back from Nam!

We survived the mayhem and chaos and i'm just talking about crossing the road. Nam was great, had a whirlwind of a trip - 2 days in Singapore (extended stay thanks to my incompetent visa organisational skills...ie, showed up to the jetstar counter to fly from singapore to hcmc and got asked to show our visas and i was all like "our what now?" doh!)
anyway, twas all good in the end.. expensive but all good.

so, back to the trip...we stayed in the old quarter in hanoi, where the street food was amazing and josh got drunk on 20cent beer. did a free walking tour with the hanoikids and watched/tried not to fall asleep during the water puppet show. had a gorgeously luxurious overnight trip to halong bay where they showered us with petals as we stepped aboard...

spent 2 nights in hoi an, riding a bicycle around the gorgeous streets and spending way too much money on tailor made shoes and clothes and oohed and ahhed over the pretty lights/lanterns at night. went for a private boat ride along the river and rode our bikes to the beach but got rained on, so josh got drunk on some more 20cent beers.

then onto ho chi minh where i had a heart attack everytime we crossed the street. took a day trip to the cu chi tunnels and josh showed he was as small as the vietcong by slipping into one of their super tiny tunnels. then we fired the M16 (about 4 or 5 rounds each) which was INTENSE and not really a pleasant experience. but was cool to give it a go anyway.
also took a day trip to the mekong delta and checked out the war memorial museum, which was a very sobering and emotional experience.

All in all, was a good and eventful trip, but to be honest, I wouldn't go back. we've seen a few amazing countries now and vietnam just didn't stack up. yes, its crazy cheap and yes, the food is so good, but the people were grumpier than i'm used to (to be fair, their country has been through a lot, so they have every right to be grumpy). the place was dirty, the weather was not so great, the water was always brown and there were no monkeys! no monkeys! seriously! no bloody monkeys. 

back to reality now though and it is good to be home. cuddles with my little britney xo

new jobs, haircuts and holidays

i survived the first week of my new job and it was even cruisier than i expected...in fact, i'm now worried i'm going to get bored. but for now, it's lovely to leave work at 5ish and not be worrying about my to do list. in fact, i was kicked out of the office today at 4:30 because "its Friday, its sunny.." and the manager wanted to leave. AMAZING! so nice to have to leave early! I was a bit lost and didn't know what to do, but it now feels like i have more time and life isn't just one big, long list of to do things with a clock working against me.

I've also had a haircut and my hair is the shortest it has ever been. I have a fringe and the hairdo looks good...until i try to leave it in its natural state, and then i look like a birds nest/i've been caught in a hurricane... which is not a cool look. So i'm already trying to grow my hairdo out even though it looks good. Its just not practical.

My bridesmaid duties start tomorrow and i am taking Nathania wedding dress shopping. Just had wedding dress discusssions on Jule's behalf with Siza and Tila. Poor Jules just looked Over.Whelmed. with capital letters. So hopefully we'll get her to a wedding dress shop soon so she can actually try some on and figure out what works for her and what doesn't. Which is what I'm doing with Nathania tomorrow. Fun fun :)

And then on Sunday, my darling husband and I are going to brave the seriously low cost carrier, Jetstar, to fly for 14 hours to Singapore, have a one night layover/party/shop/rest and then onto VIETNAM!!!!!! Sooooooo excited. I love travelling and this year has been AMAZING, what with our trip to Bali, Fiji and now Vietnam. Oh and a stopover in Aus too. And it's not over yet! We have already booked tickets to Sydney for the weekend of 2nd December, so lots to be excited about....

