It’s now only a matter of hours until lift off. The road trip to Dargaville (up North of Auckland - that’s all I know) will be commencing at 5.00pm. We’ve got the 7-seater car ready and it’s going to be a blast! Woohoo!!

Unfortunately the said ’sleeping bag’ has been packed (because we’re moving house on Oct 16th - have I even discussed this?! that’s another whole blog entry) by my mum, so instead I have gone with plan B, a sheet and comforter/blanket thing. Far more comfortable than a sleeping bag anyway, I don’t know when the last time I used it was!! haha. Probably needs to be dry cleaned!

As previously mentioned the week from hell is now over. I am in full relax mode. My friends are also in super relax mode and have suggested we meet up for a beer/wine after lectures before we head off. My next lecture starts at 12 noon and ends at 2pm, so straight after that I’ll be heading to meet them for a glass of wine and to start our weekend of pure relaxation and fun.

I’ve been told the shisha and funnel are coming on the trip. All I can say is there are going to be some hilarious photos and stories to tell when I get back. Watch this space.

I’m feeling a lot better tonight. I have handed in the hard assignment and just have one more to finish for tomorrow, but it’s not going to be a tough one. A few hours tonight and I’ll have it sorted.

I had a fun conversation about travel with a friend this afternoon, can not wait to jet off!! We’ve come up with so many places to visit.

Like this: stunning!

This is Menton in the French Riviera. Photo credit

Isn’t it amazing how certain people can change your mood and your outlook on life? No matter how shit your day is, because mine started terribly. Somehow he’s made me have a complete turn around.

I haven’t mentioned that a friend of mine and her boyfriend are pregnant! I am so very happy for them. She has been wanting babies for a while. I still can’t believe she is though. Seems weird somehow. Everyone around me is having babies. Well not everyone, but four of my friends. Crazy people. I guess everyone is different and they all have different goals. My goal is still travel, babies will come later for me.

Dinner; by moi

I don’t know if I’ve previously mentioned but my sister, Allie, is a sales woman for a large distribution company who specialises in cameras, watches, jewelry and some other electronics. So she travels quite a bit around the North Island to visit her customers. So when she heads off to Tauranga, Whakatane and Mt Maunganui in two weeks time (the 16th) I’m going to join her for a mini road trip! I thought why the hell not? It’ll be the first week back at Uni so there are minimal classes, so I’ll get away with a mini trip.

I’m very excited, we’ll have lots of fun together! She’s booking a place with a spa… yay! And we can go out for dinner and have general relax time. Well she’ll have to do a bit of work during the day, but after that we can relax together. It’ll only be three days/two nights. But it’s something to look forward to!

As previously mentioned life is very dull at the moment. I’m not blaming anything or anyone. It just is. Studying for exams is a sure fun-killer though, so that’s what I’ll blame. It’s also the catalyst for having no money, you can’t work when you have to study. So, OK, I change my mind. It’s all the exam study’s fault. But sadly it has to be done or that last few months would have been a waste of time.

I bumped into a close friend of mine from High School yesterday. She’s over here visiting from California (she got a scholarship to attend Berkley University) during her summer holidays. I was out exercising and she was walking home from lunch out. Auckland is so damn small. That was the second time in two weeks I’ve bumped into her randomly. lol. I’m going to go out exercising this arvo, will probably see her again.

A side note: just wondering why so many of the men in Auckland are so damn immature? We stood on the side of the road for probably 30-40 minutes talking and approx. 8-10 guys in cars thought they’d toot and yell out their windows. Ahem. Why? I really don’t know. Maybe they felt special yelling at two girls? Like we were all; *swoon* he’s so awesome he can yell out the car window. I don’t know. Maybe they really loved my sexy work-out gear? Hah.

So anyway, I was talking to her about where she has traveled in the States. I said I really wanted to go to Vegas, like that is one state I have to visit. And I was so thrilled when she said she had an amazing time there. She also recommended I visit Utah. I had previously had a brief thought to visit Utah, but then put it on the maybe list. But after she described the snowy mountains that surround Utah in Winter, she has pushed it to my definite list. It’s sounds absolutely beautiful!

I just can’t wait to let loose and have some fun! I’m tired of the day-to-day life I’m living right now. People who know me, know I’m not a big party/drinking girl. That’s just not me. But right now, at this moment I wish I could be drinking, dancing and thinking of nothing but where in London or Vegas I am going to visit the next day.
I think I need the adventure before I could settle into a 9-5 job. Paying bills, cooking every night. Screw that. I’ll have that for the next 50 years.

