Day 30: 2011 is . . .

.  .  .  turning out to be a very busy year. It seems like there has already been so much happening and it's only May. So far this year I've had a big wedding extravaganza, a holiday to Australia, my 30th and Mum moved overseas. That's alot!

I usually find that the winter is not only the coldest, but also the quietest. Not so for me this year. Before the end of August there is a wedding to attend, a holiday to Australia, two baby showers and two babies!

I'm excited about what spring and summer will bring if this has been my year so far! Should be a pretty fabulous year :)

Day 29: Something random

See, I really am an angel.

Day 28: My favourite TV show

Ohhh, TV shows. I love me some TV shows. I'm a big fan of lots of shows and I usually watch the current seasons online so that I can keep up with the American season. Below are the shows that I love or have loved the most over the last 10 years (in no particular order).

Day 27: My biggest regret

I've thought about this one alot over the years. I have a motto that I try to live by "Regret the things you did, not the things you didn't do." I don't have many regrets, I try not to create any because they really eat away at your soul. I know this because the ones I have do that. Of a few big regrets I have one that I consider the biggest because at the time I knew I could have done something about it and I didn't.

My last teaching placement was at a local school with the assistant principal who was the classroom teacher. She was very horrible to me, had no interest in teaching me and expected me to take her class so that she could get on with her assistant principal duties. At the time I knew I should say something to the college and ask to be moved. This was the most important placement of my three years of studies and was going to determine my final grades and ultimately my graduation. If I was moved I would have been behind by several weeks in my work and I didn't want to miss my graduation with my classmates. I was ready for my studies to be over, so I decided that I could just grin and bare it for the few weeks and graduate with everyone else. While I did just that - grinned, bared it and graduated - I had no idea that those few weeks would seriously damage my self confidence in my teaching and in myself. I didn't have the self esteem or the self confidence to stand up for myself and my future career. Hindsight is a beautiful thing, but the reason this is my biggest regret is that I had the notion then that I should say something, get moved, but I didn't do it. I can't help but wonder how differently my life would have been over the last 10 years if I had said something.

Day 26: If I won a million dollars. . .

. . . I would jump up and down, then . . .

. . . have a big party with a roast pig, fire eaters and lots of friends

. . . give some money to my family 

. . . build a house

. . . buy a new car

. . . travel . . . 

I'm sure that there is much more that I'd do with money, but these are the things that I would definetly do. Of course, if I'm going to dream of winning money, a million dollars is just the jumping off point. One must dream big of course! Now I just have to win it. . .

Day 25: Hate

Hate. It's such a strong passion. Much like love. I believe that the opposite of love is not hate for this very reason, but in fact disintrest. To say that you hate something implies that you have such an extremely negative, passionate feeling about it for whatever reason. You must have be very wronged or really, really, really dislike it. I know that people do hate things and/or people for legitimate reasons, and then some others say they hate something when really they just dislike it. I think it's important to know if you do or don't really 'hate' something/someone before you put it out in to the universe. For that very reason I don't say I 'hate' something lightly. So you know that when I show you the following things and tell you that I hate them, you'll understand that I really really really really dislike them with a strong passion.

Things I hate:

Corn - Yuk!

Spiders freak me out

I hate being called 'baby' or 'dear'.

PS: Yep, I put a photo of a spider on my blog. To do that I had to google search 'spider' and then pick one to use. How impressed are you?!

Day 24: A Joke

This, by far, is my favourite joke, you've probably heard me tell it before, but here ya go again:

A lizard was walking through the jungle and passed by a tree, he looked up and saw a monkey sitting on a branch.
He yelled up to him "Hey you! What you doing up there?!"
The monkey yelled back "Smoking a joint man. Why don't you join me?"
So the lizard scurried up the tree to sit next to the monkey. Together they puffed away on the joint until the lizard got thirsty.
"I'm going to go to the pond and get a drink of water" he said as he scurried back down the tree and off in to the jungle.
The lizard gets to the edge of the pond and bends over to start drinking when an alligator leaps out of the water.
"Hey you! What are you doing?!" yells the alligator to the lizard.
"I'm drinking some water man, I'm a little parched after smoking a joint with the monkey in the jungle."
"What?! I don't believe you."
"It's true man."
"I have to see this for myself" says the alligator as he climbs out of the pond and heads off in to the jungle.
He finds the monkey in the tree, looks up and yells "Hey you! What are you doing up there?!"
The monkey looks down and says "Fuuuck maaan! How much did you drink?!?!"