Love love love my life and my husband and all the opportunities available to us at the moment. Oh yes, and Josh's new single is going to be played on ZM from next week onwards!! He just may have a hit on his hands!

ciao ciao

Byeeeeeee! Had a lovely send off yesterday, with morning tea, long lunch and pressies from the RAL crew. Then got emotional saying goodbye to G, the best manager ever, and that was it, couldn't stop crying. It was like being at the airport and having to say goodbye to everyone, never knowing if or when i'll see them again. how embarrassing. anyway, on to new adventures now!

catch up time

almost the end of the weekend, which means my last week at RAL is almost upon me.  excited, scared, sad and happy all at the same time. the next two weeks are going to be INTENSE!  because not only am i finishing up at RAL, then starting new job, but i am also organising our trip to vietnam!!! CRAZY INTENSE! but in all sorts of good ways.

life so far has been good. booked tickets to aus for lyndell and geoffs wedding in newy in december. Julie and Simon got engaged woot woot! came up with an itinerary for vietnam. been training for new job (which sounds so much easier and less stressful than RAL). hmm what else..feels like a lot more has been going on. oh yes, my car lights stopped working. but josh got it fixed phew. toilet is broken as well, and we haven't fixed that. we have resorted to leaving tap off and having a bucket underneath the cistern in case it overflows. hopefully we'll get that fixed next week before we leave the country.

Josh has been super busy with rugby gigs as well, but we've managed to hang out a bit. 

watched him perform his originals at a festival in ponsonby yesterday with drew, nathania and robert. then popped over to the telecom "backing black" shed so josh could check up on sam allen. turns out the all blacks were there for a pr stunt, and were playing jenga and table tennis, so hung around and watched them before whipping off to see julie, simon, drew, nathania and robert at my exhibition.

off to the fanzone in the viaduct today to watch the aussies kick some springboks butt :)

List of gratitude

1. getting amongst it with the Scottish rugby fans down in Auckland city yesterday. Love that the rugby world cup celebrations are happening in my own back yard... and that i don't have to watch a game to get to enjoy the atmosphere and celebrations
2. lovely dinner and chats in a lovely backyard last night. love the fairy lights and wild flowers
3. grateful for the opportunity to "mooch" around the house today
4. honey!! honey and butter on toast - such a yummy start to the morning
5. beautiful gerberas and some random purple flowers that are in our house at the moment
6. so, so grateful that i only have 2 weeks left at my current work place....i need out!!!!!

i am an ARTEEEEEST

today was the best. lots of dramas and a mini meltdown just before i entered, but Joshy swooped in and saved the day. and i walked in to a room full of people, music pumping and "models" in a local designers clothes walking around offering sweets. what a turn out! T, geoff, siza, odette, mark, gethin, kim, bex, mum and dad leys (with a bouquet of flowers), shirin, george and baby bella all came to see our work and show us some love. such a brilliant day. knackered now and time for bed.

Exhibition day!

Today is exhibition day! we spent all day hammering, hanging, stapling, straightening and re-arranging photos. and now the venue is packed to the rafters with canvases and frames of all sorts of photos. i am very proud of our little group and i think all viewers will love our exhibition.

List of gratitude

so much to be grateful for right now!

1. new job
2. chance to fulfil my dream of having a photography exhibition
3. lovely new friends.
4. and being invited to house warming parties
5. hell pizza - yummo
6. finding pretty and affordable frames for my exhibition

exhibition

we had our last pre-exhibition meeting today and it concluded with a little trip to the venue to scope it out...and it is gorgeous - everything i had hoped for and more. beautiful exposed bricks love love love it.

as usual, i am so disorganised and am still getting photos printed and framed etc. we are due to mount the photos on saturday so need to get sorted before then. i'm sure it will all come together.

OHMYGOSH!!!

i had an interview today for a candidate resourcer/administrator today in newmarket and they offered me the job on the spot!!! still waiting for the contract and it is subject to reference check but stilll!!! never been offered a job on the spot before friggin amazing.



So exciting :) Life is amazing. hope i'm making the right choice! work didn't take it too well but that was to be expected.

RWC, Photos, Hawaii 2013 and life in general

the rugby world cup opened on Friday and rugbyworldcup fever has officially hit NZ. Tila, Caro and I headed downtown to get amongst it but broke free for some air around 5ish. After drinks in Parnell to settle the nerves, i headed over to andy's place for more wine and photos on the rooftop. Had an amazing view of the fireworks.

