a return flight.. so that's another amount that I really can't afford but can make happen if I really, really want to....

So what are your travel plans for this year?

Finally....

So a few weeks ago I was on Pinterest - which isn't unusual in itself, and I was looking at scrapbooking/journalling ideas and I found this link: 50 Things About Me - Two Peas in a Bucket. I loved the idea.. especially since this year I am turning 40... so I thought I would do a '40 things about me' page in my journal. I have been thinking about it for weeks but didn't really have that 'motivation', if you know what I mean. The other day I found the paper I wanted to use so pasted that in (not that you can see it now!) but then it took me another couple of days to actually do something about it.

And here it is.....

I have included 4 photos of me in various stages of life... 8 months old in 1973, 17 years old in 1989 (not that you could tell it was the 80's!!), 21 years old in 1993 and 38 years old in 2010. I wanted to leave room to be able to put a 40th birthday photo in but there wasn't enough, but that's not to say that when I get one I couldn't do something creative with it. The rest is just random things about me - places I love, songs that mean something, days that have had the most impact on my life, things that are important to me, etc

Actually, I am beginning to think that this book (it will become books as it's only February and I am nearly at the end of this one) is going to be important for me to do this year. I really wasn't looking forward to being 40 for so many reasons.. mainly because I really didn't think I would be where I am today. That's not to say I hate my life - sometimes I'm not very enthusiastic about it but I don't hate it. I do appreciate that I have a lot to be grateful for and I certainly haven't had a horrible life.. I guess if I am looking back at my life so far (yes I think I am heading towards a mid life crisis), I would have to say my life has been pretty average.

Not that being average isn't a bad thing but sometimes I just wish for something more exciting. Mind you, as my mother says "you can't have excitement every day". It's true - I guess there is nothing wrong with the mundane.. at least you still are alive aye?

Just something I whipped up

I woke this morning to the sound of rain. If there is one thing I love it is listening to the sound of rain when lying in bed.. so that got me thinking about other things I love. You know those thing thing that brings a smile to your face just thinking about them. So that is where today's page has come from... the things I love...

They can be as important as family & friends or as simple as loving cotton candy... I have seen other journal pages like that around and was inspired by them I guess. I love the little drawings people do. I am not an artistic person - by that I mean I couldn't sit down an draw a picture, but I thought I would draw little pictures of the things that I like - some are good... like my tv and some are bad.. like my pizza! But hey I am not a professional and I don't think for this purpose it really matters... the things on the page are what matter to me because they are, after all, the things I love :)

The end is nigh...

The end of the month that it. So as January comes to a close how many New Years Resolutions have you broken?

I think I am doing ok:

1. I wanted to be more creative - check.. journal coming along nicely. If I keep this up I will need a new journal every couple of months! Plus I am addicted to finding cool printables online at the moment... p.s I love that I have a colour printer at work!!!
2. I wanted to travel more - check.. one trip being paid off as we speak and another one definitely in the works. I have never been to a tropical island before (no Tasmania doesn't count!) and this year I will be heading to Noumea, Lifou, Vanuatu & Hawaii!! Plus a possibility of a side trip to Sin City - Vegas... think that's on track
3. Lose weigh - ok so I haven't exactly broken that... I have lost a kg! But then again I am not really doing anything towards that either so I haven't actually broken that one - it's just kind of stalled.

For someone who doesn't actually like the whole concept of making New Years Resolutions, I think I am actually doing a pretty good job of keeping the ones I did make.

Just another one :)

Ok so I was looking around at some blogs and came across this one: http://scrappingthemusic.blogspot.com/ and was getting all inspired. You take songs and scrap to them - not it's not a new kind of rap.. you make a scrap page out of one or more of the lyrics in the song. They have a challenge going each week.

I was looking through the last one and found the song Who Says by Selena Gomez. Now I am not a teeny bopper by any means but the chorus of the song really hit me:

Who says, who says you're not perfect?

Who says you're not worth it?

Who says you're the only one that's hurtin?

Trust me, that's the price of beauty

Who says you're not pretty?

Who says you're not beautiful?

Who says?