Day 23: My favourite place

This ones a hard one. I don't think I have a place that I consider to be my absolute favourite place above somewhere else.

For a day-to-day, normal life type "favourite place" I'd have to pick my bedroom.
My bedroom has a big window that I have sparkly fairy lights hanging in, plus a stained glass window as well. I have beautiful latte coloured walls that are covered with different artworks - some from other artists, some my own, plus photos from my overseas travels. It's very colourful my room and that's the way I like it. I have a beautiful wooden bookcase that I adore and a Daddy-made necklace holder that is pretty clever and permanently fastened to the wall. I spend a lot of time in my bedroom. In fact it's where I am now. I'm usually blog from here, read from here, watch telly in here. It's my space. The only space I can really and truly call my own.

For a "favourtie place" I've travelled too, again I'm not sure that I could pick.
I loved Vanuatu for the perfect mix of relaxation and things too do.

I loved Santander, Spain for the culture, the life, the different space in the world and that it wasn't a tourist town, it was a 'real' Spanish town.

I loved Muscat, Oman for the culture, the life and for the fact that it's a place that not many Westeners go to and I have. That and it's actually very interesting. Probably didn't hurt that I had a gorgeous man showing me around either.

I've loved lots of different places I've been and places I go, but those would have to have been my favourites. . . so far. . .

Day 22: 10 reasons you wish you were me

Yep that's right, you WISH you were me!! haha. This prompts more about making me think of the extra special things about myself which I find very difficult to do. I've done my best to come up with 10 reasons that will make you wish that you were me!

1. I can easily block out noise.

I can get to sleep quickly by sleeping on my good ear. Seriously, how do you 'normal' hearing people get to sleep?!

2. I don't have a boss.

I have no on-site manager. We have a 'coach', that handles HR stuff and offers guidance for the team, but they are not located in the office and are considered on an equal level to everyone in my team. And as if that wasn't good enough, my coach is a good friend of mine.

3. I live with my best friend.

We hang out, watch movies, play games, cook meals and never have to go home because we already are. What could be better?

4. I can touch type.

I'm not entirely sure why that's on the list, but so many people can't do it and I can so I let it be a feature. If I think of something else that's better I'll bump it.

5. I'm artistic.

I love to paint and pick up a camera all the time (as if you didn't know). I see art and photo opportunities in everything. I like to 'create' 'things and stuff'. Anything that makes my world a better place.

6. Children adore me.

And I adore them. I have a natural affinity with children of all ages, shapes and sizes. I've learnt alot about children through my studies and my work and it's all given me great insights. Can't wait to put it to good use with my nephew (coming soon to a bassinet near you).

7. I don't get embarrased easily.

I'll do anything once and I don't care what others think of me. If I wanna do it I will. I'm not afraid of what some random stranger thinks of me. I feel comfortable enough within myself to make a fool of myself, draw attention to myself or to admit that I might like or do something that's not considered 'normal'.

8. I'm organised. 

And I can organise. I've organised parties and events that have gone really well. I have a good memory for dates and facts, so I am always organised with birthday presents for upcoming birthdays and have my diary all prepared with the weeks tasks ahead. Nothing gets missed. At work I'm even worse, they call me anal, and I don't deny that it's true.

9. I have my own bed. 

No sharing it with others here. I can sleep diaganolly if I want too. Fart if I need too. Have the electric blanket on. Or not. It's all mine and I do with it what I wish.   

10. I have a loving family.

I have a nephew on the way, a sister that's so loving and fun, a brother-in-law that loves with all his heart. I have a brother that would do anything for me, a Dad that is so gentle and kind. I have a Mum that's so inspiring and happy. Beyond my immediate family I have my one Gran, two aunties and three cousins that I see often and that are all special. Plus my Mum's new family that includes for me a future Step-Dad, a Step-Sister, a Step-Brother and wicked nephew, and two gorgeous neices. And if this is not enough, I also have my 'pseudo-family', which consists of one best friend, one good girl friend, and one fantastic (nearly) 10 year old, that keep me company, keep me sane and keep my smiling.

Now, tell me you DON'T wish you were me. I dare ya. :)

Day 21: My biggest Fear

1. Spiders

I'm not sure where my fear of spiders comes from. I know it's completely ridiculous too. They are much smaller than I am, they are not going to hurt me and I am much more capable of harming them. However, they are creepy, black, crawly, fast and scary. I hate them being on me. I've had dreams about them causing me to leap out of bed and I've screamed like a little girl when they go racing under my door. I hate them.