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slowly getting ready for the photo exhibition. still wishing i had nicer, better photos but will have to make do. i've actually decided to be a bit unconventional, and am only going to frame one or two photos. thinking about getting a photo wire which hangs down and i can attach photos to it using a magnet. and then i've also borrowed 4 ol' school beer crates and i'm going to stack them to make a table and then will have 3 or 4 glass jars with black and white photos in them. very excited!

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HAWAII 2013! that is the year that nathania and drew are getting married and it will be in hawaii...and i'm going to be a bridesmaid! just got asked tonight and i'm buzzing. so so so so excited.

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currently trying to escape from my current employment. i've been there for almost 6 years and i need out. so here's to the unknown and everything that life has to offer x

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so blessed right now :)

overwhelmed

so having a photo exhibition has been on my bucket list for a very long time, and now i have a chance to be part of one....however, i need to showcase my photos to the organisers of the exhibition in TWO DAYS time! whatamisupposedto take photos of and whenamisupposedto take photos???????!!!! 

currently suffering from the photographers version of writers block. been looking through all my existing photos and have decided i dont like any of them enough to showcase. i think i am being paralysed by fear. must get inspired pronto.

New arrival!

More awesome news - my gorgeous friends Shirin and George welcomed their baby girl - Bella Layla into this world early this morning at 3am. I haven't seen any photos yet but I'm sure she is beautiful and she is so lucky to have such amazing and loving parents. Looking forward to meeting this wee one and getting a cuddle or two.

List of gratitude

1. drinking tea on sunny days and looking out at the gorgeous magnolia tree in my garden, which is in full bloom

(note: this is not my garden or tree, but looks something like this)

2. not having a hangover after a fun-filled 30th birthday party. not so sure that most of my friends will be able to say that today haha

3. awesome, vibing little bars that are popping up around the viaduct in time for the rugby world cup. love the industrial and stripped back look that most of these places have. i so want an exposed brick feature wall in our place

(Britomart Country Club)

4. 1 1/2 hour long full body massage and facial (which i'll be having in 2 hours). ahhh blissful

5. having such a gorgeous and amazingly talented husband

6. "me" time

a new world is born

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."

Anais Nin (1903 - 1977)

my new favourite website

Joshy, this is for you xx

http://pinterest.com/tonikarina/

This is where i get to create "pinboards" of whatever I want.

List of gratitude

1. mexican for dinner. my favourite.
2. free movie ticket hurrah!
3. cigarillos still tasting good after 8 years ha
4. good health
5. phone calls from my mum
6. fresh melon with yoghurt for dessert

Midnight in Paris

not to be confused with the sex video called "one night in paris". ..

Josh and i watched this delightful woody allen movie last night, and it awoke a longing in me to visit paris and walk the streets in the rain. it also compelled us to drink lots of red wine. and smoke cigarillos. why cigarillos and not cigars? because i remembered that i still have a pack that i bought for my friend Revadhi when i was in Munich, Germany, but never gave to her. 8 years ago.  yes! 8. years. ago. I am a hoarder! so we smoked one each. and they were still really good!

So was a fun night spent at home. smoky but fun.

excitement!

I received the most fabulous news today. my friends Drew and Nathania are now engaged! they are travelling around Vegas/Grand Canyon at the moment, and Nathania texted to say that he proposed this morning whilst they were hiking. so fabulous!!!! i can't wait to pass on my wedding magazines to her and to start hearing about the wedding plans. poor drew wont know what has hit him.

The alphabet

today I learnt my ABC's. in nz sign language. such an exhilirating feeling to be learning something new and to be part of the deaf world. it was the quietest class i have ever been to but one of the most fun and exciting. best of all, josh was there with me and it is the first time we have done a class together. here's hoping our skills improve within the next 8 weeks so i can start talking to my deaf friends a bit more. and maybe our fights will be quieter. Josh and mine that is, not me and my deaf friends.