Originally it was the line "Who says you're not worth it?" that hit me the most but as I was creating a page in the journal it was the "Who says you're not beautiful?" line that I ended up going with.

Now I am not a girly girl, I am not a model, I am just me... The photo was taken when I was in London in November 2010 and it was seriously one of the happiest times of my life! I had just been to an All Blacks game at Twickenham and it was my 38th birthday. My niece and I were heading back to my accommodation where my sister had made a beautiful birthday dinner. I would have to say it was one of the top 5 birthdays ever!

I guess what the song is all about is that no one has the right to put you down and say you can't do something, or that you are not beautiful or perfect. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and lets face it - no one is perfect. Plus you can do anything that you set your mind to! Trust me... I never thought I would actually get to London, let alone be able to see my 2nd favourite rugby team at Twickenham on my birthday!!!! (Favourite team is the Crusaders, for those of you playing at home).. It just goes to show that if you want something bad enough... you just gotta go out there and get it (of course as long as it's legal!!!)

Filling in time...

So I am bored out of my brain. Just really don't know what to do - sick of everything at the moment.. tho I have added another couple pages to my journal... ok so I have added 11 pages to my journal... haha. I get an idea and kind of just run with it.. then I look and see I have done 2 or 3 pages! The one I did today I think is pretty darn cool - its kind of an actual diary page about when I saw the Eiffel Tower the first time, and the second time :) It was pretty darn impressive!!!

So yeah that's that latest. I am actually ready for bed - sad when it's not even 9pm on a Friday night and I am ready for bed! Work has been pretty full on for the past few weeks and I really just need a rest.

On that note I guess it's time for an update:

• 107 sleeps till our South Pacific cruise.. can't wait. We have 7 nights on the Pacific Sun and go to Noumea, Lifou & Port Vila. It's really exciting coz we get to have my nieces 18th birthday in Port Vila... what a way to celebrate your birthday - on a South Pacific Island!
• Speaking of birthdays on islands... 286 sleeps till my birthday month - well 286 sleeps till my leave begins. Who knows what is happening yet - I think it's a good idea to get May out of the way and then really knuckle down and decide what to do about Hawaii. I am thinking 10 nights but maybe 7 and maybe going to Vegas afterwards. It all depends on $$$ really. But I can't wait. I didn't think I would ever get excited about the fact that I am turning 40 but I think that going into this year I made the decision to just enjoy the year. After the past few years I think I really deserve to have a good one
• Then it's 360 sleeps till I head home again. This time for 2 weeks and more so for my friends wedding. Looking forward to it, she is getting married at the same place my brother did and it's really gorgeous out there so can't wait for that. Plus she has asked me to do the photos so I guess I had better get some practise in!!! Luckily I am having two holdiays between now & then so I will have PLENTY of photo ops to get me up to speed again :)
• And the big one - 959 sleeps till I change my life forever... seems like such a long way a way but in reality it's only 2 and half years. I have a plan at the moment but of course it will no doubt change. I will be sure to let you know when I get to a more definitive point of knowing what I am doing :)

So I guess that's it for now - well that wasted a few minutes :)

Get those creative juices flowing...

So I have decided that 2012 I am going to be more creative. No it isn't a New Years Resolution because New Years Resolutions are stupid and no one sticks to them. Mine is a WHOLE Year Resolution... I actually started this creative thinking a few days ago so technically I was doing it in 2011 :)

So yeah, I have decided to do some journalling... basically just putting a whole heap of junk in a book! Sometimes it is just a whole heap of stickers or images plastered in the book but sometimes I actually right stuff too. I don't think there is a right or wrong way of doing these things - its just what you feel like doing at the time. I have uploaded some of my photos from the journal that I have started doing - it is definitely a work in progress...

The other thing I have been wanting to do for a while is canvas art. Below is my first attempt at it... I am pretty happy with it for my first time but I can definitely see areas for improvement.

So yes, 2012 is going to be my creative year.... I have a couple of trips coming up so I want to do journals for them so I have to collect everything!!! I need to be more organised to if I want to do this stuff - you can't have everything everywhere otherwise you will lose it....

What are your plans for 2012?