2. Drowning or being stuck under water

When I was 8 we went to the swimming pool. I was on one of those foam mats in the kids pool with a whole lot of random children and the mat flipped. I was stuck underneath as all the children climbed back on. Probably not for too long, but I remember being under there and not being able to find my way out and thinking that I wasn't going to get out before I drowned. And I paniced. Ever since then I've had this underlying fear of being stuck under water or drowning. As a result I don't really like boats. I always worry that they might flip and I'll be stuck (I've watched Titanic once - that was enough for me!) and I'll drown. It's not a crippling fear at all, I'll go on boats, but it's not something I'd choose to do. I love to swim, so it's not the water as such, just the fear of being stuck and not being able to get out again.

3. Not having children

Fairly self explanatory I think. I really do think that one of the greatest things I am meant to do is be a mother. It's something I've wanted ever since I was a child myself and more so with every year that passes. To not have children would be terrible for me. I'm sooooooooOOOooooo excited about being an Aunty soon, I can't wait to be able to give him some cousins. Hopefully it won't be a long wait.

Day 20: Food

Ever since I set these prompts I assumed I'd talk about what food I love to eat, or possibly what food I love to cook. But this morning I remembered how much fun I had photographing food when John made blueberry pancakes over the summer.


Photographing food doesn't sound difficult. It's a subject you can mold or pose to your own chosing. It doesn't fidget or move. But, there's so much more that goes on with food. You can totally tell in a photo if the food isn't fresh. It just looks flat and stale. If you want the steam to show the heat you need to work quickly and if you don't want the soufle to fall you must tread lightly. Photographing food while it's cooking is also difficult. You get steam, splutters, the chefs hands, all sorts of things "in the way". It takes alot of manuevering and certain amount of quick thinking because you can't stop for a few minutes and start over.


Timing is important. Also important, don't eat it as you photograph it!


What I love best about food photography above all else is the colour. There is amazing colour in food, especially natural food - fruits and veges are the best of all. I love colour, so it's almost a pefect medium for me. Plus food is familiar and can easily connect with it's viewer (ok better stop all the food photography gushing, I'm starting to sound like a pretenious art critic).


I haven't done much food photography, but I'm keen to see what else I can do with it. Here are a few extracts from the blueberry pancakes:

Blueberries from the Blueberry Farm in Upper Hutt.  

Berry Sauce 

 Blueberry Pancakes

Pancake Ingredients

More of the blueberry pancakes 

Jam

(Jam, Jam, Jamity, Jam, Jam!)

Day 19: Family

My Family

(Christmas Day, 2010)

The only one missing is Sixteen.

Even my nephew is in this picture, you just can't see him.

Rather than tell you all the normal info about my family, You know the stuff that you already know about my family (like, I'm the oldest, Mum lives in Australia now). Boring! Here's some 'other' facts about my family you might find interesing:

* Mum is 'that' lady that cut the cord off the TV one time. She's famous in Tawa because of it.

* We almost moved to Christchurch when I was 8yrs old.

* The first time I saw my Dad's parents in the same room was at my brothers engagement party.

* My parents bred Burmese Cats before I came along.

* My Grandad won a bravery medal during WWII.

* Gran is the only person I know that can flip a pancake in the air and catch it perfectly again.

* I get my cocoa allergy from my Gran.

* On my Aunts first solo babysitting adventure with me, they fed me the dog food for dinner by mistake.

* Every third child in the world is Chinese, that's why my sister is named 'Lee'.

(That's not true, but I like to tell people it is.)

* Lee and I often get asked by strangers if we're twins. Lee always says "No, which one do you thinks older?!"

* We often went on family vacations to Waiheke Island, Masterton, Taupo or Waikanae Beach.

* Every Christmas you have to give someone some sort of bubble appartus. There's a cupboard full of all the wands, mixtures and accessories.

* Lexi and Lee went to a different primary school than I did.

* The family has a field (yes a field) in Norfolk, England. I frolicked in the field when I went there in 2008. I had too, it's a field!

* For about 7 years we had Sunday night family dinner at Mum & Dad's house. It continued on even after Mum and Dad divorced.

* I have just three cousins - all male and all younger than me. Julian, Carl (both 20) and Ben (22).

* The next generation is due 11 July.

* We had a Dalmation named Daisy. She used to crash in to the walls as she chased the cats around the house.

Day 18: A Photo

Turtle Farm, Vanuatu. March 2008.

Day 17: Jealousy

Jealousy. It's such an ugly word. Unfortunetly it's a feeling that I have about many different things and a feeling that is extremley unhealthy. I contemplated telling you about some of the things I get jealous of and ranting about this and that, but I keep coming back to the fact that jealousy is just so unhealthy. I already think them, so why bring it up and out for everyone else to bare the brunt of? 