In brief

we celebrated auckland restaurant month by going to the Japanese restaurant "Ebisu" in the city on Friday. fantastic japanese food and weird japanese vodka. followed by red wine at the hotel de brett which led to interesting conversations about the riots and religion and the government and traditions and education and the media. i love nights like this one where i am not only challenged by my friends, but also suprised and inspired.
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We stayed at the Langham hotel on Friday night and it was luxurious. Lovely, soft bed with crisp white sheets and lots of pink treasures. Oh the pinkness!
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shirin had her baby shower on saturday. it was so much fun to see all the gorgeous little outfits that she got. and the baby room is adorable. so excited to meet this little baby that is due to arrive in less than 4 weeks.
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it snowed in Parnell today. Apparently this hasn't happened since the 1970's or maybe the 1950's, depending on who you talk to. so. so. exciting. we rushed outside just to catch a few flakes in our hands but they melted as soon as we caught them. it was all over after about 10 minutes and we now have blue skies again. craziness.
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The snow would probably have been the highlight of my day except that I am going to Lisa and Manish's house for dinner tonight. and they are cooking us roti and lamb curry. oh.my.gosh guji lamb curry and roti. i'm salivating already and i still have two hours until they are expecting me.
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pay day!

List of gratitude

1. being able to meet up with friends for lunch because they now work in the same suburb as me
2. sunny days like today
3. coming home to a suprise "indoor" picnic, thanks to my scrumptious husband
4. wine!
5. hearing that friends and family are safe and sound in London
6. living in a safe and friendly place like NZ

London Riots 2011

We seem to live in a world these days where we are all becoming so isolated and disconnected.  It's not uncommon for people to live next to someone for year and not even know their names. It's a world of cubicles and units and little compartments. People now have hundreds of "friends" on facebook or twitter or other social networking sites, but instead of making us closer, these sites seem to be dimishing the true meaning or value of a 'real' friend.  A prime example is of Simone Back.  Her story was widely reported after she declared on facebook to her 100+  friends that she was "going to kill herself, goodbye".    For hours, not one of these 'friends' tried to contact her to stop her, even though they posted on her facebook wall.  Hearing stories such as this makes me wonder sometimes if this is the way society is destined to be.

There have been so many natural disasters around the world this year - devastating earthquakes in Christchurch, tsunamis in Japan, floods in Queensland, tornadoes in USA, etc.  Whilst these stories were always horrifying to read about or to witness to tv, it was the courage and sense of community that always blew me away.  Reading stories about strangers reaching out to other strangers in times of need was so inspiring.  Instead of reamining isolated and cut off, people started to reach out.  I felt it most strongly when the Christchurch earthquake happened.  People gave $$, the youth of Christchurch rallied round and started the xx army to help the council clean the city up (they also went on to Tokyo to help them out after the tsunami).  People in other cities offered accommodation anyone that wanted to move out and people contacted each other via the radio to offer things such as baby formula to mothers that couldn't get to shops and were running out.

The true extent of strangers love and support for one annother was brilliant to witness and be part of, this sense of community that was created by the simple gesture of reaching out to one another.

However, for the last 4 days London has been under attack. People (locals) have been rioting and looting in London - creating havoc and fear in so many areas.  They have destroyed buildings and cars and seem unrelentless.  Friends in London have been talking about hearing sirens non-stop and seeing or smelling smoke and it is as if society or communities have turned on themselves are imploding.

But then today, some of that brave, compassionate and community spirited attitude that I admire so much came shining through.  Articles have begun to appear about local communities (local heroes) fighting back.  Not with violence, but with strength and determination.  Neighbours, fellow shopkeepers and business owners are helping each other protect their businesses and homes from these hooligans, and they have also begun cleaning up the mess.

Sometimes there is so much chaos and havoc and wickedness in this world, but these brave people and their stories inspire me and give me hope. For our society and most importantly, for our future.