I think it’s all the accounting study that has gone to my head. Thank God I have already worked as an accountant or I think I would have already pulled out of the degree. The job is far more interesting and exciting than the study.

I just want to get out and LIVE!

I know I’m slack and I haven’t posted about mine and Rob’s trip to Whangamata, I’ve basically been straight back at work and haven’t had a chance.
We had a great time! We were a bit pissed off that it was overcast and dull most of the days, but we still managed to get a bit of a tan in the overcast weather, as you do. We only swam at the beach a couple of times, because as mentioned it wasn’t so hot. But the swims were lovely and refreshing, very good for the body and skin. One day the surf was a bit rough and I found myself clinging onto my bikini so as not to embarrass myself by losing it.
When we weren’t swimming we were reading, shopping, walking, exlporing and Rob even got in a 9-hole round of golf (I walked the course while he played).
We came home Saturday morning as Rob had his first cricket game since Christmas at midday. The trip home was definitely faster than the one there. After 45 minutes of driving Rob announced to me that we were in the Amazing Race and we needed to catch ‘team Alpha Romero’ before we hit Auckland. lol. It had me in giggles for ages. I was the navigator and Rob the driver. Unfortunatly we took a wrong turn, which may have possibly been my fault and the other teams over took us.
Luckily… Rob informed me it was a non-ellimination leg of the race.

On Sunday I was back at work at 9am. It wasn’t too bad. I also had work on Monday filling in for someone.

I’ve been relaxing the last couple of days. Today I went to my friend Victoria’s and we rented Confetti and generally caught up and relaxed.
Rob and I also went to the library as he wanted a book and I’ve nearly finished Angela’s Ashes. We also went to the mall so I could buy some CDs with some of my Christmas Vouchers. I got Pink’s latest (I’m not dead) as well as Anna Nalick’s album. I’m listening to Pink on the computer right now.

Nobody knows…..

Rob’s off to Fiji on Monday for the wedding. It’s a tad scary though, because if you’ve been watching or listening to the latest news about Fiji you’ll know there’s a coup happening over there. The head of military is trying to take control of Fiji from the the Prime Minister.
Luckily Rob is staying on a resort, so hopefully he shouldn’t see anything and just stay safe on the resort. Most of the issue is in Suva, Rob shouldn’t need to go near there!
I feel bad for Jess! I really hope nothing happens to ruin her wedding, it would be horrible.

Australia has sent two navy ships towards Fiji in case evacuations are needed and Washington has warned of aid cuts if there is another coup but Fiji Tourism Minister Tom Vuetilovoni said visitors had no reason to fear for their safety.

Hmmm I don’t know if that’s a good or bad statement.

I just had a chat with Rob on MSN (since he’s still in Maine, US) about stuff and about our trip to Japan next year. He thinks he wont have enough money saved to make it and that $3,000NZD won’t be enough. He may be right - I’m just trying to save as much as possible. I’ve already thought of this and have been saving like a maniac incase I need to loan him some money. I have no problem with loaning him money as he’s always paid me back and I’d rather he came and we had the experience together than he missed out. I’ve saved $1,200NZD in the last month!! I really want to go!

But yeah now.. that conversation.. I dunno.. I just feel ‘bleh’. I know he didn’t mean to upset me. Maybe I need an early night?

I have a mega headache now I haven’t done much work at all this afternoon. Don’t know what’s wrong with me. My ‘time of the month’ is due anyday - damn it - maybe that’s it? Time for a neurofen.

I so desperately want to travel to both Fiji and Japan. The wedding as I mentioned in the previous post is being held in Fiji in November of this year. So I may miss the wedding, but I’d like to meet Rob there and have a little holiday for about 5-7 days. I need a break! The last holiday I went on was to Australia in 2004. We’re now in 2006 and I haven’t even been as far away as the South Island!! So I’m thinking I really need a trip. I know I’m only 22 and I have years ahead of me - but stuff it, I want the excitement now!!

A group of friends of mine have also discussed going to Japan in June 2007. It will be the mid-semester break at Uni so I can go! The only issue is that it’s going to cost NZD$3,500. But I feel this is a once in a life time oppourtunity, as my friend Sarina is Japanese and she can translate for us! Another friend, Jo, and her partner Max are wanting to go too! I have invited Rob along as I think we’d have so much fun; going to Tokyo and some other places I can’t remember and going to Disneyland there! AHHH would be so much fun and we’d never forget it.

So yes.. I’m now being skint. I buy way too much shit that I don’t need. It’s just extras and they’re a waste of money. I have just under a year to save for Japan. If I work at it hard I think I can do it. Just means less splashing money around and going out. It’ll be worth it though.