I found a quote not so long ago that resonated with me and every time I start to feel those pangs of jealousy I remember it and try and move away from the jealousy. I have no idea who said it, and I'm fairly sure that it's not as accurate as I read it originally, but it still works.

"Envy no one. You don't know what their journey has been."

Jealousy will get me nothing but heartache. So no point dwelling on it any more than I already have.

Day 16: My Favourite Music

Almost everyone I know loves music. They know the words to songs, as in all the words. They can tell me the meaning of songs and they can hum or sing the song without any reference.

I don't know if it's my bad hearing or what, but I've never been in love with music. If I like a song it's because the tune is catchy. Every now and then I'll know the songs to part of a song because it's been played on the radio about a hundred times.

I own an ipod for three reasons. 1. If I ever need to sleep somewhere noisy (an airplane for instance) I block out the noise with music. 2. I get bored if I go for a walk without something to listen too. 3. It's more convienent than using my CD discman for reasons one and two. I recently bought a new ipod (the old one suffered an unfortunate smashing incident) and can't imagine that I'll be filling up the space anytime soon. Oh, I just thought of a 4th reason - I like to sing a long to songs while cooking and John has an ipod dock - very cool accessory if I do say so myself.

I've been to concerts, but not many. I just can't handle the loud, thumping music. That and I think I probably get a little claustraphobic in those things. I've seen Robbie Williams (he was the size of a lego man from my spot in the crowd), Matchbox Twenty (the only band I've ever travelled out of town to see), Joshua Kadison (I was 14yrs old ok) and I think that's about it.

So who do I listen too?! Mostly pop stuff that's on the radio. I love Glee and get their CD's (please don't hurt me). And I get a few songs off iTunes. I like stuff that I can sing along too. For a much better idea check out my fave playlist:

* Light Surrounding You by Evermore

* Fuckin Perfect by Pink

* On the Radio by Regina Spektor

* Valentine by Rock Star Supernova

* Semi-Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind

* Follow Me by Uncle Kracker

* Wherever You Will Go by The Calling

* Warwick Avenue by Duffy

* When The Weather Is Fine by Thirsty Merc

* All Star by Smash Mouth

* Real World by Matchbox Twenty

* Catch My Disease by Ben Lee

* We're All In This Together by Ben Lee

* One Week by Barenaked Ladies

* Colourful by Rocco DeLuca & The Burden

* I Do by Gin Wigmore

* Sorry by Buckcherry

* The Sound of Sunshine by Michael Franti & Spearhead

* Fuck You by Cee Lo Green

* The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars

Day 15: My Oldest Friend

Paul & Tracy

Friends since 1992

The three of us met in Form 1 at Tawa Intermediate.

Still friends nearly 20 years later. (Perhaps not so much after I share this photo with you. hehe). Taken outside some random pub in London in 2008. This is why I love you guys, you're hilarious and always there whenever I need you. You are my 'oldest' friends and I hope we continue to be for many many years to come. Love you both xx

Day 14: My hidden talent

I had to ask John what my hidden talent was as I was having a bit of trouble trying to think of not only what my talents are, but what of those are hidden.
 I thought of telling you about my hidden talent in Painting or Photography, but I don't think they are really that hidden. Sheesh, I show them enough on here.


What about the fact that I can roll my tongue or flare my nostrils. Not really that interesting.


John suggested my hidden talent at board games. I'm not entirely convinced that it can be classed as a talent, but I am good at it, so we'll go with it for now.


I love board games and I'm lucky in that I have a flatmate that loves them too. Somehow I'm ridiculously good at them too. John always wins Scrabble and for some reason I usually lose at Candyland, but otherwise I often come up trumps.


We have a lot of games, but the one we've been playing a lot of lately was my birthday present from John and Rachel the Munchkin Quest board game. It's the board game based on the Munchkin card game. The basis of the game is to defeat the monstors in the dungeon to reach level 10 and win the game. Every single time we've played I've made it to level 10 and all but two times I've won.


When I told the boys about getting the game they all all of a sudden wanted to come over and play. Meanwhile my girlfriends called me out on my new found geekdom. Yes it's geeky, but I don't really care. Board games are great fun, and I'm good at them, so why not aye?!


I'm always on the look out for new games, so if you know any goodies let me know. Perhaps I'll invite you round to play too, just remember it is my 'hidden talent' and I'm sure to blaze past you to take the victory!