World Blog - With a show of force and prayer, London fights back

worldblog.msnbc.msn.com

List of gratitude

I like the idea of listing the things for which I am grateful, so will try to do this on a daily basis if possible. Sometimes I think I  get too caught up in..well, just life. Sometimes it is the monotony of it all (especially in winter), sometimes its the hecticness  (apparently that is not a word?? It totally should be) that gets to me, and I forget to sit back and think of all the things that are going right or make me happy.

This list will be a chance for me to do a bit of reflecting. And maybe a chance to send out my thanks to the universe, gods, mother nature, friends and family, or whatever it is that is out there. Because I don't do it often enough.


 6 things for which I am grateful
1. friends. good friends that I can pop in to see when I'm feeling a wee bit lonely and I don't want to sit at home alone.
2. tea! This kind of goes with number 1, but is also amazing for lots of things - when I have a headache or am sick. It is a miracle drink. Or when I am cold, or even hot, because I grew up in Fiji, which is pretty much hot all year round and I still drank tea. alot. When I am upset or when i just want to relax. Great for social occasions and also for alone times.  Okay, I think I may have to create a whole other blog just for tea...
3. sunny days. like today. everything is just better when it is sunny.
4. being able to talk to my sister every day. even though she lives in another country. apart from my husband, she is my best friend and I can talk to her about pretty much anything.
5. my GHD straightener. My mother in law has leant it to me indefinitely. I say "leant" but really, she gave it to me. and i was too embarrassed about taking another gift from her, so i insisted that she just lend it to me. even though we both knew that i would never give it back to her. And she was sweet enough to go along with it.
6. on that note, i must say I am very grateful for having such an amazingly sweet and generous mother in law. She has always been so welcoming and supportive, ever since i first met her.

Wise words from a dying father

My sister just sent me this link, which is an article about a father of two that was diagnosed with terminal cancer. After he passed away, his wife found a list he had made, titled "A Father's Rules For Finding Fulfillment".

I love this article and the Father's list and hope that I can put into practice his words of wisdom..except maybe being punctual. I think I may have given up on that. Dr Phil or Oprah said that being late was a sign of disrespect to your friends or colleagues or whoever it is that is left waiting for you. But I'm honestly not being disrespectful. I just have the worst sense of time management. in the world. And my husband is just as bad, so the two of us together are always running late. It makes for a stressful life, that's for sure. 

Anyway, here is the link:

http://www.matchmove.com/news/article/a-fathers-message-from-beyond-the-grave

And here are some of my favourite pieces of advice:

Be proud of who you are and where you come from, but open your mind to other cultures and languages. When you begin to travel (as I hope you will), you’ll learn that your place in the world is both vital and insignificant. Don’t get too big for your breeches. 

Make it your instinct always to say ‘yes’. Look for reasons to do something, not reasons to say no. Your friends will cherish you for that.

Always treat those you meet as your social equal, whether they are above or below your station in life. For those above you, show due deference, but don’t be a sycophant.

Always respect age, as age equals wisdom.

Being Married Is Making Me FAT...

but headlines like this give me hope:

Health News - MSN NZ Health Hub

All latest health news from New Zealand and from around the world from Health Hub.

A big butt is good for your health

2/08/2011 4:55:00 PM, Good Health Prev Next

 

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Hanging with Brits and 6 things for which I am grateful

I love wintery nights when we have the fire blazing and I get to hang with my favourite (and only) cat.  Her name is Britney and we usually call her "Brits" or "Britta" and although she is getting on a bit and is slightly on the tubby side these days, she still looks like a cute little kitten.

Tonight is one of those nights and it's lovely and snuggly in our little abode - a perfect night to finally create a blog!
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 Loving the life we are creating

1. our little abode, and the fact that it is ours
2.  the creativity that surrounds us
3. Britney and her cat snuggles
4. the travels and adventures that we are yet to embark on
5. My hot water bottle and the cutest  pink and white knitted cover that my husband found for me today
6. the fact that I get to share all of these things with the one that I love the most in the world, knowing that he loves me too