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Published: January 6th 2010
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Getting back to Whangarei all jobbed up felt amazing!! i really didn't have anything on my mind at all, apart from surviving my first xmas away from home, and finding a place to live!! Kath took care of one, whilst lauren looked after the other! Thank god as i had no intention of tackling either one myself!!
There really was no big build up to xmas day, and i kept on having to remind myself it was actually xmas! Darren and i went fishing xmas eve in Mcleods Bay, just outside of fungers early worm hours, and it was beautiful, the water was like glass, and the sun didn't have its strength yet, so we happy started to fish - i caught a baby snapper on my first cast out!! i had to throw it back as it was too small to keep - but definitely a great start! as the morning went on, many more babies were caught, a few seagulls copped a few stones whilst trying to steal our bait, and we were joined by the biggest stingray i have ever seen floating around our feet!! it was truly amazing, and felt very special indeed. To top this
off i caught two kahawai!! they are like big trout ish, and i even filleted them all myself!! i know i sound like a 5 year old, but this was a very proud moment for me! That evening we went to the Waipu Xmas parade. Waipu is a small town that is mainly scottish, and the parade is very small key and local!! It consisted of tractor floats and many local celebrities!! We finally saw santa on the fire truck which was the highlight for the girls, it definitely was a community event with everyone all drinking and socialising together on xmas eve was lovely, very friendly. With the girls exhausted, that evening was the first evening i got to play santa from the otherside of the carrot and cookies!! creeping around with stocking was all worth it when i was awoken by the screams of "get up - santa has been!!"
Xmas is definitely for kids, and the carnage that followed was great!! there was paper everywhere, presents being thrown all over the place, and many tears and smiles over presents and arguments! The girls got a Nintendo, and a bike, i got them a waterslide which made
an afternoon appearance, and this was all combined with sunshine, wine and the soundtrack of The Chimpmunks and chipettes doing the hits of 2009 - awesome. Kath and darren were great and gave me a bracelet, silk scarf and a bag, whilst mum was a complete star and posted a massive parcel of mini gifts which took ages to open!!
xmas ended on a very welcome british note with us curling up on the sofa to the Eastenders xmas special (last years mind you - not impressed) and the Royale family xmas special, which was a small touch of home!! It very quickly left though, with having to pack up on boxing day to head further into the sunshiine for Paihia again!! i must add at this point that the Bay of islands receives the best weather in NZ, and they have not had rain for the past two months. This is so evident, as the grass everywhere is brown, except for the precious golf course of course!
After being thrown on yet another bus, i met up with lauren again and we quickly demolished a glass of wine on the seafront, and the discovered that her mate
had found me a room to rent in a house!! The house belongs to one of the hotel managers, and is one the hotel grounds, and is kitted out with all the conveniences of a hotel room. Kirsty is about my age and has been a manager at the hotel for the past 6 months and also has 2 tiny dogs, which are kinda cute!
So with a room bagged, i started my first day at work in the reception and quickly found that the place is very busy, and i had alot to learn!! each shift is 8 hours and is either 7-3 or 3-11, so either way there is time a plenty to enjoy the sunshine! during my first shift, Lauren was hovering around occasionally, and when i finally clocked off, i realised why. During the morning, her and her family had moved me into my new place without me knowing, and had set me up a bed, chest of drawers, moved my rucksack in, and had stolen my camera and printed out loads of piccies of my travels and stuck them up on the wall, as well as giving me a photo frame to put in
a picture of my parents!! i was so overwhelmed and shocked at the kindness of complete strangers that i cried loads that evening!!
Work since then has been a learning curve, but starting to find my feet a little, and then came new years!! there is an adventure company that works out of the bay that put on an evening on one of the islands in the bay called Urupukapuka island. They provided a boat out to the island, music, drinks and live bands and then a boat return journey after the big 12.00pm. This seemed like an amazing option, and it certainly paid off! a big group of us made the trip out, and the island is beautiful, nicely deserted with crystal clear waters. we arrived at about 8pm and watched the sun go down on 09 to some bob marley acoustic covers (cheesy i know!) and then the dance dj took over, with a separate tent with a band playing popular covers (bit like a wedding) but with loads of apparent kiwi classics thrown in! It was a brilliant evening, and certainly a special way to see the new year in! the boat ride home was slightly
entertaining with many having had far too much to drink, and a few missing the boat completely, but well worth it with a beautiful night ride back in the moonlight!
Happy new year all!! I hope it treats you well wherever you may be! xxx
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caroline heale
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Happy 2010 to you!
Sounds like you are really getting the most out of your trip! What great people you have met. Take care.