Has anyone got any other suggestions for what my hidden talent could be?! It is actually ridiculously difficult to try and think of something legitimate for this prompt!

Day 13: Love

Awww love. How fitting to be posting about Love after spending last night celebrating and watching the Royal Wedding on TV with good food, good wine and good friends.

There's no doubt that I could wax lyrical about love. But instead I'm going to show you just some of the things that spring to my mind when I think of love.

Day 12: Pet Peeves

Ok, I definetly have some pet peeves. Probably not a good idea to get me started, but here ya go:

1. "Yous" is NOT a word.

I loathe the use of the word. It's not "hey, yous guys", it's "hey, you guys". "Ewes" are female sheep. "Use" is a perfectly acceptable word. "Yous" is not. Don't use it. You sound stupid when you do. If you do attempt to use it around me I will hurt you. You've been warned.

2. Drivers that don't indicate.

Seriously? Come on people! How hard is it to indicate? It's a flip of the lever. And it's the law! The law! The roads would be much safer and I'd get places much easier if you just indicated where you were going for crying out loud!

3. Drivers that block intersections.

You know the ones, the smartarses that drive through an orange light but the traffic on the otherside is back to the intersection and now it's a red light for them, a green light for me and I can't get through. Grrr. And those bloomin drivers that drive into a roundabout but can't get out of it. So annoying! Like above it's the law - you don't drive in to an intersection that you can't get out off!

4. Sponge Bob wears cardboard square pants.

He lives under the sea. But they are cardboard. Under the sea. Do you not see the problem here?! And, they are square. How do they stay square?! Under the sea?! Blimen heck people! It just doesn't make sense!

Ok, that's enough from me. Those are my top pet peeves. I'm sure I have more, but those are the biggest ones. Like I said, don't get me started! 

Day 11: Childhood

I remember odd things from my childhood (which I cut off at 12yrs - because you're a teenager at 13 right?!).  Here's some of the odd things I'm thinking off:

* My first memory is at my Grandpa's wake when I hugged my Gran's leg to stop her crying. I was 3yrs.

* My cousin Ben was born when I was 8yrs.

* One day at Kindy I got upset because I couldn't find "my" sink. They all had peoples names on them, but I didn't know that they were actually the brand names.

* At Kindy I signed my paintings with "H4"

* I shared a room with Lee until I was 16yrs. I used to annoy her by keeping my bedside light on when she was trying to sleep.

* I was teased at primary school for not being Catholic.

* I tried to run away one day, got half way down the street, a dog barked at me and I ran home again.

* We used to go to Waiheke Island for family vacations. It was soooooooo far away.

* Once us kids were so irriating in the back seat of the car that Mum & Dad made us get out at the school (about 2kms away) and walk home.

* We used to have babysitters each school holidays.

* We went to 'Friday Club' every week (or was it fortnightly?). The adults had some sort of cheap-to-produce meal and the kids had fish n' chips. The adults are all still friends today.

* We weren't allowed to watch TV in the morning and until about 5pm.

* I would always walk to school with my friend Camille.

* I loved to dance, but I don't think I was great at it. I went along for years.

* I went to Brownies.

* I almost drowned in the Johnsonville Pool when a 'big kid' flipped the floating mat over and I was stuck underneath.

* I had a great friend Linda that lived up the road until she moved to Australia when we were 8yrs.

* Every time I went to Grans house I watched "The Sound of Music".

* At Gran's house we would bake and pretend we were hosting our own cooking show.

* Gran had a hole in the wall between the kitchen and the dining room which we would pretend to order fish n' chips from. We'd sit patiently in the 'queue' while she made them for us.

* We always had pets, mostly cats and one really stupid dalmation.

* Mum and I went to Melbourne when I was 10yrs old. I loved the butterfly house, the markets and when we went on a picnic in the middle of a huge park and we left the cutlery behind, we used a credit card as a knife.

The more I write, the more I remember. While I think I don't remember much of my childhood, I guess I really do - I just have to actually take the time to sit and think about it.

I once typed out Gran's memoirs of her first 18yrs of life. I thought two things while doing this; 1. I don't think I have done nearly as many things or had nearly as many experiences in my first 18yrs as she did. And 2. I don't think I remember nearly as much as Gran seems too, and she's much older than I am! Her memoirs are a fascinating read. They need a little work, which I hope to do soon with Gran. It has made me think that I should try write my own, because while I haven't lived through a war, I have had a few interesting things happen, so why not? Perhaps one day my own grandchildren will be interested in reading about my childhood. Would